The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1863-09-02
Governor Curtin.

G0V6fn0f Cuftln.
owe have already suggested that we
| would regard the denomination of Governor
Curtin as a great calamity TO the party and
10 the country, for the double reason that
we should expose ourselves 10 the imm-
show thereby that we had deserved ii, and
that we should render very doubtful SER
vice 10 either by eleciing him. We now
proceed to assign some of the reasons for
that opinion.
at cannot be disputed, we think, that
his administration has proved eminenily
disastrous 10 the party which brought him
into power. That il has been an unfortu-
male one for The State, the present conditio
OF her plundered sinking fund and dilapida-
led revenues will abundantIy attest. 1t is
mol clear that il has been wholesome one
for the country. 1t is but too clear that it
has been damaging one for himself-so
damaging that il is more than doubtful
whether the Union sentiment, strong as it
unquestionaby is, would be sufficiently
powerful 10 override the unfavorabe opin-
ions so generally entertained OF his iniegri-
~ and wisdom, notwithstanding The more
than charitable reserve o! the press, which
has flung mantle over his faults, and per-
haps encouraged nis friends and himself 10
believe that the history of his administra-
lion will continue a sealed book, or be for
gotten amid the clangor Of arms and The
strife of the battle field.
He came into 6ffice less than three years
ago, with huge majority, and Legisla-
lure of which nearly three fourths of both
branches either were, or claimed to be, Re
publicans. Al the end of one session he
had thrown all that majority away.
y
Entrusted with the privilege of expend-
ing The first appropriation made by the Leg
Islalure for the common defence, he gave
TO his own creatures The power of making
contracts, as his priUate agents, in relation to
articles with which they were entirely un-
familiar, 10 the great injury 10 The soldier,
who was viclimized by their unskilfuluess
or fraud. This fact was found by a COM
mitiee appointed by himself under the pres
sure OF public clamor, which grew out of
the treatment of The volunteers who had
assembled at Harrisburg. Those brave
young men who had responded so gener-
ously 10 the first call oil their country, were
IN rags, with shoddy veslments, shoes
whose soles were stuffed with shavings,
and blankets almost as thin and ranspa-
rent as window pane. II was reported
and believed that they had been given over
to the tender mercies of a few heartleSs
specutators who were then hoseriHg about
the Capitol. The officers at Camp Curtin,
Justly indignant at what they saw, drew up
! a spirited remonstrance 10 the Legislature
which was presented to the House, at their
instance, by one of our own members. 1t
suggested TO him the propriety of an inqui
~ as 10 the nature of the contracts made for
supplies, and the names of the agents,
through whom they were made He wish
ed 10 know, and TO let the public know,
whether it was true that sundry individuals
then lettering around the Capitol, who were
pointed out by the tongue of rumor, and
known 10 be entirely unfit for the purpose,
had been actually commissioned by the
Governor, as his agents, 10 make contracts
for the soldiers.
One of these individuals was a certain
Chas. NJ. Neal, an active ward politician. an
Acting Com missioner OF Philadelphia, who
was understood to be an intimate and con-
6dential friend of the Governor The an
swer of the Governor ignored the fact of his
employment, although the record shows that
on the very day preceding or following his
message TO the House, he had endorsed and
approved contract for clothing made by
the identical individual with the Frowen-
fields, of this city, in that special capacity
On this contract Neal was afterwards in
dicted here, and il was while that indict-
ment was pending that the Governor felt it
necessary. in order to appease the public
clamor, or divert ii from his own head, TO
raise committee OF his otOn appointment, TO
inquire into his own conduct That COM
miItee proved, very unexpectedly, 10 be
fair one-so fair that il was deemed pru-
dent TO withhold its report from the Legis-
lature al the ensuing session of that body.
1t found, however-although it passed over
the FrowenfieId case because it was pend
ing in the Cours-that "the soldiers l0ere in
rags" With every disposition to deal gent
ly with the Governor, it condemned his ap-
pointments and "the mode pursued by the
government in making lis purchases" Ii
declared that "ihs absence of strict SUI
pervisory power had been the cause of
much OF the mischief that had befallen the
Stale" 1t remarked, in observing upon
the character of the Governors agents, that
"it could DOT for moment be supposed
that there were not men in Pennsylvania,
whose services could have been command
ed, and who, By education and ability were
equal 10 the occasions that had arisen, and