Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-25
SPEECH OF HON.. HON A. HENDRICKS.
Mr.. Hendricks said:

MI o"N.
M FeLlop Citizens:-I did not expect to par
ticipate as one OF the speakers on this occasion.
We had expected, as you are aware. distinguished
gentlemen from other States to be present and
address the convention. and Of course in that
event you would not have expected to be ad-
dressed by one of your own fellow citizens of In
diana. But inasmuch as we have been disap-
pointed in this respect, / have thought it was
perhaps my duty to consent to address you on
this occasion, which / shall do very briefly.
Heretofore ever since | becanea voter, | have
thought the Democratic party was right. With
in the last year, however, il has not been, as
heretofore. an opinion with me. On the contra
~, il has ripened into a conviction, and | now
knop that the Democratic party is r%ight-right as
tried by the record of the past, and right in the
doctrines and measures which IL now advo-
Gates.
Let me ask you today, mr. friends, whether,
in looking over the record of the past political
history OF the country, you can put your finger
upon a single instance of Democratic policy of
which You are ashamed, or which you would alter
If you could? Are Won not all content today
with the past policy of the Government so far
as it has been influenced by the Democratic par
tyI Then il You are proud of the glorious past;
If you are satisfied with the policy which guided
the destinies of this country for the sixty years
l Aidt tldIcrl DCtNCCn tUE ChiO " ~ futioitil
j efferson and that of Abraham Lincoln. why
should you now think of turning your backs upon
the Democratic partyl Men have the assurance
20 stand up and tell US that it is our duty to
abandon this organization. tell you, gentle
men, AS | love nv country and would wish well
to her interests, / would stand by the Democratic
party. The history of the country admonishes
US to stand firmly by the Democratic party
Could | look backward over the past and see but
a solitary instance in which the operation of
Democratic ideas had brought dishonor or misfor-
tune upon my country, / would not advocate its
existence for another hour But if. on the other
hand. the past history of the country ~sustains the
principles and measures adhered to by that grand
old rarity, then i have another suggestion to
make: What principle or doctrine of the Demo.
cratic party should you now abandon in order
that you may become a better citizen or a truer
friend to your country
Upon this subject of slavery the doctrine of the
Democracy has uniformly been, mo interven-
ton" We have always held that Congress had
no right to interfere with il in any manner, but
that il should be left to the people of every State
to regulate il according to their own pleasure. Ii
the people of a State or Territory wish to have
slavery, the Democracy said their will was soy
ereign in regard to that matter. and that their
will was final anG conclusive. That has always
been the doctrine Of the Democratic party and |
tell you, NV friends, that If that principle had
been recognized in Congress and in the several
States, our flag would to day have been unsullied
and uniform, our national banner ornamented with
thirty four glittering stars, and peace and har
mony would have reigned over every portion OF
our country. There would be no blood discolor-
ing our streamletsHwe would be an unitei and
happy people. Now some Of these Republican
gentlemen will tell YOU that all this is untrue. We,
in their heart OF hearts they know it is trne-they
know that II we had all stood firmly by this great
principle It would have preserved the Union oil
these States, and the peace, prosperity and hap
piness OF this whole people.
IL is said by some that we should not do any.
thing except what tends to put down tho rebel
Hon Nay more they say. we should %scarcel,
dream except for the purpose Of putting dowI
the rebellion. I am willing for one, 70 be mes
sured ty that standard, but 1 want to put these
Republican gentlemen to the anne test. During
the continuance OF this war, from It's
menf tothe present time, my heart has continu
ally vearned for the restoration OF the Union
This Union does not belong to the Republican
party: Il does NOT blong to Mr. Lincoln tits you
Union; 1t IL my Union: il Is the glorious inherit
lance that came down 10 us from our fathers, ans
no man or set of men may claim t.; II il th,
Union which gave rs a flag, representing on IL
azure sky a sparkling star for every State. Thi
Union belongs to us all. and | want to see II re
stored. 90 that after ell the simple question nj Is
sue between myself as an individual, and ! hav,
no h~esitsney IN saying, between the Democratic
party and the opposite party is-hoir can III
Union be resforedY. /"
I claim that the Democrats party has Away