Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-26
Washington Letters.
WASHINGTON Cry, Jan. II, 1864.

EAitsrs Journal: f-s.T
The Presidential campaign begins to
open in earnest, and already several Of
our leading journals have hoistsd the
name of their favorite candidate The
Chronicle, of this city Colonel Fornsy,i
paper,is out boldly for Mr.. Lincoln, fol
Esreselection:s The New York Herald
affects to prefer General Grant, but il
only urging bis claims to disguise it,
real choice, Il, indeed, it can be said to
have choice-other than candidate
Who can pay iDeH for its support The
New York Tribune is said to favor Mr.
Chase, though will yield . wiling and
hearty support to Nj. Lincoln For my
own part, am perfectly satisfied to fol
low the popular instinct and feeling
being well assured that instinct and feel
ing win vindieate the right man. So
far as my public influence has extended
have sndeavored to ignore party and
party platforms, and can willingly sup
! port any man for oficewho has shown
himself to be Internationally loyal and
deserving the support Of all Union me m
While free to confess TINT ] prefer Mr.
Lincoln to apy other man nov before tbs
country, an yet ready. and willing
should the popular sentiment indicate
either of them for the position-to sup
port General Butler, General Banks
Andrew Johnson, Governor Chase, Gen.
eral Grant or General Dix, 1t Is not
asserted by tho friends of either of these
gentlemen that they desire, or even
would accept the nomination if rendered
them Indeed it is well known that Gen
Grant does not desire, and probably
/ would not accept, the nomination if ten
dsrsd him. JAS AAA&e-
The friends of Mr. Chase, perhaps, feel
little chagrin and disappointment, ai
the almost universal choiee of Mr.. Lin.
coin for reelection. <Thia is natural,
]. and we would not-indeed we cannot
deny that Mr.. Chase has strong hold
upon the affections of the people, and
would, perhaps, under any other eircum.
stances than surround US at the present
command the support of a majority Of
the loyal voters We are living in mo-
mentous period. The times and the oc-
j casion alike demand honest hearts and
honest acts. The issues before the peo-
/ pie are not to be lodged or put aside
Statesmen, not demagognss, honest men,
not politicians, are needed to eontrol the
affairs Of State. / very much mistake
the temper Of the loyal yotsrs, if they
can be wheedled into the support Of
purely partisan candidates. The first
sho. at Sumpter blew party and party
platforms to the winds, and thenceforth
the partisan was merged into the patriot
or traitor The fear of being Tread out
of the party has lost its charms, and
honest men of all parties now unite upor
a. common plAtform-devotion to ths
country.
Men are being shown up in their tru'
light, and the day when the demagogue
could mislead and delude the people, haI
passed Men with black hearts are nov
more Stunned and disliked than mel
with black skins. That politician wh'
secured votes by asserting that he va
alike Indifferent whether slavery wa
voted up or voted dosoH," would lose tn
same support he got fonr years ago, 70
the same remark uttered now. Let u
! hail this token as pleasing augury Q
e the coming political millennium. Tn
day when the nominees of packed
! conventions could secure election, ha
l gone by, and the Candidate who expect
: the support of his eountrymen now, mu:
prove himself to be suOrthy Of that sui
port
!. We vote for principles, not men, :
& this crisis in our affairs. Ii is said Gel
!. Washington, after depositing his la,
n vote, turned to friend against who's
y election he had just put in his ballo
!. and remarked " xsts for principles
! not men." "a
4 For these reasons, therefore, regard d
Y, attempts to iorce Ilpeu the people Pre-
E. idential candidate who does not plain
or and honestly reflect the wishes and Sc
timenss of the loyal men of all ,partie
as futile and unavailing. Few men t
. day, have such hold upon the popul;
: heart as Abraham Lincoln Loyal me
of all parties can conscientiously write
support of such man. The Aattery
friends, the circumstance Of place al
power, the abuse Of enemies, have all
4 failed to seduos hin, or swerye him from
determined pnrposs to save the countr
The most malignant Of his oppose
have never questioned his honesty al
= patriotism Conservative when co
: servatiys action was demanded; RAJ
z cal when radical measures were ne
& essary; incorporating in his dsVoti,
/ to truth, justice and the righs-f
4 Union men of allparties can safely uni
i. IN support of such man; and When. t
National Union Convention assemble
y / shall be disappointed and surpris
I indeed, if it does not ratify the popul
> nominee for President in 1864, ,SA6,
7 | hdor lincoln