Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-04-27

sceech OF Ex.Presiaens Pierce.
alluded 10 call made on Geueral Pierce
Saturday night The Patriot OF 70 day contains
an account OF Il. and also the generals response.
which enclose The Patriot says:
AT about 3 o'clock this mob,
numbering then from 200 TO 400 appeared about
the door Of the residence OF General Pierce and
surprised him by vocilerous calls. Immediately
the door sas thrcws open, aud in the blaze OF
tie entry light the eI-president appeared upon
the steps aud addressed to the Assembly the re
marks which follow. IL il due 20 the crowd 20
say that the moment our distinguished fellow
citizen appeared snd uttered one or two sen.
fences. with the exception OF occasional remarks
such as that's 80. and that's good" "thst's
true, absolute quiet aud silence prevailed while
be was speaking. When he uttered his good
night" they RESPONDED with a hearty good
night" and three cheer. for the general, aud re
tired as quietly As though there had been no scene
of eIcitsmens 10 The day This. at least. was
crcditsble.
syKEcH or 0IyERAL PILRcK.
Fellow townsmen l come to ascertain the
motives Of this call What Is your desire !
Some person in the crowd replied: 1--WE wish
to hear some words from you on this sad coca
,ion."l General Pierce proceeded
/ wish could address you words OF solace
Of the calamity, In all aspects. Is overwhelming
II your hearts are oppressed by events more cal
culsted TO awaken profound sorrow and regret
than any which have hitherto occurred IN Our
history. mine mngles its deepest regrets aud sor-
rows with yours.
IL is TO be hoped that the great wickedness and
atrocity was confined morally and actually, 10
the heads aud hearts o; but two individuals Of all
those who still survive Oh this continent; aud
that they may speedily. and IN obedience TO law,
meet the punishment due to their unparalleled
crimes. IL IS well that you-it ia well that L
well that all men worthy TO be called citizens of
the United States. make manifest in all suitable
forms. the emotions incident 10 the bereavement
and distress which have been brought the hearts
and homes o. the two most conspicuous families
OF the Republic give them nv warm, out
gushing sympatby a. | am sure all persons within
the hearing OF nv voice must DO.
But beyond personal grief and loN. there will
abide with u. inevitably the mos. painful memo
ries Because. as citizens obedieDt 10 law, re
vering the constitution. holding fast TO the union.
thankful for the period of history which succeed
ed the revolution in so many years Of peaceful
growth and prosperity, and loving with the deVo
too of true aud faithful children. all that belongs
TO the advancement and glory Of the nation, We
can never forget or cease 70 deplore the greai
crime and deep stain.
A voice from The crowd: Where Il your
fsgl"
IL is not necessary for me 10 show my deYo-
ton for the stars and stripes by any special ex
hibition. or upon the demand of any man or bod
Of men. Ny ancestors followed il through the
revolution-one Of them, at least, never having
seen bis mothers roof from the beginning TO she
close of tina; protracted struggle. Ny brothers
followed il in the year Of 1912; and ! left my
family in the spring OF l947 among you. tc
follow its fortunes and maintain il on foreign
soil
But this you all know IL the period during
which have served our state and country in va
rious situations, commencing more than thirty
FIVE years ago. have left the question of my de-
yotion TO the flag, the constitution and the union
in doubt, il is too late now % remove is by any
such exhibition as the inquiry suggests. Be
sides, 10 remove such doubts from minds where
they may have been cultivated by spirit OF
domination aud partisan rsncor. if such thing
were possible, would be Of no consequence to
you. and il 10 certainly OF none to me. The
malicious questionings would return To reasseTt
their supremacy and pursue the work Of ipjus
tice
Conscious Of the inGrmiies OF temperament,
which 10 greater or less extent, beset Us all
have never fel, or found that violence of pas
sion was ultimately productive of beneficial re-
SUITS, II u gratifying 10 perceive tuat your %
seryston, briefer than mine, has led your minds
to the same conclusion.
What priceless commentary upsn this gener-
al thought, is the final reported conversation be
tween the president and his cabinet and with
that dispatch comes news TO warrant the cheer
ing hope that. in spite Of the knife of the asssss
in, the life and intellect of the secretary of state
may, through Providence, be spared to Us in this
appalling emergency.
thank you for the silent attention with which
you have listened to me. and for the manifesto
tons OF your approval as my neighbors; and will
not detain you in this storm longer than to add
vidualIy and collectively, we ought 10 hold
most dear-our country-Ou whole country
Good night.