Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-18


an Continent While time shall last the recol-
ections of this bloody strife will never fade from
he memories OF the people n orth and South, but
will be handed down TO the latest generation.
The words Shiloh, Antietsm. Gettysburg. MUIR
Freesboro, Richmond, Vicksburg and Fort Don
slson, are words Of division and disunion. and
will serve to bring up emotions Of eternal hate.
Ii il were true, as alleged by a distinguished
Senator from Ohio Mr. Wade), in a speech in
Portland in 1856, "that he believed that 10 two
nations on the earth hated each other a. much as
the North and South" how much more true is
the remark nov, after they have been arrayed IN
such bloody contests. It is the object of the
sword to cut and cleave asunder. but never to
unite What Union is there between Russia and
Poland, between Austria and Hungary, between
England and Catholic Ireland where the sword
and the bayonet for centuries have been en-
pIoyedl Instead of comforting material strength,
they are sources Of weakness to countries that
hold them in subjeetion, and which would this
day be stronger without than with them
Mr. Chairman, these lessons of history are full
of warning and example Much better would il
have been for US in the beginning-much better
would it be for US now-to consent TO a division
OF our magnificent empire and cultivate amicable
relations with our estranged brothers, than to
seek to hold them to us by the power of the
sword. Here let me advert to the common, yet
perfectly garing and apparent error, that TO part
with our jurisdiction over eleven States involves
the destruction of our Government. The state.
ment of the proposition demonstrates its absurdi-
ty. As well might one say, who bad farm Of
two hundred acres of land, that he had lost his
title deed to all of il, because, By some misfOr
tune, he had parted with fifty. In losing the
South, not one function of our government over
Us is surrendered. Ii remains over COM
pletely sovereign as il ever did Here let me
say, as the expression of my individual belief
that if it had been understood in the North, in
the South, that by the terms of the Federal COM
pact, State had right TO secede from the
Union. this disputation would never have occur
red. Had the North SO understood the matter,
there would have been upon its part iOrbear-
ance from the exercise of extreme measures, and
the desire not to force the Southern States to the
wall. that would have ever maintained the Con
federacy unbroken. TWAS the prevaencY of the
idea of the consodatonists in the North, that
the Southern States had no right to, and would
not secede. that tempted them and that fatal
policy that has lndered the COnfederacy.
1t is said thatno confederacy can exist by a re-
cognitOn of this principle; but such was not the
view of the fathers of our government, il was not
the view of Jefferson and Madison in their inn
mortal resolutions of 1898 and 1899 rrr
1t has been said, Mr. Chairman, that it would
make confederacy rope of sand, but If so
it is strange that the Southern Confederacy,
where it is recognized, should hold together
through such bloody pressure We have applied
to it for the last three years; it is strange rope
of sand that endures all that.
But to return, Mr. Chairman, as will be
judged perhaps, to the tenor of these remarks 1
an reluctantly and despOndently forced to the
conclusion that the Union is lost, never to be re
stored | regard all dreams of the restoration of
the Uui0n, which was the pride of nv life, and
to restore which, even now. would pour out my
hearts blood, worse than idle. ] see neither
North or South any sentiment on which it is pos
sble to build a Union-thOse elements of union
which Mr.. Adams described have by the process
OF time been destroyed. Worse yet worse than
that, Mr.. Chairman, | am reluctantly forced to
the conclusion that in attempting TO preserve our
Jurisdiction over the Southern States we have lost
our constitutional form of government over the
Northern. What has been predicted by our
wisest and most eminent statesmen has come TO
pass; i'm grasping at the shadow we have lost the
substance; in striving to retain the casket of
liberty in which our jewels were confined, we
have lost those precious monuments of freedom.
Our Government, as all know, is not ANYTHING
resembling what il was three years ago: there is
not one single vestige of the Constitution re-
naming; every clause and every letter Of il has
been violated, and have no idea myself that il
will ever again be respected Revolutions never
20 backward to the point at which they started.
There has always been large party in this
country favorable to..a strong or monarchical gov
eminent, and they have now all the elements
upon which TO establish one. They have vast
army, an immense public debt, and an irrespons-
bic Executive. Ambitious to retain power, he is
a candidate for re election, and as Commander
in Chief, it is charged whether true or false |
shall not undertake to decide), that he has al
ready used the army in the Florida expedition to
advance his chances of success. One of the
Generals he has decapitated (Gen Fremont), has
entered the field to dispute his claim TO a con-
tinuance in power, and if the Chronicle Of this
city, the Presidents organ, is correct in its con-
structions of the suggestions of the New York
Herald speaking of Lieutenant General Grant,
the question is already mooted whether he. in
certain contingencies, at the head of the army,
would not be justified in assuming the rens of
government
The very idea upon which this war is founded
coercion OF States leads to despotism. To pre-
serve a republican form of government under any
form of constitution, under the prevalence of the
doctrines now in vogue, is clearly impossible.
The convictions of the conplete overthrow of our
Government are as unpleasant and unwelcome 10
me as they are to any member of this House.
Would to God the facts were such / could cherish
other convictions. may be denounced as dis
loval and unpatriOtc for enter tanning them but il
will only be by shallow fools and arrant knaves,
who do not know or will not admit the difference
between recognizing fact and creating its exist
ance. man may not desire to die; but never
theless his belief will not alter the fact OF his
mortality. | shall not in these remarks, revive
the unpleasant and acrimonious controversy, of
who is responsible for the death and destruction
of the Republic. | do not see that any such
discussion would be productive of good l
entertain clear and strong convictions upon that
point: convictions that | have no doubt will be
shared in 10y the impartial historian Of the future.
For the present, lam willing let the past, with
all its recollectons, rest. provided we snatch
from the common ruin some of our relics Of free
dom
| do not share in the belief entertained BY
MANY of my political friends on this floor and
elsewhere that any peace is attainable on the
basis of union and reconstruction. Ii the Dem
ocratc party were in power to day, have no
idea, and honesty compels me to declare it. that
they could restore the Union over thirty-four
States. My mind has undergone entire
change on that subject. | believe there are but
two alternatives, and these are: either &C
acknowledgement OF the independence Of the South,
as an independent nation, or their complete sub
jugation aud extermination people; and of
these alternatives, prefer the former
Mr. Chairman. | take little or no interest in
the discussion of the question which many Of my
political friends would make an issue as 20 how
thts war sn"ii oe prosecuteu' us manner anu 90
eci | regard that as worse than trihing with
the great question. ! do not believe there can
be any prosecution of the war against a sovereign
State under the Constitution, and | do not be-
lieve thata war so carried on can be prosecuted
to render il proper justihable, or expedient.
An demonstrations! war only be carried on
in an uncOn ,.i:auonal manner. and to prosecute
il farther under the idea of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr Stevens). wAged
against the Confederate States as an indepenpeut
nation for The puruose of conquest and enbiuga-