Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-09-27
For the GalIipolis IOurnal.1

[FOr the GalIipolis Journall
As the election is near at hand l
desire to say word to the voters of
this county upon Representative. 1
see by the Journal that there are four
candidates in the field for this Office, and
as each is supposed to have his friends
it may appear to some, to be somewhat
doubtful which will be the successful
one in the present state of political an
archy. Old party lines being either
wholly disregarded or so much slacken-
ed as to be uncertain and indefinite,
every aspiring man feels perfectly at
liberty to suffer his friends to present
his name for the sufrages of the peo-
pie upon any particular ism or idea
which they think has been slighted or
not expressly enumerated in the plat
form of others. But being tax payer
and feeling deeply interested in COM
mon with the people of this county that
a good, reliable man should represent
us at this critical juncture when parties
are dissolving into their original elements
and politicians are thrown into confu-
sion by the political volcanic eruptions
of the day, l cannot refrain giving
you my views of what l regard as the
true course to be pursued by our peo-
pie to promote their own interests and
the welfare of State. Let us look at
these candidates. Who are they and
by whom have they been presented?
And in speaking of them 1 do not pro-
pose considering their personal charac-
ters as a corporal politician, for that L
am not, but will give them the full STAN
dard of character that their regulations
ascribe to them. For the little stories
raised about candidates upon the eve of
an election to influence votes have no
weight with me, and they ought to be
discountenanced by every intelligent
and free thinking man. As human be-
ings we are imperfect and prone to evil
as the sparks fly upward, and there is
none of us but is liable to have some
little matter picked up abstractly, isola-
ted from the surrounding circumstances
and colored, ed,-dovetailed into another
set of circumstances magni6ed and
manufactured by artful electioneerers
into great big Booi
There are John N. Clark, Alexander
Logue, Gen. George House and Elisha
Morgan. The first appears to have
been nominated by delegates represeu-
ting a large class of voters, hitherto
known as Wings, but who are now sail
ing under the name of Republican. The
second was presented by delegates rep
resenting class of voters said to be
pledged to the support of S. P. Chase,
for Governor, and who it is said could
not support the first named, without
compromising their integrity. Of these
two classes believe it is unanimously
concluded that the first is four to one
the strongest. And when united are
the majority in the county by very great
odds. The third name was nominated
by class styling themselves the Demo-
cratic party, which l understand has
always been minority prrty, now and
then however, in case of split among
the Wings electing an officer.
Now between these three candidates
l have been informed by influential men
from different sections of the county,
who profess 10 be well posted in the
matter, that Alexander Logue is out of
the question, and stands no possible
chance of success, but the contest lies
between John N. Clark and General
House, and while they agree that it
will be close struggle they also agree
to a man that John N. Clark's pros
poets are the best by small majority.
And l find this to be the best and only
kind of evidence that is reliable this
fall, for the figures of the past form
very indefinite data upon which to base
safe calculation. But the presenta-
ton of the fourth name, DIR. Morgan,
who is Democrat, by a few boiling
Democrats and small portion of the
class supposed to be for Mr.. Clark,
gives the contest new phrase and
stamps uncertainty upon the race. 1t
is contended by those who have made
county politics study that DR.. Morgan
must rely solely for the major part of
his votes upon men who make temper
ance the ruling star of their faith and
the governing principle of their politi-
cal action. But which vote being set
down by the best informed and most ac-
curate observers and calculators, to
about two off Of Clark to one of of
House. also leaves DR.. Morgan out Of