The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1866-08-16
Speech of Gov. Oliver P. Morton,

Speech of Gov. Oliver P. Morton,
~,5. .sao .H -w
DELIVERED At MASONIC HALL, TUESDAY
~, EVENING, JUNE, 20, 1866.
LADIES AND GENrLEMEN--If | were to
consult prudence, the Improvement OF
my health, should not be here tonight,
but / have a great desire to do whatever
! can to promote the cause which is to
be won or lost at the approaching cleo
ton, and | have been desired by friends
also, to deliver short address before
the people. In compliance with this de-
sire of my own, and the wishes of 9TH
ers, shall attempt to address you to-
night upon some of the issues that are
involved in the approaching campaign.
Since / have been here tonight my
mind has been busy with the last five,
now going on six years / believe this
is the first time | have been on this stage
since the termination of the war, and |
have been thinking over the times that
was on this stage during the dark
hours of the rebellion, appealing to the
people, calling for volunteers and ex-
horting the citizens of the State to stand
by and support the Government.
The war is over---the rebellion has
been suppressed-the victory has been
won, and now the question is presented
to us at the coming election, whether the
fruits of victory shall be preserved or
lost. .t J. tN...-
SPIRIT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
1t is beyond doubt that the temper of
the Democratic party is not changed or
improved since the termination of the
war, but on the contrary it seems to
have been greatly embittered by defeat
in the field and at the ballot-hox, Its
sympathy with those who were, lately
in arms against the Government is more
boldly avowed than ever, and it be-
comes argumentatiye and enthusiastic
in behalf of the right of secession and
righteousness of the rebellion. The
true spirit of the Democratic party in
Indiana has recently received remark.
able illustration that should command
the solemn consideration of the people.
Some four or five weeks since con.
vention was held in the city Of Louis
vile, composed in large part of men who
had been engaged in the rebel armies
These men assembled in convention
proclaimed themselves members of thu
National Democratic party, and declar
ed their unfaltering devotion to its time
honored principles. They vindicatet
the righteousness of the rebellion an(
declared their stern purpose to main
tain at the ballot box the sacred princi
pies for which they had taken up arms
f Prominent Indiana Democrats met will
e them in Convention; mingled thei
: tears with those who wept over South
ern heroes; uttered glowing eulogie
upon the memory of Stonewall Jackson
and John Morgan, and endorsed thei
most ultra and reasonable doctrines
and to show the complete identity be
tween this assembly of traitors and tn
Democratic party of Indiana, the 1ndi
> annapolis Herald, the organ of the party
in the broadest and most unqualifie
manner, earnestly and enthusiasticall
endorsed its proceedings, resolution
;. and speeches. The members of thi
convention did not disguise the fact tina
they were rebels and Northern Demo
, cratic leaders, believing that the tim
for Furnishing treason has gone by, nov
make haste to declare that they are an
have been united with them in sympa
II thy, sentiment and purpose, and tha
they will cooperate with them to tn
bitter end in restoring to them what the
call their rights, and in repairing tn
damages done to them by the wal
9 And to show that this malevolent an
I reasonable spirit is not confined to th
Z Democratic leaders of Indiana, numel
I GUS meetings, resolutions, newspaper
? and declarations, in every part of ti
) United States, may be referred to, an
! especially the votes and speeches of tt
G Democratic members of Congress.
! WHAT DEMOCRATIC LEADERS HAVE DOM
! The leaders who are now managln
T. the Democratic party in this State, al
the men who at the regular session
Il the Legislature in 1861, declared tha
if an army went from Indiana to ASST
> in putting down the then approachln
rebellion it must first pass over the
he dead bodies.
H. They are the men who in the DEM
cratic Convention on the 9th of Januar,
:. :. 1862, gave aid and comfort to the II
i'd i'd bellion, by resolving that the South ha
mt been provoked and driven into the COZ
Of test by the unconstitutional and wickC
aggressions of the people of the Mort
= They are the men, who, in speech
and resolutions proclaimed that "Sout
J, ern defeats gave them no joy, al
Northern disasters no sorrows" Tht
are the men who exerted their infuen
n to prevent their Democratic frien
in from going into the army, and who
esi their incessant and venomous slande
& against the Government checked t
spirit of volunteering, and made drat
ee ol ing a necessity. And when the dir
to had thus been forced upon the count
; their wretched subordinates inspired
: their devilish teachings endeaVored