Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-07-08
HrxIINeroN, Ind. June 2I, lS6l

HUSTISGToN, Ind June 81 1861
Hon. James W Borden, J H. b. Spotswood,
Nelson Splitter Lewis Bailey, John j Shell,
Charles b. Lasselle, T. Y Long, Thomas d
Lemon, and others
Gentlemen-ln reply 10 your favor OF the 10th
instant which has Just come 10 hand, inQuiring
whether | would allow my name to be used in the
approaching Convention as a candidate for Gov
ernOr, and my views upon the issues OF the day.
! would briefly remark, wee to consul; my own
comfort and interest. there would be no difficulty
in determining at once what course 10 pursue.
But the overthrow of cur liberties, ard The just
alarm for the future demand other than personal
considerations. The time Is now drawing near
when il will be decided whether Indiana shall
remain the theatre of Federal misrule, usurpa-
ton, lawlessness and crime or be restored 70 the
dignity of free and sovereign State, secure in
her liberties by the enforcement of Law. And
now, above all other times, Is IL important that
the true sentiment of the people shall be repre-
scented in every department OF the State Govern
ment, for never is the servant faithful a.
when his wishes and the masters will are iden-
teal; hence. | recognize the prOpriety OF your
requesting my views upon the issues of the day,
and if those views do not harmonic with yours.
then. indeed. could serve you neither profita-
bly, nor hOn0rably.
As each section in the code of civil liberty is
the result of an Oft repeated struggle between
right and power and IN It's turn has been the
issue of particular day, SD has this day its par
ticular issues, among which stands prominent
State sovereignty contradstinguished from
Federal Capitalization.
Sovereignty being an inherent element in man
organism. the nm ediate gift of the Divine Sow
eregn of the Universe, in whose image man vas
created, Is the essence of divinity in him insepa-
rable from his manhood. and may be exercised
by hm alone over all matters that pertain to him
as an individual, and exercised Jointly with others
over matters OF common interest Nor does this
right depend upon the number of those whose in
terests are identical, but any distinct people
within proper geographical boundaries may con
stitute State with all the powers of sovereign
people And A.. the people OF each State of the
Federal Union acquired their rights of soil and
jurisdiction by different titles for distinct PEG
Pile. and ever have been jealous Of that distinct
character, believing it to be the best security
against the excuses of licentious majority did,
with marked caution. gusrd their individuality
in our federal associations, by asserting in the
Articles of Federation as a stand point from
which every lineament of the compact should
be viewed, That each State retains its SOW
ereignty again, by declaring it condi-
ton of the present Union, That the powers
of Government may be reassumed by the peOple
(of the State) whatsoever il shall become nee
essary to their happiness" &c, and which is but
a reteration of that more familiar enunciation
THAT to secure the rights of life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness governments are instituted
among men deriving their just powers from the
consent of the governed and that when anv
form of government becomes destructive of
these ends, il Is the right of the people to alter
or abolish il, and 10 institute new government"
&c.-noS, holding these to be nalenable rights,
and not the subject matter of compromise by
which pOsierity can he euslaved. | can conceive
of no emergency that can Justify Federal en-
croachments thereon. and hold il 20 be the most
sacred duty of the State Executive 20 exert
whatever force nav be necessary To protect The
people OF his State against all unlawful ntrusons
upon their peace and liberty, AMI expel from the
soil OF the State all agents of usurpa,ion and
tyranny.
You may have expected that | would say
something of the 80 fruitful of want
crime and death; but hope you will pardon the
brevity OF my letter
Fully Convinced that this war Is without sane
ton in morals OF the theory OF our government,
whether a private citizen or public servant, |
shall leave no effort unmade 10 terminate the ef
fusion of blood AZ the earliest period possible
believing, a DO that the restoration of peace
without a separation of the agricultural States of
the Union i the only means by which the people
OF Indiana can be saved from absolute and ire
NtlGJlC ~LllL-Allol from system OF class leEf-
lation, eXactions and oppression dictated alone
by Puritaule rapacity; Tor he is not gifted in Do
htical analogisms who cannot see IN the history
OF the anti Democratic party for the last half
century the most unmi-1ak able evidence of a pur-
pose on their part TO reduce the people OF the
West TO state OF pecuniary yassalage to the
commercial and manufacturing interests OF the
East Add this could only be done by dividing
the agricultural States and reducing the Demo
cratic vote in Congress. Hence their persistent
effort 10 sever ibe South from the West: who
from community Of interest and civilization
were natural allies against class legislation and
New Eagland cup.diiy. For this purpose was
the war inaugurated and i now maintained. using
demagogues ard camp followers of everv grade
who see in the overthrow OF the Democratic par
". their only road TO place and plumber. as they
use church fanatics and abOlitiOnists the unn-
teligent instruments with which 20 peTpertate the
great wrong while the real actors in the bloody
drama are as false % the church and the negro
slave. as they are the toiling millions of the
West whom they seek thus TO rob With these
convictions OF the purposes of the war. would
be untrue TO myself. 10 you and 10 posieriiy did
! not declare them.
Having thus briefly sketched nv views upon
the vial questions OF tire day. il remains for me
10 the more difficult part OF your inquiry:
"~heiher would allow nv name to be used in
convention" &c. You know | have never