Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-08-18

this document to-poiht to single act
giving color to this wicked and infamous
charge, or to show q single instance IN
which / have failed to exercise the Ex-
ecutive power for the protection of per
sons and property, and social and civil
rights, without regard 10 parties Or poll
tics. While serving as the Governor OF
Indiana, have endeayored to act for
the whole people and not for a party,
and shall so continue, regardless OF all
assaults or aspersioRs; at the same time
] shall not hesitate to vindica:e legiti-
mate authority. no difference under
what pretence or By what method It may
be ssssiled. So far as the approaching
elections are concerned, they shall, TO
I the extent Of the power vested in me,
be open and free, and every legitimate
voter be protected in the unrestrained
and deliberate exercise of the elective
franchise. This IS my purpose, nor has
I there ever been any reason 10 doubt Il,
and cannot, under the prstence that
AN about to violate my duty, tolera E
I the formation of any dangerous or iih.
gal military organizations, the true pu'-
I pose Of which is 20 resist the State and
[ Federal authority, overawe the people,
! control the elections, and thus accom-,
| plish the very thing against which 1t Is
hJpocriGcally pretended they are to
/ guard, 1t is true that phrases about
"open lawful organizations" 'defenes
against invasion, &c, are introduced
in the second clause of the address, but
| they do not in the least disguise its ef
feet and purpose. II assumes that those
in authority are about to violate the Law,
aud urges the formation Of military or
| ganizations to prevent such violation,
they being the Judges Of the existence,
extent and remedy for such violations
| Such has been the history of all revolu-
tons and civil troubles The people
have been arTayed against the Govern
msns upon the real or assumed pretexts
that acts of tyranny had been or are
about to be Ie-petraied, justifying and
demanding military resistance
Need | argue 10 an intelligent people
that the state Of things recommended By
this document would inevitably lead to
collision and civil war, the end and con-
so FENCES Of which no man can predict
While il purports to be addressed to the
people u the State generally, it IS in.
tended for those only who belong to the
political organization which It's author
assumes 10 represent Should its recon-
uieudations be followed, men belonging
TO other political organizations will fee
their personal and political safety en-
dangered, aad would be driven for pur-
/ t,aaaa 80 saff Aafarn. A.. 49,. a. -
Tar measures Thus we should have two
or more political parties in the State,
armed and organized into military bed.
les, and al hopes of preventing collisions
and preserving peace and order woald
be lost Military organizations must be
und' 7 the supervision and control Of the
constituted Authorities Of the State. AL
others are illegal and unauthorized, and
dangerous to The public peace The
constitutional right OF the people 20 bear
arms for their own defence has not been
and will not be iniringed bot this
does not cover the case or Justify the
formation 81 military organizations ts
bold The constituted an borities in cheek
ander the pretence that they are about
70 commit illegal and uuconstitutiona
acts When we consider that threats
have already been made, in varioa,
parts Of the State, Of resistance to the
execution Of Federal authority, and thai
the public mind is already 10 an excited
aud feverish condition, il may we'll b
thought that thehc proposed miiitAry
organizations are designated for thai
purpose ard will be used in that way
aud this view is greatly strengthened b.
reference 70 the preamble Of the ad
dress
do, therefore, solemnly warn tbs
people Of the State against accepting
the evil counsel they have received; e
abstain from all military organization
looking, directly or indirectly, to resist
anee to Federal or State authority. Il
abstain from ell schemes of resistance
to the laws, and from all combination
or organizations, political or military
. tending to comprsmise them in their
. allegiance and duty 20 the Government
OF the United States The men whC
would inveigle them into such schemes
or combinations are powerless TO protec
them against danger, and would un
doubsedly be the first to desert them il
} a moment Of peril ...
In reference to the concluding part o
the address, il need only be said that th'
execution OF the Conseription Act, an
the assignment Of quotas Of States Dis
triets, counties, townships, and cities bs
} long exclusively to the Federal and no
= to the State authority; and that ever
: exertion has been and will be made b
the Stale authority to secure the cor
; rection Of error, and see that full jushc
} is done to the State and every par
thereof
, Given at the Executive Department
: this 10th day of August. A D. 1854
? o. P. MoRTox,
2 !. (rorarnnr Of Indiana