The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-04-07
The State Rights Harrisburg
Convention.

u u
Conventions.
A very important meeting OF State
Rights Democrats, assembled at Harris
burg on Wednesday last, ito consult upon
the propriety of adopting measures to vim
dicate the name, fame and principles of
the Democratic party, outraged and in
suited by Convention assembled at the
State Capitol ON the 10th Of March. y
Nearly every county 10 the State was rep
resented and bold spirit prevailed.
DR.. George MCook, of Allegany was
temporary Chairman. On taking his seat,
he made strong speech against BuchaD-
an, of Which the following extract is a
sample
The voice of alarm has sounded from
the east and the ives that our institutions
have been ruthlessly aasailed by the yilest
and most reckless administration that God
has ever inflicted upon suffering people.
Loud and continued applause The
faith of the Democratic party has been
violated by one who came into our party
not until 1928. And here let me say,
that the only curse which ever attended
General Jacksol's administration, was
the appointment of james Buchanan U. S.
Minister to Russia. (Applause.) }"
The Hon. John Hickman, of Chester,
made the opening regular speech before
the Convention, and his was speech
that freemen everywhere will rejoice to
read. In speaking of Mr.. Buchanan and
his betrayal of his Northern supporters,
Mr.. Hickman said:
Il will not pretend to indicate the
particular weakness in his Dasnre that
him to turn the hand Of the sui
eide against his own fame, as 1t matters
little whether it arose from timidity, .
fear of his enemies outweighing love of
his friends, a careless disregard of fair
dealing, or weak and puerile vanity. 1t
is enough to know that he deceived all
our hopes, turned with the blackest in
gratitude upon that self-sacri6cing friend
ship by which he reached the goal of bis
feverish ambition, and sought by all
the means within the reach of drunken
and staggering authority, TO disgrace eve
ry man whom he could not debaueh.-
Suddenly, and as by the touch of the
wand of the magician, he became trans
formed from the sympathiser with down.
trodden freedom, to the open and shame
less defender of aggressive and law defy
ing slavery.
The halls of the national legislature
were turned into marts for conscience; he
published his interpretations of party
principles and platforms with the AFRO
gance of dictator; and commanded his
in Office, and his coward
slaves, to reiterate. and proclaim bulls of
party accommodation against all who
were rash enough to follow an independ
ent Judgment. These acts of themselves
are enough to sever allegiance. 1t would
be an ill-shapen manhood which could
tolerate them in silence, But because
we denounce them, we are mathematical
as rebelious. Sir, we will see where the
will end. 1t will end in the su-
premacy of the laws; in the integrity of
the constitution; in the purlhcation OF
parties; in the sworn loyalty of execu-
tives and the vigorous growth, material
greatness, and eternal dominance OF the
North"
In relation to the ertravdgonce and
corruption of the President, Mr.. Hiok-
man said:
But sir, we charge further upon the
of Mr. Buchanan one OF
the main causes by which we have reach
ed the point of national insolvency, a
reckless prodigality in the expenditures
of the public money, and a prevailing
vice in the departments of the govern
mept. 1t is gross mistake to suppose
that our increased expenses are owing to
an expansion of territory and the remcy-
al of our frontier. The administration of
Van Buren, with an annual outlay of
thirty-seven millions of dollars, was pro-
nounced extravagant now our expenses
are close upon one hundred millions a
year. But we have got used to talking
of millions without stopping to consider
the magnitude of the hgures. Why, sir,
all the horses and mules in this country,
numbering over six thousand, would
scarcely draw, in silver, the money re-
quired to foot our government bills for q
single year. Do you enquire why this is
so? | will tell you. We have abandon
ed our former and better practices. When
Mr.. Jefferson was President, he required
honesty and capability in his appointees
now, subordinates are selected for their
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