Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-07-21
2olitifal.
THE CONGRESSIONAL CONTEST.
From the GAINESVILLE Enterprise.
The Congressional Candidates.

| columns for the discussion of this ques.
| ton, and taken an active interest in it
yourself, you will not object, 1 presume,
if I attempt to give expression to what
l know are the views of a very large
portion of our people upon it.
There are many persons in the Dis
trict who think that the long experience
and eminent ability of Mr.. Bingham
should be retained in Congress, and that
he should be re-nominated, notwithind-
ing his repeated pledges that he would
not again be candidate. While | ad-
mire the talent, ability and national
reputation of Mr.. Bingham, and fe.z
proud of his valuable services in the
past, and of the fact that l have always
been determined advocate of his re-
peated return to Congress, think that
the situation and condition of affairs in
the 10th District are such that his nomi-
nation at this time would be extremely
injudicious and hazardous. 1t is impos-
sible for man to serve fourteen years
in Congress without giving Offense to
many of his constituents.
Mr.. Bingham, Notwithstanding his
well earned national reputation as
statesman, is charged with being remiss
and neglectful of the wants of his cor :
stituents to very astonishing degree.
He has made many enemies among that
class of persons who expect their Repre-
sentative in Congress to answer all their
letters and comply with all their de-
mands. He has also made enemies by
promises of his influence in aid of ap-
plicants for position, by removals from
position, and by appointments that
were not considered judicious. There
are also many persons who think and
others who know, that he has given
public and private assurances that he
would not again under any circum-
stances be q candidate, if nominated
and elected lust this time" and his
return to the nominating convention at
each subsequent meeting is strongly in
dicative of an Unsuitable desire and un-
mistakable ambition for the POSITION
A repetition of this thing at the coming
convention would not be creditable or
add much to the luster of his fame.
shall not stop to inquire whether
these complaints and objections, and
the bad feeling that has grown out of
them, are reasonable or unreasonable.
find that they exist, and that there are
scores of men in this community and
hundreds of them in the District who
will be influenced by them, and either
stay at home on the day of election if
he is nominated, or go to the election
and scratch his name from their ticket
or vote against him.
In District that is considered doubt.
full, and in which we had less than two
hundred majority last fall, would it be
judicious to nominate a man whose
nomination would almost certainly re-
suit in defeat? We apprehend that these
reasons-and they must lie apparent to
the friends of Mr.. Bingham-should
determine the convention against his
nomination and induce it to nominate a
new man, one who will receive the
entire vote of the party.
If new man is to be taken the choice
will probably fall upon Belmont
County man, and the question is who
shall that man be?
You have earnestly, and think ably,
presented the claims of Hon. Isaac
Welsh, aud concede that Mr.. Welsh
is an honest, upright man, of very fair
ability, but in District as close as this
one is very much doubt the propriety
of nominating him or any other man
who would not be able to thoroughly cam
vass the district. But few, if any of Mr..
Welsh's friends claim anything for him
as stump speaker, and consequently
he could not be relied upon to arouse the
people by his eloquence, and it is feared
he would fail to get up the necessary
enthusiasm or interest in his favor to
secure his election, and his defeat would
wv hiiA nv SOOoI anu ibJeAS viz
party. In this view of the case, would
not this nomination of Mr.. Welsh be
inopportune?
Mir. Danferd is very highly spoken of,
and his many earnest, warm friends
urge his nomination on the ground of
his peculiar advantages as a public
speaker, &c. He is one of the best and
most popular stump speakers in the
District, and if member of Congress
had nothing else to do but talk, he
would certainly make the very best of
candidates.
1 have noticed Mr.. Danford for a
number of years, and listened to his
speeches with great deal of interest,
but, while have recognized in them a
finish of oratory, and pleasing, en-
thusing spirit of rhetoric, have never
regarded him as close thinker or an
able debater on leading issues. 1t is
possible that as he gets older (he is yet
young} he may develop more of the
statesman, and then with his peculiar
eloquence he would make a prominent
and useful member of Congress. His
time is yet to come.
Among the older heads of the party
the thinking, earnest men, who look
beyond the glittering surface-Colonel
Poorman is regarded as better qualified
for the position than either of the others.
He is very good talker. and is, perhaps
the ablest debater in the District, as his
debates with r. ]. Alexander, Esq, on
the Bond, Bank and Suffrage questions,
In vaor aIaarIu don,nnSf t.d Ha ia