The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-08-11

scribe every man from ONCE VINO had
not been In the rebel army and fought
for the cause. Their predictions have
been realized to the letter at every
subsequent election, with the excep-
ton of my own case, and it is well
known, for it was publicly avowed,
that l was put at the head of their
ticket simply because it was thought
could be useful in securing a repre-
, sentation of the State In Congress.
1t is further known that the plat
form reported to the committee APP
pointed for that purpose to the Demo
cratic Convention held in this city.
was reiteration of the doctrines of
the right of secession, and it was only
through the exertions of few of the
more cautious and polite of the
party that this platform was made to
assume the form for which it was
adopted. At the same convention a
we'll known citizen, and live Demo-
GRAFT, was publicly censured by resolu-
tons because, in a speech delivered
before that body, he said secession
was worse than crime.
Notwithstanding my nomination by
the Democratic party, another candi-
date was put in the field in opposition
to me, who had officiated as Governor
under rebel rule, and who, had he
been In the country and signifed his
assent, / have no doubt, would have
been overwhelmingly elected. When
the Legislature met in. extra session,
in the month of November, 1865,
convened by me for the purpose of
raising money to restore the broken
levees and to take measures to redeem
the State credit, [ found them more
intent on calling a convention to
change the constitution of 1864 than
to promote the natural interests of
the people. a reo .
Their chief objection to that instru-
ment was the characterized the men
who framed it, and the abolition
thereby of slavery. Having failed at
the extra session to pass bill calling
a convention, the attempt was re-
newed at the regular session held In
the month of January, and more than
half of the time of that body was
spent In discussing that question.
Finally committee was sent to Wash
ington to consult the President, and
the Legislature only abandoned the
measure through his advice. / con-
sldered a convention inexpedient,
and for that reason opposed it.
had learned enough of the real
sentiments to convince me that if a
new constitution was made it would
be more inharmonioug, In the views
of the President and Congress, than
the constitution of 1861 4 the result of
which would be to lessen the chances
for admission of our representatives.
L urged these views on the members
of both Houses of the Legislature,
but they had no effect with the ma
jority. l deprecated the city and
parish election for the reason that /
feared the result, because of the char
acter of the men who would be elect
ed. l. have seen enough of public
sentiment to convince me that none
but those who had served In the Con-
federate army, or who had gone into
the Confederate lines, would be elect
ed to Office.
/ foresaw that such result would
be justly regarded by the people of the
loyal States as showing defiant spirit,
and as still glorying in cause that
had been purchased them with such
fearful loss of life and expenditure of
money, with numerous and repeated
evidences of continuing intolerant
and rebellious spirit, and manifesto
ton to adhere to the fortunes of the
Confederacy to the last-the part of
a large majority of the citizens, and
with press almost unanimously ex-
pressing sentiments of the same tenor.
1t is matter Of surprise that
should pause and commence to reflect
on the consequences, both as regards
the future security of che Govern
ment and the fate of the Union men
in the South, and if those men who
once attempted to break up the Union
succeeding in grasping the power of
the nation. Again, had seen that
while protesting with their lips re-
newed allegiance to the flag and obi
cations of the past that embodied the
pacific policy of the President, they
were becoming arrogant, intolerant 1
and dlctatoral. fo Id
They glory in the apparent schism
between the President and Congress.
In the policy of restoring the States
lately in rebellion, and rub their hands
with delight at the idea of civil war
In the loyal States. Inaview of this
array of strong stubborn facts.
frankly own, that my views of the
conciliatory policy, in running back
to allegiance those who have been en-
gagged In a war to destroy the Union.
have undergone change: the intol-
Grant spirit engendered by slavery,
still exists. ia9i
The loss of property and failure of
their hopes, can never be forgotten.
And although | regard them as impo-
tent to resist constituted authority,
enforced by the presence of the mil
itaru vet / am convinced they Mnnld