The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-11-01
Chfef Justice A0netc.
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF
PENNSYLVANIA on THE CAMERON
QUAY CONSPIRACY.

Chief Justice Aguew has just written
and caused to be published letter of Goa
siderable length, in which he excOriates
VI. 9. Qnay Chairman of the Republican
State Committee, and other leading lights
Of the radical household, and charges very
explicitly that the Supreme Judgship was
made the turning pout of a corrupt bar
gain arranged and designed especially for
the benefit of Cameron, Quay, HOyt d Co.
Following are such portions Of the letter as
bear directly Oh the subjects at issue, and
for which alone we are able TO find space
To TIE PEOPLE OF PExSsYLvANIA: The
time has come when l can no longer silently
suffer my position before the public TO be mis-
construed. ! cannot delay the explanation
until after the election lest it he then chaTac-
+ terIzed as an excuse. The remarkable silence
on me entire BrpuoHcan press IN the state.
which has not even informed its patrons of
! what The Greenback press has willingly admit
now, as right, what its voluntary jnstice has
4 not hitherto accorded The duty is the more
. lmperious when have lnduhltable authoFlty
+ that Chairman Quay has stated thdthe gave in
I stTUctiuns for this studied silence. therefore
say have not sought nor accepted u nomina-
tiOn 10 the supreme bench from any party
class: and when the truth is presently told, il
viii he seen that even before the Renub blicau
convention my candidacy nominal only.
In July. 1877, MIR. Quay. nv tnwnsn,an and
ncighhOr and the present chairman OF the Re-
3 publican State committee. asked my intention
as to the Judgeship in 1853 stated nv wife's
aversion. because of my prolonged absences.
and my Indifference. He said tniS should not
be known, as il would beget complications IL ia
were understood | would he ont of the field;
; aud supgeSfed to me to'aunOuncp no conclusion
until the Harrisburg Court. il May or June.
Believing this to be rcasOnu BILE l acquiesced.
] had been warm friend Of Judge Sterrett's
election. undouhted Ly him, when he doubted
another, and felt it due to horn to have a frank
uhIeIsiahcIhE' fcsg wing 20 lhiofIl MN OF my
probable course if found him anxious to re-
new the contest after a severe defeat. Next
morning sought him, told MN cf the Bcddcr
article and said the newspapers were likely to
bring us into conflict. He denied personal
khowiecge, hut went no fHrthcr. tried to
continue the subject. but net reticence so
pos OF beIriending Judge SteTrett. declaring
10 Judge Eice. Col. John NJ. sullivan and TO
HltiIlDEIs OF my laIhlH my ". 'eht.9h 10 resign
before my term expired II ] foGnd II necessary
to secure his nomination by an appointment.
another opportunity occurred TO Judge Stcr-
T+tI "hgI we met IN cHnsIIIALIoh IN fhfiadeI.
phIa on Jhe 4th OF January ISIS. mentioned
10 Judgc Mercur my effort et Pittsburg. hoping
~ re h3'2nt communicate II 20 JunHe Slerrett.
Ine latter called at my room in the CO0tinen-
tai to say goodbye and tried TO revive the
snhJcct. nut without chect He has never
since broken his silence. but has pursued hfs
purpose until he reached nomination by
means shai! state. dld not claim title TO the
succession. though opposed 10y no other candi-
date. my presence in the field excluding con-
test. as was the judgment of Mr.. Quay In July,
but did expect of Judge StcrTett AN open and
friendly understandings especially as my mind
was filed with generous resolves toward him.
Soon after my arrival in Philadelphia found
adverse combinations forming OF the interest
er counties for the purpose of OntrOIling the
Eepuhiican convention 10 the benodt of
prcme Judge. Mr.. Quay had his heart set upon ,
the Becurdership of Philadelphia. There were
ut-the office. el biiity residence. etc. The Of
hcc being i7tle 70 repeal when obtiinC d, his in
forests coiuCidcd " itn the Senator's in securing
of the Governor and requiring two-thirds
not doubt his peTsUIdI friendship cot years /
standiUg), but his own interest was stronger
than mine. could bring 40 political infuen- !
Al an early day had requested him to in /
form me OF thing adverse. SEEING upon 7
thIS' on Inc l5tn oil tehrHaIN- ne formed me !
that the iCanvasS for the GubernaturIai and (
Senatorial nomination was assuming q shane /.
which IN connection WITH Sterrcti : candidacy, 7
would render my nomination eXtremeiy doubt /
aud hud been informed OF hiS declaration that (
/ did not desire To be in the field; a breach. rs I
l considered, of our understanding in July.
