Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-02-06

Ssatc convention.
The Indiana Democratic State Con.
pcntion met at indianapolis on Wedues-
day, January s, 1852. Hon. Thomas A.
Hendricks was unanimously chosen Pres
ident of tho Convention. Mr.. Hendricks,
on taking the chair, addressed the Con
vontion as follows.
GENrLEMEN-I thank you for the honor
conferred in calling me to preside over
your deliberations. 1t is pursuant to the
usages Of our party that this Convention
of Delegates, sent from all portions OF
the State, is now in session. y custom,
innocent in itselfand formed to be useful,
ought not to be hastily abandoned, nor
without cause, at any time, and especially
when the eXegencies of the times demand
its observance. 1t has been the pleasure
and will Of the Democracy Of this State,
in times past, that chosen delegates should
sit in council on each revolving Eighth Of
January, to deliberate on all matters ma
tcrial and important to the party organ
ization or touching the public veal. TO
maintain that custom | raise my voice
and give my vote this day. / am not
prone to attach importance or sanctity to
particular days, except so far as our reI-
gon has prescribed; yet to me it seems
meet and proper that the day made mem
orablo by the patriotism and heroism Of
our great leader, Andrew jackson, and
his gallant army, should not be forgot
ten now that our country is in her great
est peril but that it should be observed
by his political children in sentiments of
fidelity to his principles and in deeds of
devotion to our country.
1t is now nearly half century since
the Eighth Of January became to us, as
people, great day among all the days
of the year, aud feel the allusion to it
brings up in your minds sad and forebo-
ding contrasts that the pride and glory Of
| the past stand side by side with the hu-
initiation and its abasement of the present.
! Fortv-seven years ago our fathers were
united-unitcd not alone to the forms OF
law and the obligations of the Constitu-
ton, but by that honest traternal 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 day Will that capital Of
our late acquisition become the prey OF a
soldiery imbruted by the war-cly Of
"Booty and Beauty?" The setting sun
OF that day throw back its rays upon the
banner of our country floating over vic
torious field, and as the news ran from
the border settlements over the towns,
cities and States, wild shout of joy
went up from people Of one heart as
deep and earnest as was the rove OF tifat1
day SO profound and implacable is be-
coming the enmity of the present, fanat-
icism, bigotry and sectional hatred are
doing their work of evil upon great, a
generous and a noble people. The pro-
priety and policy of holding this conven-
ton has been much discussed but to me
it has seemed most proper and polite
The Dem ocratic party, with well defined
system of political principles, and anima-
ted by an intense devotion to the inter-
ests and honor of the country, comes
down to us from the early days Of the
Republic with our progress ana the great
ness we have achieved as people.
Bold, confident and determined. the
Democratic party has always assumed
and occupied its position upon every
question affecting either the honor of the
Government or its prosperity. 1t has
never sought to avoid the possibility,
which, because of its influence and its
power OF right, belonged to it, and when
its might and weight has been thrown
for or against any particular system of
public policy, it has been felt throughout
the whole framework of the Government.
do not maintain these things and boast
thereof but that, as we stand in the pres
cnce Of the past, invoking its spirit and
feeling its power, we may be stimulated
to follow where duty bcckons, whatever
dangers beset the way. DO we not now
hear tho wailing cry of onr country 2
And does not the sobbiug voice Of civil
liberty, coming from ont the ruin OF Il |
violated Constitution and the broken pill
lars of our Institutions, call us to the res
cue ? Then let the word pass along the !
SClIlN u luuhS VI lilc i'ClhoCI"Ny i"NNis /
man to his post every man for his coun-
try. | Applause. lf-thc Democratic
organization be not maintoinei, |, then
where are the hundreds OF thousands of
honest, conservative and patriotic citizens
who have heretofore acted with the Re-
publican party, but who now regard the
success of that party as public calamity, |
to go, that their influence may be cXertcd
for the salvation OF the country? They
will go with us if we but maintain our
organization and occupy wise and pat
riotic position. Applause. But if we
abandon our organization under the false
cry of no party, in whose hands do we
leave the State and Federal Governments, |
and the rights and interests of the people?
In the hands of the leaders Of the Re !
publican party, the most proscriptiyo and
iutolerant ever known to the country, !
the very men who for years have laborcd
to build up sectional party who for
the sabre Of political power and by thcI
arts and appeals of the dcmagogue, have
taught the people Of the North that the! .
have separate and opposing interc is to
the people of the South who, hy op.
peals to sectional pride and prejudice,
have excited first jealousy and then ha
tired, until now the power Of the sections