Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-02-05


fected anxiety to restore to the entire Re
public the peace, prosperity and happiness
which, for . tilns, we have lost through
the agency Of wicked men, may give them
a temporary Importance, for they have
proselyted many who, honest themselves, be.
levo in the sincerity Of others, but reflection
will test their trathfulne,s do not intend,
Mr.. President, to pursue these remarks
much further, but the Senator from Ken.
lucky made some personal illusions to my
Democracy, which must briefly notice. Sir,
! never like to introduce personal matter.
into the discussion of public questions. =
| have lived long enough in this world to
know something about the evils which grow
out OF personalities. 1t was my conviction,
1t is now. that when, year ago, in a time
Of war, one fourth of the Democratic mem.
bers OF Congress undertook to form party
organization, they were doing wrong. |
did not make that remark then for the first
time, but before | left the Old World,
said looked upon secession as the greatest
calamity which could befall my country;
that II it succeeded, the country was gone.
In the month Of February, 1861, before
Abraham Lincoln was inauguratej as Prcsi-
dent, l wrote to friend letter that has
been extensively published, in which | said
This is no time to organize parties; if the
doctrine Of jeff Davis is successful, there Is
nothing left, my friend, to you or to me. -
l say 80 now. do hot consider that there
is onything in this country worth talking
about whenever that doctrine is acauiesced
in, either by an armistice or by suspension
Of bostilties. The moment You draw back
one soldier from the field, or Withdraw the
command of one General, or do ANYTHING
which in the slightest degree recognizes
secession, everything is gone-and why?-
Because that underies the whole contro
versy. II secession is tolerated, I know nc
obligation upon any State; know no obi.
CATION upon Government; | know OF
nothing which will be left worth having
To the true patriot, this question rise,
above party; and for myself, am willing to
sacrifice everything o'save this Govern
ment.
VIII you tell me what il left to us them
Take of one State from the Union; disin
tegrate ovon one clnnty; take off six feet
square from this Union, and you destroy
the COMPACT Of your fathers, for this is not
rope OF sand; it is not mere confederacy
to be torn up like men who are engaged in
selling goods; it is solemn compact Of
Government, a Constitution. Is it not re.
markabe that in the midst of this crowded
Senate, when the country is struggling as
It now IS; a Senator representing the great
State OF Kentucky could talk for an hour
and hall, and not say one word against
the rebels who are destroying this Govern
meut- by secession? The preservation OF
the Government is essential for everything
we hold dear on earth. and yet the Senator
from Kentucky can talk for an hour AMI
half without saying one word against the
rebels or rebellion.
| wish the Senator would come to Indi.
ana and preach his doctrine of no coercion.
He talks about my going over the State,
| can tell him that | have gone over the
State. and no one there dare whisper ths
idea that he would vote against taxes to
pay the soldiers; that he would vote
against giving us currency; that he would
vote against a resolution declaring that this
war was commenced by the South II he
were to go to my State and talk such doc
trines, can tell him the result would not
be very favorable to him. do not know
how it may be in Kentucky; but such ideas
fnd no loigment in Indiana. | will not
now review the recent election in my State.
The means and influences, and the circum
stancesundcr which the result was achieved,
have been well stated by my honorable
colleague. have before alluded To that
natter myself, and l now leave it to history.
Mr.. President, there has been something
said about reading men ont of the party. =
| do not know whore genliemnn in this age
get the power to read men out of the party;
bnt eau say what tho Democracy of Indi
ana would do. They would vote out of the
party man who would vote against cocr
zion. Now, sir, noble river separates the
States of Kentucky AMI Inliana. Those
States have thus far been friendly, and
trust they will ever be so, but | assure the
Senator that he knows but little ofthe hon.
est people Of Indiana, il he supposes that
when they have sent over one hundred
thousand men to the army, they do not in.
tend to save this Government for posterity.
You may talk about Democratic conycn.
IionS, and your candidates may speak tor
nore vigorous prosecution OF the war, and
DO continually finding fault; but can tell
YOU that you little understand the noble
Democracy Of the Northwest il you SUP
pose they intend to cavil long about this
question. They mean that this Govern
nent shall be preserved for them and their
children.
Senator'S If ever this capital falls, it will
,e because OF traitors in the North. If YOU
ai to put down this secession movement,
/ the hour Of calamity comes upon us, /
make the prediction that it will come from
he hand Of traitors in the North. am
lot sure that there was not concocted
Ian within the last ten days to bring into
his. city two regiments to Co operate with |
he secessionists with a view to surrender
his capital. The rebel emissaries are about
ou they may be in these very Halls.-
they come under one name and
Ometimes under another. Sometimes the
government is attacked in the name of De.
iocracy; sometimes the army is opposed
ut the result of all these attacks results in
he accomplishment OF the same bad end,
he destruction Of the Government say
hat every loyal man and woman in this
Duntry out to be protected; but repeat,
nd the honest Democracy of Indiana will
nstain me in the sentiment, if there is no
ther way to save this country, let destIuc.
on do its work among the enemies of the
for tho Government must and
hall be preserved, cost what il may. Let
ne Senator, il ho will, come into my State
nd talk about the widows Of the South. |
Ill point him to fresh made graves all over
~ State. Indiana has lost more than
iteen thousand men in this war. To day