Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1866-09-25
Hon. N. H. Virgin for Congress His
political'past and present

At the Johnson Convention held
the other day at Mineral Point, this
gentleman was nominated as a cans
didatc for Congress in the Third Con
grcssional District, in opposition to
Gen. Cobb the Union candidate.
Mr.. Virgin has been life long
Wing, and often boasts ofneycr hav-
ing changed his principles.
IN territorial times and during the
youthful age of our State he was sew
cral times member of the Assembly
and Council, always wing.
lie very strongly opposed the form
alton of tic Republican party, but
subsequently went with it-thcre be
ing as he said no other party he
could hitch with. lie was punctual
at the conventions and was delighted
over results, but always depIored
some ofthc issues.
lie however consented to serve the
Republicans OF Grant County as their
Senator after the formation Of that
party-but always protesting rescr-
vsttens and doubts as to some Of the
essential principles ofthe party.
He was reelected rs Republican
Senator Fix Governor Dewey his an
tagonist on the democratic side Fho
hand bills got out BY Jilh"O Wright,
affirming Mr.. Virgin previous iden-
tity with Hnow Nothifqism, and
worry largely circulated by those
warm in the Dewey interest, may
not be Forgotten. They told with
much effect against Virgin but not
sufficiently to elect his antagonist.
Tie was one of the shaky Wiscon-
sin Senators when the war commence
ed, and very strongly favored the
sending Of Peace Commissioners tc
John Tylcr'a 'cohyention, called about
that time 10 lncot at Washington to
propose tbrms and concessions for
eedIemcnt with the rebels without
bloodshcd.
At the close Of his two terms as
Senator, Mr.. Virgin became a candi-
date before the State Republican
Convention for Bank Comptroller,
but owing to his well ascertained
Conservative opinions he received
lut1ittlc support in that convention.
The following year, being four
years ago, Mr.. Virgin, and Mr.. Cobb,
were the candidates fer Congress be-
fore the Republican convention of
this District, tk5 7Cohvention that
year held at Mineral Point. Recciv-
ing but cold support owing to his
weu known doubtful opinions Upon
the essential issues then pending,
Cobb was nominated and elected -
tho latter then also whig and un-
known rs 4 radical, yet we'll known
for possessing mind at least sus-
ccptible Of progress before the logic of
oyents-qualitics which Mr. Virgin
did not then nor can he ever possess.
since the year 1862, part Of the
timo tcehIe supporter Of the war
at least his support dependil e in a
measure upon whether slavery came
out first or second best, o. if second
then not quite SO stronr hut if first
then patriotic, Mr. Virgin took but
little part in political matters Ills
many strong friends but Of radical
tendencies, ono b. one gave him up
rs lost to the union cause, 1t was
INC expression everywhere that had
the Republicans kept him in office he
would have stayed in the party And
what appeared TO mostveX him was
tn fact that .he Republicans OF his
County, his own town even, distrust>
ed him and to man refused to fol-
low him in among coprerhead asso-
Citations. And when two years ago
he was announced for Mcclellan
there was not an Old party friend in
tho county to 30 with him arm in arm.
Alone he softly fit his way in the
cold dark chant hers. And when he
had passed through the Solitudcs, and
had arrived at the door labelled. "ka-
trance fot the .McCe{ida Tfa6'ng Field"
he could see by the dim lights these
osted notices whichmade him shud-
er:-"ValIandigham the Chief Ring
Master and General OF Ceremonies )
Tho war for the Union a tailure-in