American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-02-10
NEalor WHITES Esesignatlon

diana district, now a prisoner OF war IN
Richmond, and Of whose absence the cop
perheads of that body (it would be an
abuse of language to call such men dem
ocrats) have taken advantage, IN order to
put Il dead lock upon all legislation in our
State. This letter has been 10 the hands
Of Judge White, of Indiana, the father
of the Senator, more than two months
and we think he is very much to blame
for Withholding it so long. The son under
stands. much better than the father the
lofty sentiment expressed by the poet in
this grand eouplet;
More real joy Marcellus exiled. fees
Than Ca,ser with Ssg1ie al his heels =
for what is a State Senate to man who
can write such letter as this Or what
are any mans personal interests, when
brought into conflict with the great inter
ests of the State and nation, and with tile
cause of the Union
THE LETTER.
JdBBY PRIsoN,
RIcmoND, VA, Nov. 1863.
Hoa. j. p. Peany, Spcahcr cf he Sen
ate Of Pennsylvania.
DEAR SIR: Considerations shall brief
" state make it prudent and proper for me
to tender my resignation as a member of
the Senate of Pennsylvania. After the
adjournment of our Legislature last spring,
/ reioined my regiment and resumed my
military duties in the field Upon the
advance of Gen Lees army, in june last,
into the Shenandoah Valley, on his Penn
sylvania campaign, the forces with which
| was connected were ordered to Winches-
ter. and in the battle at that place | fell
into the hands Of the enemy as prison.
er Of war. With other Federal officers |
was Immediately sent to Richmond, and
since the 23d Of June have remained as
prisoner in the Libby" No general
exchange of officers has taken place in the
meantime, nor does any appear to me in
early prospect Shut out for long months
from friends and the outer world, ] have
yet not been entirely ignorant of passing
events. The recent election in our State
has. ! learn altered somewhat from the
last session the political complexion Of our
Senate My absence, it seems, gives to
each political party represented there equal
numerical strength Thiswill, in all prob
ability eufbarrass organization and delay
necessary legislation | regret this situ-
alton, aud am unwilling my present per
sonal misfortune should in any way effect
public interest, or interrupt for a moment
that cordial cooperation between our State
or National Government so necessary in
the crisis 1t is true, some time must
elapse before my presence in Harrisburg
is actually required, yet see no hope Of
release by general exchange, as the Rich
mond authorities will am convinced, re-
tain me as long as possible, because am
n Senator and my vote important.
Under the circumstances, it bchooyes
me to do what can to relieve the Difficult
ty likely 10 result from my continued i'm
prisonment lam sure you viii not doubt
Inc when confess it would be much more
acceptable to my tastes and feelings to
spend the months of. the coming winter in
active legislation in our Senate chamber
than to languish within the gloomy walls
of Southern prison.
My present situation places the less
agreeable alternative in prospect, and ! see
but one solution to the difficulty; other
and greater interests are involved in this
matter than my personal comfort and pri-
vate inclinations My health, my life, are
nothing to the success of those great prin-
ciples I was elected to represent.
The good people Of my district are
chiefly interested in this matter, and my
duty to them in the premises has given
me many an hour of anxious solicitude in
this weary prison life. | cannot now in
any way consult with them; they should
not, however, at this time, be'unreprcscn-
ted. Their generous confidence was but
recently given me, and they will, trust,
give the approval Of their voice to the
step / now take, and select as my success
sor one who will be MS faithful to their in
terests and the great cause of our country
as |, at least desired to be BE pleased
therefore. to accept my resignation as a
Senator, from the Twenty-First Senatorial
District BE kind enough to convey to
my brother Senators assurances of respect
and esteem Tell them " though cast
down | amnot dismayed," )" though in bonds
/ am full of hope Tell them my prayer
and trust is, no word or deed may go ont
of the counsels of your Senate, "to weak
en- the arm or make faint the heart of
those brave soldies of the Union who are
bearing in the field to sure and trium-
phant success the greatest struggle of his
tory.
Accept, my dear sir. my kindest wishes
for your good health and future prosperity
| am, yours truly, HARRY WHITE.
Now does the reader wish to see an au-
tograph sketch OF copperhead +? If SO
he will find it in the following paragraph
with which the editor of the Pittsburgh
Post introduces this same letter. The
venom of the creature runs all through
it; its baseness, Coupon thy belly shall
thou go is seen in the ,lowness of its wit
and style; and its meanness, in the insin-
watien that the letter was written at la
ter datsthan November. Itisa full-length
portrait, and needs no extra touches from
us. Here it is:
"HARRY WHTE-The following letter
appears in the Philadelphia Press, and is