Year: 1866




editors Of that party upon the ground of
their enthusiasm in behalf Of soldiers.
The remarks of the Governor, though
referring more specifically to Indiana
Democrats, are intended to apply to their
party movements generally It Is very
Illustrative. He said


SPIRIT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.


1t is beyond doubt that the temper of
the Democratic party is not changed or
improved since the termination of the
war, out on the contrary it seems to have
been greatly embittered bv defeat in the
Hsld and at the ballot box. It's sympathy
with those lately In arms against the gov
ernment Is more boldly avowed than ever,
and It becomes argUmentative and enthu-
sIastlc IN behalf of the right Of secession
aud Righteousness of the rebellion The
true spirit of the Democratic party 10
Indlana has recently received a remark
ape liluseTation that should command
Ine serious consId6re<iaa Of the Deonle


Some four or five weeks since a conven-
tlon was held 10 the city of Louisville.
composed IN large part of men who had
been engaged IN the rebel armies. These
men assembled IN convention, proclaimed
themselves members of the National
Democratic party. and declared their un-
falterlng devotion to its time-honored
principles. They vindicated the right
eousness of the rebellion, and declared
their stern purpose to maintain at the
ballot box the sacred principles for which
they had taken up arms Prominent In
diana Democrats met with them in con
ventlon; mingled their tears with those
who wept over Southern heroes uttered
glowing eulogies upon the memory of
Stonewall jackson and John Morgan
and indorsed their most ultra and treason
able doctrines and to show the complete
identity between this Assembly of traitors
and the Democratic party of Indiana, the
indianapolis Herald, the organ of the
party, IN the broadcast and most unquaIi-
ned manner, earnestly and enthusiastic
ally endorsed its proceedings. resolutions
and speeches. The mem bers of the con
ventlon did not disguise the fact that they
were rebels and Northern Democratic
leaders. Believing that the time for pun
lshIEg treason had gone by, they now
make haste to declare that they are and
have been united with them IN sympathy.
sentiment aud purpose and they will
cooperate with them to the bitter end in
restoring to them what they call their
rights, and repairing the damages done to
them by the war. And to show that this
maleVolent and reasonable spirit is not
confined to the Democratic leaders Of
Indiana, numerous meetings, resolutions,
newspapers and declarations, in every
part of the United States, may be re
ferred to, and especially the votes and
speeches Of the Democratic members Of
Congress


WHAT DEMOCRATIC LEADERS HAVE DONE
TIE leaders who are now managing the
EhreT 10 rFV IN 70 ho
men who at the regular session of the
Legislature IN 1851, declared that if an
irmE Vest from Indiana to assist in put
pfUg uUWa JIg3 stE8f1s5 rebellion
it must first pass over their dead bodies


They are the men who In the Demo
cratic Convention on the 8th of January,
1862, gave aid and comfort to the rebel
lI0u, by resolving that the South had been
provoked and driven into the contest
by the unconstitutional and wicked ag
gresslOns Of the people of the North.


They are the men who in speeches and
resolutions proclaimed that Southern
defeats gave them no joy aud Northern
disasters no sorrow. They are the men
who exerted their influence to prevent
their Democratic friends from going into
the army, and who, by their incessant and
venOmous ISLANDERS against the govern
ment, checked the spirit of volunteering
and made drafting a necessity. And when
the draft had thus been forced upon the
country, their wretched .subordinates, in
splred by their deyllish teachings, en-
deavored in many places, by the force Of
arms and the murder Of enrolling Off
GERS, to prevent its execution.


They are the men who correspOnded
with the reUei leaders IN the South, Civ
ing them full information of our cOndi-
ton, and assuring them that a revolution
in public opinion was at hand, and that
they had but tG perseEere a few months
longer, and the National Government
would fall to pieces of its own weight.


They are the men who, in the Legisla-
ture Of 1868 attempted to Overturn the
State government and establish legisia-
tive revolution, by seizing the military
power of the State and transferring II
into the hands Of four State officers,
three Of whom were members Of the
reasonable society known as the Sons OF
Liberty"


They are the men who, having failed to
overturn the State government by seizing
the military power, determined to defeat
its operations and bring about anarchy, by
locking up the public treasure, and thus
Withholding the money necessary to carry
on the government.


They are the men who, for the purpose
of private speculation, and to diseredit
the State before the world, conspired to
prevent the payment Of the interest on
the public debt, by Withholding, through
a fraudulent lawsuit the money received
from taxes paid for that very purpose
This lawsuit was fraudulently smuggled
through the Circuit Court and lodged IN
the Supreme Court before the minutes
of the case had been read and signed by
the Circuit Judge, or he had been made
acquainted with its character, and was
hastily decided by the Supreme Court
against the credit of the State


They are the men who introduced and
organized in this State that dangerous
and widespread conspiracy first known as
afterwards as the Sons of Liberty,
which had for its purpose the overthrow
of the State and National governments.
Not all Of them, it is true, belonged
formerly to this infamous order, but such
as stood on the outside had knowledge Of
its existence, purposes and plans, and
carefully concealed their knowledge,
and stood ready to accept its work.


To accomplish the hellish work Of this
conspiracy, military officers were appoint
ed, military organizations created, arms
and ammunition purchased In immense
quantities and smuggled into the State,
correspondence opened with rebel com
manders, and military combinations
agreed upon, rebel officers and agents in
troduced into the capital and concealed
in hotels and boarding houses, and 1t was
deliberately planned and agreed that upon
a day fixed they would suddenly uprise
and murder the Executive, seize the ar
senal and its arms aud ammunition, and
releasing 5000 rebel prisoners in Camp
Morton, put arms into their hands, and
with their combined forces effect q mill
tary and bloody revolution in the State
This dreadful scheme necessarily involved