Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1870 — The Country Postoffice War. [ARTICLE]

The Country Postoffice War.

As the Congressional contest waxes warmer those who oppose Mr. Packard's renomination are haughtily challenged to bring forward charges against him or shut their mouths. When the LaPorte Herald and Rochester Spy charged general lack of ability to worthily and creditably fill the position he occupies and specified that he had created discord among his constituents and strife in the party, they were sneered at as disappointed postoffice seekers. We stated our honest conviction that his renomination would greatly hazard the success of the ticket, giving as a reason for our conclusions the undeniable fact that his weakness has occasioned wide-spread disappointment and, of course, dissatisfaction among his political constituents throughout the district. They meet us with the very original argument “You are mad about the postoffice,” and appear to think the charges met and satisfactorily answered, their leader vindicated, and the controversy ended. Wo frankly admit that we are mad about the poetoffice, not because wo failed to get it, but on account of Mr. Packard’s weak duplicity in tho matter. Mr. Packard had evidently determined upon removing the postmaster at this place to show the people that he had power to So so—just to show them that he was funning the thing. To do this he made overtures to a number and promised the appointment to two or three persons, thus creating jealousy among neighbors, estranging friends, and disturbing the” harmony of the party, Mr. Packard wrote one thing to one person and something else to another about this matter, promising this thing to one and that thing to the other until he disgraced himself and all his friends, disgusted everybody and was openly denounced,, by members of his party as “a weak, cowardly fool, easily bluffed by his enemies and ready to desert his friends and break his deliberate promises.’* In reply to these accusations we will no doubt be met with the soothing and concilitory information that we “areznad abotft the postpffice.”

If we charge that General Packard is so supremely selfish that lie would -not hesitate to sacrifice bis friends or weaken his party'to gratify his ambition—if wc charge that his lack of ability has brought disappointment to the hopes of those who were bis warmest friends —if we charge that wide-spread dissatisfaction has been occasioned by his many indiscretions if we charge that his unnecessary insults and contemptible meddling with-

affairs in which he was no way concerned has made for him so many enemies that his election will be doubtful even should Le receive the nomination—if we charge that he is so little and penurious that he permitted county committees to settle his hotel bills while canvassing tho district, and held on to the Auditor’s office in LaPorte county from the time he was nominated for Congress until he started to Washington to take his seat, over

the earnest protest of his friends—we will be met with the convincing reply “you are mad about the postoffice, these. charges originate in personal grievances." Well gentlemen we admit many Of them are personal grievances, but are you not aware that no men fight so desperately as those who have personal grievance to avenge? Wb have taken but little pains to learn the situation respecting this MBit... i •

matter outside of Jasper county, but wc know men here—and they are not connected with this paper cither—who liavo >-bcon outrageously treated and deceived by this “noble Congressman” who, with their friends, will not Support him in convention nor at the polls, and there are others who will give him but a lukewarm support Lt tlip most. Wc have met influential republicans from White, Pulaski and Newton counties who say he has made bitter and active enemies in their localities who can not be induced to support him. Add to this the lively tiiseussion going on in his own county (where they are bombarding one another with affidavits), at Rochester and other

parts of the district, and none will fail to see that to renominate General Packard will greatly imperil the republican success in this district,'and perhaps in the State. Wc are sorry this state of affairs exists in the district; we regret exceedingly that the discussion was ever thrust upon the party; it fortunate, harmful and if persevered in will surely result in humiliating defeat and we urge upon all the necessity for prompt and immediate action to avert the calamity. Wc desire the welfare and success of tho party. We want .peace and harmony among our friends and political brethren, but this can never be attained by taunts, and sneers, and threats. - Intelligent men are not convinced by browbeating, nor are personal grievances healed by continual reference to them. Mr. Packard and his friends must jry some other arguments for these wont win.