USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana, and its townships, towns and cities > Part 17
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Having thus, fellow citizens. acknowledged the entire dependence of the representative upon the instructive power of his constituents. I will give you my views as frankly and as freely as possible.
A bill commonly called the ad valorem bill,' which passed dur- ing our last session, is, I conceive unjust, and partial in its opera- tion, bearing with peculiar hardship, upon this part of the State. and is but a mocking of its title, which is made use of, apparently. to impose a disagreeable potion under a palatable name : but I am convinced that a system of taxation, based upon the principle that every man must pay to the government that protects him and his, in proportion to the value of his estate, is one which is entirely reasonable and just.
Another bill, commonly called the 'mammoth bill,' making vast and indeed unlimited appropriations to works of internal improve- ment, only failed during the last session, after a warm and pro- tracted debate-after which a bill 'to provide for the further prosecution of the Wabash and Erie canal.' and for other purposes, and an act supplemental, passed and received the signature of the governor. which provides for the survey of a vast scheme of canals, railroads, etc., as well as for the prosecution of the Wabash and Erie canal, to the navigable part of the Wabash river.
The cost of those works, should they all be completed. must overgo $29,000,000, and of this sum, not one cent is contemplated to be expended on this side of the Wabash river; and though it is more than probable, that but a part of those works, may be expected to be completed, still it must be evident, that many of the routes which were ordered to be surveyed, are of comparative insignifi- cance, when compared with a route or routes. which would have connected our northern waters, with a southern thoroughfare, and that the neglect of the interest of the north part of this State, in the provisions of that bill. was a gross instance of partial legislation.
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The experience of other States has demonstrated the advantages to be derived from a judiciously disposed system of internal improve- ments. and the policy that would dictate the abandonment of such a scheme, would be as fallacious as the late act is partial and extravagant.
The disposal of the three per cent. fund will continue to require the utmost attention, on the part of the members from the new counties. It is no doubt known to all. that the three per cent. fund originates from an agreement with the general government. upon our entering the Union, as a free and sovereign State. that the pub- lic lands shall not be subject to taxation. until the expiration of five years after they have been sold by the general government, in consideration of which the United States make grants sundry to this State. among which are five per cent upon the proceeds of the sales of the public lands within this State, which is to be applied to works of internal improvement, three per cent. being subject to the control of our legislature. Now, this being the case, what plan of distribu- tion among the different counties. so just. as to appropriate to eachi. the amount accruing upon the sales of land within that county?
Thinking. fellow citizens, that we should all know at least enough of the law. to keep clear of it. I am in hopes of seeing our common as well as statute law put into such a form. that it may be more commonly diffused and known among us. Such a project has been in agitation before our legislature. and believing it would save half the litigation amongst us. it has my heartiest wishes for its success.
The next apportionment will also be a matter requiring the deepest consideration, and attentive care of your representat es at with an increased representation. our claims will of course be in a more commanding position, and we who are of the north we unite with the south in all judicious schemes of internal i. vell as
ment. will be in a situation to prevent such glaring inst iv that partial legislation. as our last session presented. al mar In regard to our roads, or rather our want of them. . founded less to say much here, as so many monuments of our ne. and as the dition in that respect. present themselves. most loudly; "of the diffi- legislative interference.
ters as
public being
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There are many other subjects. fellow citizens, which are no doubt of importance, but believing I have touched, though slightly, those subjects most generally interesting to the citizens of this dis- trict, I shall detain you no longer with the enumeration of matters of less general interest.
With feelings of peculiar delicacy, I must, fellow citizens, here remark that as regards national politics, I have ever been the unwavering friend of the leading principles of the present adminis- tration : I look npon them as the emanation of the purest patriotism, and while I disdain the low bickering of party strife, still I must exercise the right of every freeman, to avow his sentiments. This avowal, fellow citizens, I make, not with a view of enlisting the partiality of a single voter: I do it merely because if silent on this point, I may probably be charged with want of frankness, a charge I must be indulged in saying, to me, peculiarly painful.
