The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-10-07

WARD, to the Democrats of Pittsburg, which
we re-publish He triumphantly refutes the
unjust, malicious and wicked charge made
against him by the Wing party.
PITTsBURG, Sept. IA, 1852.
Gentlemen The official duties which brought
me to Pittsburg, keep constantly engaged.
My answer to your letter must, therefore, be
brief
From my earliest youth to this present mo-
ment | have been earnest and hearty suppor-
ter ofthe Democratic party, and an equally zeal
Gus opponent so far my political action could
decorously and properly go, Of whatever oppo-
sed it. | am not and never have been ''Na-
tive American in any political sense, any more
than 1 or have been a Whig, anti-mason or
an abolitionist.
The charge of ssNativeism'' is attempted to be
sustained by a motion which | made in the Re-
form Convention of 1887. That was simply a
limitation, of motion made by Mr.. Thomas, q
whig member from Chester county, and was cal
culated to compel his party (who were in maj ajor-
ity in the Convention) to come up to the mark
or back out They chose the latter branch OF
the alternative, and my motion having answer
ed its purpose, was withdrawn. The sin of in
PRODUCING this subject into that body lies at the
door of whig, and not at mine.
The speech so often quoted against me, [ am
not responsible for. 1t was introduced into the
debates by Wing reporter. in violation of the
rules OF the DOUy WHICH required HIN " SuDlLLt
it for revision before publication, and which he
never did. made some observations eXplana-
tory of my amendment of Thomas motion, but
that speech is not a fair report of them. My
other speeches were submitted for revision
This one | never ceased to condemn it.
During the session of the Convention, name
w. on the 10th day of January, 1888, member
in debate alluded to the motion, not the speech
as indicative of hostility to foreigners Iprompt-
" denounced the imputation, there in the face
of the Convention as | have done many a time
since as gross Misrepresentation.
See debates Of the Convention, vol 10, PIP.
33, 81.
l have retained the undiminished confidence
of the Democratic members of the Reform Con-
ventiOn, several of whom were adopted citizens
and all of them opposed to Nativeism Would
this have been possible if the whig reports of
my sayings and doings had been true
The Native American Party itself is my wit
ness. Seven years ago 1 was the caucus nomi-
nee for U. S. Senator. The county of Philadel-
phia was represented by Natives. They asked
me- whether, if elected by their votes, 1 would
favor their measures for changing the naturali-
zation laws. L answered them no, and they
threw every vote they could command against
me, and raised shout of triumph over their
victory.
You refer to statements in the Wing papers
of Pittsburg. One of them was shown me a
few days ago, in which was garbled extract
from n letter written by me about year ago, in
which ! repeed the imputation of Nativeism as
distinctly as | deny ii now. Yet the editor told
his readers that the letter contains admission
that my sentiments were at that time adverse to
the rights of foreign born citizens. a copy of
the letter thus misrepresented by the Pittsburg
Gazette, ] send you herewith in the ''Keystone'
of Sept 23d, 1851.
When men will allow their teal passions
to get the better of their veracity so far as to
impel them to acts and assertions like this it is
easy enough to understand how and why l was
misrepresented by reporter of the Convention,
whose motives for doing were just strong
as those which aetuated my political opponents
now.
Another allegation that I opposed Judge
Campbell last fall, is as false as any other of
| the numerous misstatements recently made a
! gainst me. l never opposed any nominee ac-
| count of his birth or religion, and | supported
no nominee last fall more heartily than l did
Judge Campbell.
1t is with infinite reluctance | appear before
the public at this time, in self-defence. A
candidate for judicial Office is, perhaps, more
than any other candidate required to await qui-
etly the decision of people. | am sensible
as any man can be, that politics ought to be kept
away as far as possible from judicial elections,
but the terms of your letter leave me no choice
but to answer. 1have answered by giving you
briefly the truth l give it because it is the
truth, and [ accompany it with appeal to
party passion prejudice.
If industrious defamation succeed in rep
resentng me as having ever sustained any illib
eral or proscriptive ism, then the Truth and a
Life are powerless against slander.
There are some presses and many men oppo-
sed to me in political sentiments, who are dis
posed to treat me fairly, and who will not des-
cend to base appliances, to accomplish party
purpose. Such men and presses command my
respect. Against others who are less scrupu-
lous have no shield but the truth and my life;
and relying on these, l can afford to await, in
patience, the verdict of the people.
Thanking you, gentlemen, for the kind feel
ings minifested in your letter, l am, with great
respect, your obedient servant,
GEO. W. WOODWARD.