Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 41, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 March 1863 — Page 2

WEEKLY SENTIXEL

MONDAY, MARCH 2. The Republican Mate yiaw Convention. The grand afT.ir, which, in Republican estima tion, was to turn the world up si de down, came oSTyesterday according to programme. Every effort had been w ide by Kepublican officials and Republican leader, to attract a large crowd. The railroad carried passenger at half fare or less, and free tickets were given to those who were unwilling otherwise to attend. Word was sent to the party adherents throughout the State tint a prand demonstration was necessary for its moral effect upon the sinking fortunes of Republicanism, and that it was the last hope of galvanizing in almost lifeless body. Never before was there a more zealous effort made to get cp a demonstration to order. In numbers the convention was repectab'e. There may have been from twelve to fifteen thousand strangers in attendance. Most of the founderies and manufacturing establishments in this city were closed, which helped to swell the crowd. Of thestrangets present at least one-tbird were Democrats attracted by curiosity to witness the ceremonies. And as usual upoa such occasions large numbers took advautage of low fares upon the railroads do their shopping; and trading. It was not so imposing a demonstration, either in numbers, earnestness or character as the Democratic Convention of the 30th of July last. There was an unusual pageant connected with the convention of yesterday, which must have impressed every observer of passing events. It ws( professedly a meeting of citizens in their Civil capacity, called together to take into consideration public affairs. The ceremonies of the day were opened by a grand display of artillery and cavalry, and the booming of Government cannon at the expense of the Government, was one of the main features of the oc casion and helped to give it eclat. If Democrats h:id employed such auxiliaries, under similar circumstance, deep and loud would have Republican indignutlon howled thereat. In the better days of the Republic it was the effort of all parties to subordinate the military to civil authority, but under the new order of affairs a change has taken place and the sword and epaulets are now the ruling power. The liberties of the people and popular institutions cannot long survive under military rule unless .ill the experience of the past iu the decline and fill ot republican governments are at fault. Bu'. what are the objects of this expression of popular sentiment, or the gathering of such an assemblage of the people at the present period? Was it to encourage the soldiers in the field? If so, mere words, high sounding resolutions, amnunt to little. If they need better clothing, food, and shelter; if the sick and wounded need better care; if their families require relief from destitution, the rhetoric and charity of m iss conventions is like the sounding brass and the tinkling cymbal. Was it to give miteri.il aid in the suppression o the,rebeIlion? What did the convention do in that regard? Ol the thousands of highly patriotic Republicans und Abolitionists present, breathing threatenings and slaughter against traitors and rebels, did one volunteer, did one enlist, to swell the armies of the Union? Not one. Such is the exteut of their patriotism. The radical Republicans promised that if the President would issue a proclam ition emancipating "Americans of Afiican descent," nine hundred thousand men would at once spring to arms. Near two months have pissed by since that paper edict was given to the nation, but where, the first one who has shouldered his musket in response? If the rebellion is ever suppressed it will not be by the voluntary aid of the men who assume to themselves all the loyalty and patriotism of the country. Was it to intimidate the Legislature in the discharge of the trust confided to the representatives of the people? If such was a or the motive in assembling the convention, it will prove a signal failure. The Republicans claim that Abraham Li.xcolx, although elected Presidentby a minority rote of nearly a million, was constitutionally elected, and should therefore be respected and su-tained as the constitutional head of the nation. If this argument holds good as far as Mr. Lincoln is concerned, it will apply with greater force to the majority in the present Legislature. They were elected by and represent a majority of the people of Indiana, and it is right and just that the popular will should find expression through the elected representatives. If the minority are justified and protected in defeating the will f the majority, it is the end of popular government. Governor Andrew Johxso.v, of Tennessee, was the big gun of the Convention. He spoke some three and a half hours. The substance and spirit of his speech will be found reported in to dav'a paper. It did not come up to the expectation of the radicals present and excited but little enthusiasm. The speeches of Matthew R. Hcli and Ch AULLS W.Cathcart and men of that class were better received and more enthusiastically ppltuded. Democratic sentiments found no favor with the radic als. The Convention will be heralded and trumpeted abroad through the Republican press as a treme-idous gathering of the people and as the expression of the prevailing sentiment in Indiana. This will be the e.Tjrt. Dut such is not the fact. It is not the voice of the larger portion of the people. The convention will make no impression on the public mind in this State. It will not change a single rote from the conservative party, and its only effect will be to make more firm, more de cided and more determined, the opposition to the present polier and measures of the party in power. The popular sentimeut in that regard is fir ahead that of politicians and public men the party leaders and if they do not give it expression, ere long the voice of the people will be heard and felt through other channels, in shaping the future destiny of the nation. lie who cannot see this, fails to read aright the signs of the times. TLe convention from which such great things were expected. Las met an 1 adjourned like the bubble io the air it has bursted.and will leave no more risible or tangible effecta. The epitaph of the convention may thus be written: If I am so soon done for, What was I begun fur J A Spiey Debate. In the Senate on Friday the following debate sprang up on the reoort of the Committee on Elections in the case of Senator Mi at at. The committee reported that Joh.i II. Baker is entitled to a seat trom Elkhart and Larran"e: Mr. Shield., Elections, reported in the case of Senator Murray, that John II. Baker is entitled to the seat from Elkhart and Lagrange. Mr. Johnson moved that the further consideration of the subject be postponed till Saturday. Mvch7. . 3t The motion raa opposed by Messrs. Claypool and Bearss, and advocated by Messrs. Johnson and Brown, of Well, on the round that but one week remained in which billi could pass, and the subject could be considered ater that time. The report would cause discussion, and the time could not be snared. Mr. Murray thought it strange that such repeated e.frw should be made by his party friends to oust him from his seat. The Senator trom Fayette had persisted in traveling into his district to iutertere with the will of his people. It was because he had refused to make himself a tool of that Senator to wear a collar ou which was inscribed: "Senator Murray, my dog." It was be cause he had refused to forget his duty to his constituent and join the revolutionary schemes of bU party friends. He knew weü'the tricks and party schemes of that Senator. He refused to go at the beck and bidding of ueu who as

sumed to be the leaders of the Republican party.

