The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-08-29

years. We have heretofore passed through al
most every form and shade Of national parties,
/ but each seemed to vie with the other in steady
! attachment TO the constitution and the Union.
4 Il was immaterial whether Hamilton or Jelfer-
4 sen, or ADAMS, or Madison, led whether
! Adams or Jackson, or Van Burrn or Harrison,
! or Polk or Taylor, triumphed, 1t was all the
/ same. Their differences. their contests, and
their triumphs, were either as to the policy TO
be pursued in the administration Of our national
affairs, or the construction of constitutional pro-
visions In these conflicts there was a
line of demarcation which limited both parties,
and beyond which, as a whole, they never ven
tured TO pass. The people participated, and
looked with interest on the exciting events oil
! the day, and at the heigh: and termination OF
/ the bltteIest rivalry, always congratulated
/ themselves that ours was the government OF a
written constitution, and that this Union was
[ safe, because there stood not in the ranks Of
! either party solitary press, or one single lead
ing man, who cunningIy devised schemes to dis
solve it, or plotted The shedding OF American
blood to obtain power. During this long peri
/ cd OF political contest no such attempt was
made. 1t there arose the solitary hydra-head
of abolitionism, it was no bigger than hands
breadth, and the patI iotism Of both great parties
repressed its fury, and consigned it to inslgnih-
canoe and hrlplessness. In all this time, there
was no Congress which failed TO make appro-
priations for the support Of all the branches of
the government.
But now a new state of things has taken
place. Men calling themselves patriots and
statesmen have devoted their time, their mo-
npy, and their talents 10 fan the fame of fanat-
icism. The most hateful and dangerous of all
combnatlons-that of religion and poiiiics-haS
been restored with an intensity which has been
unparalleled, except in the days of our mother
country, when heretics were burned, and in
| our own, in which witches were drowned.
By sudden, vigorous, and widespread mis-
representation, made TO the honest people of
America, they succeeded in decpiving great
body of patriotic men in the North under false
pretencrs, and obtained their support, and came
into the Congress of the United States with a
majority. Their first step, outside oftha body,
they took in the name ofthe Emigrant Aid So
cirty. The result was the shedding ofthe first
American blood BY American brethren in Kan
sas. Men went there armed to do that very
deed. In the midst of if, and when the hopes
of the black-republicans were running high,
when il seemed as if war would spread bv de-
:
the casting of stone, the waves would BE- re-
pea,rd and extended, until they reached the
utmost extremitirs Of our country. II was that
moment that tried the strength OF the construc
tion of our government. Mobs and military
associations bad resisted and defed the civil
power. The Chief Magistrate of the republic,
with firm and patriotic hand, temPering JUS
tice with mercy, and executing the laws with
L,,F oh.
ding oft the blood of brpthern, and with the re-
turn of peace in Kansas the ambitious hoprs OF
the Black Republicans began 10 wither. The
spirit of desperation seized them In this spir-
1t Heg haue faid rioLeat hnnds upon fhe conSfi-
tuition, and perpdrated revolutionary act IN
ordcr 10 enable them to recommencr civil war,
aud array one vast section Of this union against
the other, for the sole purpose Of obtaining the
possession of supreme power The process was
obvious, and was 10 be short.
They voted against the appropriations for the
support of the army in order TO compel the
President TO disband it. IfthiS could be effect
ed, then tIat hout for which MIR. Sumner hop
I'd and prophesipd against Souih Carolina might
have come, like the sad wall OF the suffering
and dying, first from Kansas and Missouri, and
next from the border States. Revolution would
then have become fierce and universal TIE
dread Of the executive arm of this country was
felt BY every man, from whatever quarter he
might come, whose secret wishes and designs
we're blood and plunder. The act refusing, I'M
der the circumstances, support to the arMy,
was not only revolutionary, but was moral trra
son against the government. B-Sidrs, II had
another aspect In order TO effect SO prodaate
a purpose, they were willing 10 clothp the Pre-
Sidpnt with dictatorial powers-to put Kansas
under martial aw-to place the highways OF
our country by land and bv sea at bis single
wll-in effect, TO suspend the writ Of h0bR0s
corpus, and TO allow no man the right of appeal
from his will. But this is only part of the
mischief contemplated. The black-Repuhlican
party never believed that the Senate OF the u
nited States would concur in such proposition,
and, therefore, it is plain that their true pur-
pose was 10 compel the President 10 dishand
the army, and TO lei anarchy come with all its
horrors. If this is not so, then they are play
ing puerilt and fantastic tricks with edged and
dangerous weapons. If they pretend TO say
that the President could still maintain the army,
and keep it in efficient condition. then their
act was useless and nugatorv, and il would have
been more graceful and dign6ed for them 10
have doae thai which could accomplish moth
ing except the qualification of their pride and
the expression Of their malice.
But our President cannot fashion his opinions
by black-repnblican standard. He will, no
doubt, preserve the constitution by setting the
example of Prospecting it himself, and will take
care to preserve the Union against all attempts
al its overthrow.
Let our countrymen cry aloud and spare not.
There can be no doubt that the blow has been