The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-09-14
1. DisapprovaI in the cearest and strongest /

fdi diu OifJoStd u tlS PliH1i-
plies of our republican form Of government, and
utterly subversive Of the confidence which
ought to subsIst among political friends
9. Condemnation especially of that form OF
| secret political association which proscribes
American citizens on account Of their religious
opinions or their place Of birth, this Committee
and the Wing party recognizing in its broadest
sense, that constitutional principle that every
man has a right TO worship God according TO the
dictates of his own conscience, and that organ
ized political prescription on account of reli-
gious belief would be an interference with that
right.
g. Disarowal by this Committee collectively
and individually OF any connpXion with or sym
! pathy with any such secret political organza-
| tion.
! 4. The assertion of the feeling common to
/ every Wing of Pennsylvania, and to very many
! of other organizations, that the Nebraska and
! Kansas measures of the last Congress, the abro-
cation of the Missouri compromise line, and, as
! a part Of the same system, the lawless and vio-
/ lent conduct of individuals since in Kansas, es-
pecially are abhorrent 10 the people Of the
i North, and onght to be redressed.
/ 5. That these measures Were wanton renew
/ al of sectional agitation, for which IN no sense
j are the Wings Of the North, and especially the
/ Wings of Pennsylvania, responsible.
/ g. That the restoration of the Missouri COM
i. promise line ought to be demanded and insisted
! on as matter of right.
d T. The reassertion of the Wing principles
aEthe value Of which every hour is confirming
1 Iof protection in some from TO American indus
5 ltry, and especially. to the stable interests of
/ lPennsylvania yet struggling into existence
Ithe policy Of peace and neutrality on the part
lot the general government, and resolnte absti-
! sntnce from all schemes OF foreign aggrandlse-
lment and sympathy or affinity 10 foreign pol
btics.
| H These resolutions, after free discussion,
were laid on the table, my own vote being the
bnly one recorded in their favor and yet hope
III may be permitted to say there were few OF the
Commttee who did not in their hearts and con-
sciences, agree to every word in them. 1t is
ld.1p to my colleagues to add that some OF them
pat their votes on the resolutions strictly on the
ground of inexpedIency and doubt as TO the
Es1S F-lz,5s ss.ss Committee. With tkem, howev-
4 Know-Nothings, and, as such, under a para
mount if not exclusive allegiance.
During that discussion one Of these gentle
men, as you will recolect, said with emphasis,
aud without word leading to it, that il these
resolutions passed he should resign Till then
no word which, by any possibility could BE- con-
stFupd into threat, had been whispered-cer-
tainly not by me. But the feeling and resolu-
ton were all along cherished that, If, after all
that had occurred, the sacrifice OF Mr.. Darsip
the discredit Of last winter at Harrisburg, the
insoient abandonment of the very name of the
Wing party, and, above all, the prevalent sus-
pIcion that Affected every one, these reSolutlons
or something like them, were not passed, nay
dnty as gentleman was very clear, TO vacate,
as | now do, my position. 1t is a resolution,
assure you, not lightly formed or which can be
bconsidered.
The resolutions affirmed this secret organza-
ton, with its Proscriptlve and evaslve oaths, to
BE- not only unconstitutional, but immoral! |
deliberately reiteratr that opinion, be its value
what if may, without agtaing another grave
question, whether these combinations and these
extra judicial oaths are not strictly unlawful
I is very safe, kind of swearing for easy con-
sciences when no penalties of perjury are risk
ed. / am, by education and principle, opposed
/ to all extra judicial oatbs-havng been taught
long ago by one Of the greatest lawyers Penn
/ sylvania ever produced-one, too, whose mem
/ DRY most afectlonateIy noursh, that the ad-
minstering or the pronouncing OF any oath, eX-
cept by authority of law, is an offence against
the law. The example of this secret party is
making them fearfully common-this taking in
vain the AImighty's name--''thls rash swearing
not required by the magistrate" which the Wis
dom OF more than one Protestant church con-
demns. l am free 10 say that oaths of pa
ton are nearly as repugnant as oaths Of lnitia
ton and prescription. Aside, | repeat, from
all question Of law, the whole secret organiza-
ton is immoral, and degradingly so in this, that
it exacts evasion and sometimes the denial of
truth. If it does not now, it certainly did SO
once, in its prime Of youth and pride OF victory.
The obligation once was, and fear IS yet, to
evade the confession of membership If possible,
and if not, expressly 10 deny il ; and / have
myself seen instances of thus degrading prevar-
lcation which make the use of the word sim
moral" almost too gentle.
One other word, and have done. ] shall
look with deep interest TO the constitution and
action ofthe Convention which is summoned to
meet at Harrisburg in September. | trust its
action may be unreserved in the enanciation
OF principl ples--concllIatory to those who agree
in principle and REPUBLICAN in every SENSE
and most SO in this, that no whisper shall be
uttered no ntimation given, that can be con-
srupd into an interference with religious lib
erty, which the Constitution guards, or with
social or political rights, which the Constl- (
tuition recognizes.
am, very respectfully, yours,
VIM. B. REED.