Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-07-30
FEDERAL HISTORY OF THE
PAST.
CONTRAST WITH THE PRESENT
HAYES VETOES.

CONTRAST WITH THE PRESENT
HAYES VETOES.
a writer in G-lste number Of the
Bellefonte Democrat rehearses some
historical facts that are new to all the
present generations, except those who
are close students OF such events.
He says; "The object of the Ameri-
can Constitution was toperpetuate the
liberties OF the people who established
the Union of States. The trainers OF
that instrument well knew that when
State Is divided into parties, what
political impositions may be committed
even in tho name and under the as
sumed authority Of a majority of the
people, and therefore endeavored to
prevent them-they understood hu-
man nature. The language they have
used is plain, simple and perspicacious.
There is no occasion to resort TO the
rules of construction to fix its mean
ing. Itexplains ITSELF But "a usurper
may be placed by his stalwart con-
spirators in the Presidential char and
permitted TO ofliclate in that capacity
by the indulgence, if not cowardice Of
timid people, who should have con-
tended for their political rights and
liberty in choosing their President. If
they had, Mr.. Hayes never would
have been the acting Executive and
dictator. In the Gubernatorial contest
in our own State in 1888, between Gen.
Porter and Gov. Ritner, the people by
decided majority of their votes, elect,
cd David r. Porter as their Governor.
The ballot. boxes proclaimed that the
people had triumphed, but a conspiracy
had been entered into by the leaders
of the Wing, now Republican party,
before the election, and after the cleo
tion there existed a fixed determine
tion to deprive the people of their
Congressman, Senators and Repre-
sentatives of the City and county of
Philadelphia, and the Democratic party
of its elected Governor, and place in
their stead men who had been defeat
ed by the people, Thaddeus Stevens,
the leading chieftain OF this plot OF
treason against the rights and elective
franchise of majority of the people,
expected every member of his party
in the Legislature to sustain him, and
we find him writing secret letters to
certain members previous to the meet
ing of the Legislature, and among
others, the following John Montelius,
a Wing member from Union county:
"HARRIsBuRG, Oct. 20, 1888.
Dear Sri am much gratifed at
your election. | hope you will be here
the Friday before the meeting that
zoe may all act together. We shall have
turbulent times at the opening Of the
House, but we must be determined and
not give an inch. Please come then
and let us consult with friends.
Yours, THADDEUs STEVENS"
This was followed by a circular from
Thomas Ii. Burrows, Secretary OF State
under Gov. Ritner, "to the friends OF
Joseph Ritner" concluding in these
words "Let as treat the election Of the
ninth instant, as If zoe had not been beaten,
and in that attitude abide the result.
["No one can fail to see how
strlkingly analogous these reasonable
proceedings are to those resulting in
placing Hayes in the position to per-
petuate the power Of treason by the
veto."1
Gov. Ritner We find sustaining this
revolution, issuing ON order as Com.
mander-in. Chief Of the armies Of the
State, to General Robert Patterson,
dated 9th December, 1898 "You are
ordered and requested forth,oiM to call
out from your command, &C., and
march them Immediately to the seat OF
government" Gen. Patterson com
piled with this order and marched the
lst Division p. M. to Harrisburg, and
on arrival, reports to Gov. Ritncr the
presence Of the lst division at the seat
Of fgovernmentawaiting further orders.
In the meantime Gen. Patterson made
thorough examination of the position
and on the 10th December, 1888, wrote
to Gov. Ritner as follows: 81 take the
pleasure in stating from my olon per-
sondl observation that there was tran.
guilty during the night and not the
slightest impediment thrown in the
way Of the troops in discharge Of their
duties. ! am also gratified in being
able to report to you, that from in
formation communicated to me, / be.
lieve the citizens of all classes will use
every exertion to preserve that order
that now exists" and asks permission
"to order portion Of his command to
return to Philadelphia" Gov. Ritner
answers this of the same date and
says al will accordingly consult with
the members of the Legislature on the
subject, and II they concur with you
in believing that part OF your com
mand may be dispensed with, | shall
gladly issue the necessary orders. F"
Gen. Patterson in reply to Gov. Ritner
of same date says ain regard TO the
latter part of your letter, in which |
am desired TO state "as an officer and
citizen OF Pennsylvania" the number
Of men which | shall undertake to
preserve the public peace at Harris
burg" | beg leave to reply that my
official station at present under the
Constitution and laws, is a military
one. In that capacity | am subject to
the order of the Commander-in.C Chief,
and ready to quell an insurrection.
Allow me respectfully to state that
nero violations of the public peace
should be prevented or punished by
civil authority; until it is ascertained
they are unable to accomplish those
objects the military should not be call.
cd on to perform that duty" Here
Gen. Patterson found no riot, no re.
bellion, no insurrection, no disturbance
of the public peace among the citizens
gathered at Harrisburg. He found
them quiet and peaceablc, yet firmly
protesting against the usurping con.
duct of Ritner, Stevens and Penrose
and other invading and subvcrting
their right, abrogating and disfran.
chising their chosen representatives.
At this important crisis, the Demo
cratic citizens at Harrisburg, with
characteristic regard for the rights
and liberties Of the people, when
menaced either by invasion from with
out or encroachments of degenerate
sons from within, manifested at the
outset proper, but not less deter
mined spirit Of resistance against the
contamination of intentions so rovolu.
tionary and daring, like their fore.
fathers of 1776, formed themselves
into "Committee of Safety" TO defend