M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1863-06-04
Speech OF Hon. Daniel WlVOr-
hees, Upon Assuming the Office OF
Chairman at the late Democratic State
Mass Convention in Indiana.
From the indianapolis Sentinel, May col
MK. YORnEE,' srEECH.

MR., yoRHEE, SPEECH,
Mr.. Vorhees sail:
Wy Democratic Fellow ciiz.ns 5' ~ Sste o.
Jlndhna; us .f
For the dis.inguishp3 hoIH g,We
You have just contcra,aug'Hr,H is
calling me to aceep leliataaralea
position, return h. tHD .cF trHeAc
and heartfelt thauka AsDohaura'
and nnder such circnn5taG.es3l I'll, Sc
which surrouni this hear . pe called
upon to preside over sudir an Assem-
bIage as the one before me, is au honor
to be remembered TO the. latest hour
Of life, and to be treasured up as one
Of the highest, proudest distinctions
ever conferred by fellow 'citizens. =
From n greatIui heart, heart often
deeply touched by the kindness OF my
countrymen, thank You. 4 '
We meet to-day in accordance with
the time. honored custom Of poliucal
parties since the foundation of this
Government. There isenbthing new
in this assembly. Wefmeet as our
fathers met before us awe meet for
the high and holy purpose Of taking
part in the discussion OF those matters
which relate to the welfare OF a Gov
crnmeut formed and created, and
governed by the people. We do not
Recognize the tact that anything has
occurred or can occur 20 divorce the
people Of Indiana from an interest in
| public affairs. Wedo not admit that
the Democratic party is in any man.
ner ost;acised from participation in
matters Of government. s..
uoldng the Constitution OF my
country in my hand, | declare that
this is lawful assembly, lswfnl in
purpose and Iawiul in act. In tbs
great document al that it is an
Inalienatle rlgh, Of the people psacea.
bly, to assenb,o aod ask bra redress
% prieNaDao,, ~ sadder gIi5y.ncce
over be eli iae children Of men than
those v Nni,, atilil tho people OF the
/ United Smtro AZ this time. Con uslon
aud characterization tbs sky the very
Garth is lL,.ln with the sorrow OF our
people; the voice Of VOC and lamen
IatiOn goes up from every portion Of
Iouf distracted country , tho angel oI
death has spread his wings on the
| blast, and there has been no sacred
blood tprinkIcd on the door posts O.
our homes to stay the hand OF the
destroyer.
It's IN such time, my conntrymen
that we meet, according to the Illir
Eprecepts Of the Constitution, to ask the
Administration to redress those grew
ances which 5ear 50 heavily upon us
and return speedily to the policy in
augurated by the fathers Of ON Gov
crnment-that policy which ma We II.
a happy, united and '.f ra.r r"'
Such being our oNans ,a .at
tell us we shall nnt nlas; W..r.
the power that shaii u,erfare ST. ..n,
prevent us from psecea,.y ox" u4
our PLAN constitutional rioh's2 Ia
one, plant myself np-~ tra C.ngri.l
tion Of my country it Is ui. wc, 81
which ! buiit the church 1T ruj poIiti.
cal faith and the gatc4 oD hJll snail not
prevail against Il.
Having thus poaccably assembled,
according to the plain precepts OF the
Constitution, we are met. however, at
the very threshold by an issue which
We can not avoid. an issue which it is
out of our power to ignore for a single
moment. We are met with a plain,
paipable and audacious denial of the
liberty OF speech. And when thus
met what shall we do? What shall
we say ! turn again to the Consti,
tution-the rock on which the temple
OF liberty ia bniit-and ask what does
that Constitution say What it says,
you, fellow citizens, and are willing
to do. 1t is the rule OF our conduct
and We know no other. 1t is q sate
guide in all cases ; it leads us over
no uncertain grounds; it has been
tried. The Constitution is all we
want; we will have it as it is without
any additions or subtractions. When
am met with a denial Of the right o.
free speech, | will come to the Con.
stitution and ask what it says. II
says that Congress, which is the only
legislative power known to ths-Gov
ernment, shall pass Nc, Law abridgirg
the freedom of speech, or.dflhe .prass
), Thus saith the hook % Let that b.
true, l'longb all The world be.a liar
!, Iftbe E.Hgyee4 d. The Uaiied. State,
can not. = 4Hsr The Constitution; pass
,3aayJaw-rl '8g-yipl l,e freedom
.,--ut ETaeci - caI, 9qYbo1y else do iP
/ No. al +Ais IS tie houSy OF my refuge
p Hithor .mc may come fofd safety; w
iI Is155 3 sybf a Of the very horns Of TIL
! altar ard in tie nsne. Of America
lib erty, aud with firm reliance bpoI