Fayette County, Indiana - Chapter 10: Political, 1885

Chapter 10: Political

IN 1819, at the time of the organization of Fayette County, the public affairs of the State were in the hands of the Hendricks, Jennings, and Noble divisions of one political party.

In the month of August of that year, the first election in the new county of Fayette for State officers was held. The candidates for Governor were Jonathan Jennings and Christopher Harrison, and the vote in the five townships into which the county had been divided, for these men were as follows:

The candidates for the office of Representative in the State Legislature were Robert Hill, Enoch D. John, Jacob Graves, Robert Swann, John Sutherland, Conrad Sailor, Zachariah Ferguson, Allen Crisler, Joseph Holeman, Andrew Wallace, Simon Yandes, John Brison, Jonathan Kid well and JIatthew Sparks; and they received 49, 61, 106, 190, 156,

In 1820 there was no opposition to James Monroe, and he was re-elected President of the United States, with the electoral vote of every State in the Union. Affairs in the State were going on quietly under the control of the several divisions above referred to, and the people of Fayette were hardly aware that a Presidential election had taken place, and yet as good and quiet an administration followed as any that is likely to be produced by our exciting elections at this day.

At the election for Governor in August, 1822, the votes of Fayette stood: William Hendricks, 687; Erasmus Powell, 314. Two years later the vote of the county stood: for President, Jackson, 456; Clay, 393; Adams, 122. The vote of Connersville Township standing: 354 for Jackson, 277 for Clay and 92 for Adams. Posey Township lacked 2 votes only of being solid for Jackson^the 2 were given for Clay; Columbia Township gave, in proportion to its population, the largest Clay vote - 44.

The candidates in 1828 for President were Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams. The people of Indiana gave the electoral vote of the State to the former, believing, it seems, that he was a friend to the Protecting Sy.stem, and a friend to Internal Improvements, but in which they were disappointed,

The great national question which at this time was disturbing the Itepublic, was not without its influence upon all elections throughout the country, from the most humble to the most exalted stations. The names of the two national political parties at this period were the National Eepublican and the Democratic. In the Congressional election in the district of which Fayette then constituted a part, the people of both parties, in a measure, threw off the servile trammels of bigoted partyism, and voted like rational men. The Presidential question probably never ran higher. Gen. Jonathan McCarty, of Connersville, and Judge John Tost, of Brookville, were in the field alone, Oliver H. Smith, who was then a member of Congress from this district, having previously withdrawn from the contest, giving in print the following as the cause:

" It was not known to me at the time I declared myself a candidate that there would be more than one candidate besides myself, but on my return I found that two other candidates were before the people, and from all that I could learn, theresult would be, should we all continue, that a majority of the number would be defeated by a minority, in the election of either of the candidates, and having no desire myself to be continued the representative of this district, against the will of a majority of the electors, which from the excitement that has been created, and the false statements which have beeu circulated in my absence, I am satisfied would be the case in the event of my election, I have resolved not to be a candidate."

Judge Test and Mr. Smith were of the National Eepublican Party, and Gen. McCarty of the Democratic. The parties were nearly equal in number; the conflict resulted in the election of Judge Test by a triumphant majority.

During the period of which we have been writing candidates were generally placed before the people without the intervention of party caucus, a political convention or a primary election. After the establishment of a newspaper in Fayette County, candidates for political favor usually announced themselves, or were announced by others through its columns. In 1820, when Oliver H. Smith became a candidate for Congress, he remarks: "Stump speaking was just coming in fashion; the people met our appointments by thousands."

In 1830 the names of several candidates for the State Legislature had been announced in the press of the county, and in the Political Clarion of July 10 of

" It is very important to the people to know the sentiments of those who aspire to the honor of representing them on the great and leading measures of the State and Federal Governments. It imposes too great a burden on candidates to require them to give these opinions personally to all, but through a public newspaper will be found a medium of communication convenient for them, and more beneficial to the people. In this manner the candidates will neither be so liable to be misunderstood, nor their sentiments so Subject to the misrepresentation of the designing. It is believed, from the character of the candidates before the people of this county for Representatives, that none of them will refuse for one moment to answer through the press such questions as may tend to give the people necessai'y information in relation to their opinions concerning the groat, public measures in which the people are so deeply interested. Should any fail or refuse to answer explicitly, the people may be able to judge of that man.

