USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana, and its townships, towns and cities > Part 21
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In the late election, LaPorte county polled two thousand five hundred and eighty-eight votes. distributed as follows among the various townships, Michigan : two hundred and eighty-eight: Spring- field. seventy-four: Galena, seventy-three: Hudson. eighty: Cool
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Spring, eighty-three; Centre, seven hundred and forty; Kankakee, one hundred and forty-five; Wills, one hundred and twenty-one; Pleasant, four hundred and twelve; Scipio, one hundred and fifty- five: New Durham, one hundred and sixty-four; Clinton, one hun- dred and twenty -- four; Noble, two hundred and ten; Union, one hundred and sixty ; Cass, twenty-nine."
It seems quite evident that in 1852, there was a Democratic tidal wave which rolled over not LaPorte county alone, but the whole country. The result sounded the knell of the Whig party. It was broken up and never again rallied. New departures were taken, and out of the disorganized material of which the Whig party was composed, augmented by numerous accessions from the anti-slavery sentiment of the Democracy, the Republican party was at length formed; and parties became divided squarely upon issues growing out of slavery.
At the election of October, 1853, only a few more than one thousand and six hundred votes were polled in LaPorte county. The field seems to have been yielded to the Democrats without a struggle. The only officers to be elected were Reporter of the supreme court, County Auditor and two Commissioners. The vote stood as follows: For Reporter, supreme court, A. G. Porter, nine hundred and ninety-nine votes and James W. Gordon six hundred and thirty votes ; for County Auditor, Andrew J. Wair, one thou- sand and fifteen votes, John S. Allen four hundred and three, and Abram Fravel two hundred and twenty votes; for Commissioners, James Drummond, nine hundred and ninety-six votes, Jacob R. Hall, one thousand and seven votes, Phineas Hunt, six hundred and seventeen votes and Joseph Orr six hundred votes.
The election aroused no political feeling; and very little was said about it in the press. The following mild utterance is from the LaPorte Times, and is about all that was said concerning the election of 1853:
"OCTOBER ELECTION.
For some weeks we have had the name of Albert G. Porter at the head of our columns as the Democratic nominee for Supreme Court Reporter, and we would now call attention to the importance of that office, and the election of a fit and competent man to dis-
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charge its duties. Mr. Porter, as appointee of the Governor, has already manifested his entire capacity, and if elected. will do credit to the position. There is but one fear on the subject of the October election, and that is that the Democracy will not think this matter of electing a Reporter of sufficient importance to induce them to the polls. This should never be! Let the people show their will on every occasion of this kind. for if they do not, there are opportunities left open for now and then a most shameful defeat. We shall notice this election again."
New questions now arose, growing out of the Know-Nothing excitement and the agitation which attended the passage of the Nebraska Bill, and repeal of the Missouri compromise, and at the October election of 1854, the average majority against the Demo- cratic party was three hundred. The election was for State officers. except Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Representative in Con- gress. Prosecuting attorney for the circuit court, and also for the court of common pleas. Representative to the State legislature and several other county officers. The candidates for Congress, were Schuyler Colfax. and Norman Eddy. and Colfax received one thou- sand seven hundred and twenty-nine, votes to one thousand three hundred and ninety-nine for Eddy. The candidates for Prosecut- ing attorney in the circuit court. were Morgan H. Weir and Don J. Woodward. and Weir received three hundred and nine majority. James A. Thornton was the Democratic candidate for common pleas Prosecutor against Wm. C. Talcott, and Talcott received a majority of two hundred and forty-five votes. Jacob R. IIall was elected Representative to the State legislature against John C. Walker; Edmund S. Organ was elected County Treasurer against Orpheus Everts; Wm. II. H. Whitehead was elected Sheriff over H. P. Lans; the candidates for County commissioner, were O. F. Piper and James Drummond, and Piper was elected: the candidates for County Surveyor. were Daniel M. Leaming and John P. Cath- cart, and Leaming was elected: and Henry W. Fox was elected Coroner against Wm. Fry.
