Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-11-08
SPEECH OF GOV. BIGLER

W @ publish below the speech OF Gov. Blgler de
lyerod in Washington city, on the evening Of the
23d ult, at a complimentary sorenado given TO him.
The sentiments Of the speech are such as mightbe
expected from the man. We recommend il to our
readers, and feel proud that while Governor Big
Ter has been struck down by an unseen enemy he
has the courage to raise his voice. in eloquent tones
in behalf Of correct principles, and in defence Of
the constitution.
Gov. Bgler said, that unprepared as he
was for the occasion, he should feel him.
self unworthy Of the personal respect of
his friends were he to fail to acknowledge
as best he could, a compliment so aatter.
! ing and gratifying. Ii speaks (said hey a
language more eloquent than words can
express, and had excited the strongest
emotions Of his heart. Offerings Of this
kind to successful contestants for power
and place are not uncommon but such
greetings TO those about to retire from pup.
lie liie--to defeated candidates and pros.
trato principies-are less usual for even
in our day of disinterested friendship, the
rising sun is more attractive to some than
the setting. But Mr.. B. said, he preferred
to believe that the demonstration before
him was more than personal compliment
10 himself. He regarded it as intended 10
evince the attachment OF the people present
to the great principles which he had the
honor to represent in the late gubernato.
rial canvass OF PennsyIvania-as mani.
Testing their confidence in the motto in.
scrbed on the democratic flag now pros
trate in the Old Keystone. Such senti.
ment and sympathy he could recprocate
most heartily. 1t is, said Mr.. b., matter
Of congratuation that whilst the candi.
dates Of our party in that contest have
fallen, not one word had been erased from
the motto on the flag under which they
contended-not one sentiment of Demo.
cratic truth had been abandoned--not one
concession made to the enemy in the fight
nor the slightest lorbearence asked at their
hands.
Mr.. B. described the contest in his State
as one Of an extraordinary character-one
that in many Of its phases stood without a
parallel in the partisan struggles of the
country. For the first time in our history
secret and oath-bound societies, organized
for the avowed purpose of controlling the
political affairs, had entered the political
arena. For the first time, too, we have
witnessed the potent and mischievous
workings Of an institution against which
the wise and sagatious Washington hat
warned the American people. He alluded
to the mysterious operations of this organ
ization, and said that, enveloped in mys
terry and digniied with the solemnity ot
oaths, its approaches were most iusidiou;
and seductive. He regarded it as vel
calculated TO mislead, for the moment, the
unwary and the weak. But he had an
abiding confidence that mature reflection
on the part OF lis members would work its
dissolution. An institution whose tenets
Of faith are inmical to the laws OF the
land, and in derogation of the rights ant
dignity of large class of American cit.
liens, cannot long endure the scrutiny o.
an intelligent and just people.
Against this, and all similar organiza.
tons, said Mr.. B., the Democracy o.
Pennsylvania have taken most positive
ground. They are against all secret so.
cieties to accomplish political ends, no mat
ter by whom formed The evil tenden
cies of such organizations are too NANTES
said he, to long command the confidence
Of the people. They are moral as we'll a'
political. For an apt and eloquent des
cripton Of the latter, he would refer hi,
hearers to Wushington's farewell Address
He looked upon this organization as a tru
ly great machine, through the operations
of which few designing and skifUl mer
could rule the masses with a rod Of iron
Amongst the moral evils may be counted
: the opportunity, ifnot the necessity, which
it presents for the practice of duplicity-
its tendency TO destroy that mutual conf
, dence which should ever exist between
members Of this community--to corrup
and make bitter the channels Of social in
tercourse-to stultily that free declaration
Of opinion and purpose, so essential 10 th,
promotion Of intelligence, mutual conf
dence, and manly bearing-its restrictions
upon the free and independent exercise O
The elective franchise. Governor B. de
clarod himself opposed to all societies 0
this kind (; that he deprecated them u.
prejudicial to the dignity and welfare 0
the people, 10 the Advancement Of Christi
auiIy and republicanism-as inconsisten
, with The genius oil our institutions and the
American character. lna country where
the people enjoy to such an eminent de
gree the freedom of speech and the liberty
, of discussion, there can exist no necessi
ties for secret societies. IL there be, sale
he, moral or political evils amongst u:
> which demand correction, let The worb
be an open and daylight business. lie
it be applied in a manner consistent will
; the laws Of the land and the character o
the people. Let every man declare BIZ
opinions and intentions frankly and freely
and endeayor, by fact and reason, to con
: strain bis neighbors to the right. But le