Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-08-25
THE STATE CONVENTION.

OF the most HARMONIOUS cHaddctcI anu hsafO
everywhere met with the approval of all
loyal men. The appointment Of our towns
man, the Hon. John Cessna as temporary
chairman of the convention, and afterWard
as chairman ofthe State Central Committee,
was deserved tribute to the Union Demo
Gratis of the State and practical demon-
stration of the confidence of the convention
in the wisdom, energy, and ability of Mr..
Cessna. Without regard to party ties and
at great personal sacrifice, Mr.. Cessna has
stood by the country and her interests du-
| ring the last four years and has aided in no
small degree in making the Old Keystone
the main support of our national edifice.
No better man and none possessing in a
higher degree the qualities requisite in
chairman of the central committee could
have been chosen. His speech, which was
delivered amid thunders of applause, was
characterized by his usual, able, sensible,
and practical views Of the great issues before
us. The platform is admirable in every
respect, it speaks out clearly and distinctly
on the great question of protection, not only
to the interests of Pennsylvania, but, of the
whole country and sees in such policy the
best security for the easy and speedy pay
| ment of the public debt, and the only one
consistent with our highest prosperity. On
the question of reconstruction its tone is
clear and unmistakable, and strikes at the
root of the matter by recommending the
confscation of all rebel estates exceeding ten
thousand dollars in value, knowing that the
only method of destroying the power of the
rebel leaders and of opening the Southern
states to the immense tide of immigration
and enterprise which stands ready to pour
into them, consists in breaking up the great
plantations into moderate sized farms whose
owners shall at the same time be their culti-
vators
This policy, while breaking most effectu-
ally the power of the slave aristocracy, viii
at the same time afford source of immense
revenue for the payment of the public debt
The sanction ef the Presidents policy, of
speedily testing the fitness, of the States
lately in rebellion, to govern themselves and
thereby ascertaining the earliest possible
moment when the military forces can be,
with safety, withdrawn, was eminently
proper in order to show him that he retains
the confidence of those who placed him in
power, notwithstanding the efforts of fat
terers and cajolers to drag him from the path
of duty into the ranks of his heretofore
open enemies. The country now fully ac-
cepts it as an experimental policy, by the
results of which we are to be guided in both
military and legislative measures according
TO the spirit elected by the people them
selves, so that the continuance of military
rule among the Southern people viii be
regulated entirely by the promptness they
display in adapting themselves to. and ac-
ceptin the changed condition of Southern
society and institutions tits now with the
people themselves to say whether they viii
at once enter upon career or unexampIea
prosperity or remain in a state of sulky and
lingering probation. The resolution in re-
gard to our brave defenders was not left an
| empty compliment, but was at once put in
practical operation by the prompt and
unanimous nomination of State ticket of
| gallant soldiers. Never was the work of
state convention more promptly, completely
and satisfactorily accomplished. The nomi-
nation of the hero of Fort Steadman, Gen.
| Hartranft, for Auditor General, and of the
gallant Col Campbell for Surveyor General,
meets the approval of every one who loves
his country and desires to see her defenders
rewarded. The Harrisburg Telegraph thus
briefly notices the careers of the candidates:
"Msjor General John f. Hartranft is of
Montgomery county, and at present citizen
| of Norristown. His first business engage
ments were in connection with the construc-
ton of some of the Improvements in that
part of the State, he then acting in the ca
paeity of civil engineer. Later in life,
young Hartranft devoted himselfto the study
of the law, to the practice of which profession
he was admitted with great honor After
pursuing the law for some years, the war of
the rebellion was precipitated, when the
lawyer Immediately become a soldier, and
was called to the command of one of the first
''Three Months Regiments" In this con-
nection it viii be remembered that the 4th
Regiment refused to go into fight because
its time had expired while the battle was in
progress. Col. Hartranft remained on the
field schen has regiment marched of, and aoas
placed on Gen. FrankIin's staff, tcho compli.
mented him for has bravery The conduct
which distinguished our candidate for Audit
or General, thus early in the war, has charac-
terized his career during the entire struggle.
He has been engaged. in all parts the of
country as a soldier in defence of the Gov
ernment-has fought bravely in very many
battles, and has to-day record as glorious as
that of any man in the nation. His capacity
for civil station is as great, too, as was his
ability as q soldier. 4 clear. headed lawyer.
a close business man, and contentious gen.
tleman in all his actions, no fairer or safer
official could be selected to guard the interest
of the people in the Auditor Generals Office
in Pennsylvania, than John f. Hartranft
Col. Jacob NJ. Campbell is a citizen of
Cambria county, and entered the volunteer
military service, as Colonel of the 54th Regt.
P. V. The 54th was organized at Camp
Curtin in July, 1861, from volunteers re.
cruited in Dauphin, Somerset, Carbon, Mon
tour, Northampton and Lehigh counties Col.
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