Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-03-02
SPEECH OF THE HON. THOMAS
A. HENDRICKS
Before the Indiana State Demo-
cratic Convention, at Indian
apOliS, February 20, 1878.

l call upon you by the grave respon
sibilities that rest upon you to al,
me in preserving order and decorun
and the right conduct of the busines
of the Convention.
You and / have stood by either il
the contests of the past. encourage,
sometimes by success, but more fre
quently encountering the disaster
of defeat. But always we have stooC
together, relying, without a doubt
upon the ultimate triumph of trutl
and right. No discord or jealousy
has disturbed our ranks. Respec
and confidence have everywhert
prevailed. None have sought tt
promote personal ambition by ex
citing distrust between the countie.
and sections Of the State. Union
harmony and conviction Of right
gave us the brilliant victory of 1876
which not only challenged the adj.
miratiOn of the Democracy of the
whole country, but established Indi-
ana as a Democratic State.
The work to be done in 1878 is
scarcely less important. Not only
IS Democratic supremacy to be main
tanned by the election of the State
/ ticket, but the Legislature must be
/ secured. The fraudulent and un-
| constitutional apportionmento of 1873
/ must besubstituted by an apportion-
ment of Legislative and Congress
sional representation in the spirit of
the Constitution, giving the people
of each county and section of the
State an equal voice in the enact
ment of the laws in proportion to
population. We ask no more than
equality in representation; weshould
accept nothing less.
Need | remind you that Senator
of the United States is to bechosen I?
and, need l add, that upon that
choice may depend the ques-
ton whether the United States
shall be Democratic? He who now,
without cause, shall SOW discord
and excite jealousy in our ranks is
not true Democrat. From border
to border and from the river to the
lake we will stand in unbroken and
unwavering ranks, with the fixed
purpose that Indiana shall stand
among the firmest of the Democrat
ic States.
1t is agreeable and encouraging
fact that we enter the contest of this
year with no apologies or explana-
tions to make for the present or the
late State Administration. The
present head of the State Admins
tration is a gentleman of clear judg-
ment, painestaking and thorough
in his investigations, and careful of
all the interests of the State. Per-
sOnally identified with the most
important interest of the people, he
will diligently promote its success
by rigid economy in expenditures,
and by excluding all unworthy and
unnecessary objects OF public favor.
In his care for the public welfare he
receives the efficient support of the
several State officers.
One Of the Louisiana criminals
has been tried and convicted. The
President and Secretary John Sher-
man say he should not have been
tried. Why not? His guilt and
that of Others is shown by the ver-
dict. 1t is of no ordinary crime he
is convicted. 1t is a high crime
against the nation, and threatening
the stability of free institutions.
What are the relations between the
President and Secretary Sherman
and the accused that authorize or
permit an effort on their part to in
fiuence judicial proceedings in a
State Court? After long and ter
rible contest, it is settled that State
elections Sand State Legislatures
must be free from military influence
and control. So, also, it must be un-
derstOod that the President and his
Cabinet can not directly or indirect
ly interfere with judicial proceed
ings under State authority. State |
Courts must be wholly free and in
of Federal control, except |
when the Constitution and laws |
give to the Federal Judiciary an
appellate supervision. It is to be |
if the facts developed upon
the trial are of such a character as
create anxiety on the part of the |
President and his Cabinet; but they |
cannot avoid the effect upon the |
public mind Of an exhibition of that |
and unseemly denunciation
of the State authorities.
While it is true that the title of |
Mr.. Hayes to the office of Pres
ident and Mr.. Wheeler to the
office of Vice President has been
settled under the solemn forms of
law, and while it is our duty, in my
Judgment, to recognize the title, be-
cause it is in the interest of the pub
lie stability and tranquility to dosO,
it is still none the less true that an
duty demands that fit
ting punishment should be visited
upon the public criminals through
whose fiagitiOuS crime that judg-
ment was obtained. Because a
Judgment is final and conclusive
forms no reason why immunity
should be secured to the criminal
through whose perjury it was OBJ
tanned. If this is true of a simple
Judgment in a Court of
law, much more is it true of
A mOnstrous crime against the cleo
tive sOVerinity of a nation. The
very fact that it was successful fur
nishes the strongest reason why the
punishment of its perpetra-
tors should cover it with perpetual
and manifest to all future
against'the liberties of
the nation the dangers of attempt
ing its repetition.
Since the close Of the war the Re-
publican party has been in almost
control of the Govern
ment of the United States. During
.hese thirteen years its will has been
absolute. Ithas governed legislation,
dictated policies, and controlled the
finances. Shall it render no account
.othe ecountry? Capital and labor are
Business is stagnant,
enterprise paralyzed. Alarm has
seized the people. They are threat
,ned not only with poverty, but
With destitution and want. When
IN industrious and intelligent people
ire found in such a state and condi-
ion, it is the dictate of wisdom to
eek and remove the cause. Our
country possesses wonderful advan-
ages of soil and climate. Its pro-
lucts include many of the great
md valuable staples which COM
nand the markets of the world. Its
mines have been productive. In
;uch country, why is it that the
people tremble with alarm as they
the present and look
,oWard the future? The party that
,ooIyc 70 pontinIIa in mower ShOuld