History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 28

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

USA > Indiana > History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916 > Part 28

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

language and re-echo his warning to those who love the Union and would save it for their children. We declare before heaven and in the hearing of men that our match- less Constitution and our beloved Union (in spite of Secessionists, Abolitionists and other powers of evil) must and shall be pre- served." GEO. McQUAT, Chairman.

SWEPT THE STATE.

As the foregoing document was being read and studied, chances to carry the State constantly improved. When the re- sult of the October election became known it was found that the Democrats had elect- ed their entire State ticket by more than 9,000 majority, had carried seven of the eleven Congressional districts, and se- cured the election of a Democratic Leg- islature which the following January chose Thomas A. Hendricks United States Senator for the long (six year) term and David Turpie for the short term, the latter expiring March 3, 1863. Both selections were made with the hearty approval of the Indiana Democracy.

Indiana was by no means the only State in which was experienced a political up- heaval. Popular discontent over the slow progress made in subduing the rebellion had become so pronounced that an outlet had to be found. Somehow the impres- sion had forced itself upon the public mind that a political upheaval in favor of the Democrats would be interpreted as a declaration in favor of a more vigorous prosecution of the war. In fact, this ar- gument was freely advanced in nearly every State where campaigns were being vigorously conducted. I heard a Repub- lican Congressman of Pennsylvania, John C. Kunkel, of the Harrisburg district, say that the Republican party had been in power so short a time and had so little experience in Governmental control that he believed it to be good policy to turn the management of affairs over to the Democratic party with its many years of experience in governing. Whatever may have influenced the public mind, the elec-

tion of 1862 resulted in a sweeping Dem- ocratic victory. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and even Iowa rolled up majorities for the Democratic tickets. In the election of members of Congress the Democrats near- ly doubled their strength. By the adop- tion of a conflicting policy the following year, when C. L. Vallandigham of Ohio became a martyr to his extreme anti-war pronunciamentos, and extremists in other parts of the country did their utmost to imitate him, the gains made in 1862 were effectively neutralized and rendered nuga- tory. And the experience of 1863 had quite a bearing on the Presidential elec- tion in 1864.

RESULT IN INDIANA.

The aggregate Unconditional Union vote in 1862 was 18,342 less than the Re- publican vote of 1860, while the Union Democratic vote was increased by 1,163.

THE DEMOCRATIC UNION STATE TICKET FOR 1862.

For Secretary of State-James S. Athon, Marion county.

For Auditor of State-Joseph Ristine, Fountain county.

For Treasurer of State-Matthew L. Brett, Daviess county.

For Attorney General-Oscar B. Hord, Decatur county.

For Supreme Court Reporter-Michael C. Kerr, Floyd county.

For Superintendent of Public Instruction-Sam- uel L. Rugg, Allen county.

UNCONDITIONAL UNION (REPUBLICAN) TICKET.

For Secretary of State-William A. Peelle.

For Auditor of State-Albert Lange.

For Treasurer of State-Jonathan S. Harvey.

For Attorney-General-Delana E. Williamson.

For Superintendent of Public Instruction-John I. Morrison.

For Reporter of the Supreme Court-William S. Smith.

The election results for the several State officers were as follows :

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

James S. Athon, Democrat. 127,977 9,591

William A. Peelle, Republican. 118,386

FOR TREASURER OF STATE.

Matthew L. Brett, Democrat. 127,851 Jonathan S. Harvey, Republican ... 118,445 FOR AUDITOR OF STATE.

9,406

Joseph Ristine, Democrat 127,714 9,237 Albert Lange, Republican. 118,477

The following figures show how the State of Indiana voted for members of Congress in the election of 1862: Plur.

