The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-28

of it and Mr.. Wallace responded that it was.
The vote on striking out and substituting was
taken by counties, and resulted-yeas, 3l7 !;
nays, l99-ll8 majority. Total vote, 5l6."
All accounts concur in stating that the reso-
luton was altered without the knowledge of the
Convention. On such shifts does the Admins.
tration rely for support.
The questionable character of the proceed
ings of the Convention has alarmed the more
prudent men of the Party, who, fearing defeat
in the coming contest, have called mass Con-
vention OF the Democracy, to meet at Indanap-
oils on the 22d February. The circular says
THAT the Convention of the 9th of January
reflects the sentiments of tie party fully on
some points, but only partially on others that
that Convention says nothing of the Territorial
question as presented in the Presidents mes
sage, and in the ensuing Congressional dis
cussion, which eBgrosses all minds and that
local interests are forgotten in the intensity of
the excitement naturally arising out of dis
cussion OF the fundamental rights and liberties
OF free people. This, it adds, has been
brought about, not so much by anything actu.
ally done by the Delegates to the 9Th of Janu-
airy Convention, as by what was omitted to be
done in the excitement and confusion of the
hour, and which was essential to the public in.
terests, and has proved a source of undisguised
dissatisfaction and wellgrounded complaint to
large proportion of the Democratic party in
the State. 1t also says that the final resolution
OF the Convention with regard to the Lecomp-
| ton Constitution is 80 differently construed,
that it has been deemed important to the har-
mony and success of the party to call this Con-
vention. The naked question with Democrats
In Indiana is, Are we in favor of contributing
to force the Constitution, with Slavery, upon
the people of Kansas, against their wil?' If
we are, our party will be overwhelmed with de-
feat. Whilst we cordially endorse the Admin
istration, and generally are willing to tolerate a
divided opinion, we ask our Democratic breth-
rem not to risk defeat by deserving those princi-
Piles which have led US to victory in the past,
and the abandonment of which will doom us to
defeat in the future"
Doubtless the consciences of the signers to
the Circular were pricked by the following call,
issued by the Republican State Convention Of
Indiana, for Mass Convention, to be held at
Indianapolis, on the 4th of March next:
CAT meeting of the undersigned Republi
cans from different portions of the State, called
together by the Chairman of the Republican
State Committee, at indianapolis, on this day
it was unanimously agreed to call Mass Con
vention, to be held at Indianapolis, on the 4th
day of March next, at ten o'clock A. NJ, and tc
extend to all persons, without regard to pas,
party designations, opposed to the Lecomptou
policy of the present Administration, cordial
invitation to attend and to participate in its de-
alterations fot the purpose of forming State
ticket In opposition to the one nominated on
| fho h. III L !
eral ofice-holders and expectants, who, while
processing an adherence to popular sovereign
ty, cordially approved and endorsed the Ad.
ministraton in its efforts to force Kansas
into the Union as slave State, contrary to the
wishes of a vast majority of her citizens.
lin order that all the counties may be fully
represented, it was also agreed to recommend
to the people of each county to hold meetings
at an early day, preparatory to the State Mass
Convention"
| The 80 called Democratic Mass Meeting oil
of February 22d will undoubtedly do what il
can to prevent discontinued Democrats from
going over to the Republicans. 1t will swear
as 6ercely as anybody against the Lecompton
fraud, and proclaim to the world that the Dem.
ocratic party of Indiana is as much in favor oil
Popular Sovereignty, and the right of the Peo-
pie to judge of their own Constitution, as it ever
was, but it will take care to sustain Bright and
Fitch, their own State ticket, and the Admins
tration, although all are pledged, in defiance Of
Popular Sovereignty" as it is styled, to force
the Lecompton Constitution upon An unwilling
people We be pstaksa jt 81 ys1 the sa,
rageous policy, but the men who supnort Il
and unite with the general opposition for their
defeat. This thing of swearing against a
measure, and swearing for the men who sus
tain 1t, Is insulting to the People. The lie.
compton usurpation is the favorite measure Of
the President; he has made it a test of nartr
fidelity. He who is against it, is against him
he who is for it, is for him. Honest, fair.
ed Democrats in Indiana, as elsexbara will
hardly suffer themselves to be imposed rno,,
by tricksters, whose motto is, " Men. and not
measures" They will hardly Support an Al.
minstrstion which identifies itself WITH q mao,
ure which they abhor, and tramples uu,er f,o,
principles which they cherish.
To stranger, ignorant of the Nominations
the Slave Power, the conduct of the Presiden,.
in defying the sentiment of the Free States and
the will of his own party in those States, on this
question, must appear incomprehensible Let
him once come to knowledge OF the great
fact, that the President was made By that Power,
and is but its representative aud agent, and the
mystery will disappear. Shareholders consult
their own interests, not those Of the People
their own will, not the will of the People and
our history shows that, although in minority
in both branches of Congress, they have been
able, again and again, by the aid of Federal
Executive under their control, to force through
that body, measures odious to the great BODY of
the People of the Free States, and against which
it was at first supposed the representatives of
those States would stand united.
In his detestable Lecompton policy, the Pres
ident finds himself rebuked by the People of
the North generally, and unsupported in that
section even by his own Party. In his own
State, the Democratic Governor, Mr.. Packer,
in his Inaugural, explicitly condemns it; and, in
fixing time for holding State Convention, the
Presidents friends have been over-ruled. Every
where throughout the North and West, the popu-
lar voice is against him-and yet he persists, as if
his course were everywhere triumphantly sus
tanned. His friends are confident that he will sue.
ceed-that his patronage and influence will more
than counteract the adverse influence of Public
Opinion on the minds of members from the
Free States-that he will be able, despite the