Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-12-20
~ MOkNING, DECEMBER 20, 1888.

Messrs. I'D IS: The undersigned, com
mittee, respectfully request that you will give
the following correspondence place IN the
columns Of the cntinel.
Correspond dence.
To Col. JOHN WALKER:
Dear SIR A9aFce number of your person
al and politicaI friends in this city, having
heard someiim4 back of Your design to dis
pose of the Ind4na State Sentinel, of which
Won were the d, k,rietor and able conductor,
and resign thd& laborous duties you have
proved yoursel so eminently qualified to
perform-expr Ed, through many of your
intimate friend desire to bestOw upon you
some external rk of their appreciation of
your character 10 man, and their aPproba-
ton of the strai tforward, manly, and thor
ougbly democr course, which had distin-
guished your brts as a public Journalist.
This token of eir regard, you at that time
declined. with any gratefsl acknowledge
ments ON YOUR rt of the motives that ac-
tuated and pronl led them to make the pro-
posal to which bake referred
Now. irewc<( W, thst@<you have absolutely
retired from the position of editor of the
leading democratic organ in Indiana, they
are still anxious, and more so, indeed than
ever. to carry out their original intentions in
your regard, and have accordingly y authorized
u.s. as their committee, to make known to
you the fact at the earliest opportunity. In
this connection We may further state that
they have also requested us to inform you
that it is their desire to cOnSummatc the de-
sign referred to, by presenting you, as fit
ting testimonial; with gold watch and chain,
considering such testimonial, slight as it may
be, of their esteem and friendship, to be most
suitable and appropriate to the occasion. 1t
is to be hoped, Sir that you will reconsider
your former resolution, and that the PROPOSE
tion of your friends, thus made through their
committee will prove acceptable.
True it is, (and none more fully understand
the fact than those for whom we are autho-
rized to speak) mere formal exhibition of
commentator and praise is a poor compen-
sotion for the want of that actual and positive
friendship and good opinion of ones fellow
citizens, which are torn of the heart, and
drawn forth by the every day life and con-
duct Of those who are so fortunate as to merit
their bestowal. But when, as in your case,
that friendship and that good opinion have
already become truthful reality, and are not
the mere imaginary offspring, the vain and
idle display of insincere, or at best, unreliable
formality, then it is but right and proper,
when the occasion justiies, that an express
sion thereof be made public.
In the present instance, too, this public in
dorsement as it were, Of your acts and polti-
cal character, is especially appropriate, COM
ing as it does from those who claim, and
whose pride it is to be members of the AMER
ICAN NATIONAL DEMOCRACY.
Since the foundations of this free govern
ment were laid, deep broad, and everlasting,
by revolutionary hands, and cemented with
revolutionary bloed, that great party has
passed triumphantly through all vicissitudes
of fortune. During that long period of civil
strife and contention success has almost un-
ceasingly perched upon its unfurled banner,
and the mighty and eternal principles of civil
and religious liberty OF which it has ever
been the unhinching exponent, the bold and
unwavering advocate, have become in a great
measure, by means of its powerful support,
and triumphant vindication, the permanent
and giant landmarks of our republican inst-
tutiOns.
Oftentimes, however, the thunder-clouds
of faction have swept in dark and gloomy
masses ovsf-SE elificTt horizcn of our
country, foreboding Danger and disaster to
the gallant ship of tie Constitution and the
Union. And, as if Indicative of its national
and liberty conserving character, in such
times, and in such only, has it ever been,
that the crashing storms of adyersity, defeat,
and political treachery lowered upon the glo
rious and time honered flag of the Democra-
CIV, and hurled their pittiess peltings into its
broken and scattered ranks.
Sir, it was in the midst of one of these truly
disastrous periods of political anarchy and
commoton, during the very beat;ngs of the
national tempest which swept like the ge-
MUS of desolation through the land, that you
came to the helm Of the shattered vessel at
the Capital of one Of the great States of the
Confederacy The field which lay open to
your exertions was far from encouraging-
The rich harvest had been gathered by our
foes-a harvest of political jugglery and
fraud. And proud of their bloody laurels,
exulting in the deceptive triumphs they had
achieved by such unworthy and disreputa-
BILE means over the most sacred rights of
the people, and relying for future victories
upon the invincibility of conscious strength,
our INSCRIPTIONS enemies seemed to be about
to plant, with every prospect of success. upon
the very soil of freedom and republicanism,
fruitful crop of the most Infamous and bane-
full principles that by any possibility could
blast in the eyes of the astonshed world the
hitherto untarnished character, and uproot
and destroy the Liberties OF free nation.--
But nothing daunted by the dangers which
beset on everysde, the difficult and delicate
position in WI IN you found yourself placed,
I 4 ~<xf< ...l.. lNxro &c
country, and With unfaltering adherence to
that noble old party which has made that
country what \ is, you went bravely to work,
and, having thoroughly fallowed the demo
cratic field, and prepared it for the genial and
grateful reception OF the seeds of civil and
religious freedom, which, in their own good
time, brought forth that grand democratic
harvest whereby your native State was glori-
ously, and as good men hope, eternally re-
deemed from the blighting touch of the TN.
holy and unprincipled combination that ha:
pressed upon its fair fame like foul and dis
honoring incubus.
Ii will not be out of place, we trust, to re
fer in this connection to the able and gifted
manner in which you were aided in the ac'
complishment of this grateful task by YOU
late associate and friend, Thomas b. Hol
combe, ESQ; nor.wlll a brlei and passing trlo
ute to his varied abilities rs writer and ;
scholar as we'll as to his virtues and noble
character as member of society, prove othe
than acceptable, not only to you and to thos
who knew and loved him, but to all of what
ever party, who had the pleasure and goo'
fortune to form his acquaintance.
Net to amplify these remarks, in conclusion
let it be said, the battle of "55" was bravel.
fought and as bravely won, so far as the ei
forts of yourself and associate could contrib
ute to so glorious an achievement. An
, , while only extend through you t
your former CO. wOrkerin the democratic vine
yard, our best wishes for his future weliar
and.prosperty, with our unqualified approva
of his course AS one of the editors OF the Sei
tinel, to yop who are as it were, the represen
tative of both, we may be allowed to make
l.,olsl. hah hnrFh