The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-09-25
Why We Should Honor Governor
Morton.

of the Union. The name of Roosie
was a term ofreproach, rather than o
pride. There was little in its histor,
or in the character of its public men
to give it prominence, or inspire, in
the hearts of the people a feeling
OF State honor or manly independence
Under the long dynasty of Democratic
mlsrnle, the affairs of the State had
been administered withia feeble hand
the great desire being to plumber as
much of thetpublic money as possible
Under the sgarb of the law, and the
chief aim offDemocratic politicians
which should be uppermost in the
scramble for Office and power. On
one side was Ohio, the Empire State of
the great West, overshadowing us in
the ability of her great men, and her
power in the nation. South of us was
the proud State Of Kentucky, trusting
in her historic memories and in her
statesmen, whose reputation was
world wide On the west of us was
Illinois, our younger sister of the
pralries, rapidly rising to power and
superior influence. And Indiana,
obscured by the States surrounding
her, was Insignificant and without
honor in the nation. a
Governor MORTON assumed the ad-
ministration of public affairs at time
most nomentous in the history of the |
country, and when a weak hand at
the helm would have reduced the
State to still greater insignifcance
and dishonor. Tn the great conflict
which was about to come, little was
expected of Indiana but to follow
with laggard step the lead of other
States, Yet, when the storm of revo-
luton bprst upon us, and the faint
hearted held back with fear and indie
cfsion, when the Governments appear.
ed to be falling to pieces, and all hope 7
Of constitutional freedom and repub-rl
licanism seemed to be fading away
it was, at such e time as this that |
Governor MORTON came up to
the help of the Government, /
and rendered the loyal men of
Indiana to President LINcoLN.tosaid i
in saving the nation from destruction.
And under his decided and firm ad-
Inl nistration ri pubic affairs, the
Hoosier St4te, by one bond, took rank :
With the very first States of the Union 7
n defense of the country. Whean, the
all was made for troops, none were :
laore prompt in filling their quota
han was Governor MORTON. But the 8
len were without arms, clothing. q or o
amp OUTFIT The Government was !.
lthout money or any of the supplies Y
war Governor MORTON did mot !.
aIt,for the action Of the authorities R
Washington. He at once borrowed :,
oney from our own banks; he con- d,
acted for clothing and other materi- IN
$; ne sent an agent to Europe to | IL
tam arms. And the brave voIun- l'of
ers OF Indiana, under his energetic lis
ton, were among the first to favor M
e rebel armies. Having sent them So
to the field, he did not leave them be
ere'- He followed them in person "a; )
d by his Numerous agents ana on Of
cry battle field and in. every hospie I,co
the soldiers of Indiana were n;
thfully cared for; and the sick and ST.
wounded were brought home to off
nfulrrsed into strength or to die SCI Sc,
long friends. While the soldiers ma ma
re IN the field, he took measures to mo
wide for their wives and their chill On
n athome. In every possible form emf
ne care for the brave men who sch
e lighting the battles of the ma his
q, and 1t was the unanimous testi- wit
ny of the enemy north, east the
tn, west, that the men of Indiana har
e most faithfully and fully proyii- vas va
for. = VI l1saoo ~ - tforioe. ~
men treason was plotting in our
State, he met this new enemy I
as much determination as he did cou
traitors in open rebellion, and by MOI
active and energetic measures tere
"a our own people from civil war viol
hen the Copperhead Legislature par
ed up the State Treasury, and fife
atened to repudiate our indebted pub
by failure to pay the State obiiga- digr
;, and to turn loose the inmates and
ur Asylums, Governor MORTON Den
| has own credit, borrowed the thin
ey to pay the interest on our is o
DIS, and thus preserved the credit whit
he State and obtained the ra- sue,