The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-04-02

abilities of Judge Black. lie Is known 10 The
whole country as one the first lawyers in the
Union, and is particularly distinguished Tor The
powerful and ready manner in which he wields
his pen. When he puts down fact as law the
country may depend upon II that It will stand
the test Of investigation. But his letter speaks
Tor itself more eloquently than any man can
speak for it
WAsnNGToN, March 3, 1888.
Genfismea Your letter, inviting me TO the
meeting called for tomorrow evening at Tam
many Hall, finds NE 50 engaged, that much as
| wish to accept ii, my duties will not permit
me 10 do SO.
Two months ago the Democracy, and with
il the laws Of the country, seemed 10 be in i'm
minent danger of defeat on the Kansas question.
The President met the peril with the hrmness
which became his character. He made the
law of the land "a lamp to his feet and guide
TO his path" His conduct has already receiv-
ed that general appreciation which an intelli-
gent people always bestow upon statesman
who stands boldly up for the right. few
weeks of discussion has swept away the SophiStGy
with which the admission OF Kansas was at first
opposed; the legality of the proceedings TO form
the Constitution at Lecompton Is almost unl-
yeTsaIly admitted, and the attenuated theory
about the incapacity Oft people to delegate
their power 10 convention has almost dlSap-
peaTed from the face of the earth. The advo-
Gates OF continued disorder in Kansas, and con-
tinued agitation elsewhere, have found their
cause 100 weak TO carry them, and to heavy 10
be carried by them. They must give ii up, for
that is all they can do.
That the public will may be expressed through
a convention or legislative body, properly cho-
sen; that every vote OF the people ln their Pflma-
rY capacity must be authorized and regulated
by law that no government can be changed by
tumulluods and irregular expression OF hatred
and contempt for its authority these are vital
truths which lie at the foundation OF social or
der and of all true liberty Other republics
have fallen, because they did not or would not
see the distinction betwee legal and illegal
expression of popular sentiment; aud if we
mean to demonstrate that our representative
system is practicable thing, W. must take the
advice OF Washington, and steadily discounten-
ance all irregular opposition to the acknowledg-
ed authority Of The Government. We must
obey the established law while it continues to
be The law. A majority may alter or amend it,
but no number OF men, however large, should
be permitted to break it.
Our fathers, when they made the Constitu-
ton, saw that this was the point Of danger. They
therefore invested the Chief Magistrate with
large powers; placed the army and navy under
his command gave him the control OF all the
Executive and Ministerial Offices, and then swore
him to use all his power for the purpose Of see-
ing the laws faithfully executed. If there ever
was a period in our history when this oath
should be religiously kept, it IS now. A fran
tic spirit of turbulence and disorder has spread
through the country like an epidemic, breaking
out in different forms in different places. The
Nrpi "a l,tu ISs,,n
foot in New England. In Utah the Mormons
are in arms, and In Kansas there is open and
avowed rebellion Not long ago, the great
city OF San Francisco was completely subuga-
ted by secret society which hung and banished
all who fell under its dspleasure. The fright
iul riots at Louisville, St. Louis and Baltimore
are fresh IN every ones recollection, nor can
ii be forgotten that, here in the Capital of the
Nation, 50 late as last June, an organized band
OF ruihans were bold enough TO provoke a NOR
tai conflict with the public authorities. Is this
time TO give back ?-Shall We now surren-
der the law TO the mercy of It's eneniies2 l
deyoutly believe that if the Administration
had tallered in It's duty, or if the people had re-
fused 10 sustain IT in sustaining the laws, the
last chapter IN the hisorysot American liberty
might have been written before the end of anoth-
year.
Ii there be any law more sacred than another
is that which regulates the elective franchise,
and gives effect to the will Of the people when
legally expressed. The struggle through which
We have just passed was TO save this law from
violation. Ii portion OF the people can re-
fuse to go to the polls @and afterwards set at
naught the work Of those who do go, the cleo
ton laws are a mere mockery.
Some of the Presidents opponents, finding
their technical ground too sandy 10 support
them, are falling back on charges of fraud,
What this may mean | know not.-Il is a
slander OF the Chief Magistrate, an insult to Con-
gress, libel on the Democratic party to say
that they, or either of them, ever did, or ever
will encourage, tolerate, or look with the least
degree ofallowance on any species Of cheating
or dishonesty. Let every election return in
Kansas, or elsewhere, be scrutinized with the
keenest severity, and if fraud can be detected,
the best effort the Administration can legally
and constitulonally make TO right the wrong
and punish the wrong-doers, will not be wan
ting.
But | repeat my assurance that we are past
the crisis. The Administration will be sustain
ed by the deliberate judgment OF Congress, by
The unbroken heart Of the Democracy, by the
common sense OF the whole people. Whateve.
may be Mr.. Buchanan's fate hereafter, it is not
written in the book of his destiny, that he shall
ever be weakened by doing his duty on the
Kansas question. : If his Administration is TO
be put down, Mr.. Lane and his hackers are
decidedly not the men to do it.
The Abolitionists of Kansas have taken an
appeal from the balot-box to the bowie knife |
from the peacelul,l l,lorderly and legal decision of