The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-09-26
Constitutional Opposition to Incompetent Rulers

as it is capable of emotion--and holds up
dts timid hands in horror-so far as it is ca
pable of SO positive sensation as horror
at what it is pleased to call our ''unblushing'
avowal that we think the public interest
would be promoted by the organization of a
patriotic efficient opposition party. This
quiet, placid, respectable organ of negation
rises to the vigor Of ''unfeigned regret" tilat
we do not continue to treat the administra-
ton as we did before its demonstrated i'm
becility had tilled! all loyal breasts with dis
appointment aad chagrin. 'The best evi-
dences Of patriotism and loyalty" says the
Commercial, ''are unmurmuring adherence
ITO ones country and government in the
,.shour of its adversely, and hearty and
''unquestioning support Of the administra-
''tion." We must not deny that this is in
keeping with the character Of ajournal which
professed an abiding belief in the continued
existence Of the old Wing party for five
long years after the corpse Of that party had
been decently buried. Such fidelity would,
If well handled, make touching scene in
the lamentable tragedy of ''The Faithful
Lovers" but it is rather too mawkish for
the perilous times on which we are fallen.
The only security for the efficient dis
charge of public trusts is RESPONSIBILITY.
Every office civil and military, from the low
est grade up to the President, must be held to
his responsibility, Or we have no guarantee
for the success of any branch of the pub
lie service. But in the management Of
this war, in what instance has responsible
ty been vigorously enforced We have had
repeated and shameful military disasters,
but we have not yet had the first court
martial, except for the trial of some insig-
nfcant officer. The same laxity in enfor-
cling Just responsibility which has prevailed
in the army, has, by a mistaken lenity,
been practiced toward the administration.
We have given it power without stint, but
we have nothing to show for its enormous
expenditure of blood and treasure. sAd-
herence to ones government and country"
is, Of course, sacred duty; but that is
very different thing from an '''unquestioning
support of the administration" temporarily
in power. Our republican president cannot
put on the airs of the Bourbon king, and
say retat, c'est na0i--'I am the state. -
Under our. government the people are the
state; the administration are their minis
ters, responsible to them for the faithful
performance of their duties. 1t is only thro'
an opposition party that this responsibility
can be enforced. In times of extraordinary
peril an opposition party can make no head
way when the government is conducted with
reasonable vigor and success. But when
the weakness and incapacity of the admin
istration become so manifest that its most
partial and credulous friends can put in no
better plea than an appeal to the public for
: bearance, further ''unmurmuring adherence"
is quite out of place, and quite out of the
question. The country cannot afford to en-
courage its rulers in course which might
I render the second army of six hundred thou
sand men and the second year of the war
as inefficient and abortive as the first.
Apatriotic opposition party, strong enough
to carry several of the state elections, would
coerce the administration into more vgor-
GUS policy. If it should have this effect,
= the administration would partially recover
the unbounded confidence it has lost, and
the opposition would be held in check. But
if the President should turn deaf ear to
all warning, and disaster and disgrace should
ec0ntinNe to accumulate under his manage
;ment, the opposition would gather irresisti-
BILE strength. 1t would be the sole hope Of
the country, the only barrier against anar-
chy.' Already there is loud talk of deposing
. the administration by irregular and revolu-
tionary methods. Who can tell to what
height this feeling would rise if the people
should be further incensed by further arbi-
trary acts and new series of disasters
We suppose the Commercial would even
then, in its mild way, preach .sunmurmur-
ing adherence" to the administration; but
we warn it that it would have small chance
to be heard in the wild uproar Of turbulent
passions, unless safe and constitutional
channel were previously dug for the public
Indignation to run in. The people would
not, under such circumstances, allowfhe
administration to 60 through its term, unless
they sew q prospect of the government fall
ing into better hands at its close. It is GER
tain the country will not stand the unwar-
ranted assumptions of power, the arbitrary
arrests, the denial of the hadeas corpus, the
ssn nterference of free discussion practiced by
: tins administration, when the policy to which
these stretches Of power are auxiliary re-
: suite IN nothing but, disgrace to our arms
I n - and fresh perils to the Union. a-
70 Party opposition, acting slowly and only
'sthrough the elections, enables the adminis-
uaapn'to take timely warning and retrieve
As essofs. 1t is safeguard against the vi