Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-09-05
Governor Curtin.

est which he is alleged to have shown in
the organization equipment and care of
the State volunteers. We are not disposed
to under value his services, or to detract
from any merit to which he may be fairly
entitled, and we admit that he has some-
times shown, and often declared his desire
to promote the comfort and efficiency of
our soldiers. His advocates, however,
must be cautious Of claiming too much, for
they thus compel painful reminisence of
his conduct on several occasions which they
themselves, condemned as infamous. For
instance the equipment of the three
months men was SO imperfect and inefi.
cient, that the general voice denounced
the culpable carelessuess everywhere ap.
parent, and the gross corruption partially
proved, which sent our troops into the field
clothed in rotten shoddy, with blankets
like paper, shoes with soles glued on and,
in all respects, i'll provided for the unac-
customed hardship and exposure which
they were compelled 10 encounter. SO
extreme was this error or so gross this
crime, that the Attorney General, Mr.
Purviance, felt it due to his character to
resign his Office and disclaim all connec. .
tion with the Governor, or responsibility
for his conduct, or completely with the
criminal who crowded the Capitol. The
newspapers, now prominent in Governor
Curtin support, then denounced him with
relentless terocity SO excessive, as to
excite our sympathy, and to induce US to
defend him by declaring that the devil was
not half so black as he was painted, The
Philadelphia Inquirer, now the Governors
special organ, in the summer of 1861, de-
voted column on column, day after day,
to detailed disclosures Of the incompetcncy g,
meanness, and corruption which were
boldly charged as treason to the State and
cruelty to her soldiers. When our troops
arrived at Washington, and contrasted
themselves with those from other States,
which had made due provision for their
comfort, health and efTicieny, their just in
dignation was boundless. The result was
soon apparcnt-sickness appeared to an
alarming extent, deaths were numerous,
universal disgust prevailed. Iu month
our men we're half naked, and large num-
bers of them physically incompetent for
the performance of duty. Chiefly in con-
sequence of this, General PAtterson's rag
gcd and barefoot regiments were unabl2
or unwilling to remain in service beyond
their period of enlistment. This prevent
ed General Johuston's being attacked OF
held in check, and he was allowed to join
Beauregord at Bull Run, at the critica
moment when the rebels were half beaten
and about to be crushed by NJ Dowel's
army. Instantly these fresh troops attack
ed our exhausted forces and changed the
fortune OF the day and what is transcen.
dainty more important, changed the char
actcr of the contest, gave the rebels posi-
ton before The world, and immediate
recognition as beligerents. If We hac
beaten them at Bull Run they could never
have borrowed q dollar, they could never
have raised an army, their leaders coulc
not have controlled the people, and prob
ably South Carolina would soon have stood
alone in resistance to Federal authority
The defeat at Bull Run expanded partia
insurrection into general rebellion, ant
has thus cost unnumbered thousands o.
lives and millions OF treasure. In war
small causes often produce great results
But the failure to attack Johnston did no
arise from small cause. 1t was an enor
nous wrongs that the brave volunteers o
the rich and powerful State of Pennsylva
nia Should have been sent like paupers t.
the feid-that wanton suffering shoul'
have been Inflicted on them-that thei
powers should have been paraysied whe
: every energy was needed-and that, thus
, the honor of the State was sullied, an
the vital interests OF the Nation sacrificed
1t is sad, in defense of Governor Cur
tin, that he had no direct conceru in tn
purchases made for the volunteers, an
that the business was novel and done i
, haste, that he fell into the hands Of specu
. lators, legislative borers, Jew peddlars
/, needy adventures and unscrupulous poll
ticians, and that this gang OF miscreant
> betrayed his confidence aud cheated tn
public. We give to him the benefit of thos
statements which amount, in effect, to
: verdict of guilty and recommendation t
}, mercy. 1t is not as a private gentleman
Q who has right to be foolish, but as Cover
g nor, bound TO bo wise, that he is on tria