The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-13
AT THE OPENING OF TIE WAR.

Mr. Heffren In the Legislature of 1861
Washington County Wants to Be in the
Southern COnfederacy
In the Legislature of 1861. Horace Heifren,
as spokesman for minority of the House
committee on Federal relations, presented
report, dated January 81, from which we take
the following extract:
'At time like this, when the foundations
OF the national government are shaken and
its pillars are crumbling away, it is the
solemn duty of every patriot of the land to
discard all specious fallacies in regard to
slavery-all blind resentments for supposed
aggreSsons-all pride and sectional animosi-
ties, and all party criminalties, and forget
ting the mutual provocatOns of the
past. bring all offensive doc
trines and platforms-al abstract theories
and barren creeds-as sacrifices upon the
altar of q common country. The
continued agitation in Congress-, the State
Legislatures, and before the people by fanat-
ical vagabonds of the slavery question has
brought about the present alarming condi-
ton of affairs. Even professed
ministers of Gcd, men who Theoretically
pretend to be ambassadors OF the Most High,
have descended from their lofty position
and l'Tostruted their talents and the pulpit,
Soied the robes of religion. disgraced decency
aud outraged morality by their infamous and
helliSh harangues to aid in the unholy and
uuchrlstian cause OF bringing about conten-
ton and strife. Their whole theme has been
of the wrongs of another race upon whose
very form the God of creation has stamped
the impress of inferority to that of
the whites, and by their lectures speeches
and sermons, have pertinacously continued
the crusade until We now stand. as it were
upon the slumberng volcano with its hot,
boiling lava rolling and Numbering beneath
our feet and wanting but breath to over
whelm all ina common ruin Such is the
terrible condition of our country to-day and
to this has she been brought by demagogues
and fanatics until portion of the people of
the Union seek to preserve their rights by
secession. Star after star has fallen in quick
succession from the national armament and
soon more will follow unless the gaping,
bleeding wounds of our country are staunch-
ed Can we ever hope for return TO justice
by the North We fear not.
The undersigned wonld further say that
they believe this government derives its Just
power from the consent Of the governed,
and that it would become subversive of the
very spirit o liberty and of natural right to
attempt, by the strong arm of Federal
power, backed as it would be by the army
and navy to coerce or compel the people of
any State or States to remain an integral part
OF government they desire to separate from,
and that we cannot view with but serious
alarm any attempt upon the part of the
serfs OF the freemen of the country, to do
homage to great power at the point of
the sabre or bayonet 1t behooves
every freeman to say whether he will assist
in the helliSh scheme, or whether he will
stand idly by and see despotism flourish or
whether he will take part and espouse the
cause of those who Shoulder their arms to
protect and preserve their rights and liber-
ties We believe we will be safe in saying
that we speak the sentiments of more than
one hundred thousand of the freemen of
Indiana, that we will not assist in the
scheme; that we will not stand idly by but
remembering the illustrious examples of
their fathers tight to keep the fires OF equal
rights, justice and liberty burning
H Mr.. HEFFRENs SPEECH.
Following this report were set of resoiu-
tions, in the advocacy of which Mr. Heffren
made the FOLLOWING speech: ..a,fi,.
I'If you call US traitors becr re syinpa-