Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-03-24

And now. Mr. Chairman. What ese remains ,
what portion Of the Constitution can yet be
found alivei What principle has been spared.
preserved. or protected by the destroyers who
rule the natiouy Have they provided tor the
common defense against foreign pOwersg The
Emperor o! France tFamples the Monroe doctrine
disdainiully under biz feet. he overthrows the
Republic Of Mexico. and on its ruins erects an
imperial despotism in immediate contact with
our borders. prince OF the house of Haps-
burg. trained in the courts of Austrian oppression.
becomes our closest neghbOr. Perhaps ], IS
needless to complain Of this near example OF one
mar power-Ihis European head wearing crown
On North American soil II will not be long. if
our present career j. unchecked, until the terms
Dictator, king and emperor will be a. familiar IN
Washington in the palace OF St. Cloud.
but SIR, the saddest question embraced within
TIE scope OF INV remsIk * remains 20 be answered
as ! draw them TO cluse II - the policy pur
sued for the last three Years resulted IN the
formation OF more p,rfscf UniOn?
No ianeua that the tongue OF man ran utter
would form expressive an answer TO such
question as silent survey OF the dreadful scene
which lies before US A gulf of blood aud tears
and all OF human agony which the afflicted race
OF man cah know this side OF the dread abodes OF
the damned. divides the suffering and miserable
sections OF a once frsternal and coDtented peO-
lie. Statesmen of Christian faith, imbued with
the loity spirit of Him who gave has blessing 10
the merciul. coula again span this horrid chaSm
and bind together the torn aud beeiing liga-
ments of the Union But an evil star j. raging
III our SKY. ana under iis mahsn power the leg
iSlation of the land appears as the fTenZied, mar
derous, disoiuted dreams of mailman in his
cell. Sucha penal code now stands in the
way OF the return of the men. women. and chill
a. no IN fhpir Ia uO
parallel in the annals of the human race A
thousand miles of gibbits with the dangling hal
ter and the ready executioner; universal conhs-
cation OF property 10 the remOleSt period OF an
innocent po>teTity, the absolute determination of
whole people and the appropriation oi the de-
populated country 10 the uisparing dem iuds %
a more than Norman conquest; the utter exfinc
tiOu OF every ye~rige Of our present form OF GOV
eminent by States. all this and infinitely more
Is contained in the enactments which already
stain the records of American legislation. But
why need dwell upon these evidences of dis
union! The great leader OF the Administration
on this floor. the gentleman from PVnnsy lvaIia,
Mr. STEvENs has deliberately here announced
alter all cur sacrifices sorrows and loss. that the
Union of our fathers i dead, aud that he who at
tempis It's resurrection is criminal instead ot n
patriot He goes further. and admits all the Sc
coded States ever claimed-their nationality
They have sought in vain in all the four quar-
tiers of the earth for recognition They find It AT
last ut the hands ct those who speak for the Ad
mlnlStratlon on this floor
Sir | DENY this ducrrine ! plant myself on
the Constitution which recognizes an unbrOken
Union shall stand there in every vicisstude
of fortune. and i fall II will he when the pen-
pie themselves abandon their own Constitution
By the principles of this mighty instrument
expect finely a restoration of the Union of the
States. Every hour which the party of power
Drolonss its control of affairs post pones the "a
-picious day. but as behold the future, il will
assuredly come Material aud udesiructlble in
ter.sts unite every section except that which
prospers on fanatcism. Aud | here to-day
in the spirit of one who experts and desires
his pos,eritv ana theirs live together in the
ancient and honorable friendship of theiI
fathers warn the Southern people NOT to los
forward to separation and independence. but
To embrace every opportunity for cO-oper-
alton with the conservative men of the North
who wl aid with their lives, If need be, TO secure
them all their rights and institutions as free anC
equal citizens at the United States. II this be
done. the approaching Presidential election vii
bring peace. Union and liberty But it the peace
ful popular revolution of the ballot-box fails tC
produce these results, then darkness will settle
upon the face OF the Deep and the free institu
tons of America will exist only on the page o
the future historian. Four years more OF OH
present policy will leave the republic an unsha per
mass of ruins--a wreck more melancholy anC
hopeless than anv that strew the pathway o
ayes And here, in this fair young Western
World. as in all former times, a de>pOti>m will
arise from the shattered fragments OF self gov
ernment which each succeeding generation
shpll pay the extortei tribute of its blood anC
toll.