The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-01-18
ard stable soyernment. ToV

vidne oil our ciiizsns, under the s.D
Heaven, we are more indebted as people, |,
than 10 any other circumstance or relation.
No one who has studied our history, aud
marked the spirit in which our Union was
formed, can avoid the conviction that our
government so far as concerns the stability
OF this confederacy, must be one one of opin-
ion rather than force. Born in compromise
and conciliation, II mus, be cherished in the
same spirit; i. must present itself 10 every
member of this republic in The welcome
guiss Of friendship and pro,ection-not in
overbearing pride, OF es welding The strong
arm of power.
3 4e have -b'sfers us the plain written com.
pact OF our fathers, 10 which they reflect.
insiy consented and subscribed, and 90
bound US who have succeeded them. Ia
blessings and its benefits have been fol,
throughout long years OF unexampled pros-
perity. If we would change any Of its pro.
visions, lei us, with at least common hon.
esty and manliness, pursue tho mode of
amendmen, which is pointed out with ad-
mfable precision, in the noble inslrumen,
itself. But until this is done, those amopgst
us, who, from whatever motive, or under
whatever pretext either openly re2ndia,s
and oil lis plain provisions, or, coyerily re-.
treating under the cloak of secret orgau;.
zation, seek 10 violate its spirit, or avoid
compliance with its clear behesls, dshonor
the faith of their fathers, ard deny their
own palpable and solemn obligations. Eu.
ierialnins these views, how can any Amsri-
can patriot regard, with tho least degree
OF complacency, the continued and embit-
tered excitement of one section of The coun-
Try against the domestic institutions of an
other or the more recent organization of So
cret societies throughout the Union, based
upon doctrines OF exclusion and prescription,
utterly at war with our National and State
constitutions, and obnoxious 10 The liberal
spirit of American republlcanism What
admirer of The venera,ed father Of his coun-
try, but must now feel, with ress,less force.
his solemn warnings against secret societies
for political ends, as placing powerful en-
gins in the hands Of ihe selfish and ie sign
ing, and enabling them not only TO acquire
power unworlhily, but also 10 sap and de-
s,roy the most sacred principles OF our 60 "
ernmeni
IL these reflections upon certain political
organizations, if rightly comprehended my
own motives, am ac;ualed by no mere
DaTI.AaIl Nfs.Ifisv mr. rpapntnnon, -
say less at The present moment, should
s,fie my clearest convictions of right, and
shrink from duty owe 10 the people of
Pennsylvania, who have SO generously sus-
tanned me in various public relations in the
past Nay, more should, by silence in this
regard, fail properly to reflect that cons,ancy
aud nnswerving faith which our noble Com
monweallh has ever eyinced towards the
principles OF our national compact: in refer
ence 10 tho freedom OF conscience and uni
ycrsal religious liberation and also 10 the
wise dccriDes of popular and Slate sovereisc4
~, and the inherent right of self-govern-
meut.
During the brief period which rem aims Of
my official term, shall readily and cheer
fully co operate with the General Assembly
in all proper measures, 10 advance the pub
lic veal; and earnestly invoke upon our la
bors, and the abors Of those who may fol-
low US in oui public vocation, the kindly
care and keeping Of That Grea, and Benefi-
cent Being who holds the desIines of ma
lions as we'll as Of individuals, as 1t were, in
the hollow of his hand, and w,hou. whose
continued smile here can be neither nations
nl or individual prosperity. y 4a3l
.,.,. VIM. BIGLER
Executive CHAMBER, ,
Harrisburg. Jan. 8, 1855.