Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-09-13
NUMBER 16.

} former relations and rights in the Union
without first imposing some terms upoI
; them as security for the future?
The great question is not whether the
States themselves shall be restored, but
whether they shall have representation in
Congress with or without terms. Our po
litical versaries-Democrats, rebels and
their sympathizers, north and south-say
without terms and conditions, and forthwith
Congress, by the almost unanimous vote OF
all the members who sustained the war, has
proposed sundry amendments to the Consti
tuition of the United States, to be submit
ted to the State Legislatures for ratifica.
ton and it will be the duty of the Legis-
lature we are about to elect to approve or
disapprove these fundamental changes in
the national Constitution. These amend
ments are the terms fixed by Congress on
which the States lately in rebellion and
their people can resume their practical re-
lations to the national Union. These terms
may be briefly stated as follows
| l. That all persons born or naturalized
in the United States shall be citizens there
of; and that all citizens shall have equal
protection in the enjoyment of fife, liberty
and property. ....t
3 That representation shall be appor-
toned among the States according to num-
bers, but that classes disfranchised without
cause shall not be counted in fixing the
| basis of Federal representation.
| g. That all who are guilty of treason and
perjury shall be ineligible to office, unless
the disabil ty be removed by two-thirds
| vote of Congress.
A. That they .lidity of the national OBJ
| legations incurred in the war shall not be
questioned and all rebel debts and claims
| for slaves shall be void
The States of Tennessee, Connecticut
and New Hampshire, by the action of their
several legislatures, have already ratified
| these amendments by very large maj ajorities.
Our friends in Congress and out of Con-
gress are united in the conviction that
these terms are pre-eminently magnani-
nous, wise and just that they are the le-
gitimate fruits of the war, and essential to
our peace and security for the future. By
the storms of civil war some of the land.
marks made by our fathers were taken
away, and some of the ancient foundations
laid by them were moved. Let us wisely
readjust them, so that our temple of liber-
ty may stand upon the broader and frmer
foundation of universal liberty and impair
tial justice
In March, 1866, the Union party assem-
bled in convention to nominate candidate
for Governor 1t reaffirmed its patriotic
principles as proclaimed and fought for
during the war, and declared it to be the
right and duty of Congress to prescribe the
terms of reconstruction. On this platform
Major General John w. Geary was nomin-
ated for Governor by unanimous vote, and
subsequently his nomination was enthusi-
astically indorsed by a large and intelli-
gent Convention of the Soldiers and Sailors
of the State. He is no obscure parsonage,
but one of the representative men OF these
eventful times As civilian he has filled
with ability and distinction many import
ant public positions, requiring intelligence,
discretion and the highest order of integri-
ty and administrative ability. He has been
farmer, teacher, a civil engineer, law
yer and manufacturer. He has served the
people as postmaster and mayor of city,
as Judge of court, and as Governor of
territory. AS a volunteer soldier he is the
pride of his comrades, and an honor to It's
State.
He went out from home to the Mexican
war as captain, and came back with hon
ors as the colonel of his regiment. He en-
tered the service in the late rebellion as
colonel, and fought it all the way through,
having been promoted to the exalted rank
of major general "for fitness to command
and promptness to execute" This valiant
and faithful soldier was present at and par
in sixty battles, and was four
times wounded in action, but never once
defeated He made the entire circuit of
the rebel confederacy, and fought its au-
thors and defenders from every State that
their usurped authority. He
has given to his country his first born son, |
killed in battle he has perilled his life and
shed his blood for the flag and cause of our |
and he bears upon his person the |
honorable scars from many well-fought |
field. Such is the candidate presented for
the suffrages Of the loyal and patriotic vo-
ters of Pennsylvania.
As a competitor the Democratic party has |
the Hon. Hester Clymer He, too, |
is representative man; but it is of his |
party, rather than of his country. His plat |
form and his campaign thus far may be
summarily comprehended in the phrase,
& Up with the rebel, and down. with theme
gro" He is lawyer by profession, and it |
is believed he never held any Office except |
that of State Senator. His public record, |
is short one, and consists entirely
of his votes and speeches during his sena-
torial career. But that term covers the |
entire period when the country was torn
by distraeting and bloody civil war, and
when the State was lavishly contributing
her blood and treasure for her own defence |
and for that of the natioral government
In this tremendous struggle where did
Hester Clymer stand And what did he
do? He has made his record, and let it
answer.
In 1861 he voted against the bill for the
arming of the State, and after the news of
the attack on Fort Sumter had fired the !
hearts of our people, and thousands were
rally to the defence of our insulted flag, |
Mr.. Clymer caused to be entered upon the
journals of the Senate his solemn prote st
against the bill for arming the State.
Ia 1865, when reverses had overtaken |
our armies and our credit was strained to
the utmost to keep men in the field, Mr..
Clymer voted against the joint resolution
providing for the collection of the taxes
IL r. =,