" 1. Do you justify the President of the United States in putting his veto on the several bills passed during the last session of Congress, in favor of internal improvements?

"2. Do you believe, with the present Administration, that Congress has no power to appropriate money to be expended within the States, on works of internal improvements, but that all money expended must be confined to the Territories?

" 3. Do you believe that Congress has the power to make an appropriation to assist in making a turnpike road from Lawrenceburg to Fort Wayne, and if Congress should pass such an act would j'ou justify the President in putting his veto on it, and thus defeat the appropriation?

" 4. Do you approve of the doctrines of rewarding those who vote for the President with all the offices and punishing those who voted against him, by turning them out of office ?

" 5. Do you believe that the Senate of the United States have a right to know the reasons why removals and appointments submitted for their ' advice and consent' were made; or do you believe that the Senate has no control over the nominations of the President, except to register his decrees?

" 7. Would you vote for a resolution requesting Congress to aid us in contemplated road from Lawrenceburg to Fort Wayne which must pass through this county?

" 8. Would you vote for an appropriation of $5,000 or $6,000 of the people's money to furnish the Governor's house with carpets, side-boards, lookingglasses, etc., etc.

" The above questions are easily answered, and we hope to see your answers in the next Clarion, as we have a right to know your opinions before we are called upon to select two out of your number to represent us."

The personal popularity of the candidate and his fitness for the oiBce were of paramount importance to his views on national political questions.

The Palladium, then printed at Lawrencebarg, was exulting in consequence of the result of the election in this county and the sample it gave of the ' ' tremendous effect of the veto,'' which brought forth the following from the editor of the Clarion:

"This county has long been one of the most decidedly Jacksonian in the State. At the late election, we had two Representatives to select for the General Assembly, and five Jacksonians oifored themselves as candidates. The veto message appeared, and forthwith three of the five renounced the administration and are now friendly to the cause of Mr. Clay. The Palladium grossly misrepresents us, when it states that Col. Hankins was elected in ' opposition to the joint eiforts of the Clarion, the Times and other Clay papers.' So far from this gentleman's being ' opposed ' as stated, be was brought out by the friends of Mr. Clay, and would not have been elected had they not supported him. Even the editor of the Clarion gave him his support. The other gentleman that was elected received between 100 and 200 votes from the friends of Mr. Clay. So long as there is a majority of Jacksonians in Fayette CouQty, and they are disposed to send one of their friends to the Legislature, the Clarion will be far from affording 'opposition.' But whilst we believe that injurious political tenets are abroad, we shall never withold one 'jot nor tittle' of our energy to convince and reform those who hold them. But we hope ever to have our skirts clear of even one effort to contravene the will of the majority, notwithstanding the example given by the Administration. In relation to the effect of the veto in Indiana, our most sanguine expectations are more than realized, luthis county we had a very pretty test of its " effect ' on the candidates for the Legislature; and it will also be found, when our citizens, generally, are called upon to attest their affection for Mr. Clay, that they have not been very fastidious concerning the same matter."

As yet there had been no two newspapers published in the county at the same time. The Observer, we believe, was quiet on political questions, but its successor - the Clarion, which had an existence for two years under that title, during which time it was ably edited and conducted by Samuel W. Parker, the subsequently distinguished citizen of Connersville - was almost exclusively given to politics.

"As a warrior and a martial benefactor, we esteem Gen. Jackson as second only to the Father of this country, but against many of the acts of our Government since he came in civil power, we enter an unqualified protest. As an undefiled patriot - an able and unyielding advocate of the rights of man, and the welfare and glory of our common country - we regard Henry Clay only as the younger brother of Washington, Franklin and Jefferson. Believing the eyes and the affections of the American people to be turned upon him. to enable them to acclaim on the 4th of March, 1833, 'Redeemed, and disenthralled,' to him, for the next Chief Magistrate we yield a hearty and unwavering support." * # *

Mr. Parker was a forcible writer and his labors were untiring for the support of Henry Clay. Other extracts are here subjoined from several issues of the Clarion. November 12, 1831. - "We do not believe that Jackson can be re-elected. We will do our best to expose the hideous deformity of his career, and to undeceive the blind. If then he triumphs, the Republic can withstand the battling of another four years tempest - the political heavens will be the more serene when the warring elements are] once more stilled. We think that we are not ignorant of what we are doing, or of our responsibility - -our course is right onward."

