Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-06-14
Geveruor Morton and his Ratifica.
fi0n

"
report Of his speech at the LrScoLS ratification
meeting. on Saturday night last. as a misrepre-
sentation Of the sentiments he uttered on that
occasion. and be quotes certain paragraphs which
he says ARE absolute forgeries and unmitigated
falsehoods."
short time ago the organ of His Exceliency,
the Indianapolis Journal, with grand noursn
stated that Governor MoRroS never read the
Sentinel and that his party friends would look
upon him with contempt if he should make an
issue with Us upon personal or public affairs. IL
viii appear BY his card. which will be found in
our issue Of to-day, that Governor MoRroS 's not
only close reader of the Sentinel but he feels
is. What the poet says we apply to His Excel
lency 10 THE connection:
@So rogue e'er felt the halter draw.
With good opinion Of the law"
The Governor says bis speech is substantially
reported in the Journal OF Yesterday. This IS
not the fact His reported speech in that print
and his spoken speech quite different But
the Governor is willing, it appears, to be judged
by the Journals report. He SAYS BY that
standard We propose to test his charges against
us of misrepresentation. absolute forgery and
unmitigated falsehoods" He quotes the follow
ing from our report of his speech as one of the
passages which he thus stigmatizes:
Those who now 90 of after Fremont are
worse than the vilest Copperheads. dis Excel
lency intimated that he would rather clasp a
Democrat in his arms than radical German.
He declared himself bitterly opposed TO those
who supported Fremont, as party and indi'id-
ually"
The Governor says bis speech is substantially
reported in the Journal IL it was not prepared
BY him for that paper, it was certainly revised by
him. Upon the points We have quoted, what does
His E1cellency sayl We quote from his organ:
81 carried the standard of Gen. Fremont to
the best OF nv poor ability through the canvass
of 1856, and have since endeavored 10 sustain
him, not only as politician. but a. a military
chieftain, and never, until read this letter, did
have occasion TO regret what / had done Ii
has been read with joy by his enemies and with
pain by his friends, and emitting one or two sen
fences, there is nothing in it that might not have
been written and subscribed. without inconsistent
cy. by Mr.. Vallandgham.
The Governor regards Mr.. NALLANDIGHAM as
disloyal, as a traitor to the Government, and II
there is any meaning in language he places Gen.
Fremont, in the extract We have quoted, IN the
same position that he does Mr. V. If Mr.. VALLAS-
DIGHAx is "a Copperhead, does not Gov MORTON
argue that Gen Fremont is Copperheadr lfGen.
FRExoSr is a Copperhead according to Governor
MoRros's construction, are not all who support
him Copperheads? Can there be any other con-
struction to his Excellency's own lOgcr In his
ratification speech, according to his own report,
does he noe bitterly oppose not only Fremont
but those who support him as party and indi-
vidually? What does he say in the next para
graph to that we have quoted
"In voting for them Lincoln and Johnson)
we know we vote for the Union. and we will not
vote for any man Of whom this cannot be conf.
IDENTIFY said"
What is the plain English of this declaration!
Has it any other meaning than that the Cleve
land nominees are not for the Unionf We ask
every candid reader if report of the Govern
or's speech, even the extract to which he takes
exception is not fully sustained by the Journals
report. which, over his own signature, he saws is
substantially correct
We have nothing to take back in our opposi-
ton to Fremont heretofore. Weopposed him in
1856 and We shall oppose him upon the same
grounds in 1864 This much, however. we can
say in his favor. In 1856 he was for free speech.
free press and free men, and in 1864 he occupies
precisely the same position. Now, as then, his
voice i. for the liberty of the citizen the freedom
of speech and the press, and the political equali-
~ of all men under the law without reference to
race or color If Governor MORON in 1856 fol-
lowed under the banner OF Fremont to the best
of his poor ability" approvingy. we see no rea-
son why he should not stand on the same plat
form now Ii is MoRroS who has changed front
and not FRExoSr.
The Governor, through his menlals, makes a
vile personal assault upon reporter. This is
the unfailng resort of little men. Such argu
ments have no force whatever. We could retort
in u similar way upon His Excellency il we felt
so disposed, and We have the materials. if we de-
sired to use them, in abundance. Our reporter
did not attempt to give verbatim report of the
Governors speech. but only its substance And
did not understand the meaning and force OF the
language aud sentiments he uttered. the respon-
sibility rests with the speaker and not with the
reporter We gave the spirit Of the Governor 5
speech "a ne spoke il, and we have not doubt
that our report of his remarks expressed his hon
est convictions. The Governor made political
mistake. There was no necessity for his allud-
ing to FRExoSr at all Ii he felt il to be his
duty to support the men in power and their ruin
Gus policy. il was a load enough to carry without
attacking. in so doing. the men OF his own pc
ltical faith
No honest man can read Governor MoKroS' :
ratification speech. as reported by MS own organ,
without feeling that he stands opposed To Far
NOM and bis supporters, and that he regards
them a. Copperheads He classified them.
What il their crimey Is il anything more than
a manly support of the avowed principles of the
Republican party. As much as We differ with
the abolition sentiments of FRENoxT we can re-
spect him rs a bold, brave, able and consistent
opponent. fearlessly standing by his principles.
whether in sunshine or IN storm
Sor the sentinel.
Liberty Of sPeech-State EXPENSE