History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 20

Author: Stoll, John B., 1843-1926
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : Indiana Democratic Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1104

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divest himself of his coat, then of his col- lar, then of his vest. One afternoon he was making a speech in a Quaker settle- ment. It began to rain. People put up their umbrellas, but, enchanted by Wil- lard's oratory, they stayed and eagerly drank in the words as they fell from his eloquent lips. As the rain descended thicker and heavier, the orator stopped abruptly, appealing to his audience to ad- journ the meeting. With astonishing unanimity the crowd shouted, 'No, go on!' Speaking was renewed. The audience was spell-bound. Three times Willard appealed to his hearers to bring the meeting to a close. To each request the audience thun- dered back an emphatic No! Straighten- ing himself up to his full height, Willard exclaimed: 'The more rain, the more corn; the more corn, the more whisky ; the more whisky, the more Democrats. Let'er rain!' Willard finished his speech. Most of his hearers were soaked by the rain, but they considered themselves amply compen- sated for the discomfort experienced by the matchless oratory of their nominee for Lieutenant-Governor."

As the inimitable and incomparably good-natured "Billy" related these in- cidents in his political career his coun- tenance was illuminated as if he had been reminded of one of the most pleasing events of his life.

The campaign made by Governor Wright and Mr. Willard was both brilliant and effective. The result was a sweeping Democratic victory, as attested by the offi- cial figures :

FOR GOVERNOR.

Joseph A. Wright, Democrat. .92,576

Nicholas McCarty, Whig. 73,641

Andrew L. Robinson, Freesoiler 3,303

FOR LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.

Ashbel P. Willard, Democrat .90,239

William Williams, Whig. 75,094

James P. Milliken, Freesoiler

3,086

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

MAJORITIES FOR THE OTHER CANDIDATES.

Secretary of State-Nehemiah Hayden. 15,134 Auditor of State John P. Dunn .. 15,916

Treasurer of State-Elijah Newland. 16,702 Supt. of Public Instruction-W. C. Larabee. 15,851 Supreme Judges- Wm. Z. Stuart. 14,961

Andrew Davidson 14,212

Samuel E. Perkins. 11,545

Addison L. Roach. . 12,985

Not only did the Democrats elect every candidate on their State ticket by decisive majorities, but they secured a good work- ing majority in both Houses of the Legis- lature. In this body they had 34 Senators and 57 Representatives. Of the eleven members of Congress they secured ten. The only Whig nominee that escaped de- feat was Samuel W. Parker, in the Fifth district. The delegation to the Thirty- third Congress was made up of these dis- tinguished gentlemen :

1. Smith Miller, Patoka.

2. Wm. H. English, Lexington.

3. Cyrus L. Dunham, Valley Farm.

4. James H. Lane, Lawrenceburg.

5. Samuel W. Parker, Connersville.

6. Thomas A. Hendricks, Shelbyville.

7. John W. Davis, Rockville.

8. Daniel Mace, Lafayette.

9. Norman Eddy, South Bend.

10. Ebenezer M. Chamberlain, Goshen.

11. Andrew J. Harlan, Marion.

Smith Miller was born in North Caro- lina, May 30, 1804; engaged in farming at Patoka, Gibson county, Indiana ; served as member of the Legislature and was twice elected to Congress. Died near Patoka, March 21, 1872.

William Hayden English was the third native Indianian to be elected to Congress. Born in Lexington, Scott county, August 27, 1822; pursued classical studies in the University of Hanover; studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1846; principal clerk of the Indiana House of Representa- tives in 1843; clerk in the Treasury De- partment at Washington, 1844-1848 ; secre- tary of the Indiana Constitutional Conven- tion in 1850; four times elected to Con- gress as a Democrat, serving from 1853 to 1861; took a conspicuous part in the con-

test over the admission of Kansas into the Union; located in the city of Indianapolis during the Civil War; engaged in bank- ing; became president of the First Na- tional Bank; aided the Government in a financial way. In 1880 he developed Pres- idential aspirations, but the State conven- tion instructed the delegation to the Cin- cinnati convention steadfastly to support Thomas A. Hendricks. Four years before Mr. English earnestly and energetically supported Tilden and Hendricks. Upon the nomination of General Winfield Scott Hancock to the Presidency, Mr. English was nominated for Vice-President. He re- tained the chairmanship of the Democratic State Committee and conducted a system- atic campaign. Though considerable en- thusiasm was aroused in behalf of Han- cock and English, the disappointment of Democrats who had demanded the renom- ination of the ticket of 1876 was felt so keenly that the Indiana Democracy went down in defeat both in October and in No- vember. Mr. English had become one of the State's wealthiest men, and died at his home in Indianapolis, February 7, 1896. His son, William E., during the eighties served part of a term in Congress. The free silver issue in 1896 caused him there- after to affiliate with the Republicans.

