Year: 1864


nv life has been SO thoroughly divorced from
politics. and such has been the sense of relief and
personal comfort enjoyed in this time, can not
contemplate a sudden entrance into the midst OF
a busting campaign, with all its fierce strife and
bitter hos,ities with other feelings than regret
and concern. The few days afforded for Drepa-
ration, after nearly three years IN the camp and
field engrossed with other aud more inviting pur-
suits than politics, would be sufficient reason.
were there no other, for the great dlihdence eT-
perienced in approaching my subject this even
ing; but believing the time to have fully arrived
when the necessity Of vigorous action is imposed
upon every citizen who would iend assistance TO-
ward arresting great calamity from Detailing
the country; and viewing with the most profound
alarm the recent tendency TO incorporate in the
established poles of the nation that most dan
gerous here-y, the insoleDt claim OF unlimited
despots Ouly, which denies 10 tue citizen TIE
right at any and all times. and under any or all
circumstances, in times of peace or war, TO dis
cnss without fear or limit in public or in private,
with his tongue or with his pen. the actions of
the servants OF the people, the oihcers OF the
Government, either in approval or condemnation
thereof. to refuse compliance with request TO
strike the first blow in this city in behalf OF the
man who represents the only organized effort now
being made to resist this gigantic wrong, would
have been neither gracious nor just.


can imagine no more solemn gathering or
occasion than an asseniblage of freemen callei
together for the purpose OF resisting encrOach-
ments upon their rights and liberties; and respOn-
sbe indeed il MS position who seeks to give at
teraDee TO their thoughts and direction TO their
action: but when the holy of holies OF the tenn
pie OF our liberty is entered its sacred mysteries
turned into a coarse Jest, its cOnsecrated vessels
taken from the altar by profane hands and shat
Il nntr nfn
free institutions threatened with banishment, il
becomes the highest duty of every man to yield
himself up 20 the uses of the country until her
hour of peril be passed. and this duty he owes
not only to the present generation, but TO the
heroic fathers who IN past times lmperlled their
all 10 preserve the Government, and 10 that vast
posterity which is To reap the reward of his gen
erous sacrifice and sel-denisl or suffer the heavy
penalty OF his neglect and wrong.


Before We enter upon an examination Of the
acts and policy of the present Administration. in
order 10 settle definitely the extent and nature Of
its political obligations, IL will be necessary to
review briefly the history OF the party by which
it was called into power.


In 1856 American politics may be said to have
been in transition state. The issues that had
called into being the two great parties which had
divided the sentiment of the country for "A num-
Der of wears bad been acted on by the people and
definitely settled, and the Wing party, deprived
at ore fell swOop OF its leader. principles and the
nourishment OF official support soon languished
into timely grave, leaving few mOurners and
no effects


The Democrat tic party. although holding the
official patronage of the country, was beginning
at that time to show evidence of certain and
speedy dissolution As early as 1853 the restless
zeal of disting guished Democratic politician, in
lieu of other EN- ploy ment. sprung upon the coun-
trv the repeal of the Missouri Compromise Of
1870. The wild excitement that followed this
measure, being incident in point of time to the
organization of the Know Nothing order and the
agitation of the Maine Law. gave to what re
manned of the Whig party the long wished for
opportunity Of riding into Office for at least
single term. combining the incongruous elements
a their command, these willy leaders successfully
m. ,naged the campaign and in the fall elections
of S54 the Democracy were beaten and the leg
islat, We branch of the national, as well as OF
many OF the State governments, passed into the
hands C'f the opposition What done with
this ,ple ldid victory hts certainly not faded from
the memory OF the people; the campaign had
been made without issue save the al-absorbiBg
one of Office, and in the division OF the spos the
new marc " he:.. together by principle quar-
relied and its difftrent factions set up for them
selves


Meantime. the repes of the Missouri Com
promise had as 'umei pro portions certainly never
intended for il by its ss, racIous author, and
seemed developing into a pole looking toward
the permanent increase of slav. territory and the
further control Of the Governmelt by the slave
interest


The North. always jealous OF the eculiar in
stitution, at once took the alarm, ant. Tor the
purposes of the hour. all party distincio rs were
ignored. and the organization Of a great alton
al party, on the distinct issue of mo more lave
States and no more slave territories" was m
dertaken. All New England. part of New Yo, k
and part Of the Northwest came readily ano
eagerly up to the issue. Indiana. under Know
Nothing. Maine Law and old Whig influences.
hung sulIenly back In May, 1856, the Nation
al Know Nothing Council and Convention were
held jointly in Pittsburg; the latter fought and
dissolved over the famous eleventh section. and
a part OF il adjourned to meet in Philadelphia in
June. TO organize an antisltvery party At
length the great Anti-slavery Convention was
assembled and Hon Henry Lane of Indisna
a man who never knew ia the whole course of
his life an impulse or sentiment in common with
the anti slavery element of the country, was
chosen President. This was a most insuspcious
beginning, but in it. platform and candidates the
Convention no5lv redeemed its character, and
worthiIy ended the work of organizing the Re
publican party.


The avoved aim and purpose Of the Republi
can party, its grand central idea. was opposition
10 the admission OF slave States and the increase
os slave territory; vet while this the evident
intent and meaning of the men who gave being
and character to the movement. some few State
politicians attempted 10 entirely change the plat
form and give to il meaning and significance
entirely foreign to its character. | have only
ime to refer to the action of Indiana in this con
necuon. The convention that nominated the
Republican State ticket in 1856. thoroughly un
der the control of its old Wing leaders, seemed
actuated by no more manly idea than a paltry
squabble for spoils. and while its ticket was a
gathering of the most opposite and antsgonistic
m ,terial in the State. its platform was ridicu.
lous effort at dovetsiling and fitting together a
Know Nothing. Maine Law and anti slavery
plank, resulting in no expression OF principle
whatever. and lodging completely any utter
ance OF anti slavery principle In this manner
the campaign was begun and ended Wilson.
Sumner Hale aud Seward in the East taking
the Philadephi platform for their cOnfessioI'of
political faith preached a pure anti slavery co.
pei while in Indiana, Lane. Parker Defrees and
their fellows, worked harmouiOusly 10 the same
party and on the same national platform with
out giving utterance to enough anti slavery ser
timent TO alarm the most sensitive dealer IN
slaves across the Ohio With the final result of
the campaign We are all familiar: the Democratic
candidate. Mr.. Buchanan. elected: hut the
young party which had begun It's career bv adopt
ing vital principle aud making the Sight with il,
gave 20 its noble csndidate nearly a million and
q half Of votes and retired from the contest with
ont having forfeited its self-resDect or given IN.