History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 24

Author: Stoll, John B., 1843-1926
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : Indiana Democratic Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1104

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"Know-Nothingism is against free civil government by instituting a secret

oligarchy beyond the reach of popular and public scrutiny and supported by blind instruments of tyranny bound by test- oaths. Nobody knows who constitute the supreme council of the order or how many there are or where they are. Their ad- herents are sworn to secrecy. Their blows cannot be quarreled against, for they strike not boldly, like men, but in the dark, like assassins. How long will stand the pillars of freedom of speech and of the press when liberty of conscience is gone and birth is made to 'make the man ?'

"Know-Nothingism is opposed to our progress as a Nation. Did any nation ever so grow as we have done under our broad, liberal policy and our laws of naturaliza- tion? They have not made aristocracies, but sovereigns and sovereignties of the people of the West. They have strength- ened the stakes of our dominion and multiplied the sons and daughters of America so that now she could muster an army, if need be, that would bid defiance to any invader. Now, shall all this policy and its proud and happy fruits be cast aside for a contracted and selfish scheme of intolerance and exclusion ? Shall no asylum be left open to the poor and oppressed of Europe? Shall the growth of our population be arrested? Shall prog- ress be made to stand still? Are we surfeited with prosperity ?"

Governor Wise concludes his masterly manifesto with this earnest appeal to the sober judgment of the American people:

"We have institutions that can embrace a world-all mankind with all their opin- ions, prejudices and passions, however diverse and clashing, provided we adhere to the law of Christian charity and of free toleration. Nothing, nothing is so dan- gerous to these institutions; nothing can destroy them so soon and so certainly as secret societies formed for political and religious ends combined, founded on pro- scription and intolerance, without neces- sity, against law, against the spirit of the Christian reformation, against the whole scope of Protestantism, against the faith, hope and charity of the Bible, against the peace and purity of the churches, against human progress, against national acquisi- tions, against American hospitality and courtesy, against American maxims of expatriation and allegiance and protection, against American settlements and land

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

ordinances-against Americanism in every sense and shape. Hence, as a Prot- estant American in every fiber and in every feeling, with all my hand and all my heart and all my might, in every character and in every sense, I protest against this secret organization, which seeks to pro- scribe Roman Catholics and naturalized citizens."

INDIANA DEMOCRACY'S ATTITUDE.

Clear, explicit and unequivocal was the attitude of Indiana's Democracy with ref- erence to the proscriptive policies of the Know-Nothing party. In convention as- sembled at Indianapolis, January 8, 1856, the party defined its position by proclaim- ing these ringing declarations :

"Resolved, We recognize the great body of the people as the only tribunal for the decision of questions affecting their gov- ernment, both as to men and measures, and open appeals to their reason and pa- triotism as the legitimate means of influ- encing their action, and we utterly condemn all associations and combinations for political purposes formed to govern them by oaths and obligations, or other compulsory means, or to impair the exer- cise of free will and independent judgment among them; and we hold in abhorrence all secret political orders and organiza- tions, deeming them dangerous to the stability of government and the rights of the people.

"Resolved, We are in favor of religious toleration, as the founders of our republi- can institutions achieved and understood it, and secured its enjoyment by constitu- tional guaranties, and we declare that it ought to be maintained free from invasion either by means of legislative interference or the equally tyrannical proscription of political parties founded on bigotry and ideas of intolerance.

"Resolved, While we esteem it the duty of government to foster and protect re- ligion without invidious preferences, leaving all free to choose among denomina- tions according to their consciences, and while we esteem it the part of true re- ligion, under every form, to render allegiance and due support to government, recognizing the Constitution as the su- preme law in all temporal and political concerns, we hold the separate administra-

tion of the affairs of church and State essential to prevent that union of the two, which experience has shown to be per- nicious to both and the worst form of tyranny.

