Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-10-08
TO THE PEOPLE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
From the Miners Journal. Sent. 81 1880

| The Democratic State Central Committe
having authorized their chairman, Francis W
Hughes, to place before the people of tn,
state OF Pennsy lvania such matter as tha
committee think the people ought to reflec
upon at this time, and Hughes having under
taken to do so, it is the duty of such person.
as know Hughes well, to give the people suci
facts as will enable them to determine fo
themselves, whether Hughes is laborng t,
serve the North or the South whether he il
trying to have the Union restored or to have
the rebels succeed, the States divided, and ,
Southern Confederacy established. To ena
bic the people to judge for themselves and ac
as they think right, give the evidence fol
lowing. C. LoEsER.
PottsvIle, 24th September, 1862.
AT public political meeting, held in the
court house in PottsviIe, Schuylkill county
in February, 1861, John T. Werner, who wa.
sheriff of Schuylkill county from 1916 to l849
was present, and he heard Francis w. Hughes
say, when speaking about the amount of cot
ton that was exported from the United States
s-Cotton is king, and thank God for it.''
Mr.. Werner read the above this morning
and says it is correct. c. LoEsER.
Pottsville, 18th Sept. 1862.
DONALDSON, Schuylkill county, Pa,
September 13, 1862.
e. Tocer, Esq, Pottsviile, Pa:
DRAR SIR: In the winter of 1861 l was in
the cars, going to Philadelphia, and while be-
tween Pott sville and Reading, was sitting on
the left hand side of the car, and Francis W.
Hughes, OF Pottsville, was in the same car,
sitting on the right hand side of the car, and
two seats ahead of me. think there was not
any body sitting on the same seat of the car
with him knew there was not with me. He
was conversing with gentleman, who sat
right opposite him, and The second seat ahead
OF me, on the same side with me. I heard
Francis W. Hughes, then and .here, say to
that gentleman, 81 am delegate to the Dem
ocratic State Convention at Harrisburg, and 1
am going over to attend the Convention, and
when there, l intend offering 3 resolution be
fore that Convention, that Pennsylvania Sc.
cede from the Union, and join herself with
the South, and leave Rhode Island, and Con-
necticut, and Massachusetts, and them id
little petty States, to subsist on their Goldfish
and Plymouth rock.''
You are at liberty to make any use of this
statement You may think proper, and 1 shall
be ready to verify it by my oath, at any time,
when required to do so.
Very respectfully, DAVID LoMIsoN.
PorTsvILLE, Sept. s, 1862.
G. TOWER. Eso-Dear Sir: have duly con-
sdered the Importance of your inquiry reIa-
tive TO my personal knowledge of the attempt
made some eighteen months ago by F. W.
Hughes, Esq, to sswitch'' the State of Penn
sy ylyanla out of the Union, in nearly the same
manner, and by the same unholy means that
were employed to carry Tennessee. Missouri,
Louisiana, and other States out aud in COM
pliance with your request, Will endeavor to
give plain, unvarnished statement of suoh
facts as may be posse ssed of, confining N.Y.
self as strictly as possible to the precise lam
guage used at the time.
day or two prior to the assembling of the
Democratic State Convention at Harrisburg,
in February, 1861, heard it bruited about
that Mr.. Hughes, (who was delegate TO that
designed to introduce into that
body resolution, the object of which was to
garry Pennsy lvania out of the Union, and to
on the so-called Southern Confederacy.
The report notwithstanding my knowledge
of Mr.. Hughes sympathy for the South, (he
having previously told me in conversation
with him, that the only mistake IN Mr.. Bu-
,hanan's Administration was that ..he did not
'eceive Messrs. Rhett x Co., of South Carol-
Ia, as Commissioners. instead of distinguished
;itizens,' and treat with them upon the SUBJ
ect of their mission ~ the report, say,
struck me as being so manifestly absurd as to |
De scarcely worthy of notice.
On the evening of the day of the Conven-
ion, Il think the 22d of the month, , while on
ny way home,- 1 fell in company with his
lephew, John Hughes, Esq, claw partner of |
:. W. Hughes,) and as we walked a consider
ble distance in the same direction, took oc-
.asion to mention to him the reports had |
leard in regard to Franks secession resoiu-
ion. He replied, eyes think that Frank is
loing wrong in that matter.' l asked him if |
were really true then, that he designed to |
he took such resolution with him-I read |
myself several times, and advised him not |
o offer it, need scarcely say, that what |
vas disposed to regard before as an idle rumor /
lad now become a stern reality. On my re-
urn from tea, stopped to see the late Judge
1egins, and communicated what John Hughes
old me. The Judge smiled and said "Why, I
frank showed me that resolution before he
eft, and asked my opinion of it. I advised