hen these centlemen violated tue rules ot this Senate by tlieir disorganizing proceeding, the other day, lor the purpose ot aeleating a bid which we were obliged by our oatns as senators to pass, I refused to go at the beck of men who attempted to be leaders on this floor in that thing. And whu ihase gentlemen, in the alter part of the day, came in and consented to the passage of the very bill which they undertook to defeat, in that respect they put me where I want to stand, as acting in the discharge ol my duty; and they placed themselves, in deti.mce of their duty, in a position condemning themselves and stultifying their own action by consenting to the passage of that bill which ihey tried to defeat. And what was the reason they did not again break a quorum? Why, sir, because the Senate hall was packed, as it is to-day, by Republicans who had come up to the capital to attend the meeting ol the day following, and they dare not, in the (ace of Republicans representing different parts of the State, do such a revolutionary act as those Senators had done but a few short hours before. That is my honest conviction, sir, about that. I know, sir, very well, all the power and influence of party discipline; but w hile holding a seat in the other branch of this capitol, and while holding a seat in this Senate chamber, I have on all occasions, before my constituents and before God, attempted to discharge my duty, with n conscientious conviction of that duty, am: according to my own best judgment. I know I have beeu met with arguments that a man representing a party bad no right to plead his conscience or his judgment. I know arguments have been used that whatever pledges we h-ve made to the people, we have no right to carry out those pledges, but it was, on the contrary, our duty to violate those pledges; and, if necessary, disorganize this Legislature and prevent the carrying out of those legitimate objects for which it was convened. These were the arumeits brought to bear upon me to control my action as a Senator and as a Republican a better Republican than these selfstvled leaders dare eer be a Republican that never gave a Democratic vote. Never, sir. A Republican, sir, that has been n advocate of the politics of that party which has laid its very foundations broad and deep in the county he rep resents, as is well known to every Senator on this floor from that part of the State. One who, when the first demand of the President of the United States was made for volunteers, left his feat in this hall, sir, as is well known to this Senate, and as a private soldier went into the ranks ar.d shouldered a musket, and these remained during the entire time of enlistment. And when that demand was repeated I I?it my f.imilyand my home, and for nine months served in the Army of the Mississippi; and now I stand before God. and my country, and the people self acquitted. But how stands the question here? Upon a technical quibble, growii g out of my services as a private soldier and ofliccr in the army, these Republicans undertake to oust me from my seat; and then they go out upon the street and plead that they are the onUi loyal peo p!e in this State the only defenders of the Union ami the nig of our couutrv! ih irne on them, I sty. And 1 will say further, that I have not only seen here, but in my own District 1 have found more genuine sympathy in the cause of my country, existing on this floor than among those men to whom 1 should think I ought to look for it. Mr. Mellett desired to obtain the floor, but Mr. Murray remarked, "I ex;ect the Senator is un easy," and proceeded as follows: Mr. President, I say. sir, that these are some of the influences atteumted to be thrown around roe and compel my votes, and because I have re fu-eJ to lead mvself as a mere machine to net contrary to mv judgment. I say before this Sen ate w hat I know, that contrary to the judgment of a majority of my political associates, these Senators introduce resolutions d .y after day for liie purpose of ousting nie front my seat, for reasons growing out ot my services to my country if 1 wanted to come back to this Legisla ture or this seat, or to run for any other office before my people, I would not want better capi tal than could be made out of these disgraceful acts. I mean revolutionary acts, for it is revo lutionary, and is in the same identical spirit of those traitors of the South who are attempting to secede from this Linon, as these geutlcinen live frequently trom this Legislature. 1 say, sir. it is the same spirit of those Rebels it is a revolutionary spirit. That's so! When leader of the Republican party in the House of Representatives undertook to admit that revolutionary measures were ruht, ho attempted to" commit the Republican party to what, sir? To the very doctrine of those traitors of the South who desired to break up this glorious Confederacy of ours. As a Republican at that time, I repudiated such doctrine, and I take this occasion to repudiate it again, sir. Secession is revolutionary, contrary to the forms of law, and is not and cannot be justified. Now, sir, I shall wait till I hear from the honorable Senator from Henry, Mr. Mellett Mr. Mellett obtained the floor. The honorable Senator from Wells Mr. Brown had suggested that sixty one days is not long enough to determine the contested seat cases. The question before the Senate is not as to whether I am entitled to this seat or not, but how much service must the Senator from Elkhart Mr. Murray give to the Democratic party to purchase his seat here? He tells us the Senator from Fayette would put a collar on his neck and call him "Senator Murray, my dog." But he has allowed the Democratic party to put the collar on him Mr. Murray (interrupting): I deny it. It is false. I say you are a liar w hen jou say it, sir a base and cowardly liar. The Pte.-idcnt: The Senator from Elkhart Mr. Murray will take his seat. The Senator from Henry Mr. Mellen will be kept in order. The Sergeant at-Arms wul take charge of both Senators. Mr. Mellett (resuming): That is the complication that arises. What I said in relcrence to this matter is a matter of history a matter of truth. It is as well an established fact as anything that appears upon the journals of this session. Now, I sir, stated from the first that I was ready and willing for the question iu regard to my seat to come up. I have no desire to retain my seat. I would not beg to have my seat here. I prefer, personally, to go home. No Senator upon this floor will say that I have not been at all times anxious to have that question Si .t'ed, and it ought to have been settled. Now I make another statement. The gentle man wants to know why the questions in reference to the Senators from Miami, Lioorte, Shelby, and myself, have not been settled why we are pressing his case and not ours. I say it, sir, ami I challenge contradiction when I say that there is not a Senator upon this floor w ho ha not been from the start, of the opinion that the Senator from Elkhart (Mr. Murray) was not entitled to his seat. There may have been some question as to whether Mr. Biker is entitled to his seat, but not one Senator will rise and say that Senator Murray has been entitled to his seat; and yet the gentleman from Wells says he wants lime to investigate the complication. The very Senators who are insisting that the seats of the Senator from Shelby, and myself, ought to be declared vacant, are the very Senators begging for the Senator from Elkhart. Why do they do it? If we are not entitled to our se its on account of hiving an office, can they have any doubt as to the Senator from Elkhart? None under heavens. Then why beg to have the matter of the Senator from Elkhart delayed? It is but a matter of justice to the gentleman claiming that seat to have this muter settled; and it is a matter that the Democratic party on Urs floor owe to themselves to say that they are not defer ring this matter. The Senator from Elkhart may serve them a better purpose than the other Senators the young Democratic Senator from Elkh-rt. Laughter in the lobby by one or two voices The President: Order must be kept In the lobbies or they will be cleared. Mr. Mellett: He has never deceived me since the first two weeks I made his acquaintance. I always knew he would not do to be trusted, and I say to his Democratic brethren, don't trust him out of your sight. If you do, you are sold out jut as sure as you do it. The gentleman Mr. Murray says he regained in his seat when the Republican Senators were bolting. If he did, there were two other Republican Senators in. A man that would beg ir his aeat upon this floor, begg'iig time and again who would face upon his constituents who elected him, and face upon the men who he says he came here to act with, for the purpose of keeping his seat, is not to be relied on and not to be trusted. I rsist, we are doing injustice to the Senator properly entitled to a seat upon this floor Mr. B iker. The Committee on Elections have decided unanimously against the Senator from Elkhart Mr. Murray, and, I am informed, without hesitation from the start; and yet the Senator is begging and asks that this muter shall be postponed. If gentlemen see proper to postpone this case till the last day of this session it will be done over my rote and by reason of the complications involved in the question I speak about. Mr. Cobb called Mr. Mellett to order. His remarks were offensive not only to the Senator from Elkhart, but to the Senate. They were unparliamentary. Mr. Mellett explained that the Senate owed it to themselves to settle this matter. The people

might impugn the:r motives. This was all lie

