Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-03-08
The Great Democratic Meeting on Sat-
urday Afternoon.

Pursuant to a call of the Democratic Central
Committee of franklin county, an immense
meeting of the friends of Law and Order was
held at the Court House in the city of Colum.
bus, on Saturday afternoon, March 7th, 1863
The meeting was called to order at two o'clock,
By WILLIAM DoMeAN, Esq, Chairman of the
Central Committee-when the Hon OTTo DREs-
FL was elected President, and JOHN G. THoMp.
SON, Secretary.
Mr.. DREsEL, in most appropriate terms, stated
the object Of the meeting: It was, to maintain
Law and Order to consider ways and means
to preserve and protect tho Life, Liberty, and
Property of cur people.
The Court House was crowded, aud the yard
and street in front Of 1t were full. Hence, an
adjournment to outdoors was moved and car
ried where the meeting was held. Judge A. G.
THURMAN, E. F. BINGHAM, A. g. HIBBs, w. M.
SAVAGE and MICHAEL TREANoR, we're appointed
a committee to draft and report resolutions ex-
uressive Of the sense of the meeting During
the absence of the committee, the following
gentlemen we're euccessively called out, aud
made able and effective speeches, which were
rapturously applauded: Gov. MEDAw, Col
MANYPENNY, and Senator KENNY
Judge THURMAN, from the committee on res.
olutions, then made the following report, which
was adopted by a unanimous vote OF that vast
assemblage Of freemen:
PREAMBLE.
On the night of the 5th instant, q mob of
about one hundred persons, composed OF soldiers
and citizens disguised as soldiers, armed with
aVords and revolvers, broke into the editors
rooms of the Crisis newspaper and DESTROYED
whatever property they could lay their hands
upon, and in various ways injured the building.
They afterward repaired to and attacked the
office of the Ohio Statesman, and only desisted
upon the police and some citizens rsllying to its
defense. They also, az we are informed, threat
ened a destruction of the Westbote They,
manifesty, intended to suppress, by illegal vic.
Ience. the entire Democratic press of this CITY
These scts were planned and executed with
such secrecy and dispatch. that the Crisis rooms
we're sacked, and the attack upon the
Statesnan Office begun, before the existence Of
the mob was known to any considerable num-
ber of orr Law. abiding citizens and thus de-
Tense Of the Crisis rooms was prevented. That
theee deeds were ingtigated by persons who
dared not take an open hand in their commission,
we have good reason to believe but M.
til we shall have further and accurate
information upon this point, we forbear to
mention names, lest we should wrong
apy one who may be upjustly suspected. These
outrages are the natural consequence of chat
fatal disregard Of the Constitution and the laws
that has marked the course of'our admipistra-
tions. Federal and State, ever since the war
began, and of the false and Asgrant assaults
upon the patriotism, motives and purposes, of
the Democratic party, daily INDUCED In by the
Republican press and Republican Politicians
When the public authorities, sworn to support
the Constitution, set the example of violating
Its most sacred provisions; when citizens gull
Nv of no crimes against the law were illegally
arrested, transported and imprisoned; when the
writ of habeas corpAs was practically suppress.
A ed when csns6rship over speech and the press
u was assumed and frequently practiced; when the
| terrible doctrine (utlerly destructive of feedom
| and free institutions), that the Government, In
times like these, may do whatever it deems
necessary, however, in 80 doing, 1t may violate
the Constitution, was boldly proclaimed; when
rights Of property guaranteed BY the Constitu-
ti0n were openly lnvhueu Ruu HDuBnL 10 De
overthrown by an executive proclamation
when these and like examples Of disregard
of our laws aud constitutions, of our rights
and liberties, were set by the officers Of gov
eminent themselves, il is not singular that
rash and unthinking men ehould be found ready
to follow such examples. Aud when in addition
to oil this, the Republican press and politicians,
10 violation of truth, decency, policy and patri.
otism, and for the merest and bssest partisan
purposes, we're daily charging one.half, if not
more, of the Northern people, with treason or
sympathy with treason; when even Governors
OF States, In public speeches, cast such imputa-
tlops upon majority of their own constituents;
when every artifce that malice could invent
and industry apply was being resorted to, in or
der to mislead and prejudice the army against
the Democratic party; when, for that purpose.
Democratic newspapers were excluded from ita
lines and camps, while Abolition newspapers
we're freely admitted; when secret, irrespons-
BILE, oath-bound and armed societies were
forming 80 suppress the voice Of Democra-
cy and trample upon the public will when
all the machinery TO produce 0 reign Of
terror Was being prepared and set in motion; II