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

years. We have heretofore passrd through al
most every form and shade OF national parties,
but each seemed to vie with the other 10 steady
attachment TO the constitution and the Union.
II was immaterial whether Hamilton or Jeifer-
sen, or Adams, or Madison, led-whetheF
Adams or Jackson, or Van Burrn or Harrison,
or Polk or Taylor, trumphed. 1t was all the
same. Their differences. their contests, aud
| their triumphs, were either as TO the policy TO
b. pursued in the administration Of our national
affairs, or the construction of constitutional pro-
visions. In these conflicts there was even a
/ line of demarcation which limited both parties,
and beyond which, as whole, they never VEN
tured to pass. The people participated, and
looked with interest on the exciting events ot
the day, and at the heigh: and termination Of
the bitterest 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 il, or plotted the shedding Of American
/ blood to obtain power. During this long peri
cd OF political contest no such attempt was
made. If there arose the solitary bydra-head
of aboIitionsm, it no bigger than hands
breadth, and the patriotism Of both great parties
rppreSSed its fury, and consigned 1t 10 lnslgnlh-
canoe and helplessness. In all this time, there
was 30 Congress which failed TO make appro-
Priaiions 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 flame of tanat-
icism The most hateful and dangerous OF all
combinationS-that of religion and polltcS-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, aud widespread mis-
representation, made TO the honest people Of
America, they succeeded IN decrivng a great
body of patriotic men in the North under false
pretrncrs, and obtained their support, and came
into the Congress Of the United States with a
/ majority. Their first step, outside ofthat body,
they took in the namp ofthe EEigrant id 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 il, and when the hopes
of the black-republicans were running high,
when II spemrd as if war would spread bv de-
(
the casting Of a stone, the waves would be re-
peated and extended, until they reached the
utmost extremies ofonr country. 1t aas that
moment that tried the strength ofthr construc-
lion of our government. Mo5s and military
associations bad resisted and drfed the civil
power The Chief Magistrate of the republic,
with firm and patriotic hand, teu,prrng JUS
tice With mercy, and executing the laws with
4,
ding of the blood Of brethern, and with the re-
turn of peace in Kansas the ambitious hopes Of
the Black Republicans began TO Wither. The
spirit of desperation seized them. In THIS spir-
1t fhey hare iaid r,olent Aands ppon the conSti-
fufion, and gerpetyoted revolutionary act in
order 10 eHa6Ie them TO recommencr civil war,
and 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. if this could be effect
ed, then that homl for which Mr.. Snmner hop
ed and prophesied against South 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. The
dread Of the executive arm OF this country was
felt by every man, from whatever quarter he
might come, whose secret wishes and designs
were blood and piunder. The act refusing, ut-
der the circumstances, support TO the army,
was not only revolutionary, bnt was moral trea-
son against the government. RrSldrs, It bad
another aspect: In order to effect so prolliaate
a purpose, they were willing 10 clothr the Pre-
sdrnt with dictatorial pnwers-to put Kansas
under martial law--to place the highways Of
our country bv land anu by Sta at his single
will-in effect, to suspend the writ Of hnbeoS
CORPUS and TO allow no nan the right Of appeal
from bis will But this is onIy part of the
mischief contemplated. The backRrpuhlican
party never believed that the Senate of The u
nied States would concur in such proposition,
and, therefore, it is plain that their true pur-
pose was 10 compel the President TO disband
the army, and to let anarchy come with all its
horrors. If this is not so, then they are play
ing paerilp and fantastic tricks with edged and
dangerous weapons. IF they pretend 10 say
that the President could still maintain the army,
and keep il in efficipot condition, then their
act Was useless and nugatorv, and il would have
been more graceful and dignfed for them 10
have done that which could accomplish moth
ing except the qualification of their pride aud
the expression of their malice.
Bat our President cannot fashion his opinions
/ By black-republican standard. He will, no
doubt, preserve the constitution by setting the
! example of respecting it himself, and will take
care 10 preserve the Union against all attempts
| at its overthrow.
/ Let our countrymen cry aloud and spare not.
! There can be no doubt that the blow has been