James Henry Lane was born in Law- renceburg, Ind., June 22, 1814; attended the public schools; studied law, was ad- mitted to the bar in 1840, and began prac- tice in Lawrenceburg ; member of the City Council; served in the Mexican war; Colonel of the Third Indiana Volunteers, June 25, 1846 ; mustered out June 24, 1847; recommissioned Colonel of the Fifth In- diana Infantry October 22, 1847; mustered out July 28, 1848; appointed Brigadier- General of Volunteers for service in the Civil War December 18, 1861, and ap- pointment was canceled March 21, 1862; elected Lieutenant-Governor 1849; elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-third Con- gress (March 4, 1853-March 3, 1855) ;

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moved to Kansas Territory in 1855; mem- ber of the Topeka Constitutional Conven- tion; elected to the United States Senate by the Legislature that convened under the Topeka Constitution in 1856, but the election was not recognized by the United States Senate; president of the Leaven- worth Constitutional Convention of 1857; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1861, and re-elected in 1865, and served until his death by suicide near Fort Leavenworth, Kan., July 11, 1866.

Norman Eddy was born in Scipio, N. Y., December 10, 1810; was graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1835; went to Indiana and located in Mishawaka and practiced medicine there until 1847; studied law, moved to South Bend in 1847 and prac- ticed law ; State Senator in 1850; held sev- eral local offices ; elected as a Democrat to

the Thirty-third Congress (March 4, 1853- March 3, 1855) ; defeated for re-election ; Colonel of the Forty-eighth Indiana Regi- ment of Volunteers during the Civil War; Collector of Internal Revenue 1865-1870; elected Secretary of State in 1870. Died in Indianapolis, January 28, 1872.

Ebenezer Mattoon Chamberlain was born in Orrington, Me., August 20, 1805; attended the public schools; studied law; moved to Connersville, Ind., in 1832, where he completed his studies; was ad- mitted to the bar and commenced practice in Elkhart county in 1833; member of the State House of Representatives in 1835- 1837; judge of the Elkhart Circuit Court for nine years; elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-third Congress (March 4, 1853- March 3, 1855) ; was strongly opposed to the repeal of the Missouri compromise; re- sumed the practice of law in Goshen. Died there March 14, 1861.

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[CHAPTER XX.]

TIDAL-WAVE YEAR FOR DEMOCRACY

NOMINATION OF PIERCE AND KING RATIFIED AT THE POLLS BY OVERWHELMING MAJORITIES

W HILE the Indiana Democratic ceptionally strong committee of which the Convention held at Indiana- polis, February 24, did not specifically instruct its dele- gates to the National Conven- tion, as usual, held in Balti- more, June 1, 1852, it adopted with the utmost unanimity these resolu- tions :

"Resolved, That Joseph Lane, the State legislator, the gallant general, the Terri- torial Governor, tried in the council cham- ber, tried in the tented fields, tried in the executive chair, and never found wanting, is, of the people of Indiana, the first choice for the Presidency. While we repose en- tire confidence alike in his administrative capacity, in his firmness, in his honesty of purpose and in his unswerving devotion to Democratic principles, at the same time desiring above all things union and har- mony in the support of the nominee of the National Convention, let the choice of the majority fall as it will, and fully trusting the judgment and devotion to principles of our delegates to that convention.

"Resolved further, That we leave said delegates untrammeled by instructions as to persons to act as their convictions of right and propriety at the time may dic- tate.

"Resolved, however, That in casting the vote of the State for President, the said delegates be instructed to give it, through- out, as a unit and not by separate dis- tricts ; the name of the person so voted for to be at all times determined by the ma- jority of the votes of said delegates.

"Resolved, That if General Joseph Lane be the Democratic nominee for Pres- ident of the National Convention, we pledge to him the vote of Indiana-of that State the honor of whose sons he has so nobly vindicated-by a majority, as we confidently hope and truly believe, of 25,000 votes."

It is worthy of special mention that these resolutions were reported by an ex-

renowned Robert Dale Owen was chair- man and Oliver P. Morton a conspicuous member from the "Quaker district." Four years later the same Morton headed the first Republican State ticket as its nominee for Governor, and ten years later Robert Dale Owen was credited with hav- ing furnished the strongest argument sub- mitted to President Lincoln in support of the urgent appeal that he issue a procla- mation for the emancipation of four mil- lion slaves. At this very convention both Owen and Morton expressed the utmost satisfaction over the various compromises entered into to propitiate the slave power and condemning all further agitation that might in any way disturb harmonious re- lations between North and South.

