USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana, and its townships, towns and cities > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
At the August election of 1845, LaPorte county went Demo- cratic on candidates for Congress, Charles W. Cathcart receiving a majority of thirty-nine over Samuel C. Sample. For Representa- tives Andrew L. Osborn and J. S. Carter were elected over W. W. Higgins and William M. Patterson. For Associate Judges William Andrew and Abner Bailey were elected. For Clerk, Thomas P. Armstrong was elected over John M. Barclay. For Coroner, Jesse Wasson was elected over A. J. Wair, and tor County commis- sioner, Abiel Lathrop was elected over Whitman Goit. all by small majorities.
At the August election of 1846, Joseph G. Marshall was the Whig candidate for Governor, and James Whitcomb, the Demo- cratic, and the vote of LaPorte county was nine hundred and forty-three for Marshall, and eight hundred and sixty-seven for Whitcomb. For Lieutenant Governor, Alexander S. Stevenson received nine hundred and forty-three votes, and Paris C. Dunning eight hundred and sixty-one. For State Senator. Andrew L. Osborn received nine hundred and ninety-seven votes and John M. Lemon seven hundred and ninety-eight. For Prosecuting attorney, James Bradley received eight hundred and ninety-four votes, and Joseph H. Mather, nine hundred and one votes. For Representa- tives, Samuel Stewart and F. W. Hunt were elected over William Wright and Jacob G. Sleight, by less than one hundred majority each. West Darling and Christopher McClure were elected com- missioners over John Wills and Samuel Treat; Joshua S. Mc- Dowell was elected Sheriff over H. F. Hinkley by ninety-one majority, and W. K. Anderson was elected over Mark Allen for
239
POLITICS.
Assessor by fifty-three majority. The Liberty party, with wonder- ful courage kept up its organization and had a full ticket in the field, and polled this year an average of sixty-three votes in the county, the largest vote yet given. The candidates of that party for county officers were, Representatives, George Sawin and T. N. West: for County commissioners, Alva Mason and Jonathan Williams; for Sheriff, A. H. Mathews, and for Assessor, Jesse Jones. The Liberty party candidate for State Senator was Robert Stewart.
At the election of 1847, held on the 4th day of August, the county went Democratic on candidates for Congress. Daniel D. Pratt, was the Whig candidate and received in this county nine hundred and thirteen votes to nine hundred and ninety-seven for Charles W. Cathcart, the Democratic candidate. F. W. Hunt and Myron H. Orton were elected Representatives to the State legis- lature over J. G. Sleight and William Taylor by majorities of about one hundred each. John M. Lemon was elected Treasurer at this election, receiving nine hundred and seventy-seven votes, to nine hundred and sixty-one for Willard A. Place. Alfred Stephens was elected County commissioner by a small majority over West Dar- ling; and A. J. Wair was elected Coroner over John F. Decker, by a majority of eighty-seven.
The year 1848, brought with it a lively campaign. It was the year when General Taylor was the candidate of the Whig party for President, and General Lewis Cass candidate of the Democrats. Martin Van Buren was the candidate of the Free Soil party. Of course party lines were more closely drawn than in other years when national interests were not at stake; but in LaPorte county, local considerations affected the result in August to such an extent that ยท some candidates were elected from each of the two leading political parties, the Democrats generally leading. Willard A. Place and F. W. Hunt were elected Representatives over A. Ainsworth and A. H. Robinson, Place receiving a majority of one hundred and forty- six and Hunt a majority of five. Andrew J. Wair was elected Auditor over Joel Butler by a majority of one hundred and thirty- three. J. R. Wells was elected Probate judge over William C. Hannah. James Bradley was elected Prosecuting attorney over
240
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
Myron H. Orton. J. S. McDowell was elected Sheriff over W. D.
