Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-06-27
Democratic Meeting I'm Hendricks
Couutv-~peech OF H. N. Dodd. Esq

The Democracy OF Washington township Hen
bricks county. met In convention on Saturday.
the 10Th instant, at Clement MOntagues.
Daniel NJ. Clark was chosen Chairman, and
Lewis J Larsh was chosen Secretary.
Il was moved and seconded that sir delegates
he appointed to attend the County Convention
soon Is be held.
motion vas made for the President to select
delegates. when the following delegates were Sc
Iected:
Isaac II. Pierson, G. p Williams. L. J. Larsh.
W. T Ross, Jonathan Parks and Clement Mon
tague.
4 motion was made to appoint Committee of
five as Township Committee. The following
Committee selected:
". T. Ross. A ]. Hutch, VIM Worsham. Jas
McClain and A. Grafton.
The following resolution was adopted:
Resolved. That Mr. Il H. Dodd be requested
to furnish a copy Of the speech delivered this day
10 the Sentinel, and that the editors Of the Sen
tine are requested to publish the same.
DANIEL VI. CLARK, President.
Louis J. LAEsH, Secretary.
Mr. Dodd spoke follows:
LADIES AND GExTLExEx: / appear here at the
earnest solicitation of some Of my warmest and
best friends in Hendricks county.
The relations between US are OF such a nature,
they have placed me under such lasting obliga-
tons have stood by me in such times, that
have not hesitated TO obey their call but to make
an elaborate speech here to day is out OF the
question. The state of the weather. the DISPOSE
ton Of the younger portion of the assembly, and
the condition of my voice. all warn me not to
make the attempt.
In lieu thereof will read you few extracts
from a hastily prepared answer to inquiries from
another quarter.
| trust you will pardon the change; it will be
| brief, and presume those expecting 10 trip the
eight fantastic toe to the delightful music oil
NV friend, the Professor. will be the better sat
sfed.
| We come now to a period in our countrys al
fairs when il is well to throw off all Disguise to
dismiss this cruel masquerading, and resumng
/ our old and natural positions of honest men and
/ good citizens, to speak, write and converse with
out reserve. First, let me inquire into the cause
| of this war not with a view of making any dis
| cOvery available in putting period TO 1t. bu
more with view OF correcting the false claim;
| of others as to its cause
| We have frequently resolved in convention;
that the unwise agitation of the subject OF slavery
| was the prime cause which led to the formation
of a sectional party which has broken the Union
| A little reflection will enable US to see that the
| agitation of any subject, however unwise, woulc
not and could not damage our political institu
| tons To say that this subject any othe
could not be agitated TO any degree, would be L
say that republican Institutions were failure
| that free speech and press should be restricted
SO long as this agitation did not invade OF
trench npon the rights of others. the agitation
was harmless and never until the federal au
thOrity was vested in those whose purpose ant
aim was to make that power useful to deny to
portion of the people the right of self govern
ment, in the.nsaue and fallacious hope that b,
changing the relations OF master and slave th'
negro would be more free.
Ten years the Union stood after every free
State had nulified federal law by Legislative
enactments; had virtually seceeded Tell M
not that Indiana did not do So for have seer
the experiment tried of retaining person bel,
to service in this State and instead OF the negro
being returned, the owners were arrested for kid
mapping, and had it not been for the Suprem
| Court of Indiana which has not yet been trans
ferred to the sectional party. they would, in al
probability, have suffered the penalty of the IN
Engagement of the kidnapping law.
The real cause of the was the want OF faitl
in adhering to the original compact of the thir-
teen States; the great, the general, wliful ant
complete refusal to comply with its provisions b,
the States of the North.
" Art Constitution United States, "NO per-
son held to service or labor in one State undo
the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, II
consequence of any law regulation therein, b.
discharged from such service or labor, but shall
be delivered up. &c" This Constitution was Il
be the supreme law of the land.
Now tell me if the Northern States would no
obey the supreme laval violated it, all nulli-
fed it-who are the secessiOnists the disunion-
lists? Will this anti-slavery society, now acting
| as a sectional party, and controlling public at
fairs upon such constitutions and laws the in
ventive genius of their chief may proclamate, af
ter securing the power, finally drive the slave
holding States into confederation for mutua
protection, still assert that the South is the az
gressorT
The agitation of the question of the right o
wrong of slavery, and of African slavery in par
| ticular would and has effected just much a
tina. of chewing tobacco or drinking arden
| spirits as a beverage, carving the mails oil
| Sunday.
Anti-drinkng, anti chewing, and anti slave
| holding societies would never disturb the repos
of any, save the raving, foamng participators il
them, much less the foundation of a solid Gov
eminent and the pillars of the great temple o
liberty.
! No it is not the agitation which is legal
it is the attempt to destroy without law which
brings conflict This the overt
The causes which have impelled the separation
of these States. is in my judgment q clash of in
terests. a want of hOmogenity, the two people:
having by force of Institutions and climate, be
come as distinct "a any two nations speakin.
the same language and worshiping the sa mt
God can be.
But the posing. urgent and propelling caus,
in 1861, was the direct attempt on the part o
those whom the people. in an hour Of maddeLe,
phreuzy and folly, which will cause them man,
years of grief aud toll to atone for; aye, it ma.
be the task will be assigned to future genera
tons to atone for that one hour. | repeat, thu
direct attempt to destroy the institution of slave
~ brought on the collision.
Do you tell these intended in goo'
faith to administer the government, in accord
ance with usage and law and to do equal iustic
To all sectionsl Why, then, were they unwil
ling TO give any guarantees OF their intentions
Why did their friends in Congress refuse vertures
Why did the Cabinet, even when formed, repre-
sent only the interests OF free laborg Lincoln
was elected with his declaration: The UnioI
can . exist half slave aud half free Seward {,
be bis premier with his. slavery must be abol
shed, and he and his friends must do 1t. Tha
an rrepressible conflict for life or DEATH for wea
or for woe, must go on between the two sections
Chase chosen TO control the finances. with hi
PRAYER that he might live 10 see the sun rise anC
set and not be compelled To shine negro il
slavery. and who now declares in favor Of ballots
and bullets for negroes. while he has no PRAYER Of
sympathy for prosecuted white men arbitrarily