Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-09-11
Remarks of MIR. Slenker.

heSESeQ, L hat the Committee OF Arrange
ments be requested to obtain copies Of the
addresses for publication.
The following extract of On address de.
hyered by Isaac Slenker. ESQ. was handed to
us with the request that it be published.
1--WE have seen how our ancestors estab.
lished this government, by successful reyo-
luton against foreign oppression, and how
its rights have since been vindicated against
the encroachments Of both England and Mex
ico. Bat the problem now is, shall we be
able TO protect ourselves as a nation, against
altrseires ?
1t is an old adage, and no less true than
ancient. that the worst enemies man can
have are those of his own household" In
ternal dissensions, whether in the family or
the body polite, are always of more difficult
disposition than hostility from without.
Our country, hitherto so gloriously happy
and prosperous, is now in this unhappy pre-
dicament No foreign foe invades our shores.
Health and plenty have smiled upon our land.
But the troubles in which we are now inVolv-
ed are the very worst that we have exper-
fenced since we have been nation, such as
we had never suffered ourselves, even in i'm
agination, to anticipate. We are in the
midst of q rebellion against our government,
and the blood of our citizens has already been
shed in civil strife. We shall be compelled
to test the strength of our government in or
der to see whether the commemoration of this
day shall be perpetuated to future genera
tions or not. 1t therefore behooves every pa
triot who participates in the celebration of
this day, seriously to consider the nature of
our government, its origin, its progress, the
blessings we have enjoyed under it, and
above all to be actuated by an indomitable
racnlnfInp 10 Iornaak;o
as it has been against our foreign enemies.
In a word, would have every one filled with
the spirit of '76, and to feel all the signifi-
cance of the event we commemorate.
As to the causes which have brought about
tkis rebellion different opinions have been
entertained, and therefore / shall say moth
ing about them on this occasion. 1t is suf-
fcient for me to know, that that ia no part
of our present inquiry. Whatever opinion
we may have entertained heretofore, the mo
ment the first gun was fred on Fort Sumter,
we were bound to forsake them as the incl
dents of past issue. New duties and obli-
cations Immediately devolved upon US. We
had passed the Rubicon, and we were obliged
to leave all political and partisan prediction
on the other side. Patriotism will not per-
NIT US now, while our country is in this fear
tul crisis, to inquire who is Democrat or
who is Republican. 1t is the duty of both
Democrat and Republican, to dvest himself
of all political and partisan feeling, and to
act in the character and with the feelings of
q patriot.
To illustrate, let me suppose that yonder
house was discovered to be on fire. The
flames were just bursting out of one part of
the roof. By prompt and energetic exer-
tlons it was possible to extinguish the fire !;
or, at all events, to arrest its progress so as
to save the adjoining buildings. Suppose
now also that at this particular iuncture | |
should come along, and all voices should i'm |
portune me to help to extinguish the fire
But would say, mo, cannot help to put |
out the fire until first know how it origina
ted whether it was the work of an incen-
diary or the result of an accident" Now
what would you think Of my conduct in the |
premises2 Would | not Justly expose my
self to the censure and contempt of all good |
men? Would the reverse of all this not be !
my duty? First, to do all could to help to
put out the fire, and afterwards, if | had the |!
curiosity, to inquire how it originated
Just so in the present situation Of our gov !
ernment: we have not time now TO settle |
among ourselves the question as to the causes
that have led to this unhappy war. That is !
a matter that we have discussed and quarrel |
led about for long series Of years without |
coming to any conclusion in which all could |
agree. A part of our country is in actual |
rebellion against the government. Eleven |
States of our hitherto happy Union have Sc
ceded from US and declared their indepen- |
ience. They have ignored this very day as
the anniversary of our common country
They have insulted and trampled in the dust |
that glorious flag which has been so long the |
emblem cf national greatness, and substitu- |
ted in its stead the meretricious badge of /
pseudo government. They have not only |
lone this, but they have marched large and |
hostile army to the very suburbs, as it were,
IF our National Capital. No other aiterna. |
i've, therefore, is left us but to unite heart
md hand to repel the aggression and put |
1own rebellion, whatever NAV be the sacri.
ice.
Whatever grievances the Southern States !
nay have had previous to this secession it is |
very clear to my mind that secession is not .
heir remedy. If they had a right to secede |
lnder the Constitution, then the formation /
md adoption Of that instrument was a vain
and the men who composed the
Convention THAI framed il must either not have
the relative position of the States,
'r they were ignorant of the force and mean
ng of the language in which they expressed
he result of their l2hors. IL the Constitu-
ion means what the secessionists contend it
loes, it is dead letter, and has failed to &C
,omplish the object which suggested the call
Of the convention. 1t has left the States in !
precisely the same situation, with reference |
to common object. that they were in after
he treaty of peace in 1888.
At the close of the revolution, during which /
he States had been kept together by neces-
ity for their common defense, the Union was
continued under what was called the "Arts- !
les Of Confederation" This instrument was
partially adopted on the 18th November, l777, /
md finally by all the States on the lst March, |
-70l. The Congress of the Confederation /
'oon found, however, that their form of gov
,rnment utterly failed to meet the wants of .
he Union,-that, to make it efficient it was