The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1870-03-11
Speech of Hon. Thomas n. Hem
dricks ut New Orleans.
From the New Orlcans !

Nh. PRESIDENT AND FE,Low-CITI-
ZFNs: | thank you for the welcome
" hich YOU have extended TO me on this
occasion. The condition OF my health.
III; there were nothing else 10 prevent
,.ic. would not allow me To attempt to-
make an extended speech tonight. Only
la few days since had never come fur
ltIrr South than lie south bank of the
OHIO river.
4 matter Of business made it conven-I
lent for ne at This moment 10 crafty al
desire long entertained OF seeing some
thing of the Southern part of our coun-
Try. that might judge for myself of
some Of the questions that have agiia;cdl
III public mind. and that might judge
by pcrs Onal obscryaiionas lar 'as could.
OF tie correctness OF the views ! have
lcntcriaincd on the pablc issues in which
have taken part. But when left my
llomc in Indiana did not expect, to
amy extent whatever, to participate in
lanv public discussion. and shall not
Inow attcmp. to occupy yolr attention
further than 70 submit few remarks
:. But even il ! were tonight 10 attempt
to make al argument on the questions oi
Il he lav. coming rs do from Indiana. !
j
II O make an apology. You are my cotin-
trymen. Louisiana is part of my COM
lmon country. and the beautiful river that
mark. the southern boundary OF lndi-
ana. ard divides her from Kentucky
contributes largely TO this mighty stream
(which carries the commerce oi our conn-
ltry 10 and from your city. Indiana con
tributes very largely to that commerce
: land most OF the questions that ailec
vour in:erc;.ts arc important also to tli'
lpeopc of Indiana. Louisiana is an az
lricultural State. SO is Indiana. Loui,
i. llama asks free laws, just laws, honoiabl'
laws. and sodoes Indiana. Louisiana
tasks law ; that shall justly protect capital
land attic same time shall take labor b.
the hand and hold it up. Indiana ask
: Just such laws.
.. | nave heard il said by men Of thi
State and Of some other Southern Siatcs
: that they would take no part in po!iticl
controversies Of the times: that IL wa
\, lno use TO do so ti,at the States had sci
) tied the question. Will you allow me {
:. say that that sentiment ought not to b
entertained by any citizen of the Unite
States? lApplausc.l There is no ma
!. 50 high that lie is above the consider;
u -1tion Of those questions that touch tn
!. liberties Of his country. I"Good,' an
Il lapplausc There is no man so low tn;
al llhe cannot exercise some influence for Il
|" welfare of his country. Applause
Why shall the men Of the South sa
W l,bev will take no active, responsible pa
4 lin the discussion and decision of Il
ouestions that occupy the public attel
tion? The Southern States have n va
lpopulation. They have mighty resource
lTheir fortunes are now bound in u
fortunes of all the States of the I MO
H IJt is no time now. when the institution
of this country are imperilcd, for al
'urt man to hesitate for one moment III U
i@cr, @ discharge Of his duty to his country.
,n'+ Chccrs.] !, :.
d. Have we stopped to consider how il
portant is the influence which the 80
Il thern States have upon the financial
rE. fairs Of the entire Union? The dcma
is made by many that we should rctll
TO specie payments, and l, for one, W
Ibc glad when the day shall come u
Ia, i've Shall have once more the currency
ID = Andrew Jackson for the currency OF
,sm' "na entire country Iapplausc;] j but 10
,utc. with little confidence TO the Congress
East the United States, as it is now Organiz
sons for any action that will bring us III
pend direction even of specie payments.
n;nSy laugh.l 1t is in the power of the p
with plc themselves, and Of the people alo
hoa's 10 facilitate return to the constitutio
= currency. And how? Ry selling III