The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-12-04
Letter from Col. BiddIe. of Philadelphia.

tive in Congress, from the End district OF
Philadelphia, and Col. of Regiment OF
Pennsylvania Reserves, having returned
from active duty at the sea: of war, where
he has been serving since The breaking
out of the war, a'number OF his friends In
vited him TO meet them at public dinner,
and the following correspondence passed
upon the subject Col BiddIe, it will be
seen, declares his purpose to resign his
commission in the army, IL obedience TO
the wishes of his constituents, that he may
devote his whole time and energies 10 The
interests of his District This letter OF Col.
Bddle contains truths so well stated that
we commend it's perusal TO our readers,
feeling confident that lis plain aud truthful
statements must meet The approval OF every
good Democrat
To the Hon. CHABLEs J. BIDDLE, Sansom st.
DEAR SIR We have learned this morn
ing with much pleasure of your return, up
on visit of few days, to your family
Without wishing 10 appropriate 10 ourselves
an undue portion of the time which brief
respite from your duties in the field may
place at your disposal, we beg on behalf oil
your fellow-citizens, TO suggest the propr-
ely of your afording them an opportunity
of taking you by the hand and re-assuring
you of their continued confidence in your
ability and patriotism. 1t will give them
no small qualification if it should be in your
power to name day upon which the may
tender you the compliment of public din
ner.
You will permit Us TO express the nope
that your presence in Philadelphia may be
only preparatory TO assuming your seat in
the Congress which is about TO assemble
! The circumstances attending your recent
election % This body, the strong declara-
lion of the wishes and expectations of your
constituents, in conferring upon you, during
your absence with The army and without
solicitation on your part, position attend
ed at this time with peculiar responsibility
are, we trust, such as may induce you TO
relinquish, at least for the present, that mil
itary life in which through more than one
campaign, you have already earned just
distinction.
We are, with much regard, your friends
and fellow citizens.
Geo. Sherwood, C.J IngersoH,
| henry ~. fHlDpo, I. b1cSdi,
VIM L. HirsS John Cad SallaJer,
w. n. Drayton, F. Fraley,
! A. V. Parson, Josiah Randall,
George w. Biddle e. NJ. Wharton,
G. Nj. Dallas, c. lngersoll,
And others.
To the Honorable George NJ Dallas, Charles
j. Inge rsoll, Peter Mccall John Cadwal
lader, Geo Sharswood, A. " Parsons
Frederick Fraley, Henry Phillips Esqs.
and others:
Gentlemen II have had the pleasure &c
receive to-day, your communication, and
beg you TO accept my thanks for the fiat
tering terms in which you have expressed
your views upon what has been, 10 me, {
subject of anxious reflection.
Ii has been my earnes: desire, at thi'
great juncture in our Natioaai affairs, Il
give my humble services where they MAJ
be most useful to ny country. With thi
purpose took the field aud holding, du
ring the period of the Extra Session, sep
arate ard important command, ! did no
feel at Liberty 10 quit it TO take the seat il
Congress to which you had, in my absence
elected me.
/ | have come, for day or TWO, from IN
great camp in front of Washington, when
command a regiment that has been to m
source of the highest pride and satisfac
ton, and | shall leave it with feelings G
regret that will not attempt TO expires
here. But, yield iu the representations q
the wishes OF my constituents, conveyed I
me in your letter and in other forms
shall therefore, tender, through the proPe
authorities, the resignation OF my militar
commission from the State, and, as you
representative, will return TO Washington.
1t is true that, according to high author
ties, might at once hold the two positions
but it is plain that could not perform tn
duties of both, and, waving the bare lega
questions, it seems 10 me 10 be incom mpa;
BILE with the character of represenativ
and legislator to be paid officer sublec
, to the orders of The Executive, and preser
in his place only by the reyoc able leave (
: military superior. have, therefore
:. reached the conclusion that your represen
, tatiyes must not now be thus trammelled
: yet, should the tide of war, indeed, 70
q around the National capital, hope that m
brethren in arms will find room, in the
ranks for one soldier more.
My political opinions are what they hav
always been. | am a Democrat-nevt
u more one than at this hour. | rejoice hi
3 it was with my name upon your banner
that you overthrew the Republican party
this city.
When say am Democrat, | do n
Il mean that belong 10 any knot OF politician
II When say am a Democrat, | mean IN
g have ever maintained those national pri
/ ciples which, under God, made and pr
+ served US a nation those great nation