Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-09-25
PATRIOTIC LETTER,

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-
cy on the Democratic Legislative ticket in
our District, came to me very unexpected.
~ 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 in civil circles. From
the time learned the result of the St.
Mary's Conference for which, by the way,
was fully prepared, although some of my
friends were sanguine of a different one,
gave the matter no farther thought, eX-
cept as regarded the success of the ticket
at the coming election. Before answering
your interrogatory, whether in the event
of a 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, | shall ever
regard the confidence evinced in me by
yourself and numerous other friends in
Clearfield county, as the highest honor !
could receive.
From the time first learned that thro'
the partality Of my friends had been Sc.
lected by the Democracy Of my adopted
county az their candidate for the Legisla-
turc, until | was apprized Of the action OF
the Conferees, had constantly been at q
loss what course to pursue should | hap>
pen TO be one of the successful candidates
in the Conference, ana 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- ers, 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
ocratic Conference had, by their action, ta-
ken from my shoulders the responsibility
Of deciding my true line of duty, felt
both relieved and grstitied the possibili>
ty Of subsequen: vacancy not then oc.
curl ing 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 to defend her flag and maintain her
| free and equitable institutions, /
must most respectfully, but with feel
| ings OF the liveiest gratitude to your
| self and those friends who would confer
thedistinct'n upon me,decline being again
pla ced 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 one
of these defer the honor
But do not, my dear sir, misapprehend,
or suppose me inditfe ent to the great po'
litical issues still existing in our nation
AlthoughIdo notconsider this atime when
we should too freely discuss them, or per
nit the sophi,try of the demagogue, ol
the bigotry of the extremist to prevail ovei
the calm dictates of reason, or that wise
and prudent policy, which in n time o
common danger should banish all acrimo
ny and partisan bitterness in the discus
sion of all political QUESTIONS. Every mar
should maintain his honest convictions o
. right, and act upon them when duty de-
. mands it but in so doing, he should care
fully beware of tanning the embers Of dis
cord which Il honestly believe) are ncv
smouldering beneath the home of every
= man where they have not alread
!, burst into flames. We are engaged in
= desperate struggle, the issue OF which n
> human foresight can foreteli, 1t may,
: wisdom ana patriotism di. ect our efforts
, cod in more armly establishing our in
! stisutions a. Strengthening our Govern
, mcI..v. But if o short-sighted narrow
minded and tyrannical policy prevail i
our councils, it may end in anarchy an
q confusion more disastrous TO the whol
Y country than famine, pestilence, and a
the horrors of even the bloody and devas
i tating war in which we are now engaged
y | have no intention of reverting TO tn
q causes which have at last arrrayed tw
= sections of common country IN mos
;. bitter and apparently remorscless an
g fratricidal strife in which thousands upo
J. thousands-nay it is idle 10 attempt +
q compute in advance the amount of hu
n man life that must Inevitably be sacrifice
g if it continue; these now belong to III
IT history Of the past, vita which wo hav
= nothing to do, except to profit by its eS
perience. With effects, not causes nov
, and for some time to come, have we al!
"A deal. We are now reapng the harvest {
:. agitation. This crop must be garnere
~ before we can prepare the soil for anott
&c er and in doing so it will avail us moth
81 ing to discuss the seed il grew from. Bu
u it cannot he reasonable or improper {
= hope that greater calamities than have Y,
u befallen US may be averted, and this stri
~ between brett rem brought to speed
at close by constitutional and judicio,
Of course on the part Of those who at presei
p control tho machinery OF governmei