The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-07-19
DUTIES OF THE AMERICAN CITIZEN
in TIE PRESENT CRISIS.

These duties are many. But at present We
shall mention only four, viz -
J. Sustain the Constitution and Lqtcs, and the
GoUernmeDt that administers them.
Men who regard the war as ruinous eItor,
conceived in wrong on the part OF the North,
and resulting necessarily ia danger II act de-
slruction to the best interests OF the county,
are nevertheless American citizens, and such
owe allegiance to The government under which
they i've. The bitter nrss OF party feeling is
doubtless one Of the causes ofthe war That same
bitterness leads to branding as TRAITORS men who
adhere to old and tired principles. Let not the
same bitterness affect true men who differ from
the partyin power. Let them SEEK by all prop
Fl means to change the war-sPirlt Of .he day,
and It il may be, to induce peace policy on the
part Of .he government bat falling 10 his,
Jet them be submissive TO IFS DEGREES and
Weld TO anv lawful q, mands It may make
upon them, OF upon then property. Such pa
lrioism Is nobler than the iroh of men who
have not courage to resist pPuar CRIES; inf
niieiy nobler than that OF men who stand aloot
rom the battle. shouting the war-cry from
safe distance at The same time firing treach-
erous shots at the President The Lieutenant
General and tbe whole Government, and Ilnlhg
their own pockets with public Plander.
, DlscOuntenonce eUery illegal and uaco"SfI-
tutionqi net, ,chethe, committed By men high
az io0 in office, or Jy the priUote cfizea.-
,lcalousiy guard against eUeyy GftemPt 70
fraapie on The rights md immunitieS of IN
Airiduais.
This principle is the Americans as II was the
Englshman's brthrighr We can never yield
81 II ic a
principle that was born IN times OF war, and was
reproduced IN our own country among the fires
ot Revolution. Ii is 4 good principle in times
ut peace it is infinitely more valuable in times
ike the present, when popular passions may at
auy monent ruin the liberties Of the citizen
The principle is OF little yalue-nay, OF no val
ne at ali-d it is only good to calm and quiet
times, and IN IT'S place the doctrine IS adopted
that IN war tunes the Constitution, the rights
and mmuniles Of citizens, NAV be overrdden
BY The otiiCersot government for the OCCASION.
such a doctrine has been laid down IN these
adyS, and the fruits of Il have already been seen
10 the desecration OF the Habeas Corpus, the
,y,Zure and examination Of private papers Of
.,eaceabie CItizenS without warrant or process
IF law, the arres: OF citizens 10! circulating pc
Hgons to the government, the increase OF the
.a.u!ar army without law land without neceSS-
ly stnce volunteer forces would supply the
'amporary Wanl,l not 10 maine other acts OF in-
I:.lufls holding offices which are OF doubtful
sEa!rty. These violations OF right are conce-
.'4 on AL hands 10 be unconstitutional aud H.
gal, but ere excused a. gloWiug out o the ne
f-ssu,es d tRe times and be popular assent 10
'aem not on'y indicates the danger Of permit
ag ltem. bg' has led 10 he open advocacy by
newspapers, u the doctrine that Congress Sha!
ing 1o attention 10 the "technicaitles oi the
ggsa-utlon," but enact laws TO- The times,
without regard 20 their limited powers. One
more 10 the same direction, would bring US
nc absolute tyranny OF Revolutionary
Committee. Ere We are aware, We may have
"r Congress, 80 Executive o! the laws, no Con-
H,-utional Government, but 10 It's place Com
mEtgc ofSafety, Convention Of Democrats
htludhcaus-Eed or black and the rest his
tory has once or twice already recorded.
5. To adgocqte The laying down Of arms on
10th sides, aad The negot'atioa Of pence; on
such terms as 3Dise and husfaeori4g repyesea-
'a''Ufs of the aat,oa stall cdrise md con-
e'n8a uDoa.
here is no possibility OF closing our eyes 10
..g iac' That this is now a war Of section against
t'ton aud every day that il continues, wi-
gems the gait between the two. II is general
Y admitted that Il the States now forming the
Na1IheFn Contederacy had united in an express
ID" pi their desire to separate from the Amerl-
al mon, at4 to form government Of their
."H' tH'S wish, properly expressed, would have
-V'7ap'i ie e.pecltn consideration II the o
,'.' sta.a& Iarlr 40 throne here 10 clam
W. me "E hereditary tlght The government OF