The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-07-19

Never was there a case IN which peace part
stood stronger on moral grounds than now anC
here. II Ireland at s. unanimous Tor freedom
and England sent her hosts into the green island
there might be some old notions of hereditary
rights, OF klngly prerogative, to which the wal
party would appeal When Francis OF Ma
pies made his last stand al Gaeta, there was even
IN peace loving minds sort of justification of a
king lighting for the, last inch OF hls fathers
kingdom, fyFant through be ant his father bss
fore him were.
But IA nation whose principle Is govern
ment by consent of the governed, where the ia
hab'tants OF an immense territory lesre to form
a new government, where they count them
selves BY millions, and are ready to take their
place at once among nations and where the
alternative Is to permit 1t, or 10 enter on a civil
war whose horrors The world has never seen
equalIed,-tor Christians and men Of peace to
accept the alternative OF war, indicates that
underneath the questions OF right, good, policy
and duty, there is a bitterness OF hatred that
renders men for the time unfit to adiudge the
great issues before them.
When cooler hours come, the voice of Chris
tanty, of human love, viii make itself heard
for peace.
We hold if to be he duty Of every Ameri-
can and every Christian 20 advocate the laying
down Of arms and The restoration Of peace
Civil war VIII not bless the world with any
good results; it wiI not restore a union of hearts
without which union of States is worthless.
4. InaSmuch as the aHernQfiUe Of digsoia-
tion of the Union may not be forced upon
as, but Unaon men in The Southern STATES
may be rallied 40 the Union again, By en-
dence Of an intent TO do Justice on the part
If the party in po0er, and inasmuct also ng
Tie principles we haze attcays adrocqfed re-
ma'a unchanged IN right, md The citizens
Of tOyat or dIsioyaL States are enfttied 10
thrir rights R0'0 rs aiwags, ne qdUocqfe the
equ0i interests Of aiifhe States in Tie con-
mon territories, and especially that II IS bsi-
ter TO aiiow siaUery in the territories t4oa
10 hare c1Cii 1pqy IN the States.
There rs no occasion TO discuss The proposI-
ton. The only answer made 10 il in tha-
days is s'no cnmpr nmiSe with TRAITORS. and
the reply to that is, that Missouri, Kentucky,
Maryland, Delau are, and Western Virginia,
have the same claims on our principles that
they always had, and every Union man, il one
exists, IN other sIavehoiding States, would be
strengthened and made tenfoId more lniuen-
ta by such yielding.
The idea that a reunion efected.by com
promise will be weaker than one resulting from
conquest is essentially erroneous, and contra
ry TO all experience. A conquered nation can
never be valuable component part OF the con-
quering power. A revolt crushed by force of
arms, is never so thoroughly eradicaIed as one
that shall be ended by mutual concession and
good will, The rule prevails in small and IN
large matters: in private and H. public affairs.
There is moi a shadow OF truth or reason III the
very common assertions that a compromise
will leave US where Were before, and liable
TO another revolt, and that a conquest will not.
We venture the prophecy that if the present
rebellion OF the Southern States be ended by
their subiectlon, through military successes,
:he Union will not last twenty-five years there
after. The next rebellion may not come from
the Southern States, but it will be quite as
likely to be an attempt Of majority 10 exscnd
and cut off portion Of ;he Union. Some
State which by It's domestic law authorizes
polygamy, or adultery, or other crime, hide)us
m the eyes OF the cit zenS OF the old States,
will be wiped out by breath OF the people
For, this present experiment "whether we
have Government" has already been tried
10 that point, that mn freely and loudly ac-
knowledge that the government we thought
we had, to wit, the Constitution Is no govern
ment in such times, and that great exigency
demands that be President and officers OF gov
ernment for the time beng, shall override law
and Constitution Tor the salvation OF The coun-
try.
This prncIple, il any, IS established by this
war, and tins, and this only, can survive It's
successful prosecution. 1t Is vain TO hope
that we shall relapse from war excitement nto
the old calm Of constitutional government
Erigencies will arise very often. The danger
to American free principles is about the same,
therefore, whether the rebt Is succeed IN over
throwing the Constitution on their own terrific
ties, or whether we conquer them en- the ground
that force is necessary, Constitution or no Con-
and thus establish Union which
Uhe Constitution having been overridden and
dis:egarded) is thencefoIth weakened in the
eyes Of the people. II we prosecute the war to
victory, il will leave us very different nation
from what we have hitherto heen, and the voice
OF the people will demand a stronger Consttu-
tion-one that is good for civil war times-one
that will authorize coercion-Ohe that will
cenfralIze power.
II IS vain then 10 say that compromise viii
weaken, conquest strengthen US. If the thing
be yet possible, we affirm it TO be the reasona-
bic, Christian, and American doctrine at the
present time, for the North, first OF all, TO offer
to The South all that uslIce and equity would
require it to offer in times Of peace and quiet.
Without THIS otler, the voice Of American con-
science, when once awakened. The voice 81 a
civilized age, the voice OF that poserny which
IS he certain imparlia! Judge on earth, and the
voice Of God, the untailius avenger Of wrong,
will condemn US For entering on this civil war,
and The blood Of our sons viii cry out against
as from the HalA aLlar Oh K.t-lcn We -a.riL.ce