Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-13

not Feouke IT. ana resent the spfit "hich eictaeS
IL.
Nov. Mr.. Speaker. let u examine some OF the
7uesto that have been before the House m this
debate. We have reached a grave and melan-
choly crisis IN the history of this war: We have
reached a sad and mOmentous crisis m the history
OF our country. and IL becomes u standing here,
at the close of the 37th Congress, 10 look back
and indulge IN some "reminiscences OF the past.
Let Us look back 10 the circumstances which sur
rounded the Inauguration of this war Let us re
call the principles then announced by this Ad
minisiratlon. Let Us recall the pledges which
10 gave that this should be prosecuted
solely 10 sustain the Constitution, and thus pre-
serve the Union as il came 20 from our an
cestOrs; and then let US book at the present.
Let Us behold the working of the new ab0ll-
ton, corrupt system which has been adopted
for its prosecution In this way we can plainly
determine why Is IL that this terrible crisis has
been reached; why is il that a CONSUMPTION bill
TO force soldiers into the field is now engaging
the attention of this bodyl Sir let the gentle
men here remember, the people of the coun
Try well remember, the unanimity with which
that unparalleled uprising of the people took
place. when this baleful and most disastrous
war hrst came upon Us. Ii was then announced
that the only purpose TO preserve the Con
stitution and restore the Union under the Con
stitutiOn. That was the object. and none other.
WHICH Idieu tie people DN uuhuitI- VI tuou
sands. | remember we'll the first time | lifted
my voice in this Hall IL was Just one year go.
In that speech | rehearsed the pledges which
every department OF the Government had given
10 the people and on which army raised
for the prosecution of this war. | cad the in
augural of the President, in which he said he
had NO power nor inclination TO touch the in
stitutOn OF slavery in the States. aud that the
fugitive slave law must be executed. | read
l.. a. ..fl
gress in July. in which he reiterated TIE state
ments OF his inaugural on these important ques-
tons. | rehearsed the teachings OF the Cab
net and especially of the distinguished Secre-
tary Of State, who had spoken ANONYMOUSLY
upon these and kindred subjects They were
all to the same purpose | recalled the an
nouncement OF distinguished Generals in the
field sustaining the doctrine proclaimed by the
Presiden: and the Cabinet All announced then
that this war wac to be prosecuted within, by
virtue of, and for the purpose OF restoring the
Constitution OF the country. saw, even then,
however, ugly symptoms, clouds lready gath
erng in the sky p0rtending that all these
pledges were TO be broken The gentleman
from Massachusetts Mr.. Elliott had introduced
his resolutions looking to the entire overthrow
OF the institution of slavery in connection with
the prosecution of the war. The gentleman
from Pennsylvania, the Chairman of the Com.
also introduced his celebrated resolutions.
therefore at that time read these pledges OF the
Government against the radical tendencies,
which | saw developing rapidly as the Ad
minstration dared. | used upon that OCCASION.
the following language, which | look back
with pleasure To night:
"Mr Chairman, am amazed utterly amazed. when
the present with the past tins subject al
changed at least far Congress Is concerned Pledge
upon pledge has been made by every department of
Government In the opening stages OF this conflict Tue
national faith has been pghted at home aud abroad IN
the most binding aud obligatory manner, that the domes-
tic laws aud customs of the seeded 10 be
violated that slavery not be abolished, that
'savages be let loose We heard dig
protests then against this policy Tongues that are
now loud IN It's ieuunciation were then mute Voices
that now high in wrath again II were then silent
AN army however, OF six hundred thousand men now
stands banded together under the control OF mi
discipline la that suppose, the object of conservative
pledges l. accomplished and the time has arN ed for the
iulnlment of the purposes OF this war, according the
views If Aboonts. They demand now that all these
pledges shall be broken They demand Ist the faith OF
the Government hall be dishonored. They demand
the present shall be di>graced the eyes
of all the world by abandoning its deliberate n
struction Of the Consttutioniis boldly openly
marked line of policy They demand that the army shall
be deceived that the promises by viii II was raised
shall be proven false; that soldier shall fight ana
die IA tue prosecutor OF purpose, wnieh were concealed
from him when he enlisted aud which he abhors. They
demand that the people shall be betrayed nd their hard
earned money taken To support this war; conducted on
principles which they utterly repudiate. And above ALL
they demand that the Constitution be ruthle>ly violated;
that the laws be stricken down. and that the old Union
such ouriahers made IT, shall never be restored. Had
they aVowed their purposes at the opening OF this
aud appealed country support alrocious
trine which they now avuw; had they made heir demands
then. no proud army would now line hou and miles OF
border but, laher, my colleague IMr. Dunn has well
and truthuily said on this huor, would have
ca composed OF small and deludcd band such fol-
lowed lohn Brown 10 uarpcrs berry. Let these demands
be granted and the appalling fact viii stand
fesed that stupendou fraud has been pracced on the
nation. and that the army Of the United States has been
obtained by false pretensrs Let these demands be
granted now and no American Union will more
bless the eyes OF men,"
Mr. Speaker, one by one all these fatal de
mands of extreme, Unconstitutional Abolitionsm,
have been granted by this Administration Every
conservative pledge lay which mighty army MAS
obtained has been broken: every one. The people
who rallied under your pledges solemnly given.
and filled the ranks of YOUR army, have been
deliberately deceived They trusted YOU once.
and you have been false To them. This is the
reason why new army cannot bc raised from "A
willing people This is the reason why YOU seek
To establish despotism 10y this bill. IN order to
oil the ranks OF the army by force. This j. the
reason why Republican members themsel, es
admit that. loyal are the people OF the country.
YOU cannot get another volunteer. counting
people believed when they drew their swords that
II was 10 uphold the principles of the Constitution:
they believed thes were following the ark OF the
living God through the wilderness TO uphold aud
protect " from the hands OF idolators This
House told them. the President told them, the
Cabinet told them. their leading Generals told
them, that when the army was once raised. IL
should be used 10 sustain the old glory the old
hig TO give us back the union aud the Coustitu
ton "a they wee IN the beginning But the,
have been cruelty betrayed, and hence, Nh.
Speakr,. 10 uisii. this couscription bill Had
this var been conducted for the Constitution
no coercion would have had 20 be practced
bill would nov De needed IL the people did
been deceived and their confidence used Tor
corrupt and unlawful ends; IL they did not feel
thIi their blood had been taken for purposes
never contemplated by them 10 they did not
feel that their first born hid been stricken
down N b,uie % carry out purposes which
we're hidden from them whcu they we're sednced
by false promises iuio the rauks-if the people
we're not deeply Impressed with all this. you
would not uow have a blll before this House
authrying, IN violation OF The Constitution,
the exercise of "a de-pctic. con-crptive, "A
coercve power over the loyal people of the
country to Get another army You have
destroyed the public confidence. and that j. the
reason Why YOU now resOrti1g To tins
measure
Mr. Speaker. have heard much bo tile crit
cism, and listened 20 man, assaults made on the
minority OF this House. because OF the party
spirit which IL Is alleged have shown We
same here feeble, II j. true, We came surrounded
10y The Hines OF popular phrensy. equal almost.
Ia the flames through which the three Hebrew
children walked la the DAYS of old The smell