The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-10-31
Congratulatory Address.

following congratulatory address to the
Union men of the State:
Another political contest has been de-
termined by the freeman Of Pennsy lvanla'
The Union cause has again trIumpneo at
the ballot box. Official returns have oeen
received from sixty-tWo OF the slAty.sLX
eountie, in the State. Ofthese fifty -four
show parns for the Union cause over the
vote of 1862. The aggregate gains over
all losses are nearly twenty-five thousand.
This will give to our candidates or the
home vote alone majorities exceeding that
given by army aud home vote to our late
lamented President Abraham Lincoln
of the seven Union Senator's whose term
of Office expired, We have not lost one
The home vote has gained Us one from
she opposition ID Luzerne, and the army
vote will gain US another IN Franklin and
Adams. In the lower House we have re-
sained all of our sixty-three members OF
last session. The home vote has added
three to this number, and the army vote
will give us one more. The Senate will
stand tweuty-one to twelve and the House
Sixty seven to thirty,three, thus giving
to us majority Of fOgty-three on joint
ballot.
For these results, so gratifying to the
friends of our cause in Pennsylvania, and
90 all patriots throughout the nation, We
are deeply Indebted to the returned SOL
dier of the late Union army, who have
taught their friends and their foes that
they know as well how to vote intelIigently
for the cause of the country as they know
how to fight bravely aud heroicaIly for
che same cause.
To the secretaries of the State Central
Committee, Messrs Hamersly and Bene,
dict, the loyal men of Pennsylvania are
under lasting obligations. Upon them
devolved arduous and responsible duties.
Many of their labors are Bet witnessed
or even known to the public. They labor
ed assiduously by day and by night for
tho success CT the Union cause, to which
sbey are both most dcvotedly attached.
Every member of the State Central
Committee performed we'll his part and
co-operated cheerfUlly and cordially with
she chairman in promoting the success Of
the Union ticket. To the chairman of
abe several county committees, it is con-
ceded that much of the credit of our tri
umph belongs. To all the true and faith
ful men of the State who SO effectually
discharged their duties, and made our tri-
umph easy as well as overwhelming, our
most earEest aud hearty thanks are ex-
sended.
The defeat of our opponents is thorough
and disastrous. To them it was unexpect-
cd, although we'll merited. Having op.
posed the war so happily aud so glorious
ly terminated, they changed their policy
nominated officers, aud assumed to be the
especial friends of the soldiers. They
were confident and defiant When we
were silent, they clamorously and imperi-
ously demanded our views. When we
spoke they charged that it was "puerile
invective." They told their followers
"that We wero endeavoriug to turn their
danks," and called Justify upon them "to
pierce orr centre" Some of them retired
with both fanks turned and their centre
pierced. The balance were made prison
Vrs.
Last year they assured their followers
shat the election had been carried at the
point of the bayonet that military rule
had iuterfer,d with the freedom Of the
election, and that our country was fast
vsrging towards military despotism.--
That shallow pretext canoot avail them
now.
Supporting soldiers, they became the
champions of deserters and refugees from
the draft. To rally their desponding and
disheartened forces the proclaimed that
our President had become a convert to
their views. They well knew the opinions
of those who had elected him, and the
principles of the platform upon which he
stood. Yet they would gladly have in
duced him to abandon his friends anc
his principles in order that they might b.
restored to power.
The spirit Of slavery, secession ant
State sovereignty had assassinated on
President within the last six months, ,ant
was striving to demoralize aud steal anoth
er. The experiment failed. The effor
20 make it has been terribly rebuked b
the people, and the result is the complet
decentralization and overthrow Of those wh,
dared to misrepresens our Chief Magis
trate in order to promote the success o
their sinking cause.
The oft-repeated and we'll established
truth of history has again been vindicated
No man, 10 any country, can take side
against his Government when engaged i
war, whether foreign or domestic, an
retain the confidence and respect of hi
faIlou- -citigans after the fermination :