Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-02
INDIANAPOLIS, IND, MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1863

you as a representative man of our institutions
a loyal man from the slave States-who is for the
Union, the whole Union. He had presented to a
sea OF people here Governor Crittenden, but he
never felt the same emotions as now. when he
presented to this vast throng ANDY johnson, from
the State of Tennessee, the home Of jackson.
Loud cheers followed
Governor Johnson: The vast audience here to-
day must bear with him. His voice was weak
from a cold. While an inhabitant of another
State he claimed to be citizen of the United
States, and addressed the people of Indiana as
his fellow citizens. He found an Audience here
to-day far beyond his capacity Of voice to address
De appeared in the midst of a civil war-a reYo-
luton. 1t was embarrassing. If there were any
here who came expecting an oratOrical display,
they would be disappointed. He would only at
tempt to present the great questions which had
involved the country in civil war. The cOniu-
sion here drowned the voice of the speaker-n0t
distinctly heard, at best
Governor johnson resumed. He was about to
state that just the other day the contest was be-
tween the respective parties in pronouncing eulo
gieS on the Union. They We'd with each other in
this labor. What has in so short time caused
portion of our cOuntrymen 70 seek the overthrow
OF the Constitution and the UniOnl IL had been
said he knew, that one portion had been depriv ed
of their rights. He asked the sea of upturned
faces, what right had we taken from any portion
of the people under the Constitution of the cOun-
try? Why then this crusade? Ii there is who
could answer, he would like TO hear il. He did
not appear as partisan He had not changed
his political creed. He was now what he always
had been. He had Lot changed his views on the
fundamental principles that underlie the Consti-
tuition. He stood here to day Democrat TIE
Union OF these States fundamental prnci
pie of Democracy. The people were the source
of all power. Their will, when expressed through
the forms of law, was supreme He held to the
principle that governments were made for the
people. The shoe was nude for the foot, and
not the foot for the shoe. What rights have you
when You take away law? Ii protects the weak
against the >trong-vrtue against vice. This
was part of his Democracy.
What has brought this calamity upon the
country? Ia lS40 he was engaged in that me-
mOrable contest Then the stars and the stripes
were borne on the banners of both parties, each
vielng with the other in devotion 10 the Union
That was the great struggle at that day. The
contest was, whose measures were the best cal
culated to preserve the Urion and maintain the
Constitution Then why this disunion III theSOuth,
and why this sympathy here? Ii Is bad enough
there, but it is worse here just the other day
when Douglas. Breckenridge, Lincoln and Bell
were before the people, still each were loud IN
expressions col devotion to the Union lie made
speeches iOr bfecHmridge because he wanted 10
defeat Mr. Lincoln. anu the Breckinldse men
denied having any designs against The Uu.Ou.
He had advocated the claims OF Brech iuriu.e
When he turned traitor. we're his ioi!ove,s aii tu
turn traitOrst lie was deceived theH by lis lead
er, and it was Breckiuridse's laUlJ. 1t would bc
his were he deceived again lie read from the
speech of Breckenridge on moving TO the new
Senate Chamber They were sentiments which
his followers read to the people 10 convince them
that he was the better Union Enal. What mas
transplred since to make the Union OdOusI Let
me ask in soberness. II Breckinride or Davis had
been elected instead OF Llucon. could tie SDuth
not have stood this Union Tor four years longer!
Then the question resolves Itself into this, that
the scepter had departed and they would not sub
NIT TO temporary less of power Are we 20
have civil war after every election? ii We are
to divide after every Presidential election, what
are we to oGme TO? Look at poor distracted
Mexico. Hence, he said in the Senate, let Mr.
Lincoln call his Cabinet around him and 20 on
TO administer the Government. If IL was good
we could have the advantage Ii bad. change it
by the forms of tie Constitution. Mr. Lincoln
had not a majority in either branch OF Congress
when he was inaugurated. The Senate could
reject even his Cabinet Then where was the
dangerI But there was fixed determination 10
break up and destroy the Government The
great matter was to have pretext. lie read
from the Montgomery Advertiser, stating that
the revolution was not precpitate measure. 1t
had been the fixed design for forty years and agi-
tated all over the country for ten years. Cen
Jackson spoke upon the subject wears ago. If
there were anv jackson Democrats here he would
address them. He was told not long since toy
Mr.. Donaldson that shortly after the secession of
the State number of traitors marched around
the tomb OF the old hero with tie stars and bars
oil - Il. I
pected 10 see the cd hero rise from his grave 10
drive them of" He held in his hand the oriei-
nal manuscript. written thirty wears ago, IN which
he said, speaking of Notification, Humans
gallows should be the fate OF all such. The
tariff was only pretext and d.sJnlon and
Southern Contederacy the oblect-the next pre-
text viii be the negro and slavery"
There it Is You have it, What rights have
the South lost? ask it as Southern man. The
prophecy has been fulfilled to "A letter.
Travelling along, who commenced this nelari-
Gus war-who fired the first sun-who shed the
first bloodY He rehelrsed the history of the
Sumter affair. AS soon as it could travel on the
wings OF lightning it was told at Montgomery,
and the work of war commenced. Dir. Lincoln
then issued his proclamation calling out 100000
men, and he was denounced as a tyrant and
despOt. Had he not done so, would not the bay
onets of JEFF. Davis have come \ orth, and would
we not have military despOtism? Lincoln viO-
lated the Constitution. Why, they forget that
JEFF Davis and his piratical crew violated it. His
sympathzers see nothing wrong South. but all
wrong North. He sid to those that attempted
to build up party on these grounds, that they
would be swept away. y State has right TO
secede, has it? / tell you. State never can
leave the Union without shedding blood. He
elaborated and spoke of the boundaries of States
and Territories. He believed the Constitution
and the Government would come out triumphant.
1t was indestructible, For seven years your
fathers struggled. We are struggling now. The
sons of lndiana-GOd bless them-are struggling
now. For seven years the fathers struggled amid
toll and privation and blood, and they succeeded,
AS we would now.
The Constitution is indisuuctible Go back to
its origin. 1t was to form a more perfect Union
Its trainers philosophers well states
men. They knew that all things were undergo
ing change, and they framed it TO meet the ever
changing condition of things. The 9th article
provided that when two thirds of the States con-
sented it could be changed. Why thus seek to
destroy it? Peaceable secession and reconstruc-
ton indeedl He held that State could not 90
out Secede meant to disintegrate-to go back
to original elements. He illustrated. When the
Constitution of the State was formed men in a
sovereign capacity voted for or against it, He
went in as a sovereign; could he go out SOW
ereign without the leave ofhis fellow soveregns?
A man built house or block in city He
got mad; could he secede and burn his house.
lie repudiated the whole doctrine of secession.
he was for the Union, and il it became necessary
the last drop ofblood that warmed his veins should
pour out in its defense.
What is the doctrine now with the sympa-
thzers? For the Constitution il is aud the
Union as il was. What is it doing2 1t is giving
aid and comfort to armed rebels South. An
armstice, indeedl Why, they are laughing at
them down south. They will hear nothing but
.oaoo.,.t;.... LIZA 4Lo.. i.rrnt thnt thnrn .,r.n