Daily State Sentinel

Speech of Hon. J. F. McDowell.—The Washington correspondent of the New York Journal of Commerce thus reports the maiden speech of Mr. McDowell, the representative from the 11th Congressional District:

The maiden speech before the House of Mr. McDowell, of Indiana, was delivered yesterday afternoon, and is the theme of many hearty compliments. He reviewed, in every pointed terms, the exercise, by the dominant party, of arbitrary power, and then asked, "Where are the grand results that were to compensate the nation for yielding to these powers?" He touched upon the wrongs which Kentucky and the other loyal border States had endured, and were now enduring from the policy of the Administration. In glowing terms he defended the Democratic party, earnestly recommended a conciliatory course on the part of the dominant party in putting down the rebellion, and very distinctly prophesied a decision, at the ballot-box, in November next, which would astonish the country. He maintained that we can only have peace and prosperity again by returning to the landmarks of the fathers, and that such a return would certainly be made by the Democratic and conservative masses of the Union. The whole of the speech was eloquent in thought and manner, and his concluding words were as follows:

"I regard the Constitution as the only instrumentality to save the Union. It is only by adherence to it that we can bring back the Union. I believe it is the high and holy mission of the conservative people of this country, overthrowing radicalism at the North and forever burying secessionism at the South, to restore this Union once more on the venerated foundations reared by our fathers. While life endures we will struggle for that, and we will bequeath to our children that undying legacy.

"Sir, I have said all that I had intended to say. I have spoken of the war freely and without reserve. I have spoken of it as I think becomes the representative of a constituency which loves liberty and intends, at all hazards, to maintain it. I speak in behalf of a people who will resist any act of oppression or arbitrary power, who are determined to have a free and untrammelled ballot, let the consequences to them be what they may. I speak in behalf of a people who are determined to live a free people, or perish in the glorious effort."