New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-07
/ along with them characteristic weight an
FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
THE CONTEST IN THE STATE.

HARRISBURG, March 5, 1860.
The Harrisburg and Reading Conventions are
over and the rival candidates for Governor are in
the field. Both Conventions were largely attended,
and both embraced in their liss Of delegates an un
usual number of able and skiIfu political leaders,
The Republican Convention, held here on the 22d
and 23d ult., was the ablest body Of the kind ever
assembled in the State, and its deliberations were
sDgularly earnest, and, in the end, perfectly har
mopous. An honest difference Of sentiment as to
the course to be pursued with regard to the Pres-
dency, produced lively and able discussion OF
several hours on Wednesday evening. The diver
sity of opinion was mainly as to the policy to be
adopted for the election of delegates to Chicago-a
majority desiring to elect by Convention, and
arge minority prefeIripg to refer the whole matter
back to the people. Those who desired the election
by the people were generally opposed to any express
sion Of preference for the Presidency, and hence
fifty votes were east for motion to postpone the
consideration Of the question OF the Presidency,
and thirty-nine were cast against the resolution,
declaring Gen. Cameron the choice OF PennsylSa-
MIA. After full discussion of the whole question,
middle ground was accepted by oil sides, ana
resolution adopted by 1913 to declaring Gen. Cam
or N the choice of the Convention for the Presden
cy, and instructing the delegates chosen by the
Convention TO support his nomination. The reso-
luton provided That the delegates from the several
Congressional Districts should report four Delegates
from each District to represent it at Chicago and
where the delegates from any District determined
not to report to the Convention, the election OF Del
egates to Chicago should be referred back to the
people. Under this resolution, twelve Districts
elected delegates; two Districts had already elected
by District Conferences, and their delegates were
adopted, and eleven Districts referred the matter
back TO the people.
The delegates at large-Messrs. Stevens, Moore,
Reeder, Lowry, Cofey, Ewing, and Wilmot-are
all able men, most of them OF national fame, and
they will do credit to their great State at Chicago.
They will support the nomination of Gen. Cameron.
The District delegates already elected also embrace
quite number of our leading politicians.
There can be no doubt but that the vote of Penn
syyana will be cast solid for Gen. Cameron, as
lorg ne there may be reasonable prospect OF his
nomination; and if it should become manifest that
Gen. Cameron cannot be nominated, the vote OF
the State will pretty certainly be east solid for the
man who may be deemed best suited to lead us in
the great struggle From present indications it is
quite clear that if Pennsylvania should be called
upon to make second choice, the man would be
Edward Bates of Missouri. Enthusiastic as was
our State Convention for Gen. Cameron, when
Philadelphia delegate named Edward Bates as his
plause.
II is conceded that Pennsylvania will be the great
battle-ground of the contest, and great difference
will be paid TO her united voice at Chicago. Her
peculiar and responsible position will make her de-
legation unit an the districts in which delegates
ere vet 10 be elected will doubtless conform to the
policy indicated by the Stale Convention. Those
outside of the State, therefore, who hope to see
portion of our delegation vote against Gen. Cam
eYon will be disappointed. Pennsylvania owes it
10 bersef AMI TO the country to send her delegates
TO Chicago leaving their local chickering's behind
them, and personal preferences will be made SUBJ
ordinate to the general good.
The nomination OF Col. Andrew G.. Curtin OF
Centre County for Governor, was made with the
utmost harmony of feeling. COvode, Taggart, and
Others had earnest friends in the Convention; but
two-thirds of the delegates were ardent Curtin
men. He is yet young man, hardly over forty
and Of most prepossessing appearance and address.
He is one Of the very best popular speakers IN the
State and that fact contributed greatly to his sue
cess. He has never filed any public position ex-
cepting that of Secretary of the Commonwealth
under Gov. Pollock. He is an earnest, indelatiga-
bic man, and has given lifetime and ardent sup
port to the great principles of Protection to Ameri.
can Industry and Slavery Restriction. He will
take the stump early in the fight, and will proclaim
his principles in his matchless style in every section
of the State.
The Reading Convention has nominated the Hon.
Henry d. Foster of WestmOreland County as the
Free.Trade candidate for Governor. Never was
scheme so skillfnlly managed as the nomination Of
Foster. Wittee had a clear majority of the Con-
yention committed to him; but he was not accept
able to large portion of the party, and he was
made the victim Of combination, involving the
basest treachery. While the nomination of Foster
is made to appear as spontaneous affair." quite the
contrary is the fact When the motion was made
to nominate Foster by reclamation, Wittee had just
received Sc votes and Foster "a but another ballot
could not be taken, or Wittee would have been
nominated, and the break was made just in time to
prevent it. The truth is, that Wittee was clearly
identified with the Buchanan Administration and
its policy and even portion of Mr.. Buchanans
officials who desert the setting for the rising sum-
consp,red to spring Foster upon the Convention,
and thus defeat Wittee in order to escape if pos
sible the cd um of the Buchanan policy in the CON-
ing contest.
There is no coneealing the fact that there was
treaty of peace concluded at Reading between the
Buchanan managers and few unprincipled leaders
of the ant. administration forces. The Buchanan
men had q nominal but not practical majority in
the Convention, and principles were utterly ignored
and bargain struck over the future spolls. 10 is
due TO the true men who erected the standard of
revolt against the Free Trade and Slavery extension
policy of the Buchanan administration-the Hick-
mans, the Scbwartzs, the Forneys and their COM
patriots-to say that they not parties to this I'M
ioD and will spurn will thousands of their fol-
lowers. But the State will nevertheless be contest
ed with degree of vgor and earnestness that was
not manifested in the struggle of 1858 and so.
Thy cannot, houerer, carry the State! The Re-
publicans do not expect to succeed without effort,
They fully appreciate the fact that they must con-
teft every inch with desperate and unscrup1 lous
foe, and they are fully prepared for the conflict.
They will give their noble cause their best energies