Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-10-03

ntTwelve lines constitute a square,: q
From. The Ereaing National Arqns Sept 19th /.
THE COMSTfTUTI0MAL MEETING.
sad SPEEGH OF c.. W. GARRIGAN
We publish below the remarks of Charles
w. Carrigan, Esq made at the meeting IN
Independence Square, on Monday evening, to
celebrate the anniversary of the adoption Of
the Constitution ssss .ss Hssf.
Mr. C.rrigan being introduced to the meet
ing, was greeted with great applause. He
said: sFi vs,sfs-ss& s. ,s ~
As the Roman Senate in a time, of great
peril to the republic. repaired to tie temple
of Jupiter Ststnr. their protecting deity, and
invoked the interpos,tiou of the Immortal
GODS. to arrest the parricidal blow of Cataline
and his co-coaspirators, 50 do we, t,ae Amer
leans. ON this holy spat-within view OF the
hall consccratcd by the adoption of the Con-
stitution, In this hour of imminent, danger to
our republic, invoke the mighty spirits Of our
country's past and the living spirits of our
country = present. tn aid US in protesting the
common bond that er atesa and sanctiies our
common Union Applause. tG
(,risiscs like the present have been few in
our national history. but when they have arr
san. !. with a firm rrlipnce on Divine Prori-
tlencc = and a determination to maintain the
Consultation in its pa,ritv., they have been met
and the rcbcllious spirit crushed. applause.
In an ,hsur like this shall we fail in our whole
duty In this the most trying crisis Of cur
history shall wc be istless aud inactive
While the cohorts of fanaticism arc marshal
ing under the black banner of treason, and
their blows are heard at the outer portal of
our tsmple. viii we permit without resistance
the ruthless invasion of our . holy of holies.'
fCries of ns--no. No. my fellew-citizens.
By all the memories of the past---by the .une-
uuall.-d trials of our. revolutionary struggle
by the virtues and sacrifices of the men who
gave Us asr unrivzlied forsn; of gorernnssnt--
Jy the mighty efortssof jackson. Clay, Cal
houn and Webster, for its reservation Qni-
mcnse applause). by the hopes of down-trod
den nationalitics, now shrouded zbeneath the
rot of European despotism--by the rich frul-
tion of the present, and the bright promises
of the future, I'VE will defend to the last. our
Constitutional hbcrty-preserve it. in IFS, full
vigor unimpaircd and untarnishcd (great
cheerings) ~ 81 ssi5 yssisfs nsss .ss.lsg 1.gse
The Democratic party has ever been the
CONSTITUTIONAL party of the country From
the time Jefferson in his first inaugural, utter
ed those living truths, which constitute its
BODY aud limbs, head and heart, and which
controls its every action, down to the present
moment; through storm and sunshine, yicissi-
tudes and successes, up to the present crown
ing glory o- the Republic. the Democratic
party has eser stood upon the Constitution
she never has and never will f'rsake it, Gap
plause -Occupying this enriable position. il
is its special province to protect az It's provi-
sions from invasion, maintain it In letter and
spirit. and rebukc the rashness that would
mar its symmetry or render its functions in
operative.
To appreciate this inestin,able treasure, il
Is only necessary to recur to the circumstances
that gave it birth When our foreflthers,
for causes fully and candidly set forth, :ap-
pealed to the = Supreme Judge of the world
fol- the rectitlde of their intentions to decla-
ring themselves free and independent, the
Colonies were acting without any bond of un-
ion. They were actuafsd by common love
of liberty aud an intense hatred of tyranny.
They soon found UNION essential to success.
and a regslarly constituted governmens ee
render that union active -Censeqtently on
the first of March. 1871, :. Articles of Con
federation" soere finally entered into between
al the States This vas cur virgin Union,
the beginning of the glorious bond that makes
Ms one people. (Applause In process q
Sime, this Confederation proved utterly made.
quate to the exigeucies Of government, and
our fathers cast about them for more com
preheasive form. The States were exceeding
ly jealous of their sovereignty, and feared a
consolidation of power. Therefore the un
dertaking was one that required the utmost
caution, mutual counsel and mutual conces-
ssons. Il was indeed trying time. .ss It wa
the turning point In our history We stoot
between anarchy and constitutional liberty
40 run into anarchy would have been tn,
WORK OF moment To n,atxrc and cons{ruc1
solid form of government. acceuf.f,,e Ia al
neossses' was a. work Of uateld magnitude
that densaded deep eonsiderat;oa and IN
utter sacrifice of self The preserva,ss. Il
our General Government, in its whole cons.;'
tationaf vigor, as the shseteancher of m,
peace at home and safety abroad,s was ban,;
" cousumated On the / 7th day of Septemfeer ,ber
1887. just sixty eight yesrs ses this da,
the Federal Constitution was adopted adeouat.
TO the exigencies Of goyernment and the pres
efvation Of the Uaiox It was framed to Sc
cure the Union that was the parameunt idea
A Constitution that did not recognize this a
ats Alpha and Omega, lis beginning and end
EosA hare been rope Of sand. Thanl
ooa T grapples us together. soul to soul
M 1 apower that defies all its enemies
Enthusiastic cheers.)