Year: 1863

Do we propose. as Democrats, 20 do any
thing wroDgi Do We love our country the
less that we intend to assert the heavea given
right OF free discussionf No, as FOR me, so help
me God. It is because l love my country more.
What is your country and minei ! have
no counsry outside of the provisions of the
written law. Mr.. Lincoln and his cabinet Goa
stitute not my Government They are merely
public servants 20 be held responsible for their
acts by an intelligent. an honest and patriotic
people Am I, in making these declarations,
preaching to you doctrines subversve of the
principles and precepts of the fathersg Let ask
youin all csndor ,doesit not seem wonderful thatI
may at this very moment be talking myself into
prison by uttering these ancient sentiments of
libertyg IL sometimes seems 70 me as if
fevered dream bad come upon this country, and
as if. after while. We should wake mp and find
that we had simply been plagued with a hid
eous and oppressive nightmare. Bot we look
around US uay and the sun Is shining. the air
is blowing all is real and vet in the midst of all
this reality, and in the noon Of the nineteenth
century, we are assaulted with this most terrible
pernicious and destructive heresy-this denial of
the right of the people of free government TO
control and manage that government for them
selves. f


dor 1t purposes, by the help of God, 70 pre-
serve this Constitution. The Constitution
made our Union: without it the Union would
never have had an existence. Il brought
your States together, Ii and il alone held
them together for more than eighty years
and it alone can bring them together
again. It is the only power that can re
store the Union We are constantly told that
i is incumbent upon US TO do everything in
our power to restore the Union. We are ready
and Willingness, we are anxious TO do ANYTHING
o,Aox t,.fr A.s..
can never restore the Union. The right, how
ever. can. and that We propose to DO The Dem
ocratic party will take its stand upon the
eternal, immutable everything principles of right
and OF constitutional hberty-to do right by truth
and justice. and leave to righteous God TO shape
the consequences in the future If this Union is
ever to be restored, it will be done by doing
rightly preserving the Constitution, the bond
that made it. This is my only hope for my
country. follow IL as the children of Israel
followed the pillar of cloud by day and of FIRE by
night. It. and it alone. will lead us through this
wilderness of war, and blood. and desolation; and
If it is preserved the time will come when the sky
will clear away, and in a brighter, better, and
happier land we will look back upon this scene
with proud satisfaction as We reflect that we Gid
not bow the knee in the hour OF trial 70 base
tyranny and lawless usurpation.


In the meantime. what do we expectf Do we





day, expect me to tell you OF an easy wAy
to haven of safety, where these troubles
and dangers shall no more beset and afict uss
II you do. can not crafty you. You are not
TO repose on fowery beds OF ease while
Others in times past fought TO win the prize of
freedom and sailed through bloody seas. We
may suffer Some OF us may Ian.
guish in prison and in chains, we may
feel the iron fostering in our flesh, because we
assert cnr rights ss freemen. We can afford
all this; but can not afford to live one
day or one hour beneath sense of personal
abasement and disgrace. A man can die. aud his
memory be crowned with the benedictioas of
mankind, evergreens may grow about bis tomb,
and the lips Of generations 70 come may bless
him. A man can die in cause like this without
grief sorrow but TO proloug life az t5e expense
of liberty and self-respect, is what proud race
can not and will never do. e


There has never been a time in my expe-
rience when IL was so easy TO determine
what was right and what was wrong. The mark
is broad and plain between the two principles
The path of duty is plain before US. The voice of
past ages comes to US appealingly in this crisis.
The ages in which generous, high-sould.
uen have suffered and bled for the mainten-
ance of their unalienahle rights, implore us in
this hour of trial not to falter the plain. bright
and shining pathway of constitutional liberty
because we near the ciaDkl0g OF Chains.


As | remarked before, it is not my purpose
on tais occasion to discuss in detail any of ma
tional policy measures merely, but to allude to
these few plain and general principles which il was
due TO myself. due to my country and due to the
gallent and glorious Democracy of the State of
Indiana should be uttered In your hearing


One man there would have been in our midst
to day an invited and an honored guest one
whom you all expected TO see and bear upon this
occasion. but that he has fallen. little sooner,
perhaps, than the rest of US, victim TO the base
usurpation which has taken the place of popular
rights and of the Constitution. should feel that
gnilty of injustice to a gallant, bold and
constitution loving citizen of America. did fail
here to utter in the name of the Democracy of In
Indiana. my solemn protest against the tyranny
which places Clement J.. Vallandgham within the
walls of prison


My countrymen: Our proceedings here to-day
will trust, be characterized by prudence frmness
and justice Prudence consists, in times like these
in a bold adherence to truth and right. invoke
upon this meeting the spirit Of good for our own
State, the spirit of peace for people. the spirit
of union for all the States Of America; and
trust in my heart Of hearts, that the result Of your
deliberations will conduce to the prosperity and
glory of the whole people. ai esf


SPECIE HON. JOSEPH r.. x'poSkLp.


Mr.. Mcdonald said:


FELLOW CITIZENS: l wish on your accouu, ss
well as nv own, that had time to engage your
attention somewhat at length upon the present