The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-08-24
REMARKS BY JOHN D. DEFREES,
Before the Indiana Union Club Of Washing
ton, ID. g.. Nondav Evening, aug. !, 81.

ton. ID. e., Nondav Evening. Aug. I. 'Gf.
We are soon to exercise the elective
franchise, secured to us by our admira-
bic form Of government.
Every citizen should desire to use it
so as to produce the greatest good TO the
country. To do so lie ought to seek
every possible means Of forming a cor
rect judgments and when his mind is
made up his own conviction Of the right
ought TO control him, unawcd by partizan
prejudice or by the clamor Of those who
assume to be party leaders.
To aid IN forming a correct judgment
1T is well TO bring to our recollection
many historical facts, which cannot be
contradicted or perverted.
Directly after the American Revolu-
ton the States entered into articles of
confederation for their government
The experiment proved a failure The
subsequent formation and adoption Of the
federal Constitution was for the purpose
OF securing a more perfect Union" Of
constituting the United States one nation
"a Republic-or, in the language of
Washington Of consolidating the Union
So complete a system of government
never before existed, and it became the
admiration Of the lovers of liberty
throughout the world. The prayers of
its founders, as they passed from earth
were for its perpetuity. 1t was received
by their children and | cherished an
inheritance above all price With them
the man who dared to lisp of its destruc
ton was branded as a traitor and an
enemy of mankind
In time, bold, bad men, disappointed
in their ambitious aspirations. began to
conspire for its overthrow. They knew
that their designs could only be accom-
pllshed through the means of party
organization. The democratic party,
which then had the ascendcncv, was Sc
lected for that purpose. They became
its leaders and began insidiously to
poison the minds of their followers.
Ii would require more time than al
lowed in an ordinary address to give the
progress of their plans but the result is
to be seen in the present condition of our
country.
Notwithstanding the efforts of the
consprators favorably to prepare their
followers for the event, when their
treason eliminated in their attack upon
Fort Sumpter. the whole people of the
free States declared that they would put
down the rebellion at all hazards Their
mighty uprising for this purpose was the
grandest and most glorious spectacle
ever presented to the contemplation of
mankind, whilst the fact that so many
of the same people have since shown
thems elves lost to the feelings of patriot
ism which then controlled them, is the
most melancholy event on the page Of
history.
Tbea, they determined to stand by the
President in his efforts to enforce the
laws and To maintain the integrity and
suprpmacy of the Governments
.N1tc many of the same men denouncc
all his efforts with a bitterness equalled
only by the denunciations of the traitors
in arms against that Government
Why this change and how produced
The answer is apparently assumed
leaders of the Democratic party who
are now acting in concert with the
enemies of their country in the vain hope
that they may thus achieve political
power.
Relying on arousing the partizan feel
ings of the past, they resort to the most
glaring falsehoods to accomplish their
purpose. They now tell their followers
that the war was commenced by the
people of the free States against their
innocent and inotfensive brethren Of the
South when they know that they utter
an untruth
The people cannot be thus deceived.
They remember but too well the action
of the conspirators Immediately after
the election of Mr.. Lincoln and previous
TO the expiration of Mr.. Buchanan's
term of office.
Look at the record:
December 20, S6O.-Capture of Fort
Moultrie and Castle Pinckney by the
Carolina troops
January 3, ls6l-Capture of Fort
Pulaski by the Savannah troops.
january 3.-The United States arsen-
aI at Mount Vernon Alabama with 200,
600 stand of arms siezed by the Ala
bana troops.
January fort Morgan in Mobile
Bay taken by Alabama troops.
January 9-The United States steam
or Star of the West was fired into and
driven off by the rebel batteries on Nor
ris Island when attempting to furnish
Fort Sumter with supplies.
January 9-Mississippi seeded; 4;
vote of the convention, II to 50.
January 10 Fort Jackson. Fort
Phillip. and Pike, near New Orleans,
captured bv the Louisiana troops.
January l1-Alabama seeded vote
of convention, % to %.
January ll-Florida seeded.
January l4-Capture of Pensacola
navy yard and Fort McRea by Alabama
troops.
January 1S.-Surrender of Baton
Rouge arsenal to Louisiana troops.
January 19-Georgia seeded; vote
of convention, 20S to 81.
january 26.-Louisiann seeded; vote
of convention, lis To 10 New Orleans
Mint and Custom House taken.
February 1.--TeNas seeded; vote OF
convention, loo 10 I. Submitted to
vote of the people February sand took
effect 2i of March.
February 2-Siezure of Little Rock
arsenal by Arkansas troops.
February 4-Surrender of the reve-
nue. cutter Castle, TO the Alabama au-
thorties
February 5-The Southern Congress
met at Montgomery, Alabama.
February s.-The provisional consti-
tuition adopted.
E,hrnary Q-,Teff Davis and Alex.