designed to say. President Dunning hoped that gentlemen would discuss the question without excitement Mr. Murray said that the Senator from Henry could not point to a single vote on any question. when rtationul questions were involved, where he had not recorded his vote with his party friends. Mr. Browne, of Randolph, asked if he did not rote for the rejection of the Carroll resolutions? Mr. .Murray did so vote, but there was no na tional question involved there. The resolutions were disrespectful to the Senate, lit voted nzains-t an amendment offered to the printing office bill by the Senator from Henry, and that rentleman then called him a"d d traitor to the Republican party." He could not resent the insult then as a man should, and perhaps lie was a little warm in his reply to the imputations cast upon him this morning by the Senator from Henrv. Mr. Mansfield spoke warmly in Iavor of an immediate decision, and Mr. Shields, as Chairman of the Committee on Elections, explained the intrtc:itequetioris the committee had to consider in making up a decision. Mr. Landers demanded the previous question. Mr. Johnson's motion to postpone prevailed yeas 24, nays 21. Front Washington. Uxivebsal Prevalkncc of the Desibk for Peace Falsity or tue Rimors of the Speedy Adoption of Conservative Counsels General View or the Military Situation Ijiportaxck of the Action of the Democratic State Convention of Co.n.necticit, ac , ac, ac. Special Correspondence of the Chicago Times. Washington, February 20. A remarkable article iu the Journal ot Commerce, of .New York, a day or two aero, is attracting much attention here. It is well known that the paper in question, although it is cordially detested by the Administration, is the orjran and exponent of a very large and a very iniluential class of citizens both in New York and in the adjoining Ner England States. It is, iu a word, the organ of the conservative classes everywhere at the Ea-t; of men who have always been conservatives. Those among these men who were Statesmen or constitutional lawyers opposed the war before ft began, becau-e they foresaw that war was no way to preserve the Union. Some of them supported the war after it had begun, because they believed that the Administration honestly meant it to be a war for the restoration of the Union. Iiut, now that the wicked ami unscrupulous designs of the Administration have become so evident that even an intelligent chihl can no longer be deceived now that it is evide.it that it is a war simply to abolish slavery and to prevent the restoration of the Union now a universal cry comes up from this I irgr class of citizens for the termination of the war. The article states, and with truth, that this desire for the termination of the war is not confined to them; but that in every newspaper that is now opened, no matter i;i what part of the cotintiy it is piinted, there is expiessed by the people everywhere a universal desire for peace. There are peice meetings, peace resolutions, peace sjieeches everywhere. It is the voice of the people. There must be peace. The prospects of peace, the terms on which peace can be obtained, the conditions of pe ice. the blessings that will result from peace, are the topics of universal discussion. It is known here that these are facts which cannot fie controverted. I? ut t lie Administration and this vile Congress have determined to stifle this desire for peace. They have determined that the war shali go ou. And go on it will, if the tieople- submit to the tyrannical and unconstitutional acts that nie now bein rushed through Congress. It is the design of the present Congress to make the President entirely independent of their successors to clothe him with such absolute powers that he can carry on the war to the end of his term, riot only without calling on the people to help him, but in defiance of their will. They know that their power will cease on the 4ih of March; but, with diabolical cunning, they have determined to set in motion machinery for the oppression and abuse of the people, which shall continue to operate for two years after they have left the seats which they disgrace. This malignant purpose will have been effected when the conscription bill, the finance scheme of Mr. Chase, and the bill to abolish the habeas corpus shall have become laws." And, to all appearance, that day is fast approaching. The Administration is sorely puzzled what to do with Gen. Butler. The idea of making him Sec retary of War has been abandoned. Stanton has got so firm a hold on the President that the latter dare not dismiss him. While Duller was here last week, he Decame convinced that the Administration was playing with him, and he so contrived matters as to become certain of it. The President had already frankly assured him that he did not know why he had been removed, and that he wished he was back again in New Orleans. Butler put this down in his note book, and went over to Halleck's ofiice. The latter official was profuse in compliments, and said he never could understand why Butler had been removed from New Orleans. Everything was going on so well there that, upon his soul, he wished Butler was back again. He had understood that it was on account of some reason that originated with the State Department, some trouble with foreign powers, that Butler had been removed. Butler said nothing, but quietly put this down also in his note book, and theu went up town to dine with Seward. After dinner, Seward told him that he was never so surprised at anything in his life as when he heard that the President had removed hitn from New Orleans. When he had inquiied, something had been hinted to him about Hillock being dissatisfied with him, but nothing definite was ever said. The statements made by the newspapers, that his removal had any relation to reasons of state, or to foreign complications, w ere entirely unfounded and groundless. Butler, at this, slowly pulled out his note book, entered in it this third statement, and then read them all to Seward. The last one, he said, he believed. What he s aid about HiMeck and "Old Abe," as he irreverently styled His M;ijef ty Ab.itham the First, I shall not re it. Rut it is quite evident that of the three statements made to him, not more than two were true. The Democratic members of the present Congress ought never to be forgotten. They have deserved the eternal gratitude of their countrymen by the noble and fearless stand which they maintained in defense of the Constitution, and against the encroachments of arbitrary power. On many occasions they Jiave been deprived of the floor and of an opportunity to speak; or they have been cut short in the midst of their remarks. But they have said and done enough to endear them to their constituents, and to immortalize their names as the only defenders of American constitutional liberty iu the Congress of Against all the usurpations of the President against all the insidious encroachments of Executive power on the rights of the citizen against all attempts to shield the guilty members ot this Administration from the punishment due to their crimes against all the illegal aud uncon stituiion il acts of Congress, they have loudly and eloquently protested, if the liberties of the Amer icar. people go down in a bloody revolution, the names of these noble patriots will be graven on the pillars that will be erected when their liberties are regained. The conservative members of Congress are anxious that the idea of the meeting of all the Democratic members of the next Congress in New York, on the tfth ot next month, shall not be abandoned. Much good will no doubt result from this meeting, and it is earnestly hoped that it will take place. At this critical juncture, when the people are so profoundly moved at the contemplation of the terrible dangers which threaten them, and when the want of a leader is so deeply felt, the nation will no doubt look to the actiou of this meeting as a guide to their own conduct. The Democratic members of the present and ot the next Congress are perfectly acquainted with the views and wishes of the people. Whatever exposition of these views the make will be regarded as the voice of the people; and, when the people give expression to their will, their servants here must hear and obey that will. t As I close this letter, the air is full of rumors of changes in the Cabinet, of the removal of II illeck of a return on the part of the Administration to ft conservative course of action of the withdrawal of the emancipation proclamation of the reappointment of Gen. McClcllan to the supreme command of the armies, &c. Relieve none of those stories. I would I could believe such things were possible. Iiut I have seen too much of the hollow duplicity of the Admiuistra tion not to know where they originate, and the object ia putting them forth. The object is, to throw conservative men off their guard, to induce them to give their support to the ndical measures that are now being rushed through Congress. Relieve, rather, that Mr. Lincoln is powerless in the hands of the faction that have wound their toils art) und him. He must wek their will. Believe, rather, that we are entering upon a course of radical policy of which we hate as yet had only a foretaste. Believe, rather, that the Cabinet will remain unchanged, and that Fremont, if any one, will succeed Halleck. X. Washington, Feb. 21. It would seem that the official here are vet j

