Clinton County IN Archives History - Books .....Political 1886
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Book Title: History Of Clinton County

CHAPTER VII
POLITICAL.

CLINTON ALWAYS DEMOCRATIC.—LOCAL INDEPENDENCE OP PASTIES IN EARLY DAYS.—DRAWING
OF PARTY LINES.—WHIGS AND DEMOCRATS.—REPUBLICAN PARTY.—CLINTON COUNTY CLOSE
DURING WAR TIMES.—CURSORY VIEW OF ELECTIONS, ESPECIALLY PRESIDENTIAL.—ABSTRACT
OF ELECTION RETURNS, WITH MAJORITIES AND PLURALITIES, 1830-'84.

    Clinton County has from its formation been a reliably Democratic county, and
its political history therefore presents few interesting features. The early
Democratic majorities ranged from 100 to 300. After 1850 these figures were
somewhat reduced, and the issues of the civil war operated to the advantage of
the Republican party to such an extent in this county that the county went
Republican at the presidential elections from 1860 to 1872. At State elections
the county has always gone Democratic, and the county offices have been filled
with Democrats at all times, with only individual exceptions. The first clerk
was a Whig, and occasionally, since, some popular Whig or Republican has been
given an office. For the first twenty years of the county's history we had no
rigid party affiliations; no machine conventions under the iron rule of
"bosses," and no disciplinary caucusses, whose decrees must be followed under
penalty of political death. Candidates were run almost entirely on personal
popularity for local and county offices, and so free was the expression of
opinion that a man who received the almost unanimous vote of one township would
not have a single follower in any other township. It was sometimes the case that
no candidate for a given office carried more than one township, each of the
different townships giving its vote to a different favorite. This independence
continued until about 1850, since when it has not been so general, although it
prevails to a certain extent even now.

    The first election in which the county participated was in 1830, and was
only for county officers. In August, 1831, the county's vote for Governor was:
Noah Noble (Dem.), 150; James G. Reed (Whig), 88; Democratic majority, 112.

    The citizens of Clinton County first voted for president in 1832, which was
a memorable time in the history of American politics. Andrew Jackson had been
president for four years, and his followers were known as the Democratic party,
of which organization he is more deserving to be called the father than
Jefferson. As the "opposition" in the mother nation, England, were known as
Whigs, so in this country the opponents of the administration were in 1832 named
Whigs, under the leadership of the great Henry Clay, whom they put forward for
President. Jackson was very popular, however, and was easily re-elected. He
received a handsome majority in Clinton County, but the precise vote is not
recorded. In 1833, '4 and '5 the Democratic majority ranged as high as 201, and
as low as 61.

    In 1836 Martin Van Buren was the nominee of the Democracy, and the Western
hero, General William Henry Harrison, was put forward by the Whigs, in
opposition. The former was successful. His majority in Clinton County was,
however, not large, being but 96 in a total vote of 758. The Democratic
majorities in 1837, '8 and '9 were variable, in the latter reaching 270.

    Van Buren and Harrison were again the nominees in 1840, a year which will
always be memorable as that of a bitterly personal and intensely exciting
campaign. There was much singing and speaking and hurrahing, and from certain
incidents of General Harrison's life, which were prominently dwelt on in the
contest, the latter was thereafter known as the "log cabin and hard cider
campaign." For the first time in a national election the Whigs were triumphant,
and Harrison was elected. In Clinton County Van Buren received 698 votes, and
Harrison 582; Democratic majority, 116. The Democratic majorities on State and
county tickets were larger. In the elections of 1841, '2 and '3 the relative
strength of the parties was about the same.

    The chief issue in 1844 was the annexation of Texas, and on this platform
James K. Polk was elected by the Democrats, though it was a very close election.
Henry Clay, for a third time a presidential candidate, would probably have
succeeded if it had not been for either one of two seemingly trifling matters.
One was a misconstrued letter, which Clay wrote to a friend, regarding his
position on the annexation question. The other was the presence in the campaign
of a disturbing element—a third party. This was the Free Soil, or Liberty party,
which nominated James Birney, and polled 15,000 votes in New York State. Had
Clay received but one-third of these, he would have carried the Empire State and
become President. In Clinton County the vote was: Folk, 944; Olay, 645; Birney,
12; Polk's plurality, 299, the largest hitherto given to any candidate.

