The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-10-09


the purpose of securing a candidate to carry
its banner to victory, yet in all the dehber-
ations of that convention the name OF no
Union soldier was presented. The only
candidates before that body were George
w. Cass of Western Pennsylvania, Hon.
Asa Packer of Northampton county, and
the gentleman, Mr.. Clymer, who secured
the nomination They could have obtain
ed soldier, doubtless, if they had tried,
but SO resolved were they to fight the bat
tie upon their own auti-war record, so de-
termined were they to adhere to the poll
cy of hostility to the brave men who had
fought for the Union; that they deliber
ately selected Hester Clymer as their can
didate. Infamed by the belief that An
drew Johnson's patronage would enable
them to secure the vote of the people at
all hazards, they defed public sentiment
and placed this gentleman in nomination
as their candidate. Now we have him
before the people of Pennsylvania precisely
as Mr.. Blair is before the people, adYocat
ing the policy of Andrew Johnson. Some
times when | look at Mr.. Clymer's canvass,
and at his appeals for the vote Of the sol
der, am constrained to believe that there
are two Hester Clymers in the field, pre-
ciselv as | am sometimes almost forced to
believe there are two Andrew Johnsons in
the field; because the man who advocates
Clymers position to-day is not the same
man, or processes not to be the same man,
who opposed the soldiers and the war
during all the rebellion, precisely as An
drew johnson is different man to-day to
what he was during the rebellion. lfthere
were anything necessary to induce your
support of the Union Republican party,
the State canvass itself should be sufficient.
Here there is a candidate committed to
Andrew Johnson's policy and in opposition
to the war, who sustains, not only that pol
icy, but defantly and boldly opposes the
great national Republican party.
A theory has recently been repeated
with such force as to leave no doubt upon
my mind that it is the deliberate intention
of the Administration upon the merest
pretext, should you fail in discharging your
duty in the coming election, to carry it
into effect. | allude, of course, to the
threatened organization of another Con-
oress not of the United States, but of the
States recently in rebellion, and of the rep
sresentatives Of the party North and West
who sympathize with those States. How
ever absurd it may have seemed when
limited more than a year ago, it has now
assumed a serious and alarming aspect.
There can be no doubt that the President
of the United States, Andrew johnson him
sell, will proceed to carry it into effect un-
less he should be restrained, either by the
desertion of his followers, or of such an
outburst of popular Indignation as will con
vince him that the people who put down
the rebellion, will, on the instant, rush to
his own punishment, and probably to his
immediate impeachment, or rather to such
meausres as will render impeachment un-
necessary. -Four days ago the New York
Times, the immediate organ of Mr.. Seward
in New York, announced that the Presi-
dent. should the elections which are soon
to take place gain a sufficient number OF
members for his party, he would, on the
organization of the new or Fortieth Con
gress, recognize the representatives of the
insurgent States and the representatives OF
the Copperhead Democratic party IN the
free States, and thus constitute a House OF
Representatives. This would render it
necessary to create a Senate, to revolution
ize the body as it now stands, and simulate
Senators; because they would not nave the
pretext they would claim in the House
They would be compelled to fill certain
vacancies by the election of Senatore with
out Legislatures or constituencies. The
formal announcement of this purpose in
the New York TIMES, gives a serious as
pect to the whole conspiracy, and shows
that the original plan, announced by An
drew johnson in his 22d off ebruary speech,
has been steadily kept in view; and Mr..
Montgomery Blair is the mere pioneer Of
the movement to prepare you for precisely
such usurpation, should you fail to re-
elect your faithful members in the present
Congress, or to elect such other true men
as have been chosen in the place of those
who have not been re-nominated. Now
this project may seem absurd in another
respect, when we contemplate the certain
bloody consequences that mustresnls should
President Johnson be able to command
the army and navy! I do not believe he
will be able to do so. I have no fears my
self that the ilIustrious General Grant
TCheersl will lend himself to any such cor
spiracy. All his character, all his sayings,
his known hostility to Copperheads, his
public declaration against the treachery or
rather the indifference Of Lee to bis obliga-
tons since the surrender Of the rebel armies,
his imme late obligations are all SO many
assurances that he would revolt from be-
coming party to any such usurpation.