anxious to communicate to the enemy correct statements ot the weaknessof our rrescit military force. Thus the Secretary ot War makes the ollicial statement that we have eight sep ir.Ue and dibtiuct armies in the field, numbering in the ng grejrate only &'J0,0l0 men. The Confederates, who are operating against these armies, know very well where they are; but our own loyal people are not so well informed. The half million of troops mentioned by the Secretary or War are probably distributed as follows:

Armyof'the Potomac, and troops at and near v abington Operating apaihst Vit Syburg l'nder Itiwrcnut. in TenncSfSe 100,000 100,0011 luu.oou Operating agaiut Charleston, under Hunter aud roster Under Hanks, at New Orlcan In Missouri and Arkansa In Hori.la...... - On the I'acirte coist..... loo.ooo 60,000 30.1 00 15,000 lo.eou tuw it is very certain that, it this u the distribution of our forces, there are enough troops at each of the points indicated to render certain the Success Of the operations there, provided they are properly handled and iu an effective condition. Such is said to be the case with the army under Kosecrans. His troops are well disciplined, in excellent condition, and they have, besides, the prestige of success. The best things, therefore, may be hoped from the army in Tennessee. Aud this too, notwithstanding the fact that Bragg's army there, opposed to him, has been largely re in forced from the army of the Happahanuock. It is Stated that Bragg's forces, including his late reinforcements, now amount to liO.U'dl) troop; butj this statement m iy well be doubted, it would probably be a liberal estimate to put down Bragg forces as equal to those ot Ko-ecr itiS. Such is said to be the case, too, with the armies under Gen. Foster and Gen. Hunter, operating belore Charleston. In these armies, also, the soldiers arehighlv disciplined, and are led by skillful officers. There was some dispute between Gen. Foster and Gen. Hunter ubout relative rank, and I am satisfied that General Foster had been wronged, while he had the right upon his side. And 1 have not learned that this dispute has been adjusted. There was also some dissatisfaction among the soldiers and officers of the grades id Captains and Lieutenants, about being compelled to serve with nero soldiers and to salute nero officers. And 1 do not know th it this has been satisfactorily adjusted. If it h is not been, these two causes may result in the f ailure of the expe diiion. It is stated that the military force at Charleston and Savannah has been increased to l.r)'),0(l(J troops, by sending thither troops from Virginia. I believe this statement is substan tiillv correct. Luid batttes will have to be fought for the posses-ion of those cities, after the naval engagements are over. The Confederate Government became convinced, as soii as (ieil. McUieltaii was removed, iu November, that Richmond was no longer iu danger; and. after our defeat a. Frederick.-burg, on the 13th of De cember, they knew that any further advance on their capital, this winter, was out of the question. And the movements of their troops have been based upon these facts. There are 4D,UIK) troops still holding the hights of Fredericksburg; but, beside these, there are literally no Rebel troot s of any account in the whole of Virginia. Their Generals understand the art of war. They send their troops where troops are wanted. They do not keep them where there will be no occasion for tlieir sereices. Your able correspondents with the army or the Mississippi keep your re iders well posted on all that regards the condition of the forces there, and, iu regard to them. I need only say that they are understood by the bet informed men hre to be suffering dreadfully from sickness; but otherwise to be in excellent fighting trim. Of the demoralization of the army of the Potomac a condition to which it has been brought ny Halleck himself I have to speak with a heavy heart. Where is the tight of "'fighting Joe HookerY" He has had the command a full month, and what has he done? It lias been in tiie winter. True; but McCIellan was driven away, and Bumside appointed, in order to carry on a winter campaign against Richmond. And Bumside was allowed to resigu because he could not doit, and because it was thought by the stupid triumvirate here that Hooker could do it. Ii.deed, Hooker's friends were continually urging his appointment because, us they asserted, he was the very man who could do it, aud because, as liiey Kiid, he would do it. Weil, has he done it? I can't see it. The army, when McCIellan left it, was In superb con ditioii. True, it suffered severely during the ten or eleven weeks that Burnide managed (!) itj But, still, it was a noble army, even when Gen. Hooker took it. McCIellan "left it with fully 1511.000 effective bayonets. Hooker must have found in it, when he took command, over 100,000. True, it had lost its head, its life, its soul, its animating principle- McCIellan was gone, Sumner, Franklin and Porter, who might be called the brains and the right and deft hands, were all :otie. But many brave and gallant olli cers remained. There was that true and tried soldier, Gen. Heinzelman, a host in himself a man not only able but worthy to succeed McClellau himself, if McClella" had needed a successor. There were Gen. Stoneman, General Sickles. General Birney, General Sykes, General Reynolds, General Casey, General Sedgwick, General Church, General Wilcox, General Slo cum, (en. Djubleday.Gen. Gtiffiu. Gen. French, snd Gen. Hancock. Here are fifteen of the best Generals in the service. Well, what has Hooker done with this splendid army? Nothing. Why? Not because of the winter. No. It is because the component parts of the army, "the bayonets that think," have no confidence in Hooker as a leader, and because t ley feel and know that they have been deceived in regard to the objects and purposes ol the war. That is at the bottom of all the demoralization that exists among them. And therefore it is that Halleck distrusts them. The news of the action which was taken by the Democratic Convention of the State of Connecticut, on the 16th inst . fell like a bomb shell among the radicals heie. The "Republicans," however, have been losing ground in that State steadily for the last two years. Tiie vote for Lincoln in 1ÜÜ was43,72y. The vote for the "Republican" Governor in l!C2was only 3U,7rf, showing a clear falling off of 4,000 votes. The Democratic party in that State is strong, united and flourishing. In the Presidential election of lcT0 they cast 37.158 votes. In the election for Governor in lbG3, when 7,000 Democratic young men of Con necticut were away in the army, the Democrats of that State still cast 30,634 votes. Still, e en with the-e encouraging facts, ii is hardly to be expected that the Democracy f Connecticut would have taken so decided a stand for the Constitution and for the liberties of the people as they have. The proceedings of the convention will of course be pub'isned in the Times. Your readers will then see that Connecticut is ahead of all other States, even of Illinois, New Jersey and New York, in the firm nnd decided stand she has taken in favor of American constitutional liberty, and against the encroachments of arbitrary power. She arraigns the Administration aud the present Congress for the great wrongs which they have perpetrated in the name of liberty, particularly the emancipation proclamation and the conscription bill; and the solemn determination of the oeople of Connecticut to submit to no unconstitutional acts is clearly set forth. It is no wonder, therefore, that this action on the part of the Do inocracy o.' Connecticut should have caused a great fluttering here amoug the minions and the masters of the President. If the other States would take similar action, this useless and wicked w ir would soon be succeeded by an honorable peace, and we would soon be restored to the blessings of our former system of government. X. Our Army CorretoiidenceFrom Jlurf reeboro. Mturar-tsBORO, TtNN., February 17. Would you believe that I have been arrested by military authorit y under suspicion of attempting -to cross "the lines" without proper papers? It is even so. While common men and some very common women were active at Nashville in getling passes from Gen. Mitchell, 1 visited the hospitals and put in the day promiscuously, under the impression tnat a certain paper, which bore the great seal of the nation, and the great names of Mr. Lincoln and Stanton, was sufficient, as it had been everywhere. But imagine my indignation when, getting out of the crs a mile or so from this town, an upstart Ohio Second Lieutenant, with a new coat and new shoulder straps on. just told me "Them names may be good up in God's country, but they don't go here. Nothing but Gen. Roieerans or Gen. Mitchell passes this sentinel." "Then send me to Gen. Rosecrans's headquarters," said I, very blandly. "No yer don't, neither," said he, "I'll send a truard with you to our picket headqua-ters." "Which way U that?" said I. "Over yander about a mile," said shoulder straps, in bad Yankee, pointing away from town. Whereupon I drew myself up, looked fierce, threatened the indignation of the great State of Indiana, of President Lincoln, and of Secretary Stanton, but he would not scare worth a cent; and po I had to. though I was dreadful hungry, havii.g had no breakfast, and my feet were sore from wearing net? boots, and then it was muddy and oppressively hot. From picket headquarters I was sent to department headquarters, through the mud and ft warm rain There 1 was released by the Provost Marshal General, Gaptain Nile, of the 221 Indiana, whose laugh at my predicament and the sentinel V strict construction, neither tatisfied my hunger nor relieved my sore feet. Very naturally, after my release I look!

