The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-09-09
THEIR BATTLES DER
THE WAR GOVERNOR AT 1T
AGAIN.
he Repeats that Old Speech, With
Slight Variations, and Is Fol-
lowed by Gen. Sherman
and Col. Lane.
TnE ROCKVILLE REUNION.

AND B0UNDLEsS ENTHUsIASM.
The reunion of Indiana soldiers at Rock
Wills, this week, was a marvel of
success in the way of attendance and
enthusiasm. The crowd came into camp In
all sorts of conveyances and from
every point Of the compass, and was vari-
ously estimated at from 10000 to 10000. The
camps covered a. eighty acre tract OF land,
and 1t was literally alive with moving
mass OF humanity. Notwithstanding the
crush Of human beings, the most perfect
order prevailed during the day. AT III
o'clock the crowd surged up to the speakers
stand, which was gorgeously decorated with
the national colors, and graced with the
presence of Generals Sherman, wallace,
Nelson and Hunter, and others OF the ma
tons heroes, besides tSenator Morton and
the Hon. r. W. Thompson. Withal, the
occasion was q most memorable one.
Speeches were made by Morton, sherman,
Lane and THOMPSON. They were all charac-
teristic OF the men. The Sentinel submits
the full text of them as Photographed for
the Terre Hsute Journal:
THE SENATOR'S OLD WAR SPEECH.
1t has done good service on many deco
ration day and Fourth ofJuly blow out, and
is good for many more to come. But If any
body held up his hand the record don't show
it: While in some respects this is an occs-
sion for pleasure and congratulstion, it is to
me, and it will be TO you, also, an oc,
casion OF solemn and OF awful
memories. We are here to-day in the pres
encs of the relics of one Of the greatest wars
which history has made record. see here
to-day many soldiers who are spared to
return to their families and to their country.
Although it is said that the war is over, stlll
the war has its victims every day. From
day to day hundreds are dropping into their
graves from wounds and diseases contracted
.rl,o o.@f%E %Eas,- nd If
these men who are here to-day, doubt
not, will have their lives shortened by
diseases or wounds that they obtained In
the field. / am here to-day In the
presence of mothers and of fathers who lost
their sons. There are widows here to-day
who lost their husbands, and there are here
to-day orphans who lost their fathers and
protectors. ! see before me monument
that contains the record of nearly 400 names
of men who died in the service of their
country, from this county, and this is only
one out of 94 counties in Indiana. Who can
tell what the war has cost us in blood and lite?
We can tell pretty nearly how many men
died on the field OF battle at a particular
time, can tell how many went to the field
in particular regiment and how many re-
turned, but that does not
INCLUDE ALL THE VICTIMS OF THE WAR.
AS 1 said before, they are falling around us
from day to day; and now, my friends, in
my purpose to attempt to amuse you, or TO
simply say pleasant things. am sure am
glad to see you. 1 am glad to meet the sol
diers with whom 1t was my fortune TO be
closely identified, and for whom l feel
great responsibility growing out OF my OH
cisl position and in the invitation
< gave To enter the service, and
the arguments 1 used, and the induce
ments / attempted to offer. / want to ask
you my friends, to-day, first, what it was
this war cost and the lessons of the war.
ask you what this war meant. 1t is i'm
portsnt to the rising generation to under
stand well the great principles upon which
it was fought, to understand the nature of
chat war in which half million of lives
were sacrificed and billions OF treasure,
filled the land with mourning and
with widows and orphans. L wish
those principles were, and then ask your
selves tie question, was the result worth
what it cost?" and upon an occasion OF this
kind we should rise above party or mercen-
ary considerations. Our fathers gave us
nation, but it was imperfect but they laid
down immortal principles in the declaration
of indepenpence upon which 1t was to be
perfected. Next year it will be one hundred
years since that declaration was given. "All
men," said that declaration, "are created
equal; they are endowed by their Creator
with inalienable rights,
LOVE OF PRINCIPLE AND PURSUIT OF HAP
PINESs."
Although these principles were proclaimed
more than 80 years ago, yet they were but
imperfectly applied. At the time they were
published to the world, there was one in
stitution living in open contradiction to this
declaration and they could not receive full
application of it until that institution was
extinguished. That institution struck its
roots deeper into the soil OF the country.
Finally 1t brought on the war. The
war succeeded in the abolishment
of slavery, and this great principle
was settled. Our government is now based
upon the doctrine of equal political and
civil rights to all men, without regard to
race, color, or previous condition. 1t was
the institution of slavery that made the re-
bellion possible. There was doctrine pre-
vailing in the Southern states-the doctrine
of state sovereignty, that each state was a
nation, separate and distinct from each
other; that we were not one nation,
but thirty-seven. Even Robert z. Lee
was opposed to secession, but he had
been educated in that doctrine OF
allegiance was to Virginia, and when Vir-
ginia left the Union he was bound to follow.
Our first allegiance is not to Indiana, but to
the United States OF America, as one great
people. lApplause.l We believe Indiana
has her rights sacred and unapproacha able,
guaranteed, OWNED and protected by the
constitution of the United States, sacred
guaranteed, and secured by the same instro-
ment that created and guarantees the gov
ernment of the United States. But while
we believe in this, we mold that the nation
is over all as
GOD Is OVER THE UNIVERSE,
and belieye that this doctrine is the only
safeguard ofthe state. Many people believe
the doctrine OF state sovereignty was in
vented Tor the benefit of slavery and died
with slavery. I wish that it were 30, but
that Is not its history, my friends. Governor
Morton here said be would refer to the his
tory OF this doctrine. He cited the Virgins
and Kentucky resolutions, and said they
were gotten ND for q temporary po