Fellow citizens, I have but to offer to your acceptance such com- mon place qualifications as a life of much vicissitude has engendered. and an assurance that the good of the district. the whole district, shall be my aim, should I be so fortunate as to gain your preference. But fellow citizens. if in your better judgment you should prefer another. I must take this opportunity to assure you, and him, that he has my warmest wishes for his success in the furtherance of the welfare of this district.
CHARLES W. CATHCART.
LaPorte, July 20, 1835."
The campaign was wage i vigorously throughout. and resulted in the election of the candidates of the Whig party. in this county.
The illustrating the newspaper tone of the time and the terms overgouse of by political opponents we take some extracts from the to be e pers then published in LaPorte. On the 28th dav of more thber. 1839, the Whigs held a convention, and the next issue to be cosaPorte Herald, published by Joseph Lomax and edited by which whow of the Chicago Times. contained the following comments cance, wh connected ( . ARISTOCRATIC CONVENTION. that the negrday, 28th December, the Aristocrats of this county, provisions of convention in this place. They previously made many
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loud calls. both through their papers, and also through the medium of hand bills. And when the great day arrived, it turned out. as many of their great things do-a poor shabby convention.
When the convention was organized, Mr. J. Bigelow. one of the leading Abolition fanatics of this county, was appointed one of the Vice Presidents of the meeting. This is a fact that is worth being remembered by the people. It shows that the boasted patriotism of the Aristocrats of LaPorte county, is capable of courting the Abolition faction, for the purpose of adding some little to their strength. Was the ancient republican virtue, and the law-abiding principles of the American people, ever more grossly outraged than the cherishing of such inhuman and insurrectionary principles, as those advocated by the Abolitionists, which were approved and sustained, in a measure. by this Aristrocratic convention, in the selection of one of its officers? This shows that in this county, there is a close connection, reciprocity of feeling. and identity of sentiments. between the opposition party and the Abolition faction -if not an entire amalgamation and identity."
There is much more of the article, and in it occurs such terms as "black-hearted falsifiers." "ignorant brawlers." "long-faced hypo- crites," and "foul mouthed slanderers." The LaPorte county Whig, edited by A. P. Andrew, Jr., replies, and says. among other things : "We would ask in all candor, if it is looked upon as a necessary qualification that an editor of a party newspaper should indiscriminately abuse all who do not agree with him or his party in politics :" and closes with the pungent query. " Does the editor of the Herald use such epithets by order of the party. or does he do it the natural way ?"
The year, 1840, was a warm campaign year. Martin Van Buren and Richard M. Johnson were again the candidates of the Demo- cratic party for President and Vice President. The Whig party had nominated Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison and John Tyler. Tilghman A. Howard was the Democratic candidate for Governor. and Samuel Bigger the Whig candidate. Other candidates of the Democratic party, as their names appeared in the LaPorte Herald were Edward A. Hannegan, for Congress: Charles W. Cathcart, for State Senator: Willard A. Place, for Representative: Wm. M.
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Patterson, for Sheriff; Abram Fravel, for School commissioner; Dr. DeWitt Strong, for County commissioner. At the head of the columns of the LaPorte county Whig, stood the names of the Whig candidates for President, Vice President and Governor; and for Congress, Henry S. Lane; for State Senator, Sylvanus Everts ; for Representative, Daniel Brown; for Sheriff, Wm. Allen; for School commissioner, Abel Lomax ; for County commissioner, Henly Clyburn.
While in this campaign most of the voters delighted to call them- selves either Whigs or Democrats, or rather Democratic Whigs, and Democratic Republicans, there were a few who boldly took upon themselves the then odious name of Abolitionist. It required con- siderable moral courage to do so. In this county there was but a mere handful, apparently not enough to induce either party to court their favor. Had their numbers been greater it is probable there would have been efforts made by one party or the other to secure their votes. It is amusing to see how shy of any possible taint on this score both parties were. An Abolitionist was a polit- ical leper, whom it was dangerous to touch. In this general feeling of the country toward them, the parties as they existed in LaPorte county shared. One week in March, 1840, the LaPorte Herald has a thrust at the Whig newspaper in these words: "The LaPorte county Whig says not one one word condemnatory of Abolition;" and the next issue of the Whig replies in these words: "Nor one commendatory of Abolition." The one party was an open and avowed enemy ; the other refused to be a friend.