around for something to eat. Meetin. a citizen. I inquired for a hotel or boarding hou-e H jtel! ' said lie, "this town is a ho-piul " And I found him nearly correct ou further inquiry. In my wanderings 1 came upou a sutler's establishment, whom for once I blessed. But his b'll of fare was very limited. I called for a can of ovs ters, a link of bologna sausage, a slice of chee-e.

and a section of iugei bread, out of which 1 tuaoe a comfortable dinner for juit one dollar. At all events I satisfied the pressing demand of my appetite. Iu the afternoon I visited some of the hospitals to look after some sick and mounded, who.e friends had made special request that 1 should. In one I found a or fellow from the 37th Indiana whose arm hud been amputated a week or more I sat down on his bed and entered into conversation with him for some time. The srnell from his arm was very offensive, but I thought that if lie could stand it all the time I could a little while, so I sdiid as long as duty to others would a!liw. On t.irtin a wa , mihi bile ptanding hear another ca.-e, i oecame suddenly very sick, and staggered to an empty bunk near by. The attendants concluded they had another patient without the requisite papers; but I soon recovered enough to get to the air and the sickness passed off. And now whether it was the oysters, or the bologna, or the chee.-e, or the ginger cake, or the impure ir of the hospital, I cannot determ ne; 1 1 n'y know I have n it eaten oysters, or bologna, or cheese, or finger cake since, ana I have experienced no sickness in my subsequent visits to hospitals The most striking feature of this army at present is the accession it is receiving from refugees. Thev come in by hundreds; some from the army; but mostly to avoid the conscription. Some have been serving as conscripts, others have been robbed of everything and come to avoid starvation. They are aii--5et to work or enlisted in the army. They seem quite willing to do either. Their accounts of the demoralizitiou and desperation of the Rebel army would be interesting and important, if it were not a repeat ing of the old refugee story on which so much was couuted at an earlier date. Their accounts are true, no doubt, but we have learned that the Rebels fight terribly notwithstanding. From them, however, Gen. Kosecrans has gathered important information which he does not wish me to disclose. The desperation of Brajjg is quite 3 evident from his anxiety to receive information from within our lines as from any thing else. Never before were the avenues of information as her inetically sealed, and never was he so anxious to know what we are about. In this extremity he has resorted to the agency of the feminine portion ' of his friends, who until very lately could get through to see some sick or dying relative. A few days ago one well dressed lady obtained a pass on the rspiesentation of some very trying lamily affliction, but on being examined at the picket station it was discovered that she h id a bolt of secesh uniform cloth made into a temporary under garment, and two pairs of cavalry boots tied to her under clothes, and some important letters in her stockings. Of course she wäs passed back to the town. One lady had passed several times on missions of mercy, whose general deportment und family connection give strong grounds of suspicion, but whose stockings had been searched in vain for the contraband information. The Provost Marshal General was not yet satisfied, and ordered a more thorough search by a committee of females, w hen an important dispatch was found where no spy of the masculine gender could have carried it. That woman has since been confined, by order of Geu. Kosecrans, in very close quarters. I could give you a chapter on the animus of the nrmy, and the sentiments of the soldiers on political questions, but il would be unsatisfactory, for another man, calling around him another class of soldiers, would obtain probably just ihe opposite expressions. - Moreover, 1 am of opinion that their views now arc not of half as mucii importance as some folks imagine. They are soldiers, not citizens, and long before they change ' from one to the other, the questions of to-day will have passed away. I have heard but one soldier approve of the suggestion of an armistice; others inig .t in the same length of time find but one who did not desire it, but I have not conversed with a citizen of this place who does not desire it, but he says the South will never ask it, and never consent to a reconstruction. As it is, I have concluded that the peace movement at home is a two edged sword which cuts both ways, but more in the right than in the wrong direction; therefore I would encourage them. They will not make peace, but intensify the strnggieand make the overthrow of rebellion the more complete when it is done. S I think. Others may thmk as they pleise. T. A. G. Murfkeesuoko. Feb. 20. 1SG.1. Since I wrote the other day I have visited sev eral hospitals, or as the natives would say, several wards ot the one hospital which this town is, and I wish to say, without meaning To puff anybody or to offend anybody, that a crowded hospital is no desirable place to be as a visitor, and much less as a nurse, and still less as a patient; yet in justice to all parties, and no less to the friends at home than to the sick here, I must say that as a general thing every possible attention is given to those who are sick and wounded. I could men tion cases of neglect, but they are exceptions, not the rule. Were I disposed to amuse your readers, or to pain the.n, rather, I could cluster together hospital peculiarities, so as to make a doleful exhibit of privations and sufferings, just as destitution hunters, in the shape of Yankee school marms and Yankee missionary preacheis, sometimes write to Hosting noosepapers, how great their privations are, and how beuightod the poor Hoosiers are. while we think at home that we are somewhat advanced in civilization. The undis guised truth is that a hospital is not home, and men nurses are not wives and mothers, and women nurses, except in a limited way, are. in a hospital, worse than men nurses; but the further truth is, that everything is done that can be to make the men comfortable, and they are as comfortable as men w ith sore heads and sore arms and legs, and sore all over, well can be. And in this connection I must say that great praise is due to the Sanitary Commission which supplies so many essentials which the Government does not. He is a great liar aud a dirty dog who represents this noble charity as a failure, as thousands can testify. Very true, no one sees very much of anything. A barrel of apples, or even a dozen apples, go a great ways in a private family when used only for one sick mau, but a dozen or a hundred barrels are but n small item where sick are numbered by thousands. In Nashville I ascertain there are 3,500 sick lndianians aolne. Here ihere must be half as many. What are all the delicacies that have beeH sent among so many? Yet it is something, and instead of ourdryiug up our charities because some croaker says the contributions do not reach the sick, let us double them and make our poor soldiers doubly happy. We have forty-three Indiana regiments, and butteries hereabouts, besides those left at N ishville. Gallatin