Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-02-29
Col. Henry D. Lane AZ Greeneastie.

Col. Henry D. Lane az Greeneastie'
The Republicans Of Putnam county.
held their ratification meeting on last Sat
urday. The meeting was very large one.
and addressed by Henry 8. Lane. IN one OF
his eloquent efforts. He began by saying
that be felt hopered in being privileged in
appearing before them as their candidate
for Governor Of the State Of Indiana-that
i sfforded him much pleasure to meet the
freemen of Putnam county-they were,
many of them, natives of Kentucky, and
in their early boyhood they had looked out
upon the same green hills and rich valleys
Of their early home. he loved the State OF
his nativity and would do nothing to re-
tard her prosperity, or interfere with her
institutions. He said, that were he Gov
ernor Of this State, he would yield to every
other State all their rights, and God being
his helper, he would demand all rights due
Us. He believed the affairs Of this State,
for the last several years. had been grew
susly managed-Gov. Wright said that the
Swamp Lands, donated by the General
Government to this State, would yield
net fund of 81, OO0, 000-no man under.
stood this matter better than Gov. Wright.
ne looked to the interest Of the State and
was familiar with this matter. The whole
of this immense fund had been squandersd
by this Democratic party. He said that
the present Governor of the State, Ashbel
P. Willard, recommended in bis message
she establishment of new Penitentiaiy-
the Legislature passed the bill in accord
ancs with the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
sioners were appointed by the Governor to
TX upon the place to build the buildings,
and now, after expanding thousands and
tens Of thousands of dollars of the peoples
money, the Governor could not agree with
his own Commissioners. and the site was
not yet determined on. In this, however,
be thought perhaps the Governor acted
wisely. for if the Republican party contin.
ned to increase as it had during the last
several months, no new States Prison
would De required.
Speaking of national politics, Col. Lane
szld, that opposition to Democracy was
not abolitionism. and he who could not see
and understand this, had but little capaci-
~ to see OF understand any thing. The
Republican party abidss by all the princi.
pies and compromises Of the Constitution.
The Constitution touches the question Of
slavery but in three places. and against
those he made 10 war. Upon the Fugitive
Slave Law be desired not to be misunder
stood. There are provisions 10 that law,
SAID Mr.. Lane. that had he been q member
Of Congress be would not have voted for,
but the law had been declared constitution
u by the Supreme Court, and he would
not W oppose it. He, however, preferred
the Fugitive Slave Law that received the
appreciation Of Washington in 1893. On
the question Of slavery. he stood where
Henry Clay stood-no human power could
compel him TO vote TO extend slavery into
the public Territory, or to interfere with
TUG s7bdtco ~ nOW cAlstt9-ne
asked, is this abolitionismf He said he had
never endorsed Helpers book-hsd never
read it, but had read many extracts from it
that were incendiary. He most certainly
had no desire to excite the slaves TO rebel
lion and thereby endanger the lives OF his
relatives now living in q slave State.
The Ordinance Of 1857. which secured
this great Northwest to freedom, was sane
toned by Jefferson. and he did not wish
to disturb it. He asked the Keotuekiaus
IL they did not leave their native State, be-
cause of its Psssage-becsuss they loved
free institutions better than slave.
Col. Lane said he was proud OF the old
Wing party, Of its past history. OF its gio-
sies and .riumphs IL was the proudest
party that bad ever existed since the
American Revolution. he however was
not here to resurreet It. but to shed tears
over it,
Ne believed that Congress had the pow
CT to legislats for the Territories--it had
been ia the practice Of SO doing for the last
70years. The Constitution says that Cor
aress shall make all the needful rules and
regulations for the government of the Ter
sitories. Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Webster both
thought Congress had this power by virtue
OF the Federal Constitution. But the pow
or is also found in the sovereignty Of Con-
srsss Il has the power to acquire terri.
fory and Of course the power to govern it
follows. II not. We might acquire an empire
and then be unable to govern il. He said
the Democratic party eonteadeS that the
Federal Constitution carried slavery into
ths TsESilories-Mr. Buchanan had admit