American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-11-07


Of the people is such a transaction 1t
is only necessary to say in conclusion on
this subject, that although the majority
of the dominent party at that time seem
ed ready to be the willing tools Of this
political adventurer, the minority were
incorruptible, and resisted his election to
the last 1t is scarcely necessary to say
that our, then, representative, VIM. Stew
art, Esq, was among the protestants.-
The result was, that, although we had
large majority in the Legislature that
winter, no election was effected, aud dis
gusted with the state of things defeated
the American party at the next election
And the Legislature then chosen elected
Bigler TO the Senate, thus still more en-
phatically Gf that were pOssiblel, deep
ening our disgrace. Now all this morti-
fication could have been spared us by the
people, either in State Convention, or
otherwise, directly and emphatically de-
claring their own will.
A another interesting incidence is found
in the election of Senator in 'j3. We
all recollect that Cowan and Wilmot were
both elected in '6l the former for the
long aud the latter for the short term,
which terminated in So. The per6dy
of Cowan is too we'll known to ALL 1t
is equally well known that Wilmot fair
ly represented the will of his party, yo-
ting steadily for all the measures of the
4 Administration. AS was natural, Will
mot became a candidate for re-nomina-
tien. In he meantime General Gamer.
on had been taken into Lincoln's Cabinet
but under q vote of censure had in the
lower House of Congress, being almost a
two-third vote Of that body-not of his
political opponents but by his party
friends. Mr.. Lincoln found it incumb-
ent upon him to remove him. Who would
have supposed that under these eircum-
sta nces the Legislature would have found
any difficulty in pronouncing the popu
larsyill by re-nominating Hon. David
Wilmot. But no such thing is done, but
G en-. Cameron is again the choice of the
Legislative caucus, and the peoples faith
full represer tltive discarded
1t is but just, uore, to say that we nev.
er went to any trouble to inquire into this
matter, nor to learn who were the principle
actors. We have no doubt that as be-
fore, so now, there were a decent minor
ity opposed to this arrangement, but of
course they were powerless. We have
heard it said, however, that the Legisla-
ture were desirious of going for whoever
was able to get at least one Democratic
vote--that being necessary for the pur-
pose Of making the maneuvre a success
But this in ITSELF implied a corrupt ar
rangement, in violation alike of good
morals and the law of the State. The
scheme failed, however, aud the only
practical result was thatC Cameron was made
to appear as the representative man of
the-Legislature-while Wilmot for his
fidelity to his party and country, was
thus consigned to oblivion. Did space
permit, We would like to spend few mo-
ments in reviewing the manner of Mr.
Cowan's nomination, but must pass it for
the present. Our only purpose in refer
ing to these matters at all is to illustrate
the fact that cur present system, or the
one we have been practicipg upon for
some time is succeptable of improvement
Who that reflects a moment upon these
things but must admit that such is the
case !?
= The next question is, how shall we eff
feet an improvement? This season the
people have been instructing their Rep
resentatives. This is evidently an i'm
provomont on the old system. But we
are told it is subject to exceptions. 1t is
alleged that some two or three of our
candidates for Assembly, in Philadelphia,
have been defeated by the friends Of Gen.
Cameron, simply because they were in
structed for Curtin. Even if this were so
it would by no means establish the fact
that it was wrong to instruct, but only
that there are some persons in the party
who prefer men to principles We know
Of an old Jackson Democrat, who, with,
in short time was heard to say that, had
We elected Breckinridge President in go,
we would have had no war. To our
mind this was.a poor arrangement against
the election of Lincoln But it would
seem to be of kin to the other. But while
we believe the practice of instructing
vastly preferable to the past custom of
leaving every thing to chance, we still
believe that the only true method Of dis
posing of the whole trouble would be to
declare the choice of the people in State
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