The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-01-04
A PEEP BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

There appears to be free fight on
the U. S. Senator question. Not only
does the quarrel rage among the Mon
grels, but it has been extended even in
to the ranks of the Democracy. So bit
ter is the strife between Cameron, Cur
tin, Stevens, & Co., that the Democrats
are expected to act as arbiters to settle
the dispute. Now, we don't care much
which of the rival Mongrel candidates
is chosen, but, as the fight seems to be
a free one, we think it is our turn to
pitch into somebody. The marksman
always selects a small mark when he
desires to make a centre shot. For this
reason we choose to shoot at Andrew
G. Curtin.
On the thirtieth of January last, Gov.
Curtin sent his annual message to the
Legislature, concluding it with these
words:
"My uniform course during the late
war, was to avoid the discussion of the
policy of the General Government,
while giving a hearty support to the
National authorities in all their meas
ures to suppress this rebellion. I shat
continue 10 pursue the same course during
the ei16dTrdsSnlel1fs necessarily connected
NTH the entire restoration Of the country.
The principles expressed In the message
Of the President, at the commencement of
the session Of Congress, acW TecejUe my
cordial support"
Here we find Gov. Curtin giving un-
equivocal support to the restoration
policy of President Johnson, and prom
Using in the most positive manner, that
he would abstain from all discussion of
that policy. The principles of the Pres
ident's message, that is, the doctrines
OF President Johnson in regard to the
right of the States to immediate rep
presentation in Congress, the Govern
or declares, will receive his cordial
support" Our object in referring to
this matter is tWo-fold. First, as one
OF the Democratic arbiters appealed to
by the Mongrel candidates to settle
their Senatorial difficulty, it becomes
our duty to warn our Radical friends
against repeating the mistake they
made in electing Edgar Cowan. Sec
ondly, because we desire to make men
tion. of little understanding which
was had last winter between Gov. Cur
tin and the Democratic members of the
Legislature. To discharge our duty to-
wards our Radical brethren, we need
only ask them to read the extract from
the Governors last annual message
printed ABOVE. If that does not prove
to them that he is an unqualified pub
lie liar, let them vote for him and take
the consequences. AS for our Demo-
cratic friends, let them know that. al
though Gov. Curtin has frequently re-
ceived the support of Democratic rep
resentativeS in the Legislature, when
those of his own party turned their
backs upon him, he has always proved
false to his promises made in return for
such kindness. For instance, last win
ter winter, after the infamous ''deserter
llw' had passed both houses of the
Legislature, Gov. Curtin was called up
on by ySeveral Democratic Senators with |
the hope that he might be prevailed
upon to withhold his signature from
the bill. The Governor expressed his
diSapprobation of the measure and
promised most positively that he would |
never sign. it. This was the express
understanding between the Governor
and the Democratic Senators. Doubt
less, many Democrats wondered how !
it came that Senator Wallace, last win
ter, introduced in the Senate, a resolu-
ton complimenting the administration |
Of Gov. Curtin, and were amazed that |
such resolution should receive the
vote of nearly every Democratic men,
Der of both houses. Let them wonder |
no longer. Curtin had promised to let
the "deserter law' die the death.-l
What lCIs promised him IN return we
need not state; Bat l0s k71OlC that the
Democrats introduced and U0ted for a
resolution Iaudi1g him to the skies. This
pink of gubernatorial fidelity, however,
failed to keep his promise to withhold
his signature from the "deSerter bill"
and although the question of the con-
stitutionality of the Act of Congress
upon which that bill was based, was
then before the Supreme Court of the
State, he ehastened to giveit hisapproval.
We will not suggest the motive which
We think induced him thus to break
promise to the Democratic Senators.