Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1865-03-01
dtt Glsarfirh S'pubIitan,
WEDNESDAY MoRNING:::M.xcu /, 1S6;
Provost Marshal Campbell

,leman and II. B. Swoope, E'q., will be
found Oh our first page. 1t will be obscr-
we'd by the letter of Capt. Campbell, that,
like Burnside in reference to the dsas-
ter of Fredericksburg, he assumes the "en-
tire responsibility" dsending troops 10
this county. This is we'll, We have no
intention TO be drawn into controversy
with this gentleman. We shall av old
this, if possible. But, five can prevent
il, neither he, nor Mr.. Swoope shall be
permitted 10 pervert the truth of histo.
ry."
The reader will notice that the charge
which Mr.. Swoope wishes 10 refute is,
"that the authorities were induced 10
send troops to this county by the false
representations OF certain assumed lead
ers of the Republican or Abolition party
here" This is the chtrgc. To reiute
il, Mr. Swoope calls Capt. Campbell to
the witness stand, and puts the question
10 him about is tais form "Were you
influenced to order troops iolhis county
by certain Republican lcaders?" To
which ho answers "No-l assume the en-
tire responsibility myself" How else
could he snswerY To have answ cred af-
frmatively, would have been openly to
confess bis own incapacity 10 discharge
,he duties OF his office. II would have
hsen selr-coudem nation, resulting in in
stanianeous dismissal from office
The fact is, Mr.. Swoepe knew exactly
what he wanted to prove. and i, was very
safe, although not very shrewd. in him 10
call a witness who was personally interes-
ted, and ubose eilence could not be wronq
But suppose Capt Campbell had been
subjected to rigid cross.examinRtiou,
and required 10 give true answers to such
questions as. Were, or we're ycu not i'm
portunod to send troops to Lhis county in
1868 ?"
In speaking OF deserters from, other
cou ties in Clearfeld, and Of information
in your possession, to whom do you refer
when you uso the word officially ?"
DO you, or do you not, thereby mean
that your informants were Office holders
in Cleartield 7"
"Were, or were you not, frequently i'm
/ imporiuned, by men claimed TO be leaders
OF the Republican party in Clearfeld, to
send troops here long before the death of
Batter ?"
"Did you, or did you not, frequently
threaten 10 send troops to this county be-
fore that eveni''
In our opinion, If Capt. Campbell was
required to make answer 10 n few such
questions his evidence would bear quite s
diifelen! character.
Capt. ca, assovoration that he made
the requisiton on the Government ior
the troops" was entirely superhuous' Nc
) one ever asserted or even doubted, the
contrary. Nor did We ever charge thai
he was prompted by political or partisan
; purpo.es." Our charge was, simply, tha,
he was influenced TO make the requisi,io I
for troops by certain Republican leader
in this county misropresenting facts tt
, him respecting the feeling and conduc
, of the Democrats Of this county, making
him believe that they were organized 70
resistance that they had provided arm
, and ammunition, and that they had ereC
= ted forts and ior.cations for resistance
= These were the charges, and we submi
to the public whether or not they are di,
2 proved by this correspondence.
Bat there are other witnesses ths
might DO called, whose evidence coulC
throw some light on this subject. sur
pose Gov. Curtin, Major Dodge, and on
$ or two others we could name, were pu
!. upon the stand' If Mr.. Swoopo i, rea
: ly in doubt about it. we advise him 10 cal
upon Gov. Curtin. lie will then discover
to his entire satisfaction, the men VIII
were "base enough merely for the sake G
! politics, to involve their neighbors an
fellow citizens in trouble" And
y still further proof was Wasting it could b
}. furnished in abundance by ran,acking th
e files Of the Jacobin organs here and al Hal
!, risburg.
4 II is noticeable thst Capt. Canpbe
4. makes no allusion to the arrest of citi.e,
Al those who were in no way connecte
:, :, with the military service. These are Il
a wrongs OF which We have most complai