Shumway by four hundred and eighty-nine majority. Samuel Burson was elected County commissioner over A. Lathrop and Joseph B. Lewis was eclected Assessor over R. Shaw by nineteen majority. The political excitement did not terminate with the local election in August, but increased until the Presidential election in November. Perhaps the most significant circumstance attending this campaign and election was the growth of the Free Soil senti- ment, the county giving two hundred and twenty-six votes for the Van Buren and Adams electors. the candidates of that party for the Presidency and Vice Presidency. The Whig electors received one thousand and twenty-seven votes, and the Democratic eight hun- dred and eighty-three votes. the county going for Taylor and Fillmore by one hundred and forty-four majority over Cass and Butler. On the electoral ticket of each party these were men who have become distinguished in the history of the State. Among the Democratic electors there were Robert Dale Owen. Cyrus L. Dun- ham. Charles H. Test and Graham N. Fitch: among the Whig electors wdre Joseph G. Marshall. Godlove S. Orth. Lovell H. Rousseau and Daniel D. Pratt : among the Free Soil electors. were H. L. Ellsworth, James H. Cravens, George W. Julian and John H. Bradley. The canvassing of the whole State was constant, thorough and able. Passions were deeply stirred, for more and more were questions arising out of the institution of slavery coming to the surface. and although both the old parties endeavored to ignore such questions, yet, like the ghost of murdered Banquo, they would not "down."
At the August election in 1849, the county went Whig by an average majority of one hundred and fifty. The vote on candi- dates for Governor were. for John A. Matson. Whig. one thousand one hundred and two. and for Joseph A. Wright. Democrat. nine hundred and fifty-nine: for Lieutenant Governor, Thomas S. Stanfield, Whig. one thousand one hundred and five. and James H. Lane, Democrat, nine hundred and fifty-four: for Representative in Congress. Williamson Wright. one thousand one hundred and twenty-seven, Graham N. Fitch. nine hundred and fifty-seven: for State Senator, AAbram Teegarden, Whig. one thousand one hundred
241
POLITICS.
and sixty-one, and William W. McCoy, Democrat, nine hundred and one; for Representatives in the State legislature, Alex. H. Robinson and William Millikan, Whigs, were elected over W. A. Place and Jacob R. Hall; for Probate judge, Mulford K. Farrand, Whig, was elected over Gilbert Hathaway, Democrat : for County commissioners, John F. Allison and Christopher Mc- Clure were elected over Wm. Fry and Alfred Stephens; for Recorder, Burwell Spurlock was the only candidate: for Coroner F. A. McDowell was elected over R. K. Crandall.
The election of August. 1850. resulted in the election of some of the candidates of each of the two parties. For delegates to the constitutional convention, John B. Niles, Alexander Blackburn. Charles W. Cathcart and E. D. Taylor were the candidates, and they received votes as follows: Niles, nine hundred and ninety- three; Taylor, one thousand and two: Cathcart, nine hundred and thirty-one, and Blackburn, eight hundred and thirty-nine. For Representatives in the State legislature, William Millikan and James Bradley were elected over Alexander H. Robinson and Jacob R. Hall; for Treasurer, John M. Lemon was elected over William Taylor; for Sheriff. H. Lawson was elected over Jesse Mathis by twenty-nine majority only; for County commissioner Mark Allen was elected over John F. Allison: for Coroner, E. S. Organ was elected over F. McCollum, and for Assessor, Joseph B. Lewis was elected over John S. Jessup.
At the regular election held on the first Monday of August. 1851, the Whigs carried the county by a small majority, averaging less than one hundred. The candidates for Congress. were Schuy- ler Colfax and Graham N. Fitch. and the former received of the votes of LaPorte county, one thousand and seventy-three. the latter one thousand and sixty-six. For the Legislature, F. W. Hunt was elected over James Bradley; for Clerk, Volney Bailey was elected over A. W. Henley: for County commissioner, George C. Havens was elected over James Drummond by ten majority ; for Assessor, John S. Jessup was the only candidate. At this election the new constitution was voted upon, and LaPorte county gave one thousand seven hundred and sixty-nine votes for its adoption, to one hundred and thirty two votes against it. That section of this
I6
242
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
constitution which provided for the exclusion of "negroes and mulattoes" from the State was submitted to a separate vote. and although it is not pleasant to write it. vet the truth must be told that for this barbarous measure there were one thousand three hun- dred and thirty-eight votes. and only six hundred and thirty-five against it. And vet perhaps there should be a feeling of gratifica- tion that so large a vote was cast against it, for it was certainly much larger in proportion to the whole vote than in many other parts of the State, and indicated that the grand idea of freedom for all men. was taking root, and giving promise of a golden harvest. How men have grown since that day! grown in the knowledge of the meaning of Liberty, in the knowledge of human brotherhood, and of a genuine political manhood. Let us be glad for that six hundred and thirty-five votes.
