The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-09-15
Hon. Thomas Corwin's Sueech
At EUansviLLe, Sept. 8, 1860.


About two thousand people assembled at
the rostrum prepared for the purpose in
Blackford's Grove, in the eastern part of this
city, on the afternoon of the 9Th inst, to
hear a speech from Hon. Thomas Corwin of
Ohio. After vocal and instrumental music,
Mr.. Corwin was introduced by Mr.. William
7. Page. After three cheers were given for
the " Wagon Boy" the speaker proceeded to
address the meeting in substance as follows:
He commenced by acknowledging bis
embarrassment in appearing before au au-
dience who were entire strangers to him.
II be were in Ohio he would understand the
pecularities 0: public opinion. but here it
was otherwise. He didn't know the feel
ings of most of bis audience, but would
rather they were bis opponents than Repub-
licaus, because be could do more good in
talking to them. He said he intended to
deal with the Presidential candidates whom
he opposed in perfectly respectful terms
also with their followers; but their prin-
ciples he would comment on freely. He
gave the audience notice that he should talk
tn them in all seriousness, and not as a
mere stump orator.
II was the duty of himself and of every
other man to regard the great privilege Of
choosing their rulers, as the highest duty in
the world, TO be exercised with great care.
Political meetings were therefore solemn oc-
casious, where men ought not to meet to
triumph over each other, but like an assembly
of broIhers, to consider the best manner of
disposing of large estate which had been
lett them. Citizens should all meet together,
and not in Separate meetings, each party by
itself. They should argue with each other
candidIy and fairly.
Freedom has come through a long line of
illusirious ancestry and ought to be trans
mitted TO posterlty unimpaired. Our fire.
quent divisions OF opinion on public ques-
lions are caused generally by the uuholy
ambition OF designing individuals. There
need not be so much diifert nee on funda-
mental principles if we would calmly exss
anime into great political truths. Public
discussion degenerates into angry disputa-
ton. No great public good can result from
such means Of settling controversies. Every
four years men are disposed TO examine for
themselves and they ought to do it dispas-
sionately.
Much complaint ia made against our
public men and not without reason. We
watch our public ofit ers, criticize them, and
justly, because we have deposited in their
hands the power ofthe people. Do we con-
blQeE SuHcleuIIy now we act In creating
Presidents2 The power which creates-the
men in the backwoods cahins-is greater
than the power created-the man in the
White House. The latter has only a facti-
tious pre,eminence. The differences between
high and low III this world is only Fictitious.
The good man is the high man the bad
man the low one. We ought to act in
choosing our Presidents as if we were act.
ing for time and eternity, and not as if it
were matter of little importance. We
ought to act earnestly, and not vote for a
man because he is our friend or neiehbor:
but consider what are his PRINCIPLES. and
what effect our votes will have unon the
welfare Of 80, 900 900 Of people.
| make voting matter of conscience. and
ia convincing myself and others, talk to the
reason and do not indulge in criiuination
and re-crimination, nor denunciation. The
spirit of ayarice nowadays is the domin-
ant passion, and prevents men from paying
proper attention TO public affairs. Hence
the standard of our public men. Is lowered
A spirit of enterprise is commendable, but
be didn't like to see money boarded up Just
because it was money, without reference to
the good it does.
Men must understand principles or they
can't vote intelligently. If the principles
Of the different parties were all alike, it was
folly for item to raeet together that day
There was wide difference. The princi-
pies of one party are the same as those of
t6e fathers Of the government who made
the Constitution, and all the other parties
hsd departed from thoeS principles His