Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-10-02
LETTER FROM BRooKvILIE.
The GuBERNAToRFAL DIsoUssIoN-THE
EIGnTH MEETING OF BAKER AND
HENDRIcKs-THES SENATOR SoUARELY
on TnE BLAIR PLATFORM.

/
BRooKvILLE, IND, September "a
But for the bad weather to day, the
crowd in attendance upon the eighth dis.
cussion between Gov Baker aud Senator
Hendricks would have been larger than
at any previous meeting. As it was, a
much larger number came TO the meeting,
of both parties, than could have been
reasonably expected. Although there
were fully three times as many strangers
in the city as the Court House would ac-
commodate. there was no other way 10 do
than 10 hold the meeting there. 1t is in e
varisbly ihe case that the crowd closest
around the speakers is composed almost
exclusively Of Democrats, who come early
and hold on to the positions which they
select. BY this means, the largest part Of
those who were in the court room to-day
were Democrats. There was good sup
ply Of enthusiastic and intelligent looking
Republicans, but they could not make
near the same amount Of noise and con
fusion which the unwashed aud tipsy
followers of Seymour we're able to. In
fact, it was absolutely essential that the
latter should use their mouths literally as
safety valves. in order to allow the ardent
enthusiasm with which they were charged
to escape.
The time having arrived for organizing
the meeting, il was done, on motion of K.
IL. Swift Esq, by selecting Col. Aaron
b. Line as President.
The discussion was opened to-day by
Senator Hendricks, 10 speech of an hour,
after having exhorted the crowd for q
moment to remain as quiet as they could.
To their credit il may be said that during
bis speech, with the exception Of the ear
splitting style Of applause which seems so
popular among Democratic roughs, this
exhortasion was pretty well observed. His
speech contained absolutely nothing new,
the only difference pereeptible being that
some OF his assertions were more exagger.
ated and glaring than usual. One OF
these was that the Freedmen's Bureau
had cost the country fully thirty million
dollars; ADD another that Governor Baker
had not indicated in any of his speeches
how he would pay the grcenbacks, wheth-
er in gold or greenbacks. lie paid his
respects to the Gazette, which he said had
q long article in favor Of re re-rec, nStIuc
ton OF Georgia.
As soon as Governor Baker arose to
reply, the confusion began. The rine.
leader of the rowdies seemed to be u fellow
named William Cox, of Mixerville, who
wore a sword aud sash, as though in com
mand Of company of the white Boys"
who kept his position in front OF the
speaker, with his hat on and with bis face
flushed with drunken excitement lie
had mean yillainous counlenance. aud
is evidently drunken rowdy, without
character, decency or common sense. tie
was assisted by other fellows, fully as i'll
bred. but more cowardly, who hung about
the outskirts of the crowd aud around the
door, where they could run II they thought
retribution was near. The Interruptions,
idioic laughs and impertincnt cxclsma-
tons were annoying enough, but this was
no worse than the constant shutting noise
on the floor, aud the hum OF conversation
INCREASINGLY kept up. II is strange that
in the face Of this, Gov. Baker could have
spoken at all, aud IL is really a matter for
wonder that he succeeded Ia making au
effective speech. Mr.. Hendricks had said !,
10 his opening speech, as an excuse for
not discussing questions involved in the
war, that il was insisted by tho party in
power that party passions should be- al
lowed, for the time, TO subside, aud that
questions involving principles could be
taken up at It's close. Governor Baker, in
reply, said that this was very true, but
that the party with which his opponent
was connected would not allow the party
organization to 20 down, but maintained
it, aud used il as a means to harrass those
who conquered the rebellion, by opposing
every effort made in that direction. They
would not then allow party feeling to sub.
side, but had claimed that the calling out
Of troops was unconstitutional, the issuing
Of greenbacks was unconstitutional, the
draft was unconstitutional, and that
every thing connected with il was
unconstitutional except the rebellion
itself Now, everything is in like
manner declared to be unconstitutional,
except those measures which will restore
the rebels TO power. During the war il
was claimed that we could not coercs q
State. Now, it is claimed that we can not
reconstruct Que. Now, they say that
those things which we're unconstitutional
during the war. are all right and proper.
IL Is question whether men who have
been 20 much mistaken in tho past should
DO allowed TO construe the Constitution
now. Referring to Wade Hampton, tue
Governor said his competitor had spoken