Sir, it is not without reason, that at Indianapolis in particular,—­and to your Excellency, the truly faithful, the high-minded, and the deservedly popular Chief Magistrate of this Commonwealth, I speak that word.  It is not the first time that your Excellency, surrounded as now, has spoken as the honoured organ of the public opinion of Indiana.  It is not yet two years since your Excellency did the same on the occasion of a visit of the favourite son of Kentucky, Governor Crittenden.  I well remember the topic of your eloquence.  It was the solicitude of Indiana in regard to the glorious Union of these Republics.  May God preserve it for ever!  But precisely because you, the favourite son of Indiana and the honoured representatives of the sovereign people of Indiana—­in one accord of perfect harmony esteem the Gordian knot of the Union above all, allow me to say once more, that if the United States permit the principle of non-interference to be blotted out from the code of nations on earth, foreign interference mingling with some domestic discord, perhaps with that which two years ago called forth your patriotic solicitude for the Union; yes, foreign interference mingling with some of your domestic discords, will be the Alexander who will cut asunder the Gordian knot of your Union, in this our present century.

Republics exist upon principles:  they are secure only when they act upon principles.  He who does not accept a principle, asserted by another, will not long enjoy the benefit of it himself; and nations always perish by their own sin.  Oh may those whom your united people entrusted with the noble care to be guardians of your Union—­be pleased to consider that truth ere it be too late.

Sir, to the State of Indiana I am in many respects particularly obliged.  True, I have had invitations to visit many other States, but the invitation from the State of Indiana was first received.  Please to accept my warmest thanks.  I have seen in other States a harmony between the people and the government, but nowhere has the Governor of a State condescended to represent the people in a public welcome, nowhere stepped out as the orator of the people’s sympathy and its sentiment.  I most humbly thank you for this honour.

In Maryland, the Governor introduced me to the Legislature.  In Pennsylvania the chief Magistrate was the organ of a common welcome of the Legislature and Citizens.  In Massachusetts he took the lead as the people’s elect in recommending my principles to the Legislature—­and in Ohio the chief Magistrate, by accepting the Presidency of the Association of the friends of Hungary, became generally the executive of the people’s practical sympathy, which so magnanimously responded to the many political manifestations of its Representatives in the Legislature.

Let me hope, sir, that as you have been generously pleased to be the interpreter of Indiana’s welcome and sympathy, you will also not refuse to become the Chief Executive Magistrate to the practical development of the same.