Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/163

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 117 meeting which had just been held was not exactly of the most agreeable nature. Consequently, there was a hurried conference among the Republican leaders, and they decided to hold a meet- ing then and there. Dr. Iloyt was found, and, as a matter of courtesy, was asked it" he had any objections to the Republicans speaking to the crowd. He replied that the Democrats were through, and il was immaterial to him how many other meetings held by those of different belief might follow. H. L. Bevans, John Going and Manville Comstock, who were recognized as a committee without having been appointed, called upon Mr. McClure, who had been sitting- at his office window listening to the Democratic speeches, and thus became filled to overflowing with Republican arguments with which to refute the sentiments which had been uttered. Before Mr. McClure had talked very long it was apparent that he was a bitter opponent of the doc- trine of state sovereignty, and he was not allowed to proceed very far. Some men and boys had secured a small wagon, and upon this had laid some sheets of iron in such a manner as to flap together when the wagon was moved. "With this w r agon in tow, and with fish-horns and cow-bells, the men and boys rushed about the streets, attempting to drown the voice of the speaker. At last C. C. Vandenberg, Louis Bennett and others, who appeared to have some influence with the noisemakers, were appealed to, and they soon restored order, after which Mr. McClure proceeded with his speech. The following spring Charles McClure was a candidate for delegate to the constitutional convention to form a slate constitution, and after a very hard contest, was elected by a majority of three over his opponent. Since that time the county has remained a Republican county, and has, as a rule, returned a Republican majority for state and national nominees, although there have been several exceptions. In September, 1857. party lines began to be drawn more dis- tinctly; the Red AVing "Republican," which appeared at that time with Lucius F. Hubbard as editor, taking the Republican view, while the Red Wing "Sentinel" was the organ of the Democratic party. In that year the first county conventions of the two parties were held. A full Republican ticket was elected. The political campaign in the fall of 1860 in this county was a very interesting one. as well before as after the nominating con- ventions. This was especially the case with the Republicans. Of this campaign, the Rev. J. W. Hancock writes as follows: "The main contest in the Republican convention was Tor the office of register of deeds, and the principal candidates for the office were Matthew Sorin and T. B. McCord. of Red Wing; Aaron G. Hundson, of Florence, and C. C. Webster, of Zumbrota. The convention was held at the courthouse October 11. I860. The