1st-John Law, Democrat. .. 11,963 2,380

Alvah Johnson, Republican. . 9,583

2nd-James A. Cravens, Democrat 10,911 4,700

Col. Allen May, Republican .. 6,211 3rd-Henry W. Harrington, Dem. 11,524 Wm. M. Dunn, Republican .. 10,144 4th-Wm. S. Holman, Democrat .. 10,926 Col. James Gavin, Union ... 7,992

1,380

2,934

5th-Edmund Johnson, Democrat. 7,414

George W. Julian, Republican 9,272 1,858 6th-Alexander B. Conduitt, Dem. 11,654 Ebenezer Dumont, Union ... 12,525 871

7th-Daniel W. Voorhees, Dem. 12,517 2,481 Harvey D. Scott, Republican. 10,036 8th-John Pettit, Democrat. 11,181 Godlove S. Orth, Republican. 12,005 824

9th-David Turpie, Democrat .... 14,546 Schuyler Colfax, Republican. 14,775

229

10th-Joseph K. Edgerton, Dem ... 12,353 Wm. Mitchell, Republican ... 11,977

436

11th-Jas. F. McDowell, Democrat. 13,142 J. P. C. Shanks, Republican. 12,219

923

By way of explanation it may be stated that the Republicans in this campaign la- beled their ticket "Unconditional Union Ticket," while the Democrats placed their nominees under the heading "Democratic Union Ticket."

GOVERNOR WRIGHT'S APPOINTMENT AS UNITED STATES SENATOR TO SUCCEED JESSE D. BRIGHT.

February 5, 1862, the United States Senate voted to expel Jesse D. Bright from his seat as Senator from Indiana. The ground upon which this drastic ac- tion was taken was that Senator Bright

had written a letter to Jeff Davis recom- mending a man named Lincoln to favor- able consideration in furnishing arms for use in the Confederate army. Governor Morton appointed Gov. Joseph A. Wright to fill the vacancy until the Legislature could make an election for the remainder of Bright's term. Wright took his seat March 3, 1862. The selection of Wright was partly construed as a non-political act and partly as a compliment to the war Democrats, of whom there were many. The Sentinel, on the other hand, treated it from a different standpoint. At first that paper seemed disinclined to speak in harsh or uncomplimentary terms of the appoint- ment, but after Governor Wright had sav- agely denounced the 8th of January plat- form and contemptuously spat upon that document, the Sentinel changed its atti- tude and poured hot shot into Governor Morton's appointee. Singular as it may appear, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat also seemed to be displeased over Wright's ap- pointment. Soon after taking his seat in the Senate, March 3, Wright delivered a speech on the question of abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia. The Globe-Democrat, a radical Republican ora- cle, was greatly displeased over Senator Wright's speech, pronouncing it an in- tensely pro-slavery deliverance. As a sort of justification for its conservatism these remarks by Senator John Sherman were reproduced in an Indiana paper :

"In the State where I live (Ohio) we do not like negroes. We do not disguise our dislike. As my friend from Indiana (Mr. Wright) said yesterday, the whole people of the Northwestern States are, for rea- sons whether correct or not, opposed to having any negroes among them; and that principle or prejudice has been engrafted in the legislation of nearly all the North- western States."

This doubtless was the dominant senti- ment of that period. The "colored brother" was for years in bad odor in the Hoosier commonwealth.

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[CHAPTER XXVIII.]

McDONALD PITTED AGAINST MORTON

IN THE EXCITING RACE FOR THE GOVERNORSHIP IN 1864

HE election of a Democratic T Legislature in 1862 caused Gov. Oliver P. Morton a good deal of annoyance. Imperious by na- ture, bent on carrying into ef- fect whatever plans he might have seen fit to map out, and considering himself a monarch of all he surveyed, it would have been miracu- lous if trouble with a politically ad- verse Legislature had been averted. The points in controversy during those exciting days having been adjusted in one way or another, and having no particu- lar bearing on matters concerning or in- teresting the present generation, it would be neither edifying nor instructive to de- vote much space to a recital of the more or less exciting episodes of that period. All the participants therein have passed from life to eternity ; so we can well afford to throw the broad mantle of charity over whatever may have been left behind as reminders of the wordy battles fought at Indianapolis and the State at large by Governor Morton and his followers on one side and his opponents on the other.

