The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-12-12

first step in the attempt is the forcible disrup-
ton OF country embracing in It's broad bosom
degree OF liberty, and an amount of individ-
ual and public prosperity, to which there is no
parallel in history, and substituting in its place
hostile governments, driven at once and inevi-
tably into mutual devastation and iratrcidai
carnage, Transforming the now ppaceful and fe-
llcltous brotherhood into vast permanent camp
OF armed men like the rival monarchirs of Eu-
rope and Asia. Well knowing that such, and
such only, are the means aud the consequences
OF their plans and purposes, they endravor TO
prepare the people of the United States for civ
IL war by doing everything in their power to
deprive the Constitution and the laws of moral
authority, and to undermine the fabric of the u
mon by appeals to passion and sectional preju-
dice, by matchmaking its people with political
hatred, and educating them Is stand face to face
as enemies, rather than shoulder to shoulder as
friends.
1t is by the agency of such unwarrantabe
Interference, foreign and domestic, that the
minds of many. otherwise good citizens, have
been so nfiamed into the passionate condrmna-
ton of the domestic institutions of the southern
States, as at length to pass insenSbly to almost
equally passionate hostility towards their fell
low-citizens of those States, and thus finally 10
fall into temporary fellowship with the avowed
and active enemies of the Constitution. Ar
IDENTIFY attached TO liberty in the abstract, they
do not stop 10 consider practically how the OBJ
Jects they would attain can be accomplished,
nor to reflect, that, even if the evil were as
grea. as they deem it, they have no remedy 20
apply, and that it can be only aggravated by
their violence and unconstitutional action. A
question, which is one of the most difficult OF
all the problems of social institution, political
economy and craftsmanship, they treat with un-
reasoning lntemperance of thought and Ian
guage. Extremes beget extremes Violent at
tack 10 the North finds its inevitable conse-
quence IN the growth of spirit of angry def
ancr at the South. Thus in the progress Of e.
vents we had reached that consummation which
the voice Of the people has now so pontrdly
rebuked Of the attempt Of portion of the
States, by a sectional organization and move
ment, 10 usurp the control of the government
OF the United States.
I confidently believe that the great body of
those who inconsdelately took this fatal step,
are sincerely attached to the Constitution and
the Union. They would, upon dellbpration,
shrink with unaffected horror from any con-
sclous act of disunion or civil war. But they
have entered into path which leads nowhere,
unless il leads 10 civil war and dsunion, and
which has no other possible outlet They have
proceeded thus far in that direction, in conse-
quence of the successive stages of their prog
reSs having consisted of series of secondary
issues, each of which professed to be confined
within constitutional and peaceful limits, but
which attempted indirectly what few men
were willing 10 do directly, that is to act ag-
gressively against the constitutional rights of
nearly one-half OF the thirty-onp States.
In the long series of acts of indirect aggres-
sion, the first was the strenuous agitation, by
citizens of the northern States, in Congress and
out Of it, Of the question of negro emancipa-
ton in the southern States.
The second step in this path of evil consisted
Of acts Of the people of the northern States,
and in several instances of their governments,
aimed TO facilitate the escape of persons held
TO service in the southern States, and TO pre-
vent their extradilion when reclaimed according
10 law, and in virtue of express provisions Of
the Constitution. To promote this object, legis-
iativr enactments and other means were adopt
ed TO take away or deteat rights which The Con-
sttutioG solennly guaranteed. In order to null
lify the then existing act of Congress concern
ing the extradiion of fugitives from service,
AdNo WIG EidItSu III many Etdtcc
their officers, under the severest penalties, to
participate in the execution Of any act of Con-
grpSs whatever. In this way that system of
harmonious cooperation between the auihori-
ties Of the United States and of the several
States, for the maintenance of their common
institutions, which existed in the early years of
the republic, was destroyed conflicts of juris-
diction came to be frequent and Congress
E,npa iFe.,H od ha e h.
Constitution, and the vindication of its power,
TO authorize the appointment of new officers
charged with the execution of its acts, as if
they and the officers of the States were the
ministers, respectively, of foreign governments
in state of mutual hostility, rather than fellow
magistrates in common country, peacefully
subslsting under the protection of one well con-
| situted Union. Thus here, also, aggression
was followed by reaction; and the attacks up
on the Constitution at this point did but serve
TO raise up new barriers for lis defence and Sc
curty.
The third stage of this unhappy sectional
| controversy was in connection with the organi-
zation of territorial governments, and the ad-
mission of new States into the Union. When
it was proposed to admit the State of Maine,
| by separation of territory from that of Mas
sachusetts, and the State of Missouri for
med of portion Of the territory ceded by
France 10 the United States, representatives in
Congress objected TO the admission of the lat
ter, unless with conditions suited to particular
views of public policy. The imposition of
such condition was successfully resisted. But,
at the same period, The question was presented
OF imposing restrictions upon the residue of the
territory ceded by France. That question was,
for the time, disposed of by the adoption of a