The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-05-09
SPEECH
OF
EI- GOV ERNOR BIGLE R
OF PENNSYLVANl
DELIVERED AT HARTFORD, CONN.

should do injustice to my feelings, were l not
10 EXPRESS 10 you the qualification excited by
the frank hospitality Of the people, and by the
evidences of general prosperity and comfort
which have met at every point. Your coun-
try naturally rugged, has yielded TO the infiu-
snces of industry and art, until IFS exterior is
beautiful, and It's productions abundant. Your
manufacturing establishments, in great variety
the evidences of industry, are found interspers-
ID with the schooI-hooSp, the church, and the
asylum, enblems of intelligence, religion, and
charity.
must beg YOU to believe that have come
amongst YOU in no spirit of vanity. do not be-
jlrve can tell you anything which You have
no heard brfore, or tell il better. Ny pre-
srBce is rather to manifest the deep soIiciude
which the Democracy Of the old keystone feel
for the fate of their brethren of Connecticut
lest now engaged in a struggle with the COM
mos enemy. ] would aid the Democracy if |
had the power. | would certainly perscade
YOU TO join that party, and maintain its princi-
pIrs.
am, besides, persuaded that intercourse OF
this kind, between the people of the several
States, seldom fails to exercise most salutaIv
influence upon our social and political relations
It's certain tendency is to remove error and pre-
illicr, and 10 unite us in bonds of imperishable
fraternity. Why should il be otherwise! The
imaginary lines dividing the States do not mark
thr limits of people strangers 10 each other :
aor are they high walls OF deep chasms, that
thry NAV not BE- passed. We are mainly the
descendants of the same parentase; heirs to a
COMMON inheritance, actuated by similar motives
and impulses, and protected by the same gener-
al laws
am graifpd to find so many of the Demo-
Gratis Of Connecticut IN council on this occa-
sion. It Is che right of freemen. il is a cherish
ed fratnr+ Of our republican system that has
made such cgunselling together proper and Ne
Cessary. The Receive franchise, the medium of
s--goyrrnmpnt, makes each citizen compo-
nrnt part Of the government. vested with privi-
ifgrs and prerogativts, and clothed with respon-
sitlIllss, 1t IS not only your privilege to vote,
but is your duty to do so, and to understand,
as TAR as practicable, the consequences of the
suffrage YOU are about TO cast.
As an advocate of the Democratic party, I set
oat with the general proposition, that the best
Interests OF the nation require the-aScrndency
fits principles and policy, and the entire pros
'rs'on Of the uondfscript opposition. The De-
mocrd'ic party is not only the oldest, but It is the
luFest and most patriotic political organization
that baS ever existed in the country. 1t is the
only party now in existence, maintaining prln-
cllrs ami policy applicable to all parts of the
t@i0n. The scene before us is hraulliui IL
h>raiion Of lis nationality. One Of your guests
oo this occasion, Colonel Orr, is from South
(lr,iI.,,
boundary. Another, Senator Weller, is from
California, the Youngest membrr OF the family,
on The shores Of the Pacific, distant three thou
aad miles or more, and myself, from the Key
Some Of the arch. where the Declaration Of In
drpradrnce was adopted, and the Constitution
lfaned and vet, our principles and doctrines
are IN perfect hatmonv on every topic, and
have been enthusiastically embraced by the
Democracy Of New England. IN all past strug
giles, though occasionally suffering defrat, in the
end rs policy has been sustained by experience
aud popular will. The opposing party, by
Whatever name known, has been as uniformly
Wrong Whatever they did when in power
had to be nndoap; whatever they objected 10
has proved 10 be ~ise and proper fof-the coun-
'Ty. Now. we CommoH-sense people think
party Is entitled TO the confidence and patron
age Of the people. We never employ the me
chanlc or artist second time, who has ruined
lie business The first and the rule is just as
good when applied to the science OF government.
these, gentlemen, have always failed. They
ll5 50 IN my State, and in your State, and in
'0r whole nation and now they have the bold
nrss TO ask another opportunity. This shoald not
De granted. The lessons of experience are not
% be triAed with in this way.
But Tor the evidence of some of these asspr-
lohs, Thomas Jefferson was the author of our
iadh, and our first lrader He had great strng-
e. with Alexander Hamilton, the ablest lrader
'| Spe Federal party, at the time the govern
'"eA ~2s first shaped. The latter was the ad
''cate OF 2 system assimilating to a limited
monarchy; he wanted President for life, and
senator's Tor lie, aud other features consistent
WIN Powerful c4ntral system be- maintained
al|hr BfAiSh Government presented the best
'.oqel The world had ever seen but the views
~ jefferson prevailed, and hence our present
r9Piesenatige system. Party lines We're not
Tn,Faf'y drawn, however, until Adams became
f'Siueht. His election was triumph OF the
"7'hleS OF JefeTsaniaD Democracy. The dis
,I1uSuishing acts of bis administration We're the
|Heh and sedition laws Under the former it
.eq''frd ioorteen years probation 10 become
@''zTa Of the UOited States. and under the lat
"', a citizen was liable to be Lashed, or banisb-
~ - rom the country, for wogaS spoken against
"e PRESIDENT and other officers of the govern
.N' Indpr this feature citizens of Berks
I'up'y, . now The Gibralter Of Democracy in
TTtdnnsylyania. Td were punished But when MIR.
,u7'son came into the Presidential chair, these
'-'S were REPEALED. Were they in existence