Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-07-21
From the Bellaire Independent.
Who Shall Represent the Districts

From the Bellaire Independent.
Who Shall Represent the Districts
EDITOR INDEPENDENT. You have as
signed many reasons why Mr.. Bingham
should not be nominated by the COM
ing Republican Congressional COnven-
ton. Some of your reasons are not
fully endorsed by your readers, but, gem
orally speaking, there is conviction
that his nomination would not be polite
because of the number of persons in the
District who are dissatisfied with him,
and the danger of his defeat by reason
of this dissatisfaction. I have learned
through persons who have conversed
with Mr.. Bingham upon this subject,
that he will not be candidate if there
is any very considerable opposition to
him in the Conventions; and believing
that there will be strong and deter
mined opposition to him I am inclined
TO the opinion that he will not permit
his name to be brought forward, and if
he or his friends, in the face of this dam
ger of losing the District in the event Of
his nomination, persist in presenting
and pressing him as a candidate, be-
lieve the good sense of the delegates
will prevail and they will sacrifice Mr..
Bingham rather than the District. If
in this am correct, then the question
of most Importance to US is the selection
of a candidate on the part of this Coun-
ty to be pres ented as our choice to the
Convention. Either of the three gem
tlemen named by their numerous friends
Col. Poorman, Capt. Danford and
Isaac Welsh-would make creditable
Representative, and shall say nothing
disparaging to the claims of either
of them, but will briefly give the
reasons why think the former should
have the preference.
Re presentatives in Congress have gen.
orally overlooked the interest of the
'aboring element of society and devoted
too much attention to the claims of the
rich non-producers. This to great ex-
tent, has grown out of the fact that but
few laboring men, or men vino have as
sociated with and sympathizs for the
labOring class, have been elected to Con-
of this class have never been fully and
fairly understood. Col. Poorman, raised
to hard work, by long association with
the laboring class, has had ample oppor-
tunity to know their wants, and having
himself toiled as mechanic for his dali
ly bread, will know how to sympathize
with the toiling millions. If this was
the only reason that could be assigned
in favor of his nomination it would cer-
tainly not make very strong case for
him; for there are scores of men in the
County who have worked longer and
perhaps harder than he has, but in ad-
dition to this reason, which will have
great force with the laboring element,
Col. Poorman has proved himselfa man
of more than ordinary ability by his
rapid rise from poverty and obscurity
to his presen position as leader of the
Republican party. In 1857 he was a
mechanic in the Southern part of the
County; in 1858 he was elected Auditor,
and filled the position in creditable
and honorable manner; in 1861, after his
son had gone into the army & in the Fall
when the volunteering spirit was at its
lowest ebb, he undertook to raise COM
pany for the service, when all his friends
declared that no man could recruit one,
and by a liberal expenditure of means
and such herculean labors as no. other
man would have undertaken, he sue
ceeded in raising full company and
went with it into the service. In 1862
he was detached from his company and
assigned for recruiting purposes to the
9Sth Regiment, which he assisted in
filling up in very short time, and was
afterward appointed its Lieut.. Colonel.
In the political campaigns since the war
he has been one of the most formidable
defenders of the Republican party, and
has done more for its success by his fear
less and determined advocacy of its
leading doctrines, and his bold attacks
upon the policy and character of the
Democratic party than any other man
in the County. He has made more
speeches in this County than any man
in it; and more In this Congressional
District than any man except, perhaps,
Mr.. Bingham. AS a speaker he Is not
quite as eloquent as Capt. Danford, but
more logical and argumentative. Heis
a man of indomitable energy, strong
and undoubted courage; fear
less in advocating what he believes TO be
right, and thoroughly identified with
the moral and temperance movements
of the day. Having these qualifications,
and | speak of them as one who has
known him for twenty years, he is well
qualified to represent all classes and
maintain the honor of this District in
Congress. His abilities, as well as his
efficient and laborious services in the in-
terest OF his party, deserve this recog-
milton, and the interest of the District
requires the services of just such energy,
integrity, and persevering in
dustry as he possesses, and | hope the
County will not hesitate to indicate him
az its choice.