The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-05-29
Prem the indianapolis Sentinel. MEy 2l.
THE MASS CONTENTION
Immense outpouring of the PeOplel


II
10000 Democrats in CounciI!
! The Mass Convention of the Democ-
racy of Indiana assembled at the Capi.
tai yesterday, exceeded by thousands any
political meeting that ever gathered in
the State. The lowest estimate we have
heard placed upon the crowd, by those
who are accustomed to note large masses
of people, was $4,000, and many con-
tend that it was in excess of that mum.
Der. 1t was gathering OF the freemen
Of Indiana, the major part of them the
owners and tillers Of the soil,
Thesmorning was beautiful, and early
the streets were thronged, Fsom the
neighboring countlts vast crowds came
in their own cOnveyances, and encamped
10 the outskirts of the city the night
previous. The trains Of the day before
were also filed; and without the excur.
sion trains the crowd would have been
immense; but when the long lines Of
cars from the different roads disgorged
their fieight-of freemep, the streets were
almost blocked With the living mass.
The military commandant had taken
alarm, or bad thought that some pre-.
cautionary means was necessary, and
early in the'morning the troops at the
various camps were placed on duty. A
regiment of infantry in full marching
order was posted in the Governors Cir
Gle, aud two pieces of artillery were
placed to sweep the streets leading to
it. A'twelve FOUNDER was placed oppo.
site the headquarters so as to rake Vir-
ginia avenue, and a company Of soldiers
stacked arms at the point where that
thoroughfare debouuches into Washing.
ton street. Another company stacked
arms at the junction south of Delaware
and Washington streets. 1t is needless
to say that no person was suffered TO pass
these points without special permission.
A section Of battery with an infantry
support was placed at the new Arsenal
east Of the city, and two guns were
placed ranging on the speakers standat
the State House, supported by squad.
ron Of fcavalry, concealed by the build.
ings. :. :
We have particularly noticed the ais.
position of the military force to show
the skill tina. presides over the destinies
of the free people of Indiana.
At an early hour the east side of the
State House Square, where the stand
was erected, was densely packed with
an anxious crowd, and the streets lead
ing to it were also thronged.
INCIDENTS OF THE CONVENTION.
There were many Incidents that occur.
red at the convention yesterday that'wil
cause the people to reflect seriously on
the condition of the country, if they have
never done so before. The military dis
play made by the Commanding General
in the morning was deemed by him es.
sential or he. would not have made It.
1t would he hard to suppose it was done
to provoke an outbreak, bnt if it was, ii
failed of its object. OF the soldiers on
duty at the posts assigned them we have
no complaint to make; but there was a
number who mixed with every crowd,
and strove on all occasions to make
trouble. :
The early morning proceedings were
quiet. The people came here as they
have been In the habit Of doing for
years, to express their opinions in reso.
lutions, and not be brow beat and forced
into street fights. Their forbearance
yesterday under the provocations heaped
upon them was surprising.
The first open attempt to disturb the
proceedings was made when an addition
al stand was erected in front Of the State
House. Mr., s. r. HamiI, of Sullivan
county, was proceeding to speak. when
rush was made for the stand by six
soldiers with fixed bavonets backed by
twenty or thirty FOUNDERS They swore
he should not speak. With their bay
onets at his throat, he asked the crowd
what be should do. If they said speak
speak he would if he died the next ih'
stant. The crowd, unwilling to inaug'
urate civil war;. advised him to desist
and be abandoned the stand, which was
not again occupied during the day.
There was no reprlmand for the sol
diers or bullieS who urged them on tc
this glaring outrage, but q Democrat
VINO it is said drew revolver, was ar
rested and marched to Headquarters.
Emboldened by this success, an at
tempt was made to get at the main stand
but the crowd was so dense that they
conld not force their way through, and
1T was abandoned
From this time forward arrests wert
frequently made-what for no one seem
ed to know. Some were taken to lht
Mayors Office by the soldiers, and some
to the headquarters. on inquring a
the Mayors Office as to the cause of thu
numerous arrests, we we're told by Hi
Honor that the charges were mainly fo
carrying concealed weapons. Those ar
rested for "disloyalty" were taken to th'
military court. How many arrests wer
.. made we can not tell; nor can we pretenc
to say that some men who were arrested
' did not act imprudently; but some w
know were dragged through the street
! simply for avowing their faith in TIL
.. time 'honored creed Of the Democratic
. party. And yet the people bear it all
, The last feather has not yet been place,
upon the camels's back.
IN Illinois etraat aorlv in the avanini