The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-08-17
Letter from Col. Streiaht.
HEADQU ARTERs 5lsT INDIANA VOLUNTEERS :,
CHATTANOOGA. Tenn, July Is, 1854.

HEADQU ,RrERs 5lsr INDIANA VOLUNTEERS :.
CHATTANOOGA. Tenn, July 10, 1854
Hon, JoseoA Z. he Donald:
DEAR SIR learn, through the papers that you
have been nominated by the Demacrlcy of Indian.
the high AMI responsible office of Governor of our
State This calls 10 mind a conversation held with
you some tins IN February. 1851. You will rccocct
that you then maintained that a State had a eonsttu-
tonal right to secede from the Union whenever ma
jorty of the people thereof fit Ia do and that
The Constitution granted power t. the General
Government to a Sovereign State and that
any war ged by our Government against the "Suv
eregn States of the South would be entirely
stitutional, illegal and without authority. The posi-
ton you then took seemed 10 me So anti-natona and
revolutionary in its tendency, that that zine. pro
posed to discuss with you through the public press
the questions involved in our conversation and al
though declined public discussion, nevertheless
the earnest manner in which you tanned po-
sition made a deep impression upon INV mini-Ani
since the Yallandg CHAM peace wing OF the Demo
crazy have openly taken the dt ntica position that YOU
then occupied have frequently thought of the argu
Hent you used at the time above referred to. al
that your speech before the Convention that
mated You, you stated that were opposed to the
war as it is at present prosecuted Though you in
the speech referred to a resolution passed by
the Democracy the Sth of January, 1852, to-yit
THAT we viii sustain with all our energies for
the mIntcnance of the Constitution and the integrity
the Union under the Constitution" as having been
the sentiment of the Democracy that Time and that
YOU not aware that il has been changed since.
You did not say that YOU endorsed the resolution.
that you would enieavor carry it out if elected.
Hence each individual Is left to form his own opinion
as to YOUR intentions this vital and important sub
lect In view OF your nomination 10 the high and re-
sponsibe Office of Governor of State, and of the
influence that Indiana welds in this great strug
gle for national life. together with the strange
natural and unpairiotic sonabe course
that portion Of the Democratic party have taken in
relation tine 10 which we are engaged take the
liberty in behalf of the vast of Indiana soldiers
who have left home and friends to sustain nation
in against .raitors-to ask you - answer .
few plain straight forward questions, that may
know fully how you stand ON the great issues of the
day. This would enable should have the or-
portunity) to vote unierstaniingiy in the coming
election and we should BE- better prepared T. Judge of
the probable consequences that would follow your
election.
lst Is your ,,res,R opinion that the general GOV
ernment has the constitutional right t. State
o any number of States. that have may secede?
"a. Is 1t 1t your present opinion that the general
government has the constitutional right TO coerce
State that seceieS Please inform to what evil
deace has changed YOUR opinion since February 1851.
The answer to this question is OF the utmost import
ance as 1t Is hoped thai any evidence sDtceatiy strong
t. change your mind the opposite Of Your well
settled legal opinion would if nude public convince
thousands OF the Democracy who still chnri
the sam. dangerous dogma that YOU ifl a. that time
81. In case YOU have not changed Your opinion on
this subject since 1851 please inform whether
You would not the event of your election. feel your
self bound T. oppose by every possible mans the
prosecution of a that then declared would be
uncons titutienal, unnecessary and wrong
4.h. " hat do YOU and your party man by teclar
ini as on the otl of January 10 which You refer in
favor Of Tor the maintenance Of the C0nsiitu-
ton and the Union under the Con .titution Do thv
believe you did in 1851. that States
en, and that war TO coerce staeEH Is uncoustitu-
tional thus declaring in effect that the seeded States
only fighting for their constitutional rights and
il 50, Is the war to which they refer the they
VIII support in maintenance OF the Constitution, 70 be
against our Government and army The
importance Of answering this question Is plain every
from the fact that YOU and large AMI infueu-
tai porton Of your party have repeatedly declared
that the States were sovereign. ami such had \
RICH: 70 seceie and that coerce them Is
sary uacons ttUtonal- Now il Is plain that i you
and YOUR party are in favor of war 10 main:sin the
Constitution in this crisis national aflirs
must array yoer~e! canst the Government and the
army that are prosecuting uEcsnst tutonal war.
whicou ami your party have % often decla-et to be
eur Government and our army.
9TH You aud your party declared that you are
utterly opposed - the Il. prosecuted
now, in election, and tse present policy
Of conducting the should not be changed would
Govern with necessary Ill all calls that
NAV De made BY the PreSiden, from time
sp-ct;ve Of vosr auisa C. the cor1suooaitv of the
war orof the wisdcm Of the pole. with which it may
be coniucteie
These are grave aestf.us and Vital eues 10 Us in
the army deSJrnuS ~ know whs,ier there
beloved State. We fear that 70 elect GOvs-1sr who
is opposed the will bring the State and x4ron-
al authorities in COLLISION hence our arpreasnsfons
Of cvl in tia. erent- TheFe are to-<y Got less
all OF whom are determined fight this soaae
rebellion Us utter destruction, need more
assistance from home hence would De likely 70 re-
t8ri or cut short such assystapce- The uncertain
patriotsn Of Of people and the excited and
perous condition of country wiz, trust, be I.
sufficient apology for addressing this letter. and
feel warranted N saying that fH frank and POM
prehensIre answer q: the questions hereza asked
would relieve the soldiers whom YOU say have yoG.
sympathy from much anxiety relation 10 he com
ing election. have the honor. sir. 10 be
1cnr otedsrt servant,
A. d. ersEI1HT