Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-03-18
Correspondence Of the Frse Pre".l
Letter from Pennsylvania.
HARRIsBuRaH, March 8, 1854.

Editors OF the fTet Freu
At last the lock in our Senate has been OPEN
ed by the people. The resignation. Of Major
White vas smuggled through the rebel lines :
and an election ordered. The District gave its
answer by majority of nearly 1000 DR.. Sin
clair was elected and sworn in. For the first time
the reyolutionists saw their folly. They had
been setting previously under the suPPositiOn
that immediately upon the election Of new
Senator, the Union men would proceed to elect
Speaker, and thus seemingly admit that no
organization Of the Senate had been effected be-
fore II did not so happen After DR.. Sinclair
GERS, but refused to elect Speaker, on the
ground that the Senate was already organized.
the Speaker slready in the chair being the
Speaker without any IFS. This put the reyolu-
tionsts in a sad place. To be consistent, they
must continue to deny that the Senate was or
CANNED, and vote No, on every thing. The Union
men compelled them to stand up to the position.
Consequently they have voted only No And
some Of their iAvorite measures have been called
up, and they forced upon the record a. opposing
them This has chafed them not q little. 1t is
possible that after they have had enough Of such
medicine, the present Speaker will resign, and
they will then be relieved.
1t begins to be demonstrated that copperheads
like other snakes change their skin, and we
End in Pennsylvania that the present outpOur-
ing Of our people to fill our quota has its efec,
upon our Peace Democracy. From every hill
and valley, our young men are swSrming, and
they awaken every where feeling for the war.
All our counties. cities, towns and villages have
been raising local bounties, BY subscription, by
taxation, and every conceivable method. This
cOmpels nearly every one, even though of the most
venomous copperhead persuasion, to cast in his
mite and his lot with the patriotism Of the peo-
pie, and peace talk is at discount. The COL
orei indiriduGl has been affected by the pres
ent state Of the soldier market. The Americans
Of African descent are willing to go to war,
NlAluk W AAAr AoNaA bSAAt1t wink ~ IA
quotas; and the coppery portion Of our people
have found that q darkey counts one. And
when they need a recruit to I'll up their local
quotas, none now are 50 foolish Is 70 refuse to
enlist even eontrahands, if they can find them.
They admit now that the dsrkey IS just as good
as they are IN the ranks Of our army and a
little better. as he is willing to go and they are
not
Strangers to our people are led to think that
the Pennsylvania Legislature is sort Of open
market, where corruption stalks about our
halls With On unblushing face. and asks the
price, and purchases its commodities without Let
or hindrance. desire to set your readers right
on that subject Our Halls Of Legislation are.
Of course. troubled (ke peach trees) with borers-
Their operations are generally directed TO Aeec-
ing the men who come here to secure legislation
Of doubtful prOpriety (or II you please. popular
ity) these borers pretend to control certain votes.
and by some cunning legislative tricks seem to
prove it-then they get party well frightened,
and make them pay the bore, while no member
get, any of the spoil. It was said that at one
session, one Of these men said to sn influential
member " II you viii tell me how you intend to
vote on all important bills before they come up,
viii give you $1,000 don't want to ilfiu-
enes your vote-vote as you please. only want
to know in time how that vote will be" This
sort Of thing Of course, imPTs'Iss the PGyOr with
the belief that corruption is doing the work.
while the pdye, pockets all the funds, and no
legislator is corrupted. We have also, now and
| then, a member who can make no fame unless
he blows his own horn, by pretending to see what
/ he does not-eorrupi influenced l have been
! long familiar with our Legislation 1t Is not
| improbable that there have been some rare occa-
sions where corruption has tainted the character
Of some member; but all my experience has sat
isfed me, that the thief who, when he had han
concealed under HI. great-coat. told the owner HI
" had better look out. as he thought there ver'
rogues about" was a representative man Of
larger cls.. than is generally supposed
Yours. A ".