Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-03-09
SPEECH OF GOV. PoLloCK.

- NStN ~ ~ " L OA4lASOlA'
Gent!smsn, .Nsmbss Of thls CoaveatiOa -
| thank you for the honor OF calling me to
preside over this Convention. Ny only pledge
| is, that | will endeavor 10 perform the duties
OF the position, inpartiallY and fearlessly.
| We have assembled upon day full of glo-
rous memories day hallowed as the natal
day Of him whose name is the synonym of hon
or truth and greatness, Of justice, liberty. aud
right. In honoripg his memory, let US initiate
his virtues, practice his precepts, and act out
those principles Of truth anu patriotism, thai
made bis fame imperishable, his name innloI-
tai Thus influenced, We viii be prepared to
discharge the duties OF this convention in a
manner worthy of our cause aud Common
wealth.
We are, and are proud to be citizens Of
Pennsylyania, yet We cannot and will not for
get that, 10 right OF our American naticaahtr,,
We claim the higher and nobler title of Amer-
CAL citizens. Pennsylvania, true to every
constitutional and confederate duty, has ever
been as willing TO recognize and maintain the
| rights OF her sister States, as to defend her
own. True to all, she tolera:es no sentimeat
OF disunlon; no traitor dares In hes, legislative
| halls or IN her popular conventions, even to
whisper that odious and detested word. Other
States may boast their traitors aud their treas
Un; may send Their ennnissa.ies from capitol
to capitol, charged with the dire mission of
hate and discord-may attempt to sever and
destroy the patriots hone--the worlds last
hope for freedom and human rights Our
Commonwealth, with heart full Of s.liberty.
equality and fraternity" frowns down the
treason, aud clings with all the fergor Of her
frst love to the ssUnon as it is"
We are here to day as friends of the Uaion'
aud the Constitution, as advocates of law aud
order, pledged to obey every Constitutional
requirement, to fulfill every legal obligation,
aud pledged to resist every attempt TO prevent
/ the due execution of either law or constitution
/ State or national.
/ We have DO sympathy with political or SCI
/ cial fauaticism, whether in the form Of North.
ern Aboli,iouism, or Southern slavery propa
gandismi we have 10 sympathy With fanatics,
whether they are john Brown and his confed-
crate traitors in the prisons of Charlestown.
Virginia, or the plotters of disunion il, the
Legislative halls OF gharlestown, South Caroli-
IA. We bold the rights Of the States to be
sovereign and sacred. Their institutions. no.
ltca! and social, are their own. We have no
right, directly or Indirectly, to interfere with
/ them. What We claim for ourselves we Weld
TO them, 10 all-freedom OF speech and OF The
Pfess-thc right, fall aud entire. to think--to
/ speak, to act as freemen. II this be treason,
let the supporters of the present National Ad-
uIinistration make TIE most of il.
| As a party opposed to the Administration,
It's wrongs and coIrgptons, our principles have
! been mlSrepreSented, our motives ipnnened
ana our yeraclty questioned. Our ayowals and
/ dIsayowalS have alike been diSeredited. We
have been denounced as abetting the mad for.
ays Of mad, bad men, IS enemies of the con-
sutuuon and the laws, and as reereant 10 eve
| ~ social anu political dpty. These charges
aro false, as the motives that promnt their nt-
terance are base and Infamous They sneak
their own condemnation. But so long az the
wrongs OF Kansas, and the violence and blood
that marked the atrocity of those wrongs. find
a place ~ hlstory--so long as the acts of the
National Administrations, in attemptinp. over
broken promises and violated faith, 10 force, by
the military power OF the Government, slayery
| upon an unwilling people, are not forgotten: so
long as corruption stains the Government CON
tracts, and reckless expenditures deplete the
national treasury, for partzan purposes; SO
long as free labor is unprotected, and free la
borers despised aud regarded as the mmud
sllls OF society, just 50 long should the ad-
heren's and apologsis Of President buchanan
speak softly their reproaehas of US, or silence
their SANDERS.
Recognizing freedom as tbs great centre
truth OF American nationality, liberty the rule,
ana slavery the exception, liberty national.
slavery sectional and loeal, wa believe it to be
our right and duty, by every legal and eonst-
tutional means, aud no other, 10 prevent the
extensions of Slavery to free Territories of the
Union. These are the principles of the found
ers of the republic, aud it is safe to follow
where they lead. These are the doctrines of
the Constitution, uf its compromises and of all
cotemp9Eanoous national legislation on this
Subject.
As corrollary to this doctrine, we hold it
to be the right OF the National Government to
protect, oy adequate aud efficient legislation,
the tabor, and all the great Industrial interests
OF the American people. This principle, as
party, and as citizens of Pennsylvania, we can
nor aud will not surrender
Honesty and economy have become obsolete
terms In The financial operations of the Nation
al Government. Responsibility is a word
without meaning, when applied 10 many of her
financial agents. The evil must be remedled.
10 retuke corruption and extravagance, and
10 SECURE honesty and economy ia State aud
National expenditures, are both the objects