, 1870-08-04

hated by tho Eighth Distinct Csu-
vcnri~M-BrieF Biography OF tho
SucccssfuI Candidate.
Special Despsteh to Ths Chicago Tribune
srRNoFlx1p, Aug. A-Tha lahor11 Of the eon-
veattpn Of this district have 1t length been
brought to close. Anu candidate for the honor
able p&,zittoa OF Representative to Uougreas has
Taxewel County. Is the MAJ Ths feonventton
.s;iiwei. IN the absence q Nj. hanon. tse .ciins
ith. Of seIean, I w w, Cd Chosen % cn:r@aa 9a Tpoa
taking tho chair Nj. Smith sa3d:
GEsILkxEs OF THE CONVENTION: an verT
The Necessity oi leaving for hume last night
seaor s1 zo1 h.ys . conferred aeea me- In - -
uoe nc q ~ q Gss1e 1as Saat con
vention viii permit ne viii say that think 1t Is
your dutJ = bring Jou1 p1.seediasa 70 close ny
mau around whom theJ can rally, 4 The Soyem-
ber election. II usual. think We marc been here
sas ssls '1 sus a0' e. Sa r.
over the stats demand h. In this split hops
The committee viii proceed to the business which
called y together. no" walt the pleasure Of the
III: sn,1th proved to b An admirable presiding
oileer and ne work Of the convention vas eoa-
Before tne ballot.ns for candidates
LIS poa for soens eer o as ~
Committee for the ensuing TWO 5eafa Tnu fol-
| lowing gentlemen werr selected: h +. Fo1. Of
sassnon e J. RS"e q aste1a; Jsns
| fDrtt; u. Kinney, of Dewitt 80
This INST ballot cast today, beng tho hun dred
And sixueth, The Tote Was the BAule a. yesterday
| caiiona. ....,,,. "a
McNullA..
! ''"'.''.'...s.....-.'...
On the one hundred and seventy -dTas ballot De-
Witt, tired Of the contest, gave Aerrhm three
y0tes instead Of one, md The ballot at this 3saxe
Of the proceedings was:
q
| AcNaA.. ..-.'-'............-.-.---. i
lan..''.............-- --..-.....--....-...
| This was the dist 1t, u, aud createi quite an
excitement Ba1lottng for about ten minutes Has
ano tns md
| something WIS about 10 be accomplished. BALLOT
ting being again resumed the sane vote WIS cast
contest and cast her vote for Merriam, Tie palIot
showing Cullom 81, McSulta Is, Merriam ii.
The result now Depended upon the aetlon OF Nc
having declared that they ha cast their last vote
for AcSuiia The e1clteuen. u this point was
INTENSE and when the counties on the one hun
| atesl and etghtJ-Axth ballot we're belnG called,
the silence was feally painful When Mclean
| County WAS called her Chairman said Mclean
county gives thifteen votes tor EDl1Htl Merriam,
| End the victory WAS won BY the friends Of Mer.
ram. who gave vent To their Joy In storms OF aE-
/ plansc.
Thus. aftcr four DAYS session, the convention
has closed It's laoots, and presented tlle flame o
| CelUnel Jonathan Merriam, Ut TazewelL who vas
declared the nominee OF the convention. Cpon
motion Ut lion. c. Conklln9, Of San9amon County
and one OF At Cullom's waImeAt supporters, she
nomination was made unanimous, aud u II O'Clock
| the convention adjourned si.k dif,
ColGnel Jonathan Merriam was born IN the State
! OF Vermont IL 1854 His fatacr moved to this
State In 1s39, and settled In Tazcwell County.
Tie Colonel 1s Sc years OF age, Is about six fett
4nd TWO inches high, and a une Specimen nj an
| Illinois farmer. Hts education has been liberal
md he has male good Use OF the ady 2ntages thai
never ngu1ed much In politics before the late Wat
hut always has been an open aud determined radi
cal Republican, from tho old WING stock. In 1861 he
| helped recruit the One Hundred and Seventeenth
| Regiment Illinois Volunteers, was chosen II Lieu
| tenant Colonel, which position he held until sh&
regiment vas mustered ont at Camp Butler, IT
! I66a uo VIA with the regiment In ali OF Its hat
| ties, AktrmtsheA, md Marches And proved himself
to te braTs and gallant onlcer. In the fkil o.
1sG5 be Was nominated for the Stale Legislature ~
The Republicans Of TazeWell County. and fairtJ
SA1t0lst1l, his Democratic competitor, and tht
seat given to Saltonstsll. Tho Colonel wks notn1
aast1 u = delegate to the Constitutional Conven
| tlon ~ the Republicans OF hts county, and va.
elected oTsr P1ettyman BY = good majority. ILL
| record In the convention wAs that OF an honegt
! sincere, and industrious member, and IN all hI
/ votes and speeches he took the side OF refofn
4 and prpgresk Hts election Is the next memuc
! Of Congress trom thts district IL certainty.