The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-09-22
Kr CnIfax-

The Vice President has formally an
nounced that his public life will close /
with his present official term. He ez-
presses his determination and the
reasons for his course In letter from
which We extract the following:
Il intend. with this term. to close
my public life absolutely. viii then
have had eighteen years Of continuous
services at WashiDgton, mostly on
stormy sea-long enough for any one
and my an bitio is all gratifed and sat
isfed. General Grant will doubtless
be renominated and l think he should
be. My articles and speeches show
my faith II him andregard for him.
But the people viii want some Eastern
or Southern Vice Presidentaad should
have one. | shall leave public life
voluntarily, and without regret, aud
expect to pinto active business. Ny
friends here all know Of this deter
mination. and l assure you it is no
pretense, but reality, as you will see.
This is the last campaign In which
shall participate, and / feel as happy at
the prospective release from the ex-
actions, cares, Misrepresentation and
excitements of political life, as the
student Rho Is about to graduate and
! 20 forth from the Wailsin which, he has
| been for years. free from professors
and critics. When you think ii all
over you will eoneede that il is a wise
| determination. rr e
Mr. Colfax Is man we have always
l admired. 1t was in 1852 &C q great
| Wing meeting ut Niagara Falls that
we first saw him. Henry Winter Davis
/ was addressing an immense crowd at
\ one stand where the Hon. Thomas
| Ewing presided. Mr.. Greeley was
Chairman atthe other platform, and
We we'll remember whea the white
coated phllosop her stepped to the front
and introduced to the crowd his young
friend from Indiana, Mr. Colfax.
This must have been about the begin
ming of his public life, and he then
/ and there gave an earnest of that ca
reer which has been one Of sjgoal
honor to himself and the State of Ia
dians. We do not exaggerate when We
say that his political record is without
a stain. In Congress he won the .af-
/ fections of an honorable and intelli-
gent constituency by bis close atten-
ton to their LEGAL concerns and by
his pure and upright course 10 tiation-
al affairs, and it was well understood
/ that Dir Colax could remain In Con-
gEess as the representative of the South
Bend District as long as he wished to
stay. As the speaker of the House of
Representatives,, and as the presiding
officer of the Senate of the United
| States. he has shown rare ability, while
the dignifed and impartial manner in
| which he has discharged the duties
Of these high stations have won him
\ praise from all PARTIES. His most vim
/ dictIve enemy has never had the
hardihood to charge him with q COR
rupt or dishonorable action, and there
are few American statesmen who have
/ been in active political life during the
last eighteen years Of whom this can
be said. His course in Congress has
been singularly free from error.
/ Throughout the entire antf-slaVery
agitation his voice aud his votes were
always where his noble impulses led
him. Ills congressional speeches dur
/ log the Kansas Nebraska struggle
were largely circulated throughout
the country, and exerted a marked
Influence IN shaping public opinion
and preparing the way for the triumphs
of the Republican party. His services
have been appreciated by that party,
and when his name was presented at
the Chicago Convention as the choice
of Indiana for the Vice Presidency, il
was found that upon him the friends
/ of all other aspirants for the honor
could cordially unite. Mr.. Oolfax
was never much IN favor, as he never
cared to be, with the rascals and
thieves who came 20 the Republican
ranks from the Democrats party.
His pure life, public and private,
was source Of constant offense to
them. But he always stood high, and
deservedly high with thatsolid phalanx
OF Republican voters who compose
the mass of the party, and who are
Republican because they believe their
party embodies whatever makes for
the honor. morality, peace, security,
and welfare Of the country. Indiana
loses much when Mr.. Colfax, now IN
the prime of life, wishdraws from the
political arena. She has honored
him much, but he has reflected as
great honor upon her. In bidding
him farewell, we wish him abundant
honor and success In his chosen felG.
of future usefulness-I7 Journal.