Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-05-11

The nag OF the Union has been insulted,ln
more than one instance torn down, and
even trampled under foot. Most of us
were born, and all of us have lived, in
prosperity and peace under the protection
of the Constitutions we have regarded our
allegiance to the Union as second only to
our religion in the sanctty of its obligations;
and we have venerated the national stan.
dard under which Washington and ack
son and the host of gallant men who were
their companions in arms, or who followed
in their footsteps, achieved uudying honors
for themselves and their country. En-.
thusiastic applause.) We should be more
or less men if We could look with indiffer-
enco on these outragcs on all we hold most
dear. There is no justification for the
cause Of the Confederate States in over
turning within their limits the authority of
the Federal Government. They have no
excuse fer it. This is no time for elabo-
rate argument. Let me say in word
that no respectable defence of the right of
secession has ever fallen under my notice.
No man contends that there is any warrant
for it in the Constitution. There is but
one way for State to 60 out of the Un-
ion-thc way in which all came in-by
the concurrence of the common authority.
In no other manner can the terms of sep
aration be agreed on. 1--WE don't want to
separately Whatever preliminary action
there may be, it must come to this conclu-
sion at last. 1t is an omitted case in our
political compact.
The trainers of the Constitution did not
contemplate the dissolution of the Union.
They framed the government for them.
selves and their posterity. The repudia-
ton of the authority by one of its member:
was not for.seen or provided for. 1t is q
case which cannot be reached by its pow
} ers vested in Congress, or in the Executive
and the States are necessarily remittcd th'
exercise Of their united sovereignty, for tn,
} solution of a problem which concern
the existence of all. 1t was for this reasol
that committee, of which | was chairma
in an address to our Southern brethre
adopted at a meeting in Pine street, in Dc
cember last, recommended that the State
should meet together for consultation, an
if they could not settle their difficulties am
icably and preserve the Union, that the
should arrange the terms of separation an
save the country from the horrors of civ
war. We implorcd them to pause, in or
der to give us time for an effort to restor
harmony and f-aternal feeling We az
pealcd to them in language of entreaty
J which would have been humiliating if
It had not been addressed TO brethren of tt
:, same political family. To this appeal en-
C forced by the concurrence of eminent ci'i
zcns of this State, who had always bee
the most strenuous advocates Of Souther
), rights, the States to which it was address
d ed responded by setting the authority
the Union at defiance, by scizing the pul
lie forts and arsenals, by scducing Fedt
raj officers from their allegiance, and
one instance by confsticating the trcasu
of the Government. For months the
Z, outrages were submitted to wit no effort {
the part of the Government to resent
NJ punish them, in the hope that under Il
guidance Of better counsels,t those who col
Is mitted them would return to their alleg
ance. ] his forbearance, uuexampled
'e the history of nations, and falsely inte
10 preted into pusillanimous surrender of
y authority by the Federal Government, h
ne only the effect of invigoratlng the spirit
n resistance, until at last the slender for
y in Fort Sumpter was attacked-some 60
or 1000 men against l0O-and compel
as after q heroic resistance, to evacuate it,
Us (Cheers for Fort Sumpter.) The gala
'o commander of that handful of loyal III
Oh who sustained this unequal contest is
On fore you. tremendous cheers for Ma
IL Anderson.) There hangs the flag unC
~ which they upheld the honor of their col
'o try and its tattered condition shows
'ss desperate defence they made. (Enthu
l astic cheering
bo 1t is under these circumstances that
bo General Government has appealed to
=. country to come to its support. (We "
i, we will.) 1t would have bOen treacher
!, to its trust if it had not determined to
: hold the authorities confded to it.
no And here, fellow citizens, it is imp
ut, ntta that we should clearly understand