Year: 1862

resolutiOns loud anu CONTINUOUS calls were mace
for Mr.. Vallandigham; and when he assembled
the platform he was greeted with rapturous
cheers He spoke as follows:


Mr.. President, and Fellow-Democrats of the
State of Ohio: am obliged again to regret
that the lateness of the hour precludes ME from
addressing you, either in the manner or upon
the particular subjects which otherwise should
prefer. This is my misfortune again to-day as
last night; but speaking thus without premedi-
tation, and upon such matters chiefly as may
occur to me at the moment, if should happen
to get fairly under headway, it may turn out to
be your misfortune. Laughter.


/ congratulate the Democracy of Ohio, that
in the midst of great public trial and calamity,
of persecution for devotion to the doctrines of
the fathers who laid deep and strong the foun-
dations of the Constitution and the Union un-
der which this country has grown great and been
prosperous-the fathers, by whose principles one
and all, the party to which we are proud to be-
long has always been guided we have
assembled in numbers greater than at any for
mer Convention in Ohio. l congratulate you
that despite the threats which have been uttered
and the denunciations which have been poured
out upon the time-honored and patriotic organ
ization, peaceably and in quiet, with enthusiasm
and earnestness of purpose, we are here met
and in harmony, which is the secret of strength
and the harbinger of success, have discharged
the duties for which we are called together
There was time when it was questionable if
in free America-in the United States-boast-
ing of their liberties for more than eighty years
"a party to which this country is indebted for
all that is great and good and grand and glori-
ous-would have been permitted peaceably to
assemble to exercise its political rights and per-
form its political functions. Threats have even
been made in times more recent, that this most
essential of all political rights, secured to US by
the precious blood of our fathers in seven years
revolu tionary war, should no longer be enjoyed.
The Democrats OF our noble sister State of In
diana, second born daughter of the North h-west,
have been menaced within the last ten days,
with a military organization and the bayonet to
put down their party. / hold in my hand
tclegraphic despatch from the capital Of that
State, boasting of this infamous purpose
will read it, gentlemen because l know that
the same dastardly menaces have been proclaim
ed against the Democrats of Ohio, and because
am here to-day to rebuke them as becomes
freeborn man who is resolved to perish Great
applause-in the midst of which the rest Of the
sentence was lost.


Some months ago a Democratic State Con-
vention was held in Indiana. twas Conven-
tion of the party founded by Thomas Jefferson,
and built up by Madison and Monroe, and
consolidated by an Andrew jackson, [applause
"a party under whose principles and policy
from thirteen States we have grown to thirty
four, for thrty-four there were, true and loyal
to this Union before the Presidential election of
1060-a party under whose wise and liberal
policy the course of empire westward dld take
Its way, under the symbol of American power
the stars and stripes-waved proudly from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, over tho breadth Of
whole continental party which, by peace and
compromise, and through harmony and wisdom
and sound policy, brought us up from feeble and
impoverished colonies, struggling in the midst
OF defeat and disaster in the war of the Revo-
luton, to mighty empire, foremost among the
powers of the earth, the foundations of whose
greatness were laid, broad and firm, in that no.
BILE Constitution and that grand old Union which
the Democratic party has ever maintained and
defended. The Democratic party, with such
principles and such history and record to point
to, held State Convention in pursuance of its
usages for more than thirty years, and under the
rights secured by a State and Federal Consttu-
ton older still, in the capital Of the State of
Indiana. And yet, referring to this party and
Its Convention, the correspondent of disoyal
and pesilent, but influential newspaper In the
chief city of Ohio, dared to send over the tele-
graphic wires, wires wholly under the military
control of the administration, which permits
nothing to be transmitted not acceptable to its
censors, dispatch in these words:


81 he fellows are scared, evidently not without
cause" f. rHtr th - 4'tj ~ O


Well, gentlemen, l know not how far Demo-
Gratis of Indiana may be frightened-and a no.
bier and more fearless body of men never lived
but see thousands of Democrats before me
TO whom fear and reproach are alike unknown.
Frightened at what? Frightened bywhom? We
are made of sterner stuff.


'sThe militia of the State" he adds, "will
probably be put upon war footing very short
ly." j


And who, pray, are the militia Of the state!
They are not made up of the leaders of the he
publican party in Ohio or Indiana, | know
never knew that sort Of politicians to go into
any such organization, in peace or in war No
men have ever been more bitter and unreenting
in their opposition to and rdicule Of the miltiai
and none knows it better than /, as my friend
before me by his smile reminds me that one OF
my own otfenses is thatI am militia brigadier
IN favor of the next foreign war.


But who are the militia? They are the free
born, strong -armed, stout-hearted Democrats OF
Indiana as they are of Ohio. Let them beput
on war footing. Good! We have hosts of
them in the army already, and on war foot
ing, but who are as sound Democrats, and as