Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-08-24
Letter from CO... StreIght.

LettcF from TO- stTeiSut.
HEADo'ks 5lsT INDIANA Vols
Chattanooga, Tenn, July 10, '64
Hon Joseph T. Mcdonald
DEAs SIR:-Ilearn through the papers,
that you have been nominated By the
Democracy Of Indiana for the high and
responsible position Of Governor Of our
State. This calls TO mind 3 converse
tion held with you sometime in Febru.
AIRY, 1861 You will recollect tha. you
then maintained that State had Con-
ssitutioual right to seeeds from the Union
whenever q majority Of the peoplesfhere-
stitutioo granted "a power o.the Gener-
al Government TO eoeree o Sovereign
State, and that any war waged By our
Government against the /" Sovereign
States" Of sbe South, would be entirely
unconstitutional, illegal and without au-
thority. The position you then took
scanned TO me 30 Ruti-national, aud revo-
lutionary in is tendency, that at that
time, proposed TO discuss with you
through the public press, the questions
involved in our conversation; and al
though you declined a public discussion,
nevertheless the earnest manner ia
which you maintained your position.
made deep impression upon my mind.
And since the VallAnd CHAN or peace
wing Of the Democracy have openly taken
the Identical position that you then &C
espisd, I have frequently thought Of the
argument you used st the time above re-
fsrred 10. | see also that 10 your speech
'efore the Convention that nominated
sdu, you stated that you wete opposed To
he war a. il is al present prosecuted.
| Though yoa in the same speech re-
f-rred to in q resolution passed by
'he Democracy on the Sch OF JaauRry,
| 1862, to-wst: That we will susiain With
all Uar energies q var for the maisteh.
nee OF the Constitution and the integ-
aty Of the Union under the Consttsu-
ION, rs hsving been The sentiment Of
he Democracy at that time, aud that
you we're not aware that II had been
| hanged since. Y4u did not say that
ou endorsed the resolution, or that you
-rald sndeavor to earry il out if ELECTED
| Hence each individual is left 20 form
| mis- own opinion as to your Intentions "a
'his vital and important snhjsei IN
view OF your nomination % the high and
responsible Office OF Governor Of cur
State, aud of the vast influence Indiana
Yields in this great struggle for national
ife, together with the strange, unnatural
and unpatriotic (Eet to say treasonsble) }
course that portion Of the Democratic
party have taken in relation to the war
in which we are engaged, | take the
liberty in behalf Of the vast army Of
Indiana soldiers, who have left home
aud friends 10 sustain our nation in =
war against traitors--,o ask you TO an
sver few plain, straightforward ques-
| ,ions, that We may know fully how you
stand on the great issues Of the day.
This would enable US (shoald we have
the opportunity TO vote understandingly
in the coming election, aud we should
be better prepared to judge OF the prob.
| able consequences that would follow your
election.
let Is il your present opinion that tbs
general Kovernment has the constitu
tional right 10 coerce 8 State, or AM
number Of States, that have seeded oi
may ssceds
ID. Is it your present opinion that th'
general government has the conssitu
tiozAl right to coerce a State that Sc
eedesf Please inform Us as 10 whs
: evidence has changed your opinion sine
February, 1861. The answer to thi
question is Of the utmost importance, q
il 10 hoped that any evidence sufficiently
! strong TO ehange yonr mind 10 the OF
, posise Of your wsllsettled legal opinion
would, IL made public, convince thou
, sands Of the Democracy who are stil
clinging to the same dangerous dogm
} that you did at that time.
E 3D. In case you have not chaage
your opinion on this subject since 1861
], please inform rs as TO whether 70
would not, in the event of your election
q feel Yourself bound to oppose By ever
! possible means the prosecution of q wa
e that You then declared would be uncol
e stitutioaal, unnecessary, and wrong7
4th. What do you and your party mea
}, by declaring las on the 9th Of Jannar,
K 70 which you referl, in favor Of va
Il Tor the maintenance OF the Constitution
e and the Union under the Constitution
3 Do they believe, as you did 10 1861, thi
!" the States are sovereign, and that a vi
! to coerce them Is unconstitutional, thI
declaring in effect that the secede
T, States are only fighting tor heir consi
y tutioual rights; and if 30, is the war
IN which they refer as the one they vi
Of support in maintenance of the Constit
ton, to be 9 war against our Cover
RS nsnt and our army7 The imporian
Of answering this question is plain
n, every one. from the fact that you and
in large and influential portion of 20
I'd party have repeatedly declared that L
o. States we're sovereign, and as such b
right to seeede, and tiaI war
e, coerce them is necessarily unconstii
s. tionsL Nov it is plain that II you a
n. your party are In favor Of war to mai
.ss tan the Constitution in this crisis in o
he national affairs, you must array yol
!" selves sgsiusr the Governments and I
re army that are prosecuting an uncon
'ionai war, which you and your par
n have 80 often declared 10 be our Govel
s's ment and our army.
10 5th You and Jour party declared Il
K you are utterly opposed to the war SIS
IA 10 nov prosecuted. Now, in case
as your sleetion, aud the present policy
Eat conducting the war should not
I'VE changed, would yo1 exert yourself "
to seal snd energy to furnish the Cove
ad msnt'wiia the necessary men 70 GIL
for aallR THAI nav DO made by the PreHid