The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-31
HENDRICKS AT SHELBYYILLE.
His Great War Speech to a Howling Mob Of
jeff Davis Democrats.

Cincinnati Gazette
In the winter Of 1862'63 Mr. Hendricks was
elected United States Senator from Indiana
The event was deemed of sufficient Importance
by nest Of antiquated Butternuts who inhab-
tied the southern portion of the State to merit a
small celebration. The gathering took place ac-
cording to arrangement at ShelbyyilIe, the 9Th
of February, 1868 Although ostensibly an ova-
ton to single man. it was in reality bid Of
defiance to the general government at one of the
most critical periods of the war The Lincoln
haters were present in great numbers, and
| whooped and yelled their jeff Davis sentiments
through the streets with impatienee until the
hero of the occasion appeared with his speech
The preliminaries had been so quietly arranged
that Mr. Hendricks fondly hoped that he might
meet the exingencies of the hour without expos
ure to the world; but, by one of those strange
condolences that newspaper managers some
times provide for, a Gazette reporter was pres
emit and took q verbatim report Of the speech
After getting off the stereotyped charges of
peace Democrats at that time, that the North
had provoked the war, the orator began to warm
up his copperhead audience with sentiments like
these
|
United States in the language of the Crittenen
buttons, had held up the banner of this country for
the Constitution and restored Union that all the
States shall remain under that Constitution with
every right secured and unimpared, there would not
have been dissentent voice in all the North. But
\ the President cannot change the purpose of the
war originally declared, and make it an Abolition
war, and then hold the people of the North a unit
! I'VE have some dissenson in the North; we have
/ some men who are not true to their country They
are the men who say that the Constitution Of Wash
ington is covenant with hell and league with
death They the foes Of their country and their
countrys good. The disasters that are upon us now
owing to the influence of these with the Pres
ident of the United States If Congress would take
bundle Of switches and switch them all out Of the
White House it would be well for the people, but
until that is done it viii not be well. You may hear
prayers in our churches your may go out to the
batefed but country is not to be restored as it
was until Abolition is buried never to be resurrected
| [Cheersl.
"Gentlemen what is the effect upon YOU at home
when you see the purpose Of this war changed from
contest for the Union and Constitution to contest to
free the negroesl What is the OBJECT upon your manly
prldet What is the effect upon the army in the fedl
think can comprehend something Of the honor,
something of tine pride the soldier feels as he stands
upon the field and the missiles of death are hying
around him. In the midst of that trying scene test
ing all the high qualities of soldier when he looks
up at that flag and thinks it is the emblem Of the
United States under the Constitution, when he is
fighting the battles of that flag he feels that he is
lighting glorious war and he can do his duty fatl
IgIly But when the Proclamation Ct January
business to fight to make negroes free where has the
pride of the soldier gomez Can he fight such battle
as that4 he cannot do it.
Mr. Hendricks next relieved his mind on the
negro enlistment bill Che had not yet discovered
the presence of the reporterl He said:
The browning act Of justice has been completed.
They have passed bill in the House Of Representa-
tives to arm an army Of negroes-150 600 negroes!
Let tell you, gentleman, that every Democrat in
that House voted against the BILL and every Republic
an voted for it with three exceptions and had it
In my power would set the names of these three
men in gold. hundred and fifty thousand neQroesi
What does it meant Does it mean that 10000 900
Of white men Of the North not courageous, bold,
powerful enough to contend with the men of the
South, and, therefore the government must invoke
the aid Of the negrol Does it mean that / under
stand that the pretense is raised that the negroes
shall fight down where it Is not healthy for white men
to fight. [IrEaghter.l This pretense gentlemen is
sham. Voice Kill all the niggersll
Gentlemen, every man who voted for that BILL and
the President when he shall have signed It will have
offered direct insult to every white man and woman
in the United States [appause insult that every
proud man will resent.
II want TO see If the President win send Indiana
troops into battle depending upon support from negro
regiments. he does, when your sons 20 into batte
to sustain the honor Of the field then the blood Of
every Indanian who is slaughtered upon that Con
gress that passed that BILL and upon the President
conservative citizens. win stand by peace and good
order; we will give influence in favor of the law
know that In some of your neighborhoods you
exasperated by seeing young men who have taken
French leave from the army taken back They should
not have done Before volunteering they should
have thought well Of the matter At that time did
not advise anybody to enlist because was not going
myself, and would not recommend any one to do
thing would not do myself. While did not recon-
enlisted that they ought stand by their country and
their coiors; and It any young men have left their
companies to come home without authority they have
acted in accordece with the lauso that You cannot
fight the battles at issue IN your neiehborhoods You
%s' ses =, soe s with LAW + any59dy how