Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-02-21
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:
day evening previous to tbe meeting Of the Conven-
ton, the Amerie.n Caucus met to nominate a can
tiidate. On The sixth ballot, GAaEaoS had 70, nd
CuaFIN 4G At this point, about thirty members
withdrew from the Caucus, the reasons for which
viii be found in their Protest appended to this art
Gle After their withdrawal those who remained
proceeded to a seventh ballot, when Gen. SIMON
CAMERON, was declared the nominee Of the Ameri-
Party.
On Monday night, the Wings and Democrats met
in Caucus; the former agreed to support Mr. THos-
W WILLIAMS, and the latter, CHAs. w BUcKALEw.
On Tuesday, the House called at 10 o'clock, a. NJ,
the Hobbies having been crowded with anXions
spectators during the whole morning, and the
greatest excitement prevailing among both mem
bers and outsiders. a resolution was brought in
from the Senate, which had passed that body unan-
imously, to appoint Committee TO investigate
certain charges of bribery conpeeted with the elec
ton of United States Senator-It gave rise to an
animated discussion but the vote being called
passed with but one member voting in the negative
at twelve O'Clock, the Speaker and members of
the Senate, entered the Hall, and the Legislature
resolved itself into Convention TO elect Senator
On the first ballot CAMERON had IS votes, CHAs. r.
BUCKALEW, IS votes; Taos. W. WILLIAMS votes;
JAMES VEECH, z votes; DAVID WnMoT. o votes; j.
PRINGLE JoNES, II votes, and seven scattering.
resolution was then introduced to adjourn for
three weeks, but was disagreed to. On the second
ballot CAMERON had 80 votes Necessary to choice,
&C. resolution was then introduced to adjourn
for two weeks, which carried by four votes,
and the Convention adjourned.
1t is exceedingly difficult to predict what may be
the result though We incline to the belief that
General CAMERON will be elested. The following
| is the Protest of the 'bolters: :"
High convictions of duty mpeI The undersigned to
submit to their fellow-ciuZens the following state
meat At the commencem ent Of the present oes-
sion of the Legislature the friends of the American
Organization. in the House Of Representatives. re-
solved to act as an independent party. as such,
they met in caucus, and determined to admit none
TO their deliberations out such as we're known TO be
true to the great principles of that Organization,
In yindicatOu OF those prinpeipIes, they also de-
termined to support no man for any ofice IL the
gift of the Legislature, who not equally known
be true to them well as to the interests of the
ComIn onWealth. At the Conventional Caucus, held
to nominate candidate for State Treasurer, mem
bcrs of the American Organization were refused
admittance, simply because they had refused TOGO
operate with the party from the beginning, and to
vote for its caucus nominees. BUT at the caucus
held on the evening Of the 9Th inst; those who mad
been refused 2QmItEance TO the previous CaUcus
were found in attendance; aud some who were only
known as bitter enemies of the American Organi-
zation were with us directing and controlling the
most corrupt politician in the state. 4 resolution
was offered to exclude these objectionable persons
and their o1g15 eoseS Indefinitely postponed the con-
sideration of the resolution. j motion was then
made to proceed to nominate candid Lte for the U.
S Senate BIZ a Cil'E CJcs vote IN amendment was
offered. substituting vote by ballot. The amend
ment was adopted and tho resolution carried by
majority of 9HiI flycc,-thus showing that those
who had 70 gnt to be present hcid a controlling
influence q the balance Of power.
Here let US reflect for moment upon our own
position. There were before that caucus the names
OF many Of the best men IN Pennsylvania whose
friends urging them as propec candidates.
There were IN that caucus less than twenty men
who openly admitted they would vote for SIMON CAM
ER0y. Under these circumstances il seemed scarce
~ possible that he couid be nominated. lie was
openly repudiated by three-fourhs Of the members,
and certainly had no reason to fear. with this
open aVOWal CT hostility. for almost any other OF
the many names before US would have been accep-
table It is true they had masked themselves by
the secret ballot; but TO use this cYi-
denee of cowardice than Of perfdy. We could not
believe that all who mad voted tor the secret bai-
lot. had done to hide themselves from their
stiuents, or to betray into the support Of man
despised and disowned by every political organi-
cation in Pennsylvania It was not until we began
TO ballot that our betrayal became manifest. 1t
was then thai discovered the treaehery that
pretending to oppose CANERoN, and yet hypcTIt-
ically and secretly voting for his nomination.
The power that controlled that caucus was too
paIpable; corruption was behind the throne, and
no wonder that It's victims s1ulked behind secret
vote. and covered their dScdS TTOTn Jne eyes ana
knowledge OF all 5eholders!
Were we justified in leaving the caucus when the
evidence, to minds. had become dem onstratiye
Could we as the representatives OF an honest con
stituency, have served them with fidelity by re-
naming? Could We have exhonorated ourselves
from tie odium Of such nomination if we had
delayed our departure and aided to consummate
such q result Could We have remained in that
caucus believing ourselves bound by its action and
justified ourselves in voting for u man whose whole
history is but the history of intrigue "a who
has despsed all party obligations and treated all
eaucuses with contempt
The inquiry arises, who is SnIoE CAMERON? As
q Statesman, fame has never associated his name
with the word. As politician he has always pro-
fessed 10 be Dem ocrat, and yet that party only
remembers him because of trcachery, and speaks
of him as a traitor As Whig, it is his boast that
he never voted Wing ticket in his Iife-that par
ty being saved from such disgrace. As Amer
lean and an Anti-SIavery man let the record speak
for itself. at County Convention held in the
Court House, on the Second 6ag Of last SEPTEMBER
SIHoS CAMERON was delegate and an active NOM
beE. The following resolutions were offered IN
that Convention and are said to have been in his
handwriting: Certainly, they met With 40 oppo-
Sitiou from him:
Resotoed, That we have confidence in the admin
istratiOn Of Gen Pierce, because he has manfulIy
battIed for those principles and thrown its infa-
enee in favor of sustaining the rights of man to
self government.
ResobUed, That the able, fearless and democrat
ie administration of Gov. Bigler meets our hearty
appreciation, and we congratulate the democracy
OF Ihe otate upon tne certainty OF TINS election
Res6tUed, That Judge Black the able and intre-
pid Chief Jnstice of the Supreme Court, has so
conducted himself as to win the esteem and con-
fdence of the people.
Res0tUed, That the manly repudiation of Know
Nothingism by Henry s. Mott has won the respect
of even his enemies, and will add largely to his
majority at the coming election
Resotrea, That we are in faUoT Of the NEBRAs-
KA-KAEsAs bill because 1t embodies the vital
principles of self-government which never can
conflict with the interests of freedom
ResolUed That we opposed TO the proscrip-
tive and anti-republican order called Know-Noth-