Not much interest was manifested by the people of the county in the election of 1855. as there were no officers to be elected except a Recorder and three Commissioners. Only about one thousand and
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nine hundred votes were cast, although there were probably thirty- two or thirty-three hundred voters in the county. The Democrats were successful and elected all their candidates by majorities ranging from ninety-one to two hundred and fifty. Anderson Hupp was elected Recorder against Burwell Spurlock, and Asa M. Warren, Aquilla W. Rodgers, and H. J. Reese were elected Commissioners against Samuel Harvey, Abram Westervelt and George Crawford.
Prior to 1856, the anti-slavery sentiment of the country had become consolidated. It took the form of opposition to the exten- sion of slavery into the territories of the United States, and resulted in the organization of the Republican party. The larger portion of the Whigs found themselves naturally in the new party, most of the Free Soilers united with it, and also the large anti-slavery ele- ment of the Democratic party. The first national convention of the new party met early in 1856, and nominated John C. Fremont for President and Wm. L. Dayton for Vice President. The candidates of the Democracy were James Buchanan and John C. Breckenridge. Oliver P. Morton was the Republican candidate for Governor of Indiana, and Ashbel P. Willard, the Democratic candidate. W. Z. Stewart was the Democratic candidate for Congress and Schuyler Colfax had been nominated by the Republicans for re-election. M. H. Weir was the Republican candidate for State Senator, and Herman Lawson, the Democratic candidate; and for Judge of the court of common pleas, the candidates were William C. Talcott, Republican, and Daniel Noves, Democrat. The candidates for county officers were as follows, the Democratic candidate for each office being first named: For Representative to the State legisla- ture, William R. Bowes and George Crawford; for Clerk, C. W. Mead and James Moore; for Treasurer. Seth Eason and Abel D. Porter; for Sheriff, Nathan Kell and Wm. H. H. Whitehead; for Surveyor, John P. Cathcart and Daniel M. Leaming; for Coroner, Wm. Fry and R. G. James, and for Commissioner, A. W. Rogers and Elam Clark.
The Republicans were victorious. The vote was the largest that had ever been cast in the county, the total number being four thousand five hundred and sixty-three; and the Republican candi- dates were all successful by majorities ranging from fifty, to one
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hundred and forty-nine. On State officers the average majority was one hundred and five. The majority of Mr. Colfax was one hundred and thirty. Morgan H. Weir's majority was one hundred and twenty-two. Whitehead's majority was one hundred and forty-nine.
The canvass for the Presidential nominees was still kept up, and in November, LaPorte county cast a still larger vote than in October. the whole number of votes being four thousand eight hundred and nineteen. Of these the Republican electors received two thousand five hundred and thirty-three votes, the Democratic electors two thousand two hundred and thirty-nine votes, and there were forty- five votes cast for a third electoral ticket. Daniel D. Pratt was the Whig elector for the ninth District, and Orpheus Everts the Dem- ocratic elector. The whole campaign was one of intense interest and excitement. and although the Republican party was defeated in its first national contest, and in most of the States, yet the large vote it cast. and its many local victories, served to consolidate it and prepare it for future success.
The election of 1857 was without especial incident. It included county officers and Judge of the circuit court, Andrew L. Osborn being elected to the latter position by a heavy majority. The can- . didates for county officers, were for Clerk, James Moore and John B. Fravel: for Sheriff. Wm. H. H. Whitehead and Nathan Kell : for Treasurer. Abel D. Porter and Seth Eason: for Auditor. John G. Laird and Thomas Pryce: for Commissioner first District, Isaac B. Coplin and Wm. W. Garrard: for Commissioner second District. Sidney S. Sabin and Henry P. Lans. Moore. Whitehead, Porter. Laird. Coplin and Sabin, all Republicans, were elected by major- ities ranging from one hundred and fifty to over four hundred. In the case of Laird and Pryce there was a contest on the ground that Laird had been elected to the office of Justice of the Peace. within four years. which would under the constitution prevent his holding any but a judicial office within that time. It was finally adjudged that neither party was entitled to the office. and Reuben Munday was appointed by the commissioners to serve until the next general election.
