Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-05-31

J
people Of Chicago speak and tell us when were the
laws of the land executed with much hrmness
and fidelity, so far as fugitive slaves were con-
cerned as they are now. Can any man tell me OF
any one act Of aggression that has been committed
or attempted since the last presidential election.
tina: aStifes this disruption of the Federal Union
| ask you to reflect and then point out any
one act that has been done; any one duty that
has been omitted 20 be done, of which any enc
of these disunionists can justly complain
Yet we are told, simply because one party has
succeeded in . presidential election, therefore
they choose to co nsider their liberties are not
safe, and therefore they will break up the Gov
eInmeut.
had supposed that it was q cardinal aud
| fundamental principle of our system of gov
ernment that the decision of the people at the
ballot box, without fraud, according to the
/ forms of the Constitution, was to command the
explicit nbeienee of every good citizen. -
| loud applsuse.l Ii their defeat IN presi-
Dental election is to justify the minority, or
any poetion of the minority 10 raising the trai-
torous hand Of rebellion against the constitu-
ted authorities, you will fnd the future history
of the United States written in the history of
Mexico. according to my reading OF Alexl-
can history, there never has been one psesiden-
tial term from the time of the revelation of
1920 down to this day when the candidate
elected By the people ever served his four years
10 every instance, either the defeated csHdi-
date has seized upon the Presidential char BY
the use of the bayonet, or no has turned out
the duly elected candidate before bis term ex-
pired. Are we to inaugurate this Mexican
system n the United States Of Amerlca!-
mo, neverl Suppose the case to be reversed.
/ rha bnd nl loat
ed by any means--I care not what, if by any
means in accordance with the forms of the
Constitut on-at the last Presidential election.
Then suppose the Republicans bad raised a
rebellion against his suthority. Iu that case
. YOU would have found me rendering my best
Efforts 20 John C. Breckenridge to put dowu
the Republican rebels. Tremendous applause. !
And if you had attempted such rebellion, L
would have oalled forth all the power and en-
ergies of this country to have crushed you
out. Continued applause.
The first duty of every citizen, or of cIt-
lEeu Of any constitutional government, is obe-
dience TO the national Constitution and laws
of his country. [Applause.l ! have no ap-
prebension that any mau In illinois or beyond
the limits of our beloved State, will misconstrua
, or mlsundcIssand my motive. 80 far as any
of the partizsn questions are concerned, stand
il equal, eternal and undying opposition to the
Republicans aud secessionists. [Applause. =
You all know that am good parilzan fighter
iG partizan times Laughter aud cheers. =
And you will find me equally as good Patri'
ot when the country Is IN danger. lCheeFs.
d Now permit ine to say to the assembled
b representatives and Senators of our good ole
State, composed Of men Of both political par
ties, in my opinion it is your duty TO lay aside
b your oreeds and party platforms; to lay asld
o your party organizations and partizan appeals
$ to forget that you wore divided, until yol
: have rescued tie government aud tue countr,
from their assailants. Then resume you
: partizan positions, according to your Wishes
$ fApplause Give ne & country first, that tn
children may live in peace. then We will hav
theatre for our party organizations to opeIat
3 upon.
= We are called upon to fold our arms, alloV
;, the national Capitol TO De seized by mllitar
4 force uDder a foreign revolutionary flag; 10 se
2 the archives of the government In the hand
? of people who affect TO desplse the flag and
n government Of the United States. sD un
y willing to fly frorn The Federal Capital. l
. has been my daily avoeaton, six months in th
: year for eighteen years, to walk into that mar
BILE building aud from its portico to survey
II country at the north and that lying south Q
u II tue potonac. | believe that / may with con
t. fdenec appeal to the people of every sectiol
II of the eoontry to bear testimony that | hav
J been as thoroughly national us any tha
: has lived 10 my day. [Applause. And be
q lieve if should make an appeal to the peopl
le of Illinois, or Of the Northeru States, to thei
i impartial Verdict, they would say that what
7 ever errors | have committed have been j
- leaning too far to the Southern section Of tb
: Uuion against my own. EApplausc,l thin
'r can appeal to friend and foe--l use it 10
sr political sense, aud trust ! us9 the word fo
:, in past sense, Much applause.l | ca
er appeal to them with confidence that ! hav
Id never paudered to the prejudice or passion
nv section against the minority section of thi
u 7 Union: and will say to gon now. with a
At frankness and 10 all sincerity, that will nev
y, er sanction nor acqucsce 10 any warfare wha
s, ever, upon the constitutional rights or dome'
~ tic institutions of the people OF the Souther
nd States. [Applause.l Ga the contrary,
er there was an attempt to invade these right
nd 10 stir up serVile insurrection among che
=, people, I would rush to their rescue and II
terpose with whatever of strength might po.
of sess to defend them from such calamity
he Applause.] While will never invade ther
IN while will never fail to defend and prote
,as their rights to the full extent that fair al
cal liberal construction of the Constitution ca
ell give them, they must distinctly uuderstal
on i will never aoquiesCe in this invasion of OF
Ih Ihe constitutional rights.
e2 It's crime against the inalia nable aud
've deleas4ble right of every American citizen
na me attempt to destroy the government und
ien which we we're horn. 1t is crime agair
ted Copstitu tionas freedom aud the hopes Of
ion friands nf freadola thronghont the wide aor