Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-10-06
Our Congressional convention and
Nominee.

Nominee.
The Congressional Convention under the Free !
Soil organization met at Mukwonago, on Monday |
of last week. The Convention was full with the
exception OF three from Walworth and two from
Milwaukee, whose places were supplied by the de-
Ierates of those counties from their own citizens
present We have attended many political conven-
tions but never where the same spirit prevailed
as here. The noble cause IN which we are enga-
ged seems to have completely rooted out all selfish
ness Of feeling, and every thing for the cause
truly the prevailing spirit. We do not think that
a single delegate present, was solicited directly or
ndr Getty to cast his vote in any particular manner
they were left entirely unbiased in the matter
to act according TO the dictates of their best judg
ments.
CHARLES DURKEE, vas the spontaneous
choice of the Convention, and we are prepared to
assert, notwithstanding first preference was for
another, that better selection could not have been
made. Mr. Durkce is not man of negative quail
lies. 1t is not because he has never done any thing
that nothing can he said against him, but because
il his active life he is without reproach. Mr.. Dur
kee has always been an active man in our midst.
lie was formerly connected with the late dcmocra-
tic party, and Jealous and prominent in the
ranks. lie conceived the idea that slavery and de-
mocracy were not exactly compatible with each
other and a few years since he connected himself
with the late liberty party In the ranks Of that
party he was jealous formerly and has been the
candidate of that party for Congress and Governor,
in our territory and S ate.
Where Chas Durkee is known, it is : waste OF
! ink 10 say 4 word in his favor Every body knows
/ h..s r. q, one Of the best Of men, His heart and
! hl4d are always OPEN and Of his ample means eve
! r, roaghy object and cause philanthropy receives
| no nigga share. We do not believe that man
lives whose whcle soal is kcen!y alive to eve
~ demand Of beneyolcnce, than Mr.. Durkcc. Add
:ifen, his warm and generous haat 10 his strong,
clear, and vigorous mind, and the chalapious d hui
mainly and freedom have in their Ho..a4tc a most
admirable representative of the great principles for
which they are con:ending What the opponents
of the free soil democracy will resort to for argument
against this nominee, we cannot imagine. They
may ransack his history public and private, during
his long residence among us, and they will be con-
strained to acknowledge that his superior iii any
! respect, will net be found in cur midst.
They will have enc argument. we had almost
forgotten it. Yes, one He was an abo'onist
Our dear friends the slavery extensionsts, will be
compelled to play upon that string, alone until
election. With what success, remains to be seen
| Not much we apprehend, for free soil men both
read and think. If our opponents seek to convey
the idea that the convention which made the selec-
ton was ruled by the late abolition party, they
make great mistake. We know of but one, and
we feel confident there were not three of that
party, in the convention, and on examination, we
believe it will be found that of them votco
for Mr. Durkee as a first choice. The choice was
made by members Of the late democratic party, anc
it was not less an evidence of how completely al
felt themselves merged together brothers il one
cause than of the superior claims of their nominee
But then can there b. a member of the free sol
party, who can be influenced by sncers OF this cha
racter 1t is not possible. What, condemn mau
for enlistug early in cause which we are proud &c
be now all engaged in that of scVering all CON
nection between the federal government and slave
nv. To entertain such sentiments, is to condemn
Mr.. james, in his eloquent endorsement of the no
mination, remarked: the choice of one who had
battled in the cause in darker days, pecu ially
appropriate when brighter days were dawnng.
The object of the free soil organization is to prevent
the extension of slavery, and there is better man
under the broad canopy of heaven, with whom 10
| cntrust this interest, we should like to see him.
But we can never be Free Sill party, unless
we can forget what we have been. We cannot lie
two things at once, and to tall about democrats
abolitionsts, and wings, seems like disturbing the
ashes of the dead We not abol,tionsts, dem
ocrats, or wings; we are free solcrs, and we defy
competition in the matter of producing better
candidate for our cause than Chas Durkce. 1t
cannot be done, and if our vote cannot be united
him, is folly to make any effort to melt out old
party prcjudices in the fire of this newly developed
principle.