Betwen the two great political parties, the feeling became sharp and stirring. The LaPorte county Whig secured a "log cabin" wood cut, and from that time on, the Whig was illustrated with a log cabin. Dr. Fosdick's ingenuity was called into requisition to make the cut, and it illustrated not only the newspaper, but the campaign as well. Some bitterness also arose between individual men of the two parties. On Saturday previous to the 4th of July, 1840, Hon. Henry S. Lane spoke in LaPorte, which was the occasion of some remarks in the Herald of a personal nature, and which were declared afterwards by the Whig to be a reflection on the ladies who attended the speech. On the morning of the 4th,
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just as the audience were leaving the court house, after hearing an oration, Mr. Joseph Lomax, one of the editors, and the publisher of the Herald, was attacked by a prominent member of the Whig party with a cane because of the asserted insult published in the Herald in regard to the ladies who attended the Lane speech. Mr. Lomax drew a knife and stabbed twice, when the parties were separ- ated, without any serious injury to either. Doubtless the affair never would have occurred except under circumstances of high party spirit and rancor. In the Herald of the 11th of July, Mr. Lomax published a long statement concerning the affair over his own signature, one sentence from which will serve to show the political nature of the quarrel. After recounting several reported instances of the mobbing of Democratic editors, he adds: "In this place, LaPorte. the Federalists are the most abandoned, reckless, hypo- critical, murderous, and lost to every noble, honorable, virtuous feeling, of any other community with which I am acquainted; and within the last few years I have traveled through nine States of the Union." All which can now only excite a quiet smile, but then no doubt was highly commended by one party, while it embittered the already aroused feeling of the other.
The Senatorial convention which nominated Sylvanus Everts was held at Valparaiso on the 28th day of March, and was presided over by Solon Robinson, then of Lake county, with James Blair of Porter and Alexander Blackburn of LaPorte, Vice Presidents, H. S. Orton and Samuel I. Anthony, Secretaries. Among other resolutions the following was adopted: "That we have our politi- cal log cabin already raised, that next August we will roof it in. that next November we will chink Locofocos into the cracks, and that next March we will move into it." This resolution was printed in the Whig in large capitals. On the 11th of April the Whig county convention was held, and as matter of local history, its proceedings are here given in full, as reported in the Whig :
"WHIG COUNTY CONVENTION.
According to previous notice the delegates from the several town- ships of this county, met in convention at the court house, in La- Porte, on Saturday the 11th inst., at one o'clock P. M.
The convention was called to order by Oscar A. Barker, when on
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motion of Gen. Joseph Orr, the Hon. Gustavus A. Rose, was elected President, and Abel Lomax Vice President of the conven- tion, and Andrew L. Osborn of Michigan City, and Elijah Mayhew of LaPorte, were appointed Secretaries
The president then proceeded to the calling of delegates by town- ships, when the following gentlemen appeared and produced their credentials, and took their seats as members of the convention, to-wit:
From Centre Township .- John C. Reid, Joseph Orr, Jehiel Wasson, Stephen Holloway, John Hobson, Gustavus A. Rose, Jacob P. Andrew, William Clark, Edmund B. Woodson , George Swope, Clinton Foster and Elijah Mayhew.
From Michigan Township .- William H. Goodhue, Jonas Clark, Warren Cole, Samuel Booth, Samuel Mower, Oscar A. Barker, Horace Burr, Andrew L. Osborn, Chauncey C. Blair and Eliakim Ashton.
From New Durham Township .- James McCord, Henly Clyburn, Holland Benedict, Lemuel Robinson and James M. Ray.
From Scipio Township .- Daniel Closser, Lewis C. Andrew, Elnathan Gregory, Thomas W. Sale, John M. Barclay and David G. Rose.
From Noble Township .- William A. Webster, Horace Pratt, Theodore H. Wells and Josiah Grover.
From Pleasant Township .- George C. Havens, Jacob M'Casky, Abel Lomax and James Webster.
From Springfield Township .- Mr. Atwater, J. F. Jones, Phineas Hunt and Jesse Jones.
From Hudson Township .- John Reynolds and Andrew Avery.
From Union Township .- Patrick S. Weed, N. M. Catlin, Charles W. Henry and Miles S. Henry.
