Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-01-16

ountry, was held yesterday, January oeh, AZ
Metropolitan Hall. The meeting was large, and
.lInost every county in the State was represented
ly members of the party. At two o'clock, p. NJ,
gcl. Palmer. Chairman of the State Central
'ommittee, called the assemblage to order. Col.
'almer said:
FEILow DEMocRATs.-Notice has been given
the Democratic Central Committee of Indiana
or a meeting of the Democracy in this city on
lis the anniversary of the glorious and brilliant
-ict0ry obtained by jackson over the enemies OF
lie country at New Orleans. 1t is a day the
memory OF which is cherished with patriotic emo
on by every Democrat and friend of his country
Ioughout the United States
Whatever may hitherto have been the usages
{ the Democracy IN its party organizations
s0wever much il may have disciplined and ex-
.rted itself through this organization to promul.
ate its own doctrines and peculiar ereeds and
l,atlOrms of principles, and while we ignore none
if these vet | apprehend that this convention
sin deem il Appropriate on this occasion, to waive
Ia action in relation to the peculiar interests oil
ne party and its organization, as heretofore il
ias been the usage of the party, in its cOnven
0ns.
NV friends, the present is perilous and gloomy
eriod in the political affairs Of the country. The
official horizon is beclouded with sombre and
ortentOus forebodings, threatening the most dire
iIamity to our beloved country The dissolution
AL oisintegration of these United States and the
estruction of this glorious Union seems to be
ear az hand: il Is now even at our doors, while
very click of the electric intelligence is daily
.rinsing % our ears additional evidence of the
roeress of this spirit of detection and tendency
, the fatal result.
In a crisis so alarming, is there no remedyf are
mere no means of staying the maddened fury OF
assiOn? Can not reason and patriotism be In
oke1, and a reinsurance of peace and harmony
gain gladden. the hearts of our people? / yet
ave a faint hope that such happy result may
e accomplished But il is manifest that this de-
rlble end can not be attained by elimination and
elimination 1t must be produced, if at all. by
ndness, concession and compromise; by yielding
3Inexhat bv both extremes For one, am will
NJ. and will cheerfuIly forego a long cherished
.el for the good of the country-to save the
sisutry from fratricidal and unnatural war.
Let this convention, then, in giving expression
its views on the present momentous crisis,
n nilest such spirit of harmony, concession and
5neora rs will produce hope with the conserva-
yes everywhere, and that shall be like oil poured
'p5n the troubled waters. 1t is hardly necessary
.zzay that the present Constitution OF the United
hes was the result of compromise Under this
'<ihstitution we have, as a nation, enjoyed de-
a.e OF blessing and prosperity which has not its
aisiIiel upon the face of the earth. Let us not,
leresorc Despair in this grave and solemn hour
use Of the gloom which at present overshad-
vs. the land: but by a kind fraternal and con-
Iiatory spirit, and by the aid of a good Provi-
elce, cherish the hope that ere long our country
aly emerge from these troubles and embarrass-
asszts, and again present united and happy peo-
o.
Col. Palmer moved that Gov. Hammond be
15sen to preside over the meeting. which was
siried by acclamation. Gov. Hammond came
.9rward and was received with loud and continued
herring
GOV. HAxxoSD's SPEECH.
ElESrLENES OF THE CoSvESTIoS:-I return you
lr sincere thanks for the honor conferred in call
a, upon me to preside over the deliberations of
ais convention. / deem it an honor not to be
shtIy regarded Belonging, as do, to party
4 he North who are true to the Constitution, who
re true to the enforcement of the laws, who are
ue to the constitutional rights of every State in
lis Union, and who are as true TO this Union as
ne needle is to the pole. Cheers ! say be-
lnging to party like this in the North, it is no
i,.ht honor, when they meet in convention, to be
led upon to preside over their deliberations.
ether? The country is in danger. This giori-
Is Union of ours, which has been our boast from
u. boyhood, is threatened, and we come here, if
ossibIe, to aid in maintaining il in Its integrity
e come here rs citizens of Indiana in the peril
Is crisis which suIrJGIld u, ~ take our position
20 say to the citizens of the sister States of this
ZION what we think and what we believe in re-
ard to the perilous times which are upon US.
ssunion already exists in this Government so far
the action of one of the States of the Union can
AXE it.
Why is it that this excitement exists? Why is
that there is any portion Of the States of this
niOn-whose people are disposed to secede-to
. out of this great confederacy of States? Is
red in the North calculated to produce this ex-
tement and disquiet? We all well know that
ere is too much to complain of in the North
lpOn the part of our Southern brethren. We all
now that the discussion Of the slavery question
n the last twenty five years has been calculated
render insecure, if not destroy, their right of
rOperty in that species which makes up nine
,ntlIs of the wealth Of the people of the South
n States. 1t is this anti-slavery sentiment which
Is been swelling and swelling in the North until
has produced these results. 1t is true it has
zen gradual 1t is not now what it was twenty
esrs ago. / appeal to you. Older citizens of the
. ste. Go back with me in. the history Of this
uestion for fifteen or twenty years and look what
Is been the change When these anti-slavery lee
lrers passed through the State for the purpose of
Tightening the people. they met with no favor.
hey oftener met with rotten eggs than anything
Sc. But travelling down these latter years, you
ri upon every stump has been preached the
lIae doctrines for which these outrages were
eped upon these lecturers; and we find party
The land--one that has power now in the State
throwing up their hats and saying :" huzzah, %
hen this same doctrine is advocated.
What has been the effect Of this change of SEN
menf2 The knowledge of il has not been con-
ned to the free States alone. Ii has been car
Ell ON the breeze to our Southern brethren, and
iey have witnessed the change with sorrow. II
~ swept into the Southern States and the knowl-
lge of it is not alone confined to the master. II
- reached the slave, and produced state Of
lings there that requires the citizens, in the
arai districts. to perform the duty of patrol &c
reject that species Of property. Then, say, il
5 not strange there should be this excitement
But, gentlemen of the convention, this state
things is upon us. Wehave heard of disunior
al We come here to counsel together as citizen.
& { a free State. We come to counsel and place
use,ves upon the record, so that the balance o.
ne Union may know the position of the Democ
ICY of Indiana. will not predict, but if | wer,
, venture the pfetllCtlOns Wneu TINS cOuFeutiOf
IS spoken trust it will be in favor of maintain
lg the Union as it is. Applause.] / trust and
elieye that it will be So and that they will pac,
lemselves upon the record in favor of maintain
g the constitutional rights Of every State in tn,
IRion- Cheers / trust that they will plac,
lemseives upon the record in favor of viewing
us slavery question as political question, ant
OF as a moral question (continued cheering
nd that you win say, after having viewed it as
uOltieal question-after having gone to the Con
tuition and the laws to determine what propert,
that as citizens of Indiana you will protec
one species as well as another. Loud and re
neated cheering.l
There is nothing in my humble judgment which
B ever to bring peace and harmony to this coun
ty-n0thing that will create that kindly feeling
Which marked the early history of this country
until change takes place in the political senti
ulent of the North. We must look to this ques
ON not as a moral question. Too many in tn,
Worth have been taught from the pulpit tina
avery is wrong and that shareholders are crimi
nals, and they go out in the political field no
merely as politicians but christians creating thi
excitement
1t is time, say, that we should be satisfe,
it'll the Constitution and laws as given to us
Applause. When we shall have convinced tn
south that their property is secure-that thei
ghts In the common property of the Territorie
shall be regarded-in other words that they shall
rOssess the same rights in them that we claim 70
ourselves; then, and not till then, will there be
union In heart and sentiment between the MORT