The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-09-16
The Congressional Convention.


pliances used in making the nomination are
not so we'll understood by majority ofyour
readers, and may not be by yourself. Hence
the liberty taken by me to ask small space
in your columns, to give brief exposition
of the ruling influences which were brought
to bear, in order to secure the nomination
Of H. S. Commager, of Toledo, for Con-
gress.
The Wabash and Erie, and Miami Exten-
sion canals, pass through and touch upon
six counties in this district, along the whole
extent of which are engineers, builders,
IloCk-tenders, clerks, collectors, boatmen,
boat-owners, laborers and appoiutees, under
the immediate control of the great political
monster and monOpolist-the " Board Of
Public Works" J. 3. Steedman has the
control Of this northern division of the ca
nails, and, consequently, the various agents
heretofore mentioned. Mr.. Steedman is a
strong Nebraska and Administrations Gen.
Pierce-man, and, OF course, all his political
acts conform to that political policy. Mr..
Il. S. Commager, the nominee, is his imme
diate instrument and tool, pledged to carry
out the will of his master. Mr.. II. S. Com
mager has only to know the will of this
'' lord of the public works." TO bend the
supple knee and bow the willing head to all
his commands 1t is said that the Board Of
Public Works has control Of the Ohio Leg
Ilsature-has the power TO say who shall, or
who shall not go to congress or to the legis-
Iature, as the peoples representatives. It's
also said that this same Board sent Geo. Z.
Pugh to the Senate; and know that this
same power nominated H. Steedman, instead
of Charles Godfrey, for the Ohio Senate, at
Maumee, one year ago.
With this political influence are the
members of congress and the members of
the legislature nominated and elected
lJ. B. Steedman, and those connected with
him, put the administration under the ne
ceSsity of giving to them or their friends all
the appointments to which Ohio is entitled
by reason of her political strength and in
fuence in the geat national democratic
party.
! This board controls very large amount
of funds of the State treasury, and no man
is so blind as not to know that where there
is liberal distribution of the funds, whether
they belong to the State or to private per-
sons, there is a consequent attachment to
the donor and Willingness to obey his will.
Henry S. Commager received his nomination
from this same political power, and will, of
course, be a willing and active agent to pro-
cure influence for James 3. Steedman s. Co.,
with the Nebraska administration, if elect
ed. Had common honesty and fairness pre-
vailed in the contest for nomination, Han
cock, Putnam, or Wood, could have had
the nominee; but where fraud and corrup-
ton are used against honorable men, the
guilty party, as in this case, may succeed for
season.
believe that four-fifths of Wood county
are opposed to the Steedman influence, and
are anti NEBRASKA besides. A county con-
vention was called in Wood county, to Sc
lect delegates to the Napoleon Convention
4 few of those holding appointments under
u. B, Steedman procured teams, and, with
lavish display of funds furnished, took al
sufficient number to the convention to carry
two-thirds of it for Commager.
Will the Democracy of Wood, Hancock
and Putnam again acquiesce in such a.
course Of conduct to secure the nomi-.
nation of man whom they least desire q
Six or seven men holding Office under the
canal board in Paulding county, held a Sc
cret meeting and sent delegates to the Ma
poleon Convention to cast the vote for
Steedman's nominee, while eight-tenths of.
the democracy are opposed to him. A large
portion of the democracy of Defiance coun-
ty was unrepresented, by reason of some
fraudulent and deceitful influence. All of