The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-06-07

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stitution without their tavorite provision in rel
card TO alavery Give them chance to Gecldes
between the ratification Of these proposed amend-I
ments to the Constitution, and the consequence
which your policy will inevitably produce.
Why not allow the people to pass on thesei
ouestions7 All we have TO do is TO submit them;
to the States. II the people reject them, thelTSl
will be the responsibility, and no harm will!
have been done by the reference. If theyl
accept them, the country will be safe, and al
peace. The political party which shall reiuseI
to allow the people to determine for themselves
al the baIiot-boX the issue between reVolutlonI
and war on the one side, and obstinate adheT-
ence to party platform on the other, Will as-|
sumo fearful responsibility. A war upon Al
political issue, waged by the people o. eighteenI
States, againat the people and domestic lnstl-I
tutons Of fifteen sister States, is fearful and
revolving thought. The South will be unit /,
and desperate, under the belief that your o6ectI
in waging war is their destruction, and not the
preservation of the Union that you medltate
servie insurIection, and the abolition OF slav-
cry IN the southern States, by fire and sword,
in the name and under pTetext OF entoTclRgI
the laws, and indicating the Authority OF theI
Government. You know that such is the pref
vaihng, and, may say unanimous opinion at
the South; and that ten million people are pref
pairing for the terrible conflict under that con-
viction.
When there is such an lrrepressible dscon
tent perpading ten million people, penetrating
the bosom OF every man, woman, and child,
and, in their estimation, involving everything
that is valuable and dear on earth, Is 1t not
time to reflect whether there is not some cause,
real or imaginary, for apprehension ii there
be just cause for il, in Gods name, IN the
name of humanity and civilization, let It be-
removed Will we not be guilty, in the sight
OF Heaven and of posterlty, II we DO not re-
move all just cause before proceeding to extrem-
tiles J.? #, on the contrary, theie be no real
foundation for these apprehensioDs; if ii be all
a mistake, and yet they, beiieviug&t to be soil
emn reality, are determined TO act on that belief,
is it not equally our duty to remove the mis-
apprehension Hence the obligation to t655pSmove
the causes of discoDient, whether real ofS1mag-
mary, is alike imperative upon US, if we wish
to preserve the peace OF the country and the
Union of the States.
It matters not, so far as the peace ofthe
country and the preservation OF the Union are
concerned, whittier the apprehensions of the
southern people are we'll founded or not, so
long as they believe them, and are determined
TO act upon that belief If war comes, 1t must
have an end at some time and that termina-
ton, l apprehend, will be final separation.
Whether the war last one year, seven years, or
thirty wears, the result must be the Same-a
cessation of hostiltIes when the parties become
exhausted, and treaty of peace recognizing
the separate independence OF each section. The
history of the world does not furnish an ln-
stance, where war has ragged for a series OF
years between two classes of States, divided by
a geographical line under the same NATIONAL
Government, which has ended in reconciliation
and =eunion. determination, subjugation, or
separation, one oil the three, must be the result
OF war between the northern and southern
States. Surely, you de 49, ~-r~e. - ~-stesr''sra
ale or su5iugatc ten million people, the entire
population of one section, as means OF pressrv-
ing amcable relations between the two sec-
iions
I repeat, then my solemn conviction, that
war means disunion-hnal, lrrevocable, eternal
separation. see no alternative, therefore, but
fair compromise, founded on the basis OF mu-
tual concessions, alike honorable, jus:, aud BEN
efctal to all parties, or civil war and disunlon.
Is there any thing humillaIing in fair comprom-
ise of conflicting interests opinions land theories,
for the cake of peace, union, and safety? Read
the debates of the Federal convention, which
formed our glorious Constitution, and you will
find noble examples, worthy of imitation in
stances where sages and patriots were willing
TO surrender cherished theories and principles
Of government, believed TO be essential TO the
best form OF society, for the sake of peace and
unity.
never understood that wise and good men
ever regarded mutual concessions by such men
as Washington, Madison, Franklin, and Ham
avid Of
want of patriotism. On the contrary, this
spirit of Cancellation and compromise has been
considered, end will in all time be regarded as
the highest evidence which their great deeds
and immortal services ever furnished OF their
patriotism, wisdom, foresight, and devotion TO
their country and their race. Can we no;
afford to initiate their example in this momen-
touS crisis Are we told that we must not do
our duty to our country lest we injure the par
ty; that no compromise can be effected with
out violating the patty platform upon which
we were electedf Better that all party plat
forms be scattered TO the wiEds better that all
political organizations be broken up better
that every public man and politician in Amer
ica be consigned 10 political martyrdom, than
that the Union be destroyed and the country
plunged into civil war.
II seems that party platforms, pride of opin-
ion, personal consistency, fear Of political mar
tyrdom, are the only obstacles to a satisfactory
adjustment. Have we nothing else to live for
but political position? Have we no other in
ducement, no other incentive 10 Our efforts, our
tolls, and our sacrifices Most of us have chill
dren, the objects OF our tenderest affections and
deepest soictude, whom we hope TO leave be-
hind US to enjoy tbs rewards OF our labors in a
happy, prosperous, and united country, under
the best Government the wisdom OF man ever