The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-08-05
LETTERS FROM KENTUCKY.
Democratic Ratification Meeting -
The Financial Plank OF their Plat
form split into KindIing Wood
Crops, &c.

Editors Journal:
Many months having elapsed since
I contributed anything to the col
umns of the JOURNAL, and having a
few leisure hours, I have concluded
to scribble a few lines, and request
that they occupy some obscure corner
Of your valuable paper.
In styling the JoURNAL-a valuable
paper, [ am sure | utter the SEN
timents of the Radical party of Hop
kins County, and, by the way, a few of
the Democracy, for the JOURNAL is
read with great interest by more
people than any other paper coming
to the County, and perhaps has a
larger circulation In the County than
the Times. our local Democratic organ.
According to previous announce
nlent, the unterri6ed Democracy as
sembled In this place on yesterday for
the purpose of ratifying the nomina-
ton of Seymour and Blair. Notices
designating the time and place of
meeting we're published and circulated,
and it was expected quite a crowd of
the ever faithful" would be on hand
to enthusiastically ratify the nomina-
tions of the New York Convention.
Strange to say, however, but few were
present, and even the beacon lights of
the party failed to turn out in full.
Atthe hour appointed, the proclaim
alton was m tde, and not exceeding
one hundred persons, of all grades
and sizes, assembled at the Court
House. In taking a cursory glance at
the crowd, l noticed quite a number
of RAIDS" who were present as
done, and hear what might be said
ton General, Frank p. Blair,
who, by the way, proves rather
a bitter pill to the Democracy
of this county. The meeting being
called to order 10 due form, James II.
Hewlett, of Princeton, candidate for
Commonwealth Attorney, was called
upon, and arose and harangued the
crowd for a short time. Dir. Hewlett,
in the course of his remarks, stated
that the question of secession and
slavery were not involved in the
issue between the two political parties,
but the question of reconstruction
and right Of suffrage. This may be
the opinion of Mr.. Hewlett, but he
will find it quite difficult to convince
the Democracy that secession and
slavery are extinct. His speech
throughout was more dignified than
usually characterizes those of Demo-
cratic politicians. During the war
Mr.. Hewlett was an outspoken rebel,
and / learn, in the early
part of the war, was Common
wealth Attorney, under the provisional
Government of our State. This was
at the time when the rebel army had
full con .rol of Southern Kentucky
and had establi. he'd the seat of Gov
eminent at Russelville. Since the
close of the war. Mr.. Hewlett has, oil
course, been acting with the Demo
Gratis, and is recognized as one of the
leaders of the party in this district.
La due Difference to him / must
say that, personally, he is a clever,
sociable gentleman. His speech
failed to draw forth any applause or
create any enthusiasm, and was re
garded by nearly all present as ex-
ceedingly dry.
Next followed A. Il. Bradley, Esq,
candidate for Elector for this District,
who detained the crowd for a short
time in reviewing the two political
parties, and urging the Democracy to
united action In the support of their
standard bearer.
John K. Strange was also called
forth, but declined speaking, doubt
less to the great satisfaction of many,
who were wearied and anxious for the
meeting to dispense, and who, per-
haps, had previously memorized his
State piece. Upon the whole, the
meeting was decidedly a slim affair,
far more so than any meeting /
have ever known the "unterri-
fed" to have holden since the
close of the war. The RAIDS " all
seemed pleased, and anxious to
learn how the Democracy could har-
monte upon a platform and policy
50 directly opposite and repugnant to
those heretofore endorsed and sup
ported by them. 1t was known that
they were a unit for Pendleton aud
utterly opposed to any man who gave
his support to the Government DUR
ing the late war; and how they
could endorse the choice of the
| bloated bondholder for President aud
a distinguished and violent Abolition
list, for Vice President, was something
| the Radicals were exceedingly desir-
Gus to learn.
The result of the meeting showed,
and though they made wry faces over
Blair, the Democracy will support as
a unit the Democrats nominees. As
Nasty Y "Ther amt no trouble
in managin the Dimocrisy." ALL they
desire to know is, who runs on their
ticket, and they go for him.
The news of the adoption of the
fourteenth amendment to the Consti-
tuition has been received, and made
Republicans. Its enforcement will
create considerable confusion among
the Office holders of Kentucky, and
instead of trying to establish a clear
rebellious record, as they have in the
past, we look for them to be proving
their devoted loyalty.
The crops IN our county are gen
orally looking very fine, especially
the corr crop. The farmers In some
sections of the county have planted
very large crops of tobacco, much
larger than last year. The oats are
| better than they have been for years.
and on the whole we have fair indi-
cations of an abundant harvest.
Our little town is improving rapid
ly; quite a number of houses have al
ready been erected this year, and
many more are under contract to
build forthwith. Among the number
already sbuilt / notice a very tasty
residence belonging to Mr.. FL. T.
Bourland, which | consider the neat
est and most conveniently arranged
house in our little town. The pros
pect for the early completion of the
railroad has given an animus to
almost everything. Yet there is con-
siderable murmuring on account of