Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-30

60 ~
Hreak Down Free speech by N
Bayonet.
EDiroR SENTINEL: Yon will see by the en-
closed resolutions that the Democrats OF Hen
bricks county held a mass meeting on Saturday
last at DanviIle, and which came near ending in
bloodshed. The diseraceful scenes enacted by the
adherents Of the Administration. armed by the
authorities Of the State. encouraged by its secret
agents, were enough to crimson the cheek OF
every lover OF his country.
IL had, il seems. been given out at Carriers
burg that this meeting could not he he'd, that no
speakers would be allowed to pa. that point;
also ut Danville a similar determination had been
made. and force was to be used if necessary For
this assertion | give you the word Of Mr.. Camp
bell. an honest and truthful man. and a Repub-
lican.
No disturbance was made and no violence
offered at Cartershurg on the way oTer. simply
because my friends appeared aud welcomed me
there to the number of thirty or forty At Dan
vile the first syn pioms OF disorder were in single
young men and squads OF three or four. going
about in citizens rlothes. with new United States
arms, and setting upon every boy who wore upon
his person any butfernut device. Twenty times
/ saw muskets brought to bear upon such limo
cent and unofending people; but no shots were
fred-I suppose because of fear Of injuring their
friends. / heard some very singular expressions
from these armed citizens. / give one specimen:
"d-n nv American heart, III shoot somebody"
Upon consultation with some of the Older heads,
il was determined to submit to anything except
personal violence. to keep the peace, until the
meeting could be organized and the ear of this
armed mob reached, trusting to my own powers
to roason, persuade or shame them from their
course.
The Court house was locked up and its use
denied Nothing daunted. we organized outside
of il. In the meantime the armed men were
called together for drill. | then delivered an
address to a very large concourse of people of
two hours duration. under the following circum-
stances:
1t is not necessary to enumerate all the various
interruptions. suffice it to say that about every
fifteen minutes n collision seemed inevitable, re-
auiring redOubled energy and effort to prevent
one. And had IL not been for the patient for
bearance of the Democrats it could not have
been avoided. They knew their power to crush
these disturberS in a single pass, hut they knew
this would not be the end. Truly If forbearance
be a virtue, that people must be a virtuous peJ-
pie
FIRST, then, it was announced. during the adj
dress. that no comments npOn the policy of the
Administration Sould be tolerated. there great
sensation ; Order finally prevailed again, when
the speaker concluded that being the best part of
Of his speech. he could not possibly fOrgo the
pleasure. This demand was made by Captain
KissIer. of the Doth regiment. but that noble Off
Ger did not mind, and so we proceeded.
Next the military came in front OF the stand
with a loud noise. like the rushing of mighty
wind, but the meeting did not move an inch.
They came to an "order arms" The speaker
was about, as he supposed. to receive a cOmpli-
meut, but he is AN unfortunate man and was des-
tinei to disappointment. The demand OF the
military was that the speaker must now talk to
suit them or receive "a v%olley.' lUproariOus
confusion. At this point il was difficult to re
strain the people. But after concluding to pocket
this affront. and to show that they did not desire
to harm the Young men when the guilty I1lTe
p~nllcrs were likely to escape. order was again
restored. The speaker answered the demand by
concluding TO finish his speerh in his own way,
requesting the military to take good aim and give
him notice that he might stand still. They then
received the remainder OF his address in compare
tive quiet. When he finished Mr.. Gregg was
called for, and the Democrats adjourned. was
then requested to remain and listen to Mr. Gregg.
NV Republican crowd offered no violence. The
Hon. gentleman from Hendricks was not tedious,
the magazine of his pent up wrath was too wet to
exnlode. 1t went off in a sort of unintellieible
s%plutter. very scattering but not damaging.
The Captain of the military. Capt. Kissler, and
Mr.. Gregg were quite apologize after and at
periods during these disgusting and turbulent
scenes. but no one took any hand in assisting
them. and Mr.. Gregg did what he could in his
remarks to excite violence. but he lost clst with
liz CtDNh - DiObbAiAfip hAH''N "
After the Democrats we've well out of town,
and the excitement entirely allayed. the under
signed took q carriage for Cartersburg. And
now "comes the tug of war" On arriving
there / was set on by say fifty or sixty armed
men, who surrounded me. some with pistols, some
with rifles. and some with United States arms.
They had no settled purpose. or it would have
been executed. The various propositions were
10 tar and feather, hang. shoot, swear Others
there were who seemed to lie sItisied with very
Indecent and Insulting language Finally, as
the train apnro ichel, tley concluded to give me
an escort on board. am m Introduction to the
passengers This nnde>erved compliment was
highly reli-hel tv said p,sSencers The escort
was composed of about fifteen ragged boys carry
ing mu<ke,s aud rifles. hooting ami ieering and
making the most hidenus noises | escaped on
board the train unharmcl ]. thanks to my expert
ence with mob<. but let me say that | consider il
an intervention of Providence that | am again at
home. not having 4 finger laid upon me; and
there is a satisfaction. although | have to say it
myself, of doing ones duty.
Now. sir. these things are suggestive, and one
of two issues should come tn pass: either the Ad
ministration should declare war upon all who diff.
fer with its policy, and openly and boldly declare
the State under martial law. placing its arms in
the hands of sol1iers under the command of re-
sp0nsible officers, or it should leave the people
free in the enjoyment of their rights to be gov
CtbCA u wv Gf HO"Ci" n us AoNAh thAo III
the hands of irresponsible persons-mere boys
is well calculated to bring about a collision
war, 4 political war, with all its consequences.
It is due 10 the people of this great State that
some decided policy should be fixed upon, so that
the people can determine theirs 1t is useless to
be firing blank p~roclamatiOns and general orders
at them They are distressed. afraid, amazed
this half and half effects their brain. They de-
sire one thing or the other, and it Is due to them
to know whether the civil power is supreme, or
whether the military power is to predominant, so
that they may regulate their action accordingly.
H~H. DoDD.
The following resolutions were adopted by the
Convention:
ResOfred, BY the Democrats of Hendricks coun-
ty in mass convention assembled:
I That we hold to the doctrine that the Chief
Executive Of the United States. together with his
Cabinet and the Congress thereof, are all OF them
the creatures OF the Federal Constitution, which
is the measure of their power and which provides
for all contincencies-for peace and for war; and
that the present incumbent of the Presidential
chair has shown himself to be a usurper, tvrant
and dictator, in daring to go beyond it under the
plea of military necessity.
2. That we owe allegiance to the Constitution
of the State Of Indiana and to the Constitution
of the United States: and obedience TO all Laws
made in accordance with them; but, that we owe
no Obedience TO the elicts of usurpers and tyrants,
which are in direct violation OF the Constitutions
of the State and the Federal Governments
3. That we view all higher law doctrines, North
aud South, rs being mischievous and dangerous
to the best interests Of the country And all
higher law men are traitors to the government
established by eur revolutionary forefathers; and
deserve the scorn and contempt of all true low
ers of the onion Of all the States.