The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-04-01

---1~=oR Indiana
Headquarters District Of Indiana,
Department of the Ohio,
INpIANAPOLIs, March 24. IS63.

of Indiana, let me have the ear OF the
people. Let us reason togeth>r. Prac
tical views of duty become us all.
And, lst Secret political societies
have gained many adherents They
were the bane of the Republic in the
days of Washington. They swelled the
horrors of the French Revolution. They
will curse you.
The ballot-Lox and open debate mark
a free people, Trust them That which
shuns the light of day should not be en-
dured by you. Come out; abjure their
vows; reject their tests. Whatever their
name, whatever your party, seek the old
paths, and work as you once did, agree
ing to disagree upon questions of mere
party polity, but ever united in support
Of the Government and the Nation.
End. Our quiet citizens arm with Sc
cret weapons. The laws of Indiana for
bid it. 1t is not within the intent of the
Constitution. 1t offends good morals,
religion, and every social duty, and is
barbarous. Let the early history of Ar
kansas and Texas tell their fearful i'm
port 1t is needless Your franchises
are safe; far safer through the protec-
ton of our common Government than
when every man is the law to himself
Besides this, your brethren are in the
field for your sake. This indeed gives
the military power, which is dormant in
time Of peace, a present prominence.
But this power is of the people, and to
serve the people.
The Government that wields it is your
Government 1t can have. no interest
but yours. Armies exist, not to invade
or imperil, but to insure your dearest
rights Remember that in civil matters
they who obey the law never feel the
fangs of the law. Offenders alone suffer-
So the citizen-soldier when true to his
oath and his duty is no terror to the good
citizen While this be true, it is as true
that every man who bears a secret weap-
on is tempted to use it when flushed
with passion; and the good and pure of
all parties are at the mercy of the weak
or wicked. He whose moral power can
influence whole people is reduced to
the level of the worst, and the strength of
his muscle. For your own sake, for the
peace of your families, for the sake of
education, religion and all you hold dear,
enforce the laws as to carrying conceal
ed weapons and you will find quietness
restored to your hearts and homes.
Sd Resistance to the arrest of desert
ers is another form of resistance to law,
and sure road to anarchy and blood.
shed. Law must be respected until re-
pealed Deny its policy, if you will
Labor for its repeal, ifyou will; but re-
sistance is madness; because it is your
own law; it is your own peace, and your
own government you threaten; and when
your turn comes to legislate you will
have undermined your own rights, and
when anarchy rules, liberty dies.
4th Your brethren are in the field,
your homes are safe, and you prosper.
Your government would have more men
Remember that every man owes his all
to the State, and by the very laws of So
cial life, he is bourd t o give his all, if
need be, as the measure of his obligation
to the State. We have had peace so
long that we forget how much we owe to
society. Now, our reciprocal obligations
must be felt and rendered. Let not the
conscription or enrolment of the people
for the national defense be the occasion
for assailing the national life Stand by
every law until repealed, or declared un-
constitutional by the proper tribunal.
Let every man, everywhere, recount his
mercies, compare his lot with that of any
ether people, and he will never withstand
| his government or the laws of his coun-
try.
9Th. The coming spring elections, oc-
curing at time of unusual excitement,
call for notice, as false impressions pre-
vail as to the duty or intent of the sol
dier. The soldier at home votes as does
another citizen If absent he must be
content to leave his civil rights in the
charge of others. When voting he must
20 to his duty unarmed, as does every
good citizen He is sworn to maintain
law, and is the last man to interfere with
the rights of others; and the right of the
people properly to express their will by
the ballot box is sacred and inviolable,
and must be kept so.
9th. A word to the press. Your pa
triotism and moderation are now put to
a severe test You can correct false i'm
pressiOns; you can inspire the confidence
of the people in our common future; you
can do justice to all without comprO-
missing single valuable party interest;
or, you can develop disorder and madden
the votaries of party to recklessness OF