The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-08-31
THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
FOR GOVERNOR.
HIS STRENGTH AND HIS WEAKNESS.

of Wisconsin. Mr. Doolittle, aside from his
political action,is man of good character
and fair abilities AS a public speake
and orator, he is impressive and apparently
candid and sincere. And he possesses
tie rare ability of becoming the more i'm
pressive and apparently candid and
sincere the greater the reason the people
have to doubt his candor and sincerity.
AID herein lies his strength as the Demo
cratic Candidate for Governor Of the State
of Wisconsin.
In the State of New York James r.
Doolittle was a Democrat, and, in the
division of the Democracy OF that State
into Barn Burners and Hunkers, he was
Barn Burner. In 1852 he was Free
Soiler and helped to nominate and sup
ported Van Buren, for President. After his
immigration to this State, he was Demo-
crat withHunker tendencies In 1856 he left
the Democracy and joined theRepublicans
10 the support of Fremont, ostensibly on
the ground OF opposition to the establish
ment Of slavery in. Kansas under the Lee
compton Constitution We remember Of
hearing him make an impressive and APP
parently candid and sincere speech at Re-
publican Mass Meeting at Racine soon af-
ter he had left the Democracy and become
a Republican. And We remember of hear
ing it said by the uncharitable that he had
counted noses in the next Legislature and
knew that he would stand the better
chance of election to the United States
Senate At the next session of the Leg
islature he was elected Senator by Repub
lican votes. Six years after he was re-elec
ted Senator by the Republican party.
As Senator, Mr.. Doolittle may have
been faithful to the principles of Freedom
ana of the party which elected him till
after Mr.. Lincoln's DEATH He even voted
for the Civil Rights bill and the Freed
mans Bureau bill. But when Johnson
turned about and voted against both bills
What was right with Mr.. Dooittle before
tie vetoes was wrong with him after them.
Johnson's votes wrought a strange trans
formation with what was right and wrong
and constitutional and unconstitutional
with Mr. Doolittle. Not only tue Civil
Rights and Freedmans Bureau bills, but
every other measure intended to secure
the freedom, protection and elevation of
the colored race, right and constitutional
before Johnson's vetoes, became wrong
and unconstitutional after them From
this time onward Doolittle was cheek by
iowl with Johnson.
The Legislature, failing to see with
Doolit:le, the transformation of that
which was right and constitutional before
Johnson's vetoes into that which was
wrong and unconstitutional after them
passed joint resolutions, which were ap.
proved by the Governor, declaring that
Doolittle misrepresented the people of the
State and requesting him to resign. Not
withstanding the action Of the Legislature
and the Governor, Doolittle continued tc
misrepresent the State till the expiration
of the second term for which he had beer
elected. Had johnson succeeded in re
constructing the Rebel States, and the
Rebel States had re-established slavery
which they would if Johnson had succeed
ed, Doolittle, next to johnson would have
been at the head of the heap. But
johnson failing, Doolittle came out at th'
bottom. @
r. Since the expiration of his Senatorial
terms he has been trying to establish
himself in business and in the confidence
of the people. He has a dwelling neal
Racine and law Office in Chicago. anG
at present holds the office of one of tbt
Commissioners to ascertain the amount
expended by the Fox and Wisconsin
Rivers Improvement ompanypreparatol
to the State making the improvements
Just emerging from the obscurity int
which he had passed at the expiration Of
his Senatorial er,the Democratic Stat,
Convention siezed him as the prope
person to receive the nomination for Gov
ernor. And Doolittle came before tn
Convention and with his usual appearance
of candor and sincerity, made, in hi
usual way, an impressive speech.
As Doolittle's strength depends upol