Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-08-14
FLOR the Bradford Reporter.l


providence grants me health, intend to gain
my daily bread by the sweat of my brow.
Neither am / stump speaker, for / never
made political speech in my life, and never
expect or intend to. Nor yet am | political
writcr-for this is the first, and it viii proba-
bly, be the last article upon that subject have |
ever inflicted upon the reading public. | have |
not attached myself to either of the political
parties, and presume never shall not be-
cause have no political opinions or preferen-
ces, for | have strong ones not because |
fear to have my opinions and preferences known,
for intend to be right, however far may be
out of the way and when right, | care not
| if the whole world opposes me. / know moth
ing of political manGuyreing or wire pulling,
and never wish to. never attend political
meetings or clubs, or engage in discussions up
on political questions. l am neither a polit-
cal abOtionist, nor yet pro-slayery man.
Well then, some will say, you must be natural
born Know-Nothing, dyed in the WOOL am
just as much of a natural born Know Nothing
as is every one of the human race !; but know
nothing about political Know \ things, and
am not identified with any secret organization.
Notwithstanding all this | claim to have some
little knowledge of the political questions which
now agitate our country. / read some upon
each side, South as well as North ! call in
question no mans motives, nor assume to sit
in Judgment upon any mans conduct but
there is one thing in relation to one of the can
didates before the people for the Office of Pre-
sident that amazes me-one thing | cannot
understand | find by reading papers publish
ed at the South that the nominee of the Gin
cinnat Convention is supported there, because
he is just the man for the Shareholders They
say, and doubtless believe, that they would
much rather trust Mr. BUCHANAN on the sls-
very question, than many of their open, lond
pro-slavery men from the South. "We have
tried him." they eXclaim, "and he has never
betrayed our interests his votes all show that
he is, and has ever been with us, in action and
feeling" Many of the Southern papers de-
clare that to elect him, will be complete
triumph of their principles, and to defeat him,
will destroy the Union that the North goes
against him, because it is known there that he
is " northern man with southern principles"
The speakers at the South declare to their au-
ditors, that BUCHANAN is as good a man foi
them as President PIERCE, whom they affirm
to be the best President they have had that
he is pledged to carry ont the plans and policy
of PIEEcE'S administration This is their be-
lief-and this they urge as the principal rea-
son why Southern men should support him.
While this is done by southern politicians,
men of the same party at the North, advocate
the election of the same man, because he is
not, and his whole course, they declare, proves
that lie is not what the South claims him to be.
Northern men say that, although Mr. BrcHAx-
AN is national man, who is in favor of allow
ing the slave States to manage their own mat
ters in their own way, yet he is not in favor of
slavery extension. He does not, they claim,
justify the border-ruffians of Kansas, whether
they come from Missouri or Massachusetts,
While his friends here are making these pro-
testations, his supporters south of Mason and
Dixon's line, are constantly and confidently
affirming that he is the very man to carry out
the principles of the Kansas and Nebraska
bill, so gloriously commenced by the immortal
PIERCE. The Northern press denies that there
is q word in the Cincinnati platform that can
be properly construed so as to favor the ex-
tension of human slavery and some 60 so far
as to declare, that if there is such a plank in
the platform, they will not support it, At the
same time the South proclams to the voters
of the slave states, that this self same docu-
ment is inwrought with the peculiar doctrines
of the South that every plank contains
principle upon which they plant their standard,
hence they support it.
Now, it is not for me to question the homes
ty of feeling. or the uprightness of intent of
those politicians residing either at the North
or South. Iprefer to consider them all hon
est, true men still, | am puzzled to under
stand why these things are so how the same
man can be supported by one individual be-
cause he is to carry ont certain specific princ-
pies, and by another because he is not to car
ry out those principles. One thing must be
apparent to all, that is, if Mr.. BUCHANAN is
elected, his friends either at the north or south
must necessarily be disappointed in the policy
of his administration. Would it not be about
as consistent in the different members of a con-
gregation, desirous of employing pastor, for
one part to seek to settle man after hearing
him preach, because he is firm, bold, out and
out Catholic, believes in high mass, confessions