Year: 1862

which II becomes edcn anu every one OIL us
to give an opinion upon the great ques-
tions of the day. And it is due that in
speaking to you Of the doings Of the Con-
gress of the United States, in which it has
been my lot to take part. should remind
you that the last session of that body has
been by far the most important that has
ever occurred in the history of this govern
ment. 1t was called upon 20 decide upon
questions and to meet issues altogether
new in the history of this country. ques-
tions and issues upon which there was no
precedent. A rebellion the largest and
most formidable in its proportions and
likely to prove the most important in its
consequences, of any that had ever taken
place in the history of the world. had to be
dealt with and put down. and in il were in
volved the solution OF some OF the most
important questions that have ever arisen
in the science of government. All Of these
questions have been settled by the Con-
gres Of the United States within the last
six months. 1t is not too much to say
that more labor. more hours of session.
have been expended by that last Congress
than by any one that has ever preceded it
since the establishment of the government.


1t is now my intention to allude to some
few of these questions. And just here
permit me to say to my fellow citizens in
all sincerity and honesty that l have moth.
ing personal to say of any man. These
are not the fines to talk about men. The
question of tho national existence is the
one now before us. The nation is at stake
and il is no time now to talk about per-
sonal or party disputes. God knows that
in time like this men are nothing, and
that man who stands in the way Of this
great cause with his personal difficulties or
objections Of whatever kind they may be.
must stand out of the way. or he is not
worthy the name Of an American. You
may know that have long since settled
all these questions for myself, and although
have been somewhat amused by surmises
in which certain persons have recently seen
fit to indulge in regard to going home to
feel the public pulse-to ascertain what
the state Of the publ; mind is in regard
to these questions. yet it gratifies me to
know that the opinions which hold to-
night are identically the same that / ex-
pressed at the beginning of the war, when
within the dominions of foreign power.
say tonight. as l said then. as have
continued to say upon all occasions since
my return to this country. that the hope
of the country lies in an united people, and
that men should lay party aside. and think
and speak and act solely and entirely for
their country.


In the month Of September last arriv-
ed in your city, and from that time until
December following. was in almost daily
communication with prominent men who
had been affiliated with me in politics
Democrats with whom | had stood shoul-
der to shoulder in former days. and upon
one occasion / was asked: "What would
you propose to do? Would you have a
Democratic nominating convention?' l
said: mo. But if the Republicans and
Democrats would each meet and appoint
delegates to meet and nominate but one
ticket it woull be the proudest day that
Indiana ever saw


But" say you, edo you mean to sban-
don your principles?" No. But l tho't
it was of very little consequences who was
to be Secretary Of State or Treasurer. or
who was to fill anyother Office; but it was
OF the utmost importance that the Govern
ment should know. and that the people
both North and South should know. that
in the great State of Indiana. which had
already sixty thousand soldiers in the ar
my of the Union, there was bat one opin-
ion on the subject Of the war-that the
people Of Indiana were an unit for the
Union and the Constitution. Now sup
pose my advice had been followed. what
would have been tho consequence? You
would have had q no party convention.
no-party strife. no-party nominafions.-
You would have elected FIVE candidates.
three Of whom would have been Republi-
cans and two Democrats and the effect
would have been TO make but one party, a
party united as one man in favor of the
cause Of the Union. What else would you
have had beside this Union and harmony
in the choice of your officers of State?-
In every one of the ninety counties in
the State you would have had for your
county officers men not nominated because
of their party. but because Of their person
81 worth. You would have had in Office
throughout the State q large element Of
good men. Now. my fellow citizens. If, in
the course Of my public life, have learned
anything it is this. that the means that will
save this country are to elevate to Office
good men-men in whom you can have
confidence and none other. What
would have been the further effect Of pur-
suing suchs policy upon the State at large?
II would have been that the people would
have been looking around them for the best
men to elect to Congress. and there would
have been no such thing seen in Indiana as
a division of public sentiment upon the
all-important subject that is now before
the public mind.


Such was my advice then and such are
my sentiments at the present time.


Ny friends. there is always danger. OF
difficulty growing ont of party organizs-
tions in time of war. Here we have war
involving the very life and existence of the
Government. arising not from the assaults
OF foes from without, but from the efforts
Of rebels and traitors within-aud let me
say to you that the moment that purely
party organization exists throughout he
entire North. Il will result not merely in q
division Of public sentiment, bat in family
quarTels and individual difficulties and pri.
vste fueds. until you will have anarchy
sut rcoEres - .~I N~>l.I~1