The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-03-08
POLITICAL.
THE DESERTER QUESTION.

THE DESERTER QUESTION.
SPEECH OF HON. GEORGE d. JACKSON,
Of ,SuUiron, on the act to change the zen
ate IN tie case Of Commonwealth rs.
Jesse R. NJ CurtY, Joshua R. " Curty
and Chdries Norton, from the Court Of
quarter Sessions Of ,Sutiirdn County,
to the Court Of Quarter Sessions Of
Bradford County.
Mr.. JACKSON. Mr.. Speaker, / am
opposed to the passage of the bill now
under consideration of the Senate, be-
cause it is unnecessary, unjust, and un-
called for, and the administration of
justice does not require it. There has
no application of any kind been pre-
sented, either before the judiciary Com
mittees in the House or the Senate,
from the parties interested in this case,
asking for II change of venue. There
has been no affidavit presented by the
election board of Elkland township,
who have been indicted, stating that
they could not receive fair trial in the
county of Sullivan. Nothing but a
mere petition, signed by few citizens
of the county of Sullivan, has been pre-
sentcd, asking for change of venue in
this case; and that petition, sir, is filled
with misrepresentation from beginning
to end-signed, as it is, by some estima-
BILE citizens of Sullivan, many of whom
probably had no knowledge that the
statements made there were mostly
false from beginning to end. ! do not
blame all who have signed this peti-
ton; but l do blame the author of it
and do say that many of those who
signed that petition did 50 without
knowing the contents of it.
propose, sir, in as brief a manner as
the subject will allow me, to examine
| for my opposition to the bill, and why
it should not be passed. In the first
place, then, sir, the petition starts out
with the assertion that the county is in
tensely Democratic. That, believe, is
the only truth in the whole petition,
We poll, sir, nearly two Democratic
votes to one Republican in the county
/ wish this point to be distinctly under
stood, because when L come to consider
another part of the petition-that part
in relation to the manner of drawing
'iuries in that county, intend to show
this Senate that partisan feelings have
not been allowed to enter into the jury
box of the county of Sullivan. 1t goes
on to state that the 'prevailing senti
ment of the Democratic party in this
} county is that deserters have right Il
vote,n etc.; and "this view has beer
impressed upon the people in harangue'
from the stump, not only by leading
Democrats, but by judges who are t.
try the case. All of the judges of TIN
court of quarter sessions of this count.
were candidates for Office at the lat
election, and actually engaged in can
, yassing for votes"
Now, sir, the author of that petition
knows that it is UNANIMOUSLY, malicious
4 ly false; he knows very well that Will
; Judge Elwell was candidate for Con
gress in that district land that toe
against his own wishes,) he did nc
make a solitary speech from the STUMP
canvass the district, or work for vot
in Sullivan county, nor i'll any otho
r county composing his Judicial district
t, All of the judges are honorable, VI
n right gentlemen, and have the null COZ
. fidence of the people of the county.
One of the associate judges did no
y so far as / am informed, make MOI
d than two or three speeches in the coul
n ty. | had the honor sir of stumpir
l. the county in connection with Juds
Bedford, one of the candidates for asst
l. ciate Judge, and he did not speak upo
s the subject of deserterS at all and he
'e let me remark that there is no conte
is in the county in relation to the electiC
st of Judges. Their election is not col
n tested. | do not claim to be lcadir
Democrat. But believe | was the o.
ly person who made any speeches in +
re lation to that subject, and | have new
c, taken the ground that dcserter shou
is vote. took, sir, the broad ground tn
the Supreme Court of Pennsylvan
had decided that n man should not
O. DISTINGUISHED on the simple aSscrtlt
s, that he was desertcr; that he must
t. tried, convicted, and the sentence n
he proved, before he can be 2 niShed as
,r criminal. took the ground, also, tn
80 the act of the Legislature of June 1t
IL 1866, was based upon the acts. OF Co
H. gress; that the records of drafted me
marked "failed to report" was not |
"otiicial evidence of the fact OF des'
ton" required by the fifth section
the act of June 18th, 1866; but that |
. only official evidence that there could
art was the records of the court, shoWins
:, trial, conviction, sentence, ct cete
and the sentence approved, III accol
Q nnce with the acts of Congress OF II
- and the subsequent acts in relation
,ln deserters. That, sir, is in brlei the
-, sition which ! took ON that point.
ns- n did not defend dcscrters, but ana
M sist and do now insist, that these IN N
NJ. whom you have branded as desert'
NJ; shall have Il fair trial before you pun
an' them as such. | referred, also, TO
t. Injustice that was done to many citiz
in my county, in the rolls that had b'
sent out. | can takeup these rolls,
will and give YOU evidence of instances
49,, such gross injustice done many none
@f'' BILE men, rs will make you-makc
NJ; man-blush, 10 whatever party he
l. sir tnn