"Resolved, That our naturalization laws, our republican institutions, our marvelous growth of national greatness and the hap- piness of our people, have been and are irresistible inducements and invitations to the inhabitants of less favored lands to become citizens of ours, and that past ex- perience, justice, sound policy and national pride all concur to favor the continuance of our present naturalization laws; that if any abuses have grown up under those laws, they have sprung from their imper- fect execution alone and not from inherent defects in the laws themselves, and that we are in favor of that policy which will soonest assimilate naturalized citizens with the mass of our people, and opposed to that anti-American and illiberal policy which proscribes the foreign-born citizen for the accident of birth and drives him to self-defense, to antagonism with our na- tive-born citizens in feeling, political opinions and conduct."

More than one-half of the platform was devoted to the subject covered by the fore- going resolutions, which in itself serves as an indication of the strong feeling enter- tained by Indiana Democrats in opposition to the heresies so ably and so vigorously dissected by Governor Wise.

PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS.

The author of this book was, during the rage of Know-Nothingism, serving his apprenticeship in the printing establish- ment of George Bergner, at Harrisburg, Pa. In addition to conducting a printing establishment, Mr. Bergner was engaged in the book and stationery business on Market street, next to what was later on known as the Lochiel Hotel, named in honor of General Simon Cameron, whose country residence east of Harrisburg bore the Scotch name of "Lochiel." Diagonally across from the Bergner book store was a rival concern, owned and operated by one William D. Jack, a full-fledged member of

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

the Know-Nothing organization. Mr. Bergner was born in Germany, but came to this country with his parents in early infancy. He married into a purely Amer- ican family, none of whom could speak German. In his religious affiliation Mr. Bergner was a member of the English Lutheran congregation ; politically he was a Whig, and later on an ardent Republican -the publisher of an orthodox Republican daily newspaper. Pandering to the pro- scriptive spirit of that time, Mr. Jack, in

advertising his book, periodical and sta- tionery business, used these words in his circulars and newspaper advertisements : "Buy your books, periodicals and station- ery of an American in preference to a Hessian." The mere citation of such boorishness illustrates more strikingly than could be done through and by elab- orate comment the meanness, narrowness and proscriptive spirit that then warped the minds of so large a number of zealots who made the accident of birth the su- preme test of citizenship.

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[CHAPTER XXV.]

DEMOCRACY'S TRIUMPH IN 1856

INDIANA RETURNS TO DEMOCRATIC COLUMN-BUCHANAN CHOSEN PRESIDENT

HE Fusion triumph of 1854 in T Indiana did not possess staying qualities. As a result of the splendid campaigning carried on by Lieutenant-Governor Ashbel P. Willard and his co- laborers in the cause of De- mocracy, the inroads made upon the ranks of the party in 1854 were effaced, popular confidence in the party's cause restored and Fusionism effectively repelled at the polls.

The State convention was held January 10, Judge James G. Reid, of Clark county, temporarily presiding. That the Bright element was in the saddle was made mani- fest by the election of John L. Robinson, of Rush county, as permanent chairman of the convention, and the nomination of Ashbel P. Willard as candidate for Gov- ernor. Both were stanch supporters of Senator Bright. Further evidence of the domination of the Bright element was fur- nished by the adoption of a resolution that in case the national convention should conclude to nominate a western man for the Presidency, the Indiana delegation be directed to cast its vote as a unit for Jesse D. Bright. It might here be stated, how- ever, that when the national convention assembled at Cincinnati it had become quite apparent that the contest was be- tween James Buchanan, of Pennsylvania, and Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois. Un- der these circumstances it was not deemed advisable to put forward Senator Bright. Instead, the Indiana delegation was lined up for Pennsylvania's favorite son, James Buchanan, whose nomination was accom- plished on the seventeenth ballot.

G. W. Carr, of Jackson, and James H. Stewart, of Carroll, were named as vice- presidents of the temporary organization,

and as secretaries these gentlemen were chosen : John B. Norman, of New Albany ; John S. Williams, of Lafayette; Solon Turman, of Greencastle, and Wm. H. Schlater, of Richmond.

