The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-10-26

public grounds and buildings. He was
sworn to tell the truth. and then under
oath he did not in any way, either di-
rectly or indirectly, indicate that he
had at any time regarded the building
as having been set on fire by design. He
could give no names of the guilty; he
could furnish no witnesses; ne could
give no data; ne could do nothing. not
even repeat the assertion made in his
paper. and so at last he declared under,
oath: have already testified to all
the facts within my personal knowledge
in relation to the capitol building. and
so far as I can recall them. Any furth-
er testimony would be hearsay evil
dence. as ! have heard nothing from
anyone responsible for the care OF the
building burned This testimony Is
contained in the Legislative Record.
pages 723 and rs inclusive, and there
is not a scintilla OF evidence given by
him or anyone else to support his
charge Of carelessness or neglect
AT a later date. in an article pub
lished in the Pennsylvania Methodist.
Of Feb. IL. 1858, he intimated that the
building was burned in order that val
liable papers and documents relating
10 the treasury investigation might be
destroyed. When called upon the wit
ness stand he admitted writing the arti-
Gle and said that when he wrote II ha
had in view statement which he had
seen In the Philadelphia newspapers
bearing on the subject and ayerred that
Il was made 'on the statement OF gen.
tlemen who profess TO know Of what
they were talking He refused TO give
the names Of the gentlemen who had
given him the information, and has not
get done so. although year and half
has elapsed since the investigation was
held. Everybody at all familiar with
the facts knows that there was not
record relating TO the treasury OF any
ether department on file in the building
burned.
"A citizen OF this commonwealth. who
is a candidate for the highest Office
within the gift Of the people. who with
holds information from the public.
which he AYERS is 'convicting evidence
of the destruction of the capitol build
ing of our commonwealth for the pur-
pose Of destroying valuable papers and
documents relating to the investigation
Of the state treasury. then being made,
charges an awful crime, and IN with
holding the evidence. If ii exists. COM
mits himself a greater crime against
the people He is constantly repeat
Ing the charge but he steadfastly with
holds the proof Of guilt which he AYERS
he possesses. No citizen need be told
that If he is telling the truth It is his
s6Iemn duty to go to the nearest mag
istrate and make his information and
furnish the names of the Witnesses II
he fails to do his duty in this regard he
Is worse than an assassin
'He has latterIy in mis- public utter
anees been declaring that he has the
advice OF able counsel TO the effect that.
under the law. the attorney general is
the only citizen Of the state who has the
power and whose duty it is to prosecute
those whom he alleges TO be guilty, and
he has. just as often. in his newspaper
and on the stump. called upon the at
torney general to institute proceedings
Of this character.
I do not know who his attorney is or
where he gets his advice. The attorney
general has. however. addressed TO me
communication on the subject, which
will now read TO you. 1t is as fol-
lows:
Office of the Attorney General.
f1dIllSDufE, OCi- ~ 1855
Daniel II. Hastings. Governor:
" 'Sir-It has been charged by one OF
the candidates for governor OF this
commonwealth that sundry public Of
fcials have been guilty Of wrongdoing.
and that under the law the attorney
general only is clothed with the duty
and the power TO prosecute. In an
swer to your inquiry as to whether
such is or is not the case. I respect
fully submit that there is not only no
such duty imposed upon the attorney
CeneraI in his official capacity. but that
it is the right OF any citizen, having
knowledge Of the facts. 10 make in
formation before any alderman or jus
i.ce OF the peace in the commonwealth,
lause a warrant to be issued. and the
persen charged with the Offense duly
ried. whether he be a public official or
private individual.
The same candidate for governor
las on repeated occasions stated TO his
audiences that he has called upon the
attorney general 10 institute proceed
ings of this character. / believe II to
be due to you and 10 the public. as
well as TO myself TO say that the can
lidate referred to has never, directly or
Indirectly. mentioned the subject 20 me,
and. Of course. has furnished not a
syllable Of evidence TO sustain any
charge that he has made: nor has he,
In any OF his public utterances. shown
that he possessed any evidence that
would be admissible in any court In
any civilized country in the world.
Very respectfully. y
"fHenry c. Mccormick.
Attorney General
Gas Abraham Lincoln, In speaking of
Z candidate, once said. If the people
like this kind OF a man. this is a very
good man for the people 10 like II the
people Of this state want this kind of
man for governor 10 enforce the laws.
10 do Justice 10 all and wrong TO none,
% safeguard their lives. their property
and their character. II they want such
a man. this is a very good man for
them to vote for"
Governor Hastings also took DR.. Swal
low to task for his charges that the
state had been paying exorbitant prices
, for its supplies. On this point the gov
ernor said he Instructed James Camp
bell, the factory inspector. 20 send to
DR.. Swallows own bookstore In Har-
r.sburg and purchase similar articles
10 those used by the state In every
case It was found that the prices
charged by DR.. Swallow and paid for
by the state were procured at prices
ranging from 10 per cent TO 3Ss per cent
above the regular prices Paid by the
commonwealth He read a number OF
the figures showing the comparison OF
prices; among thems
Swal-
State low
price price.
One ream OF Mt. Holly Crown
Linen. Is lbs. to ream. .....-.. s2.32 $3.50
One box OF 100 sheets w. S.
! & B. Canton paper. No. l.
black s-3.--.-..-. 3oS 400
leVv circulars n z-S0
These were but sample figures Of a
long list which he exhibited.
The governor closed with q defense
OF his administration from criticisms OF
increased expenditures and reference
to the objectionable bills passed by the
last legislature and which were vetoed
by him.
He said that he had no regrets for
those vetoes and that he would not ASH