The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-05
THE SOLDIERS CALL on MR.. HENDRICKS,
And He Makes Them a Speech, in Which He
Defends His War Record

AT o'clock last evening an association known
as the Democratic Veteran Soldiers ard Sailors
Association of Marion county, numbering sixty
three members, with Captain w r. Myers,
Secretary of State in the van, called upon Vice
president elect Hendricks, and were ushered
into the parlor of his residence When the vet
earns had ranged themselves about
the room, Captain Myers, with two rolls of
manuscript in hand, stepped to the 'front.' and
after reading his own address, introducing the
matter which had occasioned the attendance of
the association, he read second address, which
was the address of the association in which the
veterans, as friends and neighbors of Mr.. Hen
bricks. congratulated him upon his second cleo
tion 10 the Office of vice president Of the United
States"
Mr.. Hendricks, bowling gracously, replied as
follows:
Captain Myers: l am very much gratifed
that you have been made the medium, by your
comrades. of expressing to me the sentiments of
your own speech and of the address of your as
ISOLATION. You would distrust my sincerity did
| say that | am not gratitied at the honor you
have done me, and congratulations from you
and your comrades are specially gratifying when
| consider the fact that you and shared in
the contest of the last summer The
greatest political contest our country has
ever known. With success we have
come from that field Of contest sharing in its re-
sponsibilities and in its glory. You have re-
ferred to one characteristic of the contest which
hope never to see repeated in our country. The
personal attacks and ISLANDERS that have been
INDUCED in are unworthy of American politics.
| have not troubled to answer the msrepresenta-
tons to which l have been subjected -Four
times these fabrications have been before the
people of Indiana and four times they
20 hoo
fabrications l have not turned to the right nor
to the left, and will now but very briefly refer
to them. During the first month of the war
found it necessary to correct one of the misrep-
reservations Of that time. l used the following
language: Since the war commenced have
uniformly said that the authority of the gov
eminent of the United States is not questioned
in Indiana, and I regard it as the duty of the
citizens of Indiana to respect and maintain that
authority, and to give to the government an hon
est and earnest support in the prosecution of the
war, until, in the providence of God, it may be
brought to an honorable conclusion, and the
blessings of peace be restored to our
country-postponing until that time all
controversies in relation to the causes
and responsibilities of the war. No man
will feel deeper socitude in the welfare and
proud bearing of the Indiana soldiery in the con-
hict of arms to which they are called than my
self The sentiments thus expressed guided my
conduct throughout the
"One of the political leaders of the times has
charged that | failed in duty in opposing
the law for the draft. To opposition to the
draft l plead guilty. I favored an army
of volunteers, encouraged by suitable
bounties and during the first month of my
service in the Senate l said; L desire to express
the opinion that Congress ought to encourage
volunteering rather than rely upon what of
cessty must be an unpopular measure of the
government-the draft l did not regard the
draft as a reliable support for the army.
Prior to that time $4,000 men had
been drafted. Six thousand entered the service
under the draft 10000 substitutes fur
nshed and 20, 900 were induced to volunteer by
the bounties which the combinations enabled
the department to pay. A draft of l2o, 600 re
suited in sc, 900 soldiers in the field. l believed
then, and have believed ever since, that
volunteers, encouraged by suitable bounties,
lieving them from anxieties about provision
for their homes was the best assurance of sup
port to the army. The same politician to whom
| have referred speaking of myself, said He
did not vote in favor of any measures that
looked to carrying on the war l will refer but
to two acts in the Senate in answer. On the
sd of April 1864. | offered an amend
Inent to the army appropriation bill to increase
the pay of the soldiers and of the non
commissioned officers reasonably in propoItio
to the then deprecated condition of the cur
rency. l thought that proposition was an en-
couragement to the army and enlistments My
colleague Colonel Lane. voted with me on that
subject Oh the same day, voted for the great
appropriation bill for the army for the year from
June 3d. 1864 to June 30, 1865.
believe it was the largest appropriation hill
ever passed in this government Five hundred
and thirty millions. 1 believe it was, and it was
the appropriation that carried the army TO the
close of the war, under which many of the
battles were fought, under which Sherman
marched to the sea and the surrender was
made to Grant I am specially gratifed that
you and your comrades have made
home tho Place for the agreeable expression of
congratulation and confidence. To you gentle.
men of the Democratic Soldiers and Sailors
Veteran Association of Marion County, | tender
my thanks, not only for the honor you have
done me now, but for the support you gave me
in the contest just closed"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Hendrickss remarks
three cheers were given for the Vice president
elect after which there was a season of hand