The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-03-08

calls for the free, living activity OF living men.
II is great misfortune then, | repeat, that the
representatives OF the people chosen before these
troubles, and governing them, elves, as 1t wonld
seem, for the most paTl, by party views and
principles belonging to different state OF thIngs
altogether, should claim, nevertheless, to be the
only true expone nts now cf the popular mind
aud will through all these convulsIons and dan
gers, and 50 refuse, week after week, and month
after month tn make room for the people to Vi
ter their feelings in regard TO them, IN their
own name, and with their own proper voice.
Neyec was ttere time in the history OF the
country when 1t was more important that ttF
! people, m their original private capacity and
character, should have an opportunity, not on
/ " of thinking fo- themselves or the affairs OF
! the nation, bat ofexpressing also their collec-
! i've thoughts and wishes in a perfectly free
manner, ualramm eled BY all party techncaIl-
/ ties and walchwords. The national trouble
E.,,v upon rs is organic, Constitutional, having
I TO do with the very life Of the body polite
+ f requires for It's help, therefore, an organic
movement an the part ofthe nation itself. The
people must put themselves IN motloa. They
cannot be saved by herr rulers-least o all, by
/ professional politicians. If saved at all, they
must, uader Gods blessing, save them
selves.
In thpsa circumstances, sir, there has been n
he hearts oi many, for some time past, grow
ing desire, an inward cry | cay say, tor some
/ fit occasion and opportunity through which TO
I have the sense-the present sense of the people
taken n The subieci of our national difficulties
as they now stand. With this feeling l have
/ ali along sympathised from the bottom Of my
heart. Especially has it appeared to me deslra-
. bic and i'm portant that the mind OF nennsyiva-
MIA should b. known in this way not by con
! Suiting her representatives either at Washing
/ ton or Harrisburg, and not by appealing to her
! last State vote given when no one dreamed OF
what has since come to pass /; but by securing
tor the people az large the Opportunity OF spea-
king directly for themselves, in full view OF
our public affairs as they show themselves at the
present tune. | have waited anxtousy for
some u1osepeat looking to this end, which
might be without regard to party altogether,
having for lis object simply an unbiased expires
SION Of the mind of the people, 50 far as thsy
should see fit to give utterance to 1t In such Tree
way. In this hope and wish, however, have
found myself, along with thousands and ten
thousands OF others, wafnlly disappointed. 1t
ment of the Democratic party, IN lis established
party organization, to meet in any way what
,e .sa9f., .si,f s5se at ms timssh oPpor-
Tn,itv for hearing and knowing directly from
the 1eonl, themselves their mud and ieel-
iin., with regard to the present CRISIS. In 'h''
ciau, 7 could not bat hail with sat,sSctlan tue
calling Of this National Convention; and, whef
nv fellow ciizeos saw proper to send me he''
as one of their delegates, knowing as uIu' ."'
. snaciai object Of the occasion, and having 'n'
, symDaihy with If in my heart, telt i to be 10
I me IN the present uHcture duty, not OILY 0
n,tyi,tisrn but Of religion also, not to refuse %
: anDaintfnant Such is the spirit IN "hlch
= ,np, find m, self a member OF your large an
: r-snsctable body For ne this Is ne sImP,
: Derngcra,ic Convention. [ am willing 10 al
= .o,y it. indeed, all dnp honor a03 respect, unde
G This tine venerable title But / see IN 1t IA
- more tFan this. For me it IS the organ OF IN
= r4iversal conservative spiru OF Pennsyi iVa"'
y r. IS the first form absolutely n which the pee
III ple Of this State have had II IN their power
sneak for them selves on the state OF the NatioI
. since the beginning OF our present stronoieS'
4 tins resppc, It may be said to carry wi'h II no.
more weigh. Ihan the existing Legislature
= ihe State. or lis representation III Inc Na'oiI'
r Congress For these at brst sho" only Wh'
II was The viii of bare majority OF tue PeoP
4 in former and altogether different times; WheF
as this BODY springs directly and lmmeciate'
from ihr present will OF the people. II Is oo'
- we NAV saw, out OF the burdened heart oI II
4 country as # now stands. 1t comes fresh fFo
i the peonle, and Is animated with the eXistiI
So soul and breath OF the people more thah al
organization besides. There can be m que
- ton. moreover, but that il represents IN real
+ nav by far the,largest portion OF the popuI
.s ton Of the State For very many ihousan'
or FORGOTTEN all party names and dlstinct'ons' II
= as have lust declared it to be tor myself,
n Democratic Convention at all, strictly, Dbl
IN Convent1on representing the whole conser'
,a ,,sm Of Pennsylvania, in which all other gu
,;r tous are for the time sunk 10 one great pafP'
rs Of securing the preservation and peace OF I
ve country. Looking at 1t IN such hight, they
Of To,dr 10 rally around il with their hearts, a
.s TO bid it God speed in It's mission oil Pa'fio'l
lg, and love
nd In view Of all circumstances, then, the pr
for ent Convention well deserves to be consIde
a. of much more than ordinary significance a
he moment Let it only be true anI iahhinl
as itself; let il be but united and harmonious
Nv IT'S action let it show itself wise, JndicM
or calm, earnest, and firm in lis declarations, nc
m inc itself strictly to the one great object Of
,ed coming together; and, beyond all question
inc doubt. its voice will be heard and felt as vt
pa of authority and power-healins and ret't
an ing power-tbronghout the length and brea
1ch Of Tie land. i will be met with cord
'ro- grateful response from all the mountain t.
!, a and valleys, an1 plains of this broad Comm
- wealth. 1t will be recognized throughout
oil Nation, as the true aha Senuiur VoiC, - ,
of Gus old Pennsylvania, the Keystone State