Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-09
Speech of simeon X. Wolfe, Senator
from Harrison and Washington,
Delivered IN the Indiana Senate on
Feb. II. 1868.

report from the Committee on Federal Relations,
made the day previous. recommending the pass
age of the joint resolution s. No. lOl instruct
ing our Senators and requesting Representa-
tives in Congress to use their utmost endeavors
to defeat the passage of the negro regiment bill
Mr. Wolfe said:
Ma PRESIDENT: The subject before us is one
of the grayest Importance that has yet been be-
fore this body--a subject. sir. that is deeply agi
taling the great heat of this country. The res
eutions, they originally repurted, declare
the opposition of the conservative people of the
State of Indiana TO the bill before Congress to
raise an army of l50, 900 Americans of Alri-
can descent" TO associate with our white sol
diers in the prosecution Of the war. This, sir,
is proposition abhorrent to the tastes the pride
and the sentiment of the large majority of the
white people of the country. Ii need not be said
that this opposition negro equality is only a
prejudice The God OF Nature has made dis
tinctions between the races, which no false phi
lanthrOphy can obliterate, no sophstry cover up.
no human laws remove. But il il was only "A
"Dreudice" as the Abolitionists contend, il is too
deep seated and well grounded to be removed for
generations to come. The ''prejudce of races"
is not a new OF unfrequent element of dscord in
the history of nations; and It has always proved
one of the nest difficult and dangerous questions
with which statesmen have had to deal; and no
wise statesman will needesSly foice its solution,
especially in troublOus times like these, when
there are many other subjects of discord before
q The voice of wisdom, it it could be heard
amid the din OF National confusion, would teat b
our rulers and the people to leave all such dis
turbing questions. and all disputed party QueS
tiOns out of this contest. and unite upon the
great question. of the Union and the Constitution
and the best means 10 preserve them. But wis
! dom. il seems, has fed the council chamber of
our rulers; and one-idea theories and PARTISAN
/ schemes have absorbed all their thoughts. and
we have some of the deplorable results before u.s.
/ but very much fear the worst has not yet been
/ seen.
The additional questions raised by the amend
ment of the Senator from Fayette (Mr. Clay
poOl.) with the amendment offered by the Sena-
tor from Shelby, (Mr. Ray,) and further amend
Ell by myself substantially these: That Con
gress be instructed all necessary means
for IA vigorous prosecution of the war for the sole
purpose of preserving the Union, land prOUided,"
| my amendment says. Ill shall be the duty of
the President 10 Immediately Withdraw his eman-
cipatOn proclamation
This last amendment presents the main gist of
che controversy, and brings before the entire
war policy ofthe Administration IA il now stands
1t brings before us the great question OF peace
or war-a question, sir. greater in its magnitude
and effects than ever before agitated the mind of
the civilized world, and its solution will make in
delbe marks upon the future of this entire con-
tinent. Oh that this generation may possess the
wisdom, the virtue and the power TO deal with II
as It's great importance demands; and may the
God of nations overrule the decision so as to re
dOund TO our future peace and welfare as one
united people
Mr.. President, what | shall say today have
no hope will be Needed by the minority upon this
hoOr. Men who have but single idea, and that
is secton,l hatred, and who were elected to car
~ out that dea are not likely 10 heed ANYTHING
that may fall from the lips of reason. | had the
honor of meeting some OF these gentlemen here
on this floor two years ago, and before these
troubles had reddened in their sight. | remem
Der OF telling them then OF the terrible food gate
of bankruptcy, blood and misery their policy was
opening upon the country. But they turned II
dull. deaf ear; and their reSpOne that we were
"symphthisers with traitors; they said they would
have mo compromise with men with arms in
their hands, and other equally choice and lucid
arguments were used by them. Yes. sir, we
told these gentlemen then what would be the con-
sequence of DerSisting in their line of policy; and
| am sorry 10 say events have proved our prophe
cy true; and to-day we have spread all over the
band the mOurnful evidence of the madness, the |
blindness and the deafness of party fanatics.
When the evidence OF partisan blunders and
imbecility which is now before bleeding coun- |
"
anything that | may say will not convince them |
of their If the eloquent voice of our pres
ent condition is passed unheeled, doubt if any /
thing less terrible than the thunderbOltS of ,Jove
himself could awaken them to the solemn truths |
OF our national condition.
But while such is the case. rejoice to know
that the masses of the people are neither blind |
nor deaf. They both aud hear-and. sir, /
they have seen and heard and, | thank God, /
fn h. ban .kau in a,vh; al,
ii it could reach the of our deaf rulers at
Washington, would allay the surging billows Of
dscOrd and bring speedy peace and lasting /
unity 20 this distracted land. But the fates have /
otherwise ordered The vuture of war still hovers |
over Us, aud we caled upon to day to act our
part in the bloody role THIS we shall do boldly |
and fearleSSly. As in times past, 80 in the fu-
ture. we are for our country; for the Union and |
the Constitution Observation-Disclosures the use OF /
any means adapted to their preservation.
Mr.. President, the base tongue and pen of party /
slanderers have been busy in their work OF de I
traction toward the Democratic party. Needless |
OF the cOuutry's welfare, and only intent upon a |
party advantage, the base minions OF power have |
let opportunity esca pc ,urage the Rebels
with the false hope that the great Democratic 1
party of the nation is in sympathy with their &C
cursed cause. But for these slanders and lies, |
and with the proper policy pursued by the Adj
muistratiOn. | firmly believe the hopes of the /
Rebels, and the rebellion itself. would have been |
broken this time.
Now, sir, what is the truth upon these subiectsl /
What has been, and what is the position OF the |
Democratic party in regard to the war? Upon |
this subject shall speak freely for there is no /
use or virtue in dodging the issue shall speak |
for myself alone but ] believe speak in conso-
nance with the voice of the entire conservative /
body of the country. We opposed the causes
which led TO the war; but when the Government