The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-12
= For the National Era
INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
IN INDIANA
INDIANAPOLIS, June u, 1855.

INDIANAPOLIS, June u, 1855.
The Convention was called to order, and O.
Butler was appointed President, and S. w.
Ritehey Secretary.
Messrs. Craven, Hardin, and Millikin, were
appointed Committee to report permanent
officers They reported the following names:
President-S. c.. Stevens.
Wee Eresidents-I. Kinley, A. l.. Robin
son, VIM. Beard, o. Butler.
Secretaries.-S. w. Ritchey, NJ. G. White.
On motion, Committee composed as fol-
lows, viz: G. w. Julian, l. Kinley, S. S. Har-
din, A. l.. Robinson, J. Craven, Waugh, J. P.
Milikin, and S. w. Ritchey, were appointed to
prepare business. A majority of this Committee
reported series of resolutions which, after
amendment, were adopted, as follows:
Whereas the great issue of the day is Free
dom or Slavery Government of the People
or Government of the Shareholders. This is
the issue which the abolition of Freedom in
Kansas and Nebraska has forced upon the
American people. All other issues must stand
out of the way of this. All minor differences
of opinion must be disregarded, for the sake of
agreement and harmony on the common plat
form of no Slavery outside Of existing slave
States. Upon that platform all must be well
come, of whatever birth and of whatever creed,
who are willing to unite in good faith for the
defence of Freedom and Free Institutions.
That united in this spirit, discarding all ieal-
ousies, and merging all differences in a common
resolve to rescue our country from the dominion
of the Slave Power, and to place the legitimate
influence of the National Government on the
side of Liberty, the party of Freedom will be as
invincible in strength and numbers, as it is i'm
pregnable in the soundness of its constitutional
principles and in the justice of its sacred cause.
Resolced, That we demand that there shall
be no more slave States and no slave Territory,
the repeal of the Fugitive Slave Act, and that
the General Government be permanently and
openly on the side of Freedom.
ReSolUed, That we reaffrm the principles
and measures of the Pittsburgh Platform, and
especially those which directly relate to the
Slavery question that in our judgment we
should frown upon every attempt to divide the
people and complicate this question by any dis
tracing side issues whatever; and that this is
no time for hating, halfway measures, but for
radical and thorough work, upon all the specific
issues rendered us by the Slave Power.
ResolUed, That fidelity to our cause should
ever be held paramount to any temporary sue
cess, and is the only sure means of its triumph
and that the real power of our movement, Just
ly considered, lies not so much in the numbers
it can muster, as in the truth it teaches, and
the loyalty with which we maintain it.
ResOlced, That we are willing to unite with
all men in a common endeavor to rescue our
Government from the control of the Slave
Power, and we approve of the calling of Con-
ventioH, to meet in Indianapolis July 18th, for
the purpose of combining the Friends of Free
dom.
Resolced, That we approve the present Pro
hibitory Liquor Law of our State, and are in
flexibly opposed to its repeal or essential modi-
hcation, until time and experience shall demon
strate that further legislation is necessary to
guard against abuse, or to render it more eff
cient.
ResOlred, That while we protest against the
prescription of foreigners on account of their
birthplace or religion, we are in favor of such
an alteration in our State Constitution as to re-
quire foreigner to be naturalized, according
to the laws of the United States, before he shall
be allowed to exercise the elective franchise.
j. P. Millikin, Esq, offered the following
resolutions, drafted by O. Butler ESQ.,, as a
minority report of the Committee on Business.
Minority reports were submitted, but not
acted upon, and the meeting adjourned until
O'Clock, when MIR. Julian made long and
pointed address on the great questions of the
day, and especially "Know Nothingism." Mr..
Harding, being called for, answered with some
warmth in vindication of Know Nothings, but
not of Know Nothingism, which he considered
"a dead lion" The qualification manifested
here showed that very large proportion of the
Free Democratic party and outsiders were
either Know Notbings or sympathizers with
them.
Mr.. Vale followed Mr.. Harding, maintaining
that Know Nothngism had not crushed out the
Anti Slavery sentiment of the North, and had
not operated disadvantageously to Freedom,
and, in proof, referred to the elections of the
past year, and to the legislation of several
States.
On motion of DR.. Miller, the thanks of the
Convention were rendered Judge Stevens, for
the able and courteous manner in which he pre-
sided over its deliberations.
On motion of Mr.. Julian,
Resolced, That the papers of this city and
the National Era be furnished with copies of
the proceedings of this Convention, with a re-
quest to publish them.
At late hour (near II o'clock the Conven-
ton adjourned sine die.
SAMUEL w. RITCHEY, Secretary
Mr.. Samuel W. Ritchey, in sending the re-
port of proceedings, adds few words, as fol-
lows:
"Though there was not man in the Con-
vention to defend Know Nothingism, yet it was
plain we have them by thousands in our ranks.
The original Sam " may not receive much
countenance here, but his son Jonathan" IS
considered an almighty promising boy. And
some of that distinguished and yet aspiring
family, / fear, are destined to rule the Peoples
party in this State, composed as it has been of
the old Wing party with the exception of the
old Eternal Election" Whisky Baptists, who
have gone to the Old Line Democrats) as a
body, considerable slip from the old Compro-
mise Democratic party as head, and three
fourths of the Free Soil party as a tail. In the
reorganization of this party the approaching
18th of July, the Know Nothing element will
be apt to predominant. Thousands in the State
will not consent to be ruled by any secret DO
litical order, no matter what their professions.
Everybody knows the Know Nothing order was
not organized for Anti-Slavery purposes We
call man a saddler because his chief business
is to make saddles, though at the same time he
makes brides and harness. So we want party
Of Freedom, organized for Anti-Slaverv pur.
poses, whose chief business is to look after the
| interests of Freedom. We cannot trust the
cause of Freedom at this time, nor at any time.
in the hands of party whose very organiza.
| ton shows that they hate foreigners and Roman
| Catholics more than Slavery. Let no man try
to unite things constitutionally incompatible.
| Our Know Nothings here are sick unto death.
and yet they cannot consent to die. We can
not see how a true Anti.Savery man can con.
sent to act with party, the sum of whose Anti
| Slavery is restoration of the Missouri Com.
promise. They glory in having sustained the
Compromises of 1850, all of them. If the Mis-.
souri, restriction we're restored, what would bind
together the Peoples party in this State? Their
work is done, and we are where we were in
1850. Was there no need of Free Democra.
cy then? Let us see to it that we are not de.
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