The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-01-16


deny trial by Jury, and lodge the adju-
dication of this right of property in The
breas, of single Judge, the kind Of proof
required should be indicated, and a full
record of the entire proceedings be made
be returned, and the extraditon of any
colored person. for whose arrest warrant
had issued without hearing had before. tha
Judge, should be visited with th,. penal,ies
Of Of kidnapping, These modi6cations Of
the law, while 's..ey could no. interfere
with the righ..ss Of the owner of the fugitive,
"o'.A greatly tend to satisfy the minds Of
citizens anxIously desirous to perform
their constitutional duties.
One other matter connected with our
federal relations claims your attention. 1t
is the Union Of the States, and the dangers
which are supposed to threaten it in con-
nection with the question of slavery
Whether sla very be the cause or pretext
of in6delity to the Union, and to what
precise extent disafecuon exists, 1t is not
my purpose to enquire. There was local
disloyalty long before slavery became the
immediate source of excitement, and there
will be local disloyalty long after slavery
and the questions connected with it are
finally adjusted. But be the cause wha,
i, may, it is in vain to deny .ha. the union
Of the States is lightly and irreverenily
talked of in certain quarters, and made the
subject of heated discussion by rash and
unrehecting men. / cannot believe, how
ever, that any serious design to disrupt
and overthrow the government, exist. to
any considerable ex.en! in any portion of
the country. The American heart revolts
at the idea.
What is the National Union! 1t is the
basis of constitutional right, the guarantee
of peace. the security Of religion, the bul-
wark of all law and order. 1t gives the
surest pledge OF protection to the oppressed
children of other lands, who coming from
scenes of misery and discord, expec, here
harmony and peaceful refuge. 1t is liter
ally "a beacon on the top of mountain
and an ensign on hill to the lovers Of
rational liberty throughout the world. II
was an emana ton Of the same pure spirit
Of conceived, controlled, and consumated
our revolutionary struggle. 1t is the per-
feet work of disciplined intelligence and
rational patriotism. 1t is hallowed by the
rich memories of the past, and by the
Consciousness that its founders were the
fathers of the Republic. 1t is sacred as
the sole remaining memorial of the en-
| ghtened labors of the best minds of an
age, distinguished for its devotion to the
cause Of human rights, the elevation of
mans social condition, the investigation Of
political truths, and Of revolutionary action
against the dogmas and fanatacism of ty-
rannies and tyrants.
The union of the States is the outer
and inner wall which encircles and guards
the temple of our independence. The
| U Mon alone secures TO our commerce
protection on every sea, defence TO our
citizens on every shore, gives us a proud
name among the nations of the earth, and
ensures to the republic an enlarged and
glorious destiny, Its preservation ratifes
The assurance that man is capable of self
government, and that equal rights, equal
laws, and equal privileges, are alone The
results of democratic Institutions
The dissolution of the National Union
would be the beginning of civil war, the
discord. 1t would raise the arm of the
bondman amidst the horrors of servile war;
and the destruction of race of men alone
would terminate the fearful struggle. |,
would involve conterminous States, acting
as jealous strangers, in vexaious disputes
about rights of navigation, of tribute. of
transit. 1t would sacrifice the faith of the
nation. II would destroy the army and
the navy, and with them the proud reeol-
lection of their early exploits. The tro-
phies Of the nation would be dispersed,
and the grea, communion of thought. of
sentiment, and of interest, in which for
more than seventy years we have gloried,
would be gone forever.
Deeply impressed by these considera-
tions, and relying mos, confidently OIL the
entire sympathies of the General Assem-
| bly, of the State, which has never known
an instant's disloyalty to the Union. SOL
emnly protest against the u,terance of rash
and ill-advised thoughts on subject so
dear to our constituency, and more earn
esily against all deliberstion by means of
conventions, or other modes of action,
unknown TO the constitution, and having
for their object either the dissolution of
the Union or the discussion of sectional
and hazardous questions, for the decision
of which the constitution makes ample
provision. Pennsy lvania venerates and
cherishes the unimpaired institutions of our
fathers.
With the feavent prayer that Almighty
God will SO direct the deliberations of the
General Assembly that "peace and happi-
ness, truth and justice, religion and piet, Z,