Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-10-03

O. Tuesday lest, 1t the Republican
Township Cosvsstiea, ~ iseidsat oc-
cured which 10 destined to, and shoald
exercise . most important influence
upon the politics Of this city and coun-
ty. In our report Of the proceed'ngs,
the matter was referred 70, but we
have hitherto been prevented BY .
press Of other matten from giving it
due attention.
The nsturalized German citizens who
have frequently held the balance OF
power bstween the Democrats and
Republicans, some time since, during
the Kansas excitement, attached them
selves to the Republicans and by means
Of their votes that party has gained
whatever power it now has in the
county. For time the wire pulles
allowed them to have that voice and
influence TO which they were entitled
by the number Of votes cast ; but no
sooner were the Germans, ~ they sup
posed. permanently attached to the
party than they at once insugurated a
system Of gradual encroachment upon
the rights Of the naturalized members
Of the party. THIS system has now
been in operation curing considerable
period Of time. The advances have
beeen made 30 slowly and cautiously
- to be almost imperceptible; but if
the Germans will take the trouble to
compare the influence which they pos
sessed in the councils Of the party nine
or twelve months since, with the power
with the power which they now exer-
else, they will find that little by little
quite one half Of their power abs been
curtailed.
But not satisfied even with this, the
American portion Of the party headed
by the republican organs came to the
conclusion that they had still left too
much power in the hands Of the Ger
mans. Thinking thus that the I'D
Dutch" should be entirely satisfied with
the privilege Of voting for such men as
they chose to designate, without hav-
ing any hand in the nomination, they
proceed to devise plan whereby they
could efectualIy curtail their influence
and make the Gazette clique great
centre of power around which the
whole party should revolve like SO
many moths about candle.
Selling an occurrence at late
county Convention As a pretext, they
came to the late Township caucus pre-
pared to spring their trap as they sup
posed unexpectedly upon the Germans.
Proper officers having been selected
and the wires set for an immediate
passage Of the resolution, DR.. Saunders,
having been selected to take the ini-
ton, arose during the early part Of the
meeting and offered the following:
Resolved, That committee of seven be
appointed to report plan to this meeting.
by which our candidates for City and Town
ship offices shall hereafter be selected by
Conv entions TO be composed Of delegates
from the respective wards and tow nships at
large, upon the basis OF the Republican vote
% nearly as the same can be estimated, with
the understanding that il such plan is adop-
ted, 1t shall be used in the selection Of dele.
gates to County Conventions for the purpose
Of making county nominations.
The object Of the resolution-not-
outstanding its careful wording is
very apparent-under the old system
of representation when the party met
in mass meeting, the Germans, who out
number the Americans could insist
upon and compel the party to award to
them such share of the spoils as they
we're entitled to receive; but by means
Of this resolution it is prepared to make
City and Township nominations by a
convention Of delegates and SO to dis
trict the city, and the Township out.
side of the corporation limits, that the
Germans shall all be in one District.
The effect will therefore be, to deprive
the Germans Of that influence which
they exercised 10 a mass meeting by
means Of their superior numbers, and
to give them through their delegates
but minority vote in the Township
Convention.
The Germans who were not SO I'M
suspecting As had been anticipated,
had come prepared, and after short
in which the most promi-
nent German republicans in the City
expressed themselves most unqualified
ly opposed to the resolution, it was
defeated by vote Of los to 70,
Supporting that the matter had been
finally disposed Of the Germans, after
assisting in the nominations, went
home we'll pleased with their success
but no sooner were they all gone, than
the Gazette clique, who had quietly re-
manned, at once called up the resolu-
ton again, and this time having NO OPP
position, passed it triumphantly. And