The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-09-15
The Republican convention Da.
Euerreotyped by a hePublicanI-
kunyARead!y

v~ention for nominating county officers,
held in Ashland on the 4th of this month,
was QUO of the most harmonious we ever
had the pleasure of witnessing. No
friend of popular government could have
asked anything to 60 off nicer and more
smoothly than it did. The first thing
we did was to nominate an auditor by
reclamation without even the trouble Of
a single balloting. Now how beautiful
this was, in comparison with the trouble
that was got up 10 the Democratic party
in regard to the nomination for the same
Office. There, the rival candidates were
put to the trouble of riding all over the
county, seeing the people generally and
abiding finally by their decision. But
we were unwilling to leave the decision
to so uncertain a tribunal. We we're
afraid they might go for FINLEY, and
they did, so We put the matter in the
hands of JEFF and OSBORN, who, because
some Democrats had said they did not
like SwINEFoRD, thought they would
vote for PORTER because he lived in Sui.
livan township, and Democrats generally
have SO great a love for that township.
This arr angement, of course, involved
some sacrifice. FINLEY, his friends, and
the expressed will of the people must be
thrown overheard. And then, too, my
poor old friend FEM, from the same
township with PORTER. They were
afraid, if they nominated him, that the
people would feel in the same predica-
ment of the fly in the hogshead of molas-
ses; too much of a good thing; too much
of Sullivan township. But just think
how nice it all went off in Convention
FINLEY withdrew aud Fem, the only
man whose name had been put before
the people as a candidate for Commission
er, was obliged by the force of these cir
cumstanccs that JEFF and OSBORN hal
arranged, to haul off, and let these dele
gates of the dear people select a man for
them. I would nave you understand
Mr.. Editor that there was no game here,
no cliquery, nothing but a little inno-
cent wire : working for c Ashland
Times; for, know ye. that the printing of
the Auditor is quite a little item, pecH-
niariiy, to the Times, and our press
must be supported at any sacrifice.
But this was not all. Mr.. MELsHEI-
MER's nomination was made by acciama-
ton, without the trouble of q ballot
There was an attempt made by JEFF and
OsBoRN,-not in the Convention, tho,
Mr.. Editor-oh, no for then the Con-
v%ention might not have been harmeni-
control of the Times, TO heal up the
wounds of Mr.. FINLEY by giving him
that nomination. But this scheme was
thwarted by two obstacles. There was
still another power behind the throne
If there was any chance at all for elect
Jog q Treasurer, it must be in shape that
the financial Clique could control the
funds! There was no getting around
this. Further, Mr.. FINLEY saw how it
would run and declined. All these sac
rifces were made and all those iBfuen.
ces brought to bear upon men that HAM
ILroN PORTER might be Auditor of Ash.
land county, and the Ashland Times
thus receive the printing of the Office
But then, the Contention aoas harno
niouS.
Again, WILLIAM SPENCER, of jackson
township, was the choice of the rank and
file of the Republican party for the
nomination for Sheriff. But they had
no business with any expression in this
Convention. If they had come up to
support him, the Ashland Times Clique
would have opposed, and then the Con
v%ention might not have been harnsont-
oxs. The Times men ruled the roost.
Montgomery township had been promis-
ed to SPENCER. To get out of this
pledge, they made a tool of Hide.
BRAND, cast their vote for him, with the
claim that honor bound them to supper.
their own man, and G. G. COULTER was
nominated.
Again, the narne of A. l.. Curtis was
announced as a candidate for Prosecu.
ting Attorney. Some friend of the
Times men announced OsBoRN's name.
JEFF was sharp enough to see that this
would be piliug on the agony too thick,
SO, he jumped up as quick as if a hot
coal had been applied to his person
somewhere and withdrew his confeder-
ates name. Curtis was nominated and
the convention was still harmonious.
The less important offices, and the
honor f?) of a place on the Central Com
mittee were distributed by the same con-
trolling power, in such a manner as to
sooth the feelings and heal the sores of
tho defeated candidates, who had been
thus mercilessly handled by the gentle
men of the Times Office.
There was one question that for a
time threatened the harmony of the
Convention. That was the nomination
for Coroner. It could be seen by the
anxious looks of the delegates that there
would be a multitude of candidates for