The Van Buren press., 1874-10-27
Hon. VIM. nj. Fishback.
A Capital Speech with Telling Effect
The Democracy Will. Stick to Theil
Nominee.

present Congressional campaign in our
District 1t was logical, conclusive and
convincing. There was nothing of that
low, dirty slang in it that we so often
hear in this day and time from political
speakers. He begun by saying he ap-
peared in behalf Of his country and State
not Of any particular individual. The
time had come when he thought we
should rise above individual preferences
and work for what we honestly under
stood to be the best interest Of the State.
AS to Gen. II. f. ,Thomason he was free
to confess that if he were to consult his
personal preference, he would vote for
him. He had known him long and well
served with him in the late Constitu-
tional convention Jand knew him to DO a
man of ability. integrity and honesty of
purpose But Notwithstanding all this,
his duty to his State rose above all per-
sonal preferences, and if his best and
dearest friend on earth were occupying
the position of Thomason, he should be
compelled to vote against him. 1t was
necessary that the Democratic party
should harmonize in order to effect good
to our country. Thomson had proven
himself to be disorganizer and no true
democrat He could at best in this con.
test only succeed in electing the radical
candidate, Hynts to Congress There
were twenty five thousand voters in this
Third congressional district. Ten thou
sand Of these wen radicals, and during
the history Of tile democratic party for
the last fifty six years, were majority
of its members ever known to go back on
the regular nominee, and were it not rea-
sonable to suppose that in this instance
they would still hold to that rule. Then
suppose Thomason succeeded in getting
five or six thousand democratic votes,
could we not see that Hynes would be
elected. But suppose on the other hand
Thomson should get majority Of the
democratic voteIs, Wiltshire would at
least get five or SIX thousand votes, and
still Hynes would be elected-a man run.
ming in the interest of Powell Clayton &
Co., pledged to oppose our new consti-
tuition to the bitter end pledged to use
all his influence IN Congress to have our
State re reconstructed, and old Joe Brooks
and all his horde Of vampires and vul
lures installed in office
This was the kind Of man Thomson
by his actions was helping 10 elect. Inls
was the great injury he was inficting
upon his State. He was jeopardizing our
liberties, and lending himself to aid in
pulling down and demolishing the beau
tiful government we have just begun to
erect on our new constitution. Could
we in view Of all these facts and circum-
stances regard Thomson democrat and
friend to his country Surely not.
There was too much at stake now to give
way to individual preferences. Wiltshire
was the regular democratic nominee, and
we owe it as duty to our party and our
country to vote for him. The Clarks-
vile convention was composed of the
best and purest men in the democratic
ranks, and they saw proper as being to
the best interest of our State to make
him our standard bearer in the Third
congressional district. There was no
time now to consider whether that was a
wise or unwise move. We must work in
harmony-keep we'll organized if we ex-
pect good to follow; discountenance,
frown down, all holters and disorganizers
in our party He showed the superior
excellence of our new constitution over
the old one and answered the objections
made against it by the radicals. He told
us Of the war that was going to be made
against it in Congress this winter; that
the northern mind was being fred by in.
cendiary documents and speeches pre-
paratory to the contest. A howl was 90.
ing up from all the southern States by
radicals and carpet.haggers for recon.
struction; and We, as patriots, looking
to the welfare of our State should be
careful, and think well who we were
about to cast our vote for This article
would be too lengthy to follow Colonel
Fishback throughout his speech 1t was
dignifed, able, eloquent, and was listened
to with profound attention by large and
appreciative audience.
After he closed
COL. JOHN T. HUMPHREYS,
having been sent over by Sparks, arose
and attempted reply. Poor fellow, his
voice was very much out oforder and his
head too. He pitched in on the treble
key note, and said it was with deep emo.
ton that he appeared before the people
of Crawford county for the first time
within the last fifteen years to make po.
ltical speech. Words could not express
the feeling that welled up in his bosom
on this occasion. When he saw his old
friend Thomson abused and vilfied he