Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-07
speech OF ur. Burton On the Boiling
nnesffon.

a.
time soE me - yiasscate thai course NIL SAY
In the 6r.t place. however, that | am opposed 10
adopting the resoIutiou under discussion. with or
without the proposed amendment. IN any shape
or form am opposed 10 making any attempt
whatever to compel or force those boilers or Sc
ceiers TO return to their duties upon tins hoor
| oppose il. sir. because | am now, ana ever
have been, opposed 20 the prinfiple of coercion
being exercised in free Government like this.
am opposed 10 il as applied 10 States or To in
dividuals representing free people. because IN
either case it endansers civil liberty. Sir, when
We undertook 20 preserve the Constitution and
perpetuate the Union "a fathers made them.
bY the sword, we lost sight OF tie cardinal doc
trines Of our Government, and departed from the
spirit of our Tree institutions. 50, likewise, the
moment that we attempt 20 carry on the ieglsia'
ton of the General Assembly BY forcing and
holding any portion or the representatives OF the
free people OF Indiana here. At The point OF the
bgyonet that moment we thwart the very object
for which the Assembly Instituted. and de
part from the fundamental principles which dis
tnguish "A free government from monarchy
But sir, aside from this objection upon principle,
we must remember that these are indeed critical
times when excitement high, and decided
step OF this character, upon question oi doubtful
policy might possibly inaugurate a bloody revo-
luton i'm Indiana; and |. for one. sm opposed TO
this floor profess to ieve peac and advocate it
in preference To war; and |. one OF that mum
Der, will resist to the last, By my vote and my
voice any measure which might result in the
unnecessary shedding OF blood, unless it be Il
measure Of legitimate legislation, absolutely de
mauded by the people.
Ii the Abohtionists who have seeded from
this body desire 10 inaugurate a revolution, let
them shoulder the weighty responsibility and take
the consequences Ii revolution Is forced upon
ia. we are prepared to meetit Ii fight must
let il be on the defensive. not on the aggressive.
We have vet done nothing which. IN the least,
justifies the minority in boiling from this House.
The gentleman from Delaware Mr. kiigOFel
who presumes 20 speak for the minority upon
this floor. took occasion while discussing this
resolution to justify his friends in boiling, the
ground that we were attempting to pass an un-
constitutional law, and were introducing and vo-
ting for resolutions here OF an Infamous charac-
ter such as the people did not indorse. In this
cOnnsciion he referred particularly To certain
resolutions introduced by myself. i must be per
mi;ted 10 depart Somewhat IRON the question be
tore the House to notice that part OF the gentle
mans speech which referred directly to me
will say to the gentleman from Delaware Mr.
Kilgore that he need give himself no trouble
about the resolutions that have introduced. 1t
was not expected that they would please him OF
his friends Not at all. IL was expected how
ever, that they would CRATE harshly upon Ado
liton esrs. Sir | did introduce. he says,
a resolution here declaring the Presidents Abo
lton proclamation as infamous Why did do
III / did il because ! believed il to be And
why did believe it? | believed it because Mr..
Lincoln himself, short time previous to the
issulng of the Irocla nation. declared over his
own signature. that he believed he had no con
stitutioilal right to declare the slaves of the
s, auth free and if he had, he thought it inexpe
dient TO do so then, tor the reason that it would
tend to destroy the Union feeling IT, the seeded
I States aud drive thousands To the rebeiHous
standard then loyal, and bes des it might
| drive from the Union army the strength and
supnort of the border States He declared fur
ther, that the proclamation would not liberate a
| single slave, and admitting that it would set
| all free, what, said he. would we do with theml
There is no provision TO colonze them said he
aud they would necessarily be a dead weight aud
heavy expense upon already overburdened
Government.
That sir is the substance OF his letter to the
Chicago clergy. And few days aiterward he
issued the proclamation, in spite OF his convc-
tons against its TRUTH its justice, its policy and
its consiitrtionality. Why, then, this great ado
about charging the President with intamy. when
| BY his own admissions, he brands himself with
| disloyalty Disloyalty : treason, and treason is
! Infamous. Tell me. We friends of the Admins
! traitor aud lovers OF war, boodshed aud revolu
ton, where stands Your immaculate President
according 20 his own showiney |. sir ndorse
the resolution in spirit and in letter and in doing
/ So | stand not alone | can assure the gentle
man from Delaware Mr.. kilgore that the tw enty-
two hundred Democratic voters whom have the
/ honor to represent upon this hoor also lndorse t
! Mr.. Kilgore: would inquire OF the gentlemar
whether he went before his people, and al ocated
from the stump the doctrines of his resolutions
-l~f.,. al.
i of the war;
Mr. Burton: will answer the gentleman
did. sir, 20 before nv people and advocate the
doctrines now utter. | Gid 20 before them, de
nouncing the Abolition policy OF the President
and opposing the prosecution of the war rs toe
leved then. from the beginning. that this mon
could never he restored by war. that ''trar ,ras
disunion. final. eternal separation, and the sooner
il was stopped the better. | advocated then. rs
do now. the calling OF national convention. thai
the people might accomplish by peace aud com
promise what it was impossible to accomplish b,
war
+ Mr. Kilgore: You do not answer me fully.
desire IN know whether you told your people thai
+ YOU would not vote another man or another dollar
/ 10 further prosecute this war
Mr. Burton: will answer to your satisfaction
i sir, before get through. | was proceeding tC
say. when the gentlemen interrupted me, that III,
people desire that this unnatural war SHOULD
cease; that the issue was fairly made III the las
canvass whether they were willing to support
war for the abolition OF slavery They decided
in thunder tones. through the ballot box. thr
they were not And. in order thtt my position
NAV be understood. | will repeat here now what
have said TO NV constituents time and again
heren the lace OF this House, and of this PEG
pie, will say now once tor all-that am IN
favor of armiStice and n Peace Convention
and opposed ~ giving another man anothe
dollar tor the prosecution OF this war for anothe
day or another hour while the President adhere,
TO his Abolition policy and di>regari> the ConSti
tuition of the country. Is that satisfactory to thu
geutlemiry
Mr. kiigore: That is satisfactory.
Mr. Burton: In this position am satisfied tina
the people are with me, though do not claim {,
reflect the sentiments OF the minority upon TIM
floor Some think me little ultrs. bat while
reflect the sentiments oi the people. cant be TAI
wrong These are my individual oplnou~. a
serted upon my own responsibility IL / aG
wrong u = an error of che head and not OF III,
heart. tor | kno~ | love my country and stud,
her interest The masses of the people are ia
ahead of u here, and am satisfied that II TAI
and honest expression of the people of Indians
could lie had 20 dsv. majority would indotSe th,
resolution, which have had the honor of sub
hitting To this body. embodyin- the sentiments
that have just uttered Voices. That's 20 y
F Then. ii the people "a rule ia thi- country
and they demand suspension III hnstltie> and
N,rionsl Convention. with hope Of settling
81. hfooi-hpl n (,pi,