Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-08-15
Governor morton,s specch.

Governor rIorton's speech.
Governor Morton responded to the desire OF
Mr.. Mcdonald to have a fair aud candid discus
sion. Personally they friends, and he hoped
nothing would occur during the canvass to alter
that relation. Nr Mcdonald had perfect right
to comment on his official conduct, and he had a
right to criticise the public opinions of his oppo
nent.
Governor Morton read Mr. McDonald's letter
Of 1850. and charged him with having repudi
ated the sentiments therein expressed He had
left his party, but his opponent had deserted his
principles. Which was il best 10 do!
Governor Morton in reply to the charge that
he had usurped authority in borrowing money to
carry the State Government, said that if all
that was charged were true what would the PEG
pie say about III Was it their will that the be-
nevolent institutions should be closed-that
soldiers should not be raised for the army of the
United States, and provided for? If recruiting
did not go on in the State, drafting must How
would that suit the gentleman aud his party
friendsl
The Governor contended that in raising money
az he did he violated no law He then went
over the same ground of defense heretofore
given, reviewing the action of Governor Willard
and his legal adviser in 1851. If public necessity
good excuse for taking money out OF the
Treasury without authority law then, it is good
now for borrowing money. Democratic Con-
vention had endorsed the act OF the Democratic
officers II the arguments used in their defense
were good to clear them of blame, they were
still good. But he did not fall back alone OF the
arguments then used He contended that the
parties who advanced the money relied solely on
the good faith of the State and no law was VIC
lated He could never have reconciled 1t to
himself 10 have refused TO take and use the
money offered He did it. He did run the ma
chine and he fiattered himself that he had run it
we'll.
The Governor then gave a history of his trans
action with Winslow, Lanier & Co., for money to
pay the interest on the State debt, and lauded
the liberaty of that firm in advancing the mon
ey, and his own sagacity in using it.
In regard to the breaking OF a quorum by the
Republican members OF the Legislature in 1863.
He would say that it was only an extreme case
which would justly such a measure They, the
Republicans, had learned it of the Democratic
party. 1t was said that when the Democratic
members broke quorum in 1861 on the mill
tary bill then pending, it was done upon the ad-
vice of Mr. Mcdonald and Mr.. Hendricks. Ii
the Republicans of 1863 did wrong, they were
taught how to do it by the gentleman himself.
But there were reasons for the bolt of 1853 The
military bill then pending he denounced as revo-
lutionary, and similar in its provisions TO those
passed by the Southern States before they Sc
ceded. Had it passed, the State would have been
plunged into civil war, and it would have passed
if his friends had not bolted and he justified that
act.
The great and overshadowing question of the
war, after all was now absorbing the public
mind. His position was known. He was in ia
vor of suppressing the rebellion by force of arms
Where does his opponent standy He quoted
from Mr. McDOnald's speech, in which he said
that he was opposed to the war as row prose-
cuted Now il the gentleman has any other way
to prosecute the war, will he come forward and
state what it is He is opposed to for
emancipation or subjugation. The gentleman is
always Juggling in The negro If he is opposed
to a war for subjugation, what does he mean?
Is he opposed to suhjugating the people of the
rebel States? If so, he is opposed TO the war in
every sense, and the people will so construe it.
On what policy does he want the war prose
cuted? Does he want it prosecuted to preserve
slaveryf Does he want it prosecuted without
hurting ANYBODY Does he want it prosecuted
at all? He said yesterday had tried three
years of war and failed, and Row We must try
some other remedy. Let him tell what his rem
edy is. The people demand it of him.
Would he abandon the war? Will not the
abandonment of the part give the
South the power to dictate terms of peace? Will
our Abandonment of the war call back the rebel
States to the Union? Will they not demand the
payment of their debt-pensions for the
widows and sOldiers-pay for farms and
property destroyed. and also that the right of Sc
cesson should be recognized Would the abo-
ltion State of Michigan and the abolition State
of Ohio stand this? Would they not say you
have recognized the right of secession, we will
step out and get rid of paying the rebel war
debty u
But the genteman's friends-thousands Of
them-are unconditional peace men. Withdraw
our armies from rebel territory and would peace
follow 1t would not The rebel armies would
follow in the footsteps of our Withdrawing armies
and the contest would be brought to our own
doors
In reply to the gentleman's question, asking
what he had done to avert this war, he would re
ply that he had used every effort in his power to
sustain the government He had appointed FIVE
gentlemen as members of the Peace Convention
They went there, but no peace was TO be had.
The Governor then followed with rapid re-
view of the acts of Mr. Buchanan's Cabinet up
to the advent of Mr Lincoln, and then gave
statement of the expenditure of the $500, l95 So
which had been advanced TO him.
The Governor concluded by stirring appeal
90 the people TO stand by the country irrespective
of party ties