Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-08-31


out of the way, but not more.
This was County Mass Convention Of the
party. 1t had been heralded by hand-bills
and notices in the papers, for more than
week beforehand, and they succeeded in
gathering together thlrty-two representatives.
of their party in Mass Convention. We
hold these facts up in no spirit Of ridicule or
unkindness, though we might well be par
doned any exhibition of this feeling, after the
bitter, malignant and unfounded defamation
and SANDER of the party that we represent,
which was drawn up by prominent Know
Nothing of this city, and endorsed and
fathered and published to the world by this
Convention; but We do it in selfdefense,
because our Know Nothing friends have really
persuaded themselves, and would fain make
others believe, that they have power enough
to control this county, when the fact is that
they are but weak, shattered remnant of a
long since exploded party, composed, for the
most part, of very respectable gentlemen, and
some of them men of the highest standing,
morally, socially and professionally, but
gentlemen who have wilfully and persistently
read themselves out Of all political fellowship
with any live party, for the last five years, by
| adherence to the cast-off shell of Know.
Nothingism, and who are now in the field in
the embarrassing position of generate without
an army. These gentlemen, by their gratu-
itous, unprovoked attack upon the Republican
party and its principles, have left US no
alternative but to meet them as enemies in
THIS Presidential campaign.
We remember one other occasion when
they came into the field as the "balance-of-
power party" and devoted Dillon and
O'Connor to defeat. We remember, also,
hearing that these gentlemen were elected by
little tie largest majority that the Repub.
licans have ever had in this county. Now,
in this contest, we make this prediction to
our friends: All honest and real anti-slavery
men, be they Of whatever party formerly
Wing, Democratic or Amefican-will vote
for the Republican ticket, and all pro slavery
men - whether old Wings, Democrats or
Know othings--wi vote either for Brock.
inridge or Douglas, every vote for Bell being
really one for Douglas, as the whole aim and
drift of the Bell movement in this State is to
throw it into the hands of Douglas just that,
and nothing more.
After the appointment of delegates, the
Convention then took up the subject of NOM
mating candidate for Clerk of the District
Court. The President, DR.. Reeder, being
called upon for his opinion, said "that, as he
did not think they would ever hold as large
Convention again as this, they would do well
to nominate" Messrs. Wallace, Klein and
Compton concurred with the President. Mr..
Compton nominated Mr.. Klein for that Office.
Mr.. Klein twas willing to be sacrificed, if his
party thought it necessary. If they thought
there was any danger of an election, however,
he would not run; but, if not, and they meant
to stand up to the nomination, he was ready
to be sacrificed" Mr. Mahan said "that he
had felt, for the last four or five years, 'lke
one who treads alone some banquet hall
deserted &C., and that now he was glad Of
the prospect Of having some company, and
that, if they did sacrifice their man this time,
they would elect him next time"
Mr.. Singleton Weaver was now nominated
by reclamation, the Convention evidently not
being willing to run man who regarded their
nomination so much in the light of sacrifice
as did Mr.. Klein, the sacrifcial view being
rather sombre one to start out with.
Mr.. Wallace here said ''that he was much
disappointed at the absence of an old and
staunch Bell man, who had expected to be
present, and who, in his youth, had made
truck wagon with John Bell"
A proposition was here made that all the
Bell and Everett men in the Convention come
forward and sign pledge binding themselves
to support the ticket. This motion was
suddenly dropped. afterwards logged the
elbow of very ardent Bell and Everett friend
to our left, and called his attention to the
manner in which this proposition was treated. |
He assured US that it was merely overlooked
unintentionally, and that it would be passed.
And, upon our looking slightly incredulous,
he Immediately offered to bet fabulous sum
that it would be passed; and to that end, At
our instance, he went forward and reminded |
the prime movers of their oversight. The
motionwas then brought up-and witAdrown.
We don't wish any one to understand that
We have been made independent by winning
that bet.