Year: 1867

dency.


From the Wabash Express, May goth.


Too much importance can not be attach,
cd to tho next Presidential election. Ii
will involve questions of the utmost mag.
nitude and importance, upon the settle.
ment of which may depend the peace. hap.
pinoss and prosperity Of the country for a
great many years to come. If the South
shall continue to occupy its present atti.
tude Of defiance to the national authority
1t is easy to see that we shall be surroun
dcd by such perls as should invoke the
highest order of craftsmanship, whereas,
if it shall accept the terms of adjustment
proposed by Congress, but little less saga
city will be required to keep the Govern
mont steadily in its path of duty.


The Union party has in its ranks many
gentlemen of acknowledged fitness for
the Presidency; men who have exhibited
talents of the highest order and the most
undoubted aud devoted loyalty. If it
were necessary for us to do so, there would
be no difficulty in designating by name
several of them, whose nomination by q
national convention of the party would be
satisfactory to US. But, upon survey Of
the whole ground, and after careful con
sideration Of all the suggestions which
have occurred to our mind,we do not know
a single one Of those gentlemen who com.
bines in n higher degree all tho qualities
necessary for the Presidency than Cover
nor .. p Morton, or one who enjoys
more than he does the confidence and re-
aF nh g.. a..
management of the afflirs of the State.


1t is doubtful whether another Northern
State has passed through such perils as
threatened as during almost the entire
war; There were Of character we'll known
to the country, and calculated to excite
the most serious apprchcnsions in the
public mind; and it is now understood
and conceded that they would have led to
the Inauguration of war amongst our
people, but for the extraordinary admin
istratve abilities, the uniiring energy and
perseverance, Of Governor Morton. Dur
ing these pcrilous times no suffered no
consideration TO turn him aside from the
path Of duty but, although surrounded by
personal danger at every step, he bore
himself so manfully aud with such fearless
intrepidty that he not only kept the State
in its true position Of loyalty. bu. did
more than any other man in it, except the
gallant "boys in blue" to raise it to its
high and honorable position.


The services of Governor Morton were
performed in the field. but at home, whore
identifying himself with every movement
of the army, he rendered them in so effec-
tive a manner that they became as essen.
;ial to the cause of the country as if he
had commanded division. Such was his
conduct towards the soldiers of our own
State that he became a model for the imi-
taton of other Governors, and by tho exc.
cutive ability not surpassed by any ofthcm
has succeeded in placing himself, by com
mon consent, at their head. 1t is not
wonderful, therefore, that the people of
Indiana, who have watched his course with
so much interest, and who know him so
we'll, should be disposed under the circum-
stances now existing. to present him as
their candidate for the Presidency. That
they will do so we have no doubt; and
with extraordinary unanimity.


Indiana has never had President,
while her two sister States Of Ohio and
Illinois have, with her aid and assistance,
enjoyed that honor. We have every con-
fidence that, when tho time arrives, they
will not withhold from the Union party
of this State that support it has so gener.
ously given them, when we have all rallied
so readily in the support Of their disting-
uished citizens. They can lose nothing
by the support of Gov Morton, but the
country will gain much by his election.


In the present condition Of public affairs
the National Union party will naturally
look to the North in the selection Of fit
standard bearer for the approaching Presi-
Dental campaign, and why not take him
from the northwest No section Of the
country has exhibited more loyalty or pat
rio,ism, or had more honorable share in
the great work Of suppressing the rebel
lion. No State in the northwest fell into
line or stepped mere nobly "to the music
of the Union" than Indiana did at the
outbreak and during the continuance OF
the late civil war. Our State certainly
has Just cause to press her claims for the
great honor Of furnishing the next Prcsi-
dent of the United States. If this dis
tinction Is granted US by our sister States