Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-02-21
IFor the Bradford Reporter.l


Mr.. EDITOR attended with many other
Republicans of this county the Grand Union
Meeting" advertised to come off at the Court
House on Monday evening the lIth inst 1t
was not mere idle curiosity which led me there
| thought with my neghbors, that if anything
could be done to restore peace to our distract
ed country, we ought without reference to par
ty predictions TO do it. | will freely ack-
nowedge that | could see no way in which
could act in the character Of peace maker diff
ferent from the action of those who had failed
and | candidly confess, in advance, that was
entirely opposed to any sacrifice of principle
or honor. But to the call for union meeting
were appended the names of gentlemen, whom
| knew in private life to be honest and honor
able, and in public, patriotic. If they knew
Of any measure which honest men might sane
ton, | was willing to embrace it, aud give it
my hearty cooperation. With such sentiments
listened to their speeches and resolutons,-
not doubling in the least, that the reporters
of the resolutions, aud orators of the evening
were actuatcd by the same considerations Of
general good as those felt myself And now,
Mr.. Editor, after reviewing the speeches, and
the resolutions adopted at the meeting as pub.
sent entirely from their purport. Mr. ADAMS
was truly eloquent in regard 20 the danger in
which the union was placeo,-but it is not
from glowing, thrilling periods or burning
thoughts that we in this crisis deduce convic-
tion. His apoStrophe to the stars and stripes
the symbols of American nationality. was
highly patriotic, and | honor the man who
could utter such sentiments But alas for con-
sistency and national pride. The stars and
stripes, the emblems of our sovereignty and
honor, were we, read. forty eight hours before
the delivery of this speech, dragged through
the streets Of Charleston S. c., tied to the tail
of an ass, and "none so poor as to do them
reverence" and few weeks before these same
stars and stripes were fired upon by traitors
while they we're waving over a national vessel,
charged with q national errand and carrying
out national purpose. And this orator whom
we honor so much for his ability and patriotism
vas On this occasion, stretching his arms across
the Alleganies-across Mason and Dixon's
line-across the Potomac, to shake hands with
those who perpetrated the treason Ought
not those who lead and direct the public
thought, to insist on the preservation of our
own selfrespect?
But in bis exhortations to compromise these
difficulties, he was no happer-no more con-
vinting. What is a compromise? If two par
ties differ, compromise is a mutual yielding
of extreme points,-a settlement on middle
ground. But upon what middle ground is the
North 10 stand in any of the schemes of com.
promise, yet submitted to the nation. Every
plan yet presented whether the Border plan,
Crittenden's, Douglass, AdamS's, implies
commands surrender, entire, total aud uncOn-
ditIonal on the part of the North, of its dear
est cherished principles, of its vitality as an
integral part of the union, of its honor and
character, and it's moral sense. How different
were the compromises Of other days In those
of 'S7, 30, '33 and of 80, the North was to
receive substantial good-Something was ac-
corded to its moral convicton-to its sense of
right, but now in the schemes presented by
the orator of the evening in his illusions TO
the various propositions of compromise and in
the resolutions he reported, not O single Sacr-
fee of the South was implied, not a solitary
abandonment of an extreme Southern position
was limited at. The North must, and should,
adopt the Southern platform, and consent to
nationalize slavery, to protect tin the terrific
ries, to accept the Dred Scott decision as the
true exponent of constitutional law, or meet
the alternative of war and disunion What
patriot wants union on these terms Suppose,
| Mr. ADAMS, that the South in 'S7 had submit
ted programme on this basis. Would the
North think you, have accepted it Would
there not have been one universal acclaim OF
! indignat dissent from so preposterouS and hu-
initiating proposition And to-day, is the
North less moral less patriotic, less acquaint-
ed with the Internal brand which slavery affix-
es upon all interests with which it comes in
contact? Who is so base as to emasculate
himself, his party, his country,-to turn traitor
to the cherished principles of long life, to
the promptings of free conscience, as to har-
Dor thought of compromise on terms that
reduce him to the condition of a vassal,- "a
slave. Better war, with its ten-fold curse,
than dishouor better determination than ex.
stence, when existence is coupled with shame
The Republican Sparty is to day, nullty, a
stencil in the nostrils of all honest men the
world around, it, in the hour of victory it sur.
renders to its enemies, like the cringing, spirit
less, imbecie slave, who knows not his rights,
nor dare maintain them.
There are many classes of politicians in our
land at this momentum how few there are
who take an enlarged and intelligent view ot
human nature, who, acquainted with the Sc
cret springs of human thought, predicate their
line of political action in harmony with the
mental constitution of our race. And vet, this
is the true theory of craftsmanship true
secret of political success Some politicians
adapt their plans to the cupidity, some to the
ambition, some to the religious preiudices. and
some to the patriotism and sense OF Justice OF
the world. The universal voice of history af,
firms to the success of this latter class, for
truth will always ViDdcate the right. Mr..