The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-08-21
JOHN cEssNA's MODESrY.

Seldom have we witnessed, says the
Chambersburg Vailey Spirit, such an
outrageous violation of all the rules of
decency as that of which the Radical
County Convention was guilty last
week. Col. George b. Weistling had
been announced by his friends as a can
didate for Congress. No other person
was named for the position from this
county. 1t was supposed by Democrats,
who are accustomed to the observance
of the rules of etiquette in their Con-
ventions as we'll as in social life, that
the Conferees from this county would
be conceded to Col. Weistling. But
not so. For weeks prior to the assem-
bling of the Convention, the Colonel
was subjected to the most virulent d.
buse published in the columns of the
party organ. He was bitterly de-
nounced for presuming to claim the re-
commentator of this county. The
Repository gave all the space that was
asked for to those who seemed to delight
in traducing Col. Weistling and his
friends. But when his friends rallied
to his support and sought to defend
him against the attacks of an anony-
nous scribbler, they were denied the
opportunity. "All our columns to
traduce, but not one square to defend"
was the magnanimous motto of the
Editors Of the Radical organ, who seem
to have fallen in love with little John
Cessna.
When the delegate election in the
North Ward OF this Borough resulted
in the choice of Weistling delegates,
the Cessna men got up a small secession
movement, and bolted. They threat
ened to elect other delegates some
way, however, the matter wasarranged
and the Convention was spared the an
noyance of a contest between rival sets
of delegates for seats in the Conven-
ton.
On the night before the Convention
assembled, John Cessna, with his char
acteristic mOdesty, appeared upon the
ground, brought here by invitation,
to assist in slaughtering Colonel Weist-
ling in his own Comfy. His friends
had been active and had succeeded in
having the Convention "setup." And
on the ballot being taken, Cessna was
declared to be the choice of this Coun-
ty for Congress.
Then came the richsst part of the
whole performance. Mr. Adams, one
of the avowed friends Of Cessna, intro
duced a resolution which was intended
as healing salve for Colonel Weist-
ling. 1t eulogized him in glowing
language, complimented him upon
his services in the field, commended
his fidelity to his party and gave him
credit for commanding talents. But
Colonel Weistling was not in a humor
to be "soft- soddered." With the in
stinct ola gentleman he spurned the
profered compliment, knowing well
the hollowness of the friendship which
prompted it. Eloquently, earnestly,
and with mastery skill, he dissected
the resolution and exhibited it's total
inconsistency with the former action
of the Convention. The Cessna dele
gates, who evidently felt that they had
been guilty of a mean trick quailed
under the manly words that fell from
his lips. Another effort was made to
press the resolution, but, with an ear
nestness and significance that could
not be mistaken, the Colonel uttered
another vigorous protest, and it was
withdrawn.
John Cessna regards it as a crime
for any one to oppose him. Possessed
of more impudence and self conceit
than it would be safe to entrust any
ten men with, he supposes that people
everywhere have the same opinion of
him that he has of himself. 1t would
be mistake too, 10 charge him with
having any keen sense of honor, or
any Of the notions of propriety which
would have kept man of refined SEN
sibilities away from Chambersburg
during the session of this Con-
vention. He came here to ride rough
shod over Colonel Weistling, to crush
his opponents beneath his feet and to
teach them that they must never be-
come refractory on his hands hereaf-
ter.
But the Convention was not satis-
fled with slaughtering the only candi-
date from this County for Congress in
order to satisfy the demands of the
little Bedford God, but it must needs
add insult to injury. Out of all the
gentlemen Of the Radical party in this
County, the President SELECTED two con-