The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-07-25
The Truth. Plainly spoken.

4
+. II. Pierpont, the new Governor Of
Virginia, has sent to the Legislature his
first message, fronrwhich We extract few
paragraphs, as bearing upon certain points
which we hear frequently discussed in this
region:
The fact is no longer disguised that
there has been In the South, TO, many
wears, secret organization, laboring with
steady perseverance to overturn the Fed
eral Government and destroy constitution
al liberty in this country The various
conventions held in that portion Of the
country, for some years past ostenslbly for
other objects, have only been the means
of feeling the public pulse to ascertain If
there was sufficient disease IN the body
polite for dissolution. The cry Of danger
to the institution of slavery has been
mere pretext to arouse aud excite the
people In abandoning the Constitution
Of the Union, the leaders of the movement
must have known that they were greatly
weakening the safeguards and protection
which were necessary t. the existence OF
that institution. What affiliations this
great conspiracy has had In the Northern
States, remains yet unknown. The spirit
which has been reused throughout the
North has carried all opposition before 1t.
But the extent of the reasonable plot has
not been fully developed. Before the de-
signs of the coEspirators We're manifest,
thousands Of good men sympathized with
the effort as they regardec it, Of the South
to maintain their Constitutional rights !;
5ut these have all abandoned them when
the true purpose was ascertained. If there
are any in the North, or In the Border
States, who still adhere to the conspiracy
they viii attempt TO aid its object by indl-
rect means by opposing and cavilling at
the efforts which the Government, in a
struggle for existence, may use In its own
defence and by attempting to raise pop
uiar outcry against coercion, and advoca-
ting IA peaceabie separation. y bold stand
for secession would hardly be attempted !;
but those who sympathiZe with the leaders
of rebellion will seek by covert and indirect
means 20 aid the object OF the -plratOrs.
There is only one question now for Amer
lean cltizeus to decide in this controversy:
Do you desire to stand by and live under
the Constitution which has contributed So
long and so greatly to the happiness and
prosperity Of the people, and tie transmit
Its blessings to our posterity? Or do you
desire the Union broken up. and an OIL
garchy or military despotism established
in its stead The leaders of the South
are striving for the latter The Govern
ment of the United States is exertiDg its
whole force to maintain the integrity of
the former. There can be no neutral
ground. The procIamation of the Presi-
dent calling for seyenty-fiye thousand vol
unteer troops is commonly relied upon to
Justify the ordinance Of secession. That
proclamation was issued on the 18th Of
April, 1861. 1t must not however, be
overlooked that on the 9th OF March,
1861, the pretended Congress at Mont
gomery, provided by law for calling into
the field force Of one hundred thousand
volunteers and that on the 18th of April
the Secretary of War of the Confederate
States publicly announced, that war was
commenced, and that the capital at Wash
inston would be captured before the first
of May. The intention to capture the
capital Of the Union was repeatedly pro-
claimed in influential papers at Richmond
and other Southern cities before the 10Th
of April 1t was in fact long a cherished
object of the leaders in this great conspir-
acy Did they expect the President of
the nation tc Yield the capital, and retire
in disgrace, without adopting any meas
ures Of defence? Yet Virginia, we are
told seeded, because the President, under
such circumstances, called volunteers to
the defence of the country.