THE REPUBLICAN TICKET.

For Governor-Oliver P. Morton, Indi- anapolis.

For Lieutenant - Governor - Conrad Baker, Evansville.

For Secretary of State-Nelson Truss- ler, Connersville.

For State Auditor-Thomas M. McCar- ty, Wabash.

For State Treasurer-John I. Morrison, Salem.

For Attorney-General-Delana E. Wil- liamson, Greencastle.

For Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion-Geo. W. Hoss, Indianapolis.

For Clerk of the Supreme Court-Laz- arus Noble, Vincennes.

For Reporter of the Supreme Court- Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis.

For Judges of the Supreme Court- James S. Frazer, Warsaw; John T. Elliott, Henry County; Charles A. Ray, Indian- apolis; Robert C. Gregory, Lafayette.

The question was raised as to whether Governor Morton was eligible to re-elec- tion under the Constitution, he having filled that office four years, less three days. It was held, but never judicially, that the Constitutional inhibition did not apply in his case, in view of the fact that he was elected in 1860 to the office of Lieutenant- Governor and became acting Governor upon the resignation of Governor Henry S. Lane three days after his induction in- to that office and such resignation follow- ing Lane's election to the United States Senate, to succeed Dr. Graham N. Fitch of Logansport.

THE DEMOCRATS PLACE JOSEPH E. McDONALD AT THE HEAD OF THEIR TICKET.

The Democratic State convention was held, as usual, at Indianapolis, but for ob- vious reasons not as early as had for years been the custom. July 12 was chosen as a more fitting time. State Chairman Geo. McQuat called the convention to order, and Judge David Turpie was selected as permanent chairman. A ringing speech was delivered as this man of extraordi- nary ability took charge of the gavel.

Joseph E. McDonald was nominated for Governor and David Turpie for Lieuten- ant-Governor. The five State officers tri- umphantly elected in 1862-Dr. James S. Athon, Secretary of State; Joseph Ristine, Auditor; Matthew L. Brett, Treasurer;

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

Oscar B. Hord, Attorney-General, and Samuel L. Rugg, Superintendent of Public Instruction-were honored with renomi- nations without opposition. Ethelbert C. Hibben, of Rushville, was nominated for Clerk of the Supreme Court, and for Judges of the Supreme Court, Samuel E. Perkins of Indianapolis, Andrew David- son of Greensburg, James M. Hanna of Sullivan, and James L. Worden of Fort Wayne, were chosen by practical unani- mity.

STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.

J. J. Bingham, Marion County, Chair- man; S. M. Barton, Levi Sparks, S. H. Buskirk, James B. Foley, Eleazer Malone, William Henderson, W. M. Franklin, E. M. Weaver, P. M. Kent, Thomas Tigar, Dr. A. Weaver.

DELEGATES TO NATIONAL CONVENTION.

At Large-Joseph E. McDonald, James M. Hanna, William E. Niblack, Alfred P. Edgerton.

Contingents-Julius Boetticher, John Pettit, James W. Gaff, Samuel A. Hall.

First District-A. T. Whittlesey, Van- derburgh county ; Cutler S. Dobbins, Mar- tin county.

Second District-Levi Sparks, Clarke county; John L. Menaugh, Washington county.

Third District-William McEwen, Bar- tholomew county; Mede W. Shields, Jack- son county.

Fourth District-Marcus Levy, Dear- born county; John S. Campbell, Rush county.

Fifth District-Lafe Develin, Wayne county; William C. Applegate, Fayette county.

Sixth District-A. B. Conduitt, Morgan county ; H. H. Dodd, Marion county.

Seventh District-John G. Davis, Vigo county ; Andy Humphreys, Green county.

Eighth District-Samuel C. Wilson, Montgomery county ; E. F. Lucas, Warren county.