From Kankakee Township .- Jacob Wagner, Myron Ives, Ezekiel Provolt, Michael Brand, Chapel W. Brown and Daniel Murray.
From Wills Township .- Jasper S. Hunt, Henry Williamson, Charles Carmichael and William H. H. Whitehead.
From Clinton Township .- William S. Harding, Abijah Bigelow, T. B. Patterson and E. Williams.
From Coolspring Township .- Nathan Johnson.
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No delegates appearing from Galena township,
On motion of Chapel W. Brown, it was resolved that Byron Cadwallader and James Catterlin represent said township in this convention.
On motion of Gen. Joseph Orr, it was resolved, that in all cases where townships are not fully represented in this convention, that the delegates present from such townships, be authorized to fill such vacancies by the appointment of individuals from the same town- ships, or that they may be authorized to give the whole number of votes to which said townships are entitled.
On motion of Gen. Orr, the following resolution was unanimously adopted.
' Resolved, That the convention now proceed to nominate by ballot, a suitable person to run for Representative, each delegate voting as his name is called.'
Whereupon, Daniel Brown, of Scipio township, having received on the first balloting a majority of all the votes, it was on motion of Gen. Orr,
' Resolved, (unanimously), That Daniel Brown, be recommended to the Whigs of this county, as a suitable person to represent them in the next legislature.'
On motion of William Clark, it was
Resolved, That the convention now proceed to nominate by ballot a suitable person to be run for Sheriff, at the ensuing August election, each delegate voting when called. Whereupon, William Allen having received a majority of all the votes, it was on motion of Gen. Orr,
' Resolved, That William Allen be recommended to the Whigs of LaPorte county, as a suitable man for Sheriff of said county.
The convention then proceeded to nominate a suitable person to be supported for County commissioner, Whereupon, Henly Clyburn, having received a majority of all the votes given. it was on motion of James Clark,
' Resolved, (unanimously), That Henly Clyburn be recommended to the Whigs of this county, as a suitable candidate for the office of County commissioner, for district number three.'
The convention then proceeded to nominate a suitable person to be run for the office of School commissioner, Whereupon, Abel Lomax, having received a majority of all the votes given, it was.
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' Resolved, (unanimously), That Abel Lomax be recommended to the Whigs of this county, as a suitable candidate for the office of School commissioner, at the next August election.'
The nominations having all been made, on motion of Warren Cole, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted, to-wit: ' Resolved, That all the Log Cabin boys present be invited to take part in this convention.'
Edmund B. Woodson, Esq., offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted, to-wit:
' Resolved, That a committee of six citizens of LaPorte county, he appointed to address an invitation to Gen. Harrison, to meet the young men of Indiana, at the Tippecanoe battle ground, on the 29th of May next, and to request his attendance there, if he can possibly do so, consistently with his public and private duties, and that said committee report the result of their correspondence, by publication in the Whig papers of this county, as soon as possible. Whereupon the following gentlemen were appointed said committee, Abram P. Andrew, Jr., Charles W. Henry, Edmund B. Woodson, James M. Stuart, Gen. Joseph Orr and John Walker.
The convention was then favored with a short but spirited and eloquent speech by Charles W. Henry. Esq., which being concluded, on motion it was resolved, that the proceedings of this convention be published in all the Whig papers of this county.
On motion the convention then adjourned.
G. A. ROSE, President. ABEL LOMAX, Vice President."
A. L. OSBORN, Sec ys.
E. MAYHEW,
On the 13th, the Monday following, the Democratic county con- vention was held, and its proceedings as reported in the Herald, were as follows:
"LAPORTE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
On Monday the 13th of April. 1840, the Democrats of this county met pursuant to previous notice.
On motion, Col. John Moore was called to the chair; Dr. S. Pulford and Mr. Samuel Treat, Vice Presidents; and Joseph Lomax Secretary.
On motion of Thomas D. Lemon, the convention nominated the following committee, to choose officers for the convention :
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Abner Bailey, of Centre; John Wills, of Wills; William Wright, of New Durham; Jabez R. Wells, of Michigan; Isaac Jessup, of Kankakee; Ephraim Barney, of Union; John I. Crandall, of Pleasant; A. Foster, of Hudson; Day Jones, of Coolspring; Niles Gregory, of Scipio, and Gilbert Rose. of Springfield.
