Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-16

sion Of the war, with the power OF the rebellion
unimpaired, is the end of the Union, without even
a shallow of hope OF IT'S restorationg With the
Mississippi river under the control of II foreign
power; with the Potomac and Ohio at best the
boundaries between Governments only formed to
renew the deadly contest; with what remained of
the old Union ready to crumble to pieces. Not
only disunion, but total disintegration, the coun-
try torn into hostile and bleeding fragments,
would follow in the ypath OF such policy. The
Democratic party has made every effort TO prose
cute the war with effect, demanding firmly and
steadily that it should be, a war for the Union.
You have not passed a bill in this house-and the
same is true of the Senate-for the putting down
of the rebellion that has not received almost
every Democratic vote. Further than that, the
Democratic party-and | speak il. sir. with an
honorable and patriotic prde-has even supported
this Administration in every effort TO crush the
rebellion and restore the Union, in spite of its
violations of the Constitution and the bitter and
malignant partisan spirit it and its adherehts have
uniformly displayed.
Mr.. Dives: Let m e say a word.
Mr.. Voorhees,: l object to my colleague yield
ing.
Mr.. Holman: The only difference between the
two parties is this: the Republican party has been
willing only to carry on this war upon its own
issues, through its own policy, and for the accom-
plishment Of its own ends; While the Democratic
party, IL Congress and out of it, at home and in
the field, has not wavered a moment in its deter
mination that the Government should be sus-
tanned let what may be the policy of the hour. 1t
has made no conditions 1t has resolved that
every effort of national power shall be exhausted
in the maintenance of the Union and the Con-
s%titution; that neither shall perish il mortal power
can prevent. No charge of dislOyalty mo charge
of sympathizing with the rebellion, of favoring
an armistice for the purpose of inviting foreign
intervention and the recognition of the Rebel
COnfederacy-mean and dishonorable as these
charges have been, despicable and eroveling as
have been their purpose-have changed the lofty
patriotism of that party. They are still for their
country. These charges are net true. They are
false. UNANIMOUSLY false. and are alone made to
crafty partisan animosities and to secure party
triumphs. even at the expense of union of opin
ion in the effort to uphold the Government
and the strength and power OF united determine
ton.
In spite of this Administration and its mad
and reckless policy; in spite of its weakness and
its vaeillations; in spite of those who control for
the hour the affairs of the nation; in spite of their
bitter partisanism; their heartless disregard of a
bleeding country in pressing forward their par
tisan measures from the beginning to the present
hour; IN spite of insult ard unmerited reDrOach,
still true to their country and the memory of its
patriots who have fallen in its defense. the Dem
Ocratic party, knowing that the Republic-the
Government, the priceless legacy of a nobler
periods not the President and his Cabinet
creatures of an hour, but that it Is the Govern
ment of the living people. the only hope for
themselves and their children, have never WA
vered or hesitated in its supporting that flag. sir,
that floats over your head wherever it has been
%unfurled, accounting its enemies their own.
They have, so far as concerned the support of the
Government. yielded up party to the country.
They have not, as the gentleman, a leaiing Re
publican from kensas, NJ. Conway has pro
posed, consented TO recognize the Rebel Govern
ment, and place the. outlet of the Mississippi
River, the life growing power of the Northwest.
in the hands and under the control of a foreign
Government; the Lille blood of the Northwest at
the mercy of treaties between nations of hostile
and d~Iverging interests intensified by the bitter
ness of war. No sir; no humiliating and dishon
oring proposition like this has emanated from the
party which, in the insolence and arrogance of
power, has been branded by the party of the Ad-
ministratiOn as disloyal to the Republic.
The position, sir, of the Democratic party can
not be misunderstood. They for disunioni Why,
sir, the Democracy of the free States and the gal
liant and loyal men of the border States, as rep
resented on this floor, with that pure and illustri
Gus patriot, John j. Crittenden, at their head
stand side by side and shoulder to shoulder. In
tie political contest of my own State the Democ-
racy stood, not reluctantly but firmly, on the loyal
and wise resolution drawn up by that illustrious
statesman and approved by the conservative mem
bers OF this House. The Union men of Kentucky '.
as represented on this floor, and the Democracy
of Indiana. joining hands across the beautiful
river that divides and yet unites them, with one
heart and spirit. in the presence of the sacred dust
which forms a bond Of imperishable union, have
renewed the covenant of their fathers. Sir, when
you charge the Democracy with disloyalty you
assail the strong pillar of our hope. the loyal men
of the border States. who have bravely breasted
the storm of the rebellion.
Mr.. Conway: / ask the gentleman from Indi-
ana to permit me to make a personal e~xpiana
ton.
Mr.. Holman: l yield for that purpose.
Mr.. Conway: | desire to correct a statement
just made by the gentleman from Indiana-that
| have proposed to divide this Union. I have
made no such proposition. | have asserted that
the war in which we are now engaged has already
divided the Union; ard what | have proposed. sir,
is that this war shall be terminated on the basis
OF existing facts. in order that peace may be once
more restored. l deny the charge that some gen.
tlemen are disposed to make against me, of dis
solving this Union. or disintegratiug this Union.
On the contrary. / am in favor of maintaining
the Onion, as it exists to day; and no man sets
his face against all schemes of disintegration more
than | do. / insist that the war shall be termin.
ated and peace restored. That is all I ask. That
is my position.
Mr.. Holman: ! understand the gentleman from
Kansas, and cannot from the briefness of ms
time, yield any further. 1t is but a question OF
time. | asserted that he WAS in favor of dis
solving the Union. while he asserts that the
Union is already dissolved. The difference be
tween the gentleman and myself is but in the
form of expression. | thank God that deep as is
the darkness there is still IA CLEAN of hope. The
gentleman from Kansas demands peace, and de
mands il at the sacrifice of the honor and inieg.
rity of the Governments; while Horace Greeley,
the representative man and exponent and life
giver of the Republican party, proposes to give
Us some two or three months longer before the
fat shall 90 forth that the great Republic oil
North America has forever ceased 10 exist. a
gallant army of freemen forever dishonored, and
the blood of a nation she'd in vain. What Re
publican denOunces him as a traitori Sentiment:
like these come not from the Democratic party
If they did, sir. l should sit here humbled am
silent. and hear the term "%traitor" Kissed in ms
ear.
Sir. l trust l appreciate the blessings of peace
who does not who has seen the woe and agony o.
war, or heard the shrek of grief that swells with
the shout of victory or breaks the sullen siiencs
Of defeat? But, sir, there are things bittereI
than war. Dishonorable peace, while still NOR,
bitter. only invites las renewal; courage aud for
titude can alone compel and secure peace. Hav,
the enemies OF the Republic asked a suspension
of hosulities-an armisticeI Have they even sug
gested the possibility Of compromising the issues
that are being tried by the appeal to arms? No
sir Neither their sufferings nor returning pa
triOtism has as vet extorted one pc iceful ex
preston. Shall we insult our gallant army by
%humbing them in the presence OF their enemies
No, sir. When our victories shall be complete o.