Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-09-20
/. [Fur the a.lIipolis Iourn.l.l

Having been an attentive observer Of
the progress Of the "velvst question:
in this county, ! cannot but express my
approval of the severe Tebuke its sdvo-
Gates received from the Senatorial Con-
vention that met at GaIhpoEs on We'd
nesday last. And what IS this ques-
ton? 1t is a question raised in this
county by A. T. Holeomb and his dis
ciples as to what constitutes a republi-
can? The General is by no means ig-
norsnt of the true import of the term,
but priding himself upon being a great
trickster and well knowing that political
darkness overshadowed him, he cast
about to CHASE away the darkness and
once more embrace the idol of his heart
-an Office, by means Of what he regar-
ded a glorious scheme, deeply laid and
ingeniously conceived. So he entered
the field with bouyant hopes and balmy
skies, at each stumping station except
at GallipoIis proclaiming his orders that
no man should be supported for county
Office this fall except such as would do
homage to his political chief Salmon P.
Chase. And it was really amusing to
behold him as his eye surveyed each
assembled multitude y waiting his i'm
perious command and see his counte-
nance beam with Joy at the prospect be-
fore him. 1t is said that the only time
he was ever known to feel like singing
was upon one of these occasions, when
be felt dat de bredren ought to sing dat
good ole song
Eight on, fight on we are againing ground
O, Glory hallelujahl'
1t was mete that the outlines of the
scheme should be made known in secret
conclsve the better to insure success,
and therefore he assembled together,
those of his own complexion in politics
rife for stratagems and spoils, to delib-
crate in council upon the veal of the
nation whose capitol would be white
house in Vinton.
o! but could you have taken peep
behind the curtain, not only to have
seen the heads of those present, but to
have heard their speculations Of triumph
and threatened destruction of every
principle Of policy and to-
tai snnihilation Of every intervening OBJ
stacle, you would have wept over our
free institutions and the impending dan
ger of a dissolution of the Union! And
frst of all the Gallipolis Journal must
be destroyed, for so long as it is suffered
to live and circulate just so long would
they have formidable foe. Like ev-
ery despot who arrogates to himself the
right to official place and power, and is
driven to the bayonet for triumphant
success first strives to restrain the hber-
" Of speech and freedom of the press
well knowing that so long as the
ruth can be freely and fearlessly dis
just so long can error be re-
futed and the nefarious designs of cor
-upt politicians exposed and defeated,
10 they first strike at the Journal and
resolve to have an organ of their own
hat they can circulate such matter as
,est suits their purposes, to secure the
election of their favorite men without
ear of contradiction or exposure
Then after a fierce debate the Generals
lictum was ratified by a solemn resolve
o take the start at the township meet
ngs to select delegates to the nomina-
ing Conventions by placing in authori-
Y at such meetings men known to wear
'elvet "whar de wool ought to grow"
,ledged to receive votes only from those
Fho would bow the knee to ABselm's
Iictation, and reject those of good citi-
ems, men Of acknowledged worth in
ociety who love their country and the
and UNION of these States, un
er the simple plea that they are not
epublicans. And this is the scheme by !
7bich they hoped to secure at least the
alance of power in these conventions
nd thereby force the nomination of
icket to represent their own views so
acred to themselves. And as he spake
o it was done. But bow stood the |
uestion at these township meetings.
Why sir, we find Just what might have
cen expected of freemen, true republi-
ans, who were unaecustomed to bow
he knee to the nod Of dictator. They
rould not submit to such oppression.
hey were unwilling to be stripped of
neir rights by such political stratagem
Iithout struggle, and like men de-
Jared and indicated them by indepen-
emily organizing and electing unpledged
elegates upon the true republican doc
-ine, trusting in the righteousness of
ieir cause, hoping to find yet virtue,
striotism and intelligence enough in
le hearts of this people to resist and
amp with infamy such political cor
1ption and degradation.
Here the question necessarily rested
ntil regularly brought before the sew
al conventions to be assembled. As
Ie county convention first met, its dele
ates were called upon to dispose of it.
hey met it "openly, fairly and honora-
"" and decided that the Unpledged
slegates were entitled to their seats.
nd by such action said that such po-
ical stratagem was anti-republican,
I'd merited the condemnation of every :
,od citizen. Here the General met S
ith signal defeat, and as he retreated, ]
the Court house stairs in 1
e wake of Payne and Bingham, he I
IS over heard to mutter, "Jorddn IS a L
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