Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-14
SPEECH
Ron. ALEXANDER LONG, OF OHIO.


The House being in Committee of the Whole
on the state of the Union, in consideration of the
Presidents Message. Mr. Long said:
Mn. CHAIRMAN: | speak to-day for the pre-
servstioD of the Government; and, although for
the first time within these walls. propose To in
dnlge in that freedom Of speech and latitude of
debate so freely exercised by other gentlemen for
the past four months, and which is admissible
under the rules in the present condition of the
House But Tor what may say. and the posi-
ton shall occupy upon this toor and before the
country. alone will be responsible: and ia the
Independence of a representative OF the people,
intend TO proclaim the deliberate convictions OF
NV judgment in this fearful hour of the country
peril. And now. Mr.. Chairman are in
Committee of the Whole on the state OF the
Union. let us inquire: how stands the Union to-
day?
A little over three years ago the present occu-
pant of the Presidential mansion. at the other
end os the avenue. came into this city under
cover Of night. disguised in plaid cloak and
Scotch cap. least feared by his friends. he
might have received warmer greeting than
would have bees agreeable his way through
Baltimore. mt the hands of the constituents OF the
honorable gentleman from Maryland MIR Da-
vis) On the 18th OF March he inaugurated.
and in his address deprecated civil war. using
that ever to be memorable language, Suppose
when. after much loss on both sides. and no gain
on either, you cease fighting. the identical ques
tons as to terms of intercourse are again uDon
you" Seven States had up TO that time seeded
from the Union. All believed that would
be averted. At the conclusion of the address the
lameuted Douglas, who had closely watched
every word it escaped from the lips of the
President. turned to friend. and. with tears in
his ewes, thanked God that alter all the election
NJ ah.c I IN fho
ton in war" secret meeting OF the Govern
ors of a number OF States soon after held in
this city A scheme devised and vessel
sent out under pretense of furnishing provisions
20 the troops with Mhior Anderson in Fort Sum
ter On arriving in Charleston Harbor the PEG
pie of that city fired upon the tort. The tee-
graph bore the news TO this city. and on It's first
mention to the President. he exclaimed. Il knew
they would 10 it, which II my mind is conclu-
sve that II WAS intended expressly Cor that pur-
pose Seventy-fve thousand men immedi-
ately called tor, war was lnaugursted, twenty
DAYS we're given the insurgents tn lay down their
arms: AN additional 1--WE hundred thousand men
were soon called for. ho>tiliues commenced
The rebellion WIS to be crushed inside ot sixty
DAYS: troops we're called for; the Union
Wa To be restored with all the rights, equality
and dignity OF the States unimp,red. No man
Was permitted To question tor moment the right
OF the toy ernment 10 cperce the States back into
the Union. To doubt the right question the
speedy suppression ot the rebellion aud restora-
ton of the UnIUu. was to be denounced As \
traitor TO the Government and a sympathizer
with the South. Thus. SIR. was the war inaugu-
rated
The first year passed away; the second came
ami passed IN like manner. 80 for the third: and
now. sir. let me again inquire how stands the
Union to dayl The brief period of three short
years has produced a fearful change IN this free.
happy and prosperous government; so free in its
restraints upon personal liberty. aud gentle in
It's demands upon the resources of the people.
that the celebrated Humboldt. after travelling
through the country on his return TO Europe.
said. " The American people have a government
which YOU can neither see nor feel" SO differ
ent 10 u now and great is the change. that the
inquiry mig ht we'll be made To day. are we not in
ConsgsnunoDle. in ST Petersburg. in Vienna in
Rome or in Paris? Military Governors aud their
Provost Marshals override the laws. aud the echo
OF the armed heel rings forth as clearly now in
America rs in France in Austria. aud the
President sits 20 day guarded BY armed soldiery.
stationed al every approach leading 10 the Exec
utive Mansion.
80 tar from crushing the rebellion in sixty
day, three years have passed AWAY. and from the
d,y conhict began up to the present hour. the
Confederate army has not been forced beyond
the sound OF their guns from the dome OF the
Capitol IN which We assembled The city of
Washington Is to-day. as II has been for three
years. guarded by Federal troops IN all the forts
aud FORTH allons with which ~ - surrounded. To
prevent attack from The enemy. AMI a. an ev-
dence OF the dependency OF the Administration.
and the unsuccessful opening ct tn. spring cam
p4sn OF the fourth year at the progress at the
war. the Morning Chronicle of this citv the
Presidents organ. in an editorial few mornings
since laid: Charleston has not been taken:
Lee maintains bold front on the Raladan; the
FLORIDA expedition was a failure. the Sherman
expedition has not been a success. aud the rebels
hsve everywhere shown more vigor than they
were supposed 20 passe>s." Although the same
paper aud others IN support OF the Adminisira-
ton, have told the country from time % time
urIng the past winter that the rebellion was
crushed aud slavery dead: that the COnied
crates were deserving whole regiments AT time,
coming within our hne- taxing the oath, aDd de-
scribiug the most horrible suffering aud demoral
ization from want Of food. elOthiag aud Ill treat
ment vet az the very time the people have been
SO deceived and misled from dsy 20 dav the Pres
ident calls for 500 .OUO more troops aud N a lev
weeks follows it by a call for 900 200 more max
ing 7Ou QUO since the first OF January, aud over
2JO0 0OO since the commencement OF The war
ont Of 3 sou 900 who voted in the 50 called loyal
states AZ the Isst Presidential election. when IS.