Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-09-25
HAhrFoRD CRY, September Nc. lsel

HAkryohD CRY, September I6, 1861.
EDIToR SENTINEL: Having noticed an article in
the Wsekly State Journal. concerning meeting
held in this place by John r. Coffroth and L. p.
Milligan, of Huntington. l deem it NV duty, for
the vindicaton of TRUTH to state that il is base
fabrication and utterly false in every respect As
might be expected of those who could fabrIcate
such base and glaring falsehoods they very care
fully refrained from signing their name to an az
tcle which would stamp them forever with infa
my.
Now, the facts are these, as every honorable
man who present will bear me witness:
Messrs. Coffroth and Milligan made an appoint
ment for Union and anti-wAr speech in this
place on the 18th ult., and accordingly came on
at the appointed time for the purpose of fulfilling
their appointment. Previous to the day of meet
ing, however. threats had been made by some
of our Republican lovers of "law and order who
clamored q long and loud in 1856
for the right of free speech and free press
that if Mr.. Coffr0th undertook to exercise
the right of free speech n accordance with
his announcement, he would be shot in the
stand: and one of their men actually repaired to
the ground with his rife on his shoulder for the
purpose ofexecuting his threat, provided he should
have sufficient backing, and was only prevented
from accomplishing his purpose by the frmness
and resolution of those who came out for the pur-
pose of indicating the freedom Of speech.
But Messrs. Coffroth and MilIigan were not
he men 10 be deferred from speaking by Repub-
lean threats, and accordingly when the hour ar
rived they repaired to the grove where prepare.
tons had been made, and Mr.. Coffroth CON-
menced a strong Union, anti-war speech without
any dctation whatever, in which he denounced
secession as ruinvus and criminal and exposed the
folly of the Administration in attempting to main
tain the Union by force.
Mr.. Migan followed, thoroughly dissectng
and exposing the corruptions INCOMPETENCE and
utter imbecility of King Lncoln's Admnistra-
ton, concluding with an eloquent appeal in ia
of maintaining the Union by peaceable and
amcable adjustment.
In refutation of the assertions made BY the
Journal man, l will state that there was no
squad of volunteers in the place. on that day.
with the exception of Capt Carter and three or
four of his " Yaler Jackets from the vicinity of
Granville, and they, believe, heartily Endorsed
the views and sentiments Of the speakers
The only interruption the meeting received
was from a miserable set of brawlers who had
lot of whisky stands on the ground. together
with some of our Republican friends referred to,
who, finding that their efforts to break up the
meeting were fruit,ess, as the sturdy Democracy
of Little Blackford were hand in sufficient
numbers and with the determination to quel any
attempt at interference that might be made; they
therefore, very prudently remained at a respect
able distance. but kept up continual noise and
brawlng. in accordance, | suppo~e with Repub-
lican notions of law and order.
So much for Republican devotion to- law and
order, freedom of speech. truth and veraciy
A CITIZEN.