Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-09-13
THE oANDIDArEs FOR CONGRESS.
THE Copperhead, or Democratic, or Natl

nominated non. WIN. ELWELL OF DloOmS- |
burg as the candidate for Congress, of the
party which supports the policy of placing |
the Government in the hands of the men
so lately engaged in endeavoring to over
throw it, by war and bloodshed This NOM
ination has been made under instructions
from Senator BUCKALEW and in defiance of
the wishes and personal aspirations of the
men in Bradford, who have had longings
for Congressional honors. Messrs. TRACY,
PIoLErr, and others, have been constrained
to give way to the policy of the Columbia
County .junto, who would neither tolerate a
recreant Republican, nor permit the selfish
desires of ambitious men to stand in the
way Of their great anxiety to defeat Judge
MERCUR
Against Judge ELwELL as neighbor and
as man we have not one word to say. He
has lived in this place for years, and de-
servedly enjoys the respect of our citizens.
Personally, no candidate could have been
presented more unexceptionable, and it
fuenced the Senator in bringing him for
ward as a candidate We have every rea-
son to believe that he has permitted his
name to be used against his better .judg-
ment and inclinations, after the most ur-
gent solicitations from those who hoped
that his amiability and negative qualities
oh +ha ilob
didate
The very reasons which have influenced
the Copperhead leaders to press this NOM
nation upon Judge ELwELL, and the indie
cision and weakness he has shown in ac-
cepting it, should be sufficient to satisfy
every Union loving citizen, that he is the
most unsafe man in the District to trust at
the present time, in the National Congress-
The times demand the election of men made
of sterner stuff 1t is no time now to send
men to Congress because of their amiabili-
ty, and because they are made of too plas-
tic material to have decided opinions upon
great national questions. Judge ELwEL's
political career has been distinguished only
by the ease with which he has become the
instrument in the hands of corrupt and de-
signing men in supporting measures, at
which we will do him the justice to say his
better nature revolted He has been a
striking example of a man who would do
right, if left to himself, who has always
l.,
of character and decision enough, to pre-
vent his being led astray by more positive
men. He is one Of those
who know the right-approve it too,
| Condemn the wrong-and yet the wrong pursue. +"
In Congress, such man at the present
time would be more dangerous to the best
interests and well-being of the country, than
a VALLANDIGHAM or WooD, because, being
led and governed by others, there would be
no measures which he would not be made
to support, no revolutionary or unpatriotic
schemes that the Southern leaders might
originate which he would dare to oppose
He would be as wax in the hands of his
masters, to be moulded and shaped as they
might desire.
In this connection, paragraph from al
excellent article we published last week il
so apropoS that we here insert it -
The only danger is that in some representative
districts the people may be swindled by plausibili
ties and responsibilities for when, in politica
contests, any villainy is contemplated, there ar
always found eminently respectable men
with fixed capital of certain eminently conserva
tive phrases, innocently ready to furnish th
wolves of politics with abundant supplies of sheep
clothing. These dignifed dupes are more thai
usually active at the present time and the gravi
ty of their speech is as edifying its emptiness
Immersed i'll words, and with no clear perception
Of things, they mistake conspiracy for conserva
tism. Their pet horror is the term radical :;
their idea of heroic patriotism, the spectacle of
great nation which allows itself to be ruined will
decorum and dies rather than commit the slight
est breach of constitutional etiquette This insen
sibility to facts and blindness to the Tendency O
events, they call wisdom and moderation BehinC
these political dummies are the forces of the John
party, men of insOlent spirit, resolute will EN-
bttered temper and unscrupulous porpose whC
clearly know what they after, and will hesitate
at no informally in the attempt to obtain it,
To give these persons political power will be t
surrender the results of the war, by placing tn
Government practically in the hands of thos
against whom the war was waged.
"The forces of the Johnson party" in thi,
Congressional district have put forward
E Judge ELwEL as their political dummy
and they hope thereby to deceive somt
well meaning voters into the support o
their schemes because he is an "eminentl,
respectable man." That they will persuad
any intelligent voter to vote so as to Civ
them power, we do not believe, and the,
will find after election that however mucl
our people may respect Judge ELwELL as
man, they have no respect for the poltica
position he occupies, and they will teacl
him not hereafter to become tool in tn
hands of Oopperhead leaders,
!, The Republican Union Conference whicl
meets this week, will undoubtedly unani
mously re-nominate Judge MERCUR all tn,
Counties in the District having with entir,
unanimity and enthusiasm declared for him
The issue will then be fairly before thu
people, Personally, the candidates are
equally unexceptionable-b being long
time residents Of this County, and equally