Upon one of Indiana's delegates-at- large, Congressman John W. Davis, was conferred the distinguished honor of be- ing selected as permanent chairman of the convention. And very creditably did Dr. Davis acquit himself in that position. He, with a number of other delegates, loyally supported General Lane for the Presidential nomination, but at heart these gentlemen were for Stephen A. Douglas. When the balloting showed steady gains for "The Little Giant," the Indiana delegation abandoned Lane and went over to Cass as a compromise. Par- ticularly active in behalf of General Lane was Congressman John L. Robinson, ably aided by the Brights. These gentlemen were especially hostile to Senator Douglas, whose defeat was of far greater impor- tance to them than the nomination of any one of the other aspirants, except Lane.

All the signs of the times pointed un-

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erringly to signal Democratic victories in 1852, both in Indiana and the country at large. This in itself was an incentive to extraordinary effort in behalf of the lead- ing candidates and accounts for the tenac- ity with which their supporters adhered to the favorite sons from various parts of the Union. The friends of General Cass, convinced that the battle in 1848 was lost through no fault of his but rendered in- evitable on account of the colossal blunder committed in inciting the friends of Mar- tin Van Buren to open revolt, were espe- cially solicitous that the Michigan states- man be afforded another opportunity in a fairer race and under more auspicious circumstances. But the decree of fate determined otherwise. General Cass de- veloped considerable strength, but the persistent efforts of the followers of Bu- chanan, Douglas and Marcy made it im- possible to bring his vote beyond the 131 point. Thirty-three times the Indiana delegation cast its vote solidly for General Joseph Lane, but throughout that ballot- ing only one delegate from some other State came to his support. The name of Franklin Pierce had not been mentioned until the thirty-fifth ballot. He started then with 15 votes, rose to 30 on the next, then dropped to 29, and stayed at that through eight ballots. Then he rose to 44, 49, 55, then came the stampede that gave him nearly the entire vote of the con- vention and secured his triumphant nom- ination.

Inasmuch as Joseph Lane was the first Indiana Democrat presented for a Presi- dential nomination, a brief review of his eventful career would seem to be de- manded. He was a native of Buncombe county, North Carolina, where he was born in the year 1801. In 1814 his father's family emigrated to Kentucky, and two years afterward crossed the Ohio river and located in Warrick county, Indiana. Alternately young Lane worked in the county clerk's office and in a dry goods

store. Before he was twenty-one years old he was elected to the Legislature, and he had to wait until he became of age be- fore he could take his seat. For over twenty-five years he served the State as a member of either the House of Repre- sentatives or the Senate of the Indiana Legislature. When the Mexican war broke out he resigned his seat in the State Senate, where he was then serving, and joined the command of Captain Walker as a private. When the Second Indiana Regiment was organized he was made Colonel, and on July 1, 1846, he was made Brigadier-General by President Polk. During the war he served with distinction under Taylor and Scott and he com- manded at the battle of Huamantla. Soon after the close of the war he was ap- pointed by President Polk Governor of the Territory of Oregon. In 1850 he was removed from that office by President Taylor, but the next year was elected as a delegate from Oregon to Congress and continued as such until the State was ad- mitted to the Union, when he became Sen- ator. In 1860 he was nominated for the Vice-Presidency by one wing of the Demo- cratic party on a ticket with John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky.

Mr. Lane died in 1881 in the forest re- gion of his beloved adopted State, poor in purse, but rich in the esteem and con- fidence of his countrymen.

ALABAMAN NOMINATED FOR VICE- PRESIDENT.

On the second ballot William K. King of Alabama was unanimously nominated for the Vice-Presidency.

The party platform adopted was worded precisely as that of 1848. Two additional planks were added-one approving the compromise measures patched up by Clay, Webster, Fillmore, Crittenden, Douglas, etc. The final declaration was to the effect "that the Democratic party will resist all attempts at renewing in Congress, or out

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of it, the agitation of the slavery question, under whatever shape or color the attempt may be made." The nomination of Gen- eral Franklin Pierce was very generally greeted with enthusiasm, especially by the younger element of the party. Most of the Freesoil Democrats who had rallied to the support of Van Buren and Adams in 1848 enlisted under the banner of Pierce and King and contributed their mite to the sweeping victory the following November.

