The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-05-28

The Speech of Mr.. Voorhees, on Ia
king the Chair AS President.

State Of Indiana:
For the distinguished honor which you
have Just conferred upon me in calling me
to accept this elevated position, return to
YOU my sincere and heartfelt thanks. AT
such time and under such circumstan-
ces as those which surround this hour to
be called upon to preside over such an as
! sen'h!a9e as the one before me, is an hon
or to be remembered 10 the latest hour of
| life, and TO be treasured up as one Of the
highest proudest distinctions ever confer
red BY my fellow citizens. From a CRATE
full heart, a heart often deeply touched
by tie kindness Of my countrymen
thank You.
We meet to-day in accordance with the
time honored custom of political parties
since the foundation of this government.
There is nothing new in this assembly
We meet as our fathers met before us; we
meet for the high and holy purpose of ia
king part in the discussion of those mat
ters which relate TO the welfare of gov
eminent formed and created, and govern
ed by the people. We do not recognize the
fact that any thing has occurred, or can
occur to divorce the people of Indiana
from an interest in public affairs. We do
not admit that the democratic party is in
any manner ost,acised from participa-
ton in matters OF government
Holding the constitution Of my country
ia my hand, | declare that this is law
full assembly. lawful in purpose and law
ful in act In this great document | read
that it is an na,ienabe ri light of the people
peaceahly 10 assemble and ask for a redress
of grievances. No sadder grievances ev-
er befell the children of men than those
which afilict the people Of the United
States at this time Confusion and disor-
der darken the SKY; the very earth is laden
with the sorrow of our people; the voice of
woe and lamenta.ion goes up from every
portion Of our distracted country; the an
gel Of death has spread his wings on the
blast, and there has been no sacred blood
splinkled upon the door posts of our homes
to stay the hand Of The destroyer. 1t is in
such time, my courtrymen. that We meet
according to the plain precep's of the con
stiluliOn. to ask the administration to re
dress those grievances which bear SO heav-
lily upon US, aud return speedily to the
policy inaugurated by the fathers of our
government - that policy which made US a
happy. united, and fraternal people.
Such being our objects. who shall tell
us We shall not meet! W here is the pow
er that shall interfere with or prevent Us
from peaceably exercising our plain consti'
tutional rights? for one, plant myself
upon the constitution Of my country; it is
the rock on which | built the church oil
nv political faith, aud the gates oil bell
shall not prevail against it.
Having thus peaceably assembled, ac-
: cording TO The plain precep;s of ,h. con-
situlioD, we are met, however, at the very
threshold By an issue which we canno
: avoid. an issue which it is out of our pow
| er to ignore for a single moment. We
are met with a plain. pslpable. and audac-
4 ious denial of the liberty Of speech. An,
when thus met what shall We do? VIVA
shall We say! turn again to the consu-
tution-to th rock on which the tempt,
of Liberty is built--apd ask what doe
that constitution say! What it says, You
fellow citizens, and are willing to do,
u is the rule Of our conduct and we know NJ
other. 1t is safe guide in all cases;
leads US over no uncertain grounds, it ha
: been tried. The constitution is all W
: want; we will have it as it is, without an,
additions or sub>trac.ions. When an
met with denial of the right of fire.
I speech. viii come to the constitution
and ask what it says. 1t says tina: Con
gres, which is the only legislative powe
u known to the government, shall pass n
Il law abridgng the freedom of speech or Q
L the press Thus saith the book. LIE
: that be true. though all the world be Ii
: ar If the Congress of'lhe United States ear
not, under the constitution, pass amy Law
interfering with the freedom ofspeech, Ca
any body else do it? No. This is tn
$ house Of my refuge. Higher We VII! com
u for safety; We will lay hold Of the Yer.
d horns on the altar. and IN the name q
American liberty. and with a firm relianc
upon just God, bid defiance TO our persC
y cutors.
ask that this book may speak again i
our favor. 1t says that the couslitutlo