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


In presenting this Constitution to the Con-
gress of the United States, to. be by them
presented to the delegates of the different
States for their assent and ratification, Wash
ington used the following language ss In
all our deliberations we kept steadily in our
view that which appears to US the greatest
interest of every true American-thc consoli-
dation Of the Unio,s. in which is involved our
prosperity. felicity, safety, perhaps our ma
tional existence" Again: g The Constitu-
ton which we now present is the result of a
spirit of amity and of that mutual Difference
and concession, which the peculiarity Of our
political situation rendered Indispensable. -
Thus after intense labor, was presented to the
world Constitution which, in all is parts, is
unsurpassed- and Kithnnt rival -
wolves the existence Of the Union, aud with
out which our liberty would be the . dead
seas fruit of ashes" IApplause]
In quick succession the States assented to
and ratified it Pennsylvania, the glorious old
keystone, being the second in the list.
(Cheers for Pennsylvania A constitution
that involves our national existence, and was
the result of amity aud mutual Difference
that is the :. be-all and the end-alr' of Amer
ican liberty, is pearl of richness, incalcula-
BILE. This immense concourse of people, who
love it, and will die for it, are here to renew
their devotion and attachment They know
its beneficial operations. Under tive have
grown great and powerful-the cords and
stakes of our political Israel have been length
ened and strengthened. until American enter
prise cleaves its way through forests, delves
in the rich earth for its untold treasures, and
sweeps its pathway through the waters of the
world. finging from our majestic prows the
crested waves of every ocean. tProlonged
applausc) A constitution that confcrs such
incalculablc blessings cannot be too highly
appreciated. Its infringement in the slightest
degree should cause alarm Its protection is
a duty we owe to our fathers, ourselves and
the world. (Cries of, we will protect it.
In 1912 and 1914, ambitious and design
ing men asked what is the Constitution worth,
of what value is the Union The answer
that tue people gave will never be forgotten.
Courage aud patriotism triumphed, and the
country was saved from impending ruin In
1920, 80 and so. the attack was renewed
by restless and factious spirits, but thanks to
the exertionoof National men everywhere, the
storm passed away and left the sun of the
Constitution shining with undiminished lustre.
(Applausel In 1854 and 80 the attack is
renewed with tenfold bitterness. uniting in
itself the most direful elements. Civil and
religious liberty are endangered safe
guards of the Constitution struck at, and
should tho onslaught prove successful, would
leave us without the shadow of liberty. 1t
is therefore the duty of all men, whatever
their party predictions. to rally with us TO
the support of endangered iberty-to aid us
in driving back the yandals. who would beat
down the doors of our temple, and with sac
raIegious Indifference lay fast hold on the
horns of the altar of our faith. CLong con-
tinued applause-)
Is then the Constitution in danger? We
answer yes. Any party that advocates doc
trines at variance with its teachings places it
in Imminent peril Is there any Iarty that
does. this? We again answer, yes. The
amalgamation of men, commonly called
.. Know Nothings, teach doctrines utterly
subversive of the Constitution. and before this
vast assembIage of constitutional, Union-lov-
ing men, do | arraign it. and brand it as the
great cut-throat upon the highway of Ameri-
can civilization. Immense applause
Its first objectionable feature. is its secresy
In government like ours it is essential to
Its existence, that the discussion of questions
affecting the whole people should be open and
public If 1t is for the good of all, there is
no need Of its Imprisonment in dark lodge
rooms Error prefers darkness and secret
concayes, and out-of-the-way haunts, with
grips, signs, passwords aud awful oaths -
but truth loves the light and is most powerful
in its simplicity. It viii force its way to the
popular heart without any nlummery. One
Of the most marked characteristics of our
government. is its duplicity in its official pro-
ceedings 1t is only in rare Instances that
the President refuses to transmit information
to Coegress. The people know whatever
concerns them Hence says the whole ge-
nins of our institutions is at war with secrcsy
in politics it is odious to a free people, and
dangerous to a free government. 1t violates
the clear intent of the constitution, and should
be repudiated by all honest men. (Cheers.)
But however obnoxious their secresy may
be, the doctrines they teach are so peraicous,
aye monstrous, that the American heart shud-
ders ia their contempiatioii The Constitu-
ton declares that freedom of speech shall not
be abridged. Yet this 4 Know-N Nothihg''
organization have violated this express provl-
sion time after time TIE first outrage was
committed in the City of Washington, within
view of the head of our government, and al
most under the ewes of the building, whence
enanate the laws that govern this great con-
federacy< Ariotous mob, avowedly g Know
Nothings. . with yells and shouts, rash dem
onstrations. prevented q pcaceable assemblage
Of citizens from the enjoyment of one of the
dearest rights of the Constitution, and this
too. in the American Capitol. Hear, hear.
i The same scene Was enacted in the city of
Rochester. New York. Buder sacred guar
antee of. the Constitution, american citizens
assembled together to discuss public questions,
when, with frightful noises and expressions