Committee on Resolutions-C. Dobbins, C. K. Drew, Horace Heffren, P. M. Kent, Cyrus L. Dunham, J. W. Chapman, Daniel D. Jones, Cornelius O'Brien, Lafe Develin, Edmund Johnson, O. K. Dougherty, Mar- tin M. Ray, D. W. Voorhees, Wm. M. Franklin, Dr. Jas. H. Stewart, D. C. Stover, David Turpie, George W. Spitler, Andrew Ellison, Frank P. Randall, D. Moss, and Dr. Isaac Parker.

The platform adopted by the Indiana Democracy approved the principle of the compromise measures of 1850 and their application as embodied in the Kansas- Nebraska bill, condemned all combinations for political purposes and secret political orders, stood for religious tolerance, hold- ing separate administration of the church and State essential; declared that, while favoring sobriety and temperance, the party was opposed to the prohibitory liquor law passed by the last General As- sembly; favored the naturalization laws then in effect, and went on record as op- posed to what was held to be an anti-Amer- ican and illiberal policy which persecuted the foreign-born citizen for the accident of birth and drove him in self-defense to antagonism with our native-born citizens in feeling, political opinions and conduct.

A supplementary resolution was adopted demanding the dismissal of any minister of a foreign government found to have di- rectly or indirectly enlisted or aided in the enlistment within the dominions of the United States of any person to serve in a foreign war.

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

Another resolution endorsed "the faith- ful Democrats who, in the last Legislature, by their action prevented the 'Hindoos' disgracing the State by electing one of their tribe to the United States Senate."

STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.

1. J. W. B. Moore, Warrick county.

2. James G. Reed, Clark.

3. Joseph W. Chapman, Jefferson.

4. John L. Robinson, Rush.

5. Lafe Develin, Wayne.

6. John P. Dunn and John Talbot, Marion.

7. William D. Allen, Putnam.

8. John W. Blake, Clinton.

9. Samuel L. McFadin, Cass.

10. Robert Lowry, Elkhart.

11. Andrew Jackson, Madison.

Another report made the State Central Committee consist of these gentlemen : John Hargrove, John R. Elder,

M. C. Kerr,

Daniel W. Voorhees,

Joseph W. Chapman,

James H. Stewart,

John L. Robinson,

O. Everts,

Lafe Develin,

Samuel W. Sprott,

Charles W. Hall, Wilson Smith.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.

At Large-Graham N. Fitch, Cass county; Samuel H. Buskirk, Monroe county.

District Electors-William F. Parrett, War- rick; Simeon K. Wolfe, Harrison; Samuel W. Short, Lawrence; D. Jones, Franklin; Edmund Johnson, Henry; Martin M. Ray, Shelby; James M. Hanna, Vigo; Dr. James S. McClelland, Clin- ton; Orpheus Everts, Laporte; Frank P. Randall, Allen; S. S. Mickle, Adams.

DELEGATES TO NATIONAL VENTION.

CON-

Senatorial Delegates-William Rock- hill, Allen; Joseph W. Chapman, Jeffer- son; John Pettit, Tippecanoe; John L. Robinson, Rush.

District Delegates-Turner Nelson, Posey; John C. Herbert, Knox; P. M. Kent, Floyd; David Huffstetter, Orange; W. A. Aiken, Monroe; Samuel P. Mooney, Jackson; C. O'Brien, Dearborn; A. Davi- son, Decatur; James Elder, Wayne; James Osborn, Union; Alexander Morrison, Marion; Judge L. Hardin, Johnson; G. F. Cookerly, Vigo; William M. Franklin,

Owen; S. W. Telford, Tippecanoe; Mahlon D. Manson, Montgomery; A. A. Whitlock, St. Joseph; N. O. Ross, Miami; Dr. G. W. McConnell, Steuben; Judge James W. Borden, Allen ; Gen. James R. Slack, Hunt- ington ; T. Ryans, Madison.

