The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-05-17

PdHiuS tue seCuFity Vi property III slaves, dut
reducing those States " hich held slaves 10
condition Of nfeHoIity. Finally, great par
ty was organized for the purpose OF obtaining
the administration OF The government, with the
avowed object of using its power for the total
exclusion o. the slave States from all particIpa-
ton in the benefits OF the public domaln, acqui-
red by all the States in common, whether by
conquest or purchase of surrounding them en-
tuely by States in which slavery should BE-
prohibited OF thus rendering the property in
slaves SO insecure as TO be comparatively worth
less, and thereby annIhllatiHg in effect proper
| ty worth thousands OF millions OF dollars. This
party, thus organized, succeeded in the month
OF November last, in the election Of its canii-
date for the Presidency of the United States.
In the meantime, under the mud and genial
climate OF the Southern States and the increa-
sing care and attention for the well being aud
comfort OF the Iaboring class, dictated alike by
interest and humanity, the African slaves had
augmented 10 number from about 100000 at
! the date OF the adoption OF the constitutional
compact, to upwards of 100000. In moral
and social condition they had been elevated
| from brutal savages into docile, intelligent and
civilized agricultural lab1Gefs, and supphed nat
only Win Bodily comforts, but with careful re-
(
d superior race, their labor had been so direc-
ted as not only to allow a gradual and marked
amelioration OF their own condition, but 10 con-
veit hundreds Of thousands Of square miles ef
the wilderness into cultivated lands, covered
with prosperous people towns and cities had
sprung into existence, and bad rapidly IN
creased in wealth and population under the So
cial system of the South the white population
~ . Lnyt
menled from about ,250, 900 at the date of the
adoption Of the Constitution, to more than
100000 in 1860; and the productions OF the
South in cotton, rice, sugar, and tobacco, for the
fuIl development and continuance of which the
labor Of African slaves was, and is lndispensa-
bic, had swollen to an amount which formed
nearly three-iourths of The exports OF the whole
United States, and had become absolutely ne
cessary to the wants Of civilized man.
With interests of such overwheI lining magni-
iude imperiled, the people of the Southern
States were driven by the conduct of the North
TO The adoption of some course of action 10 a.
vert the danger with which they were openly
menaced. With his view, the Legislatures of
the several States invited the people to select
delegates to Conventions 10 be held for the pur-
pose OF determining Tor ortbemseives what meas
sIss5
crisis in their history.
Here it may be proper 10 observe that from
period as early as 1898 there had existed ia
all the States OF :he Union a party, almos; un-
inerruptedy in the majority, based upon the
creed that each State was, IN the last resort,
the sole Judge as well OF rs wrongs, as of the
mode and measure of redress. Indeed, it is OBJ
vous, that under the law of nations, this pfin-
cipe rs an axiom as applied to the relations OF
independent sovereign States, such those
which had united themselves under the conSti-
tutionaI compact. The Democratic party of
the United States repeated in It's successful Can-
qass in 1856, the declaration made in numer
Gus previous political contests, that it would
faithfully abide by aud uphold the principles
laid down in the Kentucky and Virginia reso-
luton of i79S, and IN the report OF MIR. Madl-
son 10 the Virginia Legislature in 1893 and
that it adopts those principles as constituting
one of the main foundations Of ITS political
creed.
The principles thus emphatcaIy announced
embrace that 10 which have already adyerted,
the right .oi each State 10 Judge OF and redress
the wrongs OF which it complains. These prln-
ciples were maintained By Overwhelming ma
iortIrs of the people of all the States the u
mon at different elections, especially IN the e.
lrctions Of Mr. Jefferson in 1903, Mr.. Madison
in 1909, and Mr.. Pierce in 1852.
In the exercise oi a right so ancient, so well
established, and SO necessary for seli-preSeGva-
ton, the people OF the Confederate States IN
their Conventions, determined that the wrongs
which they had suffered, and the evils with
which they were menaced, rexuired that they
should revoke the delegation Of powers TO the
Federal Government which they had ratified
in their several Conventions. They conSe-
quentIy passed ordinances resuming all their
rights as sovereign and independent States, and
dissolved their connection with the other States
OF the Union.
Having done this, they proceeded to form
new compact amongst themselves, by new ar
ticles of Confederation, which have been also
ratified by the Conventions of the several States
with an approach 10 unanimity far exceeding
that OF the Conventions which adopted the Con-
stitption Of 1887. They have organized their
new government in all its departments the
Executive. Legislative and judicial duties
are performed in accordance with the VIII OF
The people as displayed, moi merel y IN cheer
ful acuuiescence, but in the enthusiastic sup
pot OF the government thus established by
themselves and but for the interference OF the
government of the United States IN this leglti-
mate exercise OF the right of people TO SELF
government, peace, happiness and prosperity
would now smile on our land.
That peace is ardently desired by this gov
ernment and people, has been manifested IN ev-
cry possible form. Scarce had you assembled
in February last, when, prior even to the Inau-
guralion of the Chief Magistrate you had eiec-
ted, you passed a resolution expressive OF your
desire for the appointment OF commissioners 10
be sent TO the government of the United states