From the Clarion May 26, 1832. - Nos mutamus et tempora mutantur in nobis - 'We change, and the times are chaagod with us.' 'What!' exclaims our old and constant readers, ' you have not 'changed' to a Jacksonian, we hope - No! no! no! dear sirs. A thousand leagues further from it, if possible, than when we made to you our first bow, two years ago. Suffice it then to say that this number not only concludes the second volume, but terminates the existence of the Clarion."

Following the Clarion was published the Indiana Sentinel by Caleb B. Smith and Matthew R. Hull, which paper supported Clay. The following is extracted from an editorial under date of October 13, 1832- port a syBtem of Internal Improvements, and to advocate the re-chartering of the United States Bank. We believed then as we do now, that those are measures of vital importance to this county, and that the interests of the people call in the most emphathic terms for their support. In order to sustain those measures it is necessary to support for the Presidency, Buch an individual as will be favorable to their adoption. We would not support those measures without opposing for the Presidency an individual who might be opposed to them. It is for this reason that we have deemed it our duty to oppose the re-election of Gen. Jackson. * * * In the event of his reelection that system of internal improvements from which we have heretofore derived the most incalculable benefits, must be destroyed. The United States Bank must be prostrated, $30,000,000 must be withdrawn from the circulation of the western country, the farmer's pork, his beef, corn, whisky, plow-horses, cattle, and in fact every article produced in the W^est must depreciate in value at least 25 per cent, and the soui'ces of our wealth and national prosperity must be dried up. * * * *

His attempt to destroy the bank of the United States must if it succeeds destroy our commerce, produce universal depression in«all our markets, and render the poor and industrious part of the community a prey to the extortions of usurers and shar^jers. His utter contempt of the Supreme Court of the United States, his disregard of its decisions and his declarations that he is entirely independent of its authority, manifest a disposition to assume arbitrary and unlimited power, and would eventually, if contenanced by the people, destroy that invaluable institution, which may be regarded as the key-stone of the arch of our liberties. * * * It is then against such doctrines and measures as these, and many others supported by Gen. Jackson, that we contend."

The only apology we offer for so liberal quotations in this connection, is the distinguished positions these editors subsequently occupied in State and national affairs.

In August, 1831, the candidates for Congress in the Third District, which was then composed of Rush, Wayne, Delaware, Grant, Henry, Decatur, Franklin, Dearborn, Union, Switzerland, Ripley, Randolph, Fayette and Allen Counties, were Gen. Jonathan McCarty, (Jackson) Judge John Teat and Hon. Oliver H. Smith (both Clay), and the result was the election of the Jackson candidate. Gen. McCarty, by a majority of 95-1 over Mr. Smith, the second in the race. The vote of Fayette County was for McCarty 775, Smith 580, and Test 68.

In the course of time the custom of making party nominations for candidates in States and counties became in vogue, and not many years elapsed until candidates for the Legislature and other minor offices in Fayette were made in this way.

The great campaign of 18-10, characterized as the hard cider and log-cabin campaign, was of unusual interest in Fayette County, as was it all over the United States.

The Presidential vote of the county this year by townships, was: Orange ^Harrison, 101; Van Buren, 54; Waterloo - Harrison, 33; Van Buren, 91; Columbia - Harrison, 96; Van Buren, 36; Harrison - Harrison, 181; Van Buren, 69; Posey - Harrison, 75; Van Buren, 65; Jackson - Harrison, 102; Van Buren, 101; Connersville - Harrison, 532; Van Baren, 179; Jen nings^Harrison, 17; Van Buren, 83. Total - Harrison, 1,090; Van Buren, 678.

Probably the greatest political meeting held in Fayette County between 1840 and the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, was the Republican rally of August 7, 1860. The crowd was estimated from 6,000 to 8,000 people. There was a grand procession of about one mile in length, composed of military and "wide awake'' companies, brass bands, cannons, wagons^ bedecked with banners and flags, etc., etc. Among the striking features of the parade were a blacksmith-shop on wheels from Bunker Hill, in which John Benedict was shoeing ahorse; a wagon on which Andrew Moffitt and John Atherton were splitting rails; a car containing thirty-three voters, each bearing a red flag inscribed with the name of State; a Lincoln car gotten up by the young men of Connersville, containing thirty-three young ladies, and a wagon in which the typos of the Times office had their material, and were engaged in setting up documents for the people. The exercises of the day were held in Claypool's Grove; speakers. Col. Lane and Caleb B. Smith. Thei-e was a grand torch- light procession in the evening, after which the people assembled at the court house, where addresses were delivered by William Wallace, Charles P. Conlon and J. D. Farquhar.

