The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-02-12
SPEECH OF JOHN G. DAVIS.
To the Indiana State (Democratic) Convention At In
disnspolis January 9Th, 1862.

To the Indiana State (Democratic) Convention at In
dianapos, January 9Th, 1862.
Hon. John G. Davis. in the absence Of the
Committee on Resolutions, was called upon
TO address the Convention. He said he felt
honored 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 Hopkins
vile, Kentucky. 0Laughter.) If he had
known beforehand that he was about to take
that trip. he would have been happy to have
been bearer of dispatches from Democrats of
the North TO their friends in the South.
[Cheers and laughter.l II he had made that
trip, he probably would have it in his power
To state that his old personal friend jeff. Da.
Wis, was in good health. and sent his kind
regards 10 his many friends in Indiana,
whose names, perhaps, it would not be pru.
dent to mention. for he did not want them
hung. The worthy President of the Con.
yentlon might be one, and we could not
spare so valuable spoke IRON the wheel 81
Democracy.
He Mr.. Davis had been abused BY the
i
lition party. He defed them. There were
but two parties in the countryside consery.
atiyes and the abolitionists. The battle now
being waged was between the friends Of the
Constitution and the Union on the one side,
and the aboitlontsts on the other.
Threats could not intimidate him. He in.
tended to speak hIs sentiments. They nigh
burn his property, might take him to the
block-he would ascend the scaffold with q
firm step-but in defiance 1T them all he
would express his opinions on matters rela
tive to the good Of the country. lie wa
charged with being a secessionists because
forsooth, be was not an abolitionist. The
standard by which the Republicans Judged 1
man was this: Ii you were friend Of Old
Abe and his administration YOU were ron,
Union man, but If ynu sought to maintain III,
! Constitution aud the Union YOU were a Sc
8 cessIOnIst. The Southern men were muci
TO blame in This controversy. They ha,
done many things which had tended to brin.
upon the country this dire calamity. Bu
the blame did not all rest with them. Til,
ground takon By the abolition party Of th,
! North was the corner stone of all our diff
cuIties. II they had let this slavery que,
ton alone the sun would to-dat have riser
upon free. prosperous and united people
This party, last winter in Congress, coul,
have settled nur difficulties il thes mad beel
disposed. They weighed the Chlcagp plat
: form and the Union une against the ether
!. and concluded 10 take the Chicago platform
aud let the Union slide.
Every one Of the peace propositlnns com
| Ing from the south was voted down by snlI
| Republican vote Ill both branches 81 Con
: gress. Ia view Of the dangers which stare
! Us then IN the face, with civil war 10 pro-,
pect, these Republicans came up and vote,
snlidly against compromise, against agree
| ment with brothers. Dissolution Of the Un
: ION was the consequence, and all the dir
cslamitles Of dissolution are now upon Us.
He had said in some Of his speeches dur
! ing the summer that this war would co.
: $500, 000. 900 per annum. For that he ha
been branded as demagogue. He now be
[ lieyed il would cost more than OIL 200, 00C
/, 600 per annum. VINO pays the Government
! this money! Ii comes out of the hard earn
! ings Of the tax payers. The interest alon
on this sum would. az ten per cent, be s7C
100000 per annum. After exhausting al
T other resources Of the Government, ther
: would remain Of this immense sum (sl .0OC
/, 000, 0OO) sl49. 900 900, to be raised BY dire,
[ taxation. Indlana's share OF this wOu ID b
some 81 900, 900, to be raised, he repeated
I by direct taxation. How is il to be paid
looking At the depreciation Of property p,
{ the value Of horses, corn, wheat, land
Does not this thing, with this enormous de
probation Of property, look like coming dow
with crushing weight upon usi
He had predicted war with England whe
! our troubles began. For this lie had bee
! denounced as demagogue. II il had nc
, been for the cowardice Of those controllin
the Government we would now be involve
in war with England. The capture
Mason and sidell had been endorsed by h
Republicans everywhere. Yet in face ,
this. in face Of solemn voice in Congre.
endorsing Commander Wilkes, when IN
British lion roared, The miserable, crouchin,