The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-09
IN REBEL OLD BOGGSTOWN
Story from Sugar Creek Township, That
Once Voted to Secede from the Union.
Ancient Schoolhouse Where the Shelby County
Natives Gathered and Formally Decided to
Stand by JEFF Davis and the South.


Martinsville branch of the Big Four rail-
road system, sixteen miles, as the crow
flies, south of Indianapolis. Lying Is IL
does In the beautifully rolling and splen-
did farming country of Sugar Greek town.
ship the people are quiet and law abiding.
cultured and happy. No one visiting the
community for few hours or even days
would ever dream Of the part 1t played in
the war of the rebellion. nor measure the
encouragement and support her words
offered to those who sought to disrupt the
Union. Tho hamlet and its surrounding
country sent to the front many valiant
fellow who never returned, but even
that is not enough to stitie the disgrace
full memory of her attempted copperhead
secession. At the time is happened. six OF
the Southern States had already passed
resolutions of secession, Lincoln was on
his way to Washington to take the presi-
dency. the country was in turmoil the
government itself seemed unstable.
1t was on a Saturday. Feb. 10. 1861. that
the citizens of Sugar Creek township held
. memorable meeting in the Boggstown
schoolhouse. 1t was one of the most nota-
BILE conferences held in all those stormy
days. As result of this meeting the clti-
zens of an entire township in 10y al
Northern State offered to secede and cast
their lot with the Southern C0nfederacy.
The meeting had been we'll advertised all
over the township by means OF written mo-
tioes posted In the stores and at the cross-
roads. on trees and Guideposts for weeks.
and In consequence O general turnout was
secured. The notices stated that IL was TO
DO union or peace meeting to approve
| the Crittenden resolutions" which had
haA INfr nd In al Ir.f N in
Der previous. However, the leaders of the
| meeting well knew that was not
| its real Intention. The schoOlhOuse, a plain
| frame structure. was filled TO overlooking:
those no could not get o place inside stood
| about the open doors aud windows in quiet
and attentive groups. All through the
morning the farmers and their boys had
| been gathering. They brought their dim
! ners. and promptly after the dinner hour
the meeting WAS organized with w. Z. Il.
Wanee as chairman and William X. Norris
as secretary. There was quite q turnout
| of Republicans. as we'll as democrats. and,
one by the latter. a lively time was ex-
| pected. The object of the meeting being
| stated, committee on resolutions. COM
| posed of w. G. Z. Vance. DR.. j. w. Smell
ser and William r. Norris was appointed
| The committee retired around the cor
ner of the schOolhouse for con-
| sultation. Smelser drew from his
! pocket a set of cut-and-dried resolutions
which bad been prepared by himself and q
| cousin of his, Mr. Fullalove. of Louisville.
KY. who had been visiting his family for
several weeks. and who was very anxious
that the meeting should adopt them. SO
that he could take them back home with
him as popular expression of the sentl-
ment OF township IN central Indiana.
REPUBLICANS sMELT RAT.
While the committee was out some of the
Repu blicsns surmised what was about to
take place. and left the house. while those
that remained decided to oppose the pas
sage of any thing which might be obnox-
ious to their ideas of right. The commit
tee returned. and DE-. Smelser read the fol-
lowing resolutions
Whereas, We do acknowledge and are proud to
confess the services OF our congressman. who
are stirring and using their united efforts to pro-
mote the best interests and safety OF the Union;
and
resolutions orr any far and honorable adjustment
that will answer as basis for the settlement OF
our national affairs. and that will be honorable
and fair TO all portions OF our Nation; therefore,
Resolved, That We, the citizens of Sugar Creek
township. do most earnestly recommend and re-
quest the General Assembly OF this State, now in
session. to make application to Congress to call
convention as soon possible for the purpose OF
proposing amendments to the Constitution of the
United states, based on the Crittenden resolu-
tions or any other fair and honorable policy that
will amicably and forever settle the slavery
question between the North and the South.
Resolved, That while We deprecate the precipi-
tate action of the Southern states, we are OPP
posed 10 tie general government using any
means OF forcible coercion, but believe that If
BY the Northern States, with adequate consti
tutonal guarantees. that all OF these seeding
States will readily come back. and reunion OF
our glorious Union will be the result
Resolved. That IL. after all peaceable efforts
have been made to keep the several States united
ia one grand confederacy, they must divide and
we must be cast with one or the other portion.
we do OF choice prefer to be attached to the
Southern Confederacy.
DR.. Smelser ouened the debate with
speech of ten or fifteen minutes. during
which time the interest was intense.
one of the auditors said years afterward,
you could have heard pin drop. Mr..
Vance then rose to his feet and, drawing
from his pocket o small book. said: I'VE
are met here to- day for a common purpose,
| not as party men. but for the consideration
| of the great questions that now disturb our
common country and threaten this lovely
| land with all the horrors OF civil war.
Vance was fine reader, and " hen he COM
menced reading from the little book an
| extract describing the beauties of peace"
| the audience was visibly stirred His other
| extract depicted the horrors OF war"
Secretary Norris then rose and spoke In
| favor of the resolutions. especially the
last one. and urging It's adoption without
amendment
DIR. MFADDEN TOOK A HAND.
Up to this point all the speeches made
had been in favor of the resolutions. and il
looked as il they would be carried without
single dissenting voice, but DR.. w. g.
McFadden, then yeung physician and q
Repu biican. living with his mother. few
miles away, and now an honored citizen of
Shelbyvllle, rose from his seat, and re-
quested that the resolutions be read again,
rs he thought there might be something in
them to which he would reply. The secre-
tary read them slowly. and when be came
to the last one tue Doctor said:
That's the one TO which / take excep.
ton, gentlemen. You are making history
mighty fast to-day; faster than YOU think.
| perhaps. and of q sort of which some day
| you may be ashamed. Ii would be very in
eXpedlent at this time, In view of the pres
enJ disturbed condition of political op,n-
| ion and the heated and exasperated feel
| ings of the Southern people, to pass such
| resolution. Ii would only add more fuel
| to the flame already burning go fiercely In
all the States south of the Ohio river
| Such n resolution as this would only en-.
courage them and lead them to believe
| that they had abundance OF sympathy and
| support right here III the heart of Indiana,
| and it might be the cause. no one knows
| of precipitating the dissolution of tho
| Union. They would expect from this reso-
luton that Indiana and other Western
| States would 60 with them and form a
| new confederation that would embrace the
! Southern and Western States, New
! York and Pennsylvania. and thus
leave the Yankee. OF New England