Year: 1861




Under this head the Journal of Saturday, the
18th inst, contained the proceedings of meet
ing held in Washington township on the sth inst,
of which Henry Silvy was Chairman and A. Cul,
bertson Secretary. That meeting had report
submitted toit by committee, stating that every
man in the township had been presented with the
following to sign, and giving the names of sundry
respectable gentlemen who had refused:


PLEDGE.


"We the citizens of Washington township,
hereby pledge ourselves to support and uphold,
to the best of our ability the Constitution and
laws of the United States, against treason as well
as against foreign foe"


In relation to this matter we have received the
subjoined communication, which every other pa
per in the city is requested to copy:


Editors ofhte Daily State Sentinel:


The reason that a number of the men who re-
fused to sign the pledge, whose names were pub
lished in the Daily Journal on last Saturday, was
this: Ii was presented to us by man that we
had no confidence in whatever, for PRYOR to the
breaking out of hostities between the North and
the South he expressed himselfi in favor of a dis
solution of the Union, which can be proven by
some of his Oldest neghbors, and he can not
deny it. This mans name is Matthias Dawson;
and L, for one, told the same gentleman that If
Governor Morton would present the same pledge
IN the hands of a man of sound Union principles,
l would sign it, and so would all of the eighteen
men who refused to do it, for we are all Union
men and law-abiding citizens, who stay at home
and mind our own business and let others alone,
which, it is well known among his neghbors, he
has never done. And if the gentleman wishes it
stated in palmer language, he has neighbors that
have known him longer than have, who can and
will tell him to his teeth of transactions that has
passed years ago, and before the pledge was pre-
sented to us. The company who got it up advo-
Gated the principle of coercion. | was informed
OH good authority that all those who refused to
sign the said pledge would have to leave the
country or be hung; and on last Saturday week
A Culbertson, Secretary of said company, told
me that that was the intention of the Home
Guards, and he will not deny it.


Now, as the impression has gone forth that We
are disloyal citizens and not friends to our coun-
try, | for one, who refused to sign the pledge in
the hands of the said Dawson, wish to state to the
people of Marion county and State of Indiana, in
justice to myself and family, and friends in gene
raj, that on last Monday sent the following prop
ostion to the company: That if either one Of the
Dawsons o. the leaders of that publication, that
were men of family and of good standing,
would meet me at my house or in indianapolis
| that day. or by y o'clock on the following Mon
day, and go and enlist for three years, or during
the war, would do the same, provided they were
taken. Monday came and passed, and none of
| the canting braggaIts came and / now publicly
| and boldly pronounce them towards, who will not
sacrifice their interest at home for that of their
country, bat can boast of bravery at home where
there is no danger; and / for one, pronounce the
publication of us men mean, sneaking, SIAN
derous action rotten as sin in its formation, and
as rusty the hinges of hell in its composition.
And for presenting the pledge to all the men
in Washington township, as they stated, is base
lie, and can be proven rs such; and | understand
by good authority that Robert Culbertson did not
report all the men who refused to sign the said
pledge. 1t is also known that the name of a re
lation by marriage of one of the Home Guard,
who refused to sign the pledge, they tried to
screen from being published, and the gentleman
don't thank them for it, either. Furthermore, il
Governor Morton wishes to know the true senti-
ment of the people Of good old Washington, we
will be happy to inform him on the shortest no.
tice possible.


In justification of us eighteen men, whose
names look well in print, would say to all whom
it may concern that truer set of men to the stars
and stripes, which we were always taught by ouI
parents to protect and respect, yet to be born
and as for that wonderful pledge, we are willing
at any time to sign it when presen ted by the pro
per authorities they being men of good standing
that will present the same in a decent manner.


REIN A. HAMMOND.


Washington township, Ind, June Is, 1861.