Ninth District-J. A. Taylor, Cass coun- ty ; Horace Corbin, Marshall county.

Tenth District-David H. Colerick, Allen county ; E. V. Long, Kosciusko county.

Eleventh District-L. P. Milligan, Hunt- ington county ; David Studabaker, Adams county.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.

At Large-John Pettit, Lafayette; Simeon K. Wolfe, Corydon.

-District Electors-

1st-S. M. Holcombe.

2nd-Elijah Newland.

3rd-A. B. Carleton.

4th-B. W. Wilson.

5th-James Brown.

6th-Frank Landers.

7th-Arch Johnston.

8th-Jonathan C. Applegate.

9th-John G. Osborn.

10th-Robert Lowry.

11th-J. W. Sansbury.

THE PLATFORM.

The greater part of this document is devoted to the unsparing denunciation of Governor Morton for inducing members of the Legislature to lend themselves to questionable and unlawful acts; for estab- lishing a "financial bureau" without au- thority of law; for countenancing the reckless expenditure of public moneys. The general administration comes in for censure for suspending the writ of habeas corpus, for suppressing newspapers, for arresting citizens without warrant, etc. Other arraignments are set forth in these terms :

"That the failure of the administration to promptly pay disabled or discharged soldiers, and pensions to the widows and children whose husbands and fathers have fallen in battle or died in camp or by the wayside, and the readiness with which the powers at Washington audit and pay shoddy contractors, officers and placemen of the Government, are cruel wrongs to the destitute and deserving, and merit the withering scorn of the American people.

"That the noble and patriotic sons of In- diana, who, for love of country and a restoration of the Union as established by our fathers, have sacrificed the endear- ments of home for the hardships and perils of war, merit the thanks of the people of Indiana ; that we will ever hold in grateful recollection the memory of those who have

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

fallen in battle, and that it is the duty, and of these conspirators. The fact that Mr. should be the highest pleasure of the people to make ample provision for the sup- port of those who have received disabil- ities in the service of the country, and the thousands of widows and tens of thou- sands of orphan children, whose husbands and fathers have sacrificed their lives in defense of their country and honor of the American flag.

"That a faithful adherence to the Con- stitution of the United States, to which the Democracy are pledged, necessarily im- plies the restoration of liberty and the rights of the States under that Constitu- tion unimpaired, and will lead to an early and honorable peace.

"Resolved, That we, the Democracy of Indiana, in State convention assembled, are in favor of maintaining personal and constitutional liberty, and we pledge our- selves to sustain our rights as citizens to the bitter end."

THE CAMPAIGN.

Though the personal relations between Morton and McDonald were "reasonably friendly," both having been intellectual giants, a good deal of bitterness was in- jected into the joint discussions that were held in various parts of the State. The Knights of the Golden Circle came in for a large share of invective on the part of Governor Morton, who denounced that oath-bound organization in unmeasured terms as bands of traitors to their coun- try and as having for their purpose the overthrow of Governmental institutions. The trials for treason of William A. Bowles, Andrew Humphreys, Horace Hef- fren, Lambdin P. Milligan and Stephen Horsey, elaborately and sensationally re- ported in the Indianapolis Journal during the campaign, were utilized for all they could be made to serve. Governor Mor- ton was, however. somewhat hampered in the attempt to hold the Democracy re- sponsible for the acts, aims and purposes of these leaders of the Knights of the Golden Circle and Sons of Liberty by the heroic action of the Hon. Michael C. Kerr of New Albany, in going to Indianapolis to lay bare to Governor Morton the plots

Kerr was the Democratic nominee for Congress in the New Albany district and that he had step by step risen to great prominence in the party of his choice, greatly handicapped Governor Morton in making such use of the machinations of these visionary marplots as he had hoped to be able to do during the progress of the campaign.

