Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-30

nothing has been done to those soldiers for that
act. These acts are two edged, aud will cut
both ways by aud by, and as the driver said to
Tom Carwin. when the latter threatened to whip
him. "thnts a game two can play In The great
State of Indiana, a mnb OF sOiliers Eho hid never
heard Of the Observation-Disclosures l., EDWARDS
attack aud destroy The ufice OF the PAPER Col
onel Darlington lectures the people un the PERM
cious habit of the recent popular demonstration
against a newspaper OF the State, but what has
Colonel c. or the General done to punish these
soldiersi He had but one single rule to lay
down-obey the Constitution and the laws, and
make no resistance. not even the sembiHnce OF n
resistance; meet Tie questions in q d fferent way
and eisewhere-in YOUR Courts-and al political
questions meet at the ballot box, but meet n mob
with fOrce-iorce BY fore, violence by violence
IL there can't be justice done in that way, then
resort to retaliation. Pointing to a banner sur
rounded by butternutS, on which was inscribed.
ain questions of power. let no more be said of
confidence in man. but bind him down from mis-
chief by the chains of the Constitution" Mr.. V.
said. there's the lesson for freemen to read. He
had said in Philadelphia, New Jersey and else
where what he would say now, that. whenever an
attempt was made 10y the party in power 10 per
petuate their existence upon unlawful grounds,
then he was for resistance. and would scorn him
self as being born in the United States, and not
willing to resist. Jefferson had said, Resist
/ tnCt 20 INTtnlS u ODtulcltC 10 ODu, u " I
come TO that. Those before him give evidence
that the Administration won't dare to trifie with
twenty FIVE millions of people. He closed by
paying a handsome tribune to the Democracy
who had faced the weather, and come up to that
Council, signifying by their presence that this
Union must be restored and perpetuated.
Mr.. PENDLEToS's SPEECH.
Mr.. Pendleton being introduced, commenced
by saying:
"
to you IA moment ago that some military man had
said last night that if he had command of this
Department, this meeting should not be held. |
think he would have a good time in dispensing it.
/ think he would find out that it requires a power
greater than his to break up the meetings of the
people. This remark of Mr.. McKinney's awaken
ed a train OF thoughts in my mind to which | pro
pose to call your attention for a few moments:
and | do this the more readily as the speeches al
ready made this morning leave me no fresh topic
for discussion.
We are about to enter upon a long and bitter
political contest. The indications already show
that it will be warmly contested The condition
Of our national affairs. the magnitude OF the perils
which now environ the country, the mighty in
terests ut stake will impart earnestness, and zeal,
and yigor, to all thoughtful and patriotic men 1t
Is to be feared that they will lend intemperance.
and intolerance and bitterness to those who are
/ less tnOugbtIQl anu more partS1n. ne DemO-
cratic party has a hard duty to perform We are
liable to be misunderstood and DETAINED, our
views will be miSrepreSented. our actions will be
called in question, our motives will be impugned,
our fidelity to the Constitution and to the integ
rity OF the Union will be denied. IL will always
be so with any party which Is willing to put itself
in opposition to the policy of any Administration
during = war. and especially a civil war An un
bending devotion TO principle is then called fac
/ fiOuS nnDoSifiOu tn the Govprnmput 4 firm All
herence to ancient forms and precedents is called
sympathy with treason and rebellion. A refusal
to approve usnrpatIOns of power. on the plea OF
necessity, is called a malignant indiSpOSitiOn to
use loyal means to mtintain legitimate authority.
A refusal "tO bow the pregnant hinges of the
knee where thrift might follow fawning," is called
a desire to distract the united loyal sentiment OF
the North. A refusal to fawn and latter ut the
fest of those in power is called an attemp, to
bring the oficeis Of the Government into con.
tempt. aud thus to weaken their power. Aud an
appeal from the office holders to the people. just
such as we are making to day, is called. in the
cant phrase of this day. a disloyal procedure.
worthy of the reprObation of all good citizens, and
deserving speedy and severe punishment at the
hands of the officers. We Democrats are not to
be exempt from the common fate of all opposi-
ton parties.
Already we see that violence is threatened;
that the papers are filed with ~inhammatory APP
peals to a spirit of lawless violence, with cant
about dislOyal meetings, di<loyal opinions, dis
LOYAL speeches; with demands for the more severe
punishment of old crimes, and the invention of
new crimes. And We need not look far to see
military power, and mob power dispensing politi-
cal meetings. destroying printing presses and
jeODaudizing life and property. And almost daily
you may see appeals to the military power to sup
press Democratic newspapers. Why2 Because
they have committed any crime? Mol Because
they cOunseled the commission of a crime? Mol
Because they have cOunseled resistance to the
enforcement of any lawl MOI But simply be
cause they appeal from Presidents and Congresses
to the people. and ask them to pass upon the-wis
dom of the policy of the Administration IL is
well. therefore, now, at the very outset of this
contest, to survey the ground on which we stand.
TO inquire what are our duties, as well as our
rights. i'm order that we may honestly and faith
fully perform all our duties. and may insist as the
last extre nifty on every jot and title of our
rights. They are defined in the Constitution.
They grow out of its provisions. They are the
same for all citizens. They belong 10 Republi
cans a. well as Democrats. and attach to all cti-
zens in every condition of life. What are they
II is the duty Of every citizen TO promptly and
reality to respond to every demand which the
President may lawfully mikcupon him; promptly
and readily TO obey every act Of the Federal Con
greSs. 50 long n it remains unreuealed on the
statute book. and uncaneeled by the COurts-a
decided conviction that one demand is unneces-
sary, that the policy is nnwise. that the law is un
constitutional, will not relieve the citizen from
the duty of prompt obedience On the other
hand. it i the right of the citizen 10 discuss every
question, or policy or order. to entertain a con
victiOn. and TO express it plainly and openly. in
public and in private. of the wisdom of any
measure. or the motives of anv public officer in
its execution. 1t is his right to test the %constitu
tionality OF any law. or of nnv order. or os any
exercise Of power by APPEAL to the courts. and to
test It's wisdom and bene6cence by an appeal to
the people; and If by taste of his position, he is
charged in any degree with responsibility in pub
lie affairs. il is his duty, as well as his risht, TO
endeavor. by argument. by reason. by the light OF
experience to impress his convictions on the pub
lie mind. to eDdeavOr to secure Mt their hands and
through their power at the ballot box a repeal OF
the law.
l cannot be mistakeh in this. The Govern
ment is founded upon the axiom that all govern
ments derive their rowers from the consent OF
the people. Our fathers fought the Revolution.
ary war to vindicate that principle. And when
they cam to form this Government they en-
deavored to carry il out, Just a. far a. was con
sistent with ordinary stability and power. Why
Is il that the Office Of President. the great execu-
tive head Of a nation of thirty millions of men, is
limited to four yearsf WHY except that the vast
powers of that office arising from the expenditur G
of money. appointments to Office. control of the
army and navy. poStofices. land Offices. Custom
Houses tax gatherers. Marshals. District Attr
news. should once in four wears be laid at the feet
cf the people. that they might thereby more com
pleselv control every question connected with the
executive branch Of the Government? Why was
the office of Representative limited To two years,
excep, that thereby the people might control