The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-10-17

republics. Others of them are new creations
coming into existence only under the Constitu
, tom; but all now standing on an equal footing
The general government, under which all
these States are united, is not, as has been very
justly remarked by Mr.. Gray, a confederation
1t is muoil more than confederation. 1t is a
popular representative government, with all the
departments and functions and organs, of such
government. But it is still a limited, re-
strained. a severely guarded government.
I 1t exists under a written constitution, and all
that human wisdom could 90 is done, to define
its powers and prevent its abuse. 1t Is placed
in what was supposed 20 be the safest medium
between dangerous authority on the one hand,
| and debility and ineiliciency on the other. [
! think that happy medium was found, by the ex-
ercise OF the greatest political sagacty, and the
influence of the highest good fortune. We can
not move the system either way, without the
/ probability of hurtful changes and, as expert
ence has taught us, tssaety, and its usefulness,
when left where it is, our duty is plain one.
1t cannot be doubted that system thus COM
plicatesl must bo followed with more or less dam
ger, ii every stage of its existence. II has not
the sin plicity of despotism. 1t is not plain
column, that stands sels-poised and self-support-
ed Nor is it a loose, irregular, and unfixed,
and nndelined system of rule, which admits of
constant and Ybont changes, without losing its
character. But it is a balanced and guarded
system; a system of checks and controls; a sys-
tenn in which powers are carefully delegated,
and as carefully limited, system i'll which the
Symmetry of the parts is designated to produce
an agreeable whole, which shall be favorable to
personal liberty, favorable to public prosperity,
and favorable to national glory And who can
deny, that, by trial Of fifty years, this Amer
lean system of government has proved itself ca
pabla of comforting all these blessings. These
years have been years Of great agitation through
out the civilized word. In the course of them
the face of Europe has been completely changed.
Old and corrupt governments have been destroy
ed, and new ones erected in their places, have
been destroyed, too, sometimes, in rapid success
sion. Yet, through all the extraordinary, the
most extraordinary scenes of this half century,
the free, popular representative government OF
the United States has stood, and has afforded
security tor liberty, for property, and for repu-
tation, to all citizens.
That it has been exposed to many dangers,
that it has met critical moments, is certain
cSsls i Is ii p NOW ssfSpessd e dangers, and that
Judgment. But it has hitherto been preserved,
and vigilance and patriotism may rescue it again.
The Constitution is founded on compromise,
and the most perfect and absolute good faith, in
regard to every stipulation Of this kind contain
ed in it, is Indispensable to its preservation.-
Every attempt to accomplish even the best pur-
pose, every attempt to grasp that which IS re-
garded as an immediate good, in violation of
these stipulatons, is full of danger to the whole
Constitution. need not say, also, that possi-
BILE collision between the general and the state
governments always has been, is, and ever must
be, q source of danger to be strictly watched by
wise men.
desire not to stand before the country as q
man of no opinions, or of such a mixture of op-
poslte opinions that the result has no character
at all. On the contrary, am desirous of stand
ing as one who is bound to his own consistency
by the frankest avowal of his sentiments on all
important and interesting subjects. l am not
partly for the Constitution, and partly against
it, am wholly for it, for it altogether for it
as it is, and for the exercise, when occasion re-
quires, of all its just powers, as they have here
tofore been exercised by Washington, and the
great men who have followed him in its admin
istration.
disdain, altogether, the character of an un-
committed man. l am committed, fully CON-
mtted; committed to the full extent of all that
am, and all that hope, to the Constitution OF
the country to its love and reverence, to its de-
fence and maintenance, to its warm commenda-
tion to every American heart, and to its vindi-
cation and Just praise, before all mankind And
am committed against every thing which, in
my judgment, may weaken, endanger, or destroy
it, | am committed against the encouragement
of local parties and local feelings; ! am COM
mitted against all, any and every arrangement
of the powers of the several departments of the
government, against any derogation from the
constitutional authority of Congress, and espe-
cially against all extension of. the executive
power; and am committed against any at
tempt to rule the free people of this country by
the patronage of the government itself | am
committed, fully and entirely committed against
making the government the peoples master.
ssWhy did you come back!' asked sleek,
well-fed citizen of poor half-sick Federal sol
dier just returned from McClellan's army
sIYhy don't you gog' replied the soldier.
GIRLs--There are two kinds of girls. One
is the kind that appears the best abroad-the
girls that are good for parties rides visits, balls,
&C., and whose chief delight is in such things.
The other is the kind that appears best at home
the girls that are useful and cheerful in the
dining room, sick room, and all the precincts of
home. They differ widely in character. One
is often torment at home: the other is a bles
sing. One is a moth, consuming everything a.
bout her; the other is q sunbeam; inspiring life
and gladness along her pathway.
WOULDN'T .WoRK.-Seven or eight hundred
of the negroes who were sent from Cincinnati
to Coyington, towork on the Notifications there.
refused to labor, and we're brought back and
placed in confinement under guard. Ssmsgs !