This was the year when Schuyler Colfax was a candidate for Congress the first time. The convention by which he was nomi- nated. was held at Plymouth on the 28th day of May. The Demo- erats of the District had met a few days previously, on the 22d day of May, at the same place. and nominated Graham N. Fitch for re-election to Congress. To show the position of parties on public questions at this time there is here presented the resolutions adopted by the two conventions held at Plymouth. The Demo- cratie convention adopted as its platform of principles, the following resolutions :
" Resolved. That the cardinal principles of the Democratic party are to be found in the resolutions of 1798. drawn by Jefferson and Madison. and reaffirmed by the National conventions of 1836. 1840. 1844 and 1848: that we regard them as the touchstone of our political faith : that we will be governed by them in our political action, and that we place our nominee for Congress upon the broad platform thus erected.
Resolved, That we abide by the letter and spirit of the Consti- tution. and that we will stand by each and all of its compromises, and therefore recognize the binding force of every clause, (the delivery of fugitives from labor included ), and we regard any action from any quarter. North or South, that tends to weaken or estrange our high allegiance to its solemn provisions, as equally faithless and treasonable.
243
POLITICS.
The Whig convention adopted a much longer platform of princi- ples. Their resolutions were as follows :
" Resolved, That the Whigs of the ninth Congressional District, in convention assembled, tender to each other their pledge of fidelity to the cause, and devotion to the principles for which they have so long labored.
Resolved, That our position remains unchanged; no interference with the domestic policy or peculiar institutions of sister States; no extension of slave territory ; no diffusion of an institution which it is believed tends to degrade labor and blight industry, over more of National soil than it now covers; no countenancing of disunion sentiments whether at the North or South; but devotion, unfalter- ing and unconditional devotion to our glorious Union, in any event, under all circumstances, despite all contingencies.
Resolved, That although we may not agree upon each and every one of the measures passed by the last Congress, known as the com- promise measures, yet we regard them as designed to settle the questions specified in them, and that we are of the opinion that the good of the country requires that the settlement should remain undisturbed until time and experience shall show that a change or modification of them is necessary to avoid evasion or abuse; and that we hold, in the language of Henry Clay, on making his report from the committee of thirteen, that "Congress ought, while on the one hand securing to the owner the fair restoration of his property, effectually to guard on the other against any abuse in the applica- tion of the remedy," being satisfied that it is not unsafe for either individuals or nations to rectify wrong by the substitution of right, and that the crowning glory of law is its protection of the rights of the weak as well as its enforcement of the just claims of the strong.
Resolred, That the thanks of the nation are due Millard Fillmore and his Cabinet for the promptness and efficiency with which they have maintained the public faith, and for their determination to execute the laws at every hazard, and preserve unsullied the honor and integrity of the Nation; and that this administration deserves the confidence and support of the Whig party.
Resolved, That so far from the prosperity so confidently pre- dicted by our opponents being realized by the working of the present tariff, we see, instead of the high prices for grain that were promised. a depression in rates almost unparalleled ; instead of an increase in the rewards of labor, factories and mills all over the land stopping. and thus operatives ceasing to purchase of the farmer,
244
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY
compelled to resort to agriculture themselves, and becoming rivals in producing instead of being consumers, thereby tending still further to depress prices by the superabundance thus created: and instead of the wealth of the world pouring in as was prophesied, a balance of trade against us of $50,000,000 in a single year, and the shipment of over $3,000,000 per month in hard coin from but one port to Europe, saying nothing of the millions upon millions of bonds and loans negotiated abroad, all hereafter to be paid for in cash and nothing else, attest to every man willing to see, that all the avails of our hardy miners in California, with an amount equally large in addition is taken from us for the benefit of foreign manufacturers, who rejoice and thrive over the prostration of our industrial enterprises.
