Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-07-11
From the st. Joseph Valley Register.
The Political Situation in Porter
County.
VALPARAIso, INp., June 90, '72.


AS certain factious men have attempted
TO force Porter County in an attitude OF
seeming opposition to the action of our
recent Congressional Convention; as the
head and front of the enmity to General
Packard is found in Valparaiso; and as
the course of the Vidette has undoubtedly
given cause for grave apprehensions in
other parts of the District as to the re-
suits Of the campaign in this section;
brief review OF the proceedings of our
County Convention, held here to-day,
may not be uninteresting to your readers.
Although this Convention was simply
supplemental to one held on the 25th of
May last, which was broken up by pre-
concerted arrangement to prevent the
election of delegates to Plymouth, so that
Messrs. Church and Quincy might force
the whole county into position of dead
ly hostility to General Packard; and al
though but little business of special i'm
portance was to be transacted, yet the at
tendance was large from nearly every
township, and the utmost harmony and
good feeling prevailed.
Immediately after the completion of
the nominations for the various county
Offices unprovided for in May, promi-
nent anti Packard man of this city, one
oft signers of the circular letter so ad
mirably ventilated by Geo. Milbnrn, ESQ.,
Of Mishawaka. moved an adjournment.
This seemingly Innocent step will be bet
Ter Understood when i is stated that Gen.
Packard was present il the court room,
and it was well known that his friends
intended to invite him to address the Con-
vention. The question of adjournment
| l. Ill 1orli. fol V
in the negative by an overwhelming ma.
Ejority When in answer to loud and re-
peated calls, the General was proceeding
to the stand, SeOen of the unque7acha6tes
arose and solemnly stalked out TO the mu-
sic of cheers, shouts and glad huZzas
which filled the hall as the multitude well
coined their Representative. The enthu-
siasm was spontaneous and sincere, and
showed Enthusiastically where the Repub-
lican party of Porter County stands. tits
a slander to claim that even a respectable
minority Of that party is opposed to Gen.
Packard The effects of the generous
sympathy and confidence manifested in
| to days Convention were almost magical
upon their recipient He certainly never
spoke with more telling force and thrill
ing power Kindly greetings were given
!
personal explanation which placed the
speaker right in every sense of the term
with our people, he closed with an elo-
lquent appeal in behalf of the ticket, Ma
Lional, State and local The Republican
ism of our Congressional candidate is be-
yond susp cion, and the voting rank anC
lie will support him TO the last man.
The opposition in this county has mar
rowed itself down to less than twenty
i've persons, who are members of the Re
publican party, and will vote agains
General Packard. A far smallar numbe
Of Republicans will vote against him thi
; year, than did so when Judge ANTHONY
0f our county was the Democratic candi
date This little squad is led by Firmar
Church and Aaron Gurney. The forme
individual has been politically bankrup
in this county for years, and the latter il
slowly awakening to the fact that his in
f1uence, politically, socially and morally
is entirely gone in this section. As
natural to such men, when finding thei
plans all destroyed, themselves Outwitted
and their tricks and manners" SO wei
understood as to deprive them of AM
power to do either good or evil, they hav
become reckless, and seen in great hast
to render themselves utterly contemptibl
in the estimation of all honest, prudent
truth loving Republicans. The party i
this county has never beenbetter united o
in more admirable fighting trim than it
to-day, and you may safely count upo
the old fashioned Republican majoritie
from Porter county for the whole ticke
including Gen. Packard.
Very truly yours,
E. S. MERRIFIELD.