Hide Article Text (OCR)
»t1 Great Democratic Union 'M«« Con- ? vention in (lllioii Connty.A large gathering assembled at tbe Court House in Frankfort, on Saturday, the 7th of September, 1861, in nursuance of the following call, which was signed by over 400 voters:'•We, the undersigned, citizens of Clinton county, Indiana, do hereby request that there be a Democratic Union Mass Convention held at Frankfort at an early day, for the purpose of effecting a more perfeet organization, to interchange opinions as will best promote the cause of the union of the States, ‘knowing no North, no South, no East, do West, and nothing but the Union,’ and to maintain the integrity of our Government, the Constitution, and the enforcement of the Laws.The Convention was organized by calling Col. Noah T. Catterlin to thechair, who briefly stated the object of the meeting.On motion of Leander McClurg, Esq., John Barner and Benj. B. Jeffries, Esq., were elected Secretaries, and on motion of William Seawright, Esq., the following named persons, soldiers of the war of 1812, were elected Vice Presidents, to wit: Capt. James Morrison, John Rife, Henry Haynes, Henry Pureifull, George Smith, Peter Gay, (and others, names not furnished.;On motion of William A. Bell, Esq., a committee, consisting of three persons from the township of Jackson, and one from each of t e other townships in the county be selected to draft resolutions to be presented for the deliberation of the meeting.Thereupon the following named gentlemenwere selected, to wit:William A. Bell, of Michigan township; Jas.J. Perrin, Ross; James Armstrong, of Johnson;Samuel Merrill, Washington; William Rogers,Pern; Thomas Lynch, Warren; George W . Temple, Owen; Jacob Pickard, Sugar Creek; Isaac Newhouse. Kirkliu; William Henry, Madison; Leander McClurg, Henry G. Morrison, and Cornelius Miller, Jackson.On motion of William Boyls, Esq., the temporary officers of the Convention were elected asthe permanent officers of the day.On motion of Isaac Cook. Esq., all resolutions prepared for the action of the Convention were referred to that Committee.On motion of Henry G. Morrison, the President was requested to select a Democratic Central Committee, and report to the meeting.The Convention then adjourned until 1 o’clock P. M., to meet at the stand east of the Court House.At one o'clock P. M., the Convention assembled.The President presented the names of a central committee—Henry G. Morrison, Samuel McNutt, Nathaniel Bell, John Barner, sen., and Cornelius J. Miller, which was concurred in by the Convention.Thomas B. .Ward and John S. Williams, of Lafayette, being now called to the stand, addressed the large audience for an hour each, very ably and eloquently, in behalf of the Union and the Constitution, to which the audience gaveainstdireSprstarDuiourWarperigaiitali'condisthisbig!Ied I fon 1Pro so i he 1 liee Heandsnnterihasderabrtheed,trital{. IIRicGe:is ■Hean,muacotshiwitlettheir good attention. At the close of the ad-Ce(Celt;Fi\PePilW i W;W;LaDedresses a resolution was unanimously passed thanking the orators for their able speeches, and requesting copies fur publication.The committee on resolutions now appeared on the stand, and reported through their Chairman, William A. Bell, Esq., the following resolutions, which were, by request, read the second time, and, on motion of Isaac Cook, were acted upon separately, and unanimously adopted by a separate vote on each resolution:1. Resolved, That we are, as we have always been, unalterably attached to the Constitution bvV *which the Union of the States was formed and established, and desire its preservation, and believe that a faithful observance of its principles can alone secure the existence of the Union and permanent happiness of the people.2. That however much we may regret the causes of the civil war now upon us. we are in favor of the most vigorous prosecution of the same to an honorable termination. That white we are in favor of defending the flag of our country and maintaining the supremacy of our Government, we are opposed to its prosecution for the purpose of interfering with any of'he constitutional rights of any of the people or the States.3. That a reconstruction of the Union upon the principles of the present Federal Constitution ought to be the controling object of the further prosecution of this war: and as that only can be accomplished by securing the ascendency of the Union party in the Southern Stales. We insist that those who bold control of our Government shall tender to the Union men of the South some definite and equitable plan of settlement by which all sectional strife shall be forever put to rest.6. That we denounce as destructive of civil libprtv all acts of violence against the citizens of tKis country, whether perpetrated by lawless mobs or under the cloak of usurped authority, and we call upon Democratic friends everywhere to show their devotion to the Constitution and laws of their country bv faithfully observing them and« • • odiscountenancing their violation. That freedom of speech and of the press are rights guaranteed-to us by the Constitution, and shall be maintained.5. That the persistent efforts by the Republi cans and Republican editors to make it appear that a large portion of the Democrats are traitors, is calculated to encourage the enemy and promote the cause of treason, and the sameshould be promptly discountenanced by everyloyal friend of the Government.6. That in the language of President Lincoln, Can aliens make treaties easier than their friends? Can treaties be more faithfully enforced between aliens than laws among friends? Suppose you go to war, you can not light always; and when afterCo30relt;tinmlt;reitrcsirre:vilt;MGituphtareS*ha0lesamuch loss on both sides and no gain on eitherscaipcHC;SOHMthatMyou cease fighting, the old identical questions as to terms of intercourse are again upon you.Therefore we would h-.iil with satisfaction the r0 restoration of peace to our country, and would m rejoice in the adoption of measures for the settlement of our National difficulties that would be just and honorable to both sections, in prerer-ence to internal war.7. That we condemn agitation and fanatics i*! North and South, and hold them responsible for the present deplorable contest threatening the safety of our beloved country. A8. That the liberty of speech and the press is the inherent right of freemen and the sheet, an-chor of free government, and that we repudiate and denounce all attempts of moboerats and ex-tremists to suppress the same by threats or violence. sc9. That the State Scnlivel and Cincinnati Enquirer in their loyal'defense of the Union and the Constitution, freedom of speech and of the press, meets our hearty approval.10. That we recommend the holding of a Democratic Union State Convention at Indianapolis the coming winter. 1.11. That the above be forwarded to the Cres-cent., Stute Sentinel and Cincinnati Enquirer foi publication. nThe convention was addressed by Messrs. Say-ler, Catterlin, McClurg, Bel! and Pickard on the resolution and a side resolution offered. After which,On motion of Win.V. Johnson, Esq., the meeting adjourned sine die.N. T. CATTERLIN, Pres’t.J. Barxer, ) ■n p i ( Secretaries.B. B. Jeffries, )sin
Newspaper Details
Indianapolis Indiana State Sentinel
Indianapolis, Indiana, US
Tue, Sep 18, 1860
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Van P.
IN, USA 19 Feb 2018
Other Publications Near Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis Daily Sentinel
Indianapolis Republican Convention
Indianapolis Daily State Sentinel
Indianapolis Indiana Democrat
Indianapolis Press