The remainder of the story of 1852 is easily narrated. Confused, chagrined and demoralized, the Whigs met in Baltimore on the 16th of June, with every State rep- resented. John G. Chapman of Maryland was made the presiding officer.

As narrated by Col. A. K. McClure, "the Southern delegates fortified themselves before the meeting of the convention by a caucus declaration of the party platform, and it was an open secret that if the con- vention accepted the platform, enough Southern men would support Scott to give him the nomination. They knew that Fill- more could not be elected and that Web- ster was even weaker than Fillmore, and they were willing to accept Scott, who was the candidate of the anti-slavery element of the party, if the compromise measures were squarely affirmed by the party con- vention, while Scott was willing to accept the nomination with any platform the con- vention might formulate. Fillmore had carried the compromise measures and forced the Whigs to accept them in the party platform, but the insincerity of that expression was manifested by the refusal to nominate Fillmore, and by the nomina- tion of Scott, who represented the anti- compromise Whigs of the country. There were 53 ballots for President, but during the long struggle there was but little ex- hibition of ill-temper. Scott started with 131 to 133 for Fillmore and 29 for Web- ster, and ended with 159 for Scott to 112 for Fillmore and 21 for Webster."

The nomination of General Scott was

made unanimous, and William A. Graham of North Carolina, who was then serving as Secretary of the Navy under the Fill- more administration, was considerately given a unanimous nomination for Vice- President on the second ballot.

The platform adopted by the convention declared that-

"The Union should be revered and watched over as the palladium of our lib- erties."

"As the people make and control the Government, they should obey its consti- tution, laws and treaties as they would re- tain their self-respect and the respect which they claim and will enforce from foreign powers."

"The Federal and State Governments are parts of one system, alike necessary for the common prosperity, peace and security, and ought to be regarded alike with a cordial, habitual and immovable attachment."

"The series of acts of the Thirty-second Congress, the act known as the Fugitive Slave Law included, are received and acquiesced in by the Whig party."

THE FREESOIL PARTY AGAIN IN EVIDENCE.

The Freesoil Democrats held their na- tional convention in Pittsburgh on the 11th of August. Henry Wilson, of Massachu- setts, presided. Without the formality of a ballot, Senator John P. Hale of New Hampshire was nominated for President and Congressman George W. Julian of In- diana for Vice-President. Reiterating the declaration of 1848, the platform declared that-

"Slavery is a sin against God and a crime against man, which no human en- actment nor usage can make right."

"The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 is re- pugnant to the Constitution; we therefore deny its binding force on the American people and demand its immediate and total repeal."

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

"Slavery is sectional and freedom na- ness and qualification. The vote of In- tional."

"We recommend the amicable settle- ment of (international) difficulties by a resort to decisive arbitrations."

"The Free Democratic party is not or- ganized to aid either the Whig or Demo- cratic wing of the great slave compromise party of the Nation, but to defeat them both."

On the popular vote the Democrats had 1,838,169; the Whigs 1,380,576; Free De- mocracy 156,149. Of the electoral vote Pierce and King had 254; Scott and Gra- ham 42; Hale and Julian none. Scott and Graham carried four States: Kentucky, 12; Massachusetts, 13; Tennessee, 12; Vermont, 5.

Badly as the grizzly warrior, Scott, was defeated in this contest, it will be observed that he carried twice as many States as, fifty-six years later, were carried by Wil- liam Howard Taft. No comparison is to be made between these two men as to fit-

diana stood: 95,340 for Pierce, 80,901 for Scott, 6,929 for Hale-total, 183,170.

Franklin Pierce was by far better fitted for the Presidency than was his chief com- petitor. Born in Hillsboro, N. H., Novem- ber 23, 1804; graduated from Bowdoin College in 1824; studied law and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1827; member of the State House of Representatives 1829- 1833; served as Speaker 1832-1833; twice elected to Congress; elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1837, to February 28, 1842, when he re- signed. Resumed the practice of law in Concord; served in the Mexican war as Colonel; commissioned Brigadier-General in March, 1847, and remained in Mexico until the close of the war. In 1850 he was chosen a member of the Constitutional Convention and made president of that body. His triumphant election to the Presidency in 1852 marked the beginning of the end of the Whig party.

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[CHAPTER XXI.]

