Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-08-21

a " WV Ss'HNVttSoN Vttfo W 1NNNNo''f
County; a8e ,Git
Through your continued confidence
and support, have for eight years
been one of your chosen representa-
tivcs in the Legislative department Of
the State Government.
AT the earnest solicitation Of many
friends, my namo had again been
brought before you, this time as can
didate for the high honor of represent
ing our district 10 Congress. But, in
asmuch as my name will be withdrawn,
/ owe to you, who have stood by mo
30 long, as well us TO myself, to make
the announcement thus publicly, aud
to give the principal reasons which
have led to my declinaton, and to de-
fine the position ] occupy in the pend
ing political canvass. la
This course is rendered necessary
on my part through the lato action OF
the Republican County Committee, in
connection with my sincere convic-
tions expressed Immediately after the
two principal candidates on the Re.
publican State ticket were nominated
at Harrisburg. Tho resolution adopted
by that Committee is as follows:
"Resolved, That all candidates for
office, whose names are announced
subject to the decision OF the ensuing
primary election, are hereby required
TO hand in written pledge TO the
Chairman of the County Committee
ten days before the day on which the
primary election is held, that they
will support and use all honorable
means to secure the election of the
National, State and County nominees
of the Republican party"
This would render mo ineligible
how ever earnestly | might desire "a
be candidate, for the simple reason
that my signature could not be attach
ed TO the pledge required. II is not
my purpose TO dispute the right noi
to qustion the propriety Of enforcing
such test at this tirne 1t would
seem, however, that the same princi
pie might with equal proprie.y be ap
piled to all the Republican voters as
we'll as TO the Candidates. In spirit
it is the same In one case as in the
other, the erpediency may forbid It's
application TO the voters. 1t is Ger.
tainly antagonistic to that broad and
liberal principle which marked the
organization Of the Republican party
and carried its National and STATE
banners in triumph through many {
hard fought contest But the object
of this test seems plain, and /, for one
cannot fulfil It's requirements, There
fore, whatever Congressional aspira
tions | may have, together with th'
preferences of valued friends, mus
give way, for the time being, in ordel
that ! may bc left free 10 oppose whar
| believe is wrong in principle and a
variance with the true interests of the
Republican party and the Common
wealth at largo.
IL is TO me painful task TO arraigr
any OF our State officials before the
bar of public opinion, when i remem
ber that for many years our persona
relations have been ofthe most friendly
character, and that they have per
formed many acts for which they re
ceived credit aud deserve praise.
But, as public officers, il is ther i'm
perative duty, at all times, so TO depori
themselves that all their official act:
may result in the public good, without
regard to private or individual inter
ests. And herein | believe both can
didatcs at the head of the Republican
State ticket have failed to meet the
just expectation of the public; and
having thus failed, my support, which
would otherwise have been cheerfully
given, must be withheld, and conse
qucntly, myself deprived Of the privil
ego Of receiving your support at Tho
primary elections.
In view of these circumstances Il
becomes my duty TO eriticise the Off
cal conduct of the candidates whc
claim your sufl'rages for two impor
tant State offices, and to point out
some of their short comings, because
these influence my action in this mat
ter and affect my political status il
the party. M td ~ ae nnj
1t would appear that, of late years
allegiance TO Personal Rule for the pro
motion of political aspirations ha'
been more binding upon somo Of oul
State officials than their obligations
of fidelity TO the interests OF a confd
ing public. This inference is justifeC
by the fact that the Auditor Genera
has permitted the practice OF sys
tom, in his department, of settling
/ some of the most important public ac
counts without requiring duly authon
ticated or properly qualified vouchers
to which no prudent business man il
his individual transactions would sub
nit.
Our State war claims against tl,
General Government, amounting tC
nearly three millions of dollars, wer,
permitted too long to s!umbcr in tn,
hands Of irresponsible parties, and al
information in regard to the same
such US the plain act of Assembly re
quires, withheld by the Auditor Gen
cral from tho public and denied tc
individuals who had the right to dc
mand such information, until public
opinion throughout the entire Com
monwoallh was aroused TO indigna
tion in consequence of this neglect o
official duty.
Tho Sinking Fund, Of which the
Auditor General is one of the three
commissioners, and who holds The
balance of power il the Board, has
been used, TO a large extont, by indi
vidual favoritcs for speculative pur
poses, instead Of being applied TO Tho
purposes for which IL was solely
crealed-th cxtinguishment OF lh'
public debt
Duo diligence has not been used
nor have proper efforts been made, tC
.'reduoe our State debt as rapidly al
tho funds in the treasury may Justify,
as both the law and proper regar,
for the interests Of The public require
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