Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-07-17
ADDRESS OF L. J. GRAMS, ESQ.


which we have been accustomed to celebrate
with ringing of bells, firing of cannons, bon
fires and other demonstrations of rejoicing.
A day memorable in the annals of history, for
on 1t was born nation founded on the sound
political axiom-men are endowed by their
Creator with certain inalienable rights among
these are life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness; that to secure these rights, govern
ments are instituted among men deriving
their just powers from the consent OF the gov
erned.
Fam would | dissipate every shadow of sad
ness-banish aught which could mar the festiv-
tiles of the day, and in the merriest mood, bid
son with the dance; let joy be unconfned;;'' -
but l have observed the dark and threatening
cloud which overhangS the land, covering it
with gloom which may be felt, and have no.
ted the devotion to your country which has
crushed out or supplanted every other feeling
save deep solictude for the welfare of our
brethren and friends, who at the first call have
rushed forward to stay the mad attempts of
those who would subyert the government, de-
stroy the Constitution and the laws, and rem
der those traditions which have SO often filled
our hearts with peasurable emotonS-a re-
proach. To day is no day for hilarty, tor
mirth, for frivolous amusements. The circum-
stances surrounding us forbid it.
But a few months since the song of the rea-
per was heard and our granaries were filled to
overhowing. Our marts were crowded-on
every side the catter of wheels, the whirr of
machinery, the whistle of the engine, the
sound of the anvil and the ring of the axe
made the air musical with evidences of well
directed industry. Money was abundant
peace was in all our borders, and mems hearts
were buoyant at the bright prospect for the
future. Suddenly fear seized on us like
strong man, business was paralized, the imple-
ments of peace were cast aside and the stall
wart arm Of labor was extended to receive
charity,
"And there was mounting in hot haste the steed
The mastering squadron. and the clattering car
Went pouring forward with impetuous speed
And swiftly forming in the ranks of war;
And the deep thunder, peal on peal afar
And near, the beat ofthe alarming drum
Reused up the solder."-
Why was it! Had Albion forg often the les
sons of yore and sought TO regain the colonies
wrested from her in '76, by the prowess of our
fathers? No: but the seed which she mad
sown in our midst had grown, producing fruit
examinations, recrimiuations, distrust, ha-
tired and their consequence, civil war. An is
sue far transcending in Importance any of the
ephemeral issues of the day, because it involv-
ed the integrity of the Union, had been forced
upon the American people. Our government
had shown itself strong for defence in its
struggles with Great Britian she had proven
herself competent to undertake foreign or
aggressive war upon the blood stained fields
of Mexico, and trusting that our people would
heed the parting advice of Washington, to re-
gard the union of these states as the palladium
of their safety, we had hoped that she would
never be called upon to show herself proof "a
gainst internal dsSensions.
The doctrine, new and startling, that State
has right OF its own motion to Secede from
this Union, has been broached-more-the ac-
tion of certain States has given the doctrine a
tangible form. If it is right, or if it can be
maintained by force of arms, then our Union
is dissolved, vocably-our prestige gone
and our traditions and our glories, sources of
regret rather than Of honest HEARTFELT pride.
Leaving the beaten path, to glance at this all
absorbing topic will, l trust, meet with your
appreciation. If State has the right to Sc
cede, then the government cannot properly
prevent any State exercising that right, but if
no such right exists, then secession is but an
other name for revolution. Revolution may
be peaceable or violent, bloodless or sanguin-
ary. Those who resort to revolution, do so
with the understanding that should tie gov
ernment not tacitly acquiesce in their pro-
posed change of government, they must sus-
tain the position they have assumed by force
Of arms, and in the event of failure, suffer the
penalties of treason. The right of rerolution
exists in every community. It's exercise may
be justified whenever a government becomes
liShed-the preservation of the rights OF man
but light and transient causes no jusrif-
cation. To deny this position is to assert that
our forefathers were wrong in declaring these
united colonies are, and of right ought to be
free and independent States; to charge them
with needless and criminal efuson of blood,
and to admit that we are not entitled to the
liberties which we now enjoy.
Prior to the revolutionary war, the colonies,
nh HiSti ca1 6iriSi
rights through different charters, were integral
parts of the British dominion, and to all in
tents and purposes, one community. Their
contiguity their similarity of language, Gus
toms and laws; their intercourse and trade
drew them together. They we're separated
only by imaginary lines, which served to mark
the limits of the respective colonial jurisdic-
tions. Their wrongs, and their acknowledged
inability to redress them sngly, only strength
encd the interest which each colony felt in the
others, and brought about their political union,
which was followed by the recognition of their
independence by the mother country. The
colonies could have formed league offensive
and defensive; they could have lodged their
sovereignties in a new government,
or each could have refused to enter into any
alliance. The representatives of the several
colonies, wishing to unite the wealth. strength
and councils of the whole, so that they might
bid defiance to external violence and inter-
nal dissensons, and secure public credit,
both at home and abroad, agreed to GER
tain articles of Confederation and perpet
ual Union. In the circular letter which
they transmitted to their constituents, "a
long with the articles, urging, their adoption,
they said-"Let them be carefully reviewed
under the sense of the difficulty OF combining
in one general system, the various sentiments
and interests of continent divided into so
many sovereign and independent communities;
under conviction of the absolute necessity
of uniting all our councils, and all our
strength to maintain and defend our common