Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-09-23
For the Gazette

Mr.. Edtor-Now that the nominations have
been made, il is no more than reasonable to
investigate the relative merits of the several
candidates. In doing this, that we may not
transcend the limits of propriety, it may be
proper to consider what privilege an Ameri
can citizen may legally exercise, and how far
he owes allegiance TO party tealty. 1t is as
sumed that our government IS republican III
form and that the people thereof are its rep
resentatives. No citizen appropriately can
be committed to any policy further than in
his estimation and convictions he NAV con-
ceye to be for the general welfare. To advo-
cate and persist in measures, that they must
be sustained, right or wrong, from the suppo-
sition that party shall have dominion, is
course Of discipline to which we cannot
subscribe. 1t is well known what is the pol
icy and test issue Of the national administra-
ton. Experience has demonstrated that the
government at Washington have not only
committed great error, but that the same
administration pcrsstently, in the face of all
remonstrance, insist that the policy shall he
sustained and endorsed by the people Our
candidates for Congress come before US on
this issue. Shall Mr.. White be sustained in
view of his action in attempting to abridge
the sovereign will Of the people of Kansas?
We are not now considering whether Mr..
White is a Democrat, but whether his course
has been consistent. We have no logic or
detail of argument to offer. We have the
policy OF the administration and Mr.. Whites
course repudiated and denounced by vote
of the people of Kansas unprecedented. In
defiance and irrespective of the wishes and
the will of the people, one of the same COM
mittee of fifteen claims our suffrage and wish
es us to coalesce in sanctioning one of the
gr0ssest Outrages that has ever been attempted
to be committed on any people. Our govern
ment owes its success to the action of consid-
crate and consistent men of all parties We
have no example in history yhere it has been
| insisted that error should be sanctioned. 1t
would be the caprice of folly to be led captive
by such infatuaton, nevertheless the admin
istration claims to be sustained in course
that is inconsiderate and inconsistent. Mr.
Whites abilities as a representative, from his
attitude, are very questionable. We infer
that where there are no reasons to be given
for course of action that is called in ques
ton, further than that under similar crcum-
stances the same course would be pursued
it is a very unsatisfactory explanation, and
indicates a want of understanding of the sub
iect or a design to withhold from the people
the motives of action in the premises. As
far as we have knowledge of the course pur-
sued by Mr.. White, his action has been repu-
dated and acknowledged to be wrong It IS
not likely that the people will be disposed to
re-elect him when, in mis- own words, under
similar circumstances he would commit the
same error Judge Hale is a man of ability,
who no doubt will give satisfactory explana-
tions as to his course of action. We can on
ly expect from constant men that the interest
of the country will be faithfully represented
1t is very manifest that we do not want to en-