Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-02-27
the Union state convention.

= gence OF the delegates IN 2ttendancei
the intense earnestnsss and determina-
zion manifested In all the proceedings,
the diversity of opinions that prevailed,
the harmonious result of the delibera-
tions And the enthusiasm with which
that result was received.
The hotels Of the city were seldom, if
ever, more thronged On Wednesday
evening it was almost impossible to Sc.
cure place 10 sleep. The extraordi.s
nary capacity Of the city to accommo-
date sudden influx of strangers
which, we doubt not, is superior to any
other city Of the same size in the United
States, owing to the facilities for accom-
modating strangers which have been
multiplied since the war--was hardly
commensurate to the vast crowds Of
people that poured in Tuesday, Wednes-
day and Thursday. On Wednesday
night no rooms could be- haG at any Of
the principal hotela, aud delegates had
10 accommodate each other by placing
beds on the floors Of the large rooms.
Knowing that the Convention was o
delegate Convention, we were surprised
nj the great crowd gathered together
0ns surprise was no greater than that
manifastedby other delegates. On Thurs
day morning, quite early, the immense
Union wigwam On the Court House
square, . building estimated as capable Of
holding from three to four thousand peo-
pie, was filed to overlooking with earnest
men, Not only the seats bat the aisles
and passage-ways were densely packed,
and remained 90 during the entire SEES
sion OF the Convention, aF4es
The earnestnesa and determination of
the delegates was unusual in the history
Of Conventions. Ordinarily, every eff
fort II put forth by the managers of
such bodies to- arouse enthusiasm and
excitement, and to this end, speeches
from distinguished orators from differ
ent parts Of the country are provided, in
order that with anecdote, denunciation
and pathos, the enthusiasm of the dele
gates may be worked up 10 the proper
pitch In the Union Convention every
effort was made to allay excitement
The delegates were unwilling to listen
to long speeches. What few addresses
were made were very short, free from
Euecdote, and generally upon the bust
mesa Of the Convention. The disincli-
nation to hear speeches was manifested
in the preliminary meeting on Wednes.
day evening and all through the pro-
ceedings Of the Convention on Thurs
day. . Business, business---no time for
speeches, was the response that saluted
the ears Of every ,oratoricaf aspirant
who manifested a disposition 10 display
his talent in that line. This earnest
ness and determination was a clear in
'dication that the delegates had made up
their minds, and the unanimity and en-
thusiasm with which the report Of the
ceEmittse GA fesolntions was fecaived
demonstrated that the committee had
been very fortunate in representing the
sentiments of the Convention. - "a
adtwas apparent 4, the most casual
observer that great diversity of opinion
prevailed among the delegates as 10 the
platform of principles the Convention
ought to adopt. President johnson had
his friends, who insisted unon an en-
dorsement of his policy throughout, and
consequently an implied, If not direct,
censure of Congress. Then, again,
Congress had its adherents, who desired
to cut loose from the President, and
some Of whom denounced him in ungen-
eroua and bitter terms, and insisted
upon attaching the fortunes of the Union
party of Indiana to Congress Others
thought that both the Presidents and
Congress had done right in some things
and. wrong in others These were op-
poaed 70 committing the Union men Of
Indiana to either party to the quarrel in
Washington. They favored middle
policy-an enunciation in their platform
of their desire to hold the President and
Congress together, to consolidate rather
than divide the great political org aniza-
ton that had suppressed the armed re-
bellion and brought the country safely
thus far through the perils that environ
il. d At the Gptelininarg 5meeting, on
Wednesday evening, Notwithstanding
the infammatory character Of many Of
tAe speeches, and the great excitement
which prevailed, it was apparent that
she Middle Men, If we may so desig-
nate them, were largely in the majority,
Theif strength Increased with astonish.
ing rapidity, and byahe time the Com
mittea.on Resolutions were through with
their labors, the Convention was very
nearly unanimous ~ to the kind Of re-
port thai would be acceptable.
The happy speeches of the presiding
officers and the Hon. Paris G. Dunning
contributed much towards producing
harmony, But mose than these waathe
an pervadfng feeling that division and
disaensions in the ranks Of the Union
party was not only defeat to that crgani
cation, bnt destEnctionto the country
Gov. Baker sounded the key note, when
he declared that while the Union party
had prevented the rebels from taking
possession Of the Capital Of the country
during the four years Of war, It did n
propose 70 allow them to take possession
Of il now The preliminary meeting Oh
Wednesday, evening was a most fortu
nate circumstance in bringing abou
harmony. 1t pointed out the rock
rpo1 which the party was ID danger o
splitting. It demonstrated who were tn
msn that needed the closest watching /,