The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-03-20
HARRISBURG.
The Radical State Convention; Threaten
ed Rupture; Fha Free Railroad Law;
senator Stutzman; A ''registratiOn''
choke ShuSert ease. DC.
HARRISBURG, Mar. 10.


choke; ShuSert ease. dc.
Correspondence of the Bedford Gazette.
HARRISBURG, Mar. Is.
MEssRs EDITORS The political
cauldron is beginning to simmer, and
some singular "stews' are resulting.
The Radical State Convention met at
Philadelphia lastweek and had good
time generally.n The Legislature adj
journed in honor of the event, and the
Radical sOlons of that body proceeded
to the scene Of the party gathering,
doubtless, with the intention of lend
ing an ar of honesty and respectable
ity 20 the assembled delegates. 1t
seemed little queer to find that in this
convention Simon Cameron was the
"under dog in the fight" and that An
dy Curtin stood over him, master Of
the situation. The truth is, however,
that Simon did not care to make much
of an effort to defeat Curtin, as he well
knows that the atter'S chances are slim
at any rate. | mean Curtin's chances
for the Radical nomination for the Vice
Presidency. Nevertheless, there We're
other interests that operated against
Curtin, and these naturally had the
sympathy of Cameron's friends in the
Convention. The result was that Ben.
Wade's name was introduced as that
of Curtin's competitor, and Ben. re-
ceived quite a respectable vote. y res
olution to require the delegation to
Chicago to vote as unit for Curtin,
caused bitter fight and some of the
delegates threatened to leave the Con
vention, if it were pressed. The Cur
tin men, however, insisted upon it,
and it was finally passed, 47 votes be-
ing cast against it. There is fair pros
pect of double sets Of delegates to Chi
cago and rupture in the party on ac-
count of the gag being thus applied to
the minority. At any rate, the Con-
vention was anything but harmonious,
and many of the Radical lookers-on
went away disgusted.
The Free Railroad" struggle in the
Legislature, still continues. There are
two measures, each of which is claim
ed by its friends, to be the simon pure,
''original Jacobs" the one having orig
mated in the House, the other in the
Senate. The House bill requires as a
prerequisite to the granting of a rail-
road charter, the subscription of 81 900
per mile, with ten per cent. paid up !;
the Senate bill requires 10000 per mile
to be subscribed with ten per cent. paid
up. The House insisting upon its bill
and the Senate adhering to its own, a
committee of conference has been ap-
pointed to harmOnize, if possible, the
difference, between the two houses.
Your Senator, Maj. Stutzman, has vO-
ted for the Senate bill, and urges in de-
fence of his vote, that there was an un-
derstanding with the opponents of the
Pittsburg and COnnelIsville bill, that
if that bill would be permitted to pass,
such a Free Railroad law as is prop0-
sed in the Senate bill, would be all that
would be asked for. This understand
ing, he,says, was made Oh his own part,
in pursuance of a resolution adopted
by a meeting of the citizens Of SOmer.
set, about a year ago. Besides it is rep
resented that if no charter be allowed
until $4,000 per mile be subscribed
and ten per cent. of the same be paid
up, there will be greater assurance that
those VINO apply for charters mean to
build railroads, and not merely to spec
ulate. AS this vote of Mr.. Stutzman
upon this question, has been made the
subject of severe animadversion, /
have deemed it proper to give your
readers, his side of the case. There can
be no doubt that under the House bill,
it will be much easier matter to OBJ
tain charters than under the Senate
bill. For my own part, do not con-
slider either Of them a true Free Rail-
road measure. My own notion is, that
Free Railroad Law" is an enact
ment under which any party, or par
ties, may build railroads, with the sole
restriction of fnon-interference with yes
ted rights. Such is my definition of
this much moOted term, and un-
til the legislature act upon this view
of the matter, we shall not be much
benefited by what is called Free Rdit-
road legislation.
a ''registration law" is before the
House, having passed the Senate, which
will entail an infinite deal of veXatiOn
and trouble upon those people who
desire hereafter to exercise the right of
suffrage. 1t requires the citizens to
make proof to the Assessors, Of their
right to vote, and ereyy man l0bo does
not call upon the assessor and thus pTOUe
his citizenship, can be excluded from the
polls! This isoneof the Radical devices
to stifie the voice of the people. 1t
will, doubtless, pass the House, as it
did the Senate, by strictly party
vote.
The Shugert contested election case
is still undecided. The great hullabal-
loo made by SwoOpe, Cessna & Co.,
about frauds committed by Democrats,
has entirely subsidized and the most inn
pOrtant witnesses for the contestant
have been proved to be men unworthy
of belief Mr.. Shugert will not be ous-
ted, unless the political necessity of the