Resolved. That Congress should, in arranging the details of a tariff, not only seek to raise sufficient revenue for the support of Government, but at the same time discriminate so judiciously in the duties upon foreign imports. as to promote all the industrial interests of our own country : that all legislation which tends to the developement of our own resources, or the diversification of labor into different pursuits, or the building up of a home market for agricultural products on our own soil, or the carrying out of the emphatic declaration of Jefferson that "to be independent for the comforts of life. we must fabricate them ourselves: we must place the manufacturer by the side of the agriculturist," is eminently beneficial in its character and conduces to the prosperity. the prog- ress, the wealth and the real independence of the Nation: and that the present tariff should be so modified. as recommended by President Fillmore and Secretary Corwin, as to make it conform to the above principles, and render it what the tariff of the United States should be-incidental protection to our own labor.
Resolved, That it is the duty of congress to make liberal appro- priations for the improvement of the Rivers and Harbors of the West as well as for those of the South and East: that our internal com- merce floating on fresh water, should have equal benefits and equal protection with that extended so liberally to the external. or salt water commerce of the country. and that no false excuses about a bill including works of a local character will be any justification with the people of the West, for denying them that, which, though long and justly claimed, has been so often defeated by the vetoes of Democratic Administrations, or the more recent wilful factionsness of Democratic Senators. That this District has peculiar claims upon the National Legislature in this respect, being directly inter-
245
POLITICS.
ested in the Harbors at Michigan City and St. Joseph : and that it should send a member to represent their claims who can have per- sonal influence with his colleagues sufficient to procure for them, the vote of at least one other member of his own party from his own State.
Resolved, That we deprecate all those contrivances, whether under or without the cover of law, which wink at the pilfering of the Government treasury under the pretense of constructive mileage, long mileage, Ritchie claims and other kindred absorbents; that constructive mileage should be abolished totally and forever; the present exorbitant rate of mileage, so greatly disproportioned to the expense of travel, reduced at least one-half, and computed, not by the easiest but the nearest route; and public contractors com- pelled to live up to their obligations without importunate appeals to be allowed hundreds of thousands of dollars in addition.
Resolved, That we are in favor of reducing letter postage to a low rate, and the entire abolition of the franking privilege, leaving the government and congressmen to pay their own postage the same as private citizens.
Resolved, That as Whigs, we sympathize with the struggles of the masses now going forward in the old world, to throw off the shackles which have so long bound them; and to assert that equality and independence which we regard as man's birthright.
Resolved, Unanimously, that we recommend to the voters of this Congressional District, Schuyler Colfax, the candidate this day nominated, with the assurance to all that he is honest, and would scorn to betray them, or violate pledges which he may make, capable, possessing talents and a zeal in their exercise which must be valuable to the district, and creditable to the councils of the Nation, should he be elected, and faithful to the constitution of the country, regarding its observance as the bond of our union, the guarantee of our national welfare, and the means of promoting internal peace, and hushing the voice of faction and discord amongst our jarring members.'
The resolutions of the two parties given above, exhibit the issues which divided them this year and also in the Presidential campaign which was soon to follow. The Whig convention at Plymouth was presided over by Andrew L. Osborn; Wm. Millikan was one of the Secretaries. Mr. Treadway was on the committee to report permanent officers of the convention, and Mulford K. Farrand was made chairman of the District Central committee.
246
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
The convention seems to have been a most harmonious one. Mr. Colfax was nominated unanimously, and the resolutions were unan- imously adopted. On the 4th day of June, the LaPorte Whig contained the following call for a county convention :
"RALLY WHIGS! COUNTY CONVENTION !!
In consequence of there being but few in attendance at the con- vention on Saturday the 25th, the nomination of candidates for State and county officers for this county, was postponed. The cen- tral committee have therefore appointed Saturday, the 14th day of June next, as a day upon which to hold a Mass County Conven- tion in LaPorte, to nominate a candidate to represent this county in the next legislature, and also to nominate candidates for county officers. Every Whig in the county is requested to attend. Let the townships all be fully and fairly represented.
The meeting will be organized at 11 o'clock. A. M.
D. G. ROSE, J. B. FRAVEL,
EDWARD VAIL. WM. MILLIKAN,
Whig Central Committee. LaPorte, May 27, 1851."
