The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-10-29

hr Persbing did give this opinion, when
he and both supposed the bill had been
or would be signed by the Governor. He
gave it to me privately; he gave 1t In the
presence of other Counsel; and he express
ed the same opinions to other gentlemen
of our town. The following Cards amply
prove this-read them!
To A. Kopelin Esq. F. W. Hay, DR.. John
Lowman and others.
GExTLEMEN: Mr.. G. L. Pershing's denial of
the truth of the statement made by myself
through the Cambria Tribune of the I'd inst,
ns to his frequently expressed opinions upon
the Legisl alton of last wrSxer relating to the
payment of wages for labor, compels me to
call on you to state what your recolections
arc in regard to his views on this subject, as
freely expressed in yoar presence
Yours truly, d. ). MoRRBLL.
JoHssrowy, Oct. Is 1863.
b. J. MoRRELL, Esq.
Dear SIR: In your note OF the 6th, TO myself
and others. you ask my recollection OF Mr.
Pershng's views if any he ad expressed to
me, in my hearing, touching the constitu-
tionalty of the so-called Scrip Bill. In reply.
have to say that upon Mr.. Pershing's return
home, after the adjournment of the Legisla-
ture / met him in his Office on some one or
two occasions, and exchanged views with him
on the subject in question. Both being Coun-
sci for your Company, and the question of the
constitutonality of the Act being submitted
to by you, went to Mr.. Pershing's office
10 the Bill and confer. with him. | found
Mr.. p. in his office, but he said he had not
copy of the Act-he had not, indeed even read
It, as passed by the Legislature, nor was he
III his place at the time OF its passage-but
that he had grave doubts as to the constitu-
tional right of the Legislature to pass that
any such act At subsequent interview with
him, at his Office and on the same subject, he
reiterated the views above stated, and added,
that it seemed to him that man had the
right to take just such pay, in kind, for his
labor as he chose, and in his opinion the
Legislature had no right power interfere.
Before this time, had examined the bill-at
the time concurred with Mr.. PerShing in
opinion and subsequently instructed you that
unless you fit there necessity of
changing your mode of doing business, as the
Act or Bill was, in our opinion, unconsttu-
tional, and must be SO decided by the Courts.
This is, briefly though substantially, what
remember of the views of Mr.. Pershing,
the subject in question.
Respectfully yours, a. KoPELIN.
In speaking of the Legislation of last win
ter on the subject of the payment of workmen
and of its applicability to the business of our
town, Mr.. Pershng expressed to us the opin-
ion. not perhaps in direct words, but in such
manner to be unmistakable, th0t it aUas
unconstitutional. He further said that any bill
the Legislature might pass, that would inter-
fere with rights of contract, could not be
enforced, but would be unconstitutional.
F-W. HAY, JoHS LowMAN,'
succcsse RgrLrDGE, f. sKAFFER,
;: joins DlBHRr, G. T. FRAZER,
WM. GARDNER
Mr.. Pcrshing does not squarely deny
this. He makes a dodge, and denies
something else. Yet he has the hardihood
to denounce me for pcrverting professional
advice, for the purpose of gratifying the
merest politica, hatred
l think [ have shown that have stated
the professional advice truly. and that he
has perverted it, for what purpose [ leave
tho public to guess ':iIad acted as Mr..
Morrell states" says Mr.. Pershing, 81
should abhor myself in dust and ashes"
Z When he wrote this, he must have been
thinking of, and fearing, the fate of the
original Copperhead, whose duplciiy as
counsel was punished by the sentence, "on
thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt
thou eat all the days of thy life
Mr.. Pershing says:
'sI certainly agreed with the Governor
in the principle laid down in his message"
How gratifying to the Governor GLOW
we apples swim ~ "Some difficulties
suggested themselves to my mind says
he, Gas 20 .he framing of proper bill, and
/ went to the Governors room to consult
with him upon the subject, but found he
was absent from Harrisburg"
linen even III MT. L Hllnu the
subject was not free from difficulties. /
wonder if they were not constitutional
difficulties? Had lNr. Persh1ng met the
Gouernor. Scrip aoOuza hare been instantly
squashea
Mr.. Pershing talks largely about my
"traveling about the town soliciting certif
icates as a mendicant does coppers" [
would say, more Ike a prosecuting officer
gathering evidence against an adroit Grim
inal A man who tells wilful falSchood,
which cannot be 5olstered up by evidence,
may well buster about the 1gnominy of
producing witnesses. The certificates he
depreciatcs in advance, speak for them
selves.
NIr Pershing's rigmarole about Senator
Reilly, Judge Reilly, OF Constable Reilly,
in his effort to involve the Governor in
"predcament," and thereby himself evade
pursuit, reminds oIe of an artful dodger
among the fishes, which, when pursued,
e,nits cloud, and SO escapes by darkening
and discoloring the water. Mr.. Pershing's
tactics are of the same character. With
out in any way affecting the Governor, he
shows to what shifts he himself Is driven.
If this card is less courteous than my
first, it is Mr.. Pershing's own fault. [
cd IL ~