Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-02-21


slonsl DlstrIot.
In offering myself as . candidate for
the houos aud responsibilities Of repre-
sentative Of the Fourth Congressional
District, il msY nos be amiss TO repeat, In
substance, what said In announcing my.
self two years ago. am, Of course, can
didats for nomination BY the Republicans
ofthe District. and l hope that nomination
will be made bya popular vote, on the
6rst Monday In April. regard this as
the fairest practical mode Of getting at the
wishes Of the people, aud attended with
the least trouble and expense. Il brings
professional politicians aud wire- pullers
on to nearly the same level with honest
and decent people, and thus rebukeS'that
systematic knavery and fraud which have
become the bane Of our party politics |
doubt whether any ma, who does not fear
the people, will be found opposing II when
q candidate for Office. Like any other
good thing, II may be abused and It shenld
therefore be carefully guarded. Its pur
pose should be TO secure fair expression
Of the wishes Of the Republicans Of the
District, and any attempt 10 pervert II to
the ends OF faction, by allowing our politi.
cal foes to share in IL, should be unfinch-
ingiy resisted IT, however, . apominstion
BY popular vote should be deemed iuexpe-
dent by the Republicans Of minority Of
the counties Of the District, then trust
that delegates to q Congressional Conven-
ton may be chosen by the people of those
counties, attownship meetings, which shall
assemble at fixed day and hour, upon
ample previous notice. This will allow all
Republieans TO participate who may feel
sufficient Interest i n the issue 10 do so, and
will be a toIerable substitute for the popu
lar plan. Forms aud methods are OF liule
moment If the real voice Of the people can
be heard.
Ofmy political character and acts |
need only say. that they are not unknown
TO the people have 50 long had the hon.
or to represent, or 10 those of the District in
which am now placed. hsvd avowed
my opinions upon all the great .qucsrons
oil the country, whether Of war or peace,
during the past twenty years, aud stand
upon my record aud only ask to be judged
by II. | would not change il IL could.
and there Is nothing IN il would conceal
from friend or foe. The people know
where to find me, and how far my course
stands vindicated in the light Of present
event.; and all | ask. in the coming cans
yass. is that il may be conducted fairly
aud decided upon It's merits. -.5iy duties
here will allow NE to take no part in IL per.
sOnaliy. | must leave II in the hands Of
my friends: aud il have been nm un-
faithful pubic servant. false to any pledge
ever made. or IL, Ia my private life or
conduct, either raf home or in Washington,
have represented the vices rather than
the virtues Of my Constituents, or have
ever failed to stand erect amid the tempta-
,ions which make public life a perpetual
moral danger, then bespeak the condem-
nation Of the people.
As regards the plea now being urged
by my opponents, that have held my
trust long enough. and should yield my
claims to others, can only say what 1
said two years ago. that no man has any
eioisss upon public Office. IL is the free
gift OF the people, whose right and duty
II Is to bestYw IL for their own good. No
greater mistake can be made than to re-
gard places of public trust as the reward
oil individuals for services. however emf
nent civil or military. The sole question
IS as to whose knowledge. ability, expert
encc, aud known fidelity n the people.
will best ensure their welfare. In the
natter Of legislation. the old shareholders,
always wiser than we. never regarded
the question Of rotation in Office AZ in
order. This was the great secre: Of their
domination over rs. aud we are at last
beginning to profit by the lesson. States-
manship Is not among the gifts 10 which
men are born, "independent Of study and
experience" The ability Of new mem.
Der TO sefve his constituents, however
talented aud worthy he may be. must
o. necessity suffer a serious discouat for
some years, through his lack Of acquaint.
anee with members aud with the rules Of
business, and Of that faml liarity with public
questions which can only be learned by
continuous service, and the habit Of study
ing political issues which IL seizures. /
take leave to suggest further, that the
problems of the late war are not yet solved
The battle of legislation has not yet made
good the battle Of arms. President Lin-
coin used to say that men should not swap
horses while crossing river, and the good
sense Of the nation needed the admoni.ion.
III in further dealing with the great ques-
tons of the crisis, the people Of the Fourth
District should prefer a new man, with
opinions less pronounced and unequivocal,
with less training in the duties of repre-
sentative Of the people, and whose efdelity
as such has been less perfectly proved on
actual trial, then shall cheerfully stand
aside, and do all in my power for the
nominee.
In conclusion l beg leave to refer to
another objection, aud probably the chief
one, which my opponents are urging to
my nomination, namely. that am not
available" and that the harmony Of our
party in the District demands the selec-
tion of ofanother. To this reply, that for
quite . series Of years I have wrestled
successfully with all the leading public
men Of Eastern Indiana, either singly or
in combination, and in each successive
conflict have intrenched myself more than
ever in the hearts Of the people. L have
been constantly growing more available
while the opposition to me has been man :
ifestly losing its power; aud at the close
OF the canvass two years ago, behevs my
opponents generally felt that their chief,