Though David Turpie was nominated for Lieutenant-Governor, he was induced to withdraw from the State ticket in order that he might comply with the wishes of the Democracy of his district to make an- other race for Congress against Schuyler Colfax. He was reluctant to do this, but finally yielded to the entreaties of the Democratic leaders of the South Bend dis- trict. His place on the State ticket was filled by the selection of that gallant war- rior, General Mahlon D. Manson, of Craw- fordsville.

Although it seemed for a time as if the · Democracy might win in State and nation, developments toward the close of the cam- paign plainly foreshadowed the re-election of Lincoln to the Presidency and the tri- umph of Morton in Indiana. Only three of the eleven Democrats nominated for Congress in this State were successful at the polls, and of these three Daniel W. Voorhees was subsequently unseated on contest. Niblack and Kerr had to their credit such decisive majorities as to ren- der them incontestably secure. The Legis- lature chosen was also strongly Repub- lican and very much to Morton's personal and political liking. Morton was credited with a majority of 20,883 over McDonald, while Conrad Baker led General Manson by 16,139. The vote stood:

Oliver P. Morton . 152,084

Joseph E. McDonald 131,201

Conrad Baker . 147,795

Mahlon D. Manson. 131.656

At the Presidential election in Novem- ber Abraham Lincoln polled 150,422 votes and General Geo. B. McClellan 130,233.

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

CONGRESSIONAL RESULTS, 1864.

1. W. E. Niblack, Democrat. 14,721

2,111 Cyrus M. Allen, Republican 12,610

2. Michael C. Kerr, Democrat. 11,357 William W. Curry, Republican .. 9,564

3. Henry W. Harrington,Democrat. 10,838 Ralph Hill, Republican 12,075 1,237

4. Dr. George Berry, Democrat. . . 8,949

John H. Farquhar, Republican. . 10,015 1,066

5. George W. Julian, Republican. . 13,426 James Brown, Democrat. 6,281

6. John Love, Democrat. 10,898

Ebenezer Dumont, Republican. . 18,886 7,988

7. Daniel W. Voorhees, Democrat. 12,830 Henry D. Washburn, Repub. 12,296

534

8. James S. Harney, Democrat. .12,349

Godlove S. Orth, Republican. .13,536

9. David Turpie, Democrat. 15,278

Schuyler Colfax, Republican. .. 16,658 1,380

10. Joseph K. Edgerton, Democrat. . 14,037 Joseph H. Defrees, Republican. . 14,617 580

11. James F. McDowell, Democrat. . 13,383 Thomas N. Stillwell, Republican. 15,623 2,240

POLITICAL SECRET ORDERS NOT FAVORED BY REAL DEMOCRATS.

As already stated, during the Guberna- torial campaign of 1864 between Oliver P. Morton and Joseph E. McDonald, a good deal was said about the "Sons of Liberty," "Knights of the Golden Circle" and kin- dred organizations formed and fostered by individuals who seemingly had forgotten that "Old Hickory," idolized by all Dem- ocrats, proclaimed an indissoluble union of indestructible States to be an inviolable tenet of American Democracy.

Andrew Jackson, Southerner that he was, never countenanced treason or re- bellion. When South Carolina threatened nullification of tariff laws that were deemed inimical to the interests of its peo- ple, "Old Hickory" bluntly told them that any man or set of men who might at- tempt to nullify the laws of the land would be hung as high as Haman. "By the Eternal, the Union must and shall be preserved !" he thundered at the would-be nullifiers. General John A. Dix, as Sec- retary of the Treasury under Buchanan, electrified the nation early in 1861 by sending broadcast the dictum, "If any

1,793

7,145

1,187

man attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot." The utter- ances of Stephen A. Douglas were the real expression of Democratic sentiment. And these utterances could not be neutralized by the mutterings of any self-styled "knights" whose foolish performances were carried on in caves and caverns.