The result of the election which followed has already been given. The year 1852, was fraught with much deeper interest politically. Franklin Pierce was the Democratic candidate for President. Gen. Winfield Scott the Whig candidate, and John P. Hale the Free Soil candidate. The candidates for Governor. were Joseph A. Wright, Democratic, and Nicholas McCarty, Whig, and the full complement of State officers was voted for. For Congress, Norman Eddy was the Democratie candidate, and Horace P. Biddle, the Whig. The candidates for Judge of the ninth judicial circuit, were James Bradley and Thomas S. Stanfield; for Judge of the court of common pleas, Herman Lawson and Mulford K. Farrand were the candidates; for Prosecuting attorney of the circuit court, D. J. Woodward and John M. Wilson were the candidates; for Proscut- ing attorney of the common pleas, the candidates were Daniel Noyes and A. Dickson; for Representative, the candidates were John C. Walker and Franklin W. Hunt; Samuel Burson and Wm. Allen were candidates for Sheriff; Ambrose W. Henly and Volney W.
247
POLITICS.
Bailey were candidates for Clerk: Mark Allen and Edmund S. Organ were candidates for Treasurer; Jackson Hosmer and Wm. H. Goodhue were candidates for Commissioner; John P. Cathcart and Elam Clark were candidates for Surveyor; Henry Fox and E. E. Annis were candidates for Coroner. The new constitution was in force and the general annual election was for the first time held in October. At this election the Democrats succeeded in revolution- izing the county, giving a majority to nearly all their candidates. They held the county also at the Presidential election in November, giving a majority of one hundred and eleven to the Democratic electors. But at this election the Free Soil party cast one hundred and thirty-six votes for the Hale and Julian electors. Among the Whig electors were Schuyler Colfax, Richard W. Thompson, John Coburn. David Kilgore, Nathan Kimball. Pleasant A. Hackleman and Henry S. Lane; and among the Democratic electors, Wm. Grose, Ebenezer Dumont, James H. Lane and John A. Hendricks. There were a few exceptions to the general Democratic victory at the October election. Thomas S. Stanfield received a majority of ore hundred and sixty-eight over James Bradley; Mulford K. Far- rand received a majority of sixty over fierman Lawson; William Allen was elected Sheriff over Samuel Burson by twenty-six majority : Volney W. Bailey was elected Clerk over A. W. Henly by one hundred and twenty-six majority: and Edmund S. Organ was elected Treasurer over Mark Allen by one hundred and eighty- one majority. All the rest of the Democrats received majorities ranging from forty to one hundred. When it was ascertained that as LaPorte county went, so went the State, it was not strange that the LaPorte Commercial Times, edited by John C. Walker and John W. Holcombe, should insert at the head of its columns, the traditional rooster. The rooster occupied his place but looked as though he was waiting for the result of the November election before he venture i to crow. When that came it gave him the opportunity. The Times expressed itself in these words over the result in October;
"'NINE GUNS FOR PIERCE AND KING !!
Sufficient returns have come in from the elections in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. to indicate the greatest victories ever won
248
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
by the Democratic party. Each of the States has rolled up over- whelming majorities, ranging from twelve to twenty thousand. Let the Whigs shut their eyes as they will, and ostrich-like, thrust their heads in such twigs of comfort as they can find; let them discover as many local issues as they choose, and contrast the present major- ities with past votes for Governor; let them reduce the figures as low as they will, and count the votes on steamboats and railroads, the great fact cannot be blinked, that the prestige of victory and all the omens of triumph cluster around the banner of Democracy. No one will believe the miserable subterfuge that the Whig party regarded the late elections as of no importance, and made no efforts to win the battle. Were it so, such shameful abandonment of the post of duty would most surely prove them unfit to be trusted with the destinies of the nation. But they did work, with all the frenzy of desperation, and their labors were all fruitless: the aspirations of the age and the instincts of the people were against them. Maine and North Carolina, Iowa and Missouri, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, Florida and South Carolina have taken their posts in the line of battle. and will not alter in November, the glorious war cry, which they have so proudly flung on the breeze in August and October.
Indiana is the banner State. Governor Wright's majority is probably near twenty thousand. In 1849 it was less than ten thousand-clear gain of ten thousand. Ten Democrats and only one Whig elected to Congress. In the Legislature there is probably on joint ballot a Democratic majority of fifty members.
Dr. Norman Eddy, Representative elect in our own District, received a majority in every county.
Herman Lawson. our present Sheriff, is elected Judge of the court of common pleas in this District. consisting of LaPorte, Porter and Lake counties. Majority two. One hundred and fifty-three ballots containing the name of James K. Farrand, were thrown out as informal.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.