The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-03-12
KEofk1K9'
SATURDAY, MARCH IL.


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Ex.esvsrnsr NssgAs, efmasnnn. 81
the sItuataon ana Rreelasne LIN.
coln,s Pe1icy.
A. the greet Union Convention in Ia.
dianapoln on Tuesday, Ex.Gcv. Wright,
President Of the Convention, spoke = fol-
lows:
FrLLow. CITIZENS 1T is right that I
should thank you for the honor you give
me Of presiding over Jour -deaikFatiopsl
to-day. regard this meeting - one Of
the most important events in our history,
and its harmonious action as more vital
than victory in the feId. II We can
unite on satisfactory nominations and
carry them BY $4,000 majority, We shall
do more for the Union than the capture Of
Richmond tomorrow could do loud
cheers In looking over this vast meet
ing. | think / see that expression of firm
ness and determination 10 do what the
occasion demands. which promises we'll
for our success. and l find confirmation
of my Judgment in the action you have
already taken. You have just nominated
one man for the highest place in the ma
tion, and another for the highest in your
State, with such unanimity and hearth
ness that oil local dissensions and town
ship chickering's have disappeared This
is good augury for the future.
see very different state of feeling
now from what l did when l returned
from Europe. Instead of doubts and hest
tation | see only strength and resolution
Where We formerly moved cautiously, or
not at all, we now move steadily and rap
idly, aud think you will all concur with
me, that this is due greatly to Abraham
Lincoln, whom ! look upon as the man
for the times, above all living men. Ire
mendous cheering.
At first doubted if be would prove
firm enough or would move fast enough
for the great questions be had to meet
His setting aside the slavery policy of
Fremont, in Missouri, seemed to justify
these fears. One day, about that time, /
said 10 him. "Mr. President, why cant
we have policy?" He looked at me,
and in his plain, sterling language, re.
piled: "Governor, that is just what
don't want" Laughter and cheers. -
did not understand him at FIRST But
do now. If we had been carrying on q
foreign war, the,President ought to have
led off in the establishment of line of
policy. But in civil war, where our
own citizens are our enemies, he could
not lead. 1t was his business not TO an
ticipate, but TO follow the directions Of
public sentiment. He had to wait for the
people to move before he could move
He has proved that he was right. Sup
pose two years ago he had sent negto
troops to Missouri, how many regiments
of white men would have remained in the
army ? Not one. Cries of ''thats &c"
and laughter. Now how is il? You
can find nobody who is not in favor Of
arming negroes. Everybody is willing
that they shall fight if they can Men
WHO threatened me, whom voted in the
Senate, two years ago, to arm the slaves,
now approve that vote. Even Democrats
who denounced it eighteen months ago
are now ready to swear that they always
were IN favor of it. Laughter and
cheers. You may write ii on that COL
umn [pointng to the State House that
no party can live in this country that is
opposed to letting the blacks help to save
the country. [Grest cheering,