Quite an array of vice-presidents and secretaries-one from each of the eleven districts-was named to assist Permanent Chairman Robinson in conducting the proceedings of the convention. The names of quite prominent Indiana Democrats of that period will be found in these two lists :

VICE-PRESIDENTS.

1. John Law, Vanderburg county.

2. Col. Schoonover, Washington.

3. Gen. John L. Spann, Jennings.

4. James B. Foley, Decatur.

5. James Osborn, Union.

6. General Milroy, Hancock.

7. John Allen, Putnam.

8. James H. Stewart, Carroll.

9. Benjamin Henton, Miami.

10. R. J. Dawson, DeKalb.

11. General Andrew Jackson, Madison.

SECRETARIES.

1. Richard C. Stephens, Martin county.

2. Samuel S. Crowe, Scott.

3. James H. Vawter, Jennings.

4. Cornelius O'Brien, Dearborn.

5. Smith Woods, Henry.

6. John Keightly, Johnson.

7. Murray Briggs, Sullivan.

8. A. J. Boone, Boone.

9. W. R. Bowes, Laporte.

10. Albert Heath, Elkhart.

11. William Norton, Huntington.

THE STATE TICKET AS NOMINATED

For Governor-Ashbel P. Willard, of New Albany.

For Lieutenant-Governor-Col. John C. Walker, of Laporte.

For Secretary of State-Daniel Mc- Clure, of Morgan county.

For Auditor-Gen. John W. Dodd, of Grant county.

For Treasurer-Aquilla Jones, of Bar- tholomew county.

For Superintendent of Public Instruc-

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

tion-Prof. Wm. C. Larrabee, of Indiana- polis.

For Attorney-General-Joseph E. Mc- Donald, of Crawfordsville.

For Reporter of Supreme Court-Gor- don Tanner, of Jackson county.

For Clerk of Supreme Court-William S. Beach, of Boone county.

A sharp contest was waged for the nom- ination to the office of Lieutenant-Gov- ernor. The contestants were Col. John C. Walker of Laporte and Robert Lowry of Goshen. Walker captured the nomination on a close margin. John L. Robinson wanted the nomination for Governor and sought an alliance with Walker. The lat- ter refused to enter into the proposed com- bination. After the convention Robinson avenged himself by looking up the birth record of Col. Walker, whom he suspected of not being of constitutional age to fill the office of Lieutenant-Governor. Upon ob- taining conclusive proof that Walker was in fact ineligible on account of his youth, Robinson caused the State committee to be called together for the purpose of remov- ing Walker from the ticket and naming some other gentleman for the place. When Walker learned what had taken place he cleverly averted action by the committee as to himself by graciously tendering his resignation which, as a matter of course, was promptly accepted. Abram A. Ham- mond, a very estimable gentleman residing at Terre Haute, was selected to fill the va- cancy.

The ticket placed in the field by the Re- publicans and People's Party organization was headed by Oliver P. Morton for Gov- ernor and Conrad Baker for Lieutenant- Governor. Though defeated at the Octo- ber election in 1856, it is worthy of note as a remarkable coincidence that both were . in subsequent years elected first to the office of Lieutenant-Governor and then to that of Governor. Morton had up to 1854 been a Democrat; Baker's affiliation was with the Whigs. Both were forceful char-

acters and particularly strong on the polit- ical rostrum. Professionally both gained considerable prestige as members of the bar.

THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

Three Presidential tickets were in the field in 1856-Buchanan and Breckinridge, Democratic; Fremont and Dayton, Re- publican; Fillmore and Donelson, Ameri- can. Fremont was the son-in-law of the famous Missouri Senator, Thomas H. Ben- ton, and upon the admission of California into the Union was chosen by the Demo- crats to represent that young common- wealth in the Senate of the United States. Buchanan had long been conspicuous in the public service and was deemed especially well equipped to fill the high office of President of the United States. Donelson enjoyed the distinction of having been the adopted son of General Andrew Jackson. Inasmuch as there was not the slightest probability of his election, the matter of special fitness for the office to which he was nominated as the running mate of Millard Fillmore was of minor importance.