    The next presidential election occurred in 1848. The Democrats nominated
General Lewis Cass, of Michigan, and the Whigs General Zachary Taylor, whose
popularity as a General in the recent war with Mexico gave assurance of his
election. In this county Cass received 964 votes, or 238 more than Taylor.

    By the new constitution which took effect in 1882, general elections were
directed to be held in October of the even numbered years, thereafter, instead
of in August of every year. This was a presidential year. Franklin Pierce was.
nominated by the Democracy, and the Whigs, appearing for the last time as a
national party, championed Winfield Scott. Pierce was elected by a very large
majority. Never was a candidate so overwhelmingly beaten who had entered the
race with fair prospects of succeeding as General Scott In Clinton County this
was the result of the election: Pierce, 1,250; Scott, 929; Hale (Free Soil), 75;
Democratic plurality, 321. At the October election, preceding, a full State and
county ticket was before the voters, and a very full vote was polled, the
Democratic majority on State ticket being over 300, while the county officers
received all sorts of votes, ranging from a tie to no opposition at all.

    At the election of 1854 there was a similar inclination to "ticket
scratching," even on the State ticket. The Democratic majorities were mostly
between 69 and 399. In 1855 a clerk and auditor were elected by 223 and 399
majorities, on a two-thirds vote.

    The causes of the defeat of the Whigs in 1852 are well known. The
anti-slavery people were suspicious of the party leaders, and finally were
completely alienated; and the party of Clay and Webster, falling into weaker
hands after the death of those statesmen, was not only defeated, but killed for
all time. In 1854 and '5 the Republican party arose on its ruins and absorbed
the strength of the Whigs, the Free Boilers, and after a few years many Northern
Democrats. In the first national campaign the Republican party put forward as
its first standard bearer General John O. Fremont, the popular Western hero, who
was, however, defeated by the veteran statesman and politician, James Buchanan,
nominated by the Democratic convention. A very large vote was polled in this
county, 2,659; of which Buchanan received 1,364; Fremont, 1,261; and Fillmore,
34; Buchanan's plurality, 103. Millard Fillmore was the candidate of the
American, or "Know Nothing" party, an organization whose tenets included that of
opposition to the giving of suffrage and franchise to recently arrived
foreigners, and also hostility to the Roman Catholic church. The Democratic
plurality of 103 was not very large, and was discouraging to the party which had
so long been dominant in the county, but it was better than that given the State
and county ticket the month before, which averaged but 60.

    At the election of 1858, the average Democratic majority was 180; but Henry
Y. Morrison received a majority of 507 for county treasurer. In 1859 the
majorities for clerk and auditor were 295 and 122.

    In the memorable campaign of 1860, just before our civil war, the voters of
the United States were called upon to choose between Abraham Lincoln
(Republican), Stephen A. Douglas (Northern Democrat), John C. Breckinridge
(Southern Democrat) and John Bell (Union). Through the disagreement of the
Northern and Southern Wings of the Democracy Lincoln was elected, though he
received but two-fifths of the total vote. The vote in Clinton County was
remarkably close: Lincoln, 1,454; Douglas, 1,437; Breckinridge, 61; Bell, 6;
Lincoln's plurality, 17. For the first time at a presidential election the
Democratic ticket failed to carry Clinton County. At the October election the
Democratic majority on State ticket ranged from 50 to 60, and on the county
ticket the range was from 30 to 147.

    As usual in "off" years, or years in which only State and local tickets were
before the people, the Democracy fared better in 1862 than in 1860. The average
majority on State officers was 131. The majorities for treasurer, sheriff,
surveyor and representative were 215, 93,140 and 119, respectively. For coroner,
there was no contest.

    The next presidential election fell in the last year of the war. The
Democracy placed in the field George B. McClellan, in opposition to Lincoln, who
was renominated. The sentiment of the North being emphatically with the
administration, Lincoln was re-elected. In this county he received 1,413 votes
to 1,501 for McClellan; majority for the latter, 88. The Democratic majority in
October on State ticket averaged between 50 and 60, and on county ticket it was
higher, except for sheriff, in which case it fell to 49.

