The Ottawa free trader., 1871-10-21
Who 10 6napp !?

tion at Morris had, after 40 ballots amid
scenes of confusion and uproar as indescriba-
bic as they we're disgraceful, completed their
work in the nomination OF Henry Snapp as Mr..
Cooks successor in congress, the question
sprang spontaneously to everybody's lips,
"Who is Strap, Slap, Snap, or Whats-his
name?" When the conundrum was first pro-
pounded to us. we were compelled, with some
confusion, to give it up. On further inquiry,
however, we were advised that there was a
one horse lawyer in Joliet of the name of
Snapp, who, by one of the s.rangest accidents
of politics, had got into the state senate, and
the presumption was that he was the man,
and we so stated. Later information con-
firms the truth of tLis hypothesis, and in the
Joliet Signal we have some further intorma-
ton in regard to the mythical snapp. Says
that paper;
The nomination OF Henry Snapp by the Radi-
cal Congressional Convention for this district,
was an unexpected event. There were five can
didates before the convention, and Mr.. Snapp
the most unpopular OF them all, yet by the de-
termined energy and perseverance of his friends,
be was declared nominated on the 49th ballot
Though resident of this city, there are scores
| of the best republicans here who openly declare
| that they will not vote for Mr.. Snapp. They re-
gard him utterly unfit for the position, as
simply an agitator aud disorg ganzer, and will do
their utmost to prevent his election.
Lest information from democratic source
like the SigaaI might be regarded as prejudic-
ed, we prosecuted our inquiries "a little fur.
ther, and fell upon the Wilmington Indpend-
ent, strictly loyal sheet. Opening that paper
of Sept. 7th, we alight on an Article which
"goes off IN this style:
Mr. Sn ,pp. in the estimation OF large major.
ity of the publicans in VIII county, has not
the first -sensi Il qualification and attribute fit
| ting him to represent this district in Congress
Mr.. Snapp is very unpopular, aud cannot, if
nominated. command the full strength OF the re.
| publican party in this county. The causes Of
| this unpopularity have existed for years, but
eliminated in the bitter and acrimonious con.
| test last fall, between Mr. Snapp aud Mr.. Cook
| for the congressional nomn alton In the coua.
| ty convention which brought that contest u a
close, Mr.. Snapp made speech-a speech emi.
nently Snspp.ish In that memorable speech,
| he, in language vehement and caus,ic, and man
ner most insulting, denounced the delegates op-
posed to his nomination as being the venal and
| corrupt hirelings Of Cook--as having sold out
| their preference, principles and manhood for
| Cooks greenbacks-as being the igno5le ch at
tells and cattle of Cook. He took occasion to cay,
| farther, that his defeat consummated by
! fraud the most fagetious, corruption the most
! bare.taced, and knavery tho most infamous.
| And so deeply and keenly did he feel the injury
done him by the "A Cook knaves, as he stigma.
tized them, that were belbre and around him
| SO Disguised was he with the infamous trickery
and debauohing influence he witnessed in that
| convention-so loathsome and sickenng was it
| to him to breathe the foul and tainted atmos-
phere of such reeking corruption, that he swore
an oG:h--a solemn oath, in the presence of the
gaping multitude and High. Heaven, which he
invoked to witness the sincerity Of his VOW, that
SO long as he lived he never would be again a
candidate for any political office--never again
wallew in the filth and slime Of politics-never
| again ob.rude himself within the polluted and
communicating purlieus of party cor vention
but henceforth, as long as God suffered him to
live on this green earth, he would devote all his
energies and efforts of body andmind to earn a
comfortable living for his dear wife and chill
dren.
And the said Independent proceeds to depre.
cate the nomination of Mr. Snapp on the grousd
that 1T would be wrong to let him periure him
self by breaking 80 solemn an oath, closing with
the pregnant inquiry: " Are the republicans of
this district prepared to commit no un pardonat c
and stupendous an act of follyY" The conven.
tion, it is needless to say realized the Epdepcad-
enfs direst fears, and ever since it ADJOURNED,
Mcintosh has stood mute aud gaping with
| smazeMent