THE CORNER-STONE OF THE CAPITOL.
It is an occasion of regret that I have to feel myself constrained to refer to a most disagreeable topic. In placing in the corner-stone of the new Capitol memorials of this history and progress of the State, none was placed in it referring to the deeds of valor of her soldiers, who went forth to battle to preserve the Union, and to save Indiana from becoming a State upon the border, subject to hostile raids and incursions, and exposed, at the first approach of war, to the invasion of hostile armies. In the address delivered on the occasion of laying the corner-stone, many minor incidents in the history of the State were dwelt upon with eloquent copiousness, but no reference was made to the illustrious dead, whose lives were offered as a sacrifice for the welfare of their State and the preservation of their country. Nor was mention made of the no less illustrious living, whose grateful presence among us in a continued rememberancer of the immortal cause for which they fought. If memorials of their services had been placed in this repository, the omission in the address would have been unimportant, but none having been placed there, the address seems to emphasize the supposition that no recognition was to be made of their services, their sacrifices, or their heroism.
It will not detract from the renown of the dead and the honorable fame of the living soldier that this was not done. Their place in history is secure. In less than half a generation it has come to be confessed by the most intelligent of those who were their enemies, that it was best even for them that the intrepid deeds which they performed were done. As age shall follow age, the cause for which they fought, their sacrifices and their prowess, will become more and more illustrious. When, perhaps, a century hence, the new edifice now ascending shall be razed to the ground, to make room for some still more imposing structure, and the fame of thse heroes shall shine with the luster of the sun, what will be said of the generation who, in placing in the corner-stone of its chief temple the memorials of its history, could find no room for any record or mention of them? It has been suggested that this omission may be redressed by placing some statue or other object in the dome commemorative of their services, and thus show that, while we could not remember them while laying the base of the Capitol, we were constrained to remember them when rearing its pinnacles.
I have no hesitation in saying that if it can be done without releasing the sureties upon bonds of the contractors this corner-stone should be laid bare, the repository of its treasures should be opened, and here should be placed therein a careful record in relation to the war, of whatever a great and patriotic State might deem best worth preserving in a record of its most illustrious citizens.
Nor should omission be made to leave there some mention of the great Governor, who was not less a soldier because he never drew a sword; who braved dangers as great as those did who fell in battle: and whose care and vigilance and in exhaustible energy in anticipating and providing for every want of our soldiers, in every field, seemed to invest him with the property of ubiquity.
I am sure, gentlemen, that no one will be so uncandid as to suspect that in saying what I have said on this theme, I have sought to revive any old animosities. Surely it can not be a party question that we shall honor the heroes of our great civil strife, whether they wore epaulettes or a knapsack. We can all now do justice even to the mistaken braves who crossed swords with them in that strife.
