The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-02-05
i BOLD SPEECH FOR A NORTHERN
MAN .t ....
SPEECH OF JOHN G. DAVIS,

tion, held at Indianapolis on the Sth January.
Hon, John G. Davis, in the absence of the Com
mlttee on Resolutions, was called upon to address
the Convention, which he did in the following
spirited manner: -."7 80 .<+ +-s" =
He said he felt honorcd by being thus invited
by his fellow citizens, but if he was unequal to
the task of doing justice to the subject, perhaps
| the inability might arise because Of his recent
visit to Richmond, Va, by way of HopkInsville,
Kentucky [IAug ghter.l ) If he had known be,
torehand that he was ab5ut to take that trip, he
would have been happy to have been bearer
of dispatches from Democrats of the North
to their friends III the South. TCheers and
laughter If he had made that trip, he proba-
bly, would have it in his power to state that his
old personal friend JEFF Davis, was in good
health, and sent his kind regards to his many
! t1ends In Indiana, whose Names perhaps, it
would not be prudent to mention, for he did not
want thenE hung The worthy President Of the
Convention might be one, and we could not spare
so valuable spoke from the wheel of Democracy
He (Nr Davis had been abused by the press
his life threatened by the black abolition party.
lIG<dcfcd them. There were but two parties in
tie country-tle conservatives and the abolition
.tSts. The battle now being wagCd was be-
tween the friends Of the Constitution and the
Union one side, and the abolitionists on the
other
Threats could not iutmdate him. He intend
ed TO speak his sentiments. They might burn
his property, might take him to the bIock-he
would ascend the scaffold with firm step-but
in defancc Of them all he would express his
opinions on matters relative 10 the good of the
country. He was charged with being Seces-
sIoniSt ec*use forsoath, he was not all Aboli-
zionist. The standard by which the Republicans
judged man was this If you were friend of
Old Abe and his Administration you were good
Union man, but if you sought to mamtan the
Constitution and the Union you were Scces-
sionist. The Southern men were much to blame
in this controversy. They had done many things
which had tended to bring upon the country
this dire calamity But the blame did not al!
rest With them. The ground taken by the
Abolition party Of the North, was the cornerstone
Of all difficulties If they had let this slavery
question alone, the sun would today have arisen
upon Free prosperous and united people. This
party, last winter in Congress, could have settled
ou" difficulties if they had been disposed. They
weighed the Chicago platform and the Union one
against the other, and concluded to take the
Chicago platform, and let the Union slidc
Every one of the peace propositions coming
from the South was voted down by a solid RepuD
lcan vote in both branches of Congress In view
Of the dangers which stared us then in the face
with civil war in prospect, these Republcacans
came up and voted solidly against compromise
against agreement with brothers Dissolution of
the Union was the consequence, and all the dire
calamtlts Of dissolution now upon us.
He had said in some Of his speeches during
the summer that this would cost $500, 900 900
per annum. For that he had been branded as a
dtma gogue. He now believed it would cost more
than 81 100000 600 per annum Who pays the
Government this money? 1t comes out Of the
hard earnings of the taxpayers. The interest
10000 ,OG0 per annum. After exhausting all
other resources Of the Government, there would
renain of this immense sum Isl 100000, ,0G0)
$4,000, 900 to be raised by direct taxation.
Iudianas share of this would be some 81 600 900
to be raic1, he repeated by direct taxation
How is il to he paid, looking at the depreciation
Of property?-of the value Of horses, corn, wheat
lands? Docs not this thing with this enormous
depreciation Of property look like coming down
with crushing weight upon US?
iIe had predicted war with England when our
troubles began. For ibis he had been denounced
as demagogue If it lad not been for the
wouid now be involved in a war with England.
The capture Of Mason and Slile had been en-
lor>ed by the Republicans everywhere. Yet in
lce of this, in face of solemn voice in Congress
endorsing Commander Wilkes, when the British
lion roared, the miserable, crouching, corrupt
Administration quailed- down.
He was no advocate of the recognition Of the
Southern Confederacy, but the surrender of
Mason and SIdella was humiliating than
would he such recognition. These Abolitonists
are brave at distance; brave about hanging
honest men and mobbing printing presses; but
when the British lion roared, they crouched. ,
What did these AboTitionists recommend?
What did Camcron's report, before modified by
the President, recommend? The armin9 Of the
slaves for the slaughter Of their masters ! And
yet this man was retained by Lincoln il his Cabi-
net Oh. for one hour Of General Jackson at
Washington. Tremendous applause ] Wouldn't
there be rntfine Of dry bones among the pickers
and stealers and pundercrs of the people there
cougrc gated
Not one half of the money poured into the
public treasury by the people, goes to defray the
rants at Washington Would jackson have
tolerated these thieves? Would Jackson for one
hour permit man to remain a ncnlber Of his
Cabinet who had recommended the rising Of the
slave to cut his masters throat John Cochrane,
of New York, who holds a commission under 7
the Secretary Of War, had avowed like afFocious
sentiments Neither he nor Cameron, nor any !
other malignant abotionst, was removed by the !
President; and all these things proved conclu- /
sively that the ultimate intention of the republican
marty was the Liberation Of the slaves of the I,
South. .--..-.
He predicted the success Of the Democracy if !,