Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-10-06
Republican Mass Meeting.

of this county.
1t having been previously announced that
Gov. Geary would reach here in the regular
train at noon, large eoncourse OF people
assembled at the depot to welcome him.
Upon stepping from the car he was greet
ed with three hearty cheers. lie was thea
inducted to the Leonard House where he
was introduced to a large number OF our
citizens, after which he proceeded to the
residence of II. b. Swoope, Esq, in an
open carriage accompanied by a handsome
escort, the procession being proceeded by
the Clear6eld Cornet Band, which discours-
ed some elegant music along the line OF
march.
In the afternoon the Governor visited the
mansion House." where he exch anged
congratulations with many of the people OF
| the county-both Democrats and Republi-
| cans-all of whom were highly delighted
with the affability and familiarity Of their
Chief Magistrate.
Pursuant to notice the Republicans met
in Mass Meeting in the Court House in the
evening At an early hour all the seats in
the large Court room were occupied.
The meeting was called to order by T. H.
Murray Esq, the Chairman of the County
Committee, who proceeded to state the OBJ
ject of the meeting in few terse, eloquent
and appropriate remarks.
At this juncture large delegation, head
ed by the Philipsburg Silver Cornet Band,
| which had just arrived in q special train,
entered the Court room, which was now
filled to overfowing -hundreds being COM
PEELED to remain outside, not being able
even to obtain standing room.
After some music by the Band, order was
restored when Mr. Murray proceeded to
announce the officers of the meeting, te
| wit:
President, Hon. J. B. McEnally;
Vice Presidents, Col S. G. Patchin, Ar
thur Bell. Cyrus A. Wood, Isaac Southard
Joseph Winery, DIR. r. V. .Spackma lack
son Patchin, Wm. Wagner, Robt- Lloyd
.Joab Rider, Jacob Jones, Col. 4. A. Irwin
Chas Copelin, Capt. ID. McGaughey, Geo.
Vanderslicc Capt. d. f. Copelin, Hon. j
p Hoyt, John Spackman, James Lingle
John NJ Katen, Geo. w. McCully, Johr
B. Hewitt, A. W. Young, Joseph Rubley
David Cathcart, Jacob Hoover, G. H. Ly
tie, J. f. Hockenberry, DR.. A. d. Bennett
Milo Hoyt, John Russell, Col. T. r. Me
Clure, Henry Baily. Lit. j. NJ. Chase.
Secretaries, w. L. Bard, Joel Forest, W
H. Shirey, Geo. Fl. Zeigler, Perry Jones
John Radebaugh, S. j. Row.
Upon taking the Chair, Mr.. McEnall
made few timely, pointed and interesting
remarks, and then introducen to the meet
ing His Excelency JOHN w. GEAKY.
The Governor is tall, noble looking man
and was received with three hearty cheer
of welcome by the immense throng. Quie
being restored
}, Governor Geary first alluded to the charg
SO generally made by the opposition, tha
the country was in a state of financial rui
and distress Said he had travelled through
out the State and nowhere had found any
thing to justify such charge; but, on tn
other hand, wherever he had been, busines
was as prosperous as in former times.
o. 1
|. charges made against his administration il
regard to the management of the finance
of the State; from which, a person beiey
ing the charges, might suppose that unde
. his administration the State was plunge
into debt and going speedily to financial ruin
So far from this being the case, he Shove
that, during his administration of less tha
three years, between four and five million
: of dollars of the State debt had been pait
: and if we take into account the means o
hand, the amount of the reduction will
little less than six millions This is f.
greater reduction than was ever accomplishe
in the same time under any former admins
tration-the debt having invariably bee
: increased under Democratic rule, aud II
r duced under Republican rule. And at th
d sams time the State tax on Real Estate Wa
y entirely abolished. And all this has bee
accomplished, Notwithstanding the expend
ture under recent acts of the Legislatur
: five millions of dollars for the war debt, an
:. half million for the establishment of So
diers Orphans schools. IF the finances
the State are managed with equal success
the future the entire State debt can be pal
: off in the course of twelve years.
e Next he spoke of the charges SO frequen
Is ly made against him for granting pardons-
that by its too frequent use he abused I'll
y pardoning power. He proceeded to sho
4 that this charge was groundless-that tt
I. average number of pardons granted by hi
;, was much less than the number granted |
any preceding administration. And esp
:, cialy that the Democratic administration
% of Bigler and Packer, which are referred
IS as models, had granted many more pardon
D. in the same time, and this too when ii
population of the State was much less ths
it is now. Also, that nine out of every te
. that clamored for pardonns we're Democrat
and that three to one of the pardons gran
Z ed were to Democrats. In regard to ii
$ granting Of pardons some of the most al
,e surd and false stories have been circulate,
"a One, that a negro, sent to the Penitentiar
from Franklin county, for an outrage con