The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-03-25

HedlS IL mOSI effective DlOW at Jno us
loyal purposes of his partisans Hence
we publish with more than common sat
isfaction the following address, signed
by twenty-six influential Democrats of
Clay County, urging their partisans to
full obedience to the laws, and discoun-
tenancing secret societies to resist them
1t appears in the Clay County Democrat
of the Goth inst:
CARD.
Reports being rife in the country, and
some of these rumors reaching US
through sources entitled to credit and
calm investigation, that there are secret
political societies forming for the pur-
pose OF resisting the draft and obstruct-
ing the enforcement of tle conscript
law, the undersigned, feeling it their
duty as Democrats, have seen proper to
issue this card to the public, that our i'll
fuence in this perilous hour may con-
tinue to be exerted, as it ever has been,
for the onward advance and promotion
of law and order, and the reason why we
have not done so sooner is because it is
our firm belief that such societies do ex-
ist and have existed in the opposition
party for purposes concealed from the
people, and that their charges have been
mostly made for the purpose of misdi-
recting public attention and turning the
channel of public Indignation from them
selves
Here follows brief statement of the
objections held by the signers to the CON
script act, and the address then pro-
ceeds:
But notwithstanding these public and
personal objections of ours, we deem it
to be the duty of the citizen, and our
counsel and advice to the people is, obey
the law as becomes good citizens, and
assist, if called upon, in its enforcement,
until such time as we can by our own
peaceable and constitutional means re-
move the yoke from our necks. Our
reasons for this advice are:
1st Because it is the law of the land,
and not the eprovince of the people to pass
upon its constitutionality in such a way
as to render it nullty until it shall
have been legitimately determined and
pronounced no law by that tribunal tc
which such enactments must in all cases
be presented when questioned or until
the people, through their Representatives
repeal the same.
I'd. Because the Democratic party has
achieved the most glorious and brilliant
triumphs in the late elections everywhere
throughout the loyal States, beneath the
battle-cry and upon the popular platform
of "The Union. the Constitution and the
enforcement of the laws"
Sd. Because we have denounced anc
do continue to denounce all persons who
have encouraged disobedience to, or re
fused to aid in enforcing, according tC
the statute, the Fugitive Slave Law, a:
lacking in an essential particular an im
portant element OF true loyalty.
4th Because, if such secret politica
societies are forming for such purposes
if they are persisted in, may, and mos
likely will result in an effusion of BLOOD
upon our own hearth stones, and in the
desolation of our present peaceful
homes, and perhaps in the overthrow o
our State and National Governments
which by strict obedience to Democratic
policy, may yet be preserved; and
9th. Because it has ever been the pol
icy OF the Democratic party to avoid the
baneful influence, fight those in exist
ence and discourage the organization o
secret political societies.
March Is, 1868.
Dillon W. Bridges, Clint NJ, Thomp
son, a. True Lansing, Christopher H
Kattman: John H. Davis, Henry Nolte
John G. Ackelmire, Thos Cullin, James
Taggart, Samuel Raper, f. B. Elliott
Geo W. Wiltse, VIM. Lowdermilk, Ben
jamin Elkin, Hermann Christman, A V
Hough, +. A. Nydegger, John Cullen
James H. Dillon, John l. Karr, VIM
Butt, DR.. Jacob S. Kiser, John Weber
John R. Wilson, Thos. Rees, Frederick