Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-08-14
SPEECH OF HON. o. r. MORTON,
DELrvERED AT iSpIANApoLis, JuLY
%. 1868. ts e

lam wholly unable tonight to attempt
q response to the very kind and eloquent
remar~s that have been made to mo by
Mr.. Porter, Jour distinguished citizen. /
can only thank him from my heart for
the Kindness of what he has said. 1 can
only thank you for this reception. l eau
not hnd words to express my feelings.
and must not dare TO make the attempt.
While Mr. Porter was reciting some OF
che events of my administration as Gov.
ernor Of Indiana during the war and
bringing up recollections that for the time
had been buried. thought Of the strug
ple that had taken place in the city Of
Indianapolis and upon several occasions
in this Court House yard, when there
we're dark aud gloomy hours, when Il
seemed almos, impossible to see a single
star In the sky, yet thank God that
had faith In The hnal result, aud that
faith sustained ne aud cheored me, and
enabled NE 10 do MY duty a. IL was done.
When look back now over the scenes OF
the war. Il seems TO me more like horrid
dream than anything else. IL seems to
me that could no, possibly endure that
again, nor that the people could again
make such vast, such ,orrblsssori hces az
they made for their county IL has eosi
the nation dearly In blood aud Ia treasure.
OH who could describe the sorrow
and suffering aud agony that has
been brought heme To iatlssr-, and moth.
ers, aud wives, aud families. ThoAwor
can never understand how much private
individual suffering there has been for
our country. We can 40 aud count q par,
Of the graves We eau 90 10 tho Treas,
ary Department aud tell pretty nearly
how much u hpe cost IN money. bu, the
tears that have been shed, the suiivring
that has taken place Ia thousands a.
households No can never nndentnud aud
eau never comprehend. But | must pasr
from this theme. | dare hoi attempt 10
respond to the various subjacts tha. have
been 80 eloqaently touched upon by Mr..
Porter IN his address af
Aud now, fellow citizens, allow me 10
call your attention 10 tho position OF
things to day. aid 10 the duties that nov
pFess upon each aud all OF us. Without
attempting 10 bring up TO your compre-
hensiun tho vast sacrifices that have been
made by tho nation individually aud
collectively, IL u enough iar Us 10 UNDER
stand that all that We have suffered: oil
that we have lost, all that We have Gu
duied will be IN vain IL we shall I'd the
forthcoming election plaeo the power OF
this nation ~ tho haoaa of the onemieu
against whom we have cobiended from
the beginning OF the rebellion Ii L.
siill the same contest. aud somewhat
changed In i,s form. The armies are not
nov marching 90 aud fro upon tho feld
oil battle, but the contest has been chhnged
TO the polls and the question now is
whether the power can be wfesled from
the loyal aud patriotic people of this nu-
ton aud can be placed 10 the hands oi
these men Who With their leaders aud
abottors, brought this war upon the
country, with all its woes, sorrows aud
untold loeses. -. -, +. sfs..sl..'f
We afe approaching State election
and u Presidential eleutiom Asthe Stats
shali sele VA October upon the subject OF
stale Shairs, they wall vote 10 n oven ber
~ all probability, upon the Presidency
Vow ny friends, lot us understand to-
night The exact questions which u,e pre-
senied We have Two liekels in tho field
Gen. Grant T. preseHted M the UIiol
candidate ier' flhe Presidency, aud VI,
Hon. schu, Ter s,.sta a il presented gs an,
candidate ief The Vice Presidency; white
on the oii,r hand, Hota,o seymouv l. III,
Democratic candidate for the l'fesldency
aud Gen. k,..k 4. gl.i, Car The w..
Presidency. Gen Grant. although be hs,
been successful Ia tho war. l. now IN,
Adsoenie et Peace. while lIorstio seymour
who elamored for pe,ee dosiuy ths Wa,
now represents The psttv thai /. ,aysi,
olamorinv for war. The uewoerate nsy,,
in convention assembled in New YORK
believe began its session. on the 4th da,
OF July, aud the dsy was never 40 dese
Grated before. rLauehler1 That con.
venlion has laid down what Il calls
platform OF principles, aud beg leave t,
call your attention to the declaration o
that convention on the subject OF the 70
construction Of the rebel States. vii
read from their PLATFORM:
"And thatany attempt by Congress. al
any pfeiext whatever, 10 deprive AM
State OF this right, or to Interfere With IL,
exercise, Is a"grant asurpation Of power
which eau hnd no warrant In the Coasli-
tuition: aud II sanctioned by the peopI,
VIII suhvert our form Of government. an'
can only end IN a single centralized an,
consolidated government, in which tn
separate existence or tho states will b