The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-05-12

county seat was submitted TO me. / have
never seen it. It was forwarded to Harris
burg in my absence. / am glad to learn
that it was so ably drawn and that it guard
ed so carefully against colonizing votes
The proviso on that subject, for which Mr..
Mel. inquiries which l suggested, had the
same object in view, and would have secured
it.
Mr.. Mel thinks it strange that I did not
give the replies made to the arguments of
the opponents of the bill. That would be
work of some labor. The sum of the an
swers be can 6nd in my former communicI-
ton, viz {: that the whole question was to be
decided by vote of the people. MIR. Mel.
also affects surprise that l did not make
known to him the objections | heard urged.
L naturally supposed they were already
known to him. Am | to infer that he knew
nothing of the objections made by the op-
ponents of the bill. till they appeared,
through me, in the Democrat? l was in
Harrisburg but once during the winter, and
then for less than twenty>four hours. Mr.
Mclaughlin spent much of his time thAre
during the session. took upon himself the
leadership, expected others to report to him,
and now intima.es that he never he ard the
objections Of which l spoke! If he had
knowledge of them he is now guilty of de-
ception. If be had not, he is unfit for the
place into which he thrust himself. and the
defeat of the bill is easily accounted for.
In his former article Mr.. NIL. spoke of
the leading friends of the bill." am Curl
Gus to learn how many friends the bill had,
as not even two members could be found on
the floor of the House, when the bill came
up, to demand the yeas and nays. What
was Mr. M'L. doing in Harrisburg, besides
hi brot ber in 10 z ha do
thing? Did he secretly connive at the de-
feat of the bill, SO as to keep the question
open, in the hope it would result to his own
advantage? Certainly the people of this
community contributed their money TO keep
him and others at Harrisburg to little pur-
pose, if be did net learn what objection was
made to the measure, and could not secure
as many as t,r0 members out Of one hundred
70 call the yeas and Maya.
But Mr.. NIL. announces his intention Of
''eschewiDg" party politics in this question.
think by the time I get through with him
he will also conclude upon hereafter ''es
chewing" the opening of private letters. l
agree with him, that upon important local
questions success can only be obtained
through unanimity of counsel and action.
1t was the lear that party politics were not
"eschewed' that induced many to withhold
their support from the removal movement.
Could the proceedings of two secret meetings
which were held by certain parties, and to
which care was taken not to invite me, be
made public. it would clearly appear that
these fears had substantial basis. There
was unanimlty among our people up TO the
time of The defeat of the first bill. What
course was then taken, and by whom, to in
troduce diSsensiubs, is well known to MIR.
II in 10
Mr.. N 'Laughlin states that the bill "came
before the House the day it was reported by
the Committee. And here again he is
either guilty of deception or of Inexcusabe
ignorance. A bill, after its report from the
committee, is numbered, sent to the printer,
and on its return is filed, and remains on
the file till il is reached in regular order
then it is "before the House" for action. and
not before. Days. and, at some stages of
the business, even weeks, may intervene
between the report of the committee and the
coming of the bill before the House.
Mr.. L. is correctly informed" as to
my support of the new county bill IN 1854.
l have always supported to the extent of
my pecuniary means and ability, 10 d lair
and honorable way, any measure intended
to promote the prosperity of our people. In
some respects | think a new county now
preferable to any other scheme that has been
devised. cannot discuss that question here,
but am ready to lay aside party politics on
any question of the kind. provided others do
the same thing instead Of plotting for some
mean advantage.
There is one matter connected with this
controversy to which Mr.. Mclaughlin has
made no ailusion in his printed articles, al
though am we'll advised that he has in his
conversations spoken very freely on the sub
iect. | refer to the fact that he came to my
house, and received the letters entrusted to
him, on Sunday afternoon. In apologiziug
for his intrusion. and pressing me to yield
my convictions, he professed to believe that
no wrong would be done on my part,
"unGer the circumstances, in complying
with his request. l did what l believed to
be wrong, in Difference to him. He got the
letters, and left my house with smile OF
his lips and treachery in his heart. My
knowledge of human nature should have
taught me that the man who could presist-
emily ask another to violate his conscience
could not be trusted. ! now notify all who
may desire letters from me that they need
not call on Sunday. Ny first experience in
Sunday letter writing shall be my last.
Mr.. I'll. is very tender of the reputation
of Gen. Campbell. He says. refer ring to MY
former reply. CAS- to his pitch into Gen.
Campbell merely say that that gentleman
needs no defence from me-" No verify /;
but Il will merely say" that NIL. badly
needs defence from Gen. Campbell. l
stated. in my former reply. that l did not
believe what NIL stated about Gen. Camp
bell and / can now inform Mr.. NIL. that
Gen. Campbell has publicly and repeatedly
pronounced material part OF what NIL.
has published concerning him to be entirely
destitute of truth. give it in milder form
than Gen. G. did. but what l have stated is
sufficient to put Mr.. NIL. on inquiry as to
his character for truth and veracity.
Mr.. NIL. thinks l do not write ''honest
letters" He needs eight" as to what hon.
esty is. My letters are honest enough that
quality appears alone lacking in the man
who undertook to deliver them to the parties
entitled to receive them. Mr.. NIL. cannot
escape the consequences of his disreputable