1852 - Vote for President: Winfield Scott (Whig), 1,019; Franklin Pierce (Democrat), 872; John P. Hale (Free Soil), 83. Vote for Governor: Nicholas McCarty (Whig), 921; Joseph A. Wright (.Democrat), 869; A. L. Robinson (Free Soil), 00.

1856 - Vote for President by Townships: Connersville Township - John C. Fremont (Republican), 409; James Buchanan (Democrat), 292; Millard Filmore (American), 17.

1860 - -Vote for President: Abraham Lincoln (Republican), 1,143; Stephen A. Douglas (Democrat), 917; John Bell (Unionist), 9; John C. Breckenridge (Democrat), 39.

1868 - Vote for President: Ulysses S. Grant (Re publican), 1,475; Horatio Seymour (Democrat), 1,131. Vote for Governor: Conrad Baker (Republican), 1,473; Thomas Hendricks (Democrat), 1,178.

Members Of Oongress

The following list contains the names of men who have been honored with a seat in the National House of R9pre3ant;itives fron th* Gjogresaional District of which Fayette County has constituted a part, who were residents of the county:

Members Of The General Assembly

Senate. - When the couaty was first formed it continued for Seaatorial ami Representative purposes attached tj the counties of Fraaklin and Wayne. John Conner, in 1816, was the Senator-elect for Franklin County, and was the first Senator of Fayette County. From 1820 to 1878 the counties of Union and Fayette constituted one Senatorial District. Since the latter period the counties of Union, Rush and Fayette have constituted the district. These counties have been represented iu this body by the following-named: Lewis Johnson, 1820-24; Ross Smiley, 1824-28; Newton Claypool, 1828-31; James Leviston, 1831-34; William Caldwell, 1834-36; Newton Claypool, 1836-37; William Watt, 1837-41; Samuel W. Parker, 1841-43; James Leviston, 1843- 46; Henry Simpson, 1846-49: John S. Reid, 1849-53; Miner Meeker, 1853-57; John Yaryan, 1857-58; T. W. Bennett, 1858-61; B. F. Claypool, 1861-65; T. W. Bennett, 1865-69; James Elliott, 1869-71; Richard M. Ha worth, 1871-74; Milton Trusler, 1878-80; Jesse J. Spann, 1880-84.

House. - Until 1822 the Representatives of Franklin County were also the Representatives of Fayette County. Uptm the adoption of the constitution of 1850 the session of the Legislature became biennial, and members were elected for two years. Since 1858 the counties of Union and Fayette have constituted one Representative District: 1818 - S. S. Stevens, James Snowden, John Bryerson; 1818-19 - James Gowdie, Allen Ci-isler, Jonathan McCarty; 1820-21 - James Gowdie, James Hanna, Enoch D. John; 1822 - Oliver H. Smith; 1823 - James Brownlee; 1825 - Newton Claypool; 1826 - Newton Claypool, Martin M. Ray; 1827 - Newton Claypool; 1828 - S. C. Sample, Marks Crume; 1829 - Marks Grume; 1830 - Marks Crume, Daniel Hankins; 1831 - Manlove Caldwell, Marks Crume; 1832 - -Marks Crume, Allen Crisler; 1833-34-Marks Crume, C. B. Smith; 1835 -C. B. Smith, Philip Mason; 1836 - C. B. Smith, Marks Crume; 1837 - Wilson Thompson, Marks Crume; 1838 - John Wilty, Philip Mason; 1839 - Matthew R. Hull, Samuel W. Parker; 1840 - C. B. Smith, Philip Mason; 1841 - Wilson Thompson, Minor Meeker; 1842 - Newton Claypool, Minor Meeker; 1843 - S. W. Parker, Henry Simpson; 1844 - Newton Claypool, Samuel Little; 1845 -William Stewart, Minor Meeker; 1846 - William Stewart; 1847 - Samuel Little; 1S48 - Thomas W. Hankins;