Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-02
WEEKLY SENTINEL.
MONDAY. MARCH 2.
The Republican state Mass Convcn-
tiOn.

tlon, was 20 turn the world up side down. came
off yesterday according to programme. Every
effort had been made By Republican officials and
Republican leaders to attract large crowd.
The railroads carried passengers at half fare or
less. and free tickets were given to those who
were unwilling otherwise to attend. Word was
sent to the party adherents throughout the State
that grand demonstration was necessary for its
moral effect upon the sinking fortunes of
Repubcansm, and that it was the last hope
of galvanzing its almost lifeless body. Never
before there a Jealous effort
made to get upa demonstration to order. In
numbers the convention was respectable. There
may have been from twelve to fifteen thousand
strangers in attendance. Most of the boundaries
and manufacturing establishments in this city
were closed, which helped to swell the crowd.
Of the strangers present at least one third were
Democrats attracted by curiosity to witness the
ceremonies. And as usual upon such occasions
large numbers took advantage of low fares upon
the railroads do their shopping and trading. 1t
was not so imposing demonstration, either in
numbers, earnestness or character as the Demo-
cratic Convention of the 30th of July last.
There was an unusual pageant connected with
the convention of yesterday, which must have
impressed every observer of passing events 1t
was professedly meeting of citizens in their
civil capacity, called together to take
into consideration public affairs. The
ceremonies of the day were opened by grand
display of artillery and cavalry, and the booming
of Government cannon at the expense of the Gov
eminent, was one of the main features of the oc
casion and helped TO give it eclat. If Democrats
had employed such auxilares. under similar cir
cumstances. deep and loud would have Republi-
can Indignation hOwled thereat. In the better
DAYS of the Republic it the effort of all parties
to subordinate the military to civil authority, but
under the new order of affairs a change has taken
place and the sword and epaulets are now the
ruling power The liberties of the people and
popular institutions cannot long survive under
military rule unless all the experience of the past
in the decline and fall OF republican governments
are at fault.
But what the objects OF this expression of
popular sentiment. or the gathering of such an
assemblage of the people at the present period?
Was it to encourage the soldiers in the field?
If so, mere words, high sounding resolutions,
amount to little If they need better clothing,
food, and shelter; if the sick and wounded need
better care; if their families require relief from
restitution the rhetoric and charity of mass con-
ventions like the sounding brass and the tink-
ling cymbal
Was it to give material aid in the suppression
of the. rebellion? What did the convention do
in that regard? OF the thousands of highly pa
triotic Republicans and Abotionists present,
breathing threatenings and slaughter against
traitors and rebels, did one volunteer did one en-
list, to swell the armies Of the Union? Not one.
Such is the extent of their patriotism. The radi-
cal Republicans promised that if the President
would issue proclamation emancipating Amer
leans of African Descent nine hundred thousand
men would at once spring to arms. Near
two months have passed by since that psi
per edct was given to the nation, but
where the first one who has shouIdered
his mnsket in response? If the rebellion is ever
suppressed it will not be by the voluntary aid of
the men who assume TO themselves all the loyalty
and patriotism Of the country.
Was it to intimidate the Legislature in the dis
charge Of the trust cOnfded to the representatives
of the people? If such was or the motive in
assembling the convention. it will prove signal
failure. The Republicans claim that ABRAHAM
LINCOLN, although elected President by minority
vote of nearly million. was cOnstitutionally
elected. and should therefore be respected and
sustained the constitutional head of the nation
If this argument holds good as far as Mr. LIN
coin is concerned, it will apply with greater force
to the majority in the present Legislature. They
were elected by and represent majority of the
people of Indiana and it is right and just that the
popular will should find expression through the
elected representative. If the minority are iusti
fed and protected in defeating the will Of the
majority, it is the end of popular government.
Governor ANDREW JOHNSON, of Tennessee, was
the big gun Of the Convention. He spoke some
three and a half hours The substance and spirit
of his speech will be found reported in to DAYS
paper. 1t did not come up to the expectation of
the radicals present and excited but little enthu-
siasm. The speeches of MATTHEW R. Hull and
CHARLES W. CATHcART and men of that class
were better received and more enthusiastically
applauded. Democratic sentiments found no
favor with the radicals
The Convention will be heralded ard trum.
peted abroad through the Republican press as a
tremendous gathering of the people and as the
expression of the prevailing sentiment in Indiana.
This will be the effort. But such is not the fact 1t
is not the voice of the larger portion of the people
The convention viii make no impression on the
public mind in this State. 1t will not change
single vote from the conservative party, and its
only effect will be to make more firm, more de
cided and more determined the opposition 70 the
present policy and measures of the party in power
The popular sentiment in that regard is far ahead
that of politicians and public men-the party
leaders-and if they do not give it expression,
ere long the voice Of the people will be heard
and felt through other channels, in shaping the
future destiny of the nation. He who cannot see
this. fails to read Alright the signs of the times
The convention from which such great things
were expected has met and adjourned-like the
bubble in the air it has bursted, and will leave no
more visible or tangible effects
The epitaph of the convention may thus be
written:
II am done for,
What was begun forl
ASpicy Debate.s
In the Senate on Friday the following debate
spraDg up on the report of the Committee on