The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-08-22

| In 1000 delegates were elected to amend
the Constitution of Pennsylvania, and Ste
vens was chosen from Adams county.
| One of the amendments was the incorpo-
ration Of the word sWHITE'' In the new
| Constitution, which Stevens opposed with
all the bitterness of his nature. Nav.
such was his hostility to the word ,chite,
that when the Constitution came to be
signed by tsfrs.mers. he refused to put his
name to it. And while the name of every
other delegate stands recorded with the
Constitution, the name of Thaddeus Ste
vens IS not there.
In 1888 the Anti Masons renominated
Gov. Ritner, while David r. Porter was
placed in nomination by the Democrats
This was the most bitter and virulent cam
paign eve, known TO the people of Penn
vania. Stevens was appointed Canal
Commissioner, and determined, by the
force of the immense power yielded by the
Board, to elect Ritner. Fraud and cor
ruption ran riot, but it did not avail, for
Porter was elected by some 10000 ma
jority. Counseled by Stevens, the lead
ers of the Anti Masonic party determined
not to submit to the will of the majority.
furnish you with an original letter of
Thaddeus Stevens, written at this time,
which has ''never before been published
You can retain it for inspection by the
curious. The Democrats may want to
see the autograph of the greatest revolu-
ZIONIST this country ever produced, and
the Radicals can have sight of thirty
year old letter of their stGrcat Commoner'':
HAERtsBtRG, Oct. %, 1888.
Dear ST-We have not been outvoted
but Outcheatcd. We will take all the pa
trouage from the Governor and protect cur
friends. We have determined to contest the
Governors election. Pray ascertain all the
fraudulent and irregular cases of election in
your equity. Petitions will be sent to all
the countie, FIR Our friends to sign to inves-
tgate, and il weget a fair Committee, have
no doubt we can vacate the election. Gov.
Rtner has received 129 or thousand votes.
and am sure that is 10000 majority of all
the votes actually polled. False returns
have done the rest. l wish you could be
here on the 10th of next month, when we
wish consultation of our leading friends.
Your friend, THADDKUs STEVENS.
At the same time the celebrated Anti
Masonic circular was issued broadcast
over the State, Urging the faithful to ''ireat
the election as if it had never taken place,
and, in that attitude, calmly abide the re-
suit" 1t was apparent to every thinking
man that treason was on foot, and the
meeting of the Legislature developed its
extent and character
The Legislature convened on the 10th
of December, 1888. The minority return
Of u, al I
with the majority, but met clandestinely
and gave the certificate of return to the
Stevens members. This made their num-
Der 81, instead of AZ, their real force.
The democrats had 4S without Philadel-
phia, and SO with it. the democratic
members from Philadelphia had been
elected according to the returns, admitted
by all to be legal, by over 1. 200 majority.
The plan of the traitors was to secure
the organization of the House, (they had
the Senate, and then the success of their
treason was sure. Accordingly, Ritner's
Secretary read the names of the defeated
members from Philadelphia, who came
forwaId d to be sworn. This the democrats
resisted, and with the legally elected mem
bers from Philadelphia, proceeded TO or
ganize the House by clecting Hopkins, of
Washington, Speaker, while the Stevens
men elected Cunningham, OF Mercer,
Speaker of the Rump,
This was the emergency Stevens had
anticipated and provided for. An inSuy'-
'ectiOa was declared to exist-the military
were called out on requisition, and large
military supplies were demanded, promi-
nent among which was the article of buck
shot. which gave its name to the struggle,
and which has since been known as the
"Buckshot war;
The democrats adopted the expedient
of their forefathers of the revolution, and
appointed a Committee of Safety in
view of the apparent cessation of the func-
tons OF Government, of which Joseph
Newboli, of Philadelphia, was President
These were dark days, indeed, for
Pennsylvania. The most gloomy fore
bodings peryaded the public mind. That
the streets of our capitol should be en-
crimsoned with the blood of our people
seemed imminent But the ''sober second
thought of the people" came to the rescue
The awful perils of the hour induced
ttought-cooi, dispassionate reflection A
number of the Anti-Masons, who had
been Geluded into Stevens scheme, 6egoh
to report their mistake.
One of these, Montelius, of Union,
sought an interview with Stevens and
frankly told him that hisconsciesce would
no longer permit him to hold out against
the legal organization of the House.
"Throw conscience to the devil,'' was the
characteristic reply of the arch-traitor, as
he passed his victim with scowl.
.StrOlim, of Lancaster, an honest and
conservative member of the same party,
refused longer to bind himself to the SUBJ