Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-16


Or THE RESOLUTION TO APPOINT COMMITTEE TO
INVESTIGATES THE CHARGE MADE BY Mr.. BRAN
HAM, THAT DEMOCRATIC MEMBERs OF THE HOUSE,
HAD BEEN IN CONSULTATION WITH AN ENIssARY
FROM THE SoUrH.
Ma. SPEAKER: The gentleman from Jefferson
(Mr. Branham) M his speech in this House on
yesterday, made serious and grave charge
against the Democratic members of this House.
The substance of his charge was that he had
been informed and believed that an emissary from
the South had been IN this city. and had been in
consultation with Democratic members of the
House, and when he was asked to name the MEM
bers who had been holding this reasonable in
tercourse, he refused to do so This refusal sub
jects every member of the majority to the impu
tation of disloyalty / am unwilling to remain
silent when am charged with treason 1t is
true that in political discussions before the people,
| have been denounced as traitor, secession
ist, and sympathizer with the rebellion, but
had no means of compelling my accusers to es-
tablish the truth of the charge. The vote of my
county, where am best known, and where my
principles and conduct are well understood, is a
sufficient TO all such imputations, but this
charge is made by gentleman of standing, and
will be read by the people OF the State. IL has
been my pleasure to know the gentleman from
Jefferson for many year,, and | can with truth
say that | have entertained for him feelings
but those of kindness and respect He is by his
age, his experience in legislation, and his ability
entitled to be considered of the leaders, if not
the leader, of the opposition lpresume that he
has made the charge in good faith, believing it to
be true, and that he is willing to assume. all the
responsibility that attaches to such an accusation
and will endeavor to make his charge good. If
the charge is true the country should know it,
and if we have any traitors in body they
should he exDelle and branded with infamy, and
il it is not true il is due 10 ourselves, TO our con-
sttuents, and TO the whole country, that the
falsity of the charge should be mide manifest.
If we tamely and silently submit To such charge
the country will have right 10 conclude that il
is true aud that afraid of an investigation.
1t is true that the honorable gentleman nude
the charge under the excitement of debate, but
he has had ample time for reflection and tor his
passions to cool, and he has not wthdrawn the
charge. Knowing that am wholly and entirely
innocent OF the charge, and believing that my
Democratic friends upon this f0Og are also limo
cent. and being desirous of avaing myself of
this the first opportunity that has been presented
of repelling and disproving the often repeated,
but false and malicious charge. of disloyalty,
sOlemnly declare, that unless the charge is with
drawn in this House, where it was made, and TO
the full extent TO which il was made, that are
in duty bound to demand an investigation and
give the gentleman an opportunity to establish
the truth of the charge, or ID convince the cOun
try that the charge Is untrue shall vote for
the resolution, aud confidently hope that it will
be passed.
feel that it is my duty to answer the speech
which has just been made by the gentleman from
ST Joseph Mr. Anderson.
That honorable gentleman has to day. and on
several Othsr Oec isiVns indulged very freely in
inSinuatious against the loyaliy OF he Democratic
4
assurance attempted tO define cur principles and
To declare TO the country what for and
what We are against. He has charged that we
are ia favur OF taking the State of Indiana ont of
the Union; that we are in favor of establishing
Northwestern COnfederacy. with the purpose of
ultimately attaching it to tue Southern Confed-
eTacy; that we are in favor of armlstice; that
we propose to violate Ihe Constitution by vesting
authority in an Executive Council which the
Constitution has vested in the Governor; and that
by speeches. votes. acts. aud 10y the resolu-
tiOnS which have been introduced in this House,
we have convinced the country that We are Op-
posed 10 the Government and are in favor of rev
Olutionary measures. | am unwilling to permit
that gentleman 10 desne the principles of the
Democratic party, and TO dictate to us what
action shall he upon any OF thee subjects. He
has 10 authority and no riyhl to speak for the
Democratic p.ry. shall ,n'er into no labored
or lengthy argument to disIrlve the charge OF
dSlOyaity. ! ap eal To the IA story pf my country
and of my party ~ = complete vlIic itiOn. aud
am willing that the Democratic party shall be
jud.ei bv it, acts. For my-eii, will say that
have ever veneraied our Constitution, loved the
Union OF the States. and OJeyed the laws OF my
country aud | can with truth and sincerity say
that an not conscious oi IRVING ever enter
tane1 expressed a sentiment hat was disloyal
to NV country. | have exercised my natural
and constitutional right to differ from and oppose
the principles and policy of the present Admins
tration, aud Ia doing so believe have con-
suited the best interests of my country.
Mr.. Johnson: Does the gentleman from Mon
roe bel eve that he and his party can oppose the
policy of the Administration without thereby op
posing the Govern nenI?
Mr. Bu>kirk: 1 could answer the gentleman in
my Osn fDsuaSe and my own WV, but prefer
to answer him in the language of Mr. Seward the
founder AMI mouth piece The Republican party,
and who is now Secretary of State under Mr..
Lincoln 1t * true Mr. Seward was the choice
OF the Republican party for President, but he
was considered too radical and too much imbued
with Abolitionism to receive the nomination, and
that Mr.. Lincoln was nominated because he was
considere more Conservative. Ii is also true
that there il a strong and controlling element
in the Administration party which is opposed to
Mr. Seward's remaining in the CaUinet, because
he is cons dered too Conservative But presume
he will be considered good authority with you.
You will remember that. before the election last
fall, the Administration journals and orators said
that oppo sition to the Administration was oppo
sitioB to the Government, and that the success of
the Democratic party would be regarded as a tri-
umph of traitors After the elections were over
and the Democratic party had carried nearly all
the eectirns Mr.. Seward found it necessary TO
correct the error which had been committed by
his party friends. In letter to Mr.. Adams our
Minister to England he uses the following Ian
guage:
"In our country especially. Il is habit not
oRIg entirely consistent Icuk the Constitution but
eUen essentiaIfO its stability, 10 regard the Admin
isfr0tOR at any time srsfing distinct and seDa-
rate from The Gouerhment itself, and TO canvass
The proceedings of the one icifhOm The thought Of
disLOyaify 10 the other"
Iindorse aud app'ove every word OF Mr.. Sew
ard upon this subject believe that il contains
the true doctrine. Any other doctrine would
destroy republican form of government, and
ud convert the President into despot, in
stead of being the agent OF a sovereign people
/ thank God that the present Administration is
not the Government, for ii il was would loose
all hope for my country. i confidently trust
that the Government will exist long after this
Administration is only remembered on account of
its weakness, imbecility, folly and wickedness,
and will be referred to warning in all future
time. / trust that my friend is satisfied with my
answer.
Mr.. Speaker. believe have the entire CONT
dence of every Democratic Senator and Repre-
sentative in this Eegislature-we have had many
consultations. We have fully aud frankly inter
changed views and sentiments. ! believe that
know their views aud feelings and what their ac-
ton will be; and here declare before this House
and the country, that, in my judgment, there is