Year: 1862

by the Republican Leaders.


The smoke ofthe battle has now passed away
we have a view of the feld--and the Democratic
banner waves in triumph. Our majority in the
Stlie is counted by many thousands. We have
seven of the eleven members of Congress, and
both branches of the Legislature. At first the
leaders of the Republican party were stunned by
the blowout now they labor to assign reasons
for the result, which may excite hope in their
followers for the future That which they make
prominent, and repeat most earnestly is, that so
many soldiers absent from the State; and
they assure their followers that had the soldiers
been at home the election would have resulted
otherwise Upon what facts is this statement
maGeI Ii is not shown, nor can it be shown,
that majority of the soldiers from Indiana are
Republicans. A comparison of the number of
volunteers from the strongest Democratic district
and the strongest Republican district of the State,
would justify the statement, that there are largely
more Democrats than Republicans in the army
from Indiana 1t is well established that of the
soldier, who were permitted to 60 home from
their encampments in the State to vote. and
those vino were at home as paroied prisoners, a
large proportion, perhaps two thirds, voted the
Democratic ticket. I his perhaps not the
case in two of the Districts but that it so in
the State there is sufficient assurance.


The soldiers appreciated the issues. They knew
the questions that we're to be decided, and they
felt that their pride of position, and their future
interests required them to vote the Democratic
had fls hoan hon md bo
soldiers among their friends in the different neigh
borhoods, the Democratic majority would have
been increased many thousands When they were
called upon to volunteer they were assured, in
the sentiment of the Crttenden resolution, that
they were TO fight for the restoration of the
Union, and the maintenance of the Constitution,
and they felt such call to be hig and honorable
and warfare in such Il worthy the
rifice of CO, IT. and the hazard of their lives.
But now, afIer they are in the field, when they
see powerful effort made by the Abolitionists
and radical men TO pervert the war, and to make
it no longer war for the Union and the Constitu-
ton, but to free the negroes, every high consid
Grafton leads them TO support the Democracy in
the patriotic struggle to defeat such effort When
the war is over, and the rattle OF small arms and
the roar of the cannon shall have ceased, the
soldiers wish to see our glorious banner still float
ing, with every star upon it, the Union restored,
with the rights and dignity of each State preserv-
ed and the Constitution and laws maintained in
their full vigor. For this they fight in the field;
and for this the Democracy contend at the ballot
box. The heart OF the Indiana volunteer, and
of the Indiana Democrat, beats in common for
the Union and the Constitution, and not for a
system of emancipation of the negroes-and when
they stand together at the ballot box either dur
ing, or at the close OF the war, their ballots will
express the same sentiment. To trampe upon
the Constitution of their country, to crush
out the reserved rights of the States, and
to free the negroes is not the warfare the Indiana
soldiery expected; and the defeated politicians
need no: expect to better their fortunes by an
appeal to them, unless that appeal be made in the
name OF the Constitution, and in the cause of the
Union, and not in the name and for the cause OF
the negro.


When this war is over thousands of our sol
ders will return to Indiana again to resume
their industrial pursuits, and they will not con-
sent to come in competition with free negro la
Dor. Ii the scheme Of emancipation and Aboli-
tion is carried out we must expect our State to
be filed. and the streets and pavements of our
towns and cities to be crowded with free negroes
and then the laboring man. whether he has been
in the army at home. and whether his labor be
upon the farm in the shop, or upon the street
must compete with the negro; his labor must bs
degraded when il is performed by the side of al
inferior, and il must be cheapened when that la
Dor is sought by the inferior. The defeated poll


ticians of Indiana must abandon this emancipa
ton policy, which strikes at the honor and re
muneration of labor, before they can repair the


fortunes by an appeal to lndana's working mel
or Indiana soldiery. Let them raise the stand
ard of the Union and the Constitution and th'
rights and dignity Of the States preserved an'
unimpaired, and they may again be heard.


There need be no self-deception in relation Il