Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-08-16
For the Inquirer.
Union or Choose Ye.

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dared to array itself in open day and assert
itself oy the arbitrament of arms, the long
Waged political contests which divided the tai
ent OF the country are forgotten and The heart
refuses to feel for any other cause so long as
the question is one os life or death to our
cherished institutions. On the one hand stands
the Federal Government, created Ly the Wis.,
DON of our forefathers, the wonder and the
model OF the world, toward which the long.
ing eyes and oppressed hearts Of the people Of
the Old World have for long years turned with
burning desires and heartfelt aspirations
On the other hand stand the enemies to our
Government. II matters little by what name
they choose to call themselves. 1t is enough
to know that they are opposed to their own
Governments and opposed to all who stsnd up
for the support aud preservation of that Gov
srnment It is indeed hard to believe that
among the sons and daughters of boasted free,
dom, Treason has found lurking place. Has
il verify come TO this that in our own country
there are men bad enough TO support and over
throw the Government which Washington
fought to establish? Pitiable and horrible
sight Monstrous and damnable sedition has
raised its foul head, and It's black-spirit even
now hovers around the sacred remains of sfthe
Father of his country" Shall Treason become
the inherit0r of Wsshington's home to guard
the precious mementos of patriotism that clus-
ter iherez SO long as hypocracy and perjury
could conceal the aims aud ends of Treason
each passing moment was occupied iu prepara-
tions for open revolt. First of all the arms and
ammunition belonging to the Government were
candestinely removed then the mints and
Custom Houses were more openly seized, until
emboldened by the success of its wholesale
pillage, it a. length threw off all disguise. and
Treason in its naked deformity wickedly as
saulted the Government that had unwisely
nursed its feeble infancy and nurtured its giant
growth. And then the wide world witnessed
the power of Treason invoked to drive from
bis post of duty the brave and pure and paN
triotic Anderson, with his handful of noble
men, FIRST by the ignoble attempt at starvation,
and then by the iercest instruments of malig-
nant and eowardly warfare. Choose ye now,
this day, ye descendants of patriot siTes, your
own destiny. Will you stand by your eoUnH
try, in this her hour Of peril, OF will you be
the slaves of Traitors? Think not of neutral
ity. viii you stand for your Country or
against ita Amid the wood clad hills and
smiling valleys Of peaceful Bedford, you are
as yet free from the attacks of open aud un-
disgaGsed Treason. God, even our Fathers
God, grant it to remain ever thus. May your
fields never be enriched By blood nor The ter
rors of invasion make your hearthstonss desos
late. But be not deceived. Let eternal Wig
lance be the price of your Liberty. Treason
has approached you. Nay, is it not already
warming itself at your fresides? Its footprints
already press your soil in stealthy tread-its
diluted whisperings are here and there heard at
the corners of your streets. Be alarmed an
time. Look at poor, bleeding, devastated Vir-
ginia. Look at Missouri, half strangled BY
the lrea son of her own children, and threaten
ed by blood thirsty invasion from Tennes.
ses Will you sleep in fancied security ms
til the Ueshes of Treason envelop you- Be
aroused. Even you are not safe. Allow no
more the smallest semtlsnce Of Treason in
your midst Frown down every attempt to
justify, much less to advocate it. Think not
that you can escape the general ruin, If once
the insidious doctrine of secession should pres
vail. Delay not to crush it, to silence 1t while
it is In your power. Be not blinded to the
real issue by the use Of false names. Doubts
less there in much to lament, yea, even to con-
demn 10 the administration of the Government
at such time as this But remember the
Constitution never contemplated that mons
strous attempt would be made to destroy it.
1t made no provision for such an exigeney.
No one doubts that the President is bound BY
all that is sacred to preserve the Government,
II this be granted, then it follows that he is
empowered to use all the means to accomplish
that preservation. The preservation Of this
Government is for you and for your children.
Will yeu not be prompted by considerations of
self interest, if indeed your patriotism needs
a stimulantl Recall to mind the clenenoy,
the tortearance, the forgiveuess of our governs
ment thus far to its enemies. But remember
too that thas day of grace Is fast passing quay.
For the life. the existence of our Govern
ment is threatened ,and now the day OF vengeance
is approaching. when bloody Treason shall be
glutted with the blood of its own adherents,
when even its abettors aud secret sympathi-.
sers will be caught in the meshes of their own
wicked cuuning,and our once peaceful and be-
loved country be crowned With The blessings of
peace and prosperity, fit heritage for the home
of Freemen, H.