Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-05-24
The Great Democratic Mass Convention
of Indiana.


The fullest report of the great Democratic
Mass Convention Of Indiana, that We have seen,
is contained in the Chicago Tines, written out
on the 2lst. It's interspersed with accounts Of
the several attempts to disturb or freak up the
immense assemblsge, that were made by the
military under Gen. HAsclLL. We have only
room for the following extracts:
MORE ATTEMPTS AT DISTURBANCE.
The address Of Mr. Vosrhees, and the increasing
iervor of Mr.. Merrick's words, satisfied the mill
tsry that the presence of few of their number
| In the outskirts of the crowd, aud the frown-
| ing muzzles of their cannon would not overawe
the speakers, aud q new programme was at
once determined upon and carried into effect
Large numbers of troops, cavalry and infantry,
marched BY companies up the principal streets
and around 1t @ square, halting on the side op-
nosite the Convention, and sending detachments
headed by Lieut.. Langdon, Of cavalry reg-
ment. who made himself very conspicuous dur
inc the entire day by his lswlessness, into the
very center Of the Convention, to arrest man
who had been previously agreed upon for that
purpose, probably for no other reason than that
he had expressed his approval Of the sentiments
of the speakers
Il was supposed that, II a email number Of
troops undertook an outrage like this, an assault
would be made by some incau.ious Individuals
while in the midst OF the multitude, which
would afford them the pretext they 80 much de-
sired. This wae done at two different times
during Mr.. Merrick's address, both arrests be
ing made within thirty feet OF the stand, and
considerable excitement following Some we're
for bearing Il no longer; others were leaving
the ground rather than have disturbance fol.
low. Mr.. Merrick appealed to the people to
stand firm, and not yield either to military pres
sure or to fear. They we're in the discharge Of
a constitutional right, and no duty required OF
them 60 ,forego their purpose, They should re-
main, aud yet do nothing impTu1ent or wrong,
and, If a disturbance came, then 1t was simply
because Il had been determined upon without
a pretext If necessary, and the fault would not
be with them.
TIE LAST ATTEMPT TO BREAK Up THE CONVENTION.
Hon, Thomas A. Hendricks bad been speak.
ing for about twenty minutes, 1t being then
about three O'Clock In the afternoon, and had
Just concluded an eloquent panygerlc upon the
Constitution of the United States, when the
committee on Resolutions came upon the stand
Mr.. Hendricks Immediately gave way to the
committee, when some one in the crowd shout
ed, "He Is a traiteF. Take him down." About
twenty soldieFs-some Of them armed With bay
onets, and others with sabres-ander the lead
of Lieut.. Langdon, started for the stand, The
crowd cosed 10 around it as rapidly as possible,
in obedience to the call, and was soon SO dense
that the soldiers could not penetrate il. Those
behind crowded up ALSO. and the soldiers were
closely enveloped, being unable to move in any
direction. The peopie were pressed 60 close to
them that their bsyoneis and sabres could not
be used to force passage. That portion of the
crowd containing the soldiers swayed to and
fro, gradually approaching the fence, where the
crowd opened and let them ous
The scene which ensued battles description. |
Lieut. Lapgdon Immediately sprang to HE
horse. The infantry present, In obedience to
his orders, formed In line inside the fence, sew
eral lanels Of which we're removed to give the
cavalry place to enter. In the space of few
minutes, the greeter portion OF the military |
made tbeif appearance under arms, the cavalry |
dashing up and down the streets and upon the
sidewalks, scattering the crowds In the widest
confusion. Lines of troops we're drawn up i
across the principal streets, and none were al |
lowed to proceed to the place where the conven. |
tion was in session,
Several arrests were made, but, although the |
Bfchtoeb eAoeehhohs PAcNoheuJ w e'peu's"u"o! !
resulted.
IL is said that this lsst raid was made by or.
der of Col. John Coburn, of the Thirty-third
Indiana infsntry,a regiment lately captured by |
the Confederstes In Tennessee. The soldiers,
at any rate, oheered for him.
In the midst of the excitement the soldiers
we're seen to load their muskess.
The convention, In the midst Of all this ex-
preserved its steadiness, and received
the report of the committee on Resolutions, af- |
ter which the resolutions were taken up one by |
one and adopted.
After the adoption of the resolutions, short |
address was made to the convention, coDgratula. |
ting 1t upon the accomplishment of all its OBJ |
jecta, det pite the cannon aud bsyoIets by which
it was surrounded. 10
The military, having been ioiied In their en-.
deavors to break up the meeting before the
passage OF the resolutions, and receiving no
provocstion, did not interfere in the last mo-
ments Of the conversion. IL adjourned abous
five o'clock, harmonious and fearless to the
lssi. fH #
AFTER THE CONVENTION.
As soon az the convention had adjourned,
Col Coburn mounted the stand, and made a
harangue to about Eve hundred soldiers and
boys An attempt was made to get up Re-
publican meeting In the evening, but IL was on
ly partial success, as the leading citizens
would not turn ont. Ga .,ss
About the time Of the departure Of the even
ing trains, citizen expressed his sympathy |
with Vallandigham at the depot, and was i'm
mediately knocked down and arrested by the
guard stationed at the depot, Those In the