Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-08-10
CONGRESSIONAL CONFERENCE.
Hon. &. W. Scofeld Re-nominated
Remarks.


prising the Nineteenth Congressional Dis
trict, met at Ridgeway to nominate candl-
date for Congress. General Thomas L.
Kane was called to the chair. and Nj. w.
CaugLey, of Erie, and A. d. Wood, OF War
ren, were appointed Secretaries. General
Kane, on taking the chair, thanked the
Convention for the honor conferred. After
stating the object of the Convention, he
| remarked that it was simply to ratify and
record the expressed will of the Republicans
Of the District. He spoke inthe most CON-
plimentary terms of the personal character
and official integrity of Judge Sco6eld. He
said it remained for other Districts to send
men of untried nerve, ability, and too often
untried integrity, to represent them in Con
| gress, but the people of the Nineteenth
District of Pennsylvania, desirous of keep
| ing their influence in the national councils,
are proud of having the right man for the
right place, and intend to take care the right
place shall receive the right man.
William Griffith, Esq, of Erie, also
spoke in high praise of Judge Scofeld, and
concluded his remarks by moving his re-
nomination by theconvention. The motion
was carried unanimously by acclamation.
Judge Scofeld being in formed of the action
! of the convention, was introduced, and made
some extented remarks. He thanked the
convention for the nomination, and said he
accepted il because he knew it was freely
bestowed both by the convention and the
patriotic and intelligent people whose dele
gates they were. If elected he should en-
deavor to prove to them that the fact he had
| nothing more to expect at their hands-for
he would not again be candidate-did not
lessen his zeal in support of their principles,
nor his attention to their personal wants.
He discussed briefly the politician situation:
The military history of the world, he said
presents numberless instance of great vic
tory, won by long suffering, skill, and valor,
and suddenly turned into defeat by the
carelessness of the victors. 1t is always
the same story. Instead of holding their
position until the fruits of the victory arc
well secured. they give themselves up to
rest, to rejoicing, and to disputes about the
division of glory or spoils. The vanquished
army sees the situation, re gains its courage,
rallies its retreating battalions, and at a
single blow, recovers the day.
The Republican party is just now in Its
dangerous hour of triumph. 1t is victorious
at all points, but its great principles, pur-
poses, and measures are not all, nor nearly
all, beyond the power of hostile administra-
ton. The first great question which con-
fronted 1t upon assuming power IN 1861, +,
was the right to coerce rebel State. A
gainst the armed opposition of the whole
South, and the earnest protest of the whole
Democratic North, We decided it in the
Affirmative. That decision secured the final
restoration of the Union. But from that
day to this, it has never received the sanction
of our political opponents. On the contrary
their conventions have endorsed the oppO-
! site doctrine cont aimed In the Virginia rcsol-
t u'ions of 1898. Nor has single principle,
involved in the war, been endorsed by that
party. Upon their records, all that gioriou.
history is still branded as unconstitutional,
Revolutionary, and void. Emancipation was
bitterly opposed and in their platforms still
stands condemned. Their resolutions,
speeches. tracts, and sermons in favor of the
eruelest bondage that ever di.graced the
earth, have never been expunged By any
: repeating expressions of opinion. The Four
teenth and Fifteenth Amendments were
4 repudiated aud their legal adoption denied
, no longer than last month, in the House o.
/ Representatives by the recorded vote of sh'
whole party. The reconstruction of the
Confederate States is now completed The
), Union people are thus placed in position
t OF comparative safety. But all this worl
= too, is branded as unconstitutional, revolu
tionary, and void. The financial problem
i is not yet solved. We have agreed to
national currency, equally valuable all oveI
the Union, currency by which We ar,
: exempt from the financial panics that for
merly destroyed all business every few years
q and still aff1ict the rest of the world, but i
+ is still incomplete. The whole thing ba
p been steadily condemned by the opposition
We have at last law to fund the debt at I
= low rate of interest, but if a party tainted il
= the least with reputation, acquires any
considerable power in the country, the capi
talists will not touch it.
The Republican party is indeed triumphant
q but it is not in a situation to relax its vigil
S ance. It's great work is not in a condition
' to be turred over to the maladministratior
of its enemies The enemy is now stronger
than ever. The Democrats of the Nortt
have joined their forces with the rebels Of
the South. They are numerous, united
:. hopeful, and active. Their central com
mittee at w ashington have issued an address
of counsel and cheer. They claim that the
Republicans are demoralixed, that oul
, leaders are ready to hetray us, and call upor
t their broken columns to rally for another
s struggle. They hope to carry the mex
House of Representatives. and many of til,
State Legislatures This will enable then
to block all Republican legislation at Wash
ington, and district the States after the mex
: census, in their own interest. Ii we wish
to secure to the country the fruits of oul
victories, if We wish to crystalize our grca
S principles and measures into the legislator
a of the country, we must not allow ourselves
t to be diverted from that purpose by persona
chickering's and private grief, of leaders.
Personal rivalry and personal ambition exist
and always will exist. in all parties. and
among the most meritorious and patriotic
citizens. 1t. is all right. But the disin
= terested people should see to it, that such
struggles are not allowed to endaDger the
t triumph of great principles. The nationa
administration i. fulfilling the pledges made
before the election. Under Pre.ident John
son the taxes were high but the debt wa,
,, all the time increasing. We promised tt
reduce both the taxes and the debt w,
have done both. One hundred and fifty
millions of the debt have been paid sine,
General Grant became President, and the
= internal taxes have been reduced in all, more
Q than one-half Seventy-fve millions uer,
taken from the burden of the people, by thi.
last session of Congress There are but 81,
. items of internal taxes left, to wit spirits