Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-06-28

In view of these events and threatenings, what
was the duty of the Chiet Magistrate OF tue Re-
public He might have taken counsel Of the
revoIutionists and tremhled pnder their menaces
he might upon the fall of Sumter, have directed
that Fort Pickens should be surrendered without
firing gun in its defense and proceeding yet
further and meeting fully the requirements OF the
s. alonev policy insisted 10 tho South be
might have ordered that the stars and stripes
should be laid in The dust in the presence Of every
bit of rebel bunting that might appear. But he
did none of these Things, nor could he have done
them without forgetting his oath and betraying the
most sublime trust that has ever been conijed to
the hands of man. With heroic h1elity TO his
constitutional obligations feeling justly that these
obligations charged him with the protection OF The
Republic aud its capital against the assaults alike
OF foreign and domestic enemies he threw himself
on the loyalty of the country for support in che
struggle upon which he was about to enter, and
Dobly has that appeal been responded 60. States
containing an aggregate population of nineteen
millions have answered to the appeal as with the
voice of one man. offering soldiers without num-
ber and treasure without limitation, Tor the service
of the Government.
In these States, 500 900 freeen cast their votes
in favor of candidates supporting the rights of the
South, at the last Presidential election, and yet
everywhere, alike in popular assemblies and upon
the tented field this miilien and half of voters
are found yielding to none in the zeal with which
they rally to their country's flag They are not
less the friends OF the South than before bat they
realize that the question now presented IS not one
of administrative policy, or OF the claims Of the
North, the South, the East tba West; but Is,
simply. whether nineteen millions OF people shall
tsr1sly and ignoby permit five or six millions to-
oyerthroyy and destroy institutions which are the
common pr0perty, and have been the common
blessings and glory OF asis The great throughtares
OF the North the East, and tne "est' are summons
with the banners and glisteniag with the hayonets
of citizen soldiers marching TO the eapital' OF 10
other points of rendezvous but they come Ia no
hostile spirit to the South If called to prlNs ASr
soil, they will not ruffis flower of Ter gardens,
nor blade of grass of her fields in unkindhess'-
No excesSes will mark the footsteps of the ar
mics of the Republic no institution of the States
viii be Invaded or tampered With no rights of per-
sons Of property viii be violated.
The known pIfSa0Se of the administration, and
the high character of the troops employed, alike
guarantee the tFuthfuness of the statement
When an inSurrection was appreheuded a few
weeks since in Maryland, the Massachusetts men
at once offered their services to suppress it.
These Yoluteers hare been denounced BY the South
''knaves and Sagrants,'' s'the dreGs aud off,
scourings of the popaiace," who would ssrather
1ch handkerchief than ght an enemy In manly
combat yet We know here that their discipline
and bearing are most admirable, and, presume. it
may be safely affirmed that larger amount OF So
cal position, culture. and elevation in character,
has never been found in large an army in any
age coaatry. Il they go to the Ssutk, 10 will
he as friends AMI protectors, to relieve the Uoi0n
sentiment of the seeded States from the cruel do
mination by which it is oppressed ami sencsd,
unfurl the stars and stripes in the midst of those
WHO long to look upon them, and to restore the
hlg that bears them the forts aad arsenaIs from
which disloyal hands have torn it. Their mission
will he of peace, unless wicked aud blood
thirsty men shall uusheath the sword across their
pathway.
1t is in vain for the Revoutionsts to exellim
that this is ssniidgation." 1t is So precisely in
the sense in which you and | and all liw-abiding
citizens are suljugated. The people Of the South
are brethren, and while obey the laws enact
cd by our joint authority, aud keep compact to
which VIZ are all parties, only ask that they
shall be required to do the same. We believe that
their safety demands this; we know that does.
We impose no burdeR which we ourselves do not
bear, we claim no privilege or blessing which our
brethren of the South shall not equally share
Their country is our country, and ours is theirs;
and that unity of both country and of Government
which the providence of God and the compacts of
men have created, we could NOT ourselves, without
self immolation, destroy; Gor can We permit 1t to
be destroyed by Others.
Equally vain is it for them to declare tha,
they only wish "to be lot alone," and that il
establishing the Independence of the Seeded
States, they do those which remain in tht
/, old ConfederacY no harm. The Free States
| il allowed the opportunity of doing SO, vii
undoubtedly conceds every guaranty needed t
| afford complete protection 20 the institution.
| Of the South, aud furnish assurances If .he
perfect equality 10 the :Union; bat all suct
guarantees and assurances; are now openly
spurued, aRd the only Southern right now 10
sisted on Is that of dismem5erlpg the Repub
lie. it ia perfectly certain that in the at
tempted exercise Of this right neither States
nor statesmen will be "let alone" Shoult
n he efr and aaaE xuit
an AK to hew an arm and leg from my body
] would no less resist hin because, 3, q dis
hoDored and helpless trpnk, ] might perehSpc
survive the mutilaslou. It is easy - percelVt
| what fatal results TO the old Confederac
would follow should rho blow row struck a
its integrity ultimately triumph. We ca
we'll understand what degradation it woul
bring il abroad and weakness at home; wha
exhaustion from incessaut war and standu
| armies, and from the erection of ratification
along The thousands of miles OF new frontier
| what embsrrassments to commerce from haVip
its natural channels Incumbered or ent of
| what elements of disntegrgtion aud revolution
would be introduced from the pernieions exam
pie; and, above all, what humiliation Woul
cover the whole American people for bavin
failed in their great mission TO demoDstra.
before the world the capacity Of our racs 70
self government.
While far more fearful responsibility ba
fallen upon President Lincoln than upon en-
j OF his predecessors, il must be- admitted tha
he has met il with promttude and fearlessness
Cicero 10 one Of 4is oratioDs against Oatilne
speaking Of the credit due himself for hayin
suppressed ths conspiracy of that srob-t traitor
said, ''if the glery Of bin Who founded Rom
was great. how much greater should be sha
of hlm WAC bad saved il from overthrow afte
it had grown TO be the mistress of the worldl'
50 it may be said Of the glory Of that states
nlu OF chieftain who shall snatch this rePIb
lie from the vortex os revolution, DOv tha