Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-08-25

The following documents, the CORRECTNESS
Of which are fully avouehed by some of tn,
best men in Indiana, will be read Will
startling interest. They fully account TO
the popularity of Hendricks with Southerr
Democrats:
DIsUNIoN DEMOCRATIC TICKET-EPIsoDE L,
THE LIFE OF THE HON. T. a HENDRICKS.
From Oakland Daily Transcript, July l, 1871
THE CAMP NORTON AFFAIR.
In one particular the nominations of the
| st. Louis Convention are rs strong as could
be made. Both candidates are essentially
disuniOn Democrats, and may, therefore,
be expected to inspire the utmost enthusi-
asm Of the party. Gov. Tilden is the re-
puted author of the infamous resolution
adopted at the Chicago Democratic Con-
vention in 1884, which declared the war a
failure and demanded an Immediate cessa-
ton of hostilities after the victory had been
won by the Union forces and when the re-
bellion was oil its last legs. As to Mr..
Hendricks, it is well known that he was in
open sympathy with the Southern Confede-
raey, and did everything in his power to
create insurrection in the West and take
those States out of the Union. To estab-
lish this fact, it is only necessary to make
a rapid review of
THE CAMP MORTON CONSPIRACY.
in which Hendricks was leading actor.
Sometime in June, 1862, great Demo-
cratic mass meeting was called to meet in
indianapolis. .oStensibly political meeting,
but the real purpose being to seize Camp
Morton, liberste the rebel prisoners,
get possession of the arsenal. and give the
State of Indiana over to the ConfederacY.
More than fifty thousand Secession Demo-
Gratis attended from all parts of the State,
and nearly all armed with revolvers. At
that time the State of Indiana had ninety
thousand Union soldiers at the front.
Camp Morton was garrisOned by only two
regiments, and these were poorly armed,
having no cannon, so that the capture of
such a post by such a number of armed
men of course seemed altogether feasible.
On the morning of the meeting an expose
of the reasonable order of the Knights of
the Golden Circle had been published in
the Journal and Gazette, by Col. A. E.
RedstOne, now of Oakland, who, under
various disguises, had worked his way into
a number of their lodges, and learned the
purpose of the convention. Great excite
ment prevailed in the city, and all expected
that a collision of the swarming rebel De-
mocracy and the handful of Union troops
would occur during the day, On the pre-
vions evening General Darlington, the
commander of Camp Morton, had sent to
Chicago and obtained several cannons, and
these, unknown to the great crowd of in
surgents, were held in readiness for the
emergency. 4
When the crowd had assembled and the
speakers and the officers had taken their
places on the stand, Col. Redstone mount
ed the platform, seized one of the small
flags, and waving it aloft, called for
THREE CHEERS FOR THE BOYS AT THE FRONT
and for the final triumph of the Union
cause, and the crowd, not understanding
the precise situation, cheered Justify. At
length the mistake was discovered, some
one drew pistol, threatening to shoot the
daring interloper, and as small squads of
Union men had been stationed at intervals
through the vast aSsemblage, a general
fight was imminent. At this point Red
stone called to the Union men to train
that cannon upon the stand, and although
no cannon was in sight, there was an inn
mediate and precipitate retreat Of the un-
terrified. Hendricks and were
the first to leap from the stand and scale
the adjacent fence. The Union men then
took possession Of the platform, and held
a rouSing meeting. A part of the rebel
Democracy repaired to their hall, but their
original purpose having been discovered
and defested, their subsequent proceedings
were spiritless. When returning home in
the evening, the Democratic rhfians fired
from the cars upon the Soldiers Home,
wounding one Of the inmates. This aroused
the whole city. Cannons were brought to
the depot and placed in front of the trains,
after which the Union men went through
the cars disarming the..passengers, and col
lecting altogether about five thousand re-
volvers and other small arms.
Such is rapid sketch Of well-known
historical event in which Gov. Hendricks
was prominent participation. There is no
doubt that Hendricks and were
the projectors and leaders of this eonspir-
acy, which was only defeated by the great
courage and firmness of few Union men.
It is not to be supposed that Hendricks
--ttieinatiOn in this infamous affair