The Placer herald., 1862-03-01
Great Sth of January Democratic state
Convention in Indiana.

have been one Of the largest, most enthusiastic
and harmonious Conventions of the kind ever
held in that State
Hon. Thomas Hendricks presided, and on
taking the chair, said:
"GENTIEMEN: | thank you for the honor con-
fcrred in calling upon to preside your
deliberations. 1t is pursuant to the usage Of our
party, that this Convention Of delegates. sent up
from all portions OF the State, is in session.
a custom innocent in itself and formed to be
useful, oug ght not to he hastily abandoned, nor
without cause, at any time, and especially when
the eXigenccs of the times demand its observ
ance. 1t has been the pleasure and will OF the
Democracy Of this State, in times past, that chO-
sen delegates should sit in council on each
voving Eighth Of January, to deliberate upon
all matters material or important to the party
organization or touching the public veal. TO
maintain that custom raise my voice and give
my vote this day. | am not prone TO attach i'm
portance or sanctty to particular days, except
so far our religion is prescribed; yet to me it
seems meet and proper that the day made memor
able by the patriotism and heroism OF great
leader, and his gallant army, should not be for
gotten now that our country is in her greatest
peril bnt that it should be observed by his po-
litica children in sentiments of fidelity to his
principles and in deeds Of devotion to our coun-
try
II is now nearly half century since the Eighth
OF January b"came to us. AS ii people. great
day among all the days Of the year, and | feel
the alluson to it orngs up in your minds sad and
forboding contrasts that the pride and glory OF
the past stand side by side with the humiliation
and its abasement OF the present. forty-seven
years ago our fathers were unted-united not
alone to the forms of law and the Obligat ons of
the Constitution, but by that honest tIaternal
love that made them indeed one people. ana
when the January sun lighted up the land the
earnest inquiry was upon every tongue, What
will be the fate Of New Orleans this day? Will
that capital of our late acquisition become the
prey Of sodery imbrutcd by the war cry OF
Booty and Beauty" The setting sun Of that
day threw back bis rays upon the banner Of our
country floating over victorious battle field,
and as the news ran from the border settlements
over the towns, cities and States wild shout OF
10y went up from people Of one heart as deep
aud earnest as was the love OF that day.
So profound and mplacable is becoming the
enmity of the present tanaticsm, blgotry and
sectional hatred are doing their work Of evil upon
a great. a generous and noble people. The pro-
priety and policy of holding this Convention
has been much discussed, but to me it has seem
ed most proper aud polite. The Democratic
party with Il weldclined system Of political
prncipcs and animated by all intense devotion
TO The interests and honor OF the country, comes
down to us IRON The early days OF the Republic
with Il history intimately identified with our pro
grcss and the greatness We nave achieved rs
people. Bold confident and determined, the
pied its position upon every question affecting
either the honor OF the Government or its pros
pcritv It has never sought to avoid the reSpon
siblity. which, because OF its influence and It's
over Of right. belonged to it. and when its might
aud wei ght has been thrown Tor or against any
particular system Of public policy, 1t has beeu
ielt throughout the whole framework Of Gov
crnment. ! do not maintain these things and
boast thereof. but that, as we stand n the pres
cncc OF the past. invoking It's spirit and feeling
its power, may be stimulated 10 follow WhcrJ
duty bcckOns, whatever danger Dcset ne way.
DO we not now hear the wailing cry OF oar
country? Aud does not the sobing voice Of civ
| il liberty, coming from out the ruins OF viola
ted Constitution and the broken pillars OF our in
| stitutions call us to the rescue! Then let the
| word pass along the serred ranks Of the Democ-
! racv: Every man to MS post; every man for his
| country. Ii the Democratic organization be not
| maintained. then where are the hundreds of thous-
| ands OF honest. conservative and patriotic citi-
| Zens who have heretofore acted with the RepuD-
| ican party, but who now regard the success Of
thrt party as public calamity, to go, that their
influence may be eXcred for the salvation OF the
country? They will go with us if we but main
| tain our organization and occupy Il wise and pa
| triotic position. But if we abandon our govern
ment under the false cry OF no party, in whose
han is do we leave the State and Federal Govern
ments. and the ri Shts and interests Of the people,
In the hands of the leaders of the Republican
party, lnC lllOSt pfOSCllptlNc tluu tN
known TO the country the very men who for
years have labored to build up sectional party:
who for the saber o. 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, having first excited ealously and then
hatred, until now the power Of the sections is en-
bodied in terrible armies, ready to join in the death
grapple; who, as late as last winter and spring,
when the storm was coming and the sky was
growing black, refused and spurned every propo-
siion of adjustment that would have quellcd the
storm, swept the dark clouds away, and again let
| in the bright sunshine Of peace; who, when Vir-
einia and Kentucky called for Peace Congress,
that terms OF Cancellation and peace might be
made refused to respond in the spirit ol the CALL
and dsregarding the Democratic and conservative
sentiment OF the North appointed controlling
number of the delegates distinguished ior then
party rancor, and known TO be opposed to all
| concliation and compromise. can we then, rs
patriots without an effort TO save ii, surrender
our country to the control Of party. whose his
tory thus Tar, is written in failure, in corruption
and in puplic ruin? May | not say in failure.
when in vain ask for good act OF that par
tv. one single measure Of its adoption tnat adds
to the prosperity Of the people or to the great
ness of The country? All men will say in failure
when the results of Republican rule are expert
cnced by the light of promises, made before the
election, when the good times promised are com
pared with the hard times brought. May | not
say corrupt, when the factions OF that party con-
tend in mutual accusations OF more enormous
frauds and pcculations -whea the supporters OF
Fremont throw back the charges preferred and
proven against him by the extraordinary defence
that the sappcrs and miners at and about Wash
in gton, the Camerons the Weeds. the Welles the
Morgans, and the Cummings, are more llagrahl
plunderers of the Treasury than the camp follow
ers Of FremOnt-when this reeking corruption IS
not confined to the miserable wretches who sell
hospital stores, or give short weights or adulter-
ate the food and drink Of the soldier, but craws
upcn the very council table OF the President and
mingles in Cabinet deliberations. ana IS now
hronobt to the knowledge of the President by