The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-04-10
The Buckshct War.


on the 9th day of December, five days
after the organization of both branches
Of the Legislature, as stated in our last
paper, Maj. Gen. Patterson arrived in
Harrisburg, in obedience to Il requisi-
tion from Gov. Ritncr, with "the vOlun-
teers of the LIST division, Pennsylvania
militia" No disturbance of any kind
had occurred from the 9TH to the 9th,
every thing was quiet and orderly.
Nobody was msbchaving but Stevens
and his Rumpers who were skulking
about the corners and alleys.
On the very next morning after his
arrival, Gen. Patterson reported to Gov.
Ritncr that every thing was quiet, and
requested permission to send at least
Il portion Of the troops home, the Gov.
refused and the General, the same day,
| av1rring that his force was unncccssari-
ly large, reiterated the request TO be al
lowed TO send Il portion home. On the
18th the Gen. requests permission 10 re-
| turn all the troops to Philadelphia, 10
be dismissed: stating that there is no
reason for keeping them at Harrisburg;
but it was not until the 18th that he re-
ceived the desired permission.
| Thus ended the Buckshot War; blood
less, because of the fixed determination
of the people to have what they had
fairly earned at the ballot box, in spite
of engineers from the Gettysburg tape
worm ana "bullies from the Wisconisco
feeder, ,"armed and equipped at the State
arsenal, by command of Stevens, Ritner
and BurrOwes.
The amended Constitution was de-
clared adopted, David II. Porter was
inaugurated Governor. The whole pro-
grammc of the radical rcvolutionists
utterly failed. Thaddeus Stevens went
home to plot new treasons TO his adopt
ed State, land the other actors returned to
| the shades of private life, receiving and
moriting the contempt Of all faithful
people.
The actors in those exciting scenes
arc coming to be old men. They will
all soon be the property Of history.
Porter is dead-Ritneri is dead-Penrose
is dead-Fenn is dead-Shunk is dead
Stevens is dying-Burrowes is editing
the School Journal-IIopkins is a
State SenatOr-and William b. II eod is
amusing his leisure, by defending his
grandfather from the ISLANDERS of Geo.
Bancroft. Gen. Patterson and General
Pleasanton are still in the held, with
their regulations untarnishcd by the
Buckshot- War.
1t might be interesting to examine
somewhat more in detail, the testimony
given on the investigation of the sub.
ject, by Mr.. Reed, Gen. liller, John
Montelius, Judge Houston and many
Others who were examined before the
committee; but these papers have al
ready grown N number far beyond our
original intention, and lest we should
grow tedious we forbear. Would that
our people had needed the lesson then
taught Us n lessonof unity and harmony
ing as party, and of determination
to assert and defend the right, rs men.
Can we not yet make the application.
Though much is lost, all isnot lost. Let
us therefore up, and save what we can
from the wreck. The campaign now
opening is brilliant opportunity to re-
trieve our fallen fortunes, and to wrest
from the hands of radical destruction-
lists, the power still further to destroy
our dearly bought, but alas too little
cherished liberties.