Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1866-07-14
From the Noungsiown Rcritter.
The Congregational Contest.

Two or three months since, when tie subject
OF the coming Congressional Convention began
10 be generally talked OF throughout this Dis.
trict, The people, as We have good reason TO
believe, were fully ten to Que IN favor of Gen
ernl Gnitields denomination. In many parts OF
The District the feeling among the Union voters
was almost unanimous They recognized the
wisdom OF endorsing the present noble aud pa
triotic Congress by returnir g its active, work.
ing members, and besides this they we're proud
OF their bold, earnest and radical representa-
tive, who by the force OF powerful intellect
aud an iudomitable will had raised bimself from
the hunblest positions in life to be leader in
the ablest Congress that ever met in the capi-
tol OF the nation, aud who, by his eloquence,
his statesmaDlike talents and his unwayering
championship of right, had restored 10 his
District the honor and fame il enjoyed when
represented by that brave old man, Joshua r.
Giddngs. Notwithstanding these facis,
two gentlemen announced that they should oon-
/, iest his nomination for o third term--lIou.
John Hutchios, OF Warren; aud Capt. Darius
Caldwell, Of Ashtabula. Capt. Caldwell, after
can vassing portion OF the Distaict. saw that
there was no prospect Of success, and Withdrew
from the contest. We have not word 10 cay
against his coarse. As far as we know he
acted fairly and honorably throughout.
Mr.. Hutchlns hns represented this District n
Congress for two terms He Is IN adroit poll
tician. and secured his first domination by mana.
ging the primary meetings in such Q way a. 10
deeat the will OF lar-e majority OF the party.
Mr., Huichins made no mark 10 Congress The |
contrast between him and his predecessor was
very apporent. lie served two terms, but |
never rose above mediocrity. and his greatest |
effort was to read Saturday afternoons speech
to empty benches Such mon are frequently
very fond Of speech. making, and 10 order that
their proclivity for talking may not impede the
business Of the House, Saturday OF every week
is usually given up to their exclusive use, and
as many as a duzen speeches are frequently !
ground out and printed Oh that day. Mob ody !
listens TO these oratotical efforts-in fact there |
is nobody in the House to listen except those
who intend TO speak. I'll ese speeches are
franked by the carloads to the members con-
sttuents, who are expected 10 reflect with
wonder on the talents and eloquepce OF their
representative who is able thus
"The applause of liseeniug scnates to command"
After the expiration OF bis second term. fail
ing in bis efforts for third nomination, Mr.
Hutchins went TO New Orleans on some sort
Of o mission for the Treasury Department.
He engaged in business there. aud il was sup
posed that he intended 10 make that city bis
permanent residence, but he returned iast spring
to Warren, and announced his intention OF
again running for Congress. With this deter.
mination on the part Of Mr.. Hutchins we have
no right to find fault. It is bis privilege, as il
is Of every citizen, to be Candidate for Con-
gress or for any other Office, and il is only wb'n
he uses any other than far and honorab
means TO secure his end that be lays himself
open TO criticism and condemnation. Unless
We are greatly in error Mr.. Hutchins. or bis
friends. are using means which TO say the least
are far from being commendable. 1t is intend.
ed, as We believe, to try q repetition Of the
same plots and intrigues by which Mr.. Hutch
ius was first nominated, eight years ego.
1t is apparent to every man who possesses
q reasonable amount Of discernment aud has
any opportunity for observation, that but O
very small minority OF the Union voters Of this
district desire to be represented by Mr.. Hutch
ins. We presume that he is perfectly aware OF
this. Then why is he candidate? Why, un-
less il is because he hopes by his skill as poli
icnl wire-worker to defeat the peoples will. and
trick item out Of the candidate OF their choice.
Were he to simply announce himself can
didate and then await the decision of the peo-
pie, fairly expressed he would not stand shad-
ow Of a chance for the nomination, and his
friends know this. il he does not. Ii other ev-
idence were lacking this fact would lead to
the inference that it is by thwarting the pop.
ular will and not by the expression Of it, that
Mr.. Huichins hopes for success. We are not
Of the class OF men who believe that all things
are fair in politics, az in war. and we detest aud
condemn the whole system OF ntrig que and
trickery, too often practiced. by which prima-
ry meetings are manipulated and conventions
packed. II it is by such means that the oppo-
ponents Of Gen. Garfield expect to compass
his defeat they forfeit at the outset all claim
to the support or even the respect of the peo'
pie.