Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-11-24
STATE CONVENTIONS.

STATE CONVENTIONS.
We publish the call of the chairman of the
State Executive Committee for Peoples
State Convention to be held at Harrisburg, on
the 22d of February next, in which an invita-.
who are opposed to the principles and measures
Of the present National Administration and to
! the election of men to Office who sustain those
principles and measures" The objects of the
| Convention are defined to be to indicate their
choice for the next Presidency, nominate a
candidate for Governor, form an Electoral
Ticket, appoint Senatorial, and to designate
the time and mode of eectng District Dele
gates to the National Convention and to
transact such other business as may be deemed
necessary to ensure success at the General
| Election" t ...
We do not desire to be hypercritica!, but
this call is not such an one as we should like to
have seen. We do not exactly understand
how great party can be organized and perma-
nenty sustained upon basis of opposition to
a National Administration, however obnoxious
or unprDcipled that Administration may be
There appears to be a want of stability and
consistency, an absence of purpose in such an
organization, (or want of organizaton) which
is certainly not commendable What "princi-
pies and measures of the National Admins
tration are we battling against? Suppose the
Administration should suddenly change its
purposes and measures, Cat least so far as pro-
feSsions go) what becomes of the groundwork
of the great party which has succeeded in
electing their State Ticket in this State for two
consecutive years Is the Opposition in
Pennsylvania actuated by no principle, intent
upon the advocacy and establishment of no
measures of public policy Are they to rely
for popular support solely upon she misdeedS
of National Administration? A party with
no higher aim cannot endure. 1t may succeed
while the acts of the Administration are fresh
in the minds of the people and offensive to
| them-but its success must be uncertain and
temporary.
We care not for names We desire to see
the Opposition in Pennsylvania consolidated,
and marshalled under a banner which shall
bear inscribed upon it the great principles
which are dear to the people of this Common
wealth and commend themselves to their con-
idence and support. Here in Bradford we
are Republicans, recognizing only the Repub-
llcan organization. We find ourselves acting
in concert with the great mass of the North
in the Republican National organization. The
principles of that organization do full justice
to all departments of Free Labor, and recog-
nize the claims of the great sources of our
State wealth. We know however, that a
portion of the Opposition in this State, have
hesitated about enrolling themselves in this
organization. Hence in some counties we
have the " Peoples" party As to names,
we again declare our entire Indifference. But
are we to be united in support of candidate
for the Presidency? Is the Opposition in this
State only intended for State purposes, and is
it to be sundered on questions of National
Importance and candidates for the Presidency?
We shall very shortly have some indication
how the matter stands, which will determine
our Judgment as to the propriety of recogniz
ing this call for Convention. We see moth
ing in the way of cordial and hearty union
of all the Opposition elements in the State,
and if prudent and reasonable counsels prevail,
all will he well. # ..
| That the State Convention should indicate
its choice for the Presidency we do not object
to, but the time and mode of efecting District
Delegates can only properly be done in one
way : by allowing the people of each District
to choose their Delegates. We should Judge,
| from intimations we have seen thrown out, that
an attempt will be made to elect the Delegates
by the Convention. Such course would be
unwarranted, uncalled for and highly improper
We want no packed Conventions, nor market
able delegations. Let the choice of the Con-
vention have the full benefit of all the political
weight, the State is entitled to, but beyond
that, let the wishes of the people be paramount.
b@ The steamer North Star has been heard
from, having been detained six DAYS on reef
| Of one Of the French Keys