The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-25
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT.

w ueu IlOTdC6 GnI6reQ the nails
of the Legislature, the men and women
of Indiana who had loyalty contributed
life and treasure to subdue most un-
justifable rebellion accepted the humili-
ating situation with silent protest The
disgraceful record made by this man is
still fresh in the memories of the men and
women of twenty years ago. First he was
conspicuous as member OF the Legislature
on which devolved the duty of making pro-
vision for the protection of the State from
invasion, but which instead had words of
encouragement only for the rebels and of
defiance and insult to the men who went to
the relief of the threatened Union For a
few months Heffren appeared in the role of a
Federal soldier, only to fall from that honor
able position to that of a commissioned
officer In band of traitors and conspirators.
Still later the hand of outraged justice was
laid on Horace Heffren, and inspired by the
terror of his desperate situation became
prosecuting witness ana made sure of
his own safety at the expense OF others.
The purpose of the organization in
turn loose the thousands of prisoners then
held at indianapolis, and by providing them
with arms and ammunition strike blow
against the Union that might have rivcn it
forever. These prisoners and the Cocoon
spirators with Horace Heffren were
provided with key to a system of signals
by which their friends would be recognized
and spared, while the homes of the loyal and
of soldiers at the front were to be p llaged
and burned. At that time this frightful
revelation did more to dishearten the loyal
battles of the war. While its purpose was
plain, the xtent Of this reasonable organ
zaton could only be conjectured, With
the hangman's rope dangling before him,
Horace Heffren confessed that out of all this
body of disoyal men he was one of ten
chosen "to take care of Governor Morton"
meaning thereby to assassinate him.
With these proofs of his moral turpi-
tude indelibly stamped upon the minds of
the people of Indiana it was hoped that
even Heffren was ashamed of his infamy,
and that he would never emerge from the
Oblivion to which his disloyalty to his neigh
bors and his native land should have forever
consigned him. That the people of Wash
ington county saw fit to choose him to rep
resent them in making the laws of the State
whose fair fame he had smirched,
Is proof that his record is not unsavory
their highest esteem. Washington county
was a center of treason during the war.
1t fostered traitors there-it honors self
impeached conspirator now With all these
facts so well known, the presence of
Horace Heffren in the State Legisla-
ture must be considered no great
anomaly; and when he has the audacity
to rise in his seat, and after again admitting
his record, exclaims, What are you going to
do about it?" 1t only remains for the people
of Indiana to answer him, and the party that
makes such things possible, in a manner that
will testify their hearty condemnation of
both. d.
If the Journal may speak for the loyal men
and women of Indiana, we will assure the
gentleman from Washington county and his
co-conspirators whom he so fifty represents,
that we propose to just leave him alone in
his glory and shame. If he can afford to
mingle with the men who surround him,
against whose lives and homes he once con-
spired, we are content. The exhibition is
not without its lessons, Itshows more plainly
than words can that time has not changed
the hearts Of these men. Whether the young