Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-06-21
.Gbe Obio 9tatesnrarr
Great Democratic Mass Convention
in Illinois.
IMMENSE MULTITUDE IN ATTENDANCE.
Speeches and Resolutions.
Nearly $4,000 Raised for the Families
of Volunteers.

|
The Democracy of Illinois had the greatest
aud grandcst Mass Convention ever held In the
Northwest, on the 17th of this month, at SPRING
field, the Capital of their State. 0le hundred
thousand freemen were In attendance, 10 declare
anew their independence. Hon. WILLIAM A.
RIcHAaDsoN, the confidential friend of the Illus
trious DOUGLAS, presided, assisted by fifty vioo
Presidents. Seven Secretaries were appointed.
The correspondent Of the Cincinnati Enquir
er writes:
General Richardson, upon being introduced
TO the Convention by ex Governor Moore, made
one of his pointed and telling speeches, which,
although short, was to the point aud Was receiy-
ed with tremendous applause.
The Vice Presidents and speakers we're then
eppor.ioned to the different stands, and with the
continual booming of cannon the Democratic
thunder broke forth, and the enthusiasm and
wild excitement of the multitude knew no lim-
1t. Had President Lincoln, or any of his prom
inen. aides, been near by and Witnessed this
ovation to American liberty and patriotism,
methinks King Agrippa's trembling before Paul
would not equal theirs at Lhe sight of such 4
terrible demonstration. Throughout the entire
day Lhere was no lack OF interest indicated b.
WithdFa yal from the stands, except TO repair 10
the refreshment tables, grosning under the
~sght of meats, bread, piea, cakes, etc.; after
PAT .aking cH which they return ed again to enjoy
t0eir unlimited thought, speech and expression
Of opinion.
To give anything like report of the speeches
made is not within my power. have, however,
reserved few abstracts to show the temper Of
those who declaiued. The speakers were Gen-
eral W. A. Richardson of Illinois; Hon. Sam
uel S. Cox OF Ohio; Daniel w Voorhees, of
Indiana; Hon. Chris. Kribben and General Nc.
Kinslry OF ST. Luis; Hon J. r. Eteu, Hon w.
r. Morrison. Judge S. s. Marshal, Hon. J. C..
Allen, HOn.J. c Robinson, Hon. ]. T. Springer,
Hon. ]. w Wescott, Hon. T. Greathouse,
Judge BDsn, Hon M. Y. johnson, ex-Goyer-
nor John Reynolds, Hon. Thomos E., Merre.,
all Of Illinois; und many Others.
Mr.. Cox began his speech by reTarrinK " the
TACT ;haG the GOVera If Illinois had prorogued
the people representatives. Fearful OF the OK
| PRECISION OF the people, be 5Gr0Ve 10 sliae Jhei
Legitimate voice, under tao miser .ble pfetext
of 1. disagreement of the two branches, which
had not taken place, and of which he was MOI
mott ed. Tne GoVerlor playa before the free
people oil the praires the part Of d petty Stuart
Of the meanes! days OF Engish kingcratt Mr..
Cox, referring TO these historical Incidents,
said
"1'he Kings OF England claimed the right to
prorogue One OF tho conditions placed on
Charles !, by the Long Parli ment, st the time
be Oflirmed the petition Of right, was that he
would not pror0gue the Parliament. They
knew lie abuses; for he had endeavored to run
the Government from 1929 to l640 without the
Legislature. During this time, the instrument
Il nf lka Ia. 1T
Commission we're established. Stafford was
the ruling spirit. The illegal levy of ship
money was made. Hampden resisted; and
Judges, like Leavitt, were found, who eoiled
the ermine by subserviency to the crown. Dur
log this time, courts-martial were established
1.-THE Great Charter was repudiated; but this
blank in English liberty had its martyrs, like
Sir John Elliott, who were imprisoned in the
bsstiles Of that day. One thing, however, the
Stuart had not. ae had no standing army.
Had he been as Lincoln Is now, could be have
called on the military as poor Governor Yates
csp, there would have been no revival Of Eng
liah freedom. Even Charles, with all bis pro-
jrogations, strove to conciliats the people, and
sigued the great Hdbeas Corpus bill to effectu.
ate by aremedy what had been many times
affirmed as right This Administration has
all the meannesses Of the Stuart, without any
OF the mitigating circumstances in their faver. %
Mr.. Cox then proceeded TO discuss the Val
landigham case and other political questions
His speech made decided impression, and he
was everywhere received, as he moved through
Il the crowds, with immense cheering.
i So Il was with Mr.. VOORHEES,, whose speech
from another stand, was one OF the sblest he
ever delivered. Ihsve nc. notes Of hisremarks,
but am told that his effort was eloquent, COM
plete in augmentation, and particularly bold,
severe and firm.
General McKinstry, In HE speech, stated
that when the war broke ous he was Quar-
termester and Provost Marshal at ST Louis
and belonged to the regular army (having
been educated by his country, to which he owed
his serviCe), and while thus engaged, he re-
ceived letter from Mr.. Lincoln asking him
TO give large contract, for supplying the
Western srmy with provisions, to Jas. l.. Lamb,
of Springfield, and lady whose name he would
not mention, but who was relative 10 the Presi-
dents family. This demand was 60 contrary to
all army regulations that he wrote to Mr.. Lin
coin, saying that he could not give the contract
out, except In accordance with army regulations,
viz: to advertise for proposals. The contra,t
involved the expenditure Of millions of dollars,
and was such one as he, good Democrat,
could not give, as asked to do 40, and according
lly he positively refused. Subsequently, when
In she discharge Of his duty, at the head of his
command marching into Arkansas, he was ar
rested without knowing what for, taken to st.
Louis and there imprisoned, and 80 remained
ln prison for several months, without any knowl
ledge of the charges against him, aud an Aboli.
tion General Hunter [groans fer Hunter placed
in command in his place. At last he was al
, lowed q trial before o military court-martial,
and he could say, with regard to this trial, that
he was perhaps the only officer In the servies
who had to fght three millions Of greeu-backs,
intima'ing that so much money was used to
, procure his conviction of the charges preferred
against him. he was convicted Of several OF
the charges and specifications, among which was
one for having bought horses at an exorbitantly
high figure, VIE: one hundred and nineteen dol
lars for each horse, when Is 60 happens that
since that time the Government has paid one
hundred and ftty dollars for that class OF horses
ever since. He Was convicted of having paid
tuirty,seven cents per bushel for corn, and che
Government ever since has not been paying less
than sixty cents He was also convicted Of
having paid forty centa bushel for oats, and Il
10 fact that the Government has been paying
from sixty TO sixty-6ve cents per burhel eveI
+. since. These are the charges upon which hs
was convicted BY this Administration. He haC
no confidence In those now In power in thil
coubry. They are Sc of dishUue,t p 'itlcans
tha Wouid s,ciiceR cunn n Vi -vr stN .
p Ia