The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-07-26
FAST AND LOOSE.


session of Congress, the House resolved that il
would only consider bills and resolutions con-
cerning military and naval appropriations fog
Government, and The financial affairs connect
ed Herewith. The very next dav after the
| adoption of this resolution, Mr.. Lovejoy intro
Guced his resolution declaring that it is no par
OF the duty of soldiers of the United States tc
capture or return fugitive slaves, and il was ea-
tertained by the Speaker and passed BY ma
ijorliy cf the house right in the face Of the ru5
adopted the previous day. The resolution 81
Itsell asserts correct principle. There is Us
( doubt that the army was not sent into Virginia
to execute the fugitive slave law Bat lis Das-
sage was wholly unnecessary, and calculated
only to make mischief by conveying false I'M
Pressons as to the purposes, of the war. It's
mover is notorious as an Abolition agitator, who
intended to breed trouble, ana who desired to
go a step further by declaring slavery abolished
in all the seeded States
With the view, perhaps, Of counteractIng tn
evil influences of Loyejoy's resolution, Me-. AL.
! len, of Ohio, asked leaye'to offer the following
to the house on Mondayrla
Resolved, That whenever the States now m
rebellion against the General Government shall
cease their rebellion and become loyal TO the
| Union, it is the duty of the Government TO sus-
| pend prosecuting the war.
ResotUed, That il is no part of the object OF
| the present war against the rebeiious States 10
interfere with The institution OF slavery.
/ OF course, the reader will exclaim, the
! Speaker did not venture TO declare these reso-
luti0ns out OF order after entertaining Lovpoy's
resolution But he did do that very thing
He gave the rule a very liberal construction
when it was necessary to admit the resolution
denying The obligation OF the army to return
fugitive slaves, and very strict and narrow
| construction when it was necessary to exclude
the resolution affirming that II is no part of the
| object OF the present war to interfere with the
| institution of slavery. Why thus discrimma-
| tion If Loveioy's resolution was ia order, un-
der the rule adopted for the government of the
! House, SO was this resolution offered by MI
Allen. But the fact Is, Mr.. Speaker Grow al
lowed his prejudices 10 warp hIs Judgment
He waited the first resolution passed, and he
did not want vote taken on the second, be-
| cause IT. would have placed some OF b. IA.rT~-S
llcan friends uIsa2 2reeaoIe necessity of
toeing the mark, and putting themselves on the
record Tor or against Interference with the in-
sLituton of slavery.
We believe that Mr.. Allen's resolution ex-
presses The determination of three-iourhs of the
people with reference to this war--that 1t is a
war against rebellion, and Rot against slavery.
It's passage would have put the contest in its
true light, and disabused the mindS OF manv
Loyalty inclined Southern men with reference
| TO the intentions Of the Government And
particularly was its adoption expedient and
| proper alter the ndIscreet passage OF Lovejov 3
! resolution. The House by ITS action, has pla-
ced itself before the country IN the altitude Of
discouagIng the return of fugitive slaves, while
! by Implication 1t is not prepared 10 say that
| the object of the present war shall not be inter-
ference with slavery.
This is no time for equivocation. The object
of the Government should be 50 clearly and dis
tincty declared that loyal men can make no
mistake, and the dlsoya be afforded no ground
for fomentng and spreading the spirit of rebel
lion. Those who urge the liberation of slaves
and the con6scaIIou of property not only mis-
take the temper Of the North, but are actually
Iaborihg TO destroy the last vestige of loyalty in
the South.-Putriot & Union.
Curious Freaks OF AN ESCAPED LUNATIC.-
The Philadel phia North american says:
Roaming al large among the businesses of
the banks OF the WiSsahickon is white man,
who eight days ago made his escape from the
insane asy um at Roxborough. The unioru-
nate lunatlc was fearfuly violent and unman-
ageable when in custody. He was seen yes
terday seated on a cliff overhanging the stream,
IN state of entire nudity, indulging N uncouth
gambolS. He has been seen several times since
bis escape, always naked, and always armed
with large club He Is said 10 make his way
. Jb, ~, Al
hickon hills, and to be able TO run almost with
the speed Of the deer To escape from oit-
zen who the other day chased hun he leaped
five barred fence at a hand spring. He is a
very powerful fellow, as well as a nimble one.
Upon what he has subsisted for the past eight
days is more than we can say. The police will
endeavor to-day to capture him. The citizens
generally in those parts ale impressed with the
opinion that if captured he must first be disabled.
The police hope otherwise, and will endeavor
TO accomplish it. The maniac when last seen.
was bathing in the placid waters ofthe SchuyI-
kill, but moment afterwards, perched upon
the top of high cliff, he bid defiance to all
approach. The police now intend 10 try their
hands.
G-In the new Virginia Legislature, on
wednesday OF last week; rMF. vance, OF Ear-
risor county, offered the following resolution
in the House:
WHEREAS, One Owen Love;oy,a member
from Illinois, has offered resolution IN the
House of Representatives, having for its ooject
the repeal ofthe fugitive slave law; therefore,
be it
ReSoired, That our Senators in Congress be
instructed and our Representatives requested
TO vote against said resolution, or any other Of