Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-02-27
UNION STATE CONVENTION
MORNING SESSION.

MORNING SESSION.
The Convention assembled at Metropolitan
Hall on the morning of the 22d of February It
was numerously attended. The parquette and
boxes were filed, chiefly by delegates from the
from every party. The Convention was called
to order at eleven O'Clock by Hon. NJ. 7. Car
nahan, of Posey county on whose motion Hon. W
h. Edwards, of Vigo county, was called to pre-
side over the Convention, and Mr.. Canadian
called upon Hon. T. A Hendricks and Gov. Ham
mond to conduct Mr.. Edwards to the chair. He
was received with loud applause. and said in sub
stance as follows:
FELLOW ITIzESs:-I thank you for the honor
you have Just conferred on me. The purpose oil
the Convention was that all Union loving citi-
zens, without distinction of party should come
forward for the Union. We appeal to the affec
ton of patriotic citizens to the calamities oil
civil war This may be difficult. Our people
inherited the true Anglo Saxon blood. Neither
North or South of Mason and Dixon's line would
they take offence. He hoped this passionate
blood would be kept down Just now Brother was
meeting brother. American citizens were now
called upon to act, without reference to section
alism and without reference to party. They had
come up as patriots And as patriots they were now
called upon to lay everything upon the altar OF
their country. This was an suspicious day This
was the anniversary of the birth of George Wash
ington. Loud applause George Washington
the first in war, the first in peace and the first in
the hearts of his countrymen. Renewed ap
plause.
Never should he and his precepts be the last to
be remembered by the American people every
where. Here there was perfect storm of ap-
plause, and il was some minutes before order was
restored Would to Goo that every citizen
could find it in his heart to act in this emergency
as George Washington acted when his country
called him. Let each citizen to-day remember
that his country demands his services, and lie;
him render them as the patriots of the revolution
rendered them He trusted that broiherly affec-
ton, that Cancellation and compromise would be
brought to bear. and that we would to-day do
something to reunite the Confederacy in a more
perfect union than ever.
"a union of lakes, a union Of lands,
union that none can discover;
union Of hearts. union of hands,
The American Union forever"
Loud applause.
Mr.. Edwards continued, "E Pluribus Unum''
now and forever, our Government is the only
hope of the oppressed throughout the world.
Francis Scott Key. lin sight of Baltimore, in
sight of Fort McHenry bomb trled by the British
in the war of lsl2-l4, wrote that inspiring song,
the echos of which thrill every patriotic heart
''The star-spangled Banner, oh, long may il wave.
Ger the land Ct the free and the home of the brave
[Great appaus.s
Men may differ politically, but that was no rea
son why we would not agree upon some plan to
preserve this glorious Union. He hoped that
would be the result of this days deliberations.
Mr.. Edwards took his seat amid a storm of pa
triotic applause.
Mr.. Slack, of Huntington, moved the appoint
ment of one Vice President from each Congress
sional District which. after several motions in
regard to the mode of appointing them, was
agreed to-the districts to nominate.
Secretaries were also nominated and appointed,
and the permanent organization was completed as
follows:
President-William r. Edwards, of Vigo.