The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-07-05
KcEEcr Erons TT. z.

Mr.. EDIToR-Dedr Sir - Some
three months ago took the privilege of
communicating to you the result of
some reflections upon the question of a
representative from the 10Th District in
the next Congress. These reflections
you deemed of sufficient Importance to
be submitted to the public. The recep-
ton they have met with has boen quite
as favorable as could have been expec.
ted. Every conservative paper in the
district-with o single exception, has
spoken of them In terms Of appreciation.
The Warren Ledger-an influential anu
ably conducted paper, commenced a
column leader as if the purpose Of the
writer was the total annihilation of my
suggestions but before the author got
half through l was pleased to find that
he was uctuated by precisely the same
motives that should influence the action
of every man who is not a tanstical
Radical. If the Democrats were strong
enough to give a reasonable hope that a
straight,out Democrat could be elected,
it would be wrong in them not to pre-
sent such q man. And the johnson
Republicans would be equally at fault
if they attempted to offer one of theiI
own men but they should, Gin case Mr.
CeoGelI -LorlA ho -o~s-.;""teA, nr my
other man holding the revolutionary
opinions he docs) make every effort tc
secure the election Of such Democrats
But the editor of the Ledger canno
have the slightest idea that there is any
Democrat in the district-aud it ha!
some of the best men in the State
whose selection wogld give any assu
rance Of success. Then | take it to
granted that the Ledger may be proper
ly ranked with the other conservative
papers in the district, as favorable t.
such action as will Insure the defeat 0
the Radicals.
Aoy man who has any knowledge 0
the history Of political parties in thi
country must know that the questions
growing out of reconstruction will en-
tireiy engross the attention of our pub
lie councils for at least three or sou
years. All other questions will Civ
way to these. If so, aChy should Demo
crats hesitate to trust Conservative, o
johnson, RepuJIicGns ? 1t is the air
Of every patriot to restore the Union t
what it was before the var. This ca
only be done by securing to ALL tn
States precisely The same rights as indc
pendent communities that they posses
sed previous to the attempted secession
Are not Democrats and johnson me
in perfect harmony on this question
Do the Democrats demand any measur
looking to Reconstruction that the con
servatives are unwilling to concede? ? !
not, are they any the less in favor 1
them because they are supported by thi
anti. Abolition element? To assum
that they are, of would be, is to as
sumo that party guilty Of the NEST mel
cenary character.
1t is now quite certain that Mr.. Sec
field will be re.nomiU ated-not becaus
a majority of the men who voted for hi:
in 1864 endorse his radicalism, or ar
in favor of his return to the trust b
has so persistently violated--but simpl
because the machinery whi,h control
the nominations of the Republican part
in this district is in the hands OF me
who are as needless of public opinion a
Mr.. Scofeld himself. No man Of eithe
branch OF Congress has been more obe
dent to the will of the - Traitors
Stevens and Sumner, than he To sa
that a majority of the people of this di:
trict--or even Of the Republican part
Of l864-endorse the sentiments of sue
men is preposterOus. I would just a
soon believe that they we're in favor c
placing our glorious old Commonwealt
under the protection of Maxamilliar