Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-08-08
The Congressional Contest.

II would seem, from the tone of the
letter found below, that our 'loyal'
friends in this Congressional district,
are not resting "on fowery beds of
ease" in these days of doubts and
changes. Mr. Souther is we'll known
to many Of our readers as an excellent
gentleman in every particular, except
his politics
RIDGwAY, July II, 1866.
B. f. IL. LYNN, Esq,
Editor Erie Dispatch.
DEAR SIR The announcement of
my name through tho Dispatch as
candidate for Congress in this district
was based upon the supposition that
Erie county, to which the nomination
Of right, in my estimation at this time
belongs, would present no candidate
for the position. Three gentlemen in
Erie county are now presented by
their friends, and ] have no doubt
their claims will be urged vigorously
and one or the other of them will car
ry the county. / have no idea that
Erie county, possessing as she does
the majority upon which the oandi-
date Of the Republican party must
depend for his election, will go out OF
the county three successive times to
find candidate That Erie county
and the Republican party of the dis
trict may not be embarrassed with too
many candidates, deem It my duty
withdraw my name from the contest.
In doing so l deem it justice to my
self to correct a falsehood which !
believe had its origin through the press,
in paper called the petroleum Tel
egraph," published at Cory, and in
the interest Of Judge Scofeld, which
also published that previous to Judge
Scofeld announcing himself as can
didate, be wrote to me that he would
be candidate, and | agreed not to
take the field against him.
The same substance has also been
written to various parties in the dis
prStodKccJ tres RK Jqags nd Sq96flas
from Judge Scofeld to me, of which
the following is copy, is the first in
timation | had that he was to be a
candidate for reelection this fall.
From tho letter itself it will be seen
that Judge Scofeld had Just at that
time concluded to be candidate:
WASHINGTON May 10, 1866
M l.. taFn
for denomination. | had really desired to avoid
the ycxations and annoyance OF q campaign, but a
fresh batch Of letters, mostly from Erie. insisting
lupon H. after | had written them Il should be out
OF tn tight, has determined me.
r Ifyos are not a candidate I should be greatly
obliged for your support.
! Yours truly, G. W. sCOFIELD.
HoN. II. SoUrHER.
To which | replied informing him
r that | was a candidate, which reply
/ know he received as he answered it
, June %, 1866. No man can say that
| since Judge Scofeld has announced
r himself to me as a candidate, | prom
ised or agreed in any way not to be a
{ candidate against him, without assert
q ing an untruth. | therefore call upon
! the Cory Tclegraph-the bail Of that
concern, or Judge Scofeld, if he deems
O that his interest can be served by do
4 ing so, to correct this error. | sup
n posed | had a right to be a candidate
. for Congress in this district, subject
n to the DECISION Of the Republican Con-
n vention, and il not the choice Of the
I Convention, | would submit to party
usage, and be satisfied But it APP.
pears that the right to be candidate
\ has been patented or copyrighted
by Judge Scofeld and his friends, and
r no one must infringe The matter
r could be made more secure to them
n by getting the Judge to add section
G TO the proposed amendments TO the
!, Constitution upon reconstruction, and
!. having it ratified, allowing the pres
;, ent Congress to remain during the
V lives Of the present members, l have
= mover supposed that an officer who
simply performed his duty was enti
e tied 70 considerations beyond one who
o would try to perform it equally as
!, well, and why good men who are now
n tNlulutNNN III IlAb NbAhAO ANA WV ~
o sition should be thrust aside by th'
/ balance of the district, to allow Judge
s Sco6eld, who has held the position th'
!, term allotted by party usage, to hol,
\ as many terms as he may desire, | an
! at a loss to conceive.
n | should have been most happy &
r. have withdrawn my name from th
d contest without one word Of reproacl
towards any one who did not deem i
for his interest, or duty, to supper
l. me, had it not been for the charg
n made against my integrity by Judg
-e Scofield and those whose interest h
IT is in. Such political warfare l do no
Id deem commendable, and those VIII
t. are engaged in it will, ! have no doubt
see the error of their course, if the,
can see anything, or anybody excep
of thamealvee IL NAV be that n cnndi