Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-07-17
ADDRESS OF L. ]. GRAMS. ESQ.
Delivered at PcmGiic, July Nh 1861.
FELLOW CITIZENS:


celebrate with ringing OF bells, firing
lannon's, bontires and o.her demonstra
lions Of rejoicing. A day memorable i
the annals of history for on it was born
nation founded on the sound political AK
ionl-men are endowed by their Create
with certain inalenable rights anon
these are life liberty and the pursuit q
happiness; that to secure these rights
governments are instituted among mel
deriving their just powers from the con-
cent OF :he governed.
fain would dissipate every shadow o
sadneIs-banish aught which could maj
the festivities of the day, and in the mer-
nest mood, bid
"0n with the dance; Let joy be unconlined"
but have observed the dark and threat.
cning cloud which overhangs the land
lowering it with a gloom which may be
felt, and have noted the devotion to youi
country which has crushed out or sup,
planted every. other feeling save deer
soicitude for the welfare OF our brethren
and friends, who at the first call have
rushed forward to stay the mad attempts
Of those who would subyeTt the govern
ment, destroy the constitution and the
hws and render those traditions which
have so often filled our hearts with pleas
urable emotions-a reproach. To day is
no day for hilarity, for mirth, for frivo-
l0us anusements. The circumstances sur>
founding us forbid it.
RAJ But few months since the song of the
5papnr was heard and our granaries were
He'd to oyerflowing. Our marts were
crowded--on every side the clatter of
Hheels, the whirr of macl inery, the whisc
re of the engine, the sound of the anvil
md the ring of the axe, made the air mus
&cal with evidences of well directed in
dustry. Money was abundant, peace was
N all our borders and mems Gearts were
buoyant at the bright prospects for the
future. Suddenly fear seized on US like
asiiong man, business was paralized, the
implements of peace were cast aside and
the stalwart arm Of labor was extended to
receive charity,
"And there was mounting in hot haste tho stee d,
The mastering squadron and the gathering car
Went pouring forward with impetuous speed
And swiftly forming in the ranks of war;
And the deep thunder peal on peal atar
Aud near, the beat Of the alarming drum
Housed up the soldier
Why was il? Had Albion forgotten the
lessons of yore and sought to regain the
colonies wrested from her in '1G, by the
prowess of our fathers? No: but the
seed which she had sown in our midst had
grown, producing fruit-criminations, re.
dstrust, hatred and their
civil war. An issue far tran
scending in importance any Of the ephem-
eral issues of the day, because it involved
the integrity of the Union, had been
Forced upon the American people. Our
government Lad shown itself strong for
defence in its struggles with Great Britain
she had proven herself competent to un-
ieTtake 4 foreign or aggressive war upon
The blood-staned fields of Mexico, and
trusting that our people would heed the
parting advice of Washington, to regard
The union of these states as the palladium
of their safety, we had hoped that she
would never be called upon to show her
le|f proof against internal discussions
Tic doctrine, new and startling, that
State has right Of its own motion, to Sc
cede from this Unicn, has been broached
--nore-the action of certain States has
given the doctrine a tangible form. If it
Ee light. or il it can be maintained by
orce of arms, then our Union is dissolved, |
y-our prestige gone-and orr !
Editions and our glories, sources of re-
yret rather than ofhonest heart felt pride.
Leaving the beaten path, to glance at
his all absorbing topic, will, trust, meet
Nth your appreciation. If State has the
'iga TO secede, then the government can
rot properly prevent any State exercising
hat right, but if no such right exists, then
'ecession is but another name for revolu. !
ion. Revolution may be peaceable or vi
,lent, Lloodless or sanguinary. Those who !
escrt to revolution, do 50 with the un-
tha, should the government
lot tacitly acquiesce in their proposed !
bange of government, they must sustain
ne position they have assumed by force
i arms, and in the event of failure, suffer
be penalties oftreason. The rgM Of rcvo-
ufion exists in every community. Its exo
rcise may be justified whenever gov
rnment becomes suby ersive of the end
'r which it was established-the presers
ation of the rights of man but light and
Fansient causes are no justification. To
eny this position is to assert that our
'refathers were wrong in declaring these
nited colonies are, and of right ought to
9 frce and independent States; to charge
hem with needless and criminal elfusion
blood, and to admit that we are not en-. [
tied to the liberties which we now eniov. ,
Prior to the revolutionary war. the col. q
nies, though distinct political divisions
eriving rights through different charters {
ere integral parts Of the British domir, =
ID, and TO all intents and purposes. one :
Their contiguity, their sim, {
arity of language, customs and laws; q
aeir intercourse and trade drew them to. $
ether. They wei separated only by i'm, 5
mary lines, which served to mark the a
mits Of the respective colonial jurisdic- E
ms Their wrongs, and their acknowl- f
1ged inability TO redress them singly, S
nly strengthened the interest which each C
'iony felt in the others, and brought {
Put their political nnion, which was fol- j
wed by the recognition of their inde~ o
,ndence by the mother country. The C
eonies could have formed league often, n
ye and defensive; they could have ,odg- n
their respective sovereignties in new /
xernment, or each could have refused a
snter into any alliance, The represen- =