nnd other places in the rear, numbering in all something more than fifty in this department. And now if you would like to enjoy soldiering a while, I would like to orry you with me from camp to camp, as the darky carries the horse to water, only I will agree to walk if you will , and we will walk or not go at all, for horses re out of the question. Captain Bracken can stand it. for I have seen him tried, but the weather is decidedly soft aud the roads ditto. Blessed be the man who has water-proof boots, provided always they don't hurt his corns, as unlortunately mine do. I have been trying it to-day, and now I am resting, by way of writing a few lines before going to bed. If I should tell you the truth, you would want the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, about these regimeuts, all of which would be a difficult and delicate matter, requiring more time to obtain, and theu more time to write, than I have to bestow. Moreover, the whole truth would com pliment some and offend some; this latter, everybody know. I am opposed to, on principle. This much I may say, however, the regiments will not average more than 43'J effective men. Those in camp are generally in good health and in good spirits, full of fight, if need be, but quite willing to get along without any more fighting if it will answer as well. It may seem strange, but it is true, positively, most of jhe Captains want to be Majors, and the Majors want to be something else, to say nothing of the Colonels who want to be Generals, aud the Corporals who want to be Captains. This may seem strange to civilians, but it is true, nevertheless, and our Governor is blamed not a little because he does not comply with all their wishes. Not one that I have seen inttnds to enlist again as anything less than Second Lieutenant, most preferring higher even than that. What am I to do with this rebellion?" The thing gets worse and wore. I am boarding with a Cumberland Picsbyteiiin preacher who very kindly turned his church over for a hospital, and now boards Yankees .t two dollars a day.' At first he was quite reserved, but little by little he has opened his heart and revelled his politics, which, he s ivs, are the prevailing opinions of the people thereabout. He acknowledges a complete somersault, so far s associates are con cen.ed. and says that politics do make strange bed fellows. He s we irs now by Con way , of Kansas, and next by Greeley. He has been all along of Democratic proclivities, hoping great things from th r.-cnt Northern elections, but hope deferred h - uiade his heart sick, and iu utter dis-

I .u-l ne turn-, to Conwiy, hoping that iu his

lederne . lie t-ke as ft repie.-eutuive in hi ol He is iu tat or of an ariiiisome c-.miiig party tic?; - fir he is Democratic, but I e ay tlut an ri..etice lor any other purpose than arrangitig tiie terms of final separation is a waste ot time, lot a reconstruction is impossible. There is a trange unanimity on thw ufjct everywhere that 1 have traveled. ind this 1 what troubles me There are occasionally some things very amusng, even in the stubtMiruuess of these sinners, for every last one of them is a Rebel, even the refuees who come in, it they bad euergy enougd to be. Since the churches have all been appropriated for hospitals, the brethren hold praver meetings occasionally at private houses; and since there is io "order against Draving scessiouism, they sometimes perpetrate something hard that way. 1 he other eveniug a Methodist brother, w ho had had, I suspect, some trouble with our pickets. prayed until he tell better, when, stopping short, ie said: "Brethren, the way to heaven is clear. No pickets along that road, so far a heard from!" The Rebel brethreu evidently enjoyed the whack, but some of us thought it more tunny than devout. They preach and pray, and sing and play secession ri "lit here, surrounded by 50,000 Federal bayonets and hundreds of rided canTion. H bat will T0U do about it lou can Iget it out of them without killing them, and hardly then. All that I have to say is, hurry up your armistice, and may I be there to see. T. A. G. The Democracy of Connecticut. Resolutions of their late State Coxvestiox Rlmabks of Hon. Thomas U. Setmolb, tue Gl'BKR.N ATORI AL NOMINEE. The following are the resolutions adopted by the Democratic Slate Convention Connecticut, which met at Hartford on Weduesdar of last week: Wherkas, H Is the privilege and the duty of a free peo ple, living ander the guarantees of a rillen Constitution. wtnrh combines tiie proviMotis of an organic law witb toe great principles of federation and fraternity, to fraLkly nu ie.ineiy assert meir ngbts. to frerly canvas tiie acts of their appointed servant, and to reaffirm the great truths which underlie the Government, and upon which for three q larier of a century have securely rested the lioerties ol tbe peop e; and Whereas the present Administration or the General Government h is tor neerly two 3 ears te-n in armed collision with the people of more than one-third of the States composing toe ConttMlcracy.amt, in the prosecution of the eitil'K war, has as.umed powern utterly at variance with he letter and spirit of the Co titution cf the United states, it becomes us, as the representatives ot the on servative people of Connecticut, while reasserting our de termination to adhere to the true principles upon which our Union i founded, and proclaiming our devotion to the Constitution, to hrm.lv, lut temperately condemn the er ror 01 our public omcers; and VI DP re as I he Aoin lustration of Aorabam Lincoln has violated the Constitution of the United State in many of ltd must important particulars therefore. lirxolctil, . That the United States are a confederacy of Mates, coequal in sovereignty and political power; lüde pendent iu their several organizations, and reserving to each all ripbts not guaranteed by the Constitution to the Central tiovernment. 2. That while, a citizens of Connecticut, wi assert our devotion to the Constitution and the I nion.and wni here after, as we have heretofore, support with leal and energy thr author ties of th L'ni ed Mates in the full constitu tional exercise of their powers, e deliberately avow that the liberties of the people are menaced yCoripression.il a d Federal Usurpations, and can only be preserved by energetic action of State authority; and we are deter mined to maintain and defeud the hotior of our Mate and the risht of herpecple. 3 That while we denounce the heresf of secession as undefended aud unwarranted by the Constitution, we as conti etnly a-sort that, whatever may heretofore have been the opinion of our countrymen, the t me bus now arrived when all true lovers of the Constitution are ready to abandon the "monstrous fallacy" that the Union can be restored by the armed hand, and are anxious to inaugurate such action, honorable I ke to the emending sections, as will stop the ravages of war, avert universal bankruptcy, and unite II the Slates upon terms of equal ity as members of one Confederacy. 4. That the Democracy of Connecticut, ympatli ziiiR with their conservative brethren of the Middle and Western States, pledge themselves to unite wi;h them in the adoption ol all honorable measures hivnitf in view the cessation of hostilitie- between the North and South: the reconstruction of the Union on such t nns as slmll thoroughly define the rights of the Ma es ihe reprodurt on of those fraternal feelings which form the true fouifta'ion of the federation, and the erection upon a more eiiduring bisig of the temple of the Const itution. 