True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-08-04
0ur Candidata for oonpraas.

uhtS III ttiS OtSulVt lot OOhkiVsS -
Certain ones would have us believe that
nobody is named or thought Of, but Hon.
John A. Bingham. This confident boas-
ting is trick to divert the attention of
the people from other men, who are equal.
ly deserving and competent TO fill the
Office. We have no animosity to vent
against Mr.. Bingham, but, being in the
habit of thinking for ourselves. we are
unwilling 10 allow his admirers to exalt
him TO unnatural dimensions. We are
ready to admit that Mr.. Bingham is a
splendid politician, an unsurpassed can
UaSser, but we deny most unequivocally
that he is a statesman, and defy any Of
his admirers 10 show ANY ONE measure
or speech originated or made by him,
during the whole Of his sittingin Congress,
that gives any evidence Of craftsmanship,
beyond what three hundred other men
in this District could have given. That
this matter may be brought before the
people, allow the following questions to
be asked and truthful answere given from
the record. Truthful answers 10 these
questions will convince some that Hon.
John A. Bingham, is not the only man
capable of representing this District
more, that he is not the man at all, vho
should represent 1t.
|. What meaSare,if any, did he origi-
nate, bring forward and press upon the
attention of Congress and the people!
2. Where are the speeches or speech
he made, if any, which many of US hoped
TO hear against the unparalleled extrava.
gance Of this Administration Many of
the statesmen of the Republican party,
and some of the American members have
been heard on that subject. If Mr.. Bipg-
ham uttered speech on that subject. we
did not see or hear OF it. AT any rate, we
need men who are political economists,
statesmen, diplonatists - men whose
moral and mental weight is felt more in
the committees of the House, than on the
puncombe block in the Hall of Represen.
latives. Mr.. Bingham made in Congress
some splendid speeches-a few; but there
was more rhetoric in them Than facis-
more eloquence than philosophy. Like
the preacher who preached the same ser.
mon with slight variations," from
many texts; so he declaimed about the
same ideas, brilliantly tinseled, on vari.
Gus occasions. We admit that some
politicians are not pert enough 10 do this;
and there are some who wouldnt do it.
We do not deny that his speeches were
good and 10 the point intended; but they
were grandly "one idea d." and no, one
whit better than many that were made
during the last canvass in this District.
3. In what one respect did he distin.
guish himself from the humblest and
most obscure member in the House, except
in the speeches referred to? 1t will do
no harm to the people to examine those
matters.
A. Do we send men 10 Congress only
TO make fine speeches!
5. Is there any evidence that any'mo.
lion or speech of Mr.. Bingham's changed |
the mind of one single member on one
single issue in Congress
An answer to these questions will de.
termine the relative weight Of Mr.. Bing-
ham and other members. We know
there are Others in this District, who are
as true as he, and vastly more capable of
being felt snd regarded as statesmen in |
Congress.
DR.. Updegraf, of Mt. Pleasant, is
more efficient and impressive than Mr..
Bingham ever was. We have heard him
make more powerful speeches than Mr..
Bingham ever uttered-speeches which
contained more facts, statistics and argu.
ments than the present Hon. incumbent
ever presented in speech.
This will all be sneered at by certain
ones, but it is nevertheless true, and a
trial Of the capacity of the two gentlemen
before any audience would demonstrate
it. And we make this comparison to call
the attention of The people to matters
which they should now be thinking
about. But DR.. Updegraff is not candi.
date, and we say nothing Of the other
men who are, except Gen. Eckley.-
Eckley is an experienced legislator old
er than Bingham, though in The prime of
lifo-is as good a canvasser as Bingham
as good a lawyer-would make far bet.
ter Judge-and is admitted to be better
statesman-though not SO fiippant (that
is, SO cor;y) as Bingham, he would have
much greater weight and moral force in
the councils Of the nation, and we don't
hesitate to say that Eckley would be
elected ny much greater majority than
Bingham ever will be again. Many of