Political excitement became warm again in 1858. The terms
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that were heard most in the party language of the day were " Lecompton 'Constitution." " Kansas," "Border Ruffianism," "Freedom of the Territories," "Non-Extension of Slavery." ~ Dred Scott Decision." All the State officers except Governor were to be elected, a member of Congress. and county officers. The Repub- licans carried the county on State officers by from five hundred and twenty to five hundred and sixty majority in a total vote of five thousand and twenty-six. Schuyler Colfax and John C. Walker were the opposing candidates for Congress, and the former's majority in the county was five hundred and sixty-five. Wm. B. Biddle aud James A. Thornton were the opposing candi- dates for Prosecuting attorney in the circuit court, and Biddle received a majority of five hundred and two. John Walton and Theophilus Fravel were the opposing candidates for Auditor, and Walton was elected. Abel D. Porter was elected Treasurer over Truman T. Harris: Joshua S. McDowell was elected Sheriff over Levi Ely: Elisha L. Bennett was elected Surveyor over Munday Allen : Luther Brusie was elected Coroner over Henry Ellsworth : John Warnock was elected Commissioner over J. W. Butterfield. and Win. II. Scott and M. G. Sherman were elected Representa- tives over James Bradley and James Orr. The officers elect were all Republicans, and the majorities were generally over five hundred.
The " off year" of 1859 brought out a very light vote, the whole number cast being only two thousand eight hundred and thirty-five. There were but three offices to be filled: Prosecuting attorney common pleas court. Recorder, and Commissioner for the second District. Joseph M. Dow and Daniel Noyes were the candidates for Prosecuting attorney : and Dow, Republican, received a majority in this county of one hundred and eighty-four. Luther Mann. Jr .. was the Republican candidate for Recorder and Anderson Hupp the Democratic candidate for re-election. Hupp was elected by sixty- six majority. Sidney S. Sabin was elected Commissioner against Harvey Truesdell, Democrat.
The country was now becoming deeply moved over questions which stirred the popular heart as none had ever done before. The storm had been gathering ever since the repeal of the Missouri
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compromise; the struggles in Kansas had deeply intensified the feeling of the people of the North, and John Brown's attempt upon Harper's Ferry had been skillfully managed so as to arouse and heat the people of the South. That the territories of the United States should be forever consecrated to freedom was the solemn determination of a large majority of the people of the North : and that the boundaries of the institution of slavery should not be further enlarged. The South, seeking its perpetuation by means of enlarged political power. determined that it should not be restricted, but should have enlarged privileges. The questions dividing par- ties were thus chiefly sectional, and pointed directly to war. In this state of the public mind. the Republican party met in national con- vention in Chicago, and nominated Abraham Lincoln for President. and Hannibal Hamlin for Vice President. The Democratic party met at Charleston in South Carolina. and the "fire-eating" element of the South, the better to secure their object, the dissolution of the Union, broke up the convention. The party afterwards met in the city of Baltimore, and there the same turbulent element divided the convention, and the result was the nomination of two Democratic tickets, Stephen A. Douglas and Herschel V. Johnson for President and Vice President on the one side, and John C. Breck- enridge and Joseph Lane on the other. Henry S. Lane stood at the head of the Republican State ticket, as candidate for Governor and Thomas A. Hendricks, at the head of the Democratic ticket. In the ninth District Schuyler Colfax was again the Republican candidate for Congress and the Democrats pitted against him the veteran Charles W. Cathcart. Daniel Noves and Elisha Egbert were the opposing candidates for Judge of the court of common pleas. The candidates for county offices were as follows: For Clerk, James Moore and C. C. Morrical: for Sheriff, Joshua S. McDowell and Richard Huncheon: for Treasurer, Reginald H. Rose and Truman T. Harris: For Coroner, Ludwig Eliel and Robert Friedel; for Surveyor, Edward H. Leaming and John P. Cathcart ; for Commissioner, Isaac B. Coplin and Ephraim Barney ; for Representatives to the State legislature, Samuel Harvey and Mason G. Sherman, Republicans, and Irwin S. Jessup and Henry P. Lans, Democrats. The candidates for State Senator, were Abraham Teegarden and Henry Higgins.
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The position which the Republican party maintained on slavery questions may be seen in the following resolutions found in the State Republican platform of that year:
" Resolved, That we are opposed to the new and dangerous doc- trine advocated by the Democratic party, that the Federal consti- tution carries slavery into the public territories, and that we believe slavery cannot exist anywhere in this government, unless by positive local law, and that we will oppose its extension into the ter- ritories of the Federal Government by all the power known to the constitution of the United States.
