Not much love lost, 1864

Franklin Defender, Sept. 30, 1864

DEMOCRATIC MEETING IN LAUREL

Mr. Editor -- As was to be expected, after speeches made here last Saturday by a Mr. Applegate of Connersville, and Dr. Berry, Secesh candidate for Congress in the 4th District, their followers commenced shouting for Jeff Davis, for which one of their poor tools got a ball put through him at the hands of Col. James Smith.

It is thought the wound will prove fatal. So much for the teachings of such men as Dr. Berry. The burthen of his speech was the old song -- abuse of the Administration, and the Abolitionists bringing on the war, when the Dr. knows every time he utters it, he lies. 

But Applegate can outlie the Doctor, the Devil or Jeff Davis and in very bad grammar at that. 

His speech was nothing but a tissue of lies from beginning to end. And there sat and stood the gaping crowd for at least two solid hours, guzzling it down as good Democracy.

Oh Democracy, Democracy, how hast thou fallen! Thy noble name will soon become a hissing and a byword of shame and derision, detested and despised alive with traitors.

Yours, etc.

A Looker On

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE

Lawrenceburg, Oct. 12, 1864

Fourth District is redeemed -- thank God! Farquhar is elected to Congress. Treason has met with a stunning blow in Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania. Our Union is safe. Let lovers of the Union everywhere rejoice! -- ED

NOTES: John Farquhar, a Union Republican, defeated George Berry for Congress. There is some probable validity to the claim that Southern sympathies existed in western Franklin County, mainly in Blooming Grove and Laurel townships. It's also likely it was political hate. That's Dr. Berry ---------------------->

William P. Applegate of Connersville was an active member of the Democratic (Jacksonian) Party in the 1860s and had sought a Congressional seat on a couple of occasions. 

Jeff Davis was, of course, Confederate president Jefferson Davis. 

Col. James Smith is harder to identify. He may have been from Springfield Township. If he killed somebody, he either went to prison or was told to leave the county.