The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-10-11
A Great Battle in Massachusetts.

broke out, took place a. worcester, IN this State
on Tuesday last. If this prove TO be the fact,
| then fWorcester's laureate wreath" will indeed
become double chaplet, or the new coIonal OF
triumph will far surpass the old in the glory
and lustre of ITS Specification. 1t has always
been our opinion, that the 'fwar" was to be de-
cded in the North In what specific way we
were not sufficiently prescIent to ioresee.-
| There have been moments when 1t seemed not
| impossible that it might finally come even there
TO the dire arbitrament of arms. Il was not
perhaps much more improbable, than that
our fellow citizens in other parts of the country
should be thus engaged in unnatural conflict
Bat we believe now that The danger Of this is
gone by, unless events should taxa some unex-
pected turn, and that instead OF bullets, ballots
will really terminate the strife.
We do not mean to say that there may not
yet be many military demonstrations required
and executed at points in the South, before the
embarrassing contest in which we are involved
is brought to a close. But the extraordinary
and really unprecedented spectacle of two great
armies, each exceeding in numbers thU5e often
found in the field, actually at pause, and, as 1t
were, looking at each other so long, and obvious
y heSitatIng about putting the matter to the ABB
solute issue of arms, indicates an I1dlsPosltIon
to fight, ii fight can DE avoided, which IS credit
able to their mutual civil relations, and which
may before long be productive of the most bene-
| ffcIal consequences to The whole people. Moth
ing can be more certain than that, il they do
not soon fight, the weaker party must retreat;
and retreat means d!sorganzation and dlsPer-
sion, and is equivalent to the substantial aband-
onn,ent of their cause.
The battle at Worcester was not perhaps fair
ly pitched, but it vas, nevertheless, sufficient
ly definite in its characteristics to deserve the
consequence which we have attributed TO it.
For It involves, OF necessity, the political Sepa-
ration OF the constituent elements OF those as
sembed IN the Republican Convention and of
those whom they repreSent. No matter for
their nominations, whether BY acclamation or
otherWlse-nor for the necessities, whether fan
cIed or real, which put them upon the hard
task of attempting TO make most ncongruouS ac-
ton seem consistent and worthy OF public con-
idence andsupport. This is only temporary,
and cannot be repeated. The fact Is perfectly
patent. that fire and water are mol more antag-
onIstic, than were the motives and wishes OF the
two sections IN the assembly. Oa the one part
was the sincere purpose Of rendering honest aid
to the Government of The country IN ITS mortal
struggle with armed rebellion, and to render
such aid IN the only way in which it could be
efectual, in conformity with The Constitution
and laws of the lanG,-on the other, the mar
row and malignant purpose OF carrying out de-
signs which, whatever might be their Pretence,
could only tend TO thwart the objects of the
Government. And these, if successful, would
not only render reunion hopeless, but would
doom the country TO perpetual war, of char
acter more feroclous and destructive than any,
II l.
world In sholt, on the one side was patriotism,
on the other faaatrcrsm- From the examiua-
ton ,vhrch we have given TO the proceed,~sa,
MIR. Dana, Mr.. Russell, Mr. Lee OF TemPIeton
and Mr.. George S. Hale, who were consplcu-
Gus in the debates, seem TO US 10 have been up
to the spirit Of the OCCASION, and to have acted
a manly and intelligent part-whle the pa:ti
zans of Mr.. Sumner, far more Insignificant IN
name and Influence, will have, we doubt not,
due credit for their doings with community
deVotedlv trying to save, and anxIousiy await
lug the fate Of our common country.
We regret to say, that we have good reason
| to believe the latter class was the most numer-
Gus in the Convention. We rely for this state
ment upon facts derived from reasonable MEM
bers of the body, competent to form an accu-
rate judgement, and who pronounce that the
s'emancipation" element was considerably
more than majority of the whole. THIS o.
pinion would seem TO be confirmed by the fact,
| that Midsummer invited, as we now see it sta
ted IN Republican State Central Committee,
was not only listened to with appreciation and
received with applause for his offensive senti
ments--but that the element aforesaid so pre-
ponderated as 20 discourage any expression OF
disapprobation, from the minority. At least
so far as we have heard, was manifested,
though we are we'll assured that not far from
forty per cent of the Convention must have
wished him TO Nova ZembIa, or Jericho, or any
where but there. It is certain, too, that it was
only by adroit and prompt management, that
the abolition resolutions of Rev. James Free
man Clarke were given the go-by, and that this
explosive Convention was finally discharged
from the doors of the Hall, with only the hea-
w drag of Mr. Summers speech at its heels.
Nor, IN reference to Mr.. Summers appearance,
will it be overlooked, that the Convention it.
self invited Senators and members of the House
to take part II its proceedings, which of course
endorsed the action of the chairman of the
State Committee.
1t is not only IN vain TO cover up the real
state of the case, and TO mystify The people a.
bout evident facts, but we pronounce it little
less than criminal TO do so in the existing con-
dition of the country. Not pubic, but party
ends alone could oe secured by doing SO. We
have said that create battle was fought al
Worcester on this occaslon,- perhaps to some
extent unconsciously TO the combatants. But
the results cannot be avoided. Toe sepera-
ton between the conflicting materials of the
Republican party is absolute and inevitable.
Some of their own newspapers now unhesita-
.ingy admit. This paper long since declar-
ed it. They see the end OF its mission in one
point OF the view. and we in another. But we