5. That the militia of Connecticut are the natural guardians of the liberties of the people, subject to the control of her chief executive officer, acting under and by authority of the law of the St ye; aii-1 any and all acta of the Coniress of the United States violative of the sovereignty of the State in relation thereto, should receive the execration of a people justly jealous of their liberties, "Wno Vnow their r'gh's. and. Knowing, dare maintain."' 6. That the militia bill recently introduced Into the Senate of the United States by Senator W ilson, of Massachusetts, is subversive of the sover ignty and rights of the States, and designed to make them mere dependencies of the Central Government, unconstitutional in its provisions, and dangerous to the liberties of the people; the authorities of each of the States should sternly resist the operation of a scheme fo fatal to the just relations which should a ways exist between the Federal aud Stale Governments. 7. That the ''banking system" recently passed by the Senate of the United States, based, as it is, upon au unconstitutional arid irredeemable issue of paper currency, cannot fail, if foiced upon the people of the States, to prove destructive to the existing moneyed institutions of the several States, and is covertly designed to establi-h a vast central "'money power," alike unknown to the Constitution of the United States and dangerous to the principles upon which our Government is founded. 8. That the President of the United States, by bis emancipation proclsniation, has struck a serious blow at the rights of the States; erected an almost impassable bearer letween the North and the South, in attacking the people of the fifteen States throuith adomestic institution which is b'e ded with their social fabric, and over which the individual States possesses exclusive control and power; and, regardless of the treat lessons of the past, the National Executive, in pandering to the insane fauat -cisjn or the Abolition faction, has vei tured upon system of public policy which, if surcessfully iiiaugurtted, would disgrace our tountryin the ee of the civilized world, and c rry lust, rapine and murder in o every house in the glaveholding States. 9. That the acts of the Federal Administration in suspending the writ of habeas corpus the arrest of citizens not subject Io military law without warrant or authority transporting .hem to distant Slates incarcerating them without charge or accusation denying them the right of trial by Jury, of witnesses in their favor, and counsel for their defen e withholding from them all knowledge of their accusers and the cause of their arrest an-wering their Mtition for repress by repeated injury and insult prescribing, in many cases, as acoiid.tion of their release, test oath , arbitrary and illegal; In the abridgment of freedom of speech and of the press in suppressing newspapers by nrlitary force, and establishing a censorship wholly incompatible with the freedom of thought and expression of opinion; In the establishment of a -ystem of espionage by a secret police to invade the sacred privacy of unsuspecting Citizens; In declaring martial law over States not in rebellion, nnd where the courts are open and unobstructed for the punishment of crime; In attempting to drive out of existence the entire value of property in slaves throughout the country: In the attempted enforcement of compensated emancipation; In the proposed taxation of the laboring white man to purchase the freedom and secure the elevation of the negro; In the dismemberment of the State of Virginia, erecting within her boundaries a new State, without the consent of her Legisla'ure: Are earh and all arbitrary ami uncontfcut:onal, subverting the Consitutions, State and Federal, invading the reserved rights of the people and the sovereignty of the Stales, and. if sanriioned, the destruction of the Union, establishing upon the common ruins of the liberties of the people and the sovereignty of the States a consolidated military despnti-m. And wc hereby solemnly dwlare that no American citizen can, without the crime f infidelity to his country's Constitutions and the allegiance which he bears to each, sanction such usurpations, llelieving that our silence m id be criminal, and may lie construed Into consent, in deep reverence for our Constitution, which has been ruthlessly violated, we do hereby enter our most solemn protest against these usurpations of power. 10. That, n common with our fellow-citizens of other States, we use our utmost influenc to prevent the payment of a single dollar of the money of the people unconstitutionally appropriated for the unwarranted executive project of compensated emancipation. 11. That we sympathize with the soldiers who enlisted to sustain the Constitution and the Union, in the gTeat deprivations and hardships to which they hive been subjected in sicknesa and in health; and demand, in the name of Justice ond humanity, that the great frauds which have deprived them f proper food, raiment and care, shall be exposed, and their authors duly punished. 13. That the enormous plunder of the public treasure bv self-constituted patriots, w bich has been rife throughout the country, demands the closest scrutiny; and the severest punishment should follow a just exposure. 13. That, as representatives of a large proportion of the people of Connecticut, we demand ihe fullest public exposure of the manner in which the vast sum or four millions of dollars, appropriated by our State during the pst two years, or any portion of It, has been expended, with a detail of the objects for which the money has been used; and we protest against the extraordinary and uncalled 'or appropriation by the lat extra session of our Legislature of ten tnousand dollar to the Governor of this State, to be used by him in secret for any object be may see fit to expend it. After the convention adjourned, the member proceeded to the residence of Hon. Tbos. H. Setmoir, the nominee for Governor, who addressed them as follows: Ofstlevex: I be you will excne roe rrom making any lengthened remarks on this occasion, as I am really too ill to do 0. I am much gratified to meet you here! but you have much confuted ine br your flattering demonstrations Of welcome. fJfntlemen. I have struggled apainst this nomination; but bein? called upon by my fellow citizens all over the State, as 1 understand, I feel that, under the peculiar circumstances which environ our State, which deeply affect both von and me, I cannot heb but accept it. Cheers. I am deeply devoted to my native State, and should be a degenerate son, if I did not maintain her rights and her honor. That the great American Union shall again become one and indivisible, is the sincere wih of my heart. I thank you s;nin for surrounding my dwelling and cheering me with your voice. ThkOter v Hovse Meetixo. The Democracy and the friends of peice in Hamilton county will engage, on two days' notice, to get up three times us large a meeting as assembled ntthe opera j house ou Monday nigtit. I tvincinnau toquirer.

