The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-08-30


joinder."
The Judge, after adding that this
correspondence was not official,
and that he had, at the time, reason to
believe that the Federal Govern
ment would consent to peace npon
the basis of reunion under the
Constitution, accordant with the
resolution of Congress of 22d of July,
1861 continues: "The main object of all
l said to Messrs. Thompson and Hol-
combe, was to convince them that such
could get 1t, and that must forego
all hope of maintaining separate
government"
He concludes his letter as follows:
"After this, met Mr.. and Mrs. Buck
alew on the American side of the river.
He was there, as / understood, waiting
for his colleagues of committee who
had appointed to meet him, and he did
not know how long he might have to
stay. l told him, unreservedly, all l
knew about the situation, and all l
thought urged him, If he fell in with
Mr.. Holcombe or MIR. Thompson, not
to decline conversation with them,
and to express as strongly as possible
(what / knew to be his opinion as well
as my OWN that the re union of all the
States was an indispensable condition
of peace"
think the request made TO me by
the Judge, related only to Holcombe;
but in all substantial respects, his state.
ment is exactly true. He left, and sub
sequently. upon request made by Hell
combe, or at his instance, the interview
already mentioned took place
/ agreed to it in the expectation that
there might be something added to his
.A,x
Judge Black, which would have COM
| municated to the latter. In our brief
conversation, however, he did not in
troduce the subject OF peace negotia'
| tions, and / did not care to enter upon
| it or prolong our interview.
Hoicombe left Canada soon after and
returned South, and was not therefore,
connected with the odiou5 proceedings
| of Thompson and others in the latter
| part of the year. l will only add that
/ never had private conversation with
Southern Confederate during the war
nor any intercourse with one, except
upon the occasion already mentioned.
L have now responded fully to the
two branches of the assault made by the
Chairman of the State Committee, and
I shall dismiss that assault from further
examination. These are simply mat.
| ters intended to divert attention from
| the real issues of this State election.
STATE QUESTIONS
| What do we desire to accomplish in
our State? Why for one thing we want
the election of State Treasurer taken
out of the Legislature. On the first day
of the session of 1870, l introduced into
take the election of State Treasurer
from the Legislature and give 1t to the
people. / had bad luck with my reSO-
luton. The Committee did not report
it for some time afterward, and it was
manifest that majorities were hostile to
it in the two Houses. AT the session OF
1871 it was again introduced by Mr..
Billingfelt, one of your own Senators,
[great applausel and then you will re-
member that there was difficulty
about the election of State Treasurer,
between Mr.. Mackey and Gen. Irwin.
Things were considerably broken up
and men got new ideas about this busi'
ness and that resolution, in consequence
of that breach in the majority of the
two houses, passed both branches, and
was published in pursuance OF the con
. stitution. Last winter it was re'intro
duced and passed again through bOtf
; houses, and was thus prepared for sub
mission to the people of the State. Yor
, are to pass upon it this fall by your vote'
and you are to say now, with all thu
knowledge you have acquired with re
ference to the election Of State Treasur
ers in past years by the Legislature
, whether that amendment to tn
Q duced at these sessions by mySel
t and Mr.. Billingfelt, shall be adopted
Q AS a matter of course you will say yes
: You will vote it into the Constitution
r by YOUR votes at the October election
h and you will all think it good thing
e a great improvement and true reform
e Well, gentlemen, would it be yer.
l. singular to expect of you that while yo
o are voting that reform into the Cor
n stitution you should not entirely forge
to vote for the men who secured i
e Cries Of "NoW and applause.
a Then we expect TO obtain in the GOV
y ernment of our State great, salutar
y and necessary reforms with regard
t. the transaction of business by the Lee
IL islature. We expect to have cut o
s. from the Legislature large amount
l. Jurisdiction which the two houses hay
l. abused, and which has been productiS
II of evil in the State, and of scandal an
reproach. Large masses of private LEI
10 islation and large branches of jurisdi
l. ton with reference to bills must be CT
y off hereafter from the action OF the LEI
l. islative department of our governmel
II You can obtain this by two mean
"a First and mainly, by the action OF II
~ Constitutional Convention which
g. to meet in November, next; but
P, will secure it also to a great extent
~ electing proper men to the Legislatu
VI and by electing some man WIN prop
III views upon the subject to fill the Ex
p, | n,t;x,a nfhna Rut fharp iS great
IL question than all these-the great que
u ton of electoral reform. Both yo
ne primary and your legal elections a
lu perverted. They are not as they oug
10 to be, free and open encounters betwe'
,oi opposing opinions. l believe In yo
nu own county, for the purpose of despo
an management in party affairs lapplaui
M you have even in the management
ne your primary elections tied up
mouths, conscience and Judgment
,n- candidates, [great applause and afte
"a little this will extend to voters also.
'er local elections, not so much here as
II other and greater cities OF the Sta
you know that fraud in increased v
me ume is intruding itself more and M
les year after year and it Is poisoning
on very fountains of power IN this Sta
10 In Philadelphia at this moment bot
ION are publicly and openly made or n
en- counting to the extent of thousands
III votes at the approaching election; mi
" unblushingly by leading men III the
.eu litical organization opposed to US; IN
nat about five or ten thousand votes 10
ihs miscounted or purchased or peryerl
i. 1 Now gentlemen you have an indivl
me, al interest in what is taking place
iai' where in your State. Are you mel
the rural districts, citizens of lanca
he county, are you to be utterly power
of in government affairs, because y
90 honest votes may be more than ba
dee ced by false votes in Philadelpl
This is not a local question, 1t is 5
left question. The false or fraudulent
the in Philadelphia may kill fair
Mr.. honest vote in Lancaster, and, II
east do not see to it but let your elect
out get corrupt you will find after !
Mise that this evil will become SO great
ned inyeterate that 1t can no longe
,out mastered or controlled.
me Well; we can reach that evil.