FORTY-TWO DAYS A UNITED STATES SENATOR

P to the time when Benjamin F. U Shively was elected to the United States Senate it was commonly remarked that no man living north of the Wa- bash river had served in the upper branch of Congress. Had that declaration been so modified as to render it that no man residing north of the Wabash had, prior to Mr. Shively's selection, been elected a United States Sen- ator, the accuracy of the statement would have been incontestable - though the somewhat qualifying statement should not be lost sight of that three United States Senators were chosen from Logansport, which is located along the Wabash, in the persons of John Tipton, Graham N. Fitch and Daniel D. Pratt, and one from Lafay- ette, also a Wabash river town, in the per- son of John Pettit.

Governor Whitcomb was elected to the United States Senate in 1848 and took his seat in that body March 4, 1849. He was not in robust health, grew steadily worse, and died October 4, 1852. Governor Jo- seph A. Wright appointed as Whitcomb's successor a former Congressman from the northern part of the State, Charles W. Cathcart, of Laporte county, who took his seat upon the assembling of Congress, De- cember 6, 1852. When the Legislature of 1853 assembled a lively contest ensued over the selection of a candidate for the temporarily filled Senatorship. For some unexplained reason no effort was made to secure the nomination of Mr. Cathcart by the legislative caucus. The friends of Governor Wright rallied to the support of Judge John Pettit, of Lafayette, while the adherents of Senator Bright did their ut- most to secure the caucus nomination for Dr. Graham N. Fitch, of Logansport. The

vote stood 54 for Pettit and 46 for Fitch. Pettit was duly elected January 11 and took his seat just one week later, viz., January 18, 1853. Then Charles W. Cath- cart was relieved of Senatorial duties, his service extending over exactly forty-two days. Having previously served two terms as Representative in the Lower House, he enjoyed a distinction not often conferred upon national legislators. His career as man and public official is replete with interest and presents instructive in- formation as to the possibilities of forg- ing ahead in this land of unsurpassed op- portunity.

Charles W. Cathcart was born on the island of Madeira, July 24, 1809. Re- ceived a good education in the Catholic schools of the country where he was born, and in his early years took to the sea and became a master of the science and art of navigation. He worked as a ship carpen- ter, going once to Greenock, Scotland. Meantime his parents had come to reside in Washington, D. C., where, after various adventures on sea and land, Charles joined them, and went to work for the chief clerk in the General Land Office. That en- gagement opened his eyes to the advan- tages of the great West, so in 1831 he came to Indiana, reaching the State on foot. He went first to the community of Robert Dale Owen at New Harmony, with whom he seems to have been acquainted. Hear- ing there of the beauties and attractions of the northwestern part of the State, he resumed his journey and reached Laporte county. He first located at South Bend, worked awhile at Niles, then settled in Laporte county, completed the survey on the Michigan road lands under Judge Polk, which had been undertaken by his son, Adam Polk, afterwards Sheriff of La-

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

porte county, and when the land sale at Logansport took place he purchased the lands in New Durham township where ever afterward he had his home. Being a carpenter, he worked at his trade in and about Laporte, and had several interest- ing experiences during the Blackhawk war. Mr. Cathcart was afterward ap- pointed clerk in the Land Office at Laporte by John M. Lemon, receiver, whose daugh- ter, Josephine, he made his wife. After his marriage Mr. Cathcart engaged exten- sively in farming, at which he was very successful. At the time of his death, Au- gust 22, 1888, he was justly regarded one of the county's foremost farmers.

In 1835 Mr. Cathcart became a Repre- sentative in the State Legislature, issuing during his campaign a frank statement of his position, which was published in the Michigan City Gazette. He ran for State Senator on the Democratic ticket in 1840, but was defeated, and was defeated for Representative in 1843, but was chosen

district elector in the Polk and Dallas campaign of 1844. He served in Congress from 1845 to 1847, defeating Judge Sam- ple, of South Bend, and was re-elected in 1847, in this contest defeating Daniel D. Pratt, who later on became a United States Senator. Mr. Cathcart was ap- pointed United States Senator in place of James Whitcomb, deceased, serving from December 6, 1852, to January 18, 1853. He was pitted against Schuyler Colfax for Congress in 1860, but was unsuccessful. In the following canvass he took the stump as a War Democrat in advocacy of Mr. Colfax's Congressional candidacy, and his efforts proved quite a factor in that gentle- man's election. Though not what is com- monly called an orator, Mr. Cathcart was a power on the stump. When the war broke out he promptly took the side of his country, and his patriotism was manifest throughout the entire struggle for the preservation of the Union.

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History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 20

Author: Stoll, John B., 1843-1926 Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Indianapolis : Indiana Democratic Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Stoll, John B., 1843-1926
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : Indiana Democratic Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1104