Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-12-11
"RING OF THE TRUE METAL"
Letter Of Hon. John Campbell, Of Philadelphia,
to Col. Charles ]. Biddle.
PHILADELPHIA, November 30. 1861.

Inquirer, and, as anything which eminates from
your pen must interest me, took especlai
pains in reading it to comprehend its scope OF
meaning. l confess that was much astohlsh-
ed at its contents, although L thouSht had
schooled myself not to be surprised at any po-
litical occurrence whatever. Your Intercourse
and mine has always been kind and friendly
it cannot, therefore, be said that this reply to
your letter is dictated by either lngratltude or
envy. | stood by you, and led yoar foriorn
hope in the convention before which you were
a candidate for mayor. We voted for you
AGAINST what then considered most infamous
political combination. You We're defeated Tor
the nomination. You know how sore felt at
the result; yet there was no office in your
gift, if elected mayor of our city, that would
accept from you. When you were nominated
for Congress, no man felt more rejoiced than l.
The Press newspaper doubted your sincerity
to support the Administration. l took diff
ferent view, and, believe, to cerain extent,
influenced Col. Forney to deal leniently to-
wards you-at all events, wrote to him, re-
monstratng against any attack upon you.
Knowing, as do, Col. Forney's generous ma
ture, and his desire to oblige his friends, he
refrained from being severe upon You. am
certain that my anxiety to have you elected to
Congress had its weight with almost every
person engaged upon The Press. But did
more, for five successive evenings after your
nomination, l closed my place of business
earlier than usual, and travelled the district,
beseeching and imporing Douglass Democrats
to vote for you, pledging my word that you
would be found, upon the floor of Congress,
staunch supporter of the Government. l re-
gret to say, judging from the tenor of your let
ter, that l was mistaken. One gentleman
alone, to oblige me, went to unusual trouble,
and got for you twenty eight votes, besides
his own, all OF whom usually vote against the
Democratic party.
7 oIa rlv d;cfip hat
could not have been elected but for my exer-
tions. | say this in no exulting spirit, but
merely to prove that have been your warm,
devoted, unsclfish friend. | now procee d to
anaize your letter, and to me it is painful
and disagreeablc task, but l deem it to be
a duty that owe to such citizens as were in
fluenced by my representations to vote for
you. If l mistake not, every citizen to whom
your letter is addressed has deem Breckin-
ridge Democrat, except the Hon. A. V. Par
sons. The Hon. George NJ. Dallas has been
absent from the country; and have been in
formed that Mr.. Fraley has repudiated your
sentiments. 1t appears plain TO me that ) on
have chosen to identify yourself with the
BreckinIidge school of politicians, and if so,
you will have. for veal or for woe, to abide
the consequences. In your letter of yesterday
you say
ssMy political opinions are what they have
&c always been. am Democrat--ncver more
&c one than at this hour. | rejoice that it was
&c with my name upon your ba nners that you
sc overthrow the Republican party in this city,
Contrast this with the following
"CAMp MASON AND DIxoN's LINE, Beyond
ssCentrevile, via Bedford, Pa. juno 20 '61.
ssHoa. A. V. Parsons: The nomination
&c takes me wholly by surprise. thank you
&C all for this great and unsolicited honor. /
&c am, l trust, true son of Pennsylvania,
,6v fo her xyh nd wi nd 0xy
80 she pleases. My present position is most
SC congenial to me; but | will not place my
+" preference in opposition to the peoples
| &c wish. If elected, will serve soon /
| +" can quit the field without disbonor. Phila-
| Sc delphia would not expect me sooner. 1 will
&c give no partisan pledges. will try to do my
&c duty in whatever sphere it may please God
&c to place me. CHARLES j. BIDDLE.'
| Were you less Democrat in June last than
| yor are now, was it a trick to secure as
| sstance Some causes in the interim must
| have wrought wonderful change in our opin.
| ions. In June you had no partisan pledges to
| give: in November your partisanship is more
| offensive than that OF even John G.. Breckin.
ridge. Again you say
ssThis, at least, we may say for the Demo
sc cratic party-it rated at its true value the
" fantastic theories, the whimsies. the ssisms,' ,
&C the questions of mere phraseology, that mer
" calling themselves statesmen have preferred
| &c to peace, to union, to the gradual progress
| &c and development of each section and al
| sc races, in due relation to natural causes.
| &C This, too, we may say for the Democratic
&c party-whie it maintained its sway, sSe
&C cession' was a little, baflied clique (; the
ss Republican party rose, Secession became
" san army with baDners.'
The Democratic party '1rds my party so long
as it stood by the Union and Constitution
But whenever any party dares to revoutienizt
the Government and destroy the Constitution
by armed violence it is time for every loya
citizen to escape from such party. | canno
suppose that you either ignorant or for
getful of the political transactions of the last
year. | will not suppose that you do no
know that the Southern leaders of the Democ
racy at Charleston ard at Baltimore, aided auC
abetted by Northern cravens and office seek
ers. not only refused to support for nomina
tion the only statesman that could have beer
elected President by the Democracy, but, un
der the guidance of Breckenridge, Davis, Yam
cey, and other conspirators, had resolved stt
fire the Southern heart and precipitate the
Cotton States into revolution.'' [ need not
inform you that, to crafty the South, Con
gress was for a tariff; again to crafty her il
was for free trade again 20 crafty her it pass
ed fugitive slave law But why recaptu late
Exaction after exaction was made against the
North until further endurance would have made
slaves Of us, the free white citizens thereof.
l need not say to yon that the Douglas plat
form was the farest proposition that could
have baen offered to the South nor need
inform you that the leaders Of the Democracy IN
that section, and their conferees in iniquity ana
treason in this, spurned his constitutional offer
That the Democratic party has done great good
in the halcayon days of its power mons can de-
ny but when it departed from its high and
holy mission when, its leaders became traitor,
to its principles and doctrines when they ap.
pealed from the wiH of the people constitution.
OfT, Il = II l,Tfo