Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-10-25
THE CAUSE.


the recent election, give the following reasons
for the defeat OF Gov. Bigler, by the larges
majority ever given against any candidate fol
/ Governor in the Commonwealth.
In 1851, the Democratic majority in the
| State was upwards OF 20 600, and in 1858 near.
ly 10000 The PeanSyluaaian under the ed.
itorial head, and by letters received from all
parts of the State, week after week and day
| after day, announced that swarms of Wings
Were supporting Bigler and opposing Pollock
because Bigier was III favor ot religious free
| dom, and was the friend of the Foreigners
notwithstanding which, he is defeated by a
larger majoaity thoa ever ,cGs gipen against
| amy cdndta0s e Jor governor! -.
The election returns too clearly prove, that
| the demagogues OF the democratic party form
! ed union with the foreign voters and the
Catholics TO re-elect Governor Bigler. and
that they formed similar union with the SO
called Know Nothings, and against the for
eigners and Catholics, to elect Mott Canal
commissioner; each party however voting for
their own candidate Tor Judge of the Supreme
Court. But when We see Governor Bigier
travelling through the State and claiming cred
it for having reduced the State debt nearly u
million of dollar, while so much of the State
debt was paid Off by the operation Of sink
ing fund established before he was serious
ly thought offor Governor, and that he, while
Governor, instead of doing anything to reduce
the State debt, signed and approved laws that
authorized him to borrow more than two mil
lions OF dollars, and actually did borrow the
money. The result is easily accounted for
Add TO this that he proclaimed the finances of
the State to be in an excellent condition, while
at the same time lie Vas borrowing money and
making new debts. His message promised a
reduction of the State taxes, while the action
of his administration kept up and increased
the State debt; he solcmnly declared the le-
of Il S,rl,-
jects IN the same bill and passing all in batch
unwiSe; and said that he would veto all such
DiiiS, notwithstanding which ID 1883 and 1854,
he approved OF three appropriation bills that
authorized more than eleueR miliit1s Of dollars
TO be paid out OF the State Treasury, which
bills enhanced more than klndre2 dlfe eaI
subjects and objects, some of which ought new
er have been sanctioned by a Democratic Gov
ernor. He professed TO bc opposed to new
banks and IN favor OF restricting old ones
while ne exempted stockholders from the pay
inent of taxes; lie avowed himself opposed
TO corporations, and in less than three years
signed and approved of more than SIR hEnd. Ell
!dgs, that legislated Tor corporations; he de-
clared himself opposed TO municipal subscrip-
tionS to railroads, and yet sanctioned by his
signature many such subscriptions amounting
to nearly fifteen millions Of dollars: he sug-
gested to the legislature three modes by which
the Relief Notes might be cancelled, all OF
when destruction OF them, as they were paid
into the State Treasury, would have been
simple and efficient. He never vetoed a bill
that took money out of the treasury. but irIva-
riably approved OF ali such bills. We might
refer to other official acts OF Governor BigIer
that operated strongly against him, bat those
mentioned were alone sufficient to bring about
the change in Berks county. Governor Big
Ter was Tor and against prohibatory liquor
law, aud when inthe northern part of the State,
he was opposed to that part OF the Nebraska
bill that destroyed the Missouri Compromise:
in other places, he took neither side OF the
question. We did not believe that Governor
Bigier could be reelected, and therefore our
term, and advocated the nomination of new
man. We believe that the Democracy of Berks
county deserved new man, and still believe
that with new man the result in this county
would have been different. As it is, let Others
take warning by the fate Of Bigler. First, let
every one be candid and open, and not prom
ise all things to all men, and be for one thing
here and another there, and sanction no IN
necessary expenditure of the public money, |
and above all let one boast that he under !
stands the financial affairs of the Common
wealth and can administer them as to prove
beneficial to the people, without, at the same
time, reducing the State tax.
Objections to the denomination of President
Pierce exist, strong those against Gov. |
Bgler. We opposed 10 his denomination,
and in due time give our reasons, and he ready
al any time to discuss the question with the
Custom House press, or any other paper that
the administration may buy up for the purpose.
W. consider il far better to begin in time and
prevent a nomination, than to forbear when
defeat is as probable as TO be almost certain.