The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-03-02
THE LATE COUNTY CONVENTION


THE LATE COUNTY CONVENTION.
We had not designed making any fur
ther comments upon the proceedings OF
the Convention held at Centreville, on
the 18th ult So far as the people of this
county are concerned, no defense of the
acts Of that convention, or Of those who
participated in it, is necessary at our
hands: but as the false and scurrillous
statements with which the Julian Chase
organs have reeked for the past two
weeks, have been copied into newspapers
in other parts of the State, where the
truth of the matter is not known, we have
thought it but just to the citizens and sol
diers of our county, that a brief state
ment of the real facts of the case should
be made.
1t is well known that the Member of
Congress from this district has been for
years engaged in organizing party acinlin
the Republican party, having for its main
object the continuance Of himself in Con
gress during the term of his natural life;
and as incidental thereto, the control of
all county offices, and Of the political at
fairs generally Of the district. BY con
centrating the vote of this party upon GER
tain pre- understood candidates at the va
rious primary elections, they have been
able to control many of the nominations;
and the political power thus acquired has
been made to enure greatly to the benefit
Of their founder and leader. OF course
they feel n most ardent attachment to the
popular vote system" which has work
ed 50 beautifully in their favor; and this
attachment will no doubt continue until
the system ceases to work to their advan-
tage, when it will again become corrupt
and abominable in their eyes, rs it was
in days Of yore.
Last year, owing to the early day at
which the County Convention was held,
and the lack Of interest manifested in it
by the people generally, this party had
entire control Of the convention, and APP
pointed full corps of County and Town
ship committees, which committees they
ing the present year, inasmuch as the
county and Congressional nominations
were to be made, and it was very CONVEX
lent to have the management Of these af-
fairs in their own hands. Accordingly,
no sooner had the State Central Commit
tee called the Convention for the 18th,
ult., than they commenced making their
arrangements. The Provost Marshals,
Deputy Marshals, Collectors, Assessors,
Commissioners, Post Masters, in short the
whole tribe of petty government officials
were set to work with might and main to
rally the faithful. In order to inflame
their zeal the more, the report was eircu-
lated that the friends Of General Mere
dith would attempt to abolish the popu-
lar vote system, and it was necessary to
have full turn out in order to preserve
that palladium Of the liberties of the par
ty. The result was that when the day
arrived the .phalanx' was out in its might
every available man was at his post.
Inspired with confidence, they held their
caucus as Of old. and arranged the pro
gramne: Mr.. Hosier was to be chairman,
the county committee was to be continu-
cd, and q resolution endorsing Mr.. Julian
was to be adopted. While the caucus
was in progress however, the trains began
to arrive, and it became evident that the
people of Old Wayne were making their
appearance, and were about to take n hand
in the proceedings. Among the rest
came about 100 citizens OF the County
who had volunteered in the service of their
country in the 10th and 124th Regiments.
but who seemed to be under the impress
sion that they had not thereby surrender
ed all their rights As citizens We are
informed by gentleman who was pre-
sent that it was amusing to behold the
the countenances Of the "phalanx AS
sembled about the Court House, as the
soldiers marched up from the depot. No
Vallaadighammer on the day Of the Ohio
election ever manifested greater indigna-
ton and disgust At the sight of $ blue
coat" than did these pure patriots on this
occasion. Messengers ran breathless in
to the caucus announcing that Meredith
was marching at the head of = great army
10 flank the convention, and overthrow
.popuiar vote The CONSERVATION ofthat