Indiana was quite conspicuous in the first Presidential convention of the newly organized Republican party in this, that it had for its permanent chairman Henry S. Lane, at that time the idol of his party. In the Democratic Presidential Convention, held at Cincinnati June 4, William Rock- hill, of Fort Wayne, was honored with the position of vice-president and James Elder, of Richmond, with that of assistant secre- tary.

On account of the close political relation- ship established in 1854 between Whigs, Freesoilers and Know-Nothings, no Fill- more State ticket was placed in nomina- tion. Therefore the October election was a contest between the Democrats and the People's party, the latter embracing the various elements that entered into a fusion arrangement two years prior. The result of this election is indicated in tabular form as set forth below :

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

OFFICIAL VOTE FOR 1856.

FOR GOVERNOR.

Ashbel P. Willard, Democrat. .117,981 5,842

Oliver P. Morton, People's. .112,139

FOR LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.

Abram A. Hammond, Democrat .... 116,717 5,097 Conrad Baker, People's. 111,620

FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

Daniel McClure, Democrat.

118,241

8,191

John W. Dawson, People's. 110,050

FOR AUDITOR OF STATE.

Gen. John W. Dodd, Democrat. 117,953 E. W. H. Ellis, People's. 111,275

6,678

FOR TREASURER OF STATE.

Aquilla Jones, Democrat.

.118,052

6,664

William R. Noffsinger, People's.

111,388

FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF STATE.

Joseph E. McDonald, Democrat ... .113,439 8,171 James H. Cravens, People's. ... 103,268

FOR SUPT. OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

Prof. Wm. C. Larrabee, Democrat. . 117,640 6,329 Charles Barnes, People's. 111,311

FOR REPORTER OF THE SUPREME COURT.

Gordon Tanner, Democrat. 118,258 7,008 John A. Stein, People's. 111,250

FOR CLERK OF THE SUPREME COURT.

William S. Beach, Democrat.

118,297

7,177

John A. Beal, People's.

111,120

THE VOTE FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

James Lockhart, Democrat.

12,747

4,770

James Veach, People's

7,977

W. H. English, Democrat.

10,577

2,650

John M. Wilson, People's. 7,927

James Hughes, Democrat. 10,629

1,516

John A. Hendricks, People's. 9,113

10,451

James B. Foley, Democrat.

1,452

William Cumback, People's 8,999

Edmund Johnson, Democrat. 7,183

David Kilgore, People's. 11,132 3,949

James M. Gregg, Democrat 11,787

John Coburn, People's. 10,840

John G. Davis, Democrat. 11,137

1,608

John P. Usher, People's. 9,529

Daniel W. Voorhees, Democrat. 11,072

230

James Wilson, People's 11,302 William Z. Stuart, Democrat. 11,890 Schuyler Colfax, People's. 12,926

1,036

Robert Lowry, Democrat. 9,989

Samuel Brenton, People's. 10,699

710

William Garver, Democrat. 10,443

John U. Pettit, People's.

11,235

792

So far as the choice for Congressmen was concerned, it came close to being an even divide-six to five.

THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

The State elections held in October clear- ly foreshadowed the election of Buchanan and Breckinridge in November. The Dem- ocrats having carried both Pennsylvania and Indiana, the chances of the newly or- ganized Republican party sweeping the country without the aid of these two "October States" must have appeared hopeless indeed, though it is evident that the tremendous strides made by the cham- pions of Fremont and Dayton in New York and other States was quite bewildering to forecasters and prognosticators. Of the Western States, Indiana and Illinois alone were able to withstand the tide. The ver- dict of Indiana is expressed by these figures :

Buchanan and Breckinridge.118,670

Fremont and Dayton.

94,375

Fillmore and Donelson.

.. 22,386

Buchanan's vote exceeded that of Fre- mont and Fillmore combined by nearly 2,000.

