The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-10-31
IRON the indianapolis Journal
A sharD Joke on Mr.. Jones.


A gentleman from the Third. Dis
triet relntes 10 us stroke of strategy
on tho part Of Mr.. Harrington, the
new Collector for that District, that
docs honor to the native and acquired
shrewdness Of the appointee, and
which will convince some Of bis
cireuinyented political friends that a
Yankee lawyer Is hard customer to
get ahead Of ~ ala4.
II appears that some weeks before
the October election Hon. Smith
Jones, Of Bartholomew County, re-
ceived notice from the Treasury De.
partment that he had been appointed
Collector Of Internal Revenue for the
Third Congressional District, yice
Stansifer removed. MIR. Jones, realiz-
ing that so lucrative an Office was a
nice thing to have in the family, was
Justly elated by his good fortune, and
set about filing his bond and making
other little arrangements for occupying
the place from which the discarded
Abolitionist was TO be busted, 30 far
the prospect was pleasing TO the house
OF Jones, but the news was not ,sayory
| to the house of Harrington whose head
was then candidate for Congress
and sorely baset bywhat Nasty would
call the - ablishin hordes. Mr..
Harrington fOresaw that defeat was
| in prospect and sensibly determined
TO cast an anchor TO windward, in
view of tlfa coming storm. lie there
fore Represented to the prominent
Democrats who had interested them
selves for Mr.. Jones, that one in each
county Of the District had been prom
Used the Colleetorship, after the cleo
ton, and III the appointment was
made before that event, every disap-
pointed aspirant, together with his
Immediate friends, would vote against
him and the other candidates on his
ticket. This practical way Of putting
the question: was convincing, and ID
was agreed that MIR. Jones appoint
ment should not be made public until
after the election. The next
coup on the part Of MIR, Harring-
ton was to advise the several candi-
dates for the Collectors Office to cir
cuiate petitions in their respec-
tive counties for their appointment,
but for certain reasons not nee
esaary to communicate them, TO leave
the name Of the person blank in the
petition, and after the election he
could gil the blank and send on the
papers with his own Endorsement. OF
course every mothers son Of them
got all the names he could to the re-
Communication Of Mr. for col
leot0r, little dreaming that Mr.. -
would be any other person than his
own dear self. At length the eventfnl
day arrived. The votes were cast,
counted and Mr. Harrington was not
elected. AS soon as the result was
known, that worthy gentleman started
for Washington, taking with him the
roll of recommendation of Mr.. -.
for Collector, but when laid upon the
table of " Moses" aud subjected TO
his perusal, each one certified to the
eminent fitness Of Henry W, Har-
rington for the office of Collector Of
Internal Revenue for the Third Con-
gressional District the blank having
been, by some mysterious process fill
ed with his name. In addition TO the
formidable recommendations the de-
/
have impressed upon the mind of the
humble individual that he had been
beaten by fraudulent votes cast by
Abolitionists, and that having been
sacrificed in consequence of his devo-
ton to my policy he was of all men
best entitled to the Office. He left the
presence with assurances that ii was
we'll with him, and has since received
the necessary parchment How this
clever manuever was relished by the
house of Jones we have no adyices
but if swearing words were not heard
thereabouts, then commend us tC
Jones M pattern of long suffering
patience and Christian forgiveness.
We have known Mr.. Harrington al
shrewd lawyer, an adroit cross-eex
aminer of witnesses, and quick at dis
covering sharp points IN n case; bn
we doubt whether he ever manifested
more sharpness than in paving thu
way for his own appointment to thu
Office just bestowed upon him by the
grateful A. j.