The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-30
MASS Meeting ct Ind
annapolis.

attended. The crowd is variously estima-
ted at from Il, 600 to 10000, but notwith-
standing the vast concourse the speeches
were tame and spiritless, and the principal
speakers announced, Vallandigham, Cox,
Pendleton, Richardson, and Gov. Seymour
OF New York, failed to attend. There were
no PROFESSIONS, no music nor banners
nothing to show life or spirit in the party.
h Gen. Hascall, fearing that some disturb
ance might occur, had stationed about 1900
small body of infantry were in the Court
House Park where the speaking took place,
and squad of cavalry patrolled the streets
surrounding the Park. At about eleven
o'clock the meeting was called to order, and
Daniel w. voorhees, was chosen Chirman,
and Vice President, and three Secreta-
ries were appointed. A Committee on Res,
Olutions, of three from each Congressional
District, thirty-three in all, was appointed.
After the appointment of this Committee,
Mr.. Voorhees, returned to the Convention
his thanks for the honor conferred on him.
He said: At such a time as this, and un
|. der such circumstances as surround you
to-day, to be called on to preside over you
is one of the highest honors which can be
conferred upon citizen. We meet to-day
according to the accustomed usages of po-
litical parties since the foundation of the
Government. We meet for the high and
holy purpose Of taking part in the discus
sion of those affairs which control Gov
eminent and a country made and control
to divorce the people of Indiana from pub
lie affairs. do not recognize it as true
that the Democratic party is outlawed and
Ostracized from the discussion of govern
mental affairs. / declare this lawful as
semblage in purpose and act. The Consti-
tuition guarantees the people the right to
meet and petition for q redress of their
grievances. No sadder grievances ever af-
flicted a people than now surround u.s.
Sorrow in our households and heavy bur-
adens are imposed upon the people who
own and control this Governments. We ask
q return to the policy of the fathers. Who
shall say we shall not meet? Where is the
power that shall tell US this is an unlawful
:. assemblage? plant myself on the Con-
stitution Of my country as the rock on
which to build, and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it. fCheers.]
But this assembly is met at the thresh-
hold, by an issue which we can't ignore for
single moment We are met by plain,
audacious denial Of the freedom of speech
in the capital of Indiana. The Constitution
prohibits Congress from passing any law
prohibiting the freedom of speech and of
the press. If Congress can't pass any such
law, can anybody else do it. The Consti-
tuition is our house of refuge. We will hold
to the horns of that altar, and bid defiance
~
and of a just God.
He then proceeded to charge that a high
er law party had arisen in the country,
which now controlled the Administration.
If the supreme law of the land confers on
us these rights, who shall take them away
from us? We have been told that not mere
ly is public discussion to be forbidden, but
that certain measures shall not be discus
sed. proclaim that the Democratic party
will discuss the Tax law and the Revenue
law and the Confscation law, for they con-
troll the reconstruction of the Union. They
will discuss the emancipation policy, for it
is policy fraught with the overthrow OF
the best interests of the white race for ages
to come. 1t is our right to discuss and we
will not basely and tamely submit to the
prohibition of the right to discuss those
laws which affect our homes and rights
Wewill discuss the conscript act. [Cheers.
We will test their constitutionality in the
courts. We are not the degenerate sons o.
political sires. If we will not do this let us
accept the name and debasement of slaves
The Government are but servants of the
people, yet in the midst of real events we
are assailed by the most terrible and per-
nicious denial of the right of the people tc
control the government for themselves
The Democratic party proposes, to preserve
this Constitution by which only can the
Union be restored. / propose, and the
Democrats do, to take our stand on the
eternal principles of right, act right, and dc
right, and let God shape the consequences
Z in the future. We must now look to base
usurpation and palpable wrong. What dc
you expect-ease in the meantime? cant
justify you with such prospect We are
p not to be carried on fiowery beds of ease
We may even be called upon to press
through seas of blood, but we can afford tc
die, rather than afford to live with per.
sonal sense of conscious debasement and
dishonor.
We will not do it. There has never beer
q time when it has been so easy to deter
mine what is right and what is wrong. The
mark between the two principles is broad
He who proposes to shrink back from the
ii pathway of Right because there is a lion il
the way, let him take leave now. One who
should have been in our midst to-day as ar
invited and honored guest, has been arres
ted, tried and imprisoned, in violation O
the Constitution. should feel that I wa.
doing an injustice to the principles we up
hold if did not enter my protest, in thu
name Of the Democracy, against the fla
grant and wicked abuse of power which
placed Clement L. Vallandigham to-day il
prison. tf t.s.s ,fa
Dick Merrick, of Chicago; Jos. E. Nc
Donald and John r. Eden, of Illinois
were introduced and made speeches, all o
them, like VOORHEES,, lauding the Copper
head style of Democracy, and urging oppo
sition to the policy of the Government az
boldly as they dare. But not one word die
any of them utter against the traitors of thu
South:
Some one IN the crowd now called fol-
three cheers for Abe Lincoln, which wer.
given by the crowd on the right of the stant
with perfect hurrah.
Mr., VOORHEES, remarked: "These men d.
not belong to our party" Mr.. Y. said h
had received letters from number Of hi
friends whom he had expected to be pres
ent with them to-day, which he would read
The first was from Hon. Geo. II. Pendle
ton, dated at Cincinnati, regretting his in
ability to attend and address the meeting
(Mr. Pendleton was here and in consdlta
ton with the Committee on Resolutions
but deemed it prudent neither to speal
nor to present himself.) In his letter h
referred briefly to Vallandigham, sayin
that Mr.. Seward had said that the peopl
ought to make distinction between tn
Administration and the Government, an
for doing this very thing he had been ser