Bradford Reporter

The Gubernatorial Contest.

We publish in another column, accounts of Mr. Wilmot's meetings which shows that the Republican candidate is everywhere greeted with tremendous outpourings of the masses, and is received with much enthusiasm. His addresses are arousing the people to a sense of the great issues involved in the pending contest and inspiring them with zeal and hopefulness.

We have also received from Mr. Wilmot a letter of late date in which he speaks in the most satisfactory terms of his meetings, and of the encouragement held out in the different parts of the State.

We believe that never had a party a fairer prospect of success than has the party of Freedom in this Commonwealth this fall. It needs but a feeling of confidence, and an exercise of energy, to make that victory certain and complete. The friends of freedom are thoroughly united and awakened to the importance of success in the present contest. Our opponents are rent by internal jealousies and feuds and quarrels. The distribution of the spoils has offended and soured most of the active men in all parts of the State, and their exertions will not be given to the success of Gen. Packer.

There are two disadvantages under which we labor, and which stand in the way of our success, not so much by their own intrinsic importance as by the moral influence they exert, preventing that confidence in victory which is somewhat of importance in a conflict. We allude to the success of the Pro-Slavery party last fall, and to the fact of a third, or American candidate being presented to draw off votes from the opposition. Neither of these causes, should discourage our friends, because there are considerations and influences which now render both or either inoperative.

We have alluded to the well-known fact that great dissatisfaction has been produced in the ranks of the Sham-Democracy from the distribution of the offices. There was not a county in the Commonwealth previous to the Presidential election that did not contain more or less in number of active men, who looked upon the success of Mr. Buchanan as certain to enure to their personal advantage. Each and every one of these men had a perfect faith that Mr. Buchanan's first care upon assuming the Presidency would be to reward them for their services, and however the others might be disappointed, they at least would not have an opportunity to charge the President with ingratitude. These men worked last fall, with desperate energy. It is no exaggeration to say that their almost superhuman exertions turned the tide of victory toward Wheatland. They exulted in success, and approached the throne, confident of receiving the reward for the services That most of these have been bitterly disappointed is patent to all. Mr. Buchanan is revealed to them as a cold hearted, selfish, ungrateful man. They have mostly returned home to brood over their disappointment, and though they are too thoroughly wedded to party to breathe their curses aloud in secret are desiring the Administration to be rebuked by the defeat of Packer. This class of persons is a numerous one; it comprises many of those who have heretofore contributed to the success of the party, and will exert a powerful influence upon the coming contest.

The vote polled for Mr. Hazlehurst, will be very light, and mainly confined to Philadelphia city. It is very questionable if it does not increase the chance of Mr. Wilmot that he should remain in the field. The honest, intelligent portion of the party have long since repudiated the "side door" arrangements of Messrs. Swope and Sandersons, and refuse any longer to be led and transferred for the benefit of the Sham-Democracy. That portion of the party holding Pro-Slavery views, and at heart desiring the success of Packer will of course refuse to support Mr. Wilmot. The only thing to be feared is that they will not vote for Hazlehurst, but for Packer. In that case they might endanger the election of Mr. Wilmot, but if they are true to their candidate, we do not consider their action as at all detrimental. If our advices are at all reliable Mr. Wilmot will come out of Philadelphia with such a vote as will make his election certain. It is universally conceded that Hazlehurst will not poll any votes of consequence outside of Philadelphia.