The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-01-25
A GRAPHIC SKETCH.

The Harrisburg correspondent of the
Pittsburg Commercial thus reports the
late Senatorial caucus and the condition
of things in Harrisburg after the nomi-
nation was made:
What does it all amount to? Mr. Ste
vens has an interview with his delega-
ton; charges the members of the House
with bought betrayal and denounces
them. Defantly, in answer, they say,
that nobody knows it." The old Com
moner declares that ''the boys in the
street know it." He sends for Sena-
tor from the southeastern country, in
structed for him, and tells him he is
young, and has character yet, and
that he Sought to take it backto them."
The youthful Senator, with education,
family name, and brightprospects, re-
tires unimpressed by Mr.. Stevens and
subsequently votes for Mr.. Cameron.
Mr.. Stevens has an interview with Gov
ernor Curtin, deplores what his men
have done, and urges the Governor to
join him in Revolutionary movement.
"Break up the Caucus;" go to the peo-
ple," cries the enraged1o old hero from
Lancaster. The Governor calmly re-
plies: "The condition of things may be
new to you, sir; but everybody here has
known for weeks, and cannot aid
in any movement which will break up
theparty. Mynameis with my friends,
and / must abide the issue, whatever |
may believe as to themeans which have
been employed to produce this result.
The people have already elected enough
members to elect me, and if they don't
vote for me, their responsibility is to
their constituents. was done when /
aided, with what humble powers pos
sess, to carry the State last fall in can
vass of unusual bitterness and requir-
ing great exertions on my part. And
so waste away Tuesday evening and
Wednesday. Cameron's adherents still
active, and defections in the Stevens
and Curtin ranks still being made, and
the means openly talked of on streets
and in the bar-roomS. "Bad bad ~ eX-
claims Democratic member; "noshoW
for us. Well we'll I'll vote once for
Cowan, and then I'll go for Spinner,
like the Republicans"
The caucus meets at II on Thursday
evening. The vote is soon over; the
scoundrels are impatient for their pay.
A member from Philadelphia, who that
morning had assured Curtin that he
would obey his instructions and vote
for him, votes for Cameron. The Del
aware members vote for Cameron, with
their instructions made only two days
before to vote for Stevens, then for Cur
tin, andnever for CanaerOn in their pock-
cts. Betrayalis everywhere around.
Men who had grown grey in respecta
bility and honor, and in life of pro-
fessional toll, yielded to the ''mamon
of unrighteousness." Men young in
life with every professional prospect
bright before them, went down under
the wand of the enchanter. A Senator
from the Northwest declared his deter
nination to vote for Cameron, although
he did not believe twenty of his conSti-
tuents were for him. Amember ofthe
House from the same region was dllOoO-
ed to vote for Curtin, Notwithstanding
he had betrayed him in the organiza-
ton. A member of the House, from
district adjoining yours on the north,
betrayed his constituents and went for
Cameron, although he had declared
within week that heowed his election
20 Curtin and Curtin's friends, and not
withstanding the fact that several of
his personal and political friends were
near him, beseeching him not to falsify
his former life and commence career
of infamy.
The Philadelphians who were here
seemed to regard the violation of in
structions and the infamous conduct of
their members as unparalleled, and
their indignation broke forth in every
assemblage in town. Mems names and
amounts paid were spoken trumpet
tongued. Mock auctions were held in
the Lochiel, Jones, and State Capitol
Hotels, and members were auctioned
ffamid the cheers and plaudits of the
crowd. The impromptu auctioneer
would name his man, state his Office,
describe his district, specify hisinstruc-
tions, proclaim his violation of them,
and all this in unvarnished venacular,
and then ask for bids, which were made,
and would vary from a chew of tobacco
to a kick posteriori, and the poor dew
il would be knocked down, branded
for life publicly as man who had for
feited all claim to the consideration of
honest men, and must go down to a
life ofinfamy "unhonored and unsung''
and all this personal and political in
fanny, all this aggregation of personal
corruption to accomplish the election Of
worn out polluted political hack to
the United States Senate.