American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-07-12

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contracting parties" And now as to our
offering two candidates for Assembly
This we regard as more serious matter;
as it is one in reference to which there
has been good deal of inquiry, by our
own people as we'll as by our neighbors.
1t is quite unpleasant to express an opin-
ion which may seem to be adverse to the
interests of our neighbor. For this rea-
son we have thus far refrained from say
ing anything publicly, on the subject, al
though we have frequently expressed our
convictions to Mr.. Nesley, himself But
seeing that the Republican press of Mer-
Ger county is united in demanding an
explanation of our position, we feel bound
in candor, to state it from our stand point
Our views may not be those of our entire
people, but we feel safe in saying that
they are those of the nine-tenths of our
Republican friends.
In the first place, during the last appo-.
tiOnment, we had representation for
about one fourth more than our actual
population entitled us to, while Mercer
county had a large fraction of hers
unrepresentend, 1--WE speak from general
impressions not having any statistics
before us.) This fact would have natu-
rally given Mercer county the right to
two members last year, but there was an
other matter which properly decided
against her at that time. Messrs Haslett
and Negley, had only served one year
each, and. should Mercor county claim,
two members, one of our Representatives
would have to be thrown overheard =
This Mercer manifested no disposition to
do-at least not a serious disposition
She put two candidates in nomination,
but before vote was taken withdrew one
of them, stating distinctly that it was
done to enable our candidates to get the
usual term of two years, and that in lieu
of this action on her part, she would ex-
pect us to conscede two members to her
the present year this was not objected
to by any, and although there was no reso-
luton passed on the subject, the general
understanding and belief was that there
would be nothing in the way of her get
ting her two members at this time, at
least so far as our county was concerned.
In this we believe our Representatives
participated. We know that Mr.. Negley
told us last fall-after the election-that
now he had been literally acknowledged
and was ready to give way to others
On returning home in the spring, howev-
err, he seemed to feel quite differently
He spoke to us about the propriety of
putting two candidates in nomination,
alleging that he did not believe that any
one could beat Capt. Pillow, but that
he thought he could come in next to him;
that if he were made the second can
didate he had good reason to believe that
Mercer county would only offer one
that he was the only one to whom they
would yield, &c. We told him that as
a member of the Executive Committee.
we were in favor of only issuing a call
for the nomination of one member, and
so far as we had beard the entire COM
mitteee were of the same opinion. The
committee finally mct,and after the trans
action of some business, we withdrew for
a short time, and were quite surprised to
learn on returning, thai it hal been deci-
ded to issue the call for the nomination of
two Assemblymen, and that the commit
tee had adjourned We inquired OF the
Secretary, Mr.. Crafty, how it thus hap
pened, and he told us that Mr.. Negley,
although not a member of the committee,
had come in and pressed the matter
that when Judge Mitchell asked whether
there was any motion to that effect, Mr..
Negley made it himself, that when the
vote was taken he voted for it alone, and
thus, while the committee had no part
in it, they had not the independence
necessary to vote no, and so the matter
passed, and Mr.. Negley, af'er a vigorous
canvass on his part,' obtained the second
highest vote of our county 1t is worthy
of remark, however, that three-fourths of
the votes he ran were obtained on his
representation that Mercer county was
willing to concede us two members, if he
were made one of them. This is the
whole case. Few of our people had much
faith in his prospects, but were willing
to give him chance in this way. MIR.
Negley's nomination is not asked there.
fore, on geographical grounds, but he was
given liberal vote here, upon the assu-
rance from him, that the whole district
was willing, if not anxious, to make him
its candidate, in lieu of eminent public