The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-11-20
IL "uZ tee iii OCCdSIOD.
PETROLEUM V. NASBY, Pm.
(wich is Postmaster.)
0urXext tUnited state. Senator.

OurNeXt United States Senator.
Other things being equal, the first con
sideration in the choice of Senator to
succeed the migrate Cowan, is to avoid all
danger of the qualities that made that man
betray the party which elected him. No
one doubts that Stevens, Forney and Cam
eron, would call the biIl'' of Radical ex-
pectation; but there is no denying that a
widespread distrust prevails in regard to
/ Governor Curtin. After having formally
| declared his determination to retire from
public lie at the end of his second guber-
material term, (Which he did before assem-
bled thousands in Indiana county, two
years ago,) he has remained more than
neutral during the terrible struggle be
tween Andrew Johnson and Congress, and
when that struggle was practically decided
| by the nomiuation of General Geary, on
the 7th of March last, Curtin became at
once candidate for Senator, and made
himself prominent. His annual message to
the Legislature in January last, did not
contain a single reference to the noble at
titude of Congress, but was silent in re-
gard to all those tremendous issues which
were exciting aud dietratting the public
mind. The following is the only passage
| from that paper, all the more remarkable,
because it is the only instance in which a
Republican Governor fearlessy refused to
meet and discuss fundamental principles
during the progress Of the rebellion. His
promise to continue to "pursue the same
couase during the embarrassments necessa-
rily connected with the entire restoration
of the country" would unquestionabIy
have been fulfilled if he had not changed
his views and become a candidate for
/ United States Senator:
"My uniform course, during the late war,
was to avoid the discussion Of the policy of
the General Government, while giving a
hearty support to the National authorities
sn all their measures to suppress the re-
beIion. shall continue to pursue the
same course during the embarrassments
necessarily connected with the entire resto
ration of the country. The principles ex-
pressed in the message of the President, at
the commencement of the session of Con
gress, acW recejve mn cordial support"
The message from which we quote was
not sent to the Legislature, owing to the
absence of the Governor, until the 26th OF
January, 1866, while Congress was in the
midst of It's troubles with johnson.
Governor Curtin is naturally a conserv-
ative, and while his speeches during the
campaign were sufficiently patriotic, there
was none af that breadth of view and Sc
verify Of argument on great principle,
which should characterize the next Senator
from Pennsylvania. His avoidance of all
allu>ion to Andrew Jonnson's treachery
till reminded Of it by his own friends, wa.
to say the least of it, eloquent silence
He was kind to the soldiers, we are told
SO was Gen. Cameron, and Mr.. Stevens
aud Col. Forney. Gov Curtin visited the
soldiers, and made speeches to them Col
Forney wrote and spoke for them daily
= and ministered to their wants in many
ways; he was the first to insist that soldier,
should be nominated for office, and his ad
vice has been followed in majority Of the
loyal States. In Pennsylvania he wa
General Geary's earliest friend, as well a
Gen. Owens. Mr.. Stevens did not visi
5 the camps, nor make speeches to the regi
| ments, but he gave munifcently from hi
purse. Shall we compliment men for sim
t ply doing their duty? The next Senate
: from Pennsylvania should possess uncom
t mon abiIity-he should be whole hearted
: progressive, farseeing, and radicaI-h
should be statesman. Nothing less vii
r meet the exigencies of the day, Is Gov
. ernor Curtin such a man?