The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-03-30
From the Connersvi,la Times
The True Policy.

I Inc L mon voters Oh Inc ilLu AOHgTeS-
sional District will soon be called upon
to decide whether Gen. Sol. Meredith or
Hon George w. Julian shall be their
candidate for Representative in Congress,
at the next fall election. Aside from
/ personal predictions, there are other
4 considerations which should influence
/ sensible men in casting their votes at the
nominating election. 1t is always to be
remembered that, however any one
candidate may be admired, the Office
was not created as q means by which
4 honor might be conferred upon any
/ particular favorite, but rather for the
whole mass of the people, and he should
receive our votes who is most capable of
serving US.
Talking the foregoing premises as q
true basis, let us consider the relative
merits OF Meredith and Julian.
We can somewhat Judge of mans
future course by his past conduct Gen.
Sol Meredith has served the public on
several OCCASIONS, and has always done
so with honor to himself and faithfulness
to his constituents. When he went into
the army, new field, which has tried so
many men as gold in the fire. he showed
himself, not only a brave soldier, but q
competent officer. whose ability led to
his rapid promotion. But it has been
objected that his capabilities as a soldier
do not recommend him as legislator.
Admitting this, let us refer to his career
in the Indiana Legislature, and we will
find that there was no more efficient
member than Sol. Meredith. Some
astute gentlemen have sneered consider
ably ut the Generals speeches; they
seem to think that fine oratorical powers
are all that are necessary to fit man for
Congress. Now, it is q notorious fact
that the most effective members of Con-
gress are those of good business tact and
energy OF character, such as distinguish
Sol. Meredith. If he is not Clay,
neither is Julian a Webster. What we
contend is that Meredith possesses such
qualities as will render him good work
ing member, one who will accept facts as
they are and try to meet them. rather
than waste his time in cndeavoring to
build up theories that are improbable of
execution. 1t would be blessing to
the country if there were fewer orators
and more earnest business men in our
National Legislature.
On the other hand, we have but to look
at Geo. W. Julian career as alegislator
to discover that he has been a perfect
he has habitually abused and embarrass-
ed the Administration, because it would
not follow his blind leadership. He has
no practical business taient-he is
tieorist-a dreamer-he might make a
poet, but never legislator
Julian is now serving his second term
in Congress. In the last canvass he
pleaded for his re election. that the world
might know his constituents endorsed
his course. He brings no such plea for
his re election now. At present he and
his friends contend that he should be re-
turned because of his experience as a
legislator. 1t used to he fashionable to
attribute TO the members of Congress
from the South a preponderanee OF
craftsmanship, and to cite rs a reason
therefor their continuance there from
year to year. Happily the rebellion has
exploded this as well as some other
delusions Had not the Southern people
made gods of their public men, and
placed such implicit confidence in them
as hardly to think for themselvs, such
raea as Davis. Sliieli. Toonhs. Mason
i Co. would never have involved the
country in civil war. The statesmen of
the North have always been as able as
those of the South. and the blind devotion
of the followers of the latter has alone
enabled them to bring our present
horrors upoa rs
Julian il following the example of
these Southern aristocrats as nearly as
he can. He has labored for vears TO build
up Julian party. and he eviences q
greater hatred for the Cnioo man Who