Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1866-10-16
Hon. A. P. Harmon Candidate for
Re- Election to the Assembly.
Mr.. COVER /:

liberty | take IN thus addressing
you, knowing as you do the circum-
stances which prompt me to do so.
| have never burthened the col
pmns of the HERALD or bored its
Editor or Readers with long commu-
nications, and ] only now ask for
but little space in which to make q
few statements in explanation of The
position | now occupy. Had the
Assembly District Convention held
short time ago in Lancaster nomina.
ted it's candidate and adjourned with
out any effort to let down defeated
candidates ! should not have felt
called upon..to say anything in regard
to the matter. But under the pc
culiar circumstances | feel that JUS
tice to myself and to my friends de-
mand a little explanation.
Last yearI did not ask the nomi-
nation add had no reason to expect
it; it is true that my name was in
the convention the year previous but
without my knowledge, as | was alb
sent from the County at the time
and had no idea that any such
thing was contemplated. But this
year | had a little reason to expect
the nomination or at least compli
mentary vote in the convention.
Had the people of the District desi>
red change they should have said
SO or at least expressed wish to
that effect; they might have done SO
either to myself or through your pa
per, without any fear of hurting my
feelings in the least and | am very
sorry they did not do so.
No intimation or hint was given
that the people were dissatisfied with
my action as their Representative in
the Legislature of last winter nor
do | yet believe they were. | cer>
tainly did not expect any considera-
bic opposition on the part Of the
citizens Of Lancaster as | had given
them the Lions share" by placing
Mr.. Burr as one of the Incorporators
in the Charter of the Oshkosh 4 Mis-
sissippi Rail Road, thereby giving
them all the influence possible to
bring tho road to the county seat
| might have been a little more self
ish and put on some man in my own
neighborhood but a little. county
pride and q desire to do " the great
est good to the greatest number o.
the citizens of Grant, prompted me-
to do as did, and | do not as yet re
greet it. | have by the earnest re
quest of my friends concluded to be
come an independent candidate fol
recollection to the Assembly anc
offer the following as some of the
reasons which have induced me TO dc
so; First, I met Mr.. Allen in Ian
caster a few days before the Couven
vention and he told me that he
would not come into the convention
to oppose mein any way, consequent
y | was not q little surprised TO see
him there as q candidate and o.
course | DO not feel under the same
obligations to support him as l 9TH
erwise should, Another and the
great reason why pursue this course
is that | feel the Importance of the
Rail Road question which may be
settled this winter, and | know the
advantages of having a little expe-
riencc in matters of Legislation, as
well us to have a Representative
who feel s personal interest in the
proposed route. do not claim to be
the best man in the district but
suppose that l am as we'll posted
IS to the schemes of the opponents OF
the road through the central part OF
the County as any one the people
would be likely to select. And sup
posing Mr.. Allen should feel the same
interest in the matter as / do he will
| if elected labor under the same dis.
advantages as to being o new mem
her that | did last winter and l do
not believe that the voters Of this
Assembly District are willing thus
to trifie with their own interests ;and
run the greater risk of losing the
good prospect they now have of get.
ting Rail Road through the fairest
portion of " Old Grant"
Another reason why ] shall ask
the voters of the Sd Assembly Dis
trict to vote for me, is that l com
menced the fight on this question
last winter and think it but just that
| should have the privilege Of" fight
ing it out on this line" and when
shall have done so | will chccrfully
stand aside for Mr.. Allen or any 9th
er good man for am not "po-
litical demagogue " or office seeker
as those who are best acquainted
with me very we'll know. In short
shall ask the people to vote for my
reelection for in so doing | believe
they will subserve their own interest
as well as mine.
Whatever you may think of the
| course | am pursuing, of this you
may feel assured that | am not
ready to compromise those long cher
ished political principles or my love
OF country for any position the peo-
pie of Grant County or of the State
or United States could give me. 81
would rather be right than be Presi
dent" | have already made this
communication longer than | had
intended. will close by saving
that, there is no man in the district
for whom | have greater respect
than yourself or whose sunport T