The Van Buren press., 1874-06-23
Opening the Campaign-Gen. Burrows 5
Address.

BY appointment Gen. n. B. Burrow ad-
dressed the citizens of Van Buren,, last Tues
day night, at the Court House. on the great
Importance Of the coming election tor Dele
gate to the Constitutional Convention. and
the political situation of affairs in this State
generally. He announced that he had been
Il candidate himself for Delegate to the Con-
vention, but the farmers of Crawford county
had met in Convention and nominated Judge
Sangster for thar position, he therefore
deemed itsdetrimental to their interest to
stand in the way, and took that occasion to
announce his withdrawal from the contest.
That it was only that the farmers should have
some one to stand up and assert their rights
and represent their interest that he ever en-
tered the field. But since they had seen fit to
put forward some one other than himself to
champion their rights, lie cheerfully with
drew in his favor, and would use every hon
orable effort to aid in his election. He told
the people that Judge Sangster had been long
and favorably known in this County, and he
knew and understood thoroug ly the interest
of our County and State. No one could urge
any objections against him as politician, or
office-seeker for such he had never been. No
one could have been selected better qualified
to represent the interest of all classes of citi
zens.
lie then addressed the people at length on
the political situation, and the wonderful
change for the better that had rolled up in
the history of this State within the past few
weeks. That when the people reflected, that
for six long years, the heel Of oppression had
borne down and crushed out their dearest
rights. our country over-run by carpet-bag
politicians. and like vampires had sucked the
life blood as it were cut Of the State; how
thankful they should be for the gloriou,
prospect before them for deliverancc The
coming election was the great source of their
relief and how very careful they should be as
to who they cast their vote for. If they eX-
pected to maintain their liberties and obtain
that relief they have for so many long years
sought and looked for, they must 20 to the
polls and as freemen cast Their vote. Eternal
vigilance was the price of liberty. That they
should scrutinize well the history of those
W no OUtTtU themselves Us CdIuludtcs lOl lHciI
suffrage Look carefully into their political
record for it was only from this source that
they could determine the fitness or unit
ness of those who desire to represent them in
the Convention. Whatever they may have
done in the past will indicate more orless the
bent of their minds. There were those now
in the field seeking to 20 to the Convention
who aided and assisted in making our pres
ent odious Constitutions and chief among
them was old Joe Brooks himself, who was
foremost in engrafting on that instrument
every obnoxious clause in it--a fanatic, who
a bowling wilderness, who never forgives i
juries, and to him revenge Is sweet-who but
recently plunged our State into civil war,
thereby costing the State immense sums of
money, and the lives of some Of her most
valuable citizens. He too, with very many
of his following are Offering themselves as
candidates, and asking to be sent as Delegates
to aid in making you Constitution Could
they vote for Brooks under these circum-
stances? Surely not. Could they vote for
one who had been an ardent supporter of
Brooks? Surely not Why? Because, al
though now they may protest against having
anything more to do with old Joe, it was very
hard indeed for them to give him mp. They
writhed and smarted under their dcieat, and
retired sullenly from the contest; and how
very easy it was, when in this mood, should
any preteXt arise, or opportunity offer, and
should they happen to be in the majority in
the Convention, to take up Brooks and put
him in the Gubernatorial chair. 1t was use
less to say such thing could not be done,
for Conventions were l-powerlul and moth
ing under the heavens restrained them but
the Constitution of the Uuited States. Surely
one who had been an ardent supporter of Joe
Brooks would be more easily led of in that
direction than one who had never favored
his cause. On the whole. it would be safer to
send to the Convention one who had all along
gone in an opposite direction.
1t would require too much space to follow
the General throughout his excellent address.
1t was listened to with deep interest. He
closed by urging the claims of the Hon. J.
w. Sangster for a Delegate to the Conven-
ton. He appealed to the farming community
to look well to their interest--that they
should bear in mind they held more at stake
in this contest than any other class of citi-
zcns--that it was their bounden duty to send
to the Convention one who was thoroughly
identified with their welfare; and surely
they could not doubt that Judge Sangster
was that man. having not only occupied the
position of County and Probate Judge for
many years, but at the same time had been
engaged nearly all his life in agricultural
pursuits in the County. He could not help
but know their wants and wishes in every re
spect. The Judge Is gaining strength daily
and will be elected by large majority. The
farmers are waking up and seem determined
to look after their own interest at the coming
election.
The Meeting Wednesday, Night,