Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-28
The Union and the Constitution
DEMOCRATIC MEETING IN OLD JOHNsoNl
5000 DEMOCRATS IN COUNCIL,
SPEECHES OF LAsDERs. DAVIS AND BrsDRlcksi

On Saturday, August the Oath, the Democracy
of Johnson county met in Mass Convention at
Franklin. From all parts Of the county they
came pouring in at an early hour in the day.
The procession of wagons and horsemen
from Pleasant township. headed by the "Star
Spangled Banner" and martial band playing
"HaiI Columbia and Yankee Doodle" made
its appearance first. The display was magnificent
as it moved down the principal street and around
the public square amid the enthusiastic cheering
of the multitude. Then came Clark, White
River, Union, Hensley, Ninevah and Blue River,
all Democratic townships. The people-the
Demonstration among whom 800 men, the
officers being, with the exception of three,
Republicans, had already been furnished to the
General Government for the defense of the Con
stitutiou and the Union. came up. Nothing called
them but the deep solicitude each man felt con-
corning the condition Iof country which was
once prosperous, happy and united. There were
no nominations whatever to make; candidates
had bestirred themselves in order to rally crowds
Of their especial friends; the people-the Democ-
racy-came only to testify anew their undying
devotion to the Constitution and the Union.
At IL o'clock A. NJ, in front of the Court
house, the Democracy crowding the spacious
area, the Convention was called to order by the
Chairman of the Central Committee, John
WhitesideS, Esq.
On motion, Thomas W Woollen, ESQ, was
called upon to presid,.
Mr. Woolen said, on taking the Chair, that the
Democracy of johnson had met to-day to con-
slider the condition of the country. 1t was the
duty and right of all patriots of whatever party
to meet together to consider with reference to the
public good. To that purpose had met here
Today. Let US, while addressing ourselves seri-
ously to the momcntous reasons which have called
us here, exert ourselves to maintain order. Let
every man exert himself to maintain the public
peace. Let every Democrat Go to-day, as Demo
Gratis everywhere always had done, respect the
laws. Proud was he to belong to party which
had always obeyed the laws, reyerenced the Con
stitution and loved and sought forever to pre-
serve the Union.
On motion, the following gentlemen, one from
each township, were chosen Vice Presidents:
Blue River, A. Keller; Peasants, Jacob Comm
gore; Union, Henry Demaree; White River,
Daniel q. DotS; Henesly. Duncan Montgomery;
NinevalI, Asa b. Nay; Clark, Charles DUNCAN;
franklin, ID. ID. Bantt.
On motion, ID. q. Nawter and j. Z. Solomon,
Esqs., wee appointed Secretaries.
On motion of J. W. Kightley, Esq. commit
tee of one from each township was appointed to
draft resolutions expressive OF the sense of the
meeting, as follows: Franklin, W. H. Barnett;
Peasants. John A. Polk; Blue River, Adam
MUTT; Union. John Harris; Clark, George Cut
Finger: HeneSley. Warren Coleman, White River,
William Paddock; Nineveh, William NJ. Pritch-
ard.
The organization being completed, the Hob.
Franklin Landers, Senator from Morgan county,
being called upon, came forward and addressed
the Convention briefly, but to the purpose He
scorned and contemned the efforts of abolition
lists to brand the Democracy disunionists. Dem
ocrats everywhere were for the Union. The BAN
ner unfurled above him, on the stand from which
he spoke, the same old banner-the glorious
stars and stripes. The men who stigmatlzed the
Democracy as disunionists. were looking rather
TO the pairing down of the Democratic party than
to maintaining the Union. They were the dsu-
nionists, and not the Democrats. The Constitu-
ton was framed by compro mise, adopted by CON-
promise, and the Democratic party was in favor
of that policy of compromise yet.
Democrats had always resented any insult
coming from abroad. They had always main
tanned the honor of the flag against all foreign ma
tions The policy that had built up this Govern
ment Democrats would adhereto. Because Dem
ocrats doubt the other policy. they to be de-
nounced as disunionists? Cries of mo, no.
The new policy had been inaugurated but for
few months. What do we sect A country torn
asunder. He believed that the Democrats were
for compromise and peace. He had in the Legis-
lature always advocated compromise. The very
men who now denounced Democrats rs disunion-
lists said that rather than see the South enjoying
its Just rights under the Constitution, they would
see the Union dissolved. He told them that they
were disunionists. Compromise and settle our
difficulties that was the policy of the Democratic
party as he understood it. Democrats were in
favor of maintaining the Government, but not of
shutting their eyes to every thing President Lin
coin might do. The more the measures of Gov
eminent heretofore were discussed, the better
Democrats had been pleased Why do these gen.
temen propose to muzzle us? TWAS every mans
right to investigate every proposition of Govern
ment. The people in this country were the gov
eminent. What had this last Congress done?
Are we to permit the sub treasury to 20 down
and instead thereof bank arrangement inaugu
rated? What were the treasury notes now being
issued likely to be WORTH Are not bank failures
and consequent robbery of the people immi-
nent? Have our Republican friends any objec-
tons to our discussing that? They asked US to
defer the consideration of all these questions and
90 over body, soul and breeches to the Republi-
can party. If the people had chance to reverse
soon. Ii was the duty of the people to investi-
gate all measures of government, and turn out
unfaithtul officers. The Republican party is in
capable of managing the affairs of the Govern
ment. tie maintained the truth of this PROPOSE
ton For some time the Democrats had been
quietly looking watching the action of the
Administration. Now the time was come for
them to act. The complexion of Congress will
have to be changed.
The conservative men of the country must get
possession of the government Ultra Republ-
cans don't like to be called abolitonists Well,
they are always mindlng other peoples business,
and that WIS a correct definition of an abolition
list. The Democratic party would plant itself on
the Constitution. They would say to the South,
all your rights under the Constitution shall be
respected, if they would only come back. Let
this war, il it is to be carried on, be carried
cording TO the letter of the Constitution. Dem
ocrats did not wish to back down from the war
But first they for the olive branch of peace.
There were Union men in this county who were
not hypocriles There was very little difference
between conservative Republicans and Democrats.
Ii was the leaders of the Republican party that
were doing all the mischief. He wanted TO know
the reasons, objects. and purposes of this war.
1t was our right to know what we were making
all these sacrifices for If war was to take artif-
cial weights from the shoulders of the negro,
which our fathers had placed there. Democrats
would say no everywhere. But Democrats. when
it was thought that the National capital was in
danger rallied for its defense.
he did not Justify the South in attacking Fort
Sumter he did not justify any Of their acts of
secession. But the resort to should have been
the last resort. How was Indiana represented in
the Border Conventionl Indiana in that confer
ence refused TO vote. She did not say by her
representatives, appointed by the Governor.
whether she was for compromise or not. Repub-
licans had refused all compromise. The Demo-
Gratis willing to vote for a just proposition