Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-07-17
ADDRESS OF L. J. GRAMS, Esq.
Differed at PemrilIc, July All 1861.

rh
osisbrate with ringing OF bells, firing OF
os"nons. bopfres and other demonstra-
,%" ,;oos of rejoicing. a day memorable in
,Ss annals of history for on it was born
ZION '" founded on tho sound political ak
;"",-men are endowed 10y their Creator
.;,b certain inalienable rights; among
,b,.e @ are life liberty and the pursuit of
I.nn;ness. that to secure these rights,
.a1arnments are instituted among men
5srivinr their Just powers from tue con-
sent Of .he governed.
P,n would | dissipate every shadow of
.,dne;s-banish aught which could mar
tba festivities of the day, and in the mer-
REST mood, bid -.
.On with the dance; let joy be unconiined;"
Int have observed the dark and threat
oninc cloud which overhangs the land
covering it with a gloom which may be
salt and have noted the devotion to your
oonntry which has crushed out or sup
nlanted every other feeling save deep
solicitude for the welfare Of our brethren
and friends, who at the first call have
rshed forward to stay the mad attempts
Of those who would subveTt the govern
ment. destroy the constitution and the
hrs and render those traditions which
have so often filled our hearts with pleas
ursbe emotions-a reproaca. 10 day is
no day for hilality, for mirth, for trivo-
lous amusements. The circumstances sur>
rounding US forbid it,
But few mouths since the song of the
reaper was heard and our granaries were
filed to overnowing. Our marts were
crowded-on every side the clatter OF
wheels, the whirr of machinery, the whise
lie of the engine, the sound OF the anvil
and the ring of the axe, made the air mu>
steal with evidences of well directed in
dusiry. Money was abundant, peace was
in all our borders and mems hearts were
buoyan. at the bright prospects Tor the
future. Suddenly fear seized on US IKE
ashong man. business was paralized, the
implements ofpcace were cast aside and
The stalwart arm of labor was extended 10
receive charity,
and there was mounting in hot haste; the stce di
The mastering squadron. and the gathering car
Went pouring forward with impetuous speed
And swiftly forming in the ranks OF war
And the deep thunder, peal ON peal aiar
Aud near, the beat of the alarming drum
ROused up the soldier
Why was il? Had Albion forgotten the
lessons OF yore and sought to regain the
colonies wrested from her in 10, by the
prowess of our fathers? No: but the
seed which she had sown in our midst had
crown, producing iruit-crimlnatlons, re
criminations, distrust, hatred and thell
consequence, civil war. An issue lar tran
scending in importance any OF the ephem'
eyal issues OF the day, because 1t involved
the integrity of the Union, had been
forced upon the American people. Oul
government had shown itself strong ioi
defence in its struggles with Great Britain
she had proven herself competent to un-
dertake foreign or aggressive war upon
the blood-stained fields of Mexico, ano
trusting that our people would heed the
parting advice of Washington, to regard
the union of these states as the palladium
of their safety. we had hoped that she
would never be called upon to show her
self proof against internal dissenslons'
The doctrine, new and startling, that
State has a right of its own motion, to SO
cede from this Unicn, has been broacheo
-more-the action of certain States ha
given the doctrine tangible form. II II
te right. or il it can be maintained 10y
force of arms, then our Union is dissolved
irevocably- our prestige gone-and ON
traditions and our glories, sources OF re-
gret rather than ofhonest heart felt pride
Leaving the beaten path, to glance a
this all absorbing topic, will, ! trust, NEE
with your appreciation. 1t State has tho
right to secede, then the government can
not properly prevent any state exercising
tha. right, but if no such right exists, ther
secession is but another name for revolu
ton. Revolution may be peaceable or vi
oent, bloodless or sanguinary. Those wh'
resort to revolution, do so with the un
derstanding tha, should the governmen
not tacitly acquiesce in their proposed
change of government, they must sustain
the position they have assumed by fore
OF arms, and in the event OF failure, sulle
the penalties oftreason. The right 2trcro
hdioH exists in every community. Its ex
ercise may be justified whenever a gov
eminent becomes suby ersive Of the enc
tor which it was established-the preser
vation of the rights of man but light ant
transient causes are no Justification. IL
deny this position is to assert that on
'orefathers were wrong in declaring thes
united colonies are, and Of right ought t
be free and independent States; to oharg
them with needless and criminal effusiol
oiIlood, and TO admit that we are not en-
atled to the liberties which we now enjoy
Prior to the revolutionary war, the col
onies, though distinct political divisions
deriving rights through different charters
were integral parts of the British domir
ion' and to all intents and purposes, on
community. Their contiguity, their sim
narlty of language, customs and laws
helr intercourse and trade drew them to
gether. They weie separated cniy by i'm
ssglrary lines, which served to mark tn
nmlts of the respective colonial jurisdic
uons Their wrongs, and their acknowl
edged inability to redress them singly
only strengthened the interest which eacl
colony felt in the others, and brough
soout their political nnion, which was fol
.owed by the recognition OF their inde
pendence by the mother country. Tn
colonies could have formed league often
I'VE and defensive; they could have 'ode
H..