The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-01-23
q important Correspondence.

Important Correspondence.
The following correspondence between
Hon Tlleddeus Stevens and General Harry
White, one of the Pennsylvania State Sena-
tors, will be found especially interesting at
the present moment:
LETTER FROM STATE SENATOR WHITE.
SENATE CHAMBER,
HARRIsBURG, Pa, January g. 1857.
Hon. Ihdddeus Stevens:
MY DEAR SIR: Your extended experience,
your wisc earnest, decided views, your emf
nent public services, have endeared you to
the earnest-hearted Republicans of Pennsyl-
vania, and you will be supported by many
of them in the impending contest for United
States Senator. While it is believed this
support and your election will be acceptable
to you, your aversion to mingling personally in
the contest is also well known. Allow me,
however, at the instance of many of your
friends here, and in view of the vital interest
involved in this contest, to request you to
forego your dissemination to interfere person
ally in this matter, and to visit Harrisburg
the early part of the ensuing week to consult
with your friends and the friends of Repub-
lican principles.
Very truly yours, in behalf of many friends,
asa HENRY WHITE.
MR.. STEVENS REPLY. n
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WASHINGTON, d. c., January 5, 1857.
Hon. Harry White:
SIR: received yours of the Sd, sugg st.
ing to me the wish of several friends that I
would visit Harrisburg in the beginning of
next week. This, you do not hesitate to
say, is in connection with the pending cleo
ton of United States Senator. My name has
been mentioned among the candidates, and
my friends think that my presence may i'm
prove my chances by removing some false
impressions. When allowed my name to
be used it was with the express understand
ing that should in no way canvass for the
place. have an abiding aversion to cleo
Pioneering for any Office; but to solicit votes
for the Office of United States Senator is re-
pugnant to all my ideas of propriety. 1t
seems to me that TO- that high Office the Le-
gislature ought to be left wholly uninfuen-
ced by solicitation or any more substantial
arguments, to select whomsoever they might
deem best qualified for the Office. 1 have
thought that they were competent to survey
the State and select the man who would do it
most honor withort prompting. But there
are peculiar reasons operating in Pennsylva-
MIA still more powerful. 1t cannot be deni-
ed, and therefore need not be concealed that
for the last ten or fifteen years the Legisla-
ture of Pennsylvania has had most unenvi-
able reputation. Corruption, bribery. and
fraud have been freely charged, and, fear,
too often proved to have controlled their ac-
TONS No matter how honest when chosen,
the atmosphere of Harrisburg seems to have
pierced many of them with demoralizing
faint. A seat in the Legislature became an
object of ambition, rot for the per diem, but
for the chance of leyying contributions from
rich corporations and other large jobs Cor
ruption finally became so respectable as to
seduce candidates for Office boldly to bid for
them, and to pay the cash for the delivery
known to have been once bought with gold,
and to have been traficked for on other me-
morable occasions in exchange for the pre-
cious metals. Indeed, it has become proven
bal that the longest purse is sure to win. So
sure is this that men once or more detected
in such shameful practices do not hesitate
to appear before the public and ask leave to
practice the same game.
How can any man, who has any character
to lose, consent to enter into such competi-
ton
Fortunately for the country the present Le-
gislature is above suspicion. Those who
were in former Legislatures and were tainted,
have been left at home. and pure men sent
in their places So far as my knowledge of
their regulations extends, no man can be
found around whom there hangs any dis
trust. Why, then, should l visit you, as if
to attempt to influence such independent
and pure men Besides, it might be injuri-
Gus to members. If any who had been
known to be elected expressly against me
should change sides, the inference would be
irresistible that they had yielded to illegiti-
mate arguments. When the election was
over certain number were supposed to be
expected to vote fer various candidates. If
they were to be found going for me against
their declared aversions, nothing could save
them from the charge of purchase and sale
| but the known meagrcness of my purse.
would not subject any friend to this imputa-
ton. For these and other reasons have
come to the conclusion that had better not
visit Harrisburg as you request.
| .=.ss ss--s.ys Very respectfully,
THADDEUS STEVENS.
P. S-Since writing the above, certain
facts have come to my knowledge which
may make me reconsider my determination.