Quite an effort was made during the war to identify Democrats with these oath-bound treasonable organizations. The exact truth about the matter is that Dem- ocrats were vexed a good deal more over these visionary organizations than were Republicans. The latter utilized them for political purposes, while Democrats ex- erted themselves to point out to misguided and wrong-headed individuals affiliating therewith the folly of their course. The recital of an occurrence in the southern part of the State, as narrated by William Wesley Woollen, will make clear to the un- biased the folly of attempting to foist up- on the Democratic party as such responsi- bility for the existence of the secret or- ganizations under consideration :

"Mr. Kerr was a patriot. In 1864 he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Congress, the late Colonel Cyrus L. Dunham being his principal competitor. The nominating convention met at Jeffer- sonville, in the old Methodist church, on Wall street. Politics was at fever heat, and the contest between Mr. Kerr and Colonel Dunham was very close. An hour or so before the convention was to meet Mr. Kerr called a caucus of his friends in a room over the store of General Sparks. There were present at the caucus several of Mr. Kerr's friends from New Albany ; General Sparks and Mr. J. P. Applegate, from Clark county ; Hon. William H. Eng- lish, then a resident of Scott county; Gen- eral James A. Cravens, of Washington county, and a few other gentlemen from different parts of the district. The gentle- men thus called together supposed the pur- pose of the meeting was to make arrange- ments for the management of the conven- tion. When all were seated, Mr. Kerr arose, drew himself up to his full height of six feet or more, and, with suppressed ex-

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

citement but with perfect self-control, said he must withdraw from the race for Congress ; that he was in possession of the knowledge that a conspiracy existed against the government of the State; that the conspirators were Democrats; that he felt it his duty to go to Indianapolis and lay the facts before Governor Morton ; that such a course would embitter certain Democrats and jeopardize his election should he be a candidate. Mr. English and others made remarks after Mr. Kerr had taken his seat, the purport of which was that he was right in his purpose to make known and denounce the conspiracy, but wrong in determining to withdraw from the contest ; that only a few hot-heads had gone wrong; that the great body of the party was loyal to the Government. Mr. Kerr persisted in his purpose to decline, and it was formally announced that he was no longer a candidate. Afterward, how- ever, several gentlemen were sent to him by the various county delegations, who urged him to stand. He finally consented to do so, and was nominated. He came at once to Indianapolis to expose the con- spiracy, and what he did can be best told by giving the testimony of one of the wit- nesses in the trials of Bowles, Milligan and others. Says this witness:

As I walked down Washington street I saw a gentleman coming up rapidly, and I stopped him. "Hello, Kerr; what has brought you here?" said I. He seemed very much excited. "Do you know anything?" he said; and I said, "Do you know anything?" "Yes," he replied. "What is it?" said I. He then said, "The devil's to pay in our section of the State; the people of Washington,

Harrison and Floyd counties and that neighbor- hood have got the idea that a revolution was im- pending; the farmers were frightened and were selling their hay in the fields and their wheat in the stacks, and all the property that could be was being converted into greenbacks."

Mr. Kerr was so deeply .impressed with the danger of the situation that he and the witness from whom I have quoted went to the residence of Hon. Joseph E. McDonald in the night, awakened that gentleman and told him what they knew about the con- spiracy. It was agreed that a meeting of prominent Democrats should be called next morning at Mr. McDonald's office to con- sider the situation. The meeting was held, and during its sitting Mr. Kerr made a speech. I again quote from this witness:

He spoke about this excitement, this revolution- ary scheme, and said that he came up on purpose to put a stop to the thing. I think he said it was our duty to stop it, and if it could not be stopped in any other way it was our duty to inform the authorities.

"Mr. Kerr was sustained in his position by Mr. McDonald and other prominent Democrats, but there is no gainsaying the fact that he was the leading man of his party in the effort to destroy the con- spiracy, which, had it been inaugurated, would have deluged Indiana with blood.

"The action of Mr. Kerr in proposing to decline the race for Congress in his district was in keeping with his character. Young, and ambitious for political preferment, he was yet willing to stand aside for others when he believed duty called him to make the sacrifice."

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History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 28

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