The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-08-03
Republican Township Conventions.


Columbia Township.
EplToRs COURIER:
1t has been currently
reported over the county that the
Republicans, OF Columbia township
lacked harmony in thor councils,
and were split up into factions,
These reports contained more than
. shade Of truth, and some uneasi-
ness was manifested among good
Republicans, lest internal feuds
should accomplish for the Democra.
cy in this county, what "new depart.
ureism must signally fail to do.
l need not repeat the history of the
origin Of these difficulties la detail.
for 1t will serve the purpose to say
that, when analysed, they. were
found to grow out Of misunderstood.
ings and personal matters, rather
than those Of a general or political
character.
And even these personal differen-
ces, when sifted down and Under
stood, were found to be moro imag-
mary than real. Charges of infideii-
ty to the party, Of the existence OF
"rings," cliques," &C., were pretty
freely INDUCED in, as against several
prominent members Of the party,
and these charges, though unsup.
ported by any convincing proofs,
werc still sufficient to put the people
on the inquiry, and on Saturday, the
2eth of July, a very large represen.
tation of voters came out to attend
the caucus and investigate these
charges.
During the day. and up TO the time
OF the caucus, the matter was pretty
well canvassed on the streets, and,
though everything up to that time
remained quiet and orderly, it was
casy to see that considerable anxiety
prevailed among the people as to
the result.
Hon. Peter Knox, supported by
w. l.. Palmer, editor Of the Adverti-
ser, represented the party bringing
these charges chiefly against the Hon
s. T. Caldwell, who represented the
other party, and asked the support
of the delegates, appointed by the
caucus, IN the coming County Con-
vention, for the nomination Of Repre-
sentative.
At 3 O'Clock, P. NJ, more than two
hundred people we're gathered in the
shade by DR.. Nosler's drug store, and
the meeting was called to order by
Maj. Wilcox, Chairman Tp. Central
Committee, who nominated w. P.
Broderick as chairman, and on vote
he was unanimously elected.
VIM. McNett was chosen Secreta.
ry.
A motion was then made by KNOX
to nominate by ballot, it was unani.
mously adopted.
Mr.. Knox then opened the ball
with spirited speech, charging, in
a general manner, that the political
machinery of Columbia township
had been manipulated and run by
Messrs. Caldwell, Clement and Boyd,
for the past four or five years that
they constituted a "clique" and
"ring," opposed to the interests of the
people, who, today, had come up TO
put an end to this thug, and assume
control of the matter themselves.
Mr.. Clement then introduced the
following resolutions:
WHEREAS, 1t has been reported, in
the city of Eddyville and elsewhere,
that complete harmony does not ex-
list in the Republican ranks of Colum.
bia township; and,
WHEREAS, IF any dissensions do
exist, the political welfare of the Re.
publican party in the township and
county requires that the same should
be speedily, amicabIy, honorably, and
permanently healed.
Therefore, Be it, by the Republi-
cans Of Columbia township in Conven-
ton assembled,
| RESOLVED, LIST. That we sincerely
deprecate the existence of any
grounds for said reports.
I'd. That we earnestly desire that
all true Republicans shall ignore the
existence of any cause for disaffec-
ton, and give united and unequiv-
ical support to all proper and leglti-
mate acts of the party, both in town.
ship and county, to the end that
Columbia may maintain her justly
earned appellation of "Banner Town
ship" in the county.
Sd. That we deprccate the acts or
conduct of every one claiming to be
a Republican who, from motives of
envy, or desire to crafty a personal
feeling Of dislike or revenge, or from
disappointment in political aspira-
lions, seeks to promote discord in our
ranks.
4th. That we deem it the duty OF
Republicans.if they fear the existence
of "cliques," or 'rings," or dema-
gogues, to attend the conventions
| properly called by the party, and see
to it that the rights and interests of
the many are not sacrificed to the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the few, and
that we deem tho man, who wil.fully
abeents himself from convention
under such circumstances, and after.
wards complains of the action Of
| those who do attend, equally culpabIe
with the demagogue who will design
eddy make the interests of the party
| secondary to his own preterment.
9TH. That we hereby pledge our
selves to support the candidates who
shall DO nominated at the Republican
County Convention, to be held on
the 9th day of August next.
After the introduction of the
above resolutions, Mr.. Clement spoke
at some length in defense of the
charges brought by Mr.. Knox stat
ing that all caucuses he had ever ut
tended, in the township, had always
been pre-announced, conducted open
ly and with perfect fairness. He
had seen no disposition on the part
of Mr.. Caldwell, OF any one else, to
deal unjustly with the people or the
interests of the party, and closed his
speech with an appeal to the conven
ton to adopt the resolutions, and
thus take an Important step towards
compromise and harmony.
Mr.. Knox then expressed his sym
pathy with the resolutions, after |
which they were unanimously |