is often darkened by the wings of canvas-back duck and other aquatic fowls, whose flesh is prized by epicureans as a dainty delicacy. Fruits, rich in the voluptuous juices that delight the thirsty palate, are indiggenous to the soil, and it is there that you will find the throne of the vegetable kingdom. In her hill-sides are found every variety of mineral ore, while it seems to have been the design of Jehovah that her soil and clime should produce the cotton and the rice that is to glut the marts of the world. Her rivers are broad, and navigable enough to furnish commercial highways, while thousands of her smaller streams tempt enterprise to speculate in the utilizing of their spendthrift waters. From her mountain-sides gush mineral fountains whose medicinal fame arrests the attention and attracts the weary footsteps of affliction's wandering pilgrims from all parts of the habitable globe; with thousands of miles of coast, bays enchantingly beautified, and harbors the very safest known to the storm-shivering ships of the sea. Why is it that, despite all of these immense advantages, the North has so miraculously outstripped the South in prosperity? Why has New York outstripped Virginia? Ohio, Kentucky? Illinois, Tennessee? and any of the Western States, all of the Southern States? The answer is to be found in the simple fact that whenever and wherever you find slavery you find an insurmountable obstacle to national prosperity. Slavery having once ceased to exist all over the South, her portals thrown open to immigration, and Northern energy infused into the people, it is easy to look into the future and behold a destiny looming up for this bright land, that shall make it, at least, what it must have been designed to be, from the first,—the garden of the universe. THE CAMPAIGN OF 1865-LOGAN'S CAMPAIGN SERVICES-APPOINTED MINISTER TO MEXICO, BUT DECLINES. In the campaign of 1865, General Logan took the stump, and rendered valuable services to the Republican Party, not confining his efforts to his own State, but going where he was most needed. Says the New Era: In the fall of 1865, when New York and New Jersey were struggling for Republican success, General Logan went to their assistance, and his efforts were readily acknowledged by all as having materially aided in the glorious result and the redemption of New Jersey from Copperhead rule. During the winter of 1865-66, General Logan was nominated and confirmed by the Senate as Minister to Mexico, but although strongly urged to accept the honor, declined it. Commenting upon this appointment the New York Her ald said at the time: The appointment of General John A. Logan of Illinois as United States Minister to the Republic of Mexico is one of the most important diplomatic movements that we have ever been called upon to chronicle. Although this Government has not yet interfered in the Mexican imbroglio, and has not yet given any material aid to the Mexican Republicans who are so gallantly struggling against foreign invaders, still the most explicit declarations of the unanimous sentiment of our people upon the subject have been placed upon record from time to time.. Neither Napoleon nor Maximilian can possibly mistake the meaning of these repeated popular and official manifestations, and the appointment of General Logan as our Minister to Mexico is still more unequivocal. There are several circumstances which make the selection of General Logan peculiarly appropriate and peculiarly ominous. In the first place, he is one of our bravest generals, and all our generals are known to be in favor of assisting Juarez, by force if necessary, in resuming the authority which has been usurped by Maximilian. In the second place, General Logan is a personal friend of President Johnson, and as such is presumed to fully understand and represent his views. In the next place, General Logan's own opinions have already been very plainly announced in his public speeches, and especially in that Cooper Institute speech which attracted such marked attention throughout the country; and, therefore, his appointment is in some sort an indorsement of all that he has said. We do not suppose that the appointment of General Logan will be followed by any overt demonstration against the Empire that France has set up upon this continent. We hold, however, that the establishment of a foreign empire upon this continent, no matter with what intentions, was not a friendly act toward this Government, and was beyond the legitimate province of Napoleon's policy. For this reason we array ourselves against it. What is to come next the future will determine; but we hope that Napoleon will boldly and frankly solve the whole question by abandoning his Mexican project. It is hardly necessary to add that, soon afterward, Napoleon did abandon it. APPOINTMENT AS MINISTER TO JAPAN, DECLINED ALSO-NOMINATED TO THE FORTIETH CONGRESS FROM THE STATE AT LARGE--HIS EXTRAORDINARY CANVASS OF ILLINOIS IN 1866— MALIGNANT VILIFICATION-HIS MAJORITY OF SIXTY THOUSAND ! A few months later, the President conferred upon General Logan another mark of distinction, by tendering him the mission to Japan, but this also he refused, preferring to remain a private citizen, in his own native State. He was, however, soon called from the ranks of private life again. In 1866 he was nominated by acclamation by the Republican State Convention of Illinois as Congressman-at-large in the Fortieth Congress, a nomination which he did not seek, but which he accepted in order to help the success of the ticket. He was elected by a majority of nearly sixty thousand votes over his Democratic competitor. Said an Illinois paper, speaking of General Logan's canvass, November 15, 1866: In the campaign just closed, no man has ever before made such a canvass in this State; and the result of it is seen and felt by all. What man is there in this country who has made so many sacrifices and done so much work in the field and in the political arena as has General Logan? He is bold, fearless, and daring, and fights his political enemies as he fought on the battlefield. He has been traduced, maligned, and slandered during the last two or three years as no man has ever been before in the State. He bears it all, and makes the most gallant campaign ever won, vindicating himself and his party. His enemies hate him and his friends love him. He is always ready to help a friend or defend him against the assaults of others. He has ability enough for any position. On the battlefield he has proved himself a military genius. At the bar he is the equal of any of his profession. On the stump he has but few equals. In the United States Senate he would soon win an enviable reputation.. Logan's voice has been heard where the opposition was so strong that his life at times has been threatened and in great danger. Already, it will be seen, he had attained such prominence as to be talked of favorably for United States Senator. It |