The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-07-12

The seceders insist tina. our Constitution ad-
mis Of secession; others have assumed to make
a National Constitution OF their own, 10 which
Necessity thy have either discarded or retain
ed the right oil secession, they insist II exists
10 ours. If they have discarded it, they here
by admit that on principle it ought not to be
in oETs.
II they have retained il by their own cou-
struction of ours, they show that to be consis-
tent they must secrde from one another when
ever they shall find il the easiest way Of set
Ting their debt, or eGecting any other selhsb
or unjust object.
The principle itself is one Of disintegration,
and upon which no government can possibly
endure.
If all the States save one should assert the
power to drive that one out oil the Union, il is
presumed the whole class of seeded politi-
clans would a. once deny the power and de-
nounce the act as the greatest outrage upon
State rights. But suppose that precisely The
same act instead OF beng called driving thu
one out should be called tn seeding OF the
others from that one, il would b. exactly what
the seceders claim 10 do, unless indeed they
make the point that the one because It is MI
nority may righliuiy do what the others be-
cause they are majority may not rightlulIy
do. These politicians are asluie and profound
on the rights Of mlnorIiies. They are rot
partial to that power which made the Consti-
tuition and speaks from the preamble, ca ling
itself, ave, the people"
Il may we'll be questioned whether there is
to-day majority of the legally qualified yo-
ters OF any State, except perhaps South Caroli-
na, in favor Of disunion. There is much rea-
son 10 believe that the UnI1n mrn are the ma
jority 10 many, II not in every other one Of
the so-caled seeded States. The contrary
has not been DE- monStrated in any one Of them.
It is ventured 10 affirm this even OF Virginia
and Tennessee, tor the result Of an election
held 10 military camps, where the bay onr:s are
ali on one side ofthe question voted upon, can
scarcely be considered as demonstrating popu-
lar sentiment at such an election ali that
large class who at once for the Union and a
gainsl coe cion would BE- cuerccd to vote against
the Union. II may be affirmed without ex-
tGavagance that the Tree institutions we enjoy
have developed the powers and improved the
condition Of our who'll people beyond any ex
ample in the world; tins VIZ nov have
striking aud impressive illustration.
So large ar army as the Government has
on foot was never before known, without a
soldier IN il but who had taken his place there
OF bis own free choice. But more !han tins,
there are many single regiments, whose mem
bers, one and another possess fall PRACTICAL know
Ledge OF all the arts, sciences, professions, and
whatever else, whether useful or elegant, Is
known 10 the world. And there is scarc-ly
one from which could not be selected a Presi-
dent, Cabinet, a Congress, and perhaps a
Court, abundantly competent TO administer the
Government itself.
Nor do | say this is not true of the army Of
our late friends, now adveTsai les, IN this con-
test. Bot If it is, so much better the reason
why The Government which has conferred
such benefits on both them and US, should not
be broken up. Whoever, in ANY section, pro-
poses TO abandon such government, would do
well to consider ia difference to what principle
he IoeS il-whatha~ the substitute will give,
or b, inIendta 10 give, so much a4 GOOD 10 the
upnple.
There are meiforeshadowing on this subject
Our adyersaries have adopted some decIara-
lion of independence, in which, unlike the
good old one penned by jefferson, they omit
the words GAN men are created equal .
Way They have adopted temporary Ma
tional Constitution, 10 the preamble OF which
unlike good old one signed by Washrng-
ton, they omit owe the people, aud subsil-
tute "We, the Deputies of the Sovereign and
Indt Pendrnt States" Why? Why this de-
llbrrate pressing out of view the rights of men
and he authority OF the people? This is es-
sentlaIly peop!e's contest.
On the one side OF the Union, it is a strug-
gle for maintaining IN the world that form and
substance OF government whose leadIng object
is TO elevate ;he condition of men, to lift ar,i-
fetal weights from all shoulders, to clear the
paths OF laudabIe pursuit for all, 10 afford all
an uniettered start and fair chance in the
race of lie. Yeidns to partial and tempo
rary departures, from necessity, that Is The
leading object Of the Government for whose ex-
slence We contend.
am most happy to believe that the plain
people understand and appreciate these Il is
worthy of note that. while in this, the Govern
ment's hour of trial, large numbers ofthose IN
the army and navy who have been favored
with the offices have resigned and proved false
to the hand which had pampered them. not one
common soldier or common sailor is known TO
have deserted his flag
Great honor Is due TO those officers who re-
NAMED true despite the example of then tral-
torous associates. But the greatest honor and
the most importani fact OF all is the unanimous
hrmnesS ol the common soldiers and the com
mon sailors. To the last man, so far as known
they have successfully resisted the ranorous ell
forts OF those whose commands but an hour be-
fore they ooeyed as an absolute law This Is The
patriotic instinct OF plain people. They under
stand, wlthouE an argument, that destroying
the government, which was made by Wash
ington means no good to them.
Our popular government has often been cal
led an experiment. Two points in it our peo-
pie have settled. The successful establishing