Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-07-25
FOR GOVERNOR,
HENRY D. FOSTER,
Canfain george nelson Smith.
OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY

We will endeavor to reply in as few words
as possible, to the statements and arguments
worthy of notice contained in the leader in
the last Atleghany INountain Echo. In doing
go, we will endeavor to avoid harsh and IN
gentlemanly language. As we never COM
mittel to memory vocabulary of billin gs-
gate and fish market slang, We beg leave
to notify the Editors of the ''Echo" and
'.Mounraineer," that so far as personalities
and the calling of hard names are concei ned
we acknowledge that they are vastly our su-
periors But in the statement of plain uncon-
trovertible facts, we think We are still slight
Iy in advance of them; probably because We
have much larger stock of the article on
hand than they have.
Captain Smith starts out by asserting that
only few months ago, an editorial article
appeard in the Democrat d Sentinel highly
eulogistic of himself, urging him to allow his
name to be used as a candidate for the Legis-
lature, and announcing him as such. This
we bsldly pronounce incorrect. We never
published during the last two three Or four
months, any such article. Our files are open
to the inspection of Captain Smith, and if
be can find in our columns an editorial ar
ticle of the kind described in the Echo, we
viii agree to republish it and acknowledge
ourself fairly vanquished. We are certain
we never indited any such article.
On examining our file. we find that the
following paragraph appeared in our columns
during last March Court.
REr Captain George n. Smith, will be a
candidate for the Legislature next fall. So
says many Democrats. -Eg
The Information contained in the para
graph was strictly true. We had heard Cap
tain Smith frequently spoken of during the
previous week as likely to be a candidate for
the Legislature subject to Democratic rules
and we merely published the fact matter
of news. We are at loss to know how any
man could possibly construe the article into
eulogium on Captain Smith, or as urging hin
to be candidate for the Legislature. But
If the Captain regards it an eloquent eulo-
GUM on his many shining qualities as man
patriot aud statesman, we are glad of it. AnG
furthermore, if he desires to adopt 1t as hi:
Epitaph, and have it inscribed on the tomb
stone which viii mark his grave after he has
departed this life, he is perfectly welcome tC
do So We do not intend securing the copy
right. Or, by the way Captain. wouldn't it bt
good idea to have it printed in pamphlet
form for gratuitous circulation among your
friends? 1t would doubtless produce 3 sensa-
ton.
We come now to the portion of our friends
article, liz which he endeavors to explain
and yiudicate his course in the Democratic
National Convention. In order to under
stand fully the position he occupied toward.
Senator Douglas at the time he was appoint
ed by the Reading Convention delegate tc
Charleston. it is necessary to SO back to the
winter of 1878, Captain Smith vas then Q
member of the House of Representatives Of
this State, and was regarded as one of the
most influential and popular members of that
body. The celebrated Lecompton controver-
sy had Just commenced, and Stephen A.
Douglas. John w. Forney, Horace Greely
and their myrmidons, were engaged in assail-
ing Mr.. Buchanan and his Administration
with fendlike malignity. Captain Smith
was one of the first democrats in the State to
take bold and decided stand in defence of
the policy of the Administration. He con-
tended that Buchanan was right, and Doug
las wrong, aud that justice and sound policy