Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-03-18
FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
For the "Raftsman J Journai
WAsarxeros CIry, March IL, 1881,

the countenance. Political gam bling drives
men almost to desperation. How happy are
your readers, that they are not here. seeking
Office. To see that lack of open, generous,
confiding expression of countenance that we
meet at home, among our friends, is enough
to make one sick of life. 1t brings forcibly
to mind the goodness of Tom Corwin's advice
to a young man seeking Office, tGo home, get
farm, have home of your own, and be an
independent man. Many Office seekers, who
came here from great distance, could not
even get word with the President. How
could they Ten minutes is but short time
for an interview. 1t is very short time for a
good democratic patriot, to blow the trumpet of
his own fame, and set forth all his claims for
office; and yet six tens make an hour, and ten
hours working day. This will give sixty
men an opportunity. for time OF ten minutes
each, to tell all they have done for the party,
and to set forth their claims for Office. Now,
if the President can converse with only sixty
men, for ten minutes each, what are the hou-
sands to do. Very evidently, TO do without
seeing him. Few men would be satisfied with
less than an hour in which to present their
own claims, and combat those OF their rival;
vet allowing each but ten minutes, and giving
all his time for audience, the President can on
ly see three hundred and sixty week. Small
as this number is, compared with the vast num-
bers seeking Office, yet how can On old man
endure to be harrassed with a new every
ten minutes, for ten hours each day, and seveR
days each week, if he win permit them to des-
ecra.e the Sabbath, and then, after all this,
have the multitude go away disguised, per-
haps full of revenge, because the President
did not give them an audience and an office.
In connection with these thoughts let me
relate circumstance. Judge ]. r. Jones sent
in his card, requesting an audience with the
President. This was early in the morning
Being friend of the Presidents, he sent him
word that he would see him in a few minutes.
Presently 1t was announced to the crowd in at
tendance that the President wished to see Mr..
Jones. There was another Jones present, q.
W. Jones,) not quite so modest and diffdent
as his namesake, aud anxious for office, took
advantage of this announcement, and passed
in to the exclusion of the Judge. The Presi-
dent was of course too polite to tell him he
was not the man he wished to see. Truly he
is to be pitied.
The President shows very great want of
frmness, and decision of character. He is
said to be timid man. He has been driven
the pressure of the wire pullers, that his own
head did not approve. One of his household
has expressed it, awe don't know whether
they are friends or enemies" There certain
ly was good deal of rival hostility between
Gen. Cass and Mr.. Buchanan, before the nom-
ination. This ought now to cease, as four
years hence they both will be too old to be
candidates for the Presidency, and Mr.. Bu-
cbanan has declared his intention not to be-
Mr.. Forney is here; the President seems to
feel he cannot do without him. Mr.. Bigler
seems to be out of the ring altogether.
Mr.. Cameron has been admitted to his seat.
In this case there quite spof between Mr..
Bigler and himself. 1t was the vilest kind of
SANDER the part of the Democratic mem
bers of the Legislature, to charge corruption
upon themselves in relation to Mr.. Cameron,
and then ask Congress to inquire into it, in
stead of investigating it themselves. The
committee to whom this case was referred, say
that the democratic members of the Legisla-
ture ask an investigation into alleged corrlp-
tion, where there is not single fact or cir
cumstance detailed as the basis of general
charge, nor do they allege that Mr.. Cameron
participated in these corrupt means, or had
any knowledge OF their existence, and that
the party charging corruption, had ample pow
vo1v To
The Democratic Senate of the United States
seemed quite indignant that the Democratic
Legislators of Pennsylvania should make gem
erql charges against themselves, and then ask
them to investigate them. Mr.. Benjamin said,
'sno charge whatever had been made against
Mr.. Cameron. There was general, vague
statement, embodying 10 specific fact. If the
contestants can present any circumstances of
time, place and manner of corruption, let
them do So"
Mr.. Butler ssprotested against devolving up
on the Senate of the United States jurisdic-
tion to try cases of corruption of State Legis-
latures- Let the members SO charged, be tried
by their peers" He was not, Don Quixot
like, for sending out rowing commissions to in
vestigate fraud in State Legislatures.
Mr.. Bigler contended, that ssthe party to
which Mr.. Cameron did not belong, had elect
ed majority to the Legislature, and the Dem
ocrats were entitled to, and expected the Sem
ator, yet were disappointed, because three
members, in violation Of their party principles
had voted for the Republican, candidate
Mr.. Cameron replied s'that there had been
no time within the twenty-five years, and his
colleague knew il, that there had not been more
than three mon in the PENNSYLVANIA Leeisla-