The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-08-11

those who are like Us to be with us"
The way in which this sentence
was enunciated showed the practical
as well as the natural orator and the master
of mis- subject But it was when he addressed
himself to the moral issue at stake, that
he rose to the dignity of his theme, and
thrilled the vast audience that almost hung
upon his lips. Observe, after laying down
the primary duty of saving the Nation. how
clearly, and yet how originally, he discusses
his idea of our relations to the Federal Con-
stItutiOn and the relations of that charter to
those who formed it. There Is a rare phil
osophy in the following extract:
"From among those principles-if you
will allow me for a moment TO say so-the
first and most distinct Is that we do not in
end to permit this Nation to be destroyed.
reat applausel We are a Nation-no
doubt a peculiar one-a Nation formed of
States, and no Nation except as the
States form it; and they are States,
but they are no States except as
they are States in that Nation. Applause. !
Historically they never were, and they have
no more right to repudiate the Nation than
the Nation has the right to repudiate them
and neither of them have any shadow
Of such right, and we intend, God help
ing us, so to vindicate that truth that
it shall never be disputed any more in
the world. [Great applause. 1t is fear
full alternative that is set before US, and
yet there are great compensatlons sfor it..
Those of you who have attended to this sub
ject know, or ought to know, that from the
foundation of the present Government, using
that word in its proper sense, this present
constitution, there have always, in every
generation, been parties that had no faith in
it. The men who opposed its formation did
not desire its success, and | am bold to say,
without OBTAINING you on this point, that, af-
ter all the cutlery about our violation of the
Constitution. this present living generation
and this present Union party are more thor
oughly devoted to that Constitution than any
generation that has ever lived under it,
Loud applause
awhile / say that, and while / solemnly
believe it-while believe it is capable of
the clearest historical proof will also add
that it is great error, which is being prop
agated in our land, to say that our Feoeral
life-our National life depends merely upon
the existence of that Constitution. Our
fathers made it, we love it, and we intend to
maintain it. Applause.l But if it suited
US to changeit wewould changeit.[ Applause. I
And when it suits us to change it we will
change it. [Appll use.l If it were to be
torn into a thousand pieces, broken all over,
the Nation would be as much Nation as it
is to-day, as much Nation as it was before
this particular Constitution was made-a
Nation which always declared its independ-
ence as a people. and who have lived united
until nova Nation independent of the par
ticular institutions under which they lived,
and capable of modelling them precisely as the
institutions of successive generations may re-
quire. Applause. We ought to have il
distinctly understood, both by friends and
enemies, that, while we love that instrument,
and are, in most respects satisfied with it.,
and will maintain it, and that we we will,
with indubitable certainty, put to death the
friend or foe who undertakes to trample it
under foot, if we can get rid of them in no
other way, yet, beyond doubt, we will alter
it to suit ourselves from generation to gener-
alton" Cries of ''good, good, and applause. ]
L do not quote these passages to give 4,
political aspect to this sketch, but to show
the peculiar qualities of mind and conscience
of remarkable public character. While
he was speaking he reminded me fOrcibly of
his nephew, John c. Breckenridge. The
tones of the two voices are wonderfully SIM
liar, and, if it be, as it is to my mind invari-
ably, true that the voice, like the features,
may be traced through generations the the
DRY was strangely verified on this occasion.
When the Doctor was told of this resemblance
he replied that he had a son in the hall who
was "the very spit of john"