The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-07-11
The County Convention,

The Democratic County Convention which
met in this city on Thursday was a body which
brought TO mind wildly those gatherings of
the Democracy triumphant we used to have
in the good days before " Old Democratic La
Sale yielded to the embrace of fanaticism
and its decisions. The convention was not
only full as regards representation from the
different towns, but each town haG apparently
sent its delegation of spectators, so that the
scene rcsembed grand county mass meet
ing rather than delegate convention. This
large attendance was attracted solely by the
deep interest felt in the nominations, the uni
versal anxiety being that the best men should
be nominated, with conviction on all sides
that the ticket nominated was bound to be
elected. The same anxiety which prevailed
among the spectators, and the same convc-
ton that nomination was equivalent to an
election, animated the delegates, impair ting to
their deliberations an intensity of interest
often amounting to excitement, unknown in
any of our conventions for the last ten or ff-
teen years.
Animated by such feelings and convictions,
the convention did its work not only earnestly,
but wisely and nobly. 1t would be extrava-
giant, probably, to say that the defeated can
didates and their immediate friends share the
conviction, but we believe among the democ-
racy generally, (as well as fair minded repub-
licans, for that matter,) the conviction is firm
that the ticket is the strongest that could
have been nominated. The men are in the
highest sense capable, of unimpeachable rep
utaton morally or politically, and surrounded
by those strong clements of personal popular
lty which will insure for them not only a solid
democratic vote, bpt many votes from mod
crate men OF the opposite party.
CHARLES HOFFMAN, as his name indicates
is German. He was born. in Magdeburg
Prussia, and after receiving thorough cdu
cation in the best schools Of his native city,
(and no country in the world has better schools
than Prussia he was apprenticed to the mer-
camille business. Continuing in this business
several years. during which he attained at
ie'o' a ic9pcCslDlc prOlIcleHCI us II clerk ana
accountant his parents, on account of the
rising political troubles in Germany, Gin 1S41)
made up their minds to emigratc to free Amer
lea, and they brought their son Charles, then
about 20 years of age, with them. They came
directly to Illinois, and in 1s4s bought small
farm in the town Eagle, in this county, upon
which (the father dying one year afterwards,)
the son has remained, supporting the family,
from that day to this. Among his neighbors
he is known as a modest, unassuminp, vet
thoroughly cultivated gentleman, ENJOYING the
confidence and highest esteem of ALL Never
voting any other than the democratic ticket
and active and efficient in the local politics of
the town, he yet never had any political aspir-
ations--and though compelled, on account Of
his sound sense and superior clerical qualif-
cations, 70 fill the Office Of town assessor, town
clerk, and the like, uninterruptedly for the
last fifteen years, no one can say that he ever
asked for these, or any other Office. The can
didacy for the Circuit Clerkship was no mat
ter OF his own suggesting, but was in meas
nre forced upon him. though being thus placed
in the field, the democracy may rest assured
he is not the man to let the election 20 by de-
fault.
Capt. w. II. NORTON the nominee for Sheriff.