Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1868 — “What is the Matter Now?” [ARTICLE]

“What is the Matter Now?”

[For the Union.]

At the Presidential election in Rensselaer, a prominent Democrat carried a large roll of neatly printed Democratic tickets in his hand, which Republicans for one purpose and another were persuading him to give to them. lie, of course, kept them in his own possession. While talking about them, he said there was “one man on that ticket that he intended to scratch,” and remarked farther “that he would vote for no such man 1” When .asked what name that was, he pointed to the name at “James Gavin,” the elector for the Third Congressional District. This declaration excited astonishment. Tiiat such a Democrat should think of scratching a Democratic ticket, but especially the Seytno-Bla-h Electoral Ticket! The gentleman referred to, is regarded in this section M one of the most thoroughly radical Democrats in the north-west portion of the State. That he should scratch the Democratic ticket in a Presidential election when such mighty issues .were involved, creates astonishment. Can it be possible that the' old Detnocratio anti-war feeling and rebel sympathy still cropa out among the leaders of the party ? We all knew that Col.

James Gavin was the gallant leader Of the 7th Indiana regiment, one of the most distinguished regiments in . the U. S. Army from Indiana. We know too, that he acted as a brave and accomplished officer in several of the battles fought in Virginia in the early part of the rebellion, and that in one of the fiercest conflicts he was severely wonndcd by a rebel bnllet in the chest. After his partial recovery from this', dreadful wound he returned to Indiana and became one of the most popular speakers in denouncing the treasonable sympathies and actions of the Democratic party, and in inspiriting and encouraging the friends of the Government. Can it be possible that the Colonel’s gallant and distinguished services in behaJl of the Government and his country should cause his name to be scratched on the Democratic electoral ticket by the leaders of the partjr ? No doubt he was placed 0:1 the ticket to catch the votes of the soldiery, but if the leaders still entertain their former antipathy to the war, and especially to the gallant leaders who put-down the rebellion, the trick seems not to have succeeded. This is a double wonder. First, why should such Democrats scratch the name of Col. James Gavin on his own ticket? And second, it is a wonder of wonders why Col. Gavin, after aoting so conspicuous a part in behalf of his country, after being wounded, and seeing how the Democratic party encouraged the rebellion, ana after seeing the Democratic New York Convention led and controlled by Hampton, Forrest and other rebels, who were only soiry they had not killed him, it is a wonder how he could consent to be placed on their ticket to be again snot at and scratched. What can the matter he ? JjKjtnsiTOß. a@-What are the reasons which favor the supposition that Grant will disappoint the Radicals ? Perhaps the first reason is, his well-known Conservative antecedents. He was originally a Democrat.— Chicago Times.

General Grant was “originally*' a Whig, dyed in the wool. His father was an Ohio Whig, his brothers were Whigs, the whole family were Whigs of tie Harrison-Cor win school of politics. The General was brought up a “Whig,” and he remained a member of that party till it ceased to exist. He did not join the Republican party when it was first organized. He was a “Conservative” of Whig antecedents, from the introduction of the anti-Ne-braska bill until the outbreak of the rebellion—hoping against hopo that the sectional controversies might be compromised, and the unappeasable slaveholders appeased. The General dreaded a civil war, and was willing to do almost anything to prevent it; but when the die was ctst, and the Southern Democracy raised its parricidal hand against the Union, be hesitated not a moment as to what his services in defense of the Union. From that day forward he has been a consistent Union Republican’, and has been as radical ns the average of that party. He will “disappoint the Radicals’* in the future just as he has done in the past —by doing more for the advancement Of their great principles of national unity and political equality than they had looked for or expected at his hands. General Grant is in the habit of telling the public what he intends to do by first doing it, and then let the people draw their own conclusions from the act rather tkau from a promise. The consequence is that everybody is agreeably “disappointed,” and nobody deceived by “great expectations” based on previous promises. Chicago Tribune,

—The Washingtou Star says: “Mr. Colfax was always popular, but he is immensely so since the election. Every body wants to take him by the hand, hold him by the hand, and shake him by the * band some more. HSonte of’em tried to get him up in a corner, perhaps to talk to him about that little Postmastership; ' but he is much too smart to be cornered. They had to say their say in open meeting. Those who were waiting their turn to take him by the hand formed a circle, W'ith their hats oft’, and beamed on him a “God bless you” sort of look that was touching and convincing. Probably Mr. Colfax had never set eyes' on these lehaps before, btft here they were on hand, up early in the morning, cq the look out for office.” ! —The New York Times says: “Now that -Grant is elected to the* Presidency bv a sweeping majority, we should like the Democrats to toll lid whether they believe'that theliberties of the country have been overthrown, whether*, a sanguinary despotism is to be established, whether-the constitution is to be tragiplsd imderjbukamlathetitertne prosperity'of the country if to be blasted. Before the election we were told all these things, and worse things than these, » otiia happen in ease of Grant's success. •/ How4oty> it look now. . « - il . . jicCKWI