    The election of 1866 was the closest ever held in this county, and the
result was mixed. The vote for Secretary of State was a tie (1,706 votes each);
Auditor of State, 5 majority; Treasurer of State 6; Attorney General, 5;
Superintendent of Public instruction, 7; Congressman, 3; District Prosecutor, 3;
Treasurer, 5; Sheriff, 30; Surveyor, 1. In 1867 a Judge, Prosecutor, Clerk and
Auditor were elected by Democratic majorities ranging from 130 to 150.

    The reconstruction era brought another presidential contest in 1868. The
Republicans nominated their war hero, Ulysses S. Grant, while the Democrats
selected as their standard bearer the eminent New York Governor, Horatio
Seymour. The result was a Republican victory. This county went for Grant by 30
majority, as follows: Grant, 1,794; Seymour, 1,764. At the October election the
result was still closer, the Democratic majority for Governor being 8, but
greater on county officers.

    From this on Democracy increased in strength for a time in Clinton County.
They carried the county in 1870 by nearly 250 majority on the State ticket, and
from 200 to 400 on county officers.

    Dissatisfied with Grant's administration, a number of Republicans calling
themselves Liberals met in convention in 1872, and nominated the distinguished
editor and philanthropist, Horace Greeley, Grant having been renominated by the
Republican convention. Disheartened, or rather hoping to achieve success by
fostering a division in their rival party, the Democratic leaders, in convention
assembled, indorsed Greeley. This was very unsatisfactory to a large percentage
of the Democratic voters, who accordingly refused to vote on election day. A few
cast their ballots for Charles O'Conor, the "straight out" Democratic candidate,
but they were not sufficiently numerous to influence the result. Grant received
an overwhelming majority, not so much by his own popularity, as from the
half-heartedness of the Democrats in supporting Greeley. In Clinton County, for
instance, Grant received 1,993 votes; Greeley, 1,847; O'Conor, 20; Republican
plurality, 146. At least 500 Democrats abstained from voting, for at the October
election that many more votes were cast, and the Democratic candidates for State
offices received nearly 300 majority. Most of the majorities on county officers
were much higher.

    The year 1874 was a good one for the Clinton County Democrats. They reported
to headquarters 350 majority for State officers, and elected their full county
ticket, by figures averaging as high. The lowest majority was 179, Samuel P.
Fisher for clerk, and the highest was 569, Cyrus Clark for auditor.

    The centennial year brought with it a political race, unequaled in history
for closeness, and doubtful results. The choice was between Rutherford B. Hayes
(Republican), Samuel J. Tilden (Democrat) and Peter Cooper, the candidate for a
new political element styling itself the Greenback, or National party. This was
never very strong in Logan County, its heaviest vote being two years later. The
vote in Clinton County was: Samuel J. Tilden, 2,-556; Rutherford B. Hayes,
2,236; Peter Cooper, 149; Democratic plurality, 320. At the October election 340
majority was rolled up on State officers, and 116 to 378 on county officers.

    The year 1878 saw the biggest majorities in Clinton County that have been
won by any ticket, before or since. 700 was the figure on State officers. The
county candidates were not so favored, but the majorities were: On Clerk, 605;
Sheriff, 461; Treasurer, 772; Auditor, 458; Surveyor, 379; Coroner, 476;
Commissioners, 469, 437 and 420; Representative, 450.

    General James A. Garfield, of Ohio, and Winfield S. Hancock, of
Pennsylvania, represented the two great parties in the presidential campaign of
1880. The National party put forward General James B. Weaver, of Iowa, and the
Prohibitionists nominated Neal Dow, of Maine. Once more, but for the last time
in a continuous line, the Republicans triumphed, and Garfield was inaugurated to
enjoy for a few months the highest office in the land, before his vigorous life
was cut short by the assassin's bullet. The vote in Clinton County was: Hancock,
3,015; Garfield, 2,565; Weaver, 110; Democratic plurality, 450. This was a
better figure than that obtained by the State ticket at the October election,
when the majorities were about 275. The county officers received less
majorities, but generally over 200.

    No marked change in the political situation was discernible in 1882. What
there was, counted to the advantage of the Democracy. The majorities were mostly
between 300 and 400, throughout the list.

