The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1859-09-22

of their rights and their institutions. They
may not object to the prosperity of others, it
is true, but they have strong desire to
prosper themselves. More than this, eve
ry state is proud of its great men. Great
men are the characteristics of great peo-
| pie. Those states therefore which give
US men to preside over the destinies of this
|. universal yankee nation, are generally sup
posed to be great states, because Presidents
are generally supposed to be great men.
Pennsylvania is a great state. We do
not know, however, that she has acquired
that reputation from the fact that she has
furnished a President We are inclined
to think on the contrary, that, in the eyes
of her sister states, this fact has diminish
ed her greatness. We nave said, that,
although she had often made Presidents,
she never furnished the material .tor one
until the year 1856. Party spirit had
always run high within her borders, but
in all her parties and factions, she never
until then found man upon whose selec-
| ton she could insist. Franklin and Il host
of others that we might name, were all
good enough men in their place; but then
| they were not the men for the executive
chair. They were permitted to pass from
the theatre of this world without having
attained to that distinguished position
Thus the Republic had lived near three
quarters of a century, and Pennsylvania
had never yet had President. Even
New Hampshire had distinguished herself
in that way; and why should not Penn
| sylvania do so? TWAS unjust, unfair, be-
| lifting to her, to have her claims forever
postponed. Her citizens became aroused.
| They looked about them for great man
and they found him. That great man
| to recommend him. He had sucked at
the public teats for many day. He had
been in Congress. He had been Secreta-
ry of State. He was Minister at the
Court Of St. James. And he had filled
many other offices too tedious to mention
Was he not just the man for President?
True it was, he had never done much for
the Republic, in any way; but, then
everybody admitted that he had never
done anything against it. True it was,
he had been a little indiscreet at one time,
in maligning good old man called Hen
ry Clay; but then Clay was dead, and the
indiscretion should be overlooked. True
it was, he had declined at one time to pay
his taxes at Lancaster, but that was read
lily explained by the fact that he then
thought seriously of making a permanent
change of residence. Why wouldn't he
make good President? He was states
man !; his speeches showed that-especial-
ly the one on the ten cent question. He
was aprofound man he had uttered things
which no man could comprehend he had
written sentences which no man could
decipher. Moreover, he was Republi-
can In practice as well as in theory
Whilst in England, he had peremptorily
refused to appear in Court dress, among
the official dignitaries of that deluded peo-
pie. He was conservative in his notions
too ; without any of the ruinous progress
sive spirit which characterized Young
America. He was a fighting man withal;
he had shown that by showing his teeth
tc the British Cabinet, in regard to the
Central American question. But, to crown
all his excellencies, he was the "favorite
son of Pennsylvania"
So James was put forward by party of
his fellow citizens, and received the NOM
lnation from the Cincinnati Convention.
BY hook or by crook, he carried Pennsyl-
vania, and Pennsylvania, as she had done
for former Presidents, secured his cleo
ton. On the 4th of March, 1857, he was
lnaugurated, and assumed the duties of
his office. During the Presidential con-
test he had made many pledges, and had
committed himself, in the event of his
election, TO the support of certain meas
ures in favor with the People. In his
Inaugural Address, he made still further
promises. 1t is a sad commentary upon
humanity that these pledges and promises,
IN everything relating to the welfare of
the nation, have all been disregarded and
broken. He has, of truth, "done those
things which he ouoht not to bayo doo.o