The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-02-16
The State Convention Word
with the "AgitatOr.'

] mas leauer IN winch III goes euItIcly oFei
to the balot-bo stufing scheme of the
unit-arians at Harrisburg. Some time ago
. it announced itsef as in favor of the lion
Simon for the Presidency, alleging that
he was the favorite candidate OF the pco-
pie of the X ystone State for that Office,
and the only one VINO would certainly car
~ Pennsylvania for the Republican elect
oral ticket. This opinion it may or may
not have honestly entertained-it certain
Ily had a right 10 entertain it, and to give
it expression; but now, like the Telegraph,
finding that there is likely to be consid-
cradle rivalry ftr the voice of Pennsy'va-
MIA in the Chicago Convention, it backs
down from that conf3ing position, and
pleads with the people to permit con-
vention, mostly chosen through the infu-
ence of its favorite upon minor political
place seekers, to choose the entire deiega.
ton, and thus make it a unit for Came
ron. In other words, the 44gitator,-ot
whom We honestly expected fairer consid-
Grafton e the popular will, has declared
for demagosism, and upon the following
excuses, IL cash Of WHICH we reply in
connection
q. Because it accords with the ppac-
tice of other States"
HENCE, the Agitator would lave the
people of Pennsylvania give their voice
to the wishes Of a pleading personal am
bition which thus Acknowledges that it has
not the power to control that voice, sim
ply because Messrs. Seward, Chase and
Lincoln, will go into the Chicago Con-
vention backed by the unaniu Gus approx
al of their State Conventions, won without
the special pieadings of WHICH Mr.. Cam
eron's friends are every day pleading gull
tv We charge that the friends of Gen
Cameron are not entirely confident that
he is pre6minently the choice of the Penn
sylvania masses, because their leading
presses-the Plttsburg GaaeHe, the Phil
adelDhia Bulletin, and the Harrisburg
2slegraph--havo repeatedly made un-
scrupulous and yituperative charges
against the position and claims of Judge
Read, hoping thus to smother the form
ldabIe rivalry from that quarter; am, dis
covering that that card was likely to fail,
ID view of the fact that certain combina-
tions in tie coming State Convention
were likely to place that body under their
control, they now determine to crush out
Judge Read entirely, by assuming pow
er which the people only have the right
to delegate, and propose to appoint dele
gates in the Copvention-thuS virtually
concedipg that the party power of Gen.
Cameron is more likely to exist in Con
ycntion chosen without reference to the
issue than in the popular will expressed
directly through delegates sent to Chica-
90. And here we would remark, that it
is singular that the plan of electing dele
gates by the Convention was not more
generally canvasscd BY those papers which
are now uaking it speciality previous to
the election of the delegates to that Con-
vention-or rather, after that Convention
had been 'Epacked" by Mr.. Cameron's
friends. TINS suddenly discovered issue
has bad odor for those who honestly
seek to give the masses a voice at Chicago
al. The election Of delegates by dis
tricts would involve needless and unnec-
essary trouble and expense; x x con-
terences would have to be held embrac-
ipg the several counties in each district,
and as these would be controlled by self
ish and designing politicians, the result
would be none the nearer a popular pres
sion than before. x x If our delegates
(to the State Convention) misrepresent US,
then we can hold them directly respon-
sible."
We have no desire to find fault with
the economy of our cotemporary, and will
pass on to briefly consider the second and
third points of the Agitator's second ex-
cuse. The plea that conferences would
be controlled by designing politicians
carries with it but little force when put
forward as an argument in favor of giving
a Convention powers not originally dele.
gated, or intended to be delegated, to it.
There Is certain design in asking that
the Pennsylvania State Convention shall