Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1855-11-01
Mr.. Webster--Should Republicans Vote
for hin, .


the Office of State Senator and as such candidate,
claims and expects the Republican vote elect him
The question arises whether under the circumstan-
ces, Republicans should vote for him We think they
should not; and We propose to give reasons why
we think We will state the outset that we have
no personal quarrel with Mr.. w. and opposition
to him is based wholly and solely upon political
grounds |
At the time the Republican Party of this County
was organized in Mass Convention, in 1854, Mr..
Webster present, and invited, like every other
citizen who opposed TO the Kansas and Nebras-
ka iniquity, ard kindred acts of the Pierce Denoc
racy, to join in the movement; but he took nc part
IN the proceedings, and then when his motives could
not have been questioned he refused TO identity him.
self with us The question OF organizing such par
ty, and The principles upon which it should be based,
were thoroughly discussed, by many citizens of the
County several of whom had hitherto acted with the
Democratic Party, with which Sir Webster wastLcn
fully and openly identified Tlen was the time for
Mr.. w, had he been convinced of the error of his
ways, to have identified himself with the Republican
movement; it would have looked mere Us if dictated
by principle than wait until the party had gained
strength and power Still there was time for him to
have enlisted in the cause and to have become CO.
And still he did not do it, but as time went on and
the day Of election drew nearer and it became evil
dent to every of common discernment that the
Republican cause was gaining strength, daily, and
would in Kcnosha county at least, be formidable
power at the polls. Still Mr. w did not identify
himself with the party bur he did go work in an un-
derhand way, TO secure the support of part al least
of the Republican party lie went from one man to
fl,oro ell Oh
confdentially, that he was all right" but policy
and the circumstances III which he was placed do
mestc and family relations, &c, ALL mysteriously
limited at, prevented him from publicly identifying
himself, at that time; with the party of Freedom
The principal circumstance, in reality was, that he
stood all right with the Democracy and he was
afraid TO compromise his standing with them. Like
Mcawb Der, he didn't know what might 'turn up"
and he wanted to be in position to "be in at the
death" whoever should win. lie went to work at
our caucuses, and packed delegates to our county
convention, to secure nomination for some Office
it matered little what In this he was successful,
and he was nominated for the office lie now holds
1t will be remembered that then lac was perfectly
willing that the voters of this County should sub
init their preferences TO the dictates of political lead
e:s OF irresponsible conventions" SO much SO that
he thankfully took the nomination from three such
cony cnions in succession
The convention by which he was nominated re.
solved that its candidates should publicly declare
tlcir adhesiakafo the Republican Platform, as con
dltion TO the ratification OF their nomination This
refused to do, the alleged ground that il
would be compromising his dignity and independ.
ence The real ground was, that ho would thereby
lore his position in tie ranks of the Pierce and Doug
tlas Democracy, which he was by no means inclined
10 d., SO long he could by double dealing and de-
cePtion manage to keep two strings to his bow"
We insisted, at the time that he should declare him.
self a Republican, and fairly and wholly upon the
Republican Platform, before he could have our sup
port faa ~
Soon after Ills nomination by The Republican, Goa
VeiitIon, Mr. Webster was unanimously nominated
for he same ofcc, b. regular convention Of the
Nebraska Democracy and fully endorsed rs entire
y CT hodox in that faith Next came the election
and here he was equal to The emergency. His iabcrs
VSs"o with the Republicans With them he begged
promised and cnireated lie w8a a poor man. and
needed the Office for his supporthe was good he.
publican bat circumstances were such that le could
not thus declare himself, but lie would do it after
election. To some he jealous Know Nothing
TO others, just zcalous an Anti Know Nothing
with his Hunkcr brethren he had no need 10 work
He had not openly committed himself, in any way
against The Democracy Republicans ,rould vote
or him, why he coudu hclpit Thus, he was most
cmphatically. all things TO oil men," Some he fiat
tered, and same he cntIeated but al, he ofeciually
deceived and cheated.
Wen, he was elected 10 The Office nc now holds,
by good majority Of course but nothing was heard
ot the promised declaration of bis Republican pro
cl,vlties, after election, until last spring at time
when ticrc would be the least attention paid 10 such
matter, when he wrote long non committal guar
dcd article, the constituonality OF the Fugitive
Slave Law, aad had it published in this paper This
was intended, probably, 10 be entirely satisfactory
TO those Republicans vino had doubts Of his position
at The previous fall election.
Matters stood in this shape until Tic present car
vass commenced. Having sufficient segaciy TO per
ccye that lie stood poor chance Of getting as many
nominations for Senator, this ia,I, he Gid for Dis
trct Attorney lust and CERTAIN that he could not be
elected by his own party, Mr. Webster has again
laid his plans 20 secure many Republican votes as
possible, without nomination. sufficient he thinks
to elect him, Without committing himself in the
least, TO our principles he opens the way by cuo.
gy upon independent candidates in general setting
forth of the evils Of caucuses, ventons &c lie
pretends to have found out that the people IRE not
capable, no. honest enough to choose their own can
didates or the men best qualified to serve them in
The Legislature, and that they ought to show their
gratitude to the who takes the labor of selecting
proper candidate off their hands, by electng him
And thus Mr. Webster is again before the people for
office, and demanding as right, Republican votes
to elect him. Shall we, Republicans, elect him
We have fairly shown his course heretofore as far
as it has been connected with Republicanisn lie
occupies no new ground at the present time. He has
not come out like an honest man and declared his
adhesion to the principles we are laborng to build
up and strengthen. He has not made himself one of
us. He has given assurance that he cares straw
FOR our principles or party, any farther than he can
MAKE them subserve his own selfish, ambitious aims.
He refuses to define his position, because if elected,
ne wishes 10 be free, to take whatever course NAV
promise the farest, for further personal aggrandze
ment or advancement. Should he hav 6 an opportu-
nity by voting FOR Slavery Extension Democrat,
for L. S. Senator TO advance himself another step.
he wants to be free to do it. He can anaceto throw
just doubt enough around his position to make il an
object for either side TO bid for him in such an cleo
ton. He stands now, virtually the candidate of the (
Barstow Democracy, calling upon Republicans 10
elect h!m over their own regularly nominated can.
didatei
Again me question arises why should we elect him7