The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-10-12

ltical Centre of this glorious Union ot States,
IN which you are an ln,pregnable empire, oat
Of which you would br empire doomed 10
woe, distraction, and decay. How are these
your grave responsibilities to be met How
are these your solemn duties to be discharged
Ii ever this noble arch Of liberty shall hr un-
drrinined, or shall crumbIe, the crash OF the
Keystone Will be The most fearful and fatal
and il ought TO be.
/ can never touch the soil of Pennsylvania
without invountarily recurring 10 The stirring
incidents of her history, which instead OF being
shaded or obscared by time, are inevitably; as
years roll on, to be brought out III a stronger,
clearer, and more glorious light. Within her
borders the Declaration Of indePrpdence was
drafted, signed, aud ppcldImrd 10 the world.
70 the memorable consAtien' ofthe United
Colonies, on the 18th offfJune, 1916, she de-
clared, through her delegates met in provin-
cial conference, in favor of absolute separation
from the mother country. Within her borders
lhe Constitution under which we live was
framed, adopted, aud signed by the s,Father Of
his country" and those associates, whose patrl-
otto a5orS, like his own, will never. be forgot
ten, though signatures may fade and parch-
mrntS perish Oh how bountifullv have The
uncalcuIatlus courage and personal sacrifices
OF the fathers been requited 10 the children by
the countless common dressings which tifal Con-
stituton has lavlShly conferred! Do not,
my fellow citizens, convert it 10 purposes not
embraced IN its design Do not depart from
the strict construction of lis granted powers
which has secured such harmonious action, and
degree of progress, happiness and security,
socially and politically, Of which the history Of
nations furnishes no example DO not for
moment indulge the desire, or harbor the
thought, that you mag ENJOY the privileges
which the Constitution contsfs without accor-
ding to zach and every one Of the sister States
of the confederation all the rights and mInu-
mites which il designed 10 secure tothem! As
honorable men you can not DO ii So long as
YOU are content to live under the compact
maintain II sacredIy in all lis parts, in its letter
aud In It's spirit. Without cheerful, Practi-
cal, obedience 10 all its obligations, the Key
Stone, firmly as it seems to be set, may be sha-
ken and tremble in lis place.
Your past, however, is the best guaranty Tor
the future. From the days of William Penn,
euinenty peace loving and peace cutiva-
ting people, you have shrunk from no respon
slbIity, and faltercd before no danger which
tulCdtSitFAt oui NOiiittiOb NJ"ttti itA9 -
signaily verified in the struggle of The RevoIu-
ton, IN the wafsot 1872, aud in that late waE..
when at the first blast OF the SulnHonng truni-
pet, rour sons hastened 10 their weapons, and
forming themselves IN sprrirG columns tender
ed more regiments to the Republic than the
government with proper regard 10 patriotic
enrolments in other States could consistently
accept. But there is another class deserving,
if possible, still higher praise. mean the
fathers OF those gallant sous, the men. who own
and cultivate the land, the unobtrusive Union
loving, lava abiding, agricultural community
represented here to-day,--that great, aboundlng
interest compared with which all others are
but fractions.
And now in conclusion, frlIowcitizens, per-
nit ne to say wherever fortune may direct
your footsteps, 1t will be the source oi just pride,
that you hail from Pennsy !vanla, but IndIvidu-
ally yourhighest pride aud steadest conscious
ness security, at home or abroad, Will rest IN
the fact that you are an American citizen.
During the delivery of this eloquent reply,
the President was frequently interrupted with
demonstrations OF applause After some rio-
quenr observations from Gov. Pollock and EX-
Gov. BigIer, the ceremonies OF reception ter
minated, and the Presidrnt proceeded 10 inspect
the various articles offered for exhibition.