    The warmly contested campaign of 1884, with its disagreeable episodes and
its many candidates, is fresh in the minds of all. First nominated was General
Benjamin F. Butler, of Massachusetts, by the National party, and afterward by
the Anti-monopoly and Labor conventions. The Republican convention at Chicago in
the month of Jane, nominated James G. Blaine, of Maine, for President, and John
A. Logan, of Illinois, for Vice-President. In the same city, a month later, the
Democratic convention selected as its nominee for President, Grover Cleveland,
of New York, and for Vice-President, Thomas A. Hendricks, of Indiana. The
Prohibitionists pat forward John P. St. John, of Kansas, and played a very
important part in the campaign, to the delight of the Democrats, and the chagrin
of the Republicans. In the State of New York they drew to St. John twenty times
the number of votes by which Blaine was defeated in that the pivotal State. The
campaign was warmly fought in Clinton County, and when the smoke cleared away,
it was found that the Democrats had carried everything but county treasurer, but
by reduced figures. The vote for President was: Cleveland, 3,250: Blaine, 3,007;
Benjamin F. Butler, 77; John P. St. John, 26; Democratic plurality, 243. This
was about the size of the State ticket's strength, too. The county officers fell
a little short, and the majority for Staley, Representative, was but 45; and for
Given, the successful Republican candidate for treasurer, the majority was 72.

    The growth of Clinton County in population is well shown by the total vote
at each presidential election, which has been: In 1836, 758; in 1840,1,280; in
1844,1,601; in 1848, 1,690; in 1852, 2,254; in 1856,2,659; in 1860,2,958; in
1864,2,914; in 1868,3,558; in 1872, 3,860; in 1876, 4,940; in 1880, 5,680; in
1884, 6,360.

    Of the thirteen townships in Clinton County, four are strongly
Democratic—Michigan, Owen, Madison and Johnson; four are reliably
Republican—Kirklin, Jackson, Perry and Forest; and five have varied in their
political leanings, but of these Center is usually Republican, and Washington,
Ross, Warren and Sugar Creek are usually Democratic.

    On the following pages is given an abstract of elections in Clinton County
siuce its organization, showing the vote for county officers, so far as
obtainable, and also for district, State and National candidates. The figures
are strictly correct, and were compiled at considerable expense and pains from
the State archives at Indianapolis, as the election papers in the court-house,
at Frankfort, are incomplete and fragmentary, especially for early years.
1
    The first certificate, for 1830, is as follows, verbatim et literatim et
punctuatum:

    "I Charles J Hand Sheriff of the county of Clinton do hereby Certify that at
an election held at the house of Capt John Ross in the Town of Jefferson in the
county of Clinton on the Third Monday in April being the 19 Day thereof in
Pursuance of a writ of election from his Excellency James B Bay Gov. of the
State of Ind the following persons were duly elected to serve for the term of
seven year (To Witt) John Ross and Samuel Mitchell Esqs. associate Judges of the
circuit court & Samuel D Maxwell Esq Clerk of the Circuit court and Beal Dorsey
Recorder for the County of Clinton

             " Given Under My hand at Jefferson
             " This 21 Day of April 1830
                                       "C J HAND
James Morrisons Esq.      )            "Sheriff C. C"
Secretary of State of Ind )

    November 1, 1830, Clerk Maxwell certified to the State the election of
William Douglass, Probate Judge, Solomon Young, Sheriff, and Henry M. Boss,
Coroner. He also wrote a letter explaining the delay in sending the certificate,
a part of which letter is reproduced here, mainly to show the mail facilities of
Clinton County in 1830.

    "I would be glad if you could send the commissions by some safe private
conveyance, if it can be had shortly, as our mail will arrive here on next
Thursday, and then we will have no mail for two weeks. Mr. Hand, our Sheriff P.
T. has removed to your Town & we now have no Sheriff, for want of the
commissions, which ought not so to be."

[Transcriber's note:
Complete election returns in original document not included in this transcription.]

Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, INDIANA,

TOGETHER WITH SKETCHES OF ITS CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNS, EDUCATIONAL,
RELIGIOUS, CIVIL, MILITARY, AND POLITICAL HISTORY, PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT
PERSONS, AND BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

ILLUSTRATED.
CHICAGO:
INTER-STATE PUBLISHING CO.
1886.


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