Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-09-25
PATRIOTIC LETTER.
CAMP TBNALLY, D. c., Sept ,l2 !

w" iho''' icaCucu me tlTee udyS since
and should have had an earlier response
but we have had such stirring times in
camp ever since, with flag presentations
reviews, and expeditions TO repel threat.
ened attacks upon our line, that | have
not had a moment until now that could
devote 10 the consideration of the sub
ject.
The announcement of a probable vacan
Icy on the Democratic Legislative ticket in
Iour District came to me very unexpected.
ly indeed. We are so nearly cut oil from
the common avenues of information that
events transpiring even close around sel>
dom reach our ears until they have been
almost forgotten IL civil cil cles. From
the time | learned the result of the St.
Mary's Conference. for which, by the way,
| was fully prepared, though some of my
friends were sanguine of a different one,
| gave the matter no farther thought, ex-
cept rs regarded the success of the ticket
at the coming election. Before answering
your interrogatory, whether in the event
Oft vacancy on the Democratic ticket for
the Legislature becoming certain, would
accept the nomination and serve if elected
let me express my appreciation Of the
high compliment paid me by the tenor of
your request, as well as my sense of my
unworthiness. Relieve me, shlll ever
egard the confidence evinced in me by
yourself and numerous Other friends in
Cleartield county, as the highest honor
could receive.
From the time first learned that thro
the partiality Of my friends had been Sc.
lecied 10y the Democracy of my adopted
county al their candidate for the Legisla>
ture, until was ar2rized Of the action Of
the Conferees, | had constantly been at a
loss what course to pursue should hap>
pen to be one Of the successful candidates
in the Conference, and at the polls-the
! former could not but regard as very
remote contingency. | could not have
made up my mind to leave this service,
even temporarily, as long as the war con.
tinued, unless it might have been during
the retirement Of the armies of the Gov
ernment to winter quar- crs, or cessation
Of hostile operations. Under such cir
cumstances would have had no hesita.
ton about endeavoring to render my
State what service my humble abilities
might have enabled me to in her councils.
When, however | learned that the DEM
ocrntic Conference had, by their action, ta-
ken from my shoulders the responsibility
OF deciding my true line of duty, ! felt
both relieved and gratifed; the possibil>
ty of subsequent vacancy not then oc.
curing to me. But now, since ! am free,
without other responsibilities TO divide
my attention or my energies, to serve my
country on her battle fields IN ner strug.
g!es 10 defend her flag and maintain her
free and equitable institutions,
must most respectfully, but with feel
ing5 OF the liveliest gratitude to your
self and those friends who would confer
thedistinctn upon me, e,decline being again
placed IN situation so delicate and diff.
cult as that from which so recently es.
capped although the sphere which | de.
cline may be equally as useful and honor
able, or more so, than the one now oc-
cupy. know there are gentlemen in
Clearfield county, willing, who can much
more ably and usefully represent her at
the State Capital than |, and to some Que
of these defer the honor
But do not, my dear sir, miSapprehend.
or suppose me indiife, ent to the great 20.
litical issues still existing in our nation
Althoughldo notconsder this atime when
we should too freely discuss them, or per-
nit the sophi,try Of the demagogue, or
the bigotry ofthe extremist to prevail over
the calm dictates Of reason, or that wise
and prudent policy, which in n time Of
common danger should banish al! acrimo.
ny and partisan bitterness in the discus.
sion Of all roliiicG.. J@:cstions, Every man
should maintain his honest convictions Of
right, and act upon them when duty de-
mands it ; but in so doing, he should care.
fully beware of tanning the embcrS of dis
cord which Il honestly belieYe) are new
smoulderins beneath The home of every
man where they have not already
bn.st into flames. We are engaged in n
desperate struggle, the issue of which no
human foresight can foreteli 1t may, if
wisdom ana patriotism direct our efforts,
cod in more firmly establishing our in
situations aud strengthening our Govern
ment. But if a short-sighted, narrow
minded and tyrannical policy prevail in
our councils, it may end in anarchy and
confusion more disastrous 10 the whole
country than famine, pestilence, and all
the horrors of even the bloody and devase
ta,ing war in which we are now engaged.
| have no intention Of reverting to the
causes which have at last arrrayed two
sections of common country in most
bitter and apparently remorseless and
fratricidal strife in which thousands upon
thousands-nay it is idle TO attempt to
compute in advance the amount of hu>
man life that must inevitably be sacrificed
If il continue; these now belong to the
history of the pnst. with which we have
nothing to do, except to profit by its ex-
perience. With effects, not causes now.
and for some time to come, have we al! to
deal We are now reaping the harvest of
agitation. This crop must be garnered
before we can prepare the soil for ancth-
er and in doing so it will avail us Moth
ing to discuss the seed il grew from. But
it cannot be reasonable or improper to
hope that greater calamities than have yet
befallen us may be averted, and this strife
between brett rem brought toa speedy
close by constitutional and judicious
A A. r. 4. 1,n NJ nj