Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-04-22

have been the hope of gain, for it is impossi-
bic for any one to how he could have ex
pected any benefit from the Htterance of any
such false statement. Nor could he have been
actuated b, malevolent or reyengeful feel
ing, for there is no evidence of the existence
of any such feeling on the part of DIR. Boyer
against Gen. Cameron or any of his friends.
Moreover, TO suppose any man could faisify
and knowingly charge upon his fellow man, /,
without some strong motive, crime which
would forever blast the reputation OF its per-
pefrator in the community ,and then call upon
God in the most solemn manner in attestAtion
Of the trufhfulness OF his charge, would be TO
ascribe to him unaccountable degree of
moral depravity.
Here another question will naturally arise.
Can any motive be discovered ON the part of
Messrs. Brobst and Patterson which might in
cline either of them to denial of the truth,
in regard TO this money Transaction The an.
swer is easy. Ii this feature of the statement
OF Mr.. Boyer be true, they have both been
guilty OF attempting to bribc.a member of this
Legislature, which is, under our laws, q high
msdemeanor, subjecting the offenders to Sc
we're penalty.
But who does not know that the fear of ex-
posure and punishment and of the odium that
must necessarily result from the commission
OF snch crime would be one of the strongest
motives to impel them to falsehood. 1t is
not reasonable to expect men to criminate
themselves.
Let us look at this testimony from another
| stand point. Truth is always consistent with
itself. The statement of Mr.. Boyer is plain,
straightforward, circumstantial, bears upon
the face of it no apparent discrepancy. 1t is
corroborated in nearly all its leading details
by the testimony of Messrs. Brobst and Pat
terson, and In several particulars by that OF
Capt. Chritzman, DIR. Early, Mr. Vaughan,
Michael X. Boyer,an DR.. Fuller. all of which
may be seen by reference to the testimony
OF these gentlemen, herewith submitted. But
now let us take a brief survey of the senti-
ments OF Messrs. Brobst and Patterson
Mr. brobst met Gen. Cameron some weeks
before the meeting of the Legislature, but IL
conversation passed between them in regard
to the election of United States Senator
subsequently, without any request from any
one, and OF his own accord, he came to Har-
risburg. went The same evening to see Gener-
al cameron, ,and offered him his services, with
out being asked to do so, to secure his elec-
tion to the Senate of the United States He
again returned TO Harrisburg stopped at Herr's
Hotei, but soon removed to the Pennsy lvania
house.where DIR. Boyer then had his rooms.
|. Here he met with DR.. Boyer, and had re.
peated interviews with him; invited him to
Gen. Cameron's house; provided horses and
carriages on two occasions to convey him
there; visited the General three or four times
al ms residence; became the medium Of CON-
municatiOn between him and Boyer and made
the arrangements for several meetings between
them. All this was done by Mr. Brobst, be it
remembered, at considerable cost both OF
time and money, and without any arrange
ment whatever with Gen. Cameron or any
BODY else, by which he was to be REIN mbursed.
This is possible, but is it at all probable ?
But again Mr.. Brobst is positively impli-
Gated, as other Testimony than that of DR..
Boyer proves, in an alleged bribery.
Mr.. John Hancock tesfiias hat ob,ti
told him he had the authority of Gen. Gamer
on to use money to secure his election, and
that any arrangements he might make, within
. reasonable amount would be Immediately
complied with by Cameron.
The testimony of MictH Boyer on this
subject is, hat Mr.. Brobst told him that he
was authorized to offer ten thousand dollars. |
1t Is also IN evidence that Mr.. Brobst told Mr..
Potteiger, membefsof the House. that if he
would vote for Gen. Cameron he could make
an independent fortune that he would guar
antee to him five Thousand dollars in hand,
and position worth forty thousand dollars
that If he would name the day he would bring
Gen. Cameron down to Berks county to make |
a final bargain on that he had better let par |
ty go to the devil and make his money.
The testimony of John P. Patterson, as al. |
ready intimated, corroborates that of Mr. |
Boyer in nearly every point. They agree as |
to their trip to Reading on the Lebanon Val |
their arrangements to meet Gen. Cameron at |
the house OF his son previous to the Senatori- |
al election; meeting, according to this ar |
rangement to have an interview between Gen. |
Cameron, DR.. Boyer and Senator Fuller. in |
Mr.. PattersOn's room, at Herr's Hotel. But |
Mr.. Patterson denies most emphatcaly that |
he or Gen. Cameron offered DR.. Boyer money |
or anything else a means of Inducing him |
to vote for Cameron. This, whether true or |
false in itself, is what might be expected un-
der the circumstances, according to the state
ment of DR.. Boyer, of what Mr.. Patterson |
SAID be would testify, if the investigation
should be instituted.
There are other statements in the testimony
OF Mr.. Patterson that worthy of consider
alton. He says he came to Harrisburg at the |
request or suggestion of no one. That he ar
rived here on the 9th OF January, between
five and six O'Clock in the afternoon. That |
after supper he met General Cameron by ac-
cident at the Post Office, and was informed by
him that he was not candidate for United |
States Senator. On the next day he sought |
an interview with DR.. Boyer, in order to as
certain whether he really intended to vote for
General Cameron. That after having some
conversation with DR.. Boyer, on their wav to |
Reading, he had no faith in him, and conclu-
ded that he would advise General Cameron
not to trust him, and that General Cameron
had said he would have nothing to do with |
him. Still, however, as the testimony of DR.. |
Boyer and Mr.. Patterson shows, they persisted |
in holding interviews with DIR. Boyer, in or
der to secure his vote for General Cameron |
All this service Mr.. Patterson performed with. |
out fee or reward from any one. There is one |
other point in Mr.. Patterson's testimony that |
may be noticed. He says that he was present !
during the whole time of the interview be-
tween Senator Fuller, Gen. Cameron, and DR.. |
Boyer, at his own room in Herr's Hotel Ac> |
cordingiy, be relates in his testimony the con-
versation which took MACE on that occa.inn