The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-15

never before or since, heard as much forcible
logic-fallaclous as it may seem in the light Of
after events-crowded into half hours speech.
will give mere outline OF his arguments. but
the accuracy of my report will, l think, be
vouched for by many living witnesses. and not
be denied by Mr.. Davis himself.
His first point was that it was in vain to talk
of waiting for the overt act, which was inevita-
bly, foreshadowed in the election of Lincoln by
purely sectional vote. The door was effectually
closed by that act against any hope of maintain
ing the rights of the Southern States In the
Union. He next discussed the federal compact,
and contended that the States had the constitu-
tional and inaienable right to withdraw from it
when the conditions under which they became
parties to it were violated. He believed that
the separation would be peaceable, and secuted
the idea of an attempt at coercion. His belief
was based upon his knowledge of the character
OF the Northern people. They were intelligent,
shrewd and enterprising, with an extremely
sensitive pocket nerve They were far too wise
to precipitate conflict in which they had every
thing to lose and the South but little. glance
at the condition of the two sections would show
the folly of predicting war between them. The
South was thnly settled. and had no great depot5
of stored provisions. Consequently an invading
army would have to transport its subsistence
by cumbrous methods, and it would require so
many troops to guard its line of operations, from
its base of supplies to an objective point, that
the greatest force that could be organized in
penetrating Southern State would become so
VCdhCnOO do " Uo du easy prey IOT d lew EcSO-
lutte sharpshooters On the other hand, the
North was thickly settled had overfowing
granaries; its large Cities were stocked with
wealth and accumulated produce. with the neces
saries and luXuries of life and treasures of art,
Offering every inducement of subsistence and
plunder to an invading army, alert, unhampered
by commssariat to guard, undepleted by line
of operations to defend and, therefore, easily
massed for effective action.
Having thus demonstrated the improbability
OF war as the result of secession, he proceeded
to argue that the separation would be but tenn
porary. The different sections Of the country
were so interdependent had so many interests
in common, that it was impossible they could
exist and prosper as separate and opposing
natonalities. When the North became con-
vinced of this fact, there would be reconstruc-
tlon of the government upon basis Of ample
guarantees of the rights of all the States, and
thenceforth the Union would be perpetual.
Such, in substance, was the first speech of
Jefferson Davis after his withdrawal from the
United States Senate, made under circumstances
which called for no equivocation or concealment,
and therefore presumably embodying his real
sentiments
Its effect upon the mixed assembly of Bristol
Goodsonites was magical; old partisan nreiudices
were swept away like chaf before the wind. A
careful canvass of the village the next day failed
to reveal trace os unionism remaining. The
little community was thenceforth solid for the
South So complete was the change in Sullivan
county that Andrew johnson, a few weeks later,
by unanimous vote of his former followers,
was refused the privilege OF making Union
speech at the courthouse