The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-09-04
Speech of
HON. DANIEL S. DICKINSON,
TunkhannOck, Pa.

uF. IreS1Ueht, LsQ(teS ana GeHNcnleH:
Amid all the diversity of sentiment in
our land, there is one subject upon which
we can agree and that is. that our coun-
try is in a most lame ntable condition
our Government threa ,ened with disrup-
: ton, our Constitution with subversion.
aud cur institutions with overthrow We
are met here for the purpose of discussing
the great Interests of common country,
aud of determining what becomes us in
an exigency so trying and so fearful. |
meet you here not to discuss Slavery or
anti Slavery. Though an old line Dem,
ocrat, brought up at the feet of Gamaliel,
and adhering with tenacity to the prin-
clples OF Democracy through an active
life, yet come not to speak to you upon
political partisan subjects come to
discuss matter that concerns our Union,
one that rises far above and shoots deep
er than party interests or issues. We
have duty, my fellow citizeus, far be.
yond that of the fathers of the Revolu.
ton. They were oppressed by tyranny,
and they sought to throw off rhe shach les
of despotc monarchy. They hoped
that a great aud free Government would
spring up froD their patriotic efforts, but
the most sanguine never ina gined that a
Government so replete with good wouli
be the fruits of their beginning What
with them was hope, with US Is fraition.
They planted. and We reaped Their ex-
pertinent has become great success, and
we are enjoying, or might enjoy, such
blessings as Heaven never before voucl-
safed to mortal mn. But conspiracy
has appeared strife aud division are at
our doors and it becomes US now to see
whether the fruits of this great and be-
ne6cent Union must be lost or whether
they can be preserved 1t were needless
to 90 back to review dead and buried Is
sues There is great fact staring us in
The face, and with which we have to deal
1t matters not whether the origin of oar
difficu lties was North or South. or East
OF Wesl-the question is, How shall it
be dealt with and disposed of? In every
government, and especially in every free
government, political parties will arise
And it is well that we have them. So
far from being a curse, when restrained
within legitimate bounds they are bless
ing. The strife of political parties. like
the agitation of the natural elements. pu
rifles the moral atmosphere, and gives life,
and vIgor, and freedom TO our institutions.
There are some questions too great, some
| r. ha a of Ir.I
ties and we have many duties to di,
charge In the various relations of life that
do not appertain to political affair, but
which we should come together and dis
charge, as American citizens, as brethren
of one tie, aud not inquiring whether we
belong TO this or that or the other divlS
ion of political parties When we assent
BILE around the grave of a Heighbor, and
hear the words that have ,iveu so many
hearts, Earth TO earth, dust to dust,
ashes to ashes" and hear the creaking of
the cord as the remains are lowered to
their final resting place, the strlfes of
4 passion are hushed in the bosom, aud we
remember only that we a-e men inquire
not what were the political views of the
dead or living At midnight you hear
che cry of "6re!' You rush into the
street, and find your neighbor's dwelling
in flames 1t is found that 10 the terror
of the moment a mothe. has left her in
/. fant in the chamber The flames hiss
through every crevice, the rafters tu,l BILE,
and another and another makes the at
; tempt, till at last one is lost in the flames !.
E"ery eye ball is strained, every heart
palpitates, every breath is hushed. every
muscle stands out like whipcords, and all
believe he is lost. but finally be appears
and restores the loved and lost to its
swooning mother, but no one inquiries to
what political party he belongs. When
the citadel Of our country rs in flames,
when the edifce that Washington and
in flames, it becomes rs, whatever may
have been our political proclisitIes before,
to rise far above all other considerations,
and TO keep this citadel from destruction
| cannot afford to turn away from my duty
because political opponent is acting with
me, nor to stay back from duty because
a political friend deserts me. No; must
go on and discharge great duty | hold
it to be the first duty of every citizen, of
every party, 20 aid in restoriug-it re>tor-
ed it can be-this great and good Gov
ernment. Previous to the last political
eli ction, this country was at peace with
the world, and il was 10 the enjoyment
of greater privileges than any other Gov
ernment On earth there was no people sc
: blessed in every ramification of society
This mighty sea of happy faces before me
testiies to the fact that they have bern
in the enjoyment of civil and religious
freadnm And so Il was from the NORTH