The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-12-03
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT b.
CHANAN.
W4snlNeroS, a2d Nov, 1858.

WasniNGToS, 22d Nov, 1858.
TGEETLeMES ~ have bad the horror TO re-
Ceive you invitation to be present on the 25fh
instant, at the Centennial Anniversary of the
capture of Fort Ouqutsne; and regret that the
pressure OF public affairs, at a period 50 near
the meeting of Congress renders IT impossible
that should enjoy this privilege.
Every patriot must rejoice whilst rejecting
upon The unparalleled progress OF onr country
within the last century. What vas, al IFS
commencement, an obscure fort bryond the
western frontier OF civilization, has now be-
come the Centre Of populons commercial aud
msnnfact uring city sendirg IFS productions 10
large and prosperous sovereign States still fur
thtr west, whose territories were then vast
unexpored and silent wilderness
Fiom the stand point at which W. arrived
tRe anxious patiioi seannot fall, whilst review
ing the past to cast glance INTO The future,
and to speculate upon what nay be the condi-
tlon OF our beloved country, when our poster
Iity shall assemble TO celebrate the second Cen
trnial Anniversary Of The capture of Fort Du-
qufsne. Shall our W4ole country then com
pose one united nation more popnlouS, more
powerful and Tree than any other that has ev-
rr existed Or will the confedpracy have
been rent asunder and divided into groups Of
hostile and jealous States! Or may II not b..
possible that ere the next celebration all the
/ fragments exhausted By internecine conflicts
yuIlh each other, may have finally reunited and
sought refuge under The shelter of one great O.
vershadowing Drspotism
These questions will, | firmly believe unItI
| the Proyiden Ct God, be virtually decided by
| the present generation. We have reached a
crisis when upon their action depends ,he pres
ervaton Of the Union according TO The letter
AMI spirit Of th- constitution aud Ibis once
gone, all is l1s.
| regret 10 say that The present onens are
| far from propilious In the last age OF the r.
public ii was considered almost ttrasonabr 10
pronounce the word Disunioa. Times have
changed sadly since and no~ Disunion is free
/ ly prescribed as the remedy for esanescen evils
real, or mnag inafy, which, left 10 thruisel-
yes would speedily vanish away in the progress
| of events.
| Our revolutionary fathers passed away and
/ The generation next after them who were IN
/ spTrd by their personal counsrl and example,
have nearly disappeared. The present genera
| tion, deprived Of these lights must, whe,h-r
they Will or not, decide the fate Of their poster
ity. Let them cherish the Union in the heart
% their hearts let them resist every meas are
which may tend 10 relax or dissolve IFS bones,
let the citizrns Of different States cultivat feel
ings OF kindness and forbeaFance towards each
other land let all resolve to transmit it TO their
descendants in the form and spirit they have in
herted it from their forefather5; and all will
then be well for our county in future times.
shall assume the privilege OF advancing
Yeas IN reference to another growing and daH-
gerous evil. In the last age, although our ia
lhrrS, like ourselves Were divided into po!iti
cal parties which often had severe conflicts
with each other, yet We never heard, until
within recent period, of the employment Of
money 10 carry elections. Should this prac-
tlce increase until the voters and their reprrsen-
satives in HE State and National legislatures
thali become infected, the fountain OF tree Gov
ernmrnt viii then be poisoned in its source, and
we must end as history praves. in a military
desPoism. A Democratic Republic, all agree,
cannot long survive unless sustained By public
virtue. When this 5 corrupted aad the peo-
pie become venal, there IS cancer at thr root
of the tree of liberty which will cause II TO
withrT and die.
Praying Almighty God, that your remote
Posteriiy may continue century after century,
for ages yet TO come, TO celebrate the anniver-
sary Of the capture of Fort Du9uysae in peace
and prosperity under the protecting tanner Of
the Constitution and the Union,
! remain. very respectfully, yonr friend,
JAMES BUCHANAN,