North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-01-23
HARRI sBuRe, Pa. Jan. 10th, 1867.
The Corruption In the Radical Party.

Pcnnsylvanian who desires to, see the
inside workings of the Radical party:
THE SENATORIAL SLAUGHTER,
Editorial Corr sspondence Of the Franklin Repository
4. 5is 1 HAReI>BURa Jan. IL, 1867.
All efforts to avert the blistering dishon-
or Of the election of Simon Cameron to
the first legislative tribunal of the Lation,
have proved utterly futile. The people
believed that they had precluded the pos
sibility of such result, for in no single
Senatorial or Representative district in
the State does majority of the Republi-
cans desire his election. On the contrary
ninetee o-twentleths of the fai. hful men
who have by noble, patriotic effort given
victory to our cause, are earnestly, impla-
cably opposed to him, and demand the
election of a tried and trusted statesman TO
the responsible position IF Senator.
That the auction of the caucus will star
tie and appal the Republicans of fPrnnsyl-
vania | cannot question. But few Of the
overwhelming majority who desired a
different choice believed such .monstrons
perfdy on the part of their legislators
within the range of their action. Even
the leading men who entered tue contest
as forlurn hope, with an earnestness
worthy of their cause, reposed in fancied
safety until it was too late; and many of
them, but few weeks ago, censured me
as an alarmist because raised an humble
voice of warning to the people,
Knowing as / did, before The late cleo
ton, that Cameron had debauched both
onr imlaediate Representative and our
Senator, that he had wrung from our leg
islative candidate in Perry a written
pledge to support him under the threat of
defeat, and that he had Contracted for
Senator and two d, Repr scntatives in the
adjoining Bedford district in the nomna-
ting conference, could not doubt that el,e.
whcre, as here, lie had Corrupted the dele
gated powers while the people rested in
confident security. Istil hoped. however,
that wrong So unexampled and exception
less would not be conSummated, aul COM
mitted the natural error of bowing in silence
rather than peril harmony aud success in a
struggle involving the most important Off
GERS who were 10 be charged with the safety
of our nationality. ..,5. t.-,., ..s,
Had the voice ofStevens, and Forney,
and Grow, aud their friends, rung out. bold
ly month ago, as they did Yesterday the
Commonwealth would have been spared
this indelliblc blot upon its fame; but al
hoped Tor The crown when the usurper
should fall, and feared that he might
wound his as>ail ants moit~lly in the vio-
lent throes of his d,ath. .
Why Simon Cameron was chosen, l
need not repeat.-The story is familiar to
all, even in the humhlest and remotest
homes of the State. Ii written in flaming
characters on the dome Of the capitol, or
branded ineffaceably upon the brows of the
thereby how the richest jewel of loyal victo-
ry had been basely barteled for a price.
have been one Of the multitude of wit
nesses who encompassed this unequal
struggle. | did not err III estimating how
the Legislature was instructed and yolun-
tarily pledged to vote for Senator More
than enough were so choSrn-not by trick
cry, but by the spontaneous expressions of
those whose votes were snught-to have
made Governor Cur in the nominee for
Senator on the first allot and Of the res
idup, not one half--hdrdly one in FIVE.
dared to avow to their constituents before
the election that they would vote as they
did last night. .t.
When the members had got safely be-
yond the power of the people by their cleo
ton, every appliance was made to bear up
on them that ingenuity could devise
There weIe offices for til ambitions. plum
der for he venal, and promises for fools.
Men came here still strong in their intrgri-
ty and mindful Of their, noble peo-
pie who had confiled IN them, but
| saw them wither and fill like the blight
ed leaves of autumn and fall, like oUc OF
old. TO rise no more. Tnus DID the harvest
of corruption 60 Oh uutil the garners of
the master were full. .r-
The informal meeting yesterday of those
who desired TO save the h1pnbIican organi-
zation from suicide, showed sufficient
strength to defrat the power OF sIhsidiz
ed caucus. had not the same infnrnc, de
-mo-alized the Democratic mrmbcrs. Their
nomination of Cowan was but :. notice 10
all that q sufficient number from that side
were ready for delivery Whenever wanted
to consummate the election of Cameron -
The fact that TO have refused to recognize
! a caucus because it was impropeN " CON
trolled, would have been frnitIess, made
many men unwilling to make failure in
r opposition to what had the torn of Iegu-
lar nomination, and men sullcnly bowed
to conscious wrong. Had it betn possible
TO mite sufficient strength on Nr. Stevens,
!. or Mr. Grow or any other gifted and up.
right statesman, there would have been a
cheerful sacrifice of all personal preferen-
Sees; but to all such propositions there was
DO response from those who had resolved
upon perf Iy. 1t was otherwise denomin,
ated in their bond