The committee retired, consulted, returned, and reported the fol- lowing officers :
John I. Candall, President; Schuyler Pulford. Samuel Treat, Vice Presidents; Joseph Lomax, Charles H. Averill, Secretaries.
The convention adopted the report, and the officers took their seats.
Mr. Enos stated the object of the convention.
On motion of Mr. Enos the convention appointed the following committee to draft resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the delegates of this county; viz :
Alonzo W. Enos, Gilbert Hathaway, Robert Stewart, Wilber F. Storey, William Wright, John Wills, A. A. Reynolds, Nathan B. Nichols, John Moore, and Thomas Norris.
On motion of Mr. Storey the convention adjourned for one hour. The convention met.
On motion of W. F. Storey, all Democrats present, were invited to participate in the deliberations of the convention.
On motion of Mr. Hathaway, the convention resolved to nomi- nate candidates for this county at this convention.
Mr. Enos commenced reading the resolutions, reported by the committee, when, on motion of Mr. Stewart, it was resolved that a vote of the convention should be taken upon each resolution, as it should be read. The following resolutions were then read and adopted, viz:
Resolved. That the Federal party of 1840, is the same identically . with the Federal party of 1798 and 1800. To prove it let facts answer. Alexander Hamilton, the founder and head of the Federal party, openly avowed and publicly maintained, that the people were not capable of self government-that the people were 'turbulent and changing. and seldom judged or determined right, and that nothing but a permanent body of life legislators could check the impudence of Democracy.' The Federal party have always been in favor of a National Bank-they maintain that a national debt is a national
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blessing, and acting upon this principle, the present Federal party openly advocate the assumption of the State debts by the general government, thereby creating a debt of two hundred millions of dollars-they are in favor of an extensive system of internal improvements to be carried on by the general government-they are in favor of a high tariff, and monopolies of every grade and charac- ter-they support the old Alien and Sedition laws, and at a recent date they were clamorous for the odious and proscriptive gag-law, introduced into the Senate of the United States by a Federal cham- pion-they are opposed to the safe keeping and disbursements of the public revenve in the only safe and constitutional way, to guard the people against great loss, and the government from irresponsi- ble depositories-in short the Federal party oppose every measure of relief. proposed by a Democratic administration-but, propose nothing themselves to mitigate the evils of which they complain.
Resolved, That the Democratic party repudiate all of these Fed- eral doctrines and oppose them as being dangerous to constitutional freedom and the existence of Republican institutions.
Resolved, That as Democratic Republicans of the old school, we feel deeply impressed with the great importance of the approaching elections; conscious of the zeal, power, and untiring efforts of the Federal party, their combinations of individual and corporate wealth-their lavish expenditures of money, and reckless course to accomplish their object, however base. their dishonest and dis- honorable attempts to create panics and circulate falsehoods-their attempted deceit to palm themselves off as 'Democratic Whigs.' while they support all of the old Federal doctrines-conscious of their immense power for doing evil, we have become alarmed for the safety of our government and the perpetuity of our free institu- tions, and deem it our highest privilege and first duty, thus early, to assemble, in order to adopt such measures as will be most likely to produce union, concert of action, and a vigorous effort for the contest of 1840.
Resolved, That our confidence in the ability and integrity of Martin Van Buren, President of the United States, remains unim- paired. His decided stand in favor of true Democratic principles, his open and frank avowal of opinions, upon all subjects of deep interest to the people, entitle him to the continued confidence and support of every Democrat.
Resolved, That we are in favor of the Independent Treasury Bill. recently passed by the Senate of the United States, and recom- mend it to the careful perusal and candid reflection of every Repub-
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lican in this county, as the only safe and constitutional method of collecting and disbursing the government revenue.
Resolved, That the unfounded assertions and miserable party slang of the Federalists, that 'the present administration, by its wicked and ruinous policy, has deranged the currency-destroyed the commerce, and brought distress and ruin upon the country,' is as false as it is infamously base; such idle declamation and false clamor is designed for party effect, to make early impressions, corrupt the public mind, and gratify depraved party feeling.
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