The daily union., 1854-02-09
Communicated.
Hon. T. NJ. Chamberlain, Of Indiana.

A recent number OF the Washington Sentinel (of jan
uary 4 contains article against this couchsd
ia much unfairness as to demand brief reply The
allegations against Mr. Chamberlain are. is that he il
unpopular al home and I'd, that he, in ls4s, when
Governor Whtcomb elected United States senator,
declared pnsqaiooeafs in favor Of the Wilmot provso
and il would TO follow that his democracy is OF
doubtful character.
brief sketch OF his political will suffice to pul
the insinuations OF the -hedged democrat who
sspires to the leadership Of the party. and whose ZEAL
like that OF most rev converts has ourun his discretion
Judge Chamberlain is emphalicay self made man. In
1882 he the State OF Indiana alone aud penness
prosecuted the study OF law at Connersvle in the Office
OF Hon. Daniel w. Parker. and. after admission. emi
grated to the county OF Ekbar, in the north
For several years he represented his county and district
in either branch OF the legislature, and among his
peers always regarded the leading democrat of the
north. In the memorable session OF iS404l, when but
nine democrats found the floor of the senate be
stood IN the OF the Spartan Band resisting the az
gressons Of arrogant majority, aud hurting defiance 10
their teeth No man Of that period commanded more OF
the respect OF the democracy OF the State than the subject
of this article He selected 10 deliver the address
the democratic convention the 8h of January OF that
year. al the capitol and the blast from his bpgle the
first note OF encouragement which greeted the Of the
democracy Of the State after the disasters OF 1sa0 In
ls43, when the democracy rallied again and carried the
gess in district which had given to General Harrison
majority of near l600 and BY the most indeatgabIe
vass record, another democratic speech national
politics being made in his district he succeeded in
ducing that majority in fact, less than 500 This
greater democratic gain than exhibited any other
district in the State.
He subsequently twice elected to the bench by the
legislature. and in 1914 he elected delegate to the
Baltimore Convention by the democratic State conven-
tiop hy rpcomne alton Indiana delega
lion he was appointed upon The committee OF one from
each State which reported the resolutions Of lsa4. which
contained the broad basis OF the democratic platform of
1852.
In s4s he headed the democratic electoral Ticket and,
n thai capacity canvassed the entire State and addressed
the people, contributing largely 10 the spirit. enthusiasm,
and of that campaign in Indiana His support Of
General Cass, who carried the State by large majority,
was frank, open, cordial, efficient, and disnterested
Within the last years. true the friends of Judge
Chamberlain have three times placed his before the
legislative caucus a candidate for the United States
Senate and is also true that he has often been de.
feaed; but while all occasions he has received
spectacle vo,e stain Of dshono rests upon his hands
no improper effort, undue solicitations, promises
Of patronage. sde by himself or bis friends
His dignifed, gsntlemany, and consistent
throughout. On OF those occasions when, from the
eanestness Of the canvass apprehended that the
will OF the majority expressed in might pos
sby be defeated he addressed card his friends urs
ing them the support OF the nominee and concluding
with this memorable sentiment:
1--WE must sustain our party for the sake OF our prin-
ciples must sustain principles Tor the sake OF
our country"
In 1852 he was without competition nominated for a
seat in Congress- He thereupon resigned his upon
the bench, and by nearly thousand majority defeated
the then incumbent, who received every free-so and
uhoi;tinn in distric
had received majority Of every county then in the dsr
ct OF his in Congress his acts must speak for
themselves but cannot doubt that be will be found,
as he evsr has been. sustaining the organization, the
principles and the of his party And respect
fully submit that neither justice TO any other gentleman,
nor the harmony prosperity OF the party so earnestly
desired by ALL will justify The nalevoienl insinuaons Of
the Sentinel.
Respecting The views OF Judge Chamberlain on The
subjec, OF slavery extension, may remark that bs
sentiments were assented 10 in by the democracy
OF the State, with bai few exceptions, and that IT
all OF dae subsequent, TO the OF ls4s or the
origin OF this sentiment in the northwest, better
position be given than that contained in a card by
Judge Wick, OF the date OF 5th March, ls49, TO his
siuens OF the 5lh congressional district That expos
ton is as follows:
" have heretofore advocated the organization Of ter
roral governments upon the basis OF nierie
by Congress with subjects OF local legislation lherein
and in doing tained by the platform framed by
the last National Democratic Convention, and by the pub
shed opinions OF the late democratic candidate for the
presidency, and or seemed To be sustained BY your
judgment cansot however, shut my eyes the fact
that change OF opinion (or rather of feelng has been
going amongst you since the late presidential election
The position assumed BY The democratic candidate for the
presidency and sanctioned By the Baltimore Convention
II well understood, would lose 10 that candidate one
more OF the northern States and you naturally ex-
pec,ed and exacied ot the southern Saies least fra
and united support OF the democrate candidate they
had Tour years ago given southern candidate You did
no, iaer in his support in 1884, and you were no, pre-
pared 10 endure any aierng or falling off, the part OF
The South, IN supporting northern candidate ia lSsS
Nay, moel believe you considered that, in view OF the
injustice and dishonor with which the people OF the
southern States through their periodicals and politicians
professed 10 feel themselves threatened, you had right
10 expect largely Increased democratic vote from the
South General Taylor refused 10 commit himself upon
the question al issue; and amongst you and IA your
hearing, IL asserted by his friends (some oil them
Shareholders and citizens OF southern Stale, mission
aries politically amongst you,) That he would not inter
pose bis veto power official influence in reference c
the vexed question. The democratic northern candidate,
the contrary, understood by you pledged to
veto, as unoeasiations any interference by Congress
honor would be discred,ed by your southern belhren
Tor you had doubted southern honor Unfortunate
y many oil the friends OF The democratic candidate were
forced, by their sense of right and by public opinion
around them 10 take position adverse 10 that occupied
by hun not at all, however, Withdrawing their support
from bln. The people OF the South In part ye, more
unfortunately, did dsust northern honor because OF di
visions IN the North upon the question Many of them
found IN the fact OF The locality oi Gen Taylor aud in
his personal interests what they mag ned to be surer
pledge than the declarations OF the Nicholson letter and
az consequence, the democratic vote reduced in all