The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-12-27
ksGEs. =. =. EsRair.


Our readers are well aware that, soon
after the assembling of the present session
of Congress, a resolution was offered by
Mr, Boteler, providing for the appoint
ment Of committee of thirty-three, (oGe
from each state,) 10 submit plan for the
settlement OF the difficulties existing be-
tween the free people OF the North and the
Shareholders Of the South Our member
F. from this district, Hon. s. s Blair voted
against the resolution The consequence
Is, that in certain quarters, his motives
have been impugned and he denounced /.
an abohtlonist, opposed even to couceding
70 the South its constitutional rights and
privileges. While We have no disposition
to anlmadyert upon the disreputable course
OF the men engaged in this small business,
we had thought Of penning an article in
justification Of Mr.. BIair's vote. But we
have been saved that trouble, an editorial
in the Cambria TriLto,e of last week,
having so fully and ably disposed of the
subject as TO leave Us nothing further to
say in regard to it.
The article of the Tribune we publish
below, merely prefacing it with the remark,
that we have watched Mr.. Blair's public
career carefully, and he has never vet cast
vote that We do not most cordially ap-
prove Of; whilst the men and presses that
malign him are either openly and avowed-
ly Loco-Focos, or-What is worse--traitors
in the camp, under Loco-Foco pay and in
huence, their common object being the
disorganization and ruin Of the Republ-
can Party:
Some Of our Democratic contemporaries,
and few OF our Republican friends in this
and adjoining counties, take exception to Mr..
BIaIr's vote on the BoteleT resolution, a1point-
ing committee Of thirty-thrcc to consider
and report plan for the settlement of the
difficulties which at present divide the North
and the South and threaten dissolution Of
the Union. We think that the gentlemen OF
both parties who thus take Mr.. Blair so sum
marily to task do not do him justice. Let
US calmly aud without prejudice analyze the
vote in question.
Mr.. Blair is Republican, who endorses the
Chicago platform and voted for Mr. Lincoln
As such he WAS reelected Il Member Of Con-
gress by majority Of 1900 votes. lie Is also
Il inan of pluck and bacLbone, who does not
believe in contenGiug for principle at the
ballOt-boX and then abandoning il upon the
NoOrS OF Congress because some arrogant oU-
poncnt or wcak-knecJ friend makes the de-
mand. Steel Blair Is made of better stuff
He IS no doayhiace. Hence when Mr.. Eoteicr's
resolution came up, proposing to the Repub-
Ican Membtts Of Congress that they should
sacrifice all the prestige they had gained by
the election of Mr.. Lincoln, and ali the prin-
cIpIes involved in the contest which resulted
III mis- election, Mr. Blair promptly said, 10 !
lie saw; as every shrewd politician mar sees
that NC. Boteler'S resolution meant an entire
abandonment by the Republican party of the
principles enuuCIated by it during the late
campaign, while ii demanded Illuminating con-
cessiOns from that party to iusUeut and
reasonable South. His sense of honor was
arOused-his manhood stirred within him
and, concious the Republican party had yio-
lated no constitutional right of the South. nor
intended 10 DO so, he could not stultify HIM
self and his constituents by voting for a rcso-
luton which implied that the North had com
mitted wrong in the election of Lincoln for
which II should atone to the South in sack
cloth and ashes. lIr. Blair did,st comprom
iSe himself or those who placed him where he
Is, but hrmly refused to be ScQrCd or c0afeG
into the support Of Mr., BotcIcrs resolution
Upon this ground alone We honor him for his
vote-a vote which was sustained and en-
dorsei by leading Republicans of the House.
But Mr. Blair had another reason for yo-
ting as he did. He voted against the resolu-
ton because he did not consider its adoption
to be the proper method of restoring peace and
harmony To the country. He tho tthe proposed
committee wod not be able TO agree upon aplan
ofcomprOmlse honorable to the \ orth, ,bvwhicb
certain Southern States could be prevented
from pacticing treason against the JHifed
States, GRd tie reSHtt thus Jar has prorcd the
correctness Of has conclusion. The commit ae
will nat be able to agree upon Il plan OF set
ucnent which will satisfy the North and the
South and give peace TO the country. Upon
the ground Of e1PedjeHcy, therefore MIR. Blair's
vote has been shown to be correct
The truth is that Mr.. Blair is oDDossJ n
permitting South Carolina 10 bully the whole
Union, and IN his vote on the BoteIcr rcsoIr-
ton declares his hostility TO all con,Brog.jrcs
acjth traitors. Mr. Blair thinks that if tbis
Union is anything else than a ..rope of sand ,,
it should be able to protect itself from doD,es-
nc instructions and TO cruth out treason