Resolved. That we are opposed to any interference with slavery where it exists under the sanction of State law, that the soil of every State should be protected from lawless invasions from every quarter, and that the citizens of every State should be secured from illegal arrests and search, as well as from mob violence."
They also embodied the following in the platform :
Resolved, That we regard the preservation of the American Union as the highest object and duty of patriotism, and that it must and shall be preserved, and that all who advocate disunion are, and deserve the fate of, traitors."
Other questions formed issues between the parties, but the chief and most important by far, the overshadowing ones, were those growing out of the institution of slavery and the attitude of the South with respect to it, and also towards the Union. Threats of secession in case of the election of Mr. Lincoln were freely made, and the leaders in the violence which characterized the proceedings in the South, were more deeply in earnest than the people of the North generally supposed. The campaign was distinguished, besides the usual processions and speeches, by a Republican organ- ization known as Wide Awakes, which adopted a simple uniform, and were provided with torch lamps, fixed on poles, and thus added much to the interest of night meetings. The company of Wide Awakes which existed in LaPorte, was drilled by Gen. Newell Gleason, in the manner of handling their lamp sticks according to the manual of arms. In one year from that time many of the same persons were drilling with arms, preparatory to fighting the battles of the nation against a section of country which had wantonly risen
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in rebellion. The political pulse beat high in both parties, great political gatherings were frequent, and processions and enthusiasm filled up the days and the nights. At length the day of the October election came, and the Republicans were completely successful. The average majority which the county gave on the State ticket was nine hundred and eighty-five. Colfax's majority for congress was one thousand and five. Egbert's majority for Judge was four hun- dred and seventy. Teegarden's majority for the State Senate was one thousand and three. The Republican majority on county offices was from seven hundred to one thousand majority. The whole number of votes cast was five thousand and fifteen. But the great event was still to occur-the Presidential election in November. At this election there were four electoral tickets in the field. those headed by the candidates already named, and the Union party ticket, headed by John Bell and Edward Everett. Each of them were voted for in this county. The county filled three places on electoral tickets. John C. Walker was on the Douglas Democratic ticket for the State at large, James Bradley was on the Brecken- ridge Democratic ticket for the ninth District. and John P. Early on the Bell and Everett electoral ticket for the ninth District. The Lincoln electoral ticket received two thousand nine hundred and sixty-seven ; the Douglas ticket, one thousand six hundred and six; the Bell and Everett ticket, twenty-seven, and the Brecken- ridge ticket, four hundred and seventy-four, the number of votes cast being five thousand and seventy-four. The Republican majority over all was eight hundred and sixty; and over the Douglas-Democratic ticket. one thousand three hundred and sixty- one. On the next day after the election, the LaPorte Union had this to say :
" La Porte county is entitled to the Banner. Lincoln's majority in this county is probably one thousand four hundred over Douglas. The Breckenridge vote in the county is about five hundred.
In this city the vote was as follows: For Lincoln nine hundred and twenty-seven; for Douglas, three hundred and eighty-nine; Breckenridge, ninety-five, and Bell, seventeen.
St. Joseph county gives Lincoln nine hundred majority.
The result is better than we had hoped for: but we are none the
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less delighted with it. We are anxious to spread the good news as soon as possible, and will not wait for further details."
The night of the election day, the Republicans of the city of LaPorte met in Huntsman Hall, to receive and read the despatches, determining not to go to their homes until they should learn the general result. About eight o'clock the news began to arrive. Mishawaka reported Republican gains, and Calumet sent word that they had given Lincoln a majority of nineteen. Calumet, now
Chesterton. had always before gone Democratic.
