Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-01-11
Speech OF Hon. Thos, A. Hendricks
before the Indiana DemOcraticS state
Convention.

| --$-horer-N------------4s
Speech OF Hon. Thos, A. HendrIoL,
before the Indiana Democratic Ststs
Convention.
The Indiana Democratic State Convention
met at Indianapolis on Wednesday, January 8
1867 Hon. THOMAS A. HERDRIoKs was unapi.
mously chosen President Of the Convention
Mr. HENDMcKs, on taking the chair, addressed
the Convention as follows:
GEnrLEnEH--I thank you for the honor con.
ierred In calling upon me to preside over your
deliberations. 1t ie pursuant to the usages Of
our party that this Convention of delegates
sent up from all portions of the State, Is now
IN session. A custom, innocent in itself and
formed to be useful, ought not to be hastily
abandoned, nor without cause, at any time, and
especially when the exigencies of the times de.
mand its observance. II has been the pleasure
and will Of the Democracy of this State, In
times past, that chosen delegates ehould sit In
council on each revolving Eighth of January, 10
deliberate upon all matters material or import.
ant to the party organization or touching the
pubic veal. To maintain that custem raise
my voice and give my vote this day. am not
prone to attach importance or sanctity 10 partic.
ular days, except so far as our religion has pre-
scrioed; yet to me II seems meet and proper
that the day made memorable by the patriotism
and heroism Of our great leader, Andrew Jack
son, and bis gallant army, should no. be forgot
ten now that our country 10 In her greatest peril,
but that IL should be observed BY his political
children In sentiments OF fidelity to his princi-
pies and In deeds of devotion to our country,
II is nov nearly half century since the
Eighth Of January became to US, as people,
great day among ell the days of the year,
and feel the allusion to II brings up in your
minds sad and foreboding contrasts that the
pride and glory OF the past stand side by side
with the humiliation and It's abasement of the
present. Forty-seven years ago our fathers
we're united-united not alone to the forms of
law and the obligations of the Constitution, but
by that honest, fraternal love that made them
indeed one people, and when the January sun
lighted up this land, the earnest inquiry was
upon every tongue, What will be the fate of
New Orleans this day7 VIII that capital of
our late acquisition become the prey of a SOL
diefy imbruted by the war-cry Of "Booty and
Beauty7" The setting sun Of that day threw
back Its rays upon the banner of our country
floating over q victorious field, and as the news
ran irem the border settlements over the towns,
cities and States, wild shout of joy went up
@ASAA PSOptO VI Ouo uGhEb ub uc0p HUO eHfne0b
as was the love of that day. So profound and
inplacable is becoming the enmity of the pres.
ems fanaiicism, bigotry and sectional hatred are
doing their work Of evii upon q great, q gene
rous and noble people. The propriety and
policy Of holding this Convention has been
much discussed; but to me it has seemed most
proper and polite. The Democratic party, with
q Well-dehned system of political principles,
and animated BY an intense devotion to the in
teIests and honor of the country, comes down
to US from the early days of the Republic with
a history intimately identified with our progress
and the greatness we have achieved as a people.
Bold, confident and determined, the Demo.
cratic party has always assumed and occupied
its position upon every question affecting either
the honor OF the Government or its prosperity
lt has never sought to avoid the responsibility,
which, because of it's influence and Its power
OF right, belonged to 1t, and when its might and
weight has been thrown for or against any mar
ticular system of public policy, it has been felt
throughout the whole framework Of G oyernment.
| do not maintain these things and boast thereof.
but that as westand in the presence of the past.
invoking Its spirit and feeling its power, we
may be stimulated to follow where duty beckons.
whatever dangers beset the way. Do we not
now hear the wailing cry of our country? And
does not the sobbing voice Of civil liberty, COM
ing from out the ruins of q violated Constitution
and the broken pillars Of our institutions. call
US to the rescue? Then let the word pass along
the serrled ranks Of the Democracy: Every
man to his post; every man for his country.
[Applause. II the Democratic Organization be
not maintained, then where are the hundreds
OF Thousands of honest, conservative and pat
riotie citizens who have heretofore acted with
the Republican party, but who now regard the
success OF that party as public calamity, to 20,
that their influence may be exerted for the sal
vation Of the country7 They will 20 with US
IT We but maintain our organization and occupy
q wise and patriotic position. Applause. But
It we abandon our organization under the false
cry OF no party, in whose hands do we leave
tne state and Federal Governments, and the
rights and interests Of the people7
In the hands of the leaders Of the Republican
party, the most proscriptive and intolerant ever
knoWn to the country, the very men who for
yeare have labored to build up sectional party:
who for the sabre Of political power and by the
arts and appeals Of the demagogue, have taught
the people of the North that they have separate
and opposing interests to the people of the South
who, BY appeals to sectional pride and prejudice,
have excited first Jealousy and then hatred, un-
I'll now the power of the sections Is embodied in
terrible armies, ready to join in the death gran.
pie; who, as late as last winter and sprinr.
when the storm was coming and the sky was
growing black, refused and spurned eyery prop
ostlon Of adjustment that would have Guelled
the storm, swept the dark clouds away. and
again let in the bright sunshine Of peace: Who,
when Virginia and Kentucky called for a Peace
Congress, that terms Of conciliation and peace
might be made, refused to respond in the spirit
of the call, and disregarding the democratic and
conservative sentiment Of the North, appointed
controlling number Of the delegates distin,
guished for their party rancor, and known to be
opposed to all Cancellation and compromise, can
we then, as patriots, without an effort to save il.
surrender our country to the control of party
whose history, thus far, is written in failure, Il,
corruption and In public rIin7 a
May not say In failure, when in vain I AJAX
for one good act Of that party, one single meas
ure Of It's adoption that adds to the prosperity
Of the people or to the greatness of the coun.
try2 All men will say In failure, when the re-
suits Of Republican rule are experienced BY the
light Of promises made before the election,
when the good times promised are compared
with the hard times brought May not say
corruption, when the factions Of that party con-
tend In mutual accusations Of more enormous
frauds and peeulatIons- the supporters Of
Fremont threw back the charges preferred ana
n IL. -