Truth of the matter is, Indiana was at that time far from being radical on the slavery question. As a rule, Whigs who basked in the sunshine of William Henry Harrison were more pro-slavery than was true as to Democrats; or, to put it differ- ently, there was more Freesoil sentiment among Democrats of the Whitcomb and Wright school than there was among Whigs of the Harrison school. This was emphasized by the action of the Indiana delegation in Congress in 1848, when, on the 21st day of December, Daniel Gott, a Representative in Congress from the State of New York, introduced the following resolution :

947

"Whereas, The traffic now prosecuted in this metropolis of the Republic in human beings, as chattels, is contrary to natural

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

justice and the fundamental principles of our political system, and is notoriously a reproach to our country throughout Christendom, and a serious hindrance to the progress of Republican liberty among the nations of the earth; therefore,

"Resolved, That the committee for the District of Columbia be instructed to re- port a bill as soon as practicable, prohibit- ing the slave trade in said District."

The vote on this resolution stood, 98 yeas and 88 nays. The Indiana delegation at that time was composed of Elisha Embree, Thomas J. Henley, John L. Rob- inson, Caleb B. Smith, William W. Wick, George G. Dunn, Richard W. Thompson, John Pettit, Charles W. Cathcart, William Rockhill. Six of these were Democrats and four Whigs. Those voting for the Gott resolution were Cathcart, Embree, Henley, Pettit, Robinson, Rockhill-five Demo- crats and one Whig. Those voting "No" were Dunn and Thompson. Not voting: Smith and Wick. In later years Caleb B. Smith became a member of Lincoln's Cabinet, and Richard W. Thompson served as Secretary of the Navy under President Hayes.

Among those who voted for the Gott resolution was Horace Greeley, who had but a few weeks before been elected to Congress to fill a vacancy. The surprising feature of the proceeding was that Abra- ham Lincoln, serving a single term in Congress from 1847 to 1849, recorded his vote in opposition to the Gott resolution. Not a single vote from the slave-holding States was recorded in its favor, and only eighteen Representatives from the free States allied themselves with the Southern- ers in voting "No." That Abraham Lincoln, subsequently immortalized as the "great emancipator," should be found among these eighteen will no doubt afford amazement to thousands to whom this re- cital of a generally unknown historic fact may serve as a genuine if not startling revelation.

DEMOCRACY MAINTAINS ASCEND- ENCY

EVEN IN THE POLITICALLY TROUBLESOME YEAR OF 1858.

Perhaps the most interesting convention held up to that time by the Indiana De- mocracy was that which convened in the city of Indianapolis on historic Jackson Day, in the year 1858. It was at a time when excitement over the slavery question ran high, when lines began to be sharply drawn and when diverging roads were be- ing chosen by Democrats. The "irre- pressible conflict" over the slavery question made itself felt among Democrats who, up to that time, had cherished the hope that the spirit of compromise and conciliation might continue to hover over Democratic councils and Democratic gatherings, and that fatal division, for years dimly visible, might yet be averted.

The temper of the 1858 convention was in the main admirable. For the sake of party peace, men of strong convictions graciously yielded individual opinions as to forms of expression on burning issues, trusting that affairs might so shape them- selves as yet to make it possible to proceed harmoniously to the solution of the weighty problems that engrossed the thought and attention of the ablest minds of the land.

Though the vote of Indiana in the Cin- cinnati convention of 1856 was cast as a unit for James Buchanan, the inference is not warranted that Buchanan was the real choice of all the delegates from this State. Among them were a goodly number of admirers and adherents of the "Little Giant," Stephen A. Douglas. They be- lieved in him ; they had genuine admiration for his extraordinary ability and his superb qualities of leadership. The unit rule prevented them from recording their individual votes for the idolized leader of the Illinois Democracy; they yielded per- sonal preference to the conclusions of the majority.

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History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 24

Author: Stoll, John B., 1843-1926 Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Indianapolis : Indiana Democratic Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Stoll, John B., 1843-1926
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : Indiana Democratic Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1104