Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-09-08

In speech delivered by the Hon. GKoRcK II.
PrSprrros, 10 the House Of Representatives.
on the 4th of May. 1854. on a bill to euarsn-
tee to certain States. whose governments
have been usurped or overtbrown. a republi.
cAn form Of government. be used the following
language:
Sir, the rights OF the States were the founds
ton corner of tie Confederation. The Const
tuition recognized them. maintained them, pre-
vided for their perpetuation. Our fathers thought
them the safeguard of our liberties They have
proved so. They have reconeiled liberty with
empire; they have reconciled the freedom of the
individual with the increase of our magnificent
domain. They are the test. the touchstone. the
security Of our liberties. This bill. the avowed
doctrine of our supporters, sweeps them all in
stantly away. IL substitutes dcspotism for self
government; despoiism the more severe because
vested in a numerous Congress elected by
people may not feel the exercise OF its power. Ii
subverts the Government, destroys the Confed
Grafton and erects tyranny on the ruins of re
publican governments 1t creates unity-it de-
stroys liberty-it maintains integrity of territory,
but destroys the rights Of the citizen.
Sir. il this be the alternative Of secession,
should prefer that secession should succeed.
should prefer to have the Union dissolved. the
Confederate States recognized nay. more. /
should prefer that secession should 60 on. If need
be. until each State resumes its complete indie.
pendence | should prefer thirty four republics
to one despotism. From such republics. while
might fear discord ard wars, | would enjoy indi
vidual liberty and hope for reunion on the prrci
Piles Of confederation From one strong central
lied despotsm, overriding the rights of the
States. can see no escape excep, in apathetc
contentment with slavery, or the oft-repeated
often failing. always bloody struggles of despair
ing hope / would rather live free citizen of 4
republic no larger than my native county of
Hamilton than be the subject of more splendid
empire than Cesar, in his proudest triumphs,
ever ruled or Napoleon. in his loftest flights
ever conceived
Sir, / cling to the hope that these evils may
| vet be averted While | would prefer separa-
ton to the unity that this bill would create,
would fain hope that we may not be compelled
to accept either alternative. If, before il lie too
late the people will see the designs of those now
| in power and will replace them with men who
do not wish revolution, but heartily wish res
! toration Of the Union; men who will seek, by
| peace the results which war has rendered we'll
nigh impossible; who will try to attain by concil
| aton the ends which never can be reached by
! subiugation: who will seek in consent the foun-
daton OF the rights of the Government: in State
rights the guarantees Of the liberty of the citizen
| in the Constitution the measure of the power of
! the Government and the extent of the surrender
of perfect freedom imposed by the citizen upon
himself, We may hope that we may. again have
| Union and liberty; that interest, which alone
binds together nations occupying territory like
our own, will assert its power and heal the
wounds of war. and bring US again into the bonds
Of fraternal peace
But if they will not now see those designs and
prevent them, however long and bloody and
| N.isffr nc nil raAi ~ "
while the thunders OF battle ring in our ears and
the ekultant shouts of victory rise upon the air
in recognition of the Confederacy, in final sepa-
ration, and in longer, bloodier, and more desc
lating war on the part of our people-of your
constituents, sir, and mine-to throw off the
despotsm which will ere then have been firmly
established over them