Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-10-05
TO THE VOTERS OF ASHTABULA
COUNTY.

an Independent Candidate for Representative
ofthis County-occupyin this position with
out asking any Convention whether should
do so. Let me, in n few words, say why /
ask you 10 vote for me.
Holding that all candidates should be in
self as such, in opposition to the present
much abused Convention system--a system
10y which a few cunning wire workers de-
prive the people of their right of suffrage,
AID impose officers upon them, who are not
their choice-and all who feel the impor-
tance of reUuking that system, l invite to
vote for me, as means OF expressing that
rebuke
Those who have felt ard complained of
the Tyranny of conventions, can now show
their independence of them. They will lose
nothing, as Republicans at least, and they
can now make themselves felt Ny cleo
ton would be mortal wound to the con-
Nenton system of this county
l have held that this County should re
rep 9sei;ed in the Legislature by a man who
is Fl e and out spoken opponent Of the
wht le slave system of this Nation, and one
who has not compromised away any Of his
freedom hy any union with those who think
differently. For this reason have opposed
the 7 .eseut "Union" organization, ard offer
mys:li as the representative of the old anti
slavery republican idea, with theunderstanl-
ing that will be bound by no trammels
whatever, and ask such as sympathize with
this position, to vote for me.
1t is true that the nominee Of the Union
Convention, Mr.. KRUM has been known for
some years as Republican, and so far is
understood to occupy the same anti-slavery
position as myself and it may be asked why
should oppose him. may remark that he
opposes me--having become a candidate
since did. But there is this difference be-
tween u.s. have openly held my anti slavery
position for a life time, he since 1854 lie
is the nominee Of Convention so organized
that he dare not avow his sentiments before
it, and then be nominated and by all the
rules OF such conventions, is pledged il elect
cd to ignore all questions of this kind, and
act only to prosecute the war for the sup.
preston of rebellion, and in the Legislature
is bound to keep silence upon this ques-
tlon so vitally important to the cause Of lib
eTty. The convention actually refused 10
declare for free principles am free from
all such obligations, and promise to use that
freedom.
1t has been the custom in this county, TO
elect Representatives only once. Mr.. KRUN
has filed the place once; and between us, it
is my time now
1t will be recolectcd that some time ago,
! called attention TO a measure OF reform in
our Judiciary system, 10y giving Justices of
the Peace final jurisdiction in Minor Crimi-
nal offences. The reform was proposed by
me; but Mr.. KRUM pledged himself 10 sup
port.it lie introduced bill for that pur.
pose, but did not succeed in procuring its
passage. I would like to make the effort
myself, knowing il is measure that ought
not to be given up, and feeling such an in
terest in it, that | woull push il Through if
possible.
] am convinced also that our State ex.
penditures have bsen unnecessarily large
Tor war purposes-nOt that the appropria-
tons were improper, but that legislation was
so loose that the money was wasted. Bills
were passed in April last, that gave the Ex-
ecutiVe the handling of large sums that
should have teen controlled beyond his
reach. One of those gave the Governor con-
troll of million and half Of dollars:
would have voted against it, All this mat.
ter, and much more OF the Kind will come up
before the next Legislature Might not the
public gain by change of Representative ?
In time like this, every dollar should be
saved to the State; while everything is done
to support the Government am for spend,
ing all that is necessary; but keeping a
close watch against wasteand extravaganza.
In the war l am for crushing out the rebel
non, and doing it with the least possible loss
oi lie and treasure, In such struggle we
have neither lives nor money to throw away.
In conclusion, ask you to vote for me as
the opponent of Conventions, as the uncom-
promised candidate, as the friend of reform;
and hope every friend of free speech and
thought, every friend of reform aud indepen.
dent votin0 will find n cone;stoui =, 4,