Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-03-21
TT r v3AI.
Frv. ~ .ssfse~~i isssikxs~esr.
PENNSYLVANIA Politics.

Fv. ~ .Nsfio..i f.ssikxs~err
PENNSYLVANIA Politics.
The following Letter, like the one to which At
rePne'' from known rsspoossbIe source
TO rHs kpiroRs rHr nrEiLiosscrR.
HaRRisEuEs, (PESS.) March 9. 1899.
CEsrLrMEs: | noticed IN your paper
OF the 9TH inst. . commune alton dated Of
TINS place, under the signature Of ''R. ).
L. commenting upon On article some
lime since extracted by you FROM the
~. 5. Gazette. II 10 my purpose, not so
much to notice the psriicular fscts STATED
by "R. 5. E." or the broad Wbig grounds
taken By the unied States Gazette. as
to inform you Of the precis attitude and
feelings OF Pennsylvania in relation to tho
Presidential question. end the candidates
before the Public for that high trust, in
opposition 10 the present incumbent.
do not happen TO belong to the Aniima-
sonic school, Of which "R. S. T." is q
discipl.. nor to the erciunrs w hug school.
Of ~hich the talented Editor Of the Uni.
ted States Gazette may be said 10 be The
head. in Penns, lvanis. I am one OF those
~ho supported JACKSON. and gave thei.
volts and influsncs once in favor Of VAN
buren,; but who. disappointed and shock
ed st the reckless course Of the one. and
the profiSate career OF the other, have ia
Ken ground between the two great an q.
isgonist parties. in the hops Of avoiding
the extremes OF either. In short, sirs,
! am Conservative; but willing to act
with Wings, .An,imasons. or any other
named parfys Co put down the present
corrupt dynasty-providcd an oppo.ins
candidate be selected ia whose prinei-
pies. virtue. and cspsbility. can have
confidence. The Jealousy aud bicker-
ins' OF the Wings and An;imasons OF
P"nnsylvania. whom it seems 10 be i'm &.
possible thoroughly TO unite and harmon.
iz-, have been aud will continue 10 be.
(unless speedily heaied,) tho fruitful
source Of disaster aud defeat. How q
permanent perfect reconciliation is TO be
effected Is for older and wiser he ads th On
mine to determine. But this much will
undertake 10 aver. tia; so long ss distinct
organizations are kept up, so long there
will be discord in the ranks, and defeat in
every campaign inevitable. The Whigs
ere too spirited. too sensitive on many
points. too tenacious Of minor rights and
considerations while. on the Aniin sson
&c side. we have the real d.moerofic love
Of 'spoiis. and the consequent disincli.
Eaiion To compromise and accommodate ;
they ask too much. and yield too little
They have long since yielded the mora!
principle upon which their primitive or
{ ganiza,ion was based indeed, the neces-
.ily Tor ITS political application seems to
have passed away. and I verify believe
that they would sonsult the good Of tho
country by abandoning the name and
ningling with the Wings. But We mus,
not look for such q step at presen: in
Penn'yivania; for although the mass OF
the party, If left TO their own discretion.
would willingly sacrifice an unme aning
name Tor the purpose Of securing and es-
tab'ishing important principles. yet there
are few leading men among them. of
doubtful patriotism and sinister views;
and this little leaven ieaveneth the
whole lump" Those OF either party who
have only in view the interests Of the
country. aud are therefore willing 10
meet uPo? some common ground, and do
battle under one banner against q COM
mon ensmy. yet hesitate, through fear oil
losing too great a body from each sc ction.
and dividing the party into fastions-ihus
destroying al chance Of success. The
knowledge tina; this fear exists smboldsns
The extremes Of either party and thu.,
IN Pennsylvanis, we present tho mor,ify
ing spectacle Of = party. having 10 view
the same ultimate object. conisnding for
minor points; and. instead Of uniting 10
sustain common principles. dividing and
Jarring in foolish contest COR MEN.
But 10 como at once TO the point
There is no man Of common sense in
Pennsylvania no does not (policy ssids)
prefer HENRY CLAY or DANIEL WEBSTER
to General HARRIsoS. The qualifications
OF the first and second. named genilemen
are universally acknowledged; while their
patriotism aud principles srs only doubt
ed by those who feel that it is their infe.
rest to doubt. For my part. HENRr CLAY
IS my choice. and feel safe in saving
That three fourths OF the Wings and Con :.
servatives. and large portion of the An
Imasonic party. prefer him. Against
General HARRISON | aave no Prejudice.
Indeed. l may say. no objection, other
than this-ihai his life has been too m uch
spent ~ matters pertaining TO the sten,-
ed field" toquo!iiy 3ir as well .. I could
wish him TO be for the Presidency. psr,ic.
uiaTiy al Tbs Iunc!ure. when the hole
sys'em OF Government has become Go.
ranged. and requires vigorous and ex-
psr'enced mind TO bring il back 10 its ma
1--we purity. wish to say nothing that
may tend TO Strengthen prejudices here
that are already too strong: but cannot
refrain from averring that the Convention
which nominated General HARRIsoN in
November last was the greatest farce and
hnmbug That was ever attempted 10 be
Palmed upon the People.
The majority Of the people of'Penn,yl-
wanna opposed 10 Mr.. Vas BUREs desires
only thIs-tha, the National Convention
oaI'ed for next December may deliberate
az though there bad been no previous
nominsiion; and. considering .enly the
good Of the country. aud the Wv bss, 10
promote %. nominate . ticket for PresideuN