The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-31
about him; that he was not member of that

about him; that he was not a member of that
convention.
AS said, that resolution was an act Of treason.
have here a copy of General Joe Johnstons
Narrative of the War; He was perhaps the
second commander in point of ability in the con-
federate army. He has recently published his
tory of the war, and wish to read to you what
he says in regard to the action Of the Democratic
party, because tell you my friends, that that
resolution and that platform was an act Of trea-
son, giving the greatest aid and comfort to the
rebellion. Perhaps some of you gentlemen here
were in the army, and lying before Atlanta at
the time. IA voice. sLots Of US were there. II
You know how you felt when you read the pro-
ceedings of the Democratic convention. It is
known that the platform in many places was
read at the head of the confederate columns and
received with shouts and congratulations. Now,
General Johnston in this work, uses this lam
guage;
The Importance to the confederacy of defeat
ing the enterprise against Atlanta was not to be
measured by military consequences alone. Po-
litieal considerations were also involved, and
added much to the interest of that campaign.
The Northern Democrats had pronounced the
management of the war failure and declared
against its being continued, and the presidential
election soon to occur was to turn upon the ques-
ton of immediate peace or continued war. In
all the earlier part of the year 1864 the press had
been publishing to the Northern people most
exaggerated ideas of the military value Of At
lanta, and that it was to be taken, and that its
capture would terminate the war If Sherman
had been foiled these exaggeratons would have
caused great agitation in consequence Of his fail
ure-would have strengthened the peace party
greatly, so much, perhaps, as to have enabled it
to carry the presidential election, which would
have brought the war to an immediate close.
Here's the testimony of Gen. Johnston, that
the result of the presidential election in favor of
the Democratic party would have Immediately
ended the war. They understood from that plat
form and from the actions and declarations Of
Democratic leaders throughout the North that
In case Of their success the war would be aban-
doned and the independence of the Confederacy
conceded; or, as Gen Johnston says. it would
have brought the war to an immediate close.
My friends that rebellion was protracted for
two years after the rebels had found out that
they could not succeed by force Of arms simply
by the belief that change in public opinion was
going on in the North, and that if the Demo
cratic party came into power the war would be
abandoned and their independence conceded.
They had good ground to believe that they were
assured by this platform and by the actions and
declarations Of the Democratic leaders every
where that the war would be abandoned in case
OF their success; and my friends, there are
thousands and tens of thousands Of men now
dead and buried in Southern grave-yards that
would be alive and walking upon the face of the
earth to-day but for the influence and effect of
the action Of the Democratic party in the North
ern States A voices True" They induced
the rebels first to embark in the rebellion by
making them believe that the Democratic party
in the North would hold the government still
while they marched out Of the Union without
firing gun. They had right to believe that
from the action of that party in the Congress of
1860-61, and by the action of every Democratic
convention held during the war Here the Con
federacy was holding on, struggling and fighting,
after all hope of success had vanished, except
that which was to come from the action of the
Democratic party in the North No wonder
Governor Hendricks charges me with having
slandered him by saying that he was a member
of the national Democratic convention of 1864.
No wonder that Mr.. Tilden now wants it under
stood that, though he was on the committee
that reported that infamous PLATFORM and said
nothing at the time, yet, after ALL in the com
mittee-room, while they were connecting it, he
did present some objections to that reasonable
resolution.
Senator Morton's Speech at Upton, Septem-
Der 10, 1876.
In speech at Shelbyville about three weeks
ago Governor Hendricks said, as reported in the
indianapolis Sentinel in speaking Of the ma
tional Democratic convention in Chicogo in 1864
Morton told them yesterday that Governor
Tilden and were both members of that con-
vention and were both in favor of the resolution
Governor Tlden's friends on the committee on
resolutions informed the country long ago that
in the committee he opposed the resolution, and
so far as am concerned it is simply lie made
out Of whole cloth, for l was not a member of
the convention at all.
Governor Hendricks here accused me Of will
full falsehood. and intended to brand me before
the Nation as liar. He intended the country
to understand that he was not in the Chicago
convention, had no connection nor completely
with it. and did not sympathize with it. And
for saying that he was in that convention he
charges me with having told lie upon him
made out of whole cloth. said that he and
Governor Tilden were in the convention.
had always understood that Governor Hendricks
was in that convention; that he was present
in that convention. and being a senator or
leader of his party. he wason the inside and was
consulted in regard to its action And this
quite as much as if he had been delegate This
statement he repels as vile calumny. He
wants to assure the country that it has no foun-
dation in TRUTH but was manufactured in every
part hold in my hands a copy OF the Chicago
Tribune bearing date September !, 1864 II con-
tains the proceedings Of the Democratic national
convention in Chicago, which had occurred the
day before and q report Of the speeches made
that evening at the Chicago courthouse, in a
great ratification meeting. Among the speeches
reported is that of Governor Hendricks, in which
he strongly ratified tho action of the convention
and bitterly denounced the administration and
its policy Of prosecuting the war. AS specimens
of the tone and temper Of his speech read the
following extracts;
HE said we must elect whether we will be
ruled by the law or by one man. By the power
Of the law we are all equal, but the Law. has been
set aside and we are now an outlawed people,
subject to the will Of one man. The speaker
felt sanguine the ticket nominated to-day would
be successful. The people wished change,
even If it be no worse. We will be resisted by
ingly become slaves when we can save our lib
critics
Again, he said
He trusted life still remained in the masses,
and that they had not sunk so low by the four
years Of despotism but that they could rise to
crush out Abolitionism and hurl the smuttv old