Democratic Heeling in I'ulnain CountPursuant to notice, a lare and enthusiastic meeting of the Democracy of Putnam county was held at the Court H'iuse, in Grrencnsile, on Saturday, the 21st inst. The meeting was called to order by D. li. Eckles, E-sq , and ou his mo

tion Hon. Arch. Jolm-iun was railed to the chair. Mel. McKee was c!umi Secretarv. Ou motion tf Janis A. Scott, Eq . a com mittee Of five consist;!.? of James A. Scott. William Brown, Samuel Gardner, J tmes O. Ed wards and John Herod was appointed to draft resolutions declaratary of the sentiments of the uieeuug. On motion of D. R. EcMes. a committee of three was appointed to wait upon the sneakers and conduct them to the stand. The committee, con - shdinS of D. R. Eckles, David Heath and W. J. McCormack, retired, and in a few minutes con ducted Hon. Jason Ii. Brown to the stand amid cheers from the audieuce. Jlr. Crown proceeded to address the meeting in a speech replete with eloquence and truth: alter which the Committee on Resolutions reported the followingfor the con sideration ol the meeting: V.VWretf, by tht ItoiiuKraey of Putnam, in tba Tottwn aHenittd, That we approve and indoise the riea of resolutions recently patted by the Illinois House of ltepresenlatiyes as the ejpu-ssloii of the tense of this meeting on the subject embraced in tbem. 2. lht we earnestly recommend a cessation of hostilities, for mch period as may be necessary to allow the people of the Nonh and routb to express, through a national convention, their wish for peace and a maintenance ot "th- Union as it was, under the Constitution as it Is." 3 That we, the Democracy of Putnam county, are now as we always have been. unalteraMy tuebed to the IVtferal Union; that we are will.ng to y:e d to it our mnf t hearty aud loyal support; b'.t that e regard w:th tearful apprehension the war that is now being waged by Al ra ham Lincoln, f. r the purpose, as we conceive, to abolish slavery in the Southern States; that such a a' is fraught with evil; and that U d serves the unqualified reprobation of every true lover of constitutional povenmiei U 4. That Ihe proclamation o Abraham Lincoln or the 1st of January. 163, pretending to liberate Ihe laves of th- South, and inviting t. em to servile insurrection and deeds of a most inhuman character, is a mi palpable violation of Executive power a disgraee to the ae in which we live and a burning (hame upon the fair name which our nation has hitherto borne, and will bring oown npon it the execrations of mankind, and Consign its author to well merited oblivion ai.d eternal infamy. 5. That all questions and doubts as to tie object for which the war is nein waged, bavin been removed by the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, the emancipation proclamation of Abraham Lincoln, and by the dismissal from time to time of conservative Generals, and appointing in their stead men of radi al proclivities, we hereby declare our opposition to the further prosecution of the war as it is now being waged. C. A the deliberate sense of this meeting, that not another soldier and not another dollar ought to be furnished for the further prosecution of this war fur negro emancipation. 7. That we believe fhat oar fathers fftall'shed this Government for the benefit of the white man alone; and in considering the terms of settlement of our national troubles, we will look only to the welfare, peace, and sf ty of the white race, w ithout reference to the eflect that settlement may have upon the condition of the African; and that we do sow and nwrvn repudiate and condemn the attempt upon the pan of the Administration to settle in the free States, con;rary to the will of the j-eople, a worthless neero population, the tendency of which would be to place the two races upon terms of perfect equality t. That in our opinion the conduct of the Administration in refusing to pay to our soldiers their waees, for tear of desertion, sufficiently point it out as a worfbv representative of the worst features of Blue Light federalism, and meets w ith our hearty condemnation. 9. That whenever the soldiers of the State shall, whin on guard duty, or otherwise tie subject to tbe con rol of shoulder strapped nerre it wilj in onr Jndmert be an abandonment of the contract of service of su b oldiers by the Government. Seither the State nor National Government, in our opinion, possess the power to sutject free white men to lit coutrol of "free Ameticans of African docent." 10. That we have unbounded confidence in the callantr) atid courage of our WesOrn soldiers; and wb Ie we disapprove of the object for whi; h the war is now bein wa.ied, to wit: the abolition of slavery. i'h all its ruinous incidents they have our kindest wishes for their welfare d speedy return to their friends and homes from which many have been fraudulently drawn; that we are in Iavor of the General Government increasm? the pay of private soldiers, and devising some speedy means by which those now in the field may receive their pay. The resolutions were adopted by a universal shout of approval from the crowd. G. F. Cookerly. Esq., of the Terre Haute Journal, beins present, w as then called for, and responded in a speech which elicited the unwearied attention and frequent applause of his hearers. The proceedings of the meeting were ordered to he published in the Indiana Pres, Indianapolis Sentinel and Cincinnati Enquirer. The meetin;: then adjourned. ARCHIBALD JOHNSTON'. MtL; McKee, Sec'y. Chairman. Tlore Secession-Lesialation Stopped The Republican mem'.ers, with the exception of four, failed to resume their seats in the House of Representatives yesterday, and, consequently, left that body without a quorum to do business, or to consider matter about hieb there is a contest. No legislation of any kind can now be transacted till the seceders shad return to their duty. With but six working days left of the present session, these gentlemen have assumed a fearful responsibility, and the people will bold them to a strict account. These absconding gentlemen assign no reason for this willful and criminal absence from their seats in the Houe, but there are vague rumors that they fear that the Democrats intend to pass the militia bill now pending in that body, a measure perfectly innocent in itself, and the promineut features of which are that it confers the right upon those enrolled under "t to elect their own officers (company and regimental), and reserves to the General Assembly its conttUutional right to say in what m inner M jor Generals aud Brigadier Generals shall be appointed. This is the plain story, and if these Republicans are afraid to trust the fighting boys with the selection of their own officers, and the Representatives of the people with their incontestible right of passing wholesome and salutary laws, the Democrats are not. Whenever the minority shall aim to overturn legislation by acts of revolution, they will place themelves in the same category with Mr. Jeffersos Davis and his confederates in crime agaiust Constitutions and laws. We kmw that the people of Indiana will understand this question, and the clamor raised by the new Secession party cannot avail them. Their present conduct shows to the world that they will be as rank Rebels as those of the South whenever thev are likely to fail in having their own way. This is the history of their party since l!sb L,efflslative Miuimiirf. Friday. Feb. 27, l-63. Slxate The Senate did not meet on Thursday. Yesterday morning a number of lulls were reported back by the standing committe- recommending their passage. The Committee on Elections reported on the contested election case from Elkhart and Lagrange. Mr. Murray, Republican, on the question of deferring the further consideration of the report until the "th of March, gave his party friends a scathing rebuke for their revolutionary proceedings in the Legislature. It was postponed. The contested seat of Messrs Mellett, Riy. Browne of Randolph, Bearss and Dickinson were decided iu favor of the sitting members. Several important bills were considered but none finally nassed upon. IJotsE The Committee on Federal Relation! reported, advocating Democratic coctriues and trampling old Abolition ideas under foot. The Republicans,, Hanna's military bill being likely to come up for consideration, bolted, keeping out of the Hall the whole day. There was. therefore, no quorum present at any time. Notwithstanding, a number of bills were read a first and second time, reports made, and resolutions acted on. Mr. Niblaik introduced two new bills, amendments of the existing militia law. The majority are doing all in their power to expedite business, and if necessary legislation fails the minority will be responsible. Sati idat, February 3, 16C3. Slxatk The Senate transacted a good deal of busine.vs on Stturday, and passed two or three hours in a debate on Federal matters, which sprung up about the presentation of memorials from the 19ih nnd 29th regiments. The motion was to refer to the Committee on Federal Relation. Both parties agreed to the reference, bet the Republicans taunted the Democrats with insinuations of disloyalty, and this caused a sharp debate, which was stopped by the previous question bein? demanded and sustained. Bills were pweti: To enable persons having etock killed by railroad curs .r.ore efl'ectually U receive compensation; amending the Justice of the Peace act 0 S to authorise suits. in replevin at any place where property may be found; to amend the act in relation to County Treasurers; to more effectually protect the ballot-box, declaring certain acts'oflenses, nd providing punishment therefor; to amend the title of an act to provide for increaine the capital stock of railroads. HoihE No quorum en Saturday. The Re publicans gcnerallr bolted, leating acuon on Hanna'a military bill. Nothing of important therefore could be done. Democrats are in their teats willine nd desirous to attend to necessary le-islation demanded by the people cf the wboU Stale.