The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-03-20


lie made sacrifice to the Kentucky guerril
las. In the month OF December the Gov.
ernor stationed ten companies Of the 5th
Indiana cavalry at convenient points on the
Ohio rfser. TO protect the State from invasion
pared by Mr.. Niblack. passed the House.
calling upon the Governor to withdraw such
portion of the 5th cavalry as was stationed
In Spencer county. and declaring that the
legion of that part of the State Was sufi.
cient for its protection. Afterward. on the
18th Of February. the Democratic members
from the counties bordering on the Ohio
river. from New Albany down. presented to
the Governor the following written request:
"IxpraNAPoLIs, Feb. 1s. 1863.
''The undersigned Senators aud Repre-
sentatives from the First and Second Con-
gressional Districts Of Indiana, respectfully
request his Excelency Governor o. p. Nor
ton TO use his influence to have the Fifth
Indiana Cavalry removed from the border
counties OF said Districts
u. w. Lemon. CIV. Finch.
VIM. f. Niblack, James Hardin,
Thos. +. Gsrvin, John Lennon,
Jos. A. Reitz, George w. Hon,
Elijah w. Spencer. J. g. Howard.
N. s. Given, Geo. v. Howk,
s NJ Holcomb, Thomas Ryan,
B. B. Kemp, c. p Ferguson,
w. II. Debruler. A. j. Hardin.
j. ID. Williams, Jimeson Lee,
B. S. Fuller. Daniel Blocher."
The argumen, by which this was enforced
was, that the legion was entirely sufficient
to protec, the border counties from all vio-
lencs at the hands OF kentucky guerril,as.
and alleging that the presence of this 5th
cavalry was source OF irritation among the
people where they were stationed. The 9Th
cavalry being greatly needed in the field.
and in pursuance Of a request upon the part
1 Of Major General Wright. the Governor
thereupon ordered them to Kentucky.
! At that time the military bill had been
brought into the House, but it was declared
by the Democratic leaders generally that il
would not pass. aud should go no further.
On the 95th day of February, seven days
after this transa action, the military bill was
suddenly brought forward. read q second
time, and ordered to be engrossed, by .
strict party vote. aud would have been pass
ed Immediately. had not the Union members
Withdrawn.
Every member OF the House who signed
the application To Withdraw the 9Th cavalry
voted for the engrossment Of the bill. Tho
39th section of that bill repealed the Legion
law. revoking all commissions, and dissolv-
ing all companies under that law. The 22d
section required the Assistant Quartermas-
ter, on the staff OF the Major. General, to
dissrm every military organization in the
State, call in all the arms aud hold them ia
his possession, subject to the order of tho
Attorney General, Secretary. Treasurer, and
Auditor of State. That part of the section
reads as follows:
"And should any difficulty arise in tho
collection OF such arms. accoutrements, or
munitions. the Major General. or any men,
Der OF his staff, may replevy the same. in
the name and on behalf Of the State OF In.
diana. The arms. accoutrements. and mu.
nitions belonging to the State, shall be kept
in good order and in safe place. by the
Assistant Quartermaster General. and issued
by him in accordance with the directions of
the officers Of the State the expense there.
OF. on account rendered and verified BY aft.
davit. shall be paid ont Of the State Treas.
ury on the warrants Of the Auditor"
The dimensions OF the plot can now be
seen. First. the cavalry were to be with.
drawn then the egion was 70 be disarm.
ed and the arms carried of and placed un.
der the control Of the Attorney General and
Company; and thus all the militia force
would be removed by which the incursions
of the Kentucky rebels could bs repeiled,
and the people would be left helpless before
their enemies. IL has been said in certain
circles here since the Legislature has been
in session, that the time had come when the
Democrats had nothing to fear from rebel
vssion. that their persons and property
wouli be scrupulously respected. and that
robbery and murder would fall only on tho
property and persons of Union citizens
In the light of this suggestion We can read
the history Of the inferoal plot. The evi.
dence is upon the record, and is conclusive.
and We ask the people Of the border coan-
ties what they think of the plot and plot
ters. What do they think Of the men who
can deliberately conspire to expose . part
of their fellow citizens to robbery and muir
der by Withdrawing from them all protec-
ton while their ferocioua enemies are stand
ing impatien,ly upon the opposite shore Of
the river. awaiting the hour whom they can
cross in safety? a.71.at