Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-09-17
pERuLs OF CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN.

PERILs OF A CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN
There was fun in those days. We hal
no parties then, and there was some life
in contest-vcry different from after times,
when the candidates had to be engrafted
into the party stock, and drew all their
life and strength from the party to which
they belonged. On one occasion in after
years l was speaking at a battalion muster
in Riply county, and had spoken over
two hours. / noticed man leaning
against tree in front of me. As / clio ed
he roared ont. "Mr. Smith, you have
made one of the best speeches L ever heard;
/ agree with all you have said. Will
you answer me one question before you
leave the stanl?" Most certainly
XVIII you vote for General Jackson?''-
."No. sir, shall vote for Henry Clay. >
"Then you can't get my vote" The ques-
ton was between jackson and Clay, and
not between myself and competitor as to
who should go to Congress, with the old
man then. The contest grew warm, and
and more and more doubtful: Ny stock
was rising, and with it my spirits. My
district covered one third of the State. i
had not, as yet, visited the county of Allen,
some hundred miles north of Randolph
There wer, no roals. nothing but Indian
paths, to travel at that day through the
wilderness. In the early part of May turn
ed the head of my pony north for Fort
Wayne. The streams wcrcshigh and the
path for miles under water in places. |
rode in that campaign a small brown Indi-
an pony, good swimmer, a fine PAGER,
and fine traveller. The first day after
left the settlements at the Mississinewa. l
reached the Indian station at Francis
Godfroy's. The Chief was from home,
but ono of his wives came out at an OPEN
ing in the pickcting, and pointed towards
Fort Wayne; the chief was there. She
could not speak word of English.
pointed to the. stable, then to my horse,
then to my mouth, then laid my head on
my hand, shut my eyes, and commenced
snoring. She seized the reins of the bri-
die; dismounted and passed through the
picke,s into the house. Ny faithful pony
was fell. Night came ON at length: supper
was announced, by motions; corn bread,
venison, and sassafras tea, bear skin on
the floor for a bed, and sound sleeping fol.
lowed. Breakfast of the same over, and
was about starting alone, when there came
up an Indian that could speak a little bro
ken English. l agreed with him for 0
,;uide for two dollars for day to get me
over the Salmonia and the Wabash riv
ers. We were soon on our horses, and
off went my guide at full speed on his pc
ny, and was soon out ofsight. / overtook
him, however. at the Salmonia. In We
went, he leading The ponies swan beau
tlfully; and away we started forthe Wabash
The path wound round the ridges until tn
river came in full sight. 1t was high, clea
over the bank, and the current very rapid
The sun was some three hours high, tn
day warm and not unpleasant. Ihad neg
lected to provide any food, or even knit
for defense. The moment we reached tn
bank the Indian jumped down, pcale,
some bark from a hickory sapling, ant
spancelled the fore legs Of our ponies.
sat down OF. the bank The Indian wa
out Of sight in moment. in the woods
and l saw nothing more of him for an hour
, when he returned with the bark of hick
lory tree, about twelve feet long and thre
feet in diameter. "A fire was soon made
The bark was metamorphosed into roun'
lbottomed canoe, The sun was about d
/ hour high. The canoe was launched, m,
saddle, saddle bags, and blanket placed il
one end. and I got into the other. Wit
my weight the edges were about an inc
4 sbove water. I took the paddle. and, b
, using the current, landed safely on the 9th
Ter shore. The Indian swan the horse
clover, and held up two fingers. I PAL
him the two dollars; he started back, an
} I mounted the pony and striking the pat
f went off at half speed. It was after twi
Hight, when / came to a large lake, direct
ly in my way. Fearing to go IN, 1 turn