Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-03-07
FROM THE STATE CAPITAL.
Correspondence of the .Raftsman's Journal. y


HARRISBURG, MARCH 3, 1860.
Mr.. EDITOR There has been a great deal
OF excitement among the Democracy during
the past week relative to the Democratic NOM
ination at Reading. The delegates from the
west and north passed through here both 90
ing to and returning from the Convention.
On the way thither, they We're like seekers af
ter office, anxiously expectant; upon their re-
turn they professed to be joyously iubilant.
The nomination of Foster was TO be regarded
as the panacea for all Democratic ills-a per-
feet king-cure-all. He has been nominated
spontaneously, they say.
Did you ever hear of spontaneous brick hou-
scs, spontaneous railroads, spontaneous tele-
graphs, spontaneous cities, spontaneous pretty
women, spontaneous fat babies, spontaneous
big feet, spontaneous consumption, or sponta-
neous penitentaries? If you have. then Won
have some idea of the spontapiety of Fosters
nomination.
Welsh, the President, declared the nomina
tion of Foster carried unanimously ere the
third ballot, in which, votes cast for
Wtte to the number of 54, for Fry 80, etc.,
had been announced. This announcement was
the pending order of business before the Con
vention. What right had the President, q
practiced parliamentarian. to announce that
Foster was unanimously nominated during the
pendency of other business, unless he was
determined to force the nomination Why
did Lafayette Baker, the brother of the col
lector of the Port of Philadelphia, so soon
change his vote from Wttc to Foster 2 He
was among the very foremost in the STAN
pede which followed Dietrich's motion to
nominate Foster Why did Dietrich, Bu-
chanan democrat, make it
Because the nomination of Foster had been
resolved upon at Washington during the last
days of the preceding week. Witte had made
himself personally obnoxious to Buchanan,
Black & Co.; Fry was the recognized candi-
mi
could not therefore receive the support of tho
National Admin istration; Dawsou's availabil-
ity, although the real fayorite of sold Buck,''
was destroyed by s'Davy" Lynch's card, pub
lished in Pittsburgh some weeks ago. The
contest then narrowed to Foster and Fry
Buchanan determined to take the former Of
these two. Hence all the prominent confiden-
tial friends of the administration and their
trusted satellites were ready TO spring the Fos
ter spontaneous (?) combustion movement up
on the convention whenever it was evident
that the time had arrived to give it the SEM
blance of an ssinspirationi" !" And such an in
spiration as the wire puller gives to the figures
in a puppet how. He makes them move, but
not spontaneously. To such poor subterfuges
do the leaders OF the once proud Democracy
resort to bolster up their waning fortunes.
They are vain, useless, idle, futile.
Well, so be it. The people at last have to
settle with this spontaneous bubble of enthu-
ness of the inspiration.
1t is said that Curtin will soon challenge
Foster to take the ssstump.' This challenge,
if Foster accepts, (Which doubt very much)
will make the campaign most interesting
one. Should the candidates begin at Erie and
travel the State together from county TO coun-
ty as they do in Indiana. Kentucky, Tennes-
see, etc., it would rouse the masses into per-
feet furor. No campaign like it would have
ever been witnessed in the political history of
this State. The whole strength of both par
ties would be brought TO the polls. his fact
alone would give an eminent victory to the
Peoples Party.
Rumor assigns to A. X. Mcclure of Frank
lin, the Craftsmanship of the State Central
Committee. 1t would be a most excellent
choice, he is experienced in politics, an
able, keen, shrewd leader.
One of the Representatives from your dis
trIct Mr.. Gordon, has during the last two or
three days taken leading part in the discus
sion upon two important bills. These were
the Insurance bill and the bill to tax Brokers.
He advocated the passage of both bills. The
first named, designed as it is to put the bogus
Insurance companies OF the cities of Pittsburg
and Philadelphia upon trial and send them on
an eronautic expedition. has passed the lower
House. 1t owes its passage to Mr.. Gordon as
much as to any other man. Had he opposed
it, he could have killed it. He is regarded as
one of the abiest debaters in the body of which
he is a member, and suspicion has not dared
to breathe upon the purity of his motives and
actions.
Feb. 9th, Mr.. Gordon read in place bill
declaring Medic's Run, in Cleartield County, q.
public highway. Also an act to incorporate,
the Clearield Insurance Company.
March I'd, an act declaring Kersey Run in
the county of Elk, Laurel Run in Clearfield
and Elk counties, and Lick Run in the county
of Clearfield, public highways, passed the
House. Also, asupplement to an act to in
corporate company for making an artificial
road by the best and nearest route from Wat
erford to the Susquehanna, and an act decla-
ring caring Run in Clearfield county pub
lie highway. Yours, ANON.