The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1868-02-27
REPUBLICAN, STATE CONVENTION
Speech Of Barnabas c. Hobbs.


Morrison's Opera Hall was early filed
with delegates to the Republican State
Convention, and if it had been thought
proper to transact the business in the
open air, the assemblage would nave
outnumbered that Of almost any similar
gathering held since the formation OF
the party. AS it was, floor and gallery
were crowded with delegates, the aisles
filed, and the stage so uncomfortably
crowded that it was almost impossible
to transact the necessary business.
The stage was handsomely festooned
| and draped with regimcntal flags and
color standards, while the Concordia
Band added to the effervescing enthusi-
asm, with its excellent music. 1t was
matter OF common remark that in num-
bers, unanimity and general good feel
ing, the Convention exceeded any ever
convened in the Capital, and one from
which the highest hopes can be drawn
| for the victory to be won at the polls in
October and November next.
The Convention met at ten o'clock
promptly. and was called to order by
Jacob T. Wright, Chairman Of the State
Central Committee.
| AS the first business, he announced
| the choice of a temporary Pi esident, and
| for that position nominated General I.
NJ. Browne, of Randolph, who was
unanimously elected.
Upon taking the chair, the General
| thanked the Convention for the honor,
saying that it. was enough to fill the
measure of an ordinary mans ambition
to be called to preside, even temporari-
ly, over SO large a body Of his fellow
citizens. He was reminded, however,
that the assembly was for business, not
speech making, and he would not de-
tain their attention longer. The Gener-
al was greeted with cheers, both before
and after his remarks.
Upon the motion of Hon. Will Cam
back, Mr.. Charles P. Jacobs, Of Marion,
was appointed temporary Secretary, and
upon further motion, 0. NJ. Wilson, of
Marion; o. Hartman. of Allen; Major j.
H. Popp, of Wayne, and Henry Jordan,
Of Harrison, were made assistants.
The Chairman announced that letters
had been received from several mem
bers of the Congressional delegation Of
the State, and if it was the pleasure Of
the Convention, q letter would be read
from Hon. Schuyler Colfax, Speaker of
the House Of Representatives.
Mr.. James N. Tyner then read til
following:
Mr.. CoIfax,s Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. G Feb Is, 1868.
His Excellency, Gove,nor Baker.
My DEAR SIR: should be glad to &C
cept your kind invitation, and thus en-
joy the privilege of looking into the faces
Of the representative men of our organ
ization in Indiana when they come to-
gether next Thursday in their bienial
convocation, but the rules Of the House
do not allow its presiding officer to be
absent during it's session and / must,
therefore, deny myself this great pleas
ure
1t may not be inappropriate on the
threshold of the important campaign be-
fore us, to look back for few minutes
at those deeds and triumphs of our
young and patriotic party which are
garnered up in our national history, and
which no defamation by our enemies can
ignore or obscure When.the rebellion,
with its Democratic President, Demo
cratic Cabinet officers and Democratic
General threw down the gauntlet at the
feet of the nation they had resolved to
destroy, and when the Democratic lead
ers OF the North, in reply shouted mo
coercion" it was the Union Republican
party that wrote on its banners, "the
last man and the last dollar, if need be-"
and the unconquerable armies which
their Congressional legislation called to
the field finally "coerced' the rebellion
into subjection
+ In the darkest days of the struggle,
when We were tauntingly told by Demo
Gratis 'You can't conquer the South"
there was one party that never despaired
Of the Republic and that party was the
one whose delegates now meet at our
State Capital.
When unprecedented and onerous
taxation became ne cessary to msintain
our credit to supply our heroic soldiers
and to keep our flag flying in the field;
we dared to defy the prejudice which
every Democratic speaker and editor
attempted to inflame against the burdens,
and thus daring triumphed
When conscription laws became a mil
itary necessity to fill up our regiments,
decimated again and again by the bullets
Of the enemy and the diseases of the
camp, the seige and the march, and
when the country was filed with Dem
ocratic denunciations of these laws, we
risked prosperity, victory and all by de-
Tending them as bravely as our veterans
defended the country in the field.