The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-10-08
Hon. Archy Dixon Something of his Past and
Present


of Kentucky, has occasioned a great deal of
surprise with all except those who have been
watching his movements the last few months.
To them there is nothing remarkable in this
last change, and the only wonder is, he so long
wavered in taking step evidently pre-deter-
mined weeks or months ago. We can well
conceive he paused before he plunged. If
Caesar paused on the bank of the Rubicon, Dix
on might well pause before he took plunge
that would forever discover himself from the
political friends of his youth, his manhood and
his old age, and that must forever lose for him
the respect and love of those whose friendship
should be worth more to him, than all the po-
itical triumphs in the world. He has made
terrible sacrifice for any man-and more terri
bic for Archy Dixon than for any man with
whom we have a political and personal ac-
quaintance. He had no friends to spare. Those
who chung to him were time friends. He
has thrown them from him, and stands alone
Stunned by his old political associates, despis-
ed by his new connexions truly respected by
none. His desertion has not even the credit of
honest principle or honest motives. No one
believes that Archy Dixon, the old and staunch
champion of Whiggery, whose strong voice and
heavy blows from early manhood ill time had
frosted his hot head, repealed the slanderous at
tacks of the so called Democracy upon the
principles he advocated and upon the men
with whom he affiliated-that this lifetime
foe of foul and corrupt and dangerous party,
could possibly have wheeled into the ranks of
this party, an antagonist of his life's history,
from mere principle, or from any honest motive
of riqlt No one believes that even Gov. Dix
on himself meant to confess long life Of po-
litical error-a long life of misconception and
of wrong action. And yet he does this if
change of principle has urged him to throw
himself in the arms of his old enemies, and
whom he has SO often denounced as his coun-
try's enemies. Wewrite with his 'Inaugura-
ton" speech before us. We are perfectly well
aware Of his published reasons for his course,
and just as well aware as he is himself, and no
better, of their absurd sophistry and real I'M
truth.
Ever since Gov. Dixon was defeated on the
Wing ticket as candidate for Governor Of Ken
lucky against Powell, he has been sore to the
heart. He knew his party had the power to
elect the right man, and his defeat proved that
he was not the man who could command the
full vote of his party. He was dissatisfied with
his party-and more than all, because this de-
feat told him his aspirations could never be sat
isfed among the Wings. His friends had done
their best for him, but their best was too little.
From this time there was a change in Mr.. Dix
on. His old enthusiasm had fled-he was dis
satisfied, wavering. The American party
sprung up. 1t was not long till he was con-
sidered enrolled in it. His opinions were pub
lished, and certainly no American found mat
ter of objection in them. In this, by necessity,
he was still occupying his old position of bitter
hostility to the old liners. He was still with
all his old Wing friends, still promising the
good fight still promising to be terror to po-
litical error and corruption. But he wavered
almost ere he could be pronounced an Ameri-
can. He '.fas evidently shifting every politi-
cal breeze, and watching the clouds and sun
shine of party success with keen eye. And
he did not watch as a patriot, feeling the pulse
of acountry's safety, and studying where and
how to best bring his experience and ability
into practical and holy workout as a selfish
demagogue, looking only to himself and within
the narrow scope of his own ambitions, to Sc
cure personal aggrandizement. For weeks or
months he has been occupying this position,
but gradually nearing the gulf of Locofocosm.
This was as apparent to his friends as to him
self and probably more apparent to his enemies
than to either himself or his friends. No one
knows the fight of that political conscience
struggling for life in the bosom of Archy Dix
on. But he finally conquered it. The die
was cast. Dixon was ready for the plunge.
A mass Democratic. meeting was called at
Henderson, Sept. 9th. The handful stated
that this democratic meeting would be address
ed by Gov. Powell and. Hon. ARcHY DIXON.
What dagger to the heart of Dixon must have
been every one Of those handbills as they met
his eye on the corners of the street. How
they must have haunted his sleep and cursed
his wakeful hours. Hon. Arch Dixon to adj
dress mass Democratic meeting with Gov.
Powelll-to address meeting of the very men
who had spat upon him and his party, who
had slandered and abused him month after
month, and who had followed the immortal
CLAY to his grave with their foul stipmas-ar5