Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-08-31
MILITARY PRisox.
DErARrNENr OF PoIIricAL PRIsoSKRs.,
LOUISVILLE. Aug Is. 1864
20 tia Chafrr.p ~ the Chfr.ro Natiop. ii


MILITARY PRisox.
DEPARTMENT OF Political PRisoSERs,,
LOUISVILLE. Aug Is. 1864
ITO tie Chairman Of the Chicago National
Democratic Convention:
The undersigned. one Of the delegates nj
large for the State Of Kentucky 20 Jour Con
yention. and Chairman Of the Central Demo.
cratic Committee OF the State Of Kentucky, find.
ing himself unable To perform HE duties in con-
sequence Of bis incarceration by military despot.
ism ventures To- address this communication
through you, 20 the National Convention. w the
hope that IL may be passed out Of this prson by
some friendly agency. and may possibly reach
Us destination II not intercepted
Arrested on the "a OF August: deprived OF
tho right of seeing any friends or legal counsel;
robbed OF papers referring to the credentials OF
the Kentucky delegates TO the Chicago eonven-
ton; seeing IN the same confinement DIR. A. Il.
Chambers and Col J. W Leathers, and not
knowing how many of the Democratic delegates
may be prevented, by arrests or by terrorism
from attending the convention | have thought
proper TO forward this statement Of our condi
ton
1--WE are arrested upon vague suspicious. No
statement eau DO obtained OF the charges. the
specifications or the witnesses, II any there be /;
nor Is any hope held out that We shall have either
trial or investigation, however, vehement our
ptotestatons of innocence. am guilty Of no
crime but devotion TO Democracy aud adherence
Of war
New prisoners are being brought In and a
vague terror fila the public mind. since men see
the beat and quietest citizens OF the country en-
crossed In their private duties or business mystic
riously and suddenly snatched away without as
signable cause, aud kept In the mysterious con
hnement Of a political bastilc. cannot but feel
that their own liberty Il very precarious, and that
any military whim or the malignlty OF n SANDER.
Gus political enemy or villainous detective may
At any time work their ruin.
Under these circumstances, | desire, on be.
halt of the Central Democratic COMMITTEE who
are no longer able 20 meet and not act a. here
to,ore 10 urge upon the Convention the necessi
" Of countenancing Mr. Lincoln's bold schemes
for the perpetua,ion of his dcspotsm, by the aid
Of a fictitious vote In Kentucky and other border
States. There il no freedom of election in
Kentucky but by gracious permission. The
life, liberty aud property of every citizen are at
the mercy of the President and his subordinates.
IL Is customary with them 20 pronounce every
man disloyal who Ia opposed to Mr.. Lincoln. and
10 the continuance OF the present ferocious war.
IL Is customary 90 take ir0m such their horses,
provisions, slaves acms. or whatever they may
have that their opptessOrs may fancy, and they
esteem il \ privilege II their property Is not wan.
tonly destroyed and themselves shot at or i'm
prisOned, AZ such things occur often enough To
create general alarm A few weeks since the
city of Louisville was guarded by negroes while IL
was ransacked 10 seize aud carry of. without any
pretenee of compensation. the horses of the cti
zens opposed to the party in power.
"ln the last Gubernatorial and Congressional
election. the voice OF Kentucky was silenced by
these means terrorism and robbery, and IL is
needless to hope for any better treatment at the
ensuing election. Every knows that the
voice Of Kentucky II II can be uttered will be
overwhelming for the Democratic nominee: the
widest Jacobin expects no other result. The
Democratic party are therefore, entitled 10 dc.
mand the benefit of that vote. and. IL they shall
be deiraudei 10y military interference. they can at
least assert, with all the majesty Of their aceu-
muatcd power as "a party, that no false vote got.
ten up under martial law shall be estimated In
the coming election.
The times are truly alarming. There il no
knowing what coup dtfats may be attempted by
our we'll organized opponents, with their secret
societies. their limitless control of the national
wealth, NATIONAL arms and soldiers, their hordes
of negroes and detective spies. their subscrvient
Congress and State Governors. aud their general
disregard OF laws aud oaths TO support the Con.
! slitution. Nothing can counteract this vast ma
/ chinery of usurpltion, but the firmness of an or
| ganzed. centralized aud vgant party of liber
| ". Ii il necessary that the Natisnal Democratic
| Convention, as the central representation Of the
Democratic party should hold It's session in per
mancnce. or At least until the result of the PreSi
dental election is determined. and the alarming
crisis l. passed. if not until tho great objects
peace and liberty, are attained
| 1.-The present Convention was not assembled
with the prospect Of permanent service. but il
may he well to select from It's own ranks. OF il
need be. from the groups of ruined citizens in al
the States, from twenty five to fifty Of the best
wsest and most esteemed firm and patriotic citi
zens to- form the Council of Liberty or National
Council OF Democracy, whose voice shall bs
heard above the storm Of war guiding the friend,
of liberty in action. and speaking potential word'
of peace aud 70 union 10 the whole Of torn and
bleeding country
(Signed) - II. BUCHANAN"
Mr.. Nsllandigham-I move that the States b,
now called, IN order that the Chairman of eacl
delegation may report the several committee
men. whom understand have already been des
! ignated 10y the respective delegations
! The Chairman suggested that the communica
ton addressed 10 the Chair was still before lh,
Convention. from gentlemen who claimed to rep
resent the State Of Louisiana, whereupon Mr.
! Vallandch CHAM suspended his motion, To ALLOW ia,
communication 10 be read, as follows:
Gentlemen, the undersigned delegates, selected
! by the Democracy of the State of Louisiana q
represent that State in your convention under
call duly signed and published respectfully rep
resent that they have presented their credentials
To the National committee. which body. without
a hearing, have refused tickets OF admission NJ
members of the convention Assuring the con.
vention that we have come in no spirit OF disor
! ganzation, but 90 unite with the Democratic
party Of the entire Union in the glorious work o
rescuing the country from this corrupt Admins
traton, and believing the Democratic party oi
! the North are ready TO unite with US IN such
work, We desire that as delegates from Louisiana
We be allowed a hearing
Respectfully.
! (Signed) j Il. BippoLPH
Chairman Of the Delegation.
Mr. Tucker, of New York. moved that tn,
communicated be referred to the Committee or
Credentials, which was carried
The Chairman then reminded Mr. Valandg
/ ham that his motion would now be in order
when that gentleman arose amid the vehement
| applause and renewed his motion 10 proceed with
the the call of States Loud cries of "plat
| form :"
Mr Stiles. of Pennsylvania-l move in amend
ment TO the motion TO conhne the call to the
| Committee on Organization alone. Some of the
delegations have not yet selected their represen
tatives on the other committees.
Mr.. Nallandigh am-The Committee on Reso
lutions will have the most laborious duty to per
/ form OF any committee OF this Convention, and
this very night we can proceed with that work il
tie committee men are announced
The Secretary then proceeded with a call o