Franklin County: Alexander K. McClure to Eli Slifer,
February 27, 1851
Summary:
McClure's lengthy letter speaks in detail about passing a licensing regulation
bill, but also metions a developing split in the Whig party.
Sentinel Office
Feb 27th, 1851
Mifflintown
Dear Col
Mr. Cooper informed me that [illeg.] have some apprehensions relative to the propriety of legislating on the License question, without a formal expression of the popular will by petition or otherwise.
The reasons that induced the repeal of the general law [unclear: ] as it related to this county. I have before stated, and that statement is substantially true. It was not done because there was any popular manifestation against it.
If petitions are necessary, they can be furnished by the [unclear: cads], but the short time allowed if we wish to get the law in operation this spring, would prevent anything like a general expression of the people. Rest assured it was not because we feared to put petitions among the people.
To make the law operative when Licenses are granted at the [unclear: may]
court, the bill should be passed by the first week, or the middle of March
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at the farthest; and the matter was not taken in hand until our
February court. A number of petitions were then presented for licenses and
several were illegal, but owing to the fact that but few of the citizens in the
respective [unclear: ] knew that applications would then be made, and knew
nothing respecting who were the [unclear: ] remonstrance was impossible. You are
not aware perhaps that both our February and May courts grant licenses and
applications may be made at one or the other of the towns, as petitioners may
choose. This can only be remedied by requiring one
court to grant all licenses for the year, or by requiring the publication of the
petitions. Of the two you cannot be long in deciding which would best [unclear: ]
the iterests of the [unclear: public] and afford the best check to
illegal licenses.
I know also that both in Union and Mifflin counties the law we ask is in operation, and infered that its practicality even necessity would be obvious to both you and [unclear: friend] Cunningham.
I trust that under the circumstances you will hasten the passage of the bill. By so doing you will be almost universally sustained by the people, and will also be heartily defended by both the Papers here.
As I said before, out Court
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meets in May, and the middle of the March
should find the bill passed to be carried into effect this Spring. Cooper and I
will have the landlords fully apprised of the matter, so that no complaints can
be made, and as to any division of sentiment in reference to it among the
people, I will agree to take the responsibility and [unclear: atter] all
damages.
We have nothing special here, I see that Union has done the [unclear: thing] all right, though I fear the resolution of conciliation prepared by [unclear: Middlesworth] is hardly a fair representation of the sentiments of the leaders of the two factions. I had a letter from Woods containing a statement of the whole thing, from which I infer that there is a serious split in the party. I hope it may be healed before the next campaign opens.
I have not heard from friend Cunningham lately. I hope he is enjoying himself. I shall be sorry to leave so good a Whig out of our district next spring. I believe he moves to Huntington. Remember me to him, and secure his efforts to effect a speedy passage of the license bill.
I will be down one of these days.
thine,
AK McClure
Col Eli Slifer
