The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-06-02
IFrom the Pittsburgh Commercial]
XVIIth Congressional District. i.
Letter from Hon. A. A. Barker In HIS
Own Defense.
EBENsBURe, MAY %, 1870.

Own Defense.
EBENsBURe, MAY %, 1870.
To the Editor Of the Pittsburgh Commercial
A late number Of the CoNMERCIAB con-
tanned an article. signed ironically, l sup
pose, y TRUTH" which teemed with false
hood from beginning to end. Averse to
newspaper controversy, l should let the pre-
cious production pass for what 1t is worth,
did not duty to myself, my family, my
friends and the Republican party of this
district impel me to expose the untrnth of
this TRUTH full scribbler l note the false
hoods of Truth:
1st. 1t is false that he writes "you
brief statement of facts in regard to the
Republican County Convention" There
are no facts in the statement.
I'd. It is false that There is little or no
opposition throughout the district to MIR.
M0rrell's candidacy" Outside of the works
controlled by that gentleman, there is very
decided feeling of opposition to him in the
Republican party.
Sd. 1t is false that the local question of
court or county seat was used against Mr..
Morrel, or that he lost single DELEGATE
because of that question.
4th. 1t is false, as asserted, that "a A.
Barker was long an aspirant, and has always
received the nomination al least fairly, when
| rau for and was elected to Congress, and
was beaten for denomination because
recommended Hon. Evan Roberts for Post
master of Johnstown against the will of Mr.
Morrell and few Of his friends, and in ac-
cordance with the expressed wishes of large
majority of the people OF Johnstown.
9TH 1t is false that my Opposition to
| Hon. S. S. Blair in 1862 gave the district to
| the Democrats" Mr.. Blair was defeated by
| a combination" in his own county, running
| about four hundred Lehind the State ticket,
and ran but little behind his ticket in Cam
! bra, and as much of that in the south OF
the county as in the north. He also ran
largely behind his ticket in Huntingdon
| county. In 1862 when S. S. Blair was re-
! nominated for third term. as well as in
! 1866. when Mr. Morrell was nominated over
me, was editor and proprietor of the ale
ghanidn, and indorsed the nomination OF
both these gentlemen
9Th 1t is false that "coinbined with r.
L. Johnston, of Ebensbarg, aud the Andy
johnson party, in 1860" On the contrary
while giving Mr.. Morrell the influence OF
my paper, opposed President Johnson. and
urged his impeachment. on all occasions.
7th. 1t is false. absolutely false, and al
uRmtiyated ie and throw it in the face OF
the vertable scrbbler (Truth) with proud
contempt, that | never supported Congress
siOnal nominee unless l was a candidate my
self 1t is a well known fact that | opened
the campaign in 1868, and labored: with al
my heart and soul. as well as in 1858 and
1860. But this falsehood can be answered
by Mr.. Morrell himself, who, after his cleo
ton in 1868, took my hand and thanked
me in the warmest terms for my constant
labors in his favor during the campaign )
while his immediate friends assured me thai
they hoped thai. The time would soon arrive
when they could reciprocate by supporting
me. Nay. from the beginning of the cam
paign of 1856 till the present time, my ef1or
has been to build up the Republican party
and do not boast when | say that | hav,
addressed more Republican meetin gs 10 Cam
bria county than all the others in the county
put together. In 1868, when Mr.. Morrel
waa reelected. devoted my whole euergie
to the campaign, and made as many as fiv
speeches in single week, yet the Truthful
scribbler says that never supported Con
gressionai nominee unless | was candidate
9Th, 1t is false that spent "ail last win
ter at Harrisburg with bills to divide th
village of Ebensburg into four wards" Th
Burgess and Town Council of Ebeusbur,
asked thssdiVisiou Into four wards, and tn
, petition was supported by 100 voters o
Ebensburg. and yet, this being local ques
ton entirely, MIR. Morrell and his friend
interfered to prevent it, while at the sam
time new wards and new districts have an
rually been multiplied in the south Of th
county without objections.
9Th. 1t is. false that the convention wa
$ called at an unusual time aud to subserv
, the purpose of Mr.. Barker. Ia 1864 ant
1866 the convention was called in May, an
: only few days later than it was the presen
year. The convention was called by To
soTitten request of the majority of the Count
Committee.
10th. 1t is false, pitifully false, that
young Democrat "acted as one of the Sec
retaries" of the minority Convention, an
that the protest which you published wa
promptly furnished the Democratic paper
of the county. Mr. Abel Lloyd. of Eben'
burgh, a trae Republican, was Secretary
the Minority Convention, aud the only Set
retary of the Convention. Having trespasse
3 too far upon your time, will close by sayin
that | have given you the facts IN the case
, and facts that challeage contra sdiction, an
! subscribe myself, truly yours.