Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-01-24
The Corruption in inc Radical
P0ftv--The sfn0fort0f
Sfoug hfcr.

Tho following letter. written py
Col. A. X. Mcclure, to his own news.
paper, (tho Repository, should be read
by every Pennsylvania who desires
to see the inside workings Of the Rad
ical party:
HARRrsBURG, Jan. IL, 1867.
All efforts to avert the blistering
dishonor of the election of Simon
Cameron to the frst legislative tribu-
nal Of the nation, have proved utter
~ futile. The people believed that
they had precludcd the possibility of
such a result, for in no single Senate
rial or Representative district in the
State does majority Of the Republi-
cans desire his election On the con-
trary, ninetcen-twenticths Of the
faithful men who have by noble, pa
triotic effort gwen victory to our
cause, are earnestly, implacably op-
posed to him, ard demand the elect
ion of a tried and trusted statesman
TO the responsible position of Sen
ator.
That the action of the caucus will
startle and appall the Republicans Of
Pennsylvania cannot question. But
few OF the Overwhelming majority
who desired a different choice believ-
ed such monstrous perfidy on the part
Of their legislators within the range
Of their action. Even the leading
men who entered the contest ms for
lorn hope, with an carnestness wor-
thy Of their cause, reposed in fancied
safety until it was TOO late; and many
OF them, but few weeks ago, cen
sured me as an alarmist because !
raised an humble voice Of warning to
the people.
Knowing as | did, before the late
election, that Cameron had debauchod
both our immediate Representative
and our Senator, that be had wrung
from our legislative candidate in Per-
ry a written pledge to support him
under the threat OF defeat, and that he
had contracted for Senator and two
Representatives in the adjoining Bed
ford district in the nomination confer
ence, / could not doubt that else
where. as here, he had corrupted the
delegated powers while the people
rested in confident security. / still
hoped, however, that a wrong so un-
exampled and exceptionless could not
be consummated, aud committed the
natural error of bowing in silence,
rather than peril harmony and success
in a struggle involving the most i'm
portant officers who were to be charg-
ed with the safety of our nationality.
Had the voice of Stevens, and For
ney, and Grow, and their friends, rung
out boldly a month ago, as they did
yesterday, the Commonwealth would
have been spared this indelbilc blot
upon its fame; but all hoped for the
crown when the usurpcr should fall,
and feared that he might wound his
assailants mortally in the violent
throes Of his death.
WY Simon Cameron was chosen, /
need not repeat The story is famil-
lar to all, even in the humblest and
remotost homes of the State. II
written in flaming characters on the
dome of the capitol, or branded inef-
faceably upon the brows of the men
who did 1t, no one would have to
learn thereby how the richest jewel
of loyal victory had been basely bar
tered for a price.
| have been one of the multitude OF
witnesses who encompassed this unc-
quail struggle did not err in esti-
mating how the Legislature was in
structed and voluntarily pledged to
vote for Senator More than enough
were so chosen-not by trickery, but
by the spontaneous expressions of
those whose votes were sought-to
have made Governor Curtin the nom
inee for Senator on the first ballot
and Of the residue, not ne-half-hard-
~ one in five, dared to avow to their
constituents before the election that
they would vote as they did last night.
When the members had got safely
beyond the power of the people by
their election, every appliance was
made TO bear upon them that inginui-
ty could devise There were Offices
for the ambitious, plumber for the ven
al, and promises for fools. Men came
here still strong in their integrity and
mindful Of their noble people who
had confded in them, but ] saw them
whittier and fall like the blightcd
leaves of autumn; and fall, like one
Of old, to rise no more. Thus did the
harvest of corruption go on until the
garners Of the master were full
The informal meeting yesterday Of
those who desired to save the Repub-
lican organization from suicide, show
ed sufficient strength to defeat the
power OF o subsidized caucus. had not
the same influence demoralizcd the
Democratic members. Their nomi-
nation Of Cowan was but notice to
all that a sufficient number from that
side were ready for delivery whenever
wanted TO oonsummate the election of
Cameron. The fact that to have re-
fused TO recognize cancus because it
was improperly controlled, would
have been ftuitless, made many men
unwilling TO make a failure in opposi-
tion to what had the form of a regu-
lar nomination, and mensullenly bow
ed to conscious wrong. Had il been
possible TO unite sufficient strength on
Mr.. Stevens, or Mr.. Grow or any 9TH
ergifled and upright statesman, there
would have been a cheerful sacrifice
Of all personal preferences; but to all
such propositions there was no re.
sponse from those who had resolved
upon pertidy. Ii was otherwise de
nominated IN fhaiY. bond