The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-03-15

pathos, OF poetry, statistics, story, argu-
nent, and imagery, which spread out in
bis glowing and melodious periods.
In ls4s he was placed on the Wing
electoral ticket, and again travcrsed ma
ny sections of the State in behalf OF Gen.
Zachary Taylor. He was an original
supporter of the nomination of General
Winfield Scott, and in 1852 he was ..
gain placed on the electoral ticket, and
worked with bis usual zeal to carry the
State for the hero of the Valley of Mexi-
co. Indeed, Mr.. Curtin was at all times
thorough and inbred Pennsylvsnia
Whig, devoted to all those conservative
and humane ideas which distinguished
that party which now sleeps in the graves
Of Clay and Webster. He is by training,
and by mature conviction, a believer in
system matte and efficient Protection, 10
liberal internal improvements, in the pol
icy of encouraging we'll paid and wide
diffused Free American Labor. Such
Whig could not fail to be leader and
a counsellor Of the party, and. accord
insly, Mr.. Curtin was an influential mem
Der of nearly every Wbig State Conven-
ton which met during the last ten years
Of the Whig party's existence.
No man was ever more popular at
home. He ia endowed with much Of that
rare magnetism which neutralizes social
and political differences, and makes the
man stronger than bis party. AS an IL.
lustration of this, 10 the year ls49 Cen
tire county composed part of the Senate
rial district in which General William +.
Packer, now Governor, was the Demo.
cratic candidate for the State Senate
The Wing candidate withdrew from the
can,ass on the Friday before the election.
At the earnest and general solicitation
of the party, Coolnel Curtin took the
field. There remained only three days
to canvass a very large district. Yet,
while Centre county gave majority of e.
leven hundred for the rest of the Demo
cratic ticket, she gave General Packer a
majority of only three hundred. Three
days suficed Curtin, against as strong q
candidate as Packer, to scatter two-thirds
of the Democratic majority.
In the year 1854, Colonel Curtin was
strongly urged By the counties Of central
PennsY YIvaDia for the Governorsbip; and
when Hon. James Pollock of Northum-
berland received the nomination, Curtin
vas made Chairman Of the State Central
ommittee. Upon the election of Cover
nor Pollock, be appointed Colonel Curtin
Secretary of the Commonwealth. He
discharged the varied duties of that Office
with signal ability and discretion. Gov,
Pollocks administration was singularly
pure, moderate and conservative. 1t was
not distinguished by any startling mea-
sures, or any exciting innovations. The
agitatious and fluctuations caused by the
breaking up of the Wing party, the pro-
slavery democratic outrages in Kansas,
the rise of the American and Republican
organizations, and the tremendous politi
cal contest of SO, withdrew the general at
teution from mere State affairs to those of
national concern. But. in the midst Of all,
the Pollock administration held its even
way, maintsiningthe interests and the hon.
or of Penn'a, eondemning the barbarities
which oppressed the people of Kansas
and the faithess servilities of the Pierce
and Buchanan sdministrations-uttering
its voioe for protection to the industries
of Pennsylvania. and exhibiting, on eve
ry occasion, that dignifed moderation
which is SO peculiar to the Pennsylvania
character. That administration ste adily
won the confidence of the people as it pro-
ceeded, and retired from power attended
by the respect of every citizen in the com
monwealth, and above even the suspicion
of corruption or partiality. Ex Sccreta.
ry Curtin, as the intimate friend and con-
stitutonal adviser of the Governor, Is fair
lY entitled to a full share of the credit
which attaches to the honest, wise and
benign administration OF James Pollock.
During that strenuous contest for the
United States Senstorsbip, which distin-
gui-bed the legislative session of 1855,
Colonel Curtin was strongly and persist
emily urged by large majority of friends
for that high position.
His department of the administration 70
connected him closely with our common
school system as its superintendent He
gave laborioos attention to it, and took
particular pleasure in perfecting its details
and increasing its efficiency. The Com
monwealth is greatly indebted to him for
the legislation concerning the Normal
schools, which affords the method and
means Of Systematically training a body
of intelligent and highly competent teach
ers, and thus supplying the most pressing
need of our free schools. Under the
working of that law, one State Normal
School is in efficient operation. and others
are springing up in various parts of the
Commonwealth.
Secretary Curtin was an original and
active advocate of that great measure OF
the Pollock Administration-the sale OF
the Main Line of Public Improvements.
This measure was vigorously opposed be-
fore its consumm alton, bat it is now q
greed on all hands that it was timely and
wise, aud that the Commonwealth was