These results
started the cheers, and speeches were called for; but no one felt like speaking then; as one expressed it, they "were too full for utter- ance and felt too good." Some news came from other portions of this State, from western Ohio and from Michigan, all bearing tidings of large Republican gains. This was all received with much glee; but the State which all were anxious to hear from was New York. The despatches began to drop in from small towns, and as it was not known how they had previously stood, there was no information conveyed. But at last the decisive despatches came showing that New York was safe for Lincoln, and that Pennsylva- nia's majority for him would be seventy thousand. This news created an enthusiasm such as it would be difficult to describe. Men were lifted up and carried around the hall on the shoulders of the multitude, there were shouting and singing, and a perfect shower of flying hats: strong men wept for joy, and laughed and shouted alternately. The news from New England and other States that had been received meantime, settled it that the national victory was with the Republicans. Then about one o'clock in the morning, they departed to their homes. Men do not indulge in these enthusi- asms now, and the men of 1860 may be thought to have been grotesquely extravagant, but we should pardon something to the spirit of liberty, and to the new-born zeal for the young party which was enkindled by its first national victory.
The vote of 1861 was light. None but county officers were to be elected, and the whole number of votes cast was two thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine. Of these, for Sheriff, S. P. Mead received one thousand four hundred and thirty-five, and Wm. Ever- hart one thousand three hundred and eighty-eight; For County
I7
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commissioner, John P. Cathcart received two thousand five hundred and eighty-one votes and John Garwood, Sen., one hundred and seventy-five; for Representative to the State legislature, H. H. Roberts received nine hundred and thirty-eight votes, J. P. Dunn, eight hundred and thirty-nine, and Wm. B. Webber, five hundred and fifty. The attention of the whole people was concentrated on the war; and how well LaPorte county bore her part will be shown in a succeeding chapter.
The election of 1862, was a more important one. The Union arms had met with reverses, and a somewhat gloomy feeling per- vaded the minds of the people. When the election came each party stood firmly by its candidates, for the campaign had aroused party feeling intensely. County and State officers, except Governor and Lieutenant Governor, were to be elected, and a Representative in congress. For the latter office Schuyler Colfax and David Turpie were the candidates. They were both fine speakers, as the people of the District had already learned in the case of Mr. Colfax; and it was perhaps the ability of Mr. Turpie in this respect that led the Democrats to nominate him as their candidate. They both can- vassed the District very thoroughly, speaking separately as well as in joint discussions, and the result was a close drawing of party lines. A great many of the young men of the county had enlisted, and were now absent, and Mr. Colfax had made many speeches in the District urging enlistments. By these enlistments, the number of votes cast was considerably diminished, the total vote being but four thousand five hundred and sixty-four. On candidates for Secretary of State, the county gave the Republican candidate, Wm. A. Peele, three hundred and sixty-two majority. Colfax's majority was three hundred and fifty-eight in the county. James Bradley and D. T. Phillips, were candidates for Prosecuting attorney, and Phillips received a majority in this county of three hundred and one. John Walton received a majority over Andrew J. Wair for Auditor of four hundred and one. The other Republican county candidates were elected by majorities of from three hundred and fifty to four hundred. L. Eliel was elected Coroner over A. K. Webster; R. H. Rose was elected Treasurer against Thomas Larkin; E. H. Leaming was elected Surveyor against Mortimer Nye; S. S. Sabin
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was elected Commissioner against R. Shaw; and W. W. Higgins and James Forrester were elected Representatives against J. W. Butterfield and John C. Walker. For Prosecutor in common pleas court, William Andrew received a majority of three hundred and sixty-nine over R. L. Farnsworth.
In the year 1863, the people of LaPorte county, gave more thought to the war and its prosecution than to any other subject. It filled all hearts and minds, and political questions were such as grew out of the great rebellion, and the method the government was pursuing to crush it out and restore the peace and unity of the nation. A county convention of the Republican party was held at the Court House on the 27th day of June, and it expressed the popular feeling in the following resolutions, reported from the com- mittee on resolutions, by Hon. Charles W. Cathcart :
" Resolved, That the calamities of the present rebellion have been brought upon this nation by the infamous doctrines of nullification and secession, promulgated by Calhoun and denounced by General Jackson in 1832, as incompatible with the unity and integrity, power and glory of the American Republic.
Resolved, That the war must go on with the utmost vigor, till the authority of the National Government is re-established, and the old flag floats again securely and triumphantly over every State and Territory of the Union.
Resolved, That in the present exigencies of the Republic, we lay aside personal preferences and prejudices, and henceforth till the war is ended will draw no party line, but the great line between those who sustain the government and those who oppose it-between those who rejoice in the triumph of our arms and those who rejoice in the triumph of the enemy.
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