Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1870 — Congressman Packard. [ARTICLE]

Congressman Packard.

Welny before onr readers the following article* from the Laporte fkruld, one of the leading republican papers of thia Congressional dirtnct. It i* proper to nay that th* Herald warmly supported Gen. Packard before the Westville coiirt*ntion, and daring the campaign worked earnestly for hia election. Editor of the Herald.— The Herald of two week* ago, eontained an article which fairly expressed, an I the sentiments and wishes of a large'majoriiy of the Republicans of Laporte County. lion. Chas W. Cathcart is undeniably now, as be was previous to the Westville Convention, the first choice of the party tn this County for Congress; and so far as the wishes vt the party can be ascertained, there is a very general desire that he be placed in nomination by the Convention which will meet in June next. And thia devolves upon some one the unpleasant task of declaring in print, what is well understood to be the opinion of the party as regards our present representative. Candor compels even his best friends to acknowledge that, politically, he is not a success. If asked the reason different answers would be given by different persons, but the fact would be denied by few, if any. It is not necessary to institute a discussion on this point, for it could only result in wounding the feel ings of seme whose allegiance to the party’and its principles are unquestioned, and might stir up strife . in the family which it would be difficult to allay. Correct principles and proper measures are of infinitely greater importance than any one man can be. Every good Republican will heartily labor for the peace and success of the party, and will esteem the success of a principle as paramount to all personal considerations. I am aware that the mere mention of the subject will be regarded by some as offensive, but it should be so approached and treated as to canse the least possible irritation. With this disclaimer then, it is proper to say that Gen. Packard is Dot supported by a single newspaper in bis district. Now these ELEVEN newspapers are only representatives of public opinion, and the unanimity with which they deeline to favor his ne-nominatiob, attests very clearly his extreme unpopularity among the people, llis tailure to harmonize conflicting elements; to allay personal antagonisms; to retain even the strength in his own town and county with Which he entered Congress; to properly fill the position which awaited the successor of Colfax; to secure the favor and influence of at least a portion of the Republican press of the district, should all be considered as indicating that the General in choosing politics as ins profession, has mistaken his calling. The knowledge of this fact, if fact it be, is of more importance to him than to any other person, and it would be doing him no kindness to keep him in the field in which he could only reap disaster for himself and the party with which he is connected. ** COMMENTS OF THE EDITOR. Elsewhere in this issue appears a communication discussing somewhat the situation in this congressional district, and stating what the writer believes to be the “opinion of the party as regards our present Representative.” The author, we may say, is an esteemed and leading citizen; a gentleman, who, though never filling or seeking office himself, takes a deep and intelligent interest in public affairs, and a close observant note of public men. And we think he has expressed with admirable terseness and precision, the formed and settled judgment of the great mass of Repablicans, respecting the “successor of Schuyler Colfax.” Delicate, and even painful, as it may be, candor, as well as a sense of dutv, compel us to say, that Gen. Packard. has signally failed in his high station, disappointing the just expectations of his friends and codstituents—and in writing this we sincerely believe we are recording and publishing the verdict of an overwhdming'majority of the IJnteniat in this county, and throughout the district We do not propose here to go into details os give reasons—ifneedful they will be forthcoming in duo time. But we can say now, that even if the General bad shown a capacity equal to his exalted teust r his indiscretions have been so manifold and unfortunate, aa to seriously impair bis availability, and make his candidacy » peril JRCrtT- In view jrf these facta

er to us than any mere man) favor the re-nomination of Gen. Jasper Packard—and will not. On the contrary, we shall oppose him. Tins proclamation of our convictions and purposes, we make without aught of malice toward nny one, and in no spirit of defiance or dictation. To ns it seems well that our position should be. clearly defined and undrnitood. And th« liberty we have taken, we gladly accord to all—that I of favoring or opposing whomsoever 1 each one wishes. Let each pick j the man he deems best, :in<l press ' him with all his might, but let nil : be done in fairness and charity, sueh | as becomes brethren. So far as we are concerned, we shall cheerfully abide the action of the convention, and upon whomsoever its choice may fall, for him will we fight with i the utmost of our strength. I As touching the distinguished I Luportean alluded to by our corrcs- > pimdent, too much cannot be said ,in hia praise. There is no truer Unionist or better man than (.'has. W. CathcarL The people will never forget that in the darkest hour of the nation’s agony and danger, he was “faithful among the faithless”— the sternest, bravest foe of treason. We have also beard the name ot another eminent citizen mentioned in connection with the candidacylion. J.no. Reynolds, of St. Joseph. The senator is u man of tried ability, and unquestionable integrity. In thia county, where he has passed much of his life, as well ns at home., his friends are legion—no one is more universally and desevedly popular. We do not know at this writing whether cither of these gentlemen could be induced to stand for the nomination; but should either of them consent to take the field, we do not doubt that Laporte countywill be a unit for him in the convention,. We have this to say in regard i to the gentlemen spoken of in the ‘ Herald as possible condidates for congress: so far as we have an ac- | quaintance with Mr. Cathcart and Mr. Reynolds, they are correctly represented by the editor, but as the northern part of this district has I long furnished the representative in Congress, we, living in the south--1 ern portion would, other things be- ' ing equal, prefer a man from the southern part. Of course this prefi erence springs from a natural feel- ! ing of local prided inhererit in all , men. I So far as Mr. I’ackard’is concernicd we have but little to add. llis ! course has produced w ide-spread ’ disappointment and, of course, dis- . satisfaction, among the people of i his district. It matters little what !is the direct cause of this state of i public feeling, the fact exists and * must be recognized. Not long ■ since Mr, Packard wrote—to one of I his constituents that “in the present ’ slate of politics in Indiana, the 1 whole State has a very deep interest in these local trditfiles; and we cannot hope to carry it for the republican party if they should arise !to any great extent.” Taking Mfr l Packard’s statement of the condition of Indiana politics in connection with his personal unpopularity, we believe his renouiination might 1 hazard the whole State ticket next ! fall. ! “Where is Dirty Dave Turpie? i He ought to be coming to the sur- ■ face about these times.”— South 1 Bend Register. A friend tells us he was lately I seen wending bis weaving way ' peacefully down one of the streets 'of Logansport with a string of onions in his hand and a half emptied flask in his breast pocket, softly inurinering his favorite hymn commencing “I must get a load of poles And build my chimney higher;” Ac. He evidently believes “that any attempt to regulate the moral ideas, appetites, or innocent amusements of the people, by legislation, is unwise and despotic.” , ■

“Old Rppublican,” of Remington, can have all the information he desires—perhaps more—by calling at this office ai| d making himself known. When the proper time arrives and reasons are demanded in thp case to which he alludes, they will be forthcoming. At present we will not publish them, and never unless the good of the party demands it, ourselves being tliejudges of what is the best course, having been advised both ways by prominent leading men. The South Bend (St. Joseph Valley) Register addressed its last exchange to the “Uniox, Rensselaer,” instead of the Gazette as up to that time has been its habit. The Lafayette Journal and Courier might heed this example, especially in the matter of crediting extracts. , The Saturday Evening Mirror is to be resuscitated under the breathings o.f Geo. C. and Col. Win. T. Dennis. The Laporte Herald says it will take twenty acres of ice to fill the ; Jijg-hVMc* lately erected in thrt i