, 1864-08-26
THE INDIANA TREASON.

Gov. Morton On the Seizure OF Arms,
An immense meeting was held ut Indian
apo1is on the ed inst, at which Coy. Nor
ton made few remarks. We extract part
relative to the late eelznre Of arms:
hIY FELLOW ClT1zR:;s-I did not come
here this evening with the expectation OF
making speech. eaw notice Of the
meeting III the papers, end came here merely
to be spectator.
What, let me ask You, lis the occasion OF
this assembly, and Of the deep feeling which
see ev1nced here tonight? suppose 1t
nrises from the fact that, within few hours
past, the cars Of the public have been start
led By the intelligence that targe quantity
OF aru,s ard ammunition had been discover
ed in Ct cret pl1ce in your city, and had
been taken POSSESSION Of bG the military an.
], 1or one, have not been in the least ex.
cited by this eveLt- I understand why it hns
created this intense feeling in the cltp OF IN
diar apotls. It Is not because in point OF fact
this thing is at al1 new; it Is not because 1t
cause now, tor the first time, the people have
been convinced OF the fnct'by ocular demon
stration; BY the visible md tangible prcsence
Of arms and ammun1tlon, intended for dis
loyal purposes and psee within Your midst,
For ei. hteen months past, the people Of In
init quantities OF arms and ammunition
have been coming into the State to1 the
avowed purpose OF resisting 8ta.e aud Fed.
eEnlanthority. This has been wen known to
me. ourisE tnat time, and likewise to the
authorities Of the United States; but bscause
until now the people have not happened to
see with ttei1 OWN eyes the Visible esideuces
Of the truth of these things, It has not here.
tofcre made very deep Impression upon
their minds. There has been ali the while
one purity to deny the truth Of the assertion
that tuiB Wholesale importation Of arms was
tslsehcod, Mere Government lie. But now,
the people have Bten for themselves, and no
wonder that they begin to realize their great
danger
Let me tell Jou, Notwithstanding, that you
tave not seen 1t all. The arms and ammuni.
tton that were seized in this city on Saturday
are but drop In the bucket compared to
the INN ne1 Sc quantity that has been iuport.
ed into the State In q similar mauner d1rinr
the last twelve or eighteen months. The
Bsizure amounts to this: Some four or dye
hurdreo revolvers and I35, COO rounds Of am.
munlt'on; that Is to esy 1856 rounds for .
regiment Of ], GOO men. Evidently, this large
au,ount Of ammunition was not Intended
simply for the uas OF these 400 or 500 revoI-
vers. The revolvsrs seized are but part Of
lot Of sc, GOO yet to come, and the large
am0unt Of amnnnition captured Is but por-
1lQIf Of 3 lQE OF ~ boxes, containing QltQEHfh.
er about 210, GEO rounds.
The circumstances undtr which these arms
snd this amnurltlon came here, hare excl
I'D the feelings OF this people; aud Nhy!
Simply because those cilcusQstances are eFi.
ctnce hey ord controversy Of the di5loy81
pprtossg for which thes were cent here. On
n1rayite at indianapolis they are taken
wbe1ef Not to a hard ware store. but to
printing office ant boob -bindery, establish
neuis of u character with which guns aud
cart1ids e. have o1dinsri1y no very intimate
connection. They are sent here addressed
to citizen of this place, Mr. ]. J. Parsons.
hfr Parsons was arrested By the military au-
thos1tses as socn as the discovery "as made,
but vas subsequently, discharged upoa his
own affidavit, In Which he stated that he
knew no,hit whatever Of the transaction,
and that his name had been marked upon the
boxes without his knowledge or consent and
BY whom he 6neW not; In other words, that
some other ps rson or peTeons had used the
nsn1e ofJ. J. Persons for the purpose OF pre-
venting suepicion and concealtng fEe charac.
Ter OF the contents Of the boxes. AZ to
whether his statement is coHect or other
ufse, have nothing to ray, but at any rate
It was upon his affidavit to- the truth Of that
fact that he IVES citcharged By the military
Authorities as said before, on arriving Is
thIe city theae arms and ammunitlon we're
taken to printing establishment. BONE ten
boxes had been received q few days previous
II end were found beneath heap Of oil