, 1872-12-07
INDIANA.
a Review Of the Political Situation
in that State---The Contest
and Result,
The Causes that Led to the Election of
Governor Hendricks.
E1traVagance Of the Recent Legislatnre-.-
Suggested Improvement Of tue Rev.
eGues.--The State Printing,

eEues.--Ihe State Printing.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 4, 1872
To the Editor af the Chicago Tribune:
sR: The excitement occasioned by the reccni
political campaign has entirely subsided, and il
may not be without profit to review the past
and consider impartially the causes that led tc
the results in October or November.
THE NosuNAT1Nd CONVENTIONS.
Political parties are more nearly balanced in
this state than in any other in the Union. For
this reason, both parties have, for number Of
years, held their Nominating Conventions sew
eral months in advance Of the elections, viz:
the Democrats on the 9th Of January, and the
Republicans on the 22d Of February, preceding
the Octobar elections. This is done to give am-
pie time to perfect organizations in each Of the
counties, and make complete canvass Of tho
State
In January last, the Democratic party WAS
laboring under the general decentralization con-
sequent upon the change Of policy as suggested
BY M1. Vanandighasn; consequently they de-
cided to postpone their State Convention until
late in the spring, in order to avail themselves
Of future developments. The Republicans,
however, held their Convention on the 22d of
February, as usual, and placed q ticket in the
field.
STATE COMMITTEES.
4 new State Central Committee WAS chosen,
ane it's Chairman, Colonel John W Foster, Of
Evansville, ut once set about organizing the
State, district, county, and township organize
tions, or at once put into operation plan that
not only worked well, but gave the Republican
party what they never had before,-a thorough
and complete organization in eyery county in
the State. Colonel Fosters management of the
canvass was most admirable, and MS praises are
sounded, whenever the matter is discussed, By
Republicans and Democrats.
The Democracy we're less fortunate in their
managers; their Chairman being E. s. Ayord,
agentleman 60 years OF age, whonever gageuuch
attention to politics, until two years ago, when lie
was made Chairman OF the State Committee, to
settle . feud that Threatened to divide the party
Their State Convention WAS not held until with
in week Of the Baltimore Convention and the
Committee seemed to be spending all their timo
running and telling what their opponents were
proposing to do, or neglecting their organiZa-
ton, except in the closely-contested Legislative
districts, whore all their labors seemed to DO
their work was not as thoroughly or well done as
that OF their moro active adrerearies. The Lib
erals had State Committee but, as compare
lively little is known of their movements, it is
means at their disposal to do With, and we're con-
allies.
Mr. HENDRICKS AND TIE PRESIDENCY.
The leaders Of the Democratic party in Indi-
ana are welded to BouEbonism, and such sup
port as they gave to Messrs. Greeley and Brown
Was lukewarm, and only given because they de-
sired the aid Of the Liberals to elect their State
ticket, headed BY ex-senator Hendricks for Gov
ernor. Indeed, Mr. Hendricks was literally
opposed to the nomination of Mr.. Greeley By
the Democracy, and wrote q letter to Mr. Voor-
hees, q few days after that gentleman made his
attack upon Mr.. Greeley in Congress, fully ap-
proving the sentiments expressed by Mr. Y. in
that speech, and expressing bis opposition to tie
indorsement OF the nominations OF the Cincin-
natl Convention at Baltimore. Mr. Hendricks
has aspirations in the direction OF the White
House, and the leaders OF the Democratic party
in this State we're earnestly for him. They
would, however, have given cordial support to
Judge David Davis, that gentleman being
personally known to most Of them,
and held in grateful remembrance by all, in CON
Bowles Milligan, aud Horaey from imprison-
ment for life, to which they had been sentenced
by = Military Commission, in consequence Of
their connection with tue reasonable organiza-
tion known as the ~ Sons OF Liberty"
Mr.. Hendricks did not desire to be candidate
for Governor. He had twice made the race for
that position, and had been twice defeated. He
desired q sent in the United States Senate; but
his political friends insisted that he must make
coveted prizo and, with this understanding, he he
consented to become for the third time the
OF his party for Gubernatorial
honors. It was well understood, however, that |
the contest, 80 far as Indiana was concerned,
WIS between Messrs. Morton and Hendricks.
FOE TIE SENATE.
Both vera the acknowledged leaders Of their |
party; both are men Of decided ability; and |
each had served one term in the Senate OF the |
United States; and, but for the fact TINT Mr.
Hendricks waa candidate for Governor, and |
WAS expected to make joint CANVASS with his |
General Browne, 8 Joint canvass |
would have been arranged between Messrs. Hem
tricks and Morton, as between Lincoln and !
Douglas in Illinois, 1858. |
SENATOR MORTON
entered the CANVASS early, and continued to !
speak almost every day, and frequently twice q |
day, until the close Of. the canyass-having Wis
tied seventyone counties, and spoken that num-
ber Of times. generally in the open air, lis audi
snces being too large to get into q building at
His speeches we're fully up to the
standard Of those previously delivered by
b him and no sooner had the canvass closed than
The Republican newspapers, and leaders, with
one accord, said that the Senator had earned his
to the Senate by the most laborious |
Ind brilliant canvass ever known IN the history
of the State. As soon as the extra session OF |
he Legislature assembled, q CAUCUS was held
1t which every Republican member WAS present,
and stood up when his name Was called. and an
.wered that Oliver P. Morton was hia first and
only choice for the United States Senate. No
such compliment was ever before paid to any
public man OF any political party in indiana;
and, on the second Tuesday Of the session, he
7as triumphantly elected, receiving the vote Of
eVery Republican member Of both Houses. No
senator ever returned to Washington with a
more unanimous Endorsement Of his private and
political record.
~ LIE. HENDRICKS CAMPAIGN.
Mr. Hendricks entered the canvass late in the
'ampaign, and devoted his efforts mainly to the
lose Legislative districts. He labored under
considerable embarrassment in al his speeches,
9 keep on good terms with the Democrats who
lid not like Greeley, and at tbs came time sat-
sly the Liberals He has been frequently
harged BY his enemies aud political opponents
With being an It artful dodger," but he managed
Q please both parties by saying Of Greeley,
He was not my choice, but he is my candidate;
o let Us all Toto for tho *old codger.' He has
bused me, and have abused him; so we are
~ back upon the past, and look only to the
uture, which is ours" At first, Mr.. Hendricks
res reported as being t'teribly blue" over
he result Of the October election. He was con-
dent OF carrying the Legialaturo, but lost
hat prize, and gained the empty
nnor of fTa (IrhArnatnris1 Chair vr;th oil of TIA