Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-24


have ono comprofai-e ~ith men Nith arrns 10
their hands. and other equally choice ana lucid
. Arguments we're used hy them. e. .lr. ~e
told these gentlemen then what would b. the cUn-
sequence OF Dersistng IN their line Of policy; and
| am sorry to say events have proved ouf prophe
cy true: ard to-day We nave -presd All over Che
land the mournful evidence OF the madness, the
blindness and the deafness Of party fanatics.
When the evidence of partisan biunders and
mbecility which is n0s before a bleeding coun-
try, has failed 10 awaken them. am satisfied
anything that / may viii not convince them
OF their error If the eloquent voice OF our pres
ent condition i passed unheedet 4 doubt II any
tang IeSs terrible than the thundertoits OF Jove
himself could awaken them 70 the solemn truths
of our national condition.
But while such j. tie case. ] rejoice "a know
that the masses Of the people neither blind
nor deaf They both see and hear-and. sir.
they have seen aud heard, and. / thank God
they have spoken, tOO-spOken in a voice which,
ii il could reach the ears of our deaf rulers II
Washington would alay the surging pillows Of
discord and bring speedy peace and lasting
unity 10 this distracted land. But the fsfes have
otherwise ordered. The vuture OF war still hoyers
over W. and we are called upon to-day TO act our
part in the bloody role THIS we shall 90 boldly
and fearIessly. A in times past 40 ia the iu-
ture. We are tor our country; Tor the Union aud
the Constitution unconditionsily--lor the use OF
any means adapted 10 their preservation.
Mr.. President. the base tongue and pen OF party
slandereFs have been busy IN their work OF de
traction toward the Democratic party Needless
OF the country's welfare and only intent upon a
party advantage. the base minions OF power have
let no opportunity escape TO enc jurage the Rebels
with the false nope that the greet Democratic
party Of the nation is in sympathy with their &C
cursed cause But for these ISLANDERS and lies,
E md xxirh the Doficv Dur-upI NV the Adj
minstraton. | firmly believe the hope, OF the
Rebels and the rebellion itself. would have been
broken ere this time.
Now. sir, what i the truth upon these subiectSf
What has been. and what is the position OF the
Democratic party in regard 20 the war 7 Upon
this sub sct | shall speak freely. for there Is NO
virtue in dodging the issue. | shall speak
for my sell alone, but believe speak IN conso-
nance with the voice of the entire conservative
body of the country. We opposed the causes
which led 10 the war; but when the Government
became involve. in il, we accepted the fact
ignored the cause-snd gave TO the Government
our hearty support. The ranks OF the army will
attest the fact that Democrats were not rpmss in
their exertionS 10 sustain the Government. But
sir we never did approve the policy OF negro
emancipation, o . war TO accomplish IT. and we
do not approve OF that policy now, because ice be
iiere Il is disunion policy, and if persisted in
"a
ton. But right or wrong. owe allegiance to my
/. Government lt has the power TO make war and
to make peace | may lawfully protest, rs now
10. against rulnOuS policy, but 10 resist the
Government, refuse to obey its lawful man
dates is not reserved 10 any one Tie war.
therefore, while the Government DEGREES il. must
be prosecuted; and while it Is prosecuted. il
should be done with vigor and powe. Such a
prosecution is less bloody and expensive in the
uI.sr. ,r..H
ner. But We have witnessed with deep regret
the policy OF the war changed To II purpose, not
for the Union. but Tor the abolition OF slavery.
The accomplishment OF that purpose the Demo
cratic party has always opposed. We have no
faith whatever that the Union be restored
while that policy is maintained. Since. there
fore, the has ceased To be war tor the MON.
am in favor of returning To the original purpose.
or ifthat cannot lie done. then am in favor of
bringing il to "A conclusion soon il can be
done honorably, ana ia legal and constitutional
way. But sir. am not. nor is the Democratic
party. in favor OF letting the Union slide y
am in favor OF a pol CIV which will unite the two
sections they were before the Abolitonists and
Secessionists brought this war upon the country.
do not approve of the policy of Withholding
supplies for the suStenauce and comfort of the
brave men who are IN the army. or refusing to
send others 10 relieve and assist them il the call
- made DIV the government. Inc men III the
field must he fed, clothed, and paid well and
promptly. But would adopt policy that would
shorten the period of their hard service and make
that service more agreeable to them For them
i have deep sympathy Some of them are my
kindred; all of them, | hope. my friends
certainly am theirs No, sir DO not Sympa
thze with any policy that would stint our soldiers
in the field. or cause them desert the flag unde-
which they have volunteered But If | could
starve Mr. Lincoln. and thereby cause him anu
his Cabinet to desst from their Abolition. Union
destroying policy, would do So My plan for
slipping IRE ,rar is TO remore the cause Of IL
When the cause is removed the effect will cease
| have asserted that the present war policy OF
the Administration cannot succeed IN restoring
the Union. but that il is dsunion policy; and |
now propose To state briefly my grounds Tor that
assertion.
We have nearly closed the second year of
the war. and in determining ts efficacy in restor.
ing the Union il j. interesting To compare the
condition and when il first began. | need
not consume much time in recounting the familiar
but deeply deplorable history of the past two
years. IL presents u scene heart rendng To every
patriot Carnage. death and desolation have lett
their impress upon every page The casuhltie,
ot the battlefield AID disease have brought
mourning to every household. THIS is no ess
true in the South than II j. here.
w hen the war broke out The South WAS lar
from being unit in favor OF the policy OF the
midmen OF that section In bur few of the e
coded States were the sece>sionists i'm the msori
~ in several of them, upon the hrst vote. the
Union sentiment largely prevailed. But why did
II prevaIlI Because. NJ 10 that time. the people
had hope that the Critreuden compromise. or
some similar measure, would be adopted, by
which their rights. rs they understood them. AMI
contended for them. would be secured. That
gave them strength. aud until that hope Was
crushed to the ground by the action OF the ultra
factions North and South, they had the ma or
ity.
The utras of the South knowing the effect war
would have upon their own people. did not wait
for Mr. Lincoln strike the first blow. They
were wise enough e. see that compromise would
divide and defeat them. and that war would unite
and strens then them Hence they we're oppose Ell
TO compromise and in favor of war. Bot the
seemingly strange part OF the history is that any
man at the North, claiming 10 be Union man,
shond have helped the Rebels to DO exactly what
they wanted done. Yet such Is the tact. The
radicals OF each section opposed compromise
aud favored war. aud bv their unity OF action
they succeeded in defeating the one and inausur
atins the other
The effect of the war policy Was stated by the
lsmeuted Douglas in the last speech he even de-
liverei in the United States Senate when he de
clared. in March. 1861. chat 'rar is disanion -
Thas declaration i true So long a, the var
lists. disunon will last IL WAS begun b, ;he
South tor the purpose ct producing that effect
Their hope l. that 10 NAV be continued until