IN my reply OF ttbruary =, after thanking /
him :Or the information. / Said-whicn. inter- /
prrted, means am 10 tc slated aside for the /
ntn' NJ nt 'aHlefoh' ltpyl Co.. 10 obtain I
Sterretts friends in Allegheny, Philadelphia f.
and the Juuiata region. | shall HOT his ,ne .
eniIncrHsc or cnaf;cjerlZe the movements OF /
the combination. OF which was informed but I
may say they included plan to displace me in .
preme Judgeship' in the Press OF March - {
timed to suit a lawsuit OF oil men before my /
friend Judge McJunkiu, iniButIcr, and bearing /
immediate fruit
Another matter came to my precious kroyvI- 1
edge ,aS the chairman knows the plan to can .
ture the Allegheny delegates and prevent on /
pos.t.uu 10y display or apparent courtesy to +.
Judge Siarrett- lie lent himself TO u. ana APP .
pointed. among others. a renowned Pittshurr .
ally, whose manipulation OF the convention /
became suspicious. To veil the secret, the .
newspapers give out that the delegates were /
divided, seven, six and five, on the candidates .
for Governor the vote was solid for How I
These futive and unfriendIy uachinaiI6rs .
produced some irritation. leading IN" to saw
among others, to the uhairnan that would ,
not lie pushed aside 10y such means EutnFiar
my arrival at home in a pri!, / concluded not
to he affected by them and to announce my in 1
TeHflnus dS before stated. In Nav r .Tnpn I
was again anticipated ard defeated by the ex- /.
OF May, dictated by the tear OF a crumbiing
combination.
Another circumstance interveurd had I.
scarcely reached Harrisburg when | was fol- I
lowed 10y Beaver dricvate. He caIle1 al Nrs
Espy = On sunday The 5ih day OF NJ iI c,',S =
pany with Mr.. Quay, and to my surprise asked /.
me whether intended to be candidate. he
fore he convention, lie was th, S,,,,1a ,,eptI
man who had announced mc who, as a dele. /.
gate was instructed to support me; whom 7 /
had frequently seen at home, and to whom [ I
had not intimatrd my intentions. The 0-ljD37ls .
OF the visit / Instantly interpreted from his
company, his haste to follow me, and the evf- I
deBJ source OF tho inquiry. I WIS irritated /
and ia language neither misunderstood said | I
would stand If did not get two votes in the /
votcs.' And, in truth, did not expect anv
except in JwO or three counties besides my
themselves
Such is the history Of candidacy in form. /
bat without Substance. ] made no canvass,
Sought no support. formed no leagues had no
organ. commissioned no leader ana paid no re-
1
of support, warmth of feeling and harmony
OF result in CiSiODCd action totally unauticip1-
ted, and more dear to my heart than a no.ufpa-
uon, proving that the true Republican, party
was with me. Indeed SO strong WAS the feeling
found TO he thar il was proposed q noon on
the lith of May, at the house Of the Senator. 10
change tie ProEranne and at night it was
feared that the SLATE" was broken. Nine was
no set-up case. This cannot be affirmed of nv
opponents. who, having king ana castle. set up
his own paws upon the board.
In regard to my political standing no man
can mistake. Forty years consistency has
marked II we'll aud when Wings. in 1864. enter
ed a secret COnclHVe TO Prescribe foreigners
and Catholics | publicly repeiied the wrong to
maohOOd aud religion. Bat as a Judge have
never consciously suffered partisan feeling to
influence my decisions. not hesitating to pro-
nOuuce the highest executive officer in the
State iD cODtumacy Wien lie wrOngTully set
himself up Gg 3Inst law, the .idminist ration OF
justice aud the ghcSiiwelfare OF the State. |
bt gan my study of law and government under
The late Judge BU!dwlu-iD his day one OF the
great defenders OF American labor aud popu-
lar rights The impressions OF youth ripced
into tue convictions OF manhood and I have
ever maintained the duty OF 4 nation ia guard
its labor against all inVasiOus at home and
abroad, just "a II protect its soil. Yet IL Is not
the insCnSaIe earth which commands the pa
triot's heart. bat the interests of those VINO
live ana Iabor upon IT, aud by their production
make their own comforts and wealth.
The rights of the people, 5 secured by the
Declaration of Rights, il has been nay endeaVoT