The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-07-17
A LATE CONVENT.
How the Democratic Candidate for Vice
President Discouraged the Union Men
In ,be f,arlt Dnys 1851

How the Democratic Candidate for Vice
President Discouraged the Union Men
In the bark Days OTis0I.
The Hon. James W. Lanham, late .
Representative in the Indiana Legislature
from Jefferson county, has published in
the Madison (Ind.,) Courier, an interest
Jog page from the record of the Hon. W.
H. English, Democratic nominee Tor Vice
President. Mr.. Lauhsm is at present o
resident OF Milton township, in that coun'
ty, and is universally conceded to be a
gentleman of the strictest integrity and
veracity. Furthermore, he is a man OF
Quick perceptive powers and sound mem
6ry, MIR. Lanham's letter is as follows:
Editor Courtery
l see it stated in your paper that the
Hon. John G. New has said to a reporter
that William Il. English was good Union
man during the war. This called up in
nv mind reminiscence OF nearly 20 years
$50. When the news oil the attack on
Fort Sumpter came there was a great
Union gathering at Lexington, Scott
county, the home OF Mr.. English. The
Union feeling was unbounded. Demo.
Gratis We'd with Republicans in declaring
that "the Union must be preserved, peace.
ably II we can, forcibly II We must" Can.
| non roared, and many volunteers enlisted.
The whole surging crowd Of excited men
seemed to be animated with one Telling
and one determination. In all the crowd
heard but one discordant note-iOr was
presant-and that note came from William
h. English. The meeting, OF course, was
impromptu, and speakers being scarce,
Mr.. English was called upon for q speech.
thought the speech the most inaPPtO.
pirate one had ever heard. 1t was like
throwing cold wa'er on the flames. He
began BY attempting to justify his course
in Congress, proceeded 70 condemn IN
feeble terms the action Of the
South in seeding. and to severely
censure the Republican party, and
closed by strong and vigorous protest
against coercion. What mean, said
he, "lhese warlike preparatiUns7 Do you
intend to make yer upon the South? The
pgople OF the North are the aggressors,
and before making war upon the South
ern people YOU should proceed 70 undo
the wrongs that have been done them"
may NOT have his exact words, but the
Impressions made upon my mind are still
very vivid. Perhaps W. K. Aarshall, j.
W, Hollenbeck, Jonathan and W. 7. Fried
lly, and the Rev. Mr.. Mahan, il the last
named gentleman Is still! living, can con
iirm nv recolIections. Within few days
after the meeting there was q reaction
Southern sentiment began to spread In
that locality, and, in my opinion, The
speech OF Mr., English had much TO do 10
aiding that sentiment. After this lost
sight Of Mr.. English, and when ! again
heard Of him he was In the banking bust
ness in indianapolis. That he became .
good Union man. externally, when TO Dc
so advanced his own private interests, il
not questioned, but the Union men o
Southern Indiana, and especially thost
who heard the speech referred to, will re
auire fruits OF repentance superior to any
he has yet produced before they can re
gard him as sincere and unselRsh pa
triot. ]. w. LANHAI.