Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-07-18
Speech of Mr.. Etheridge.

On Thursday night, after the organization
of the House of Representatives, the friends
of Messrs, Grow and Etheridge, the newly
elected officers, comp mpimented them with a
serenade. Both of them responded in ap.
propriare and patriotic speeches. After lis
teDing to Mr.. Grow at the National Hotel,
the assemblage called oR the Hon. Emerson
Etheridge, and marched across the street.
where, on balcony of a private house, Nh
Etheridge was introduced. He said =
my fellow countrymen. know this is
not on my account, but because you love our
ceunsry. know of nothing that gives one
more pain than to ba under debt Of graft
tude he dees not know how to pay.
This morning the sun rose upon people
that if all had been true to God and the Con
stitutiop, would be the most prosperous peo>
pie on the face of the earth. But in an evil
hour ambition creps into the breast of the
meauest of Gods creatures, and then they
plotted to destroy our Capital, but they have
not struck terror to the heart of the North.
This morning, part of the army of the
Union marched along the street, and no one
saw those men but felt that our flag would
never trail in the dust in the city that bears
the sacred name Of Washington. The peo-
pie of the North are all loyal. But yester.
day we had no army, and could not realize
that treason would rear it's head until it wo'd
even stain our flag with blood. When that
occurred legiors of armed men leaped forth,
and the cry ia still they com.
The impatient cry is, Let US move on: we
will live and die for the interests of our coun-
try. Secession has nothing to live upon
Il csnu ma nsain ITSELF for its advocates
dare not look up to God for aid while they
are tr, NJ 70 set this world op fire. they will
never receive strength from On high. The
three months men will find out the lying Ges-
ception used to induce them to take up arms
and they will return home to work, but their
leaders will be offered up (Terrifc cheering)
Yes, they must be offered Up. The public
safety and the good of the country demar it.
If the traitors had been stranged when born
we should Lever have had this crisis. | new
ever met man who stood by the Constitu-
ton that could not grasp by the hand as
brother
Eghty-6ve years age, legions were upri>
sing to maintain our independence, and this
is the most important epoch since that peri
cd. Will we not maintain it now? We
shall have the approval from heaven Here
after 10 one can point to our children and
say, you are the con of traitor.
Never, in the history of the world, has
any nation displayed SO much energy as we
have in the last sixty days. Napoleon after
his flight from Elba, with all the crazy en-
thusiasm his name instilled into the people,
never could have raised such an army in
such space of time. Go on In less than
one year you will return, having planted the
flag of our country ON every hill top in the
Union.
When the Government was formed the first
speaker of the House Of Representatives, Mr..
Muhlenberg, was taken from the Old Key
stone State, and row in the hour of danger
we have again appealed to her. We asked
for aid and we now lear her columns of
armed men laundering down through Vir~
ginia with an irresistible force.
1t has been said that am fugitive. The
assertion is false. Like MacGregor, where
ever the American flag waves, can say
with him, that stand upon my native heath.
In my own home the spirit of General Jack
500 still lives and the declaration of the hero
of New Orleans will soon be made good
:" By the eternal, the Union must and shall
be preserved"
This is no time for argument. Persuasion
has been rejected and entresty has done no
good. They have invoked the sword, now
let them feelit. For myself, l defy all the
promises OF wealth they may offer. They
cannot weaken my love of the country
When am no longer an American citizen,
and anarchy reigns where now all is order,
then will say there is no God," but that
trouth is crushed to earth. / will then go
through the world seeking to keep my con-
science clear. and die with my hands pure,
and with name worthy the confidence of
my fellow ceuntrymen. Tremendous cheers
ing.)
pG The State Of Indiana will soon have
twenty three regiments in the field, aggre-
0atinO nvar twantv.fhrea fhnurand roon -