Year: 1868




SOUTH BEND. Ind. Nov. 4.-As soon as returns an
uounced II gain for Grant and Colfax in South Bend
Colfaxs home, over the October vote. the people
crowded into the Court House, where the returns
were to be read and Mr.. Cofax and his stepfather,
with few of his lifelong friends from the days OF
his boyhood. among them j. ii. Harper, G. NJ Hea-
ton. VIM Miller and Geo. Milburn, went to the de-
pot where three operators soon al work receiV
ing on six wires of the Western Union Telegraph
Company the news that poured on him from all
points Of the Union. which was copied and sent
down TO the thrOnged Court House. BY O'Clock
the fact that the triumph waseven more OverwhelTn-
ing than had been anticipated was manifest. and by
10 O'Clock his townsmen insisted his coming to the
Court House to see how happy they felt. Arriving
there the whole audience rose and gave vent to con-
tinued cheers throwing up their hats and repeating
loud and long and it was with difficulty that order
was restored so that he could be heard in return
for their enthusiastic cOngratnlation During his re-
marks he was frequently interrupted by most
exuberant and rapturous applause. AS
soon as this prolonged. repeated, and
enthusiastic cheering queted down Mr. Colfax ad
dressed them briefly in substance folows He said
that their happy faces showed how Joyous they were at
the magnificent victory that had been for the right
today but could not but remember that there were
others far happier. The soreytried Union men OF the
South subjected outrage to insult and TO murderOus
assaults had felt that their only hope OF protection was
in this commanding decision Of the people. This victory
meant peace for every man in every sec
ton. IL meant defense for the defense
less and strength for the weak The unlocking
world too would understand by this decision that 10y
altv was 70 triumphant South well North, and
uDrepenant traitors would understand that the sacrifices
made spirit OF treason and the blood shed by
over 10000 artyred soldiers not to be in vain He
said the party which had been thus overwhelmed by an
indignant people would need leaders and new prn-
cpes before they could attempt another campaign and
they would not be likely again TO employ Wade Hampton
10 write their platform vaandgham TO nominate their
Presidential ticket. He closed with expression OF
the gratitude he felt for the affection they had
ssntly expressed for him for the unshsken confidence
they had for lifetime reposed in him, and for the earn
esness with which they had rjoced at his every success
in life as il it had been TO their own.


when he ceased speaking there was general rush for
handshakng and ii was with great difficulty that Mr..
CoIfax could free himself from the crowd 50 that
he might return TO the telegraph once,
where returns we're being received as fast as
lightning could transmit them. During the evening
Mr. washburne telegraphed for from Indiana
and sad Cen Grant In his parlor enjoying the ais
patches and Mr Cofax sent all the returns he had by
towns and counties from this hard.fought State,


At midnight the returns still pouring in, and the
Iubant crowd vt the Court mixing in and
shouts and speeches. and Stories and music in the inter
walls between the dispatches.