The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-12-26


everywhere, and yet our people have not been;
provoked to violate order. But they are in earn
est They mean to preserve their liberties and
their rights The results of the last elections
were of no temporary character. Such a tri-
umph has never before been witnessed in this
country There is not man who voted the
Democratic ticket last fall, throughout the coun-
try, who is not prepared when the proper time
comes, to lay down his life rather than sacrifice
his liberty.
We may rs well understand this. Let lis talk
plainly ahoui II Let US not try to deceive our
selves or others We are not assassins. We
are not law-breakers. Our people have endured,
a great deal. They have submitted to arbitra-
ry arrests and imprisonments. But let me say
to you, in Gods name, ''pause, stop; you cam
not go any further" Our people are resolved
that you shall not. They are determined Dot
not misunderstood them. We are forthe Uni--
on. We are for MISREPRESENTATION Id rtv.
Our ancestors, in all times p,lst, have via 'ic2-
ted it; and their DESCENDANTS, after long suffer-
ing, will if need be. vinli;atc it before God
and the world
repeat it, Mr. Chairman, our people are in
earnest. They mean all that they have said.
They love the flag because II itrepresen;s C3nsti-
tuition, order, law. They DO not wish 81 be
slaves. and do nor mean to b, male slaves We
have had bill passed here To- lay, ualsr whip
and spur. without debate. without inlary, ex.
tending amnesty to thas, wh,iiave thus wsongsl
our people think yoa hai ,e.:sr also pass
bill extending amnesty to those Of you whom
the people have con nlemned for your course here,
SO that you can have political resurrection here
after. That is the only way you can ever have
| it done. 1t is the only way in which you can
ever have forgiveness. If You expect that
when the courts come to look at the inonssrois
bill which you have passed to-day. wjping out
all the rights of those who have been immured
in prison, they will hold it as constitutional you
are greatly mistaken. No court of jnsiice win
hold that that gives indemnity for the wanton,
reckless. tyrannica exercise Of power. 1t is
not Justice on earth 1t is not justice before
God in Heaven Ny opinion about it is that
you had better have left the courts open to our
people. and let those men who had rnthlessly
and recllessly violated every precept law, and
Constitution, take the legal consequences Of
their acts.
But, Mr. Chairman there is NJ excuse or
paiation for the arrests that have been made.
care not whether you take the case of the old
man. like Mahoney. tottering to the grave; or
the little boy in New England, who sells news
pagers for a living; or men Of high and spot
less character and devoted fidelity to the laws,
like Judge Duff, of Illinois: or the unfortunate
boy who was confined in Camp Chase, who
could not pay his washerwoman's bill, and was,
therefore. accused Of disloya practices; or take
the men of great intellect, like Edison b Ods,
of Ohio, or the unIearned squirrel-hunter from
nv friends (Nfr. Robinson's) district who did
not know but that jeff Davis aud Lincoln were
on the same sile or the intermediate between
these extremes there is not one of them that
could not have been tried in the place where the
offense was said to Iave been committed. and,
if found guilty. correct public sentiment would
have seen that the penalties of the law were
fully enforced upon them.
In all these cases you have violated the Com
stitution and the laws. Yon have disregarded
them both. And now You turn round and pass
an act of immunity to all concerned in inf1ict-
ing these outrages and wrongs. You have had
immured in prison men equal. ny, superior, in
intellect to the President any Cabinet officer;
men more devoted to the Constitution and laws
of the country than all of them together Now,
after all of these outrages, you propose to invest
the President with power to suspend the writ of
habeas corpus, the great birthright of English
men and Americans; and which has never, un.
til now, been disregarded, under any circum-
stances, in this country, except inside the act
ual lines of the army.
Mr.. Chairman, have talked warmly on this
subject bocaus. felt deeply. have advised,
and now afvis,, moderation. Dur people want
peace They mean to preserve the Constitu.
ton and the Union They know that you can-
not persist in the course which you are now ta-
king That course loads to the destruction of
both the Constitution and the Union. am
not authorized to speak or lay down the plan
which is to govern anybody in future. lido not
speak to-day for that purpose.
Perhaps I. should not anticipate the coarse
of the President Of the United States in regard
to his proclamation. trust that he will recon.
81 Ter it !; that he viii pause and not % forward
with it. This Government cannot be restored
by the sword alone You must carry with it
the olive branch. The Presi lent says we are
making history. | trust we are not making
such history as the incenlary who swung his
lighted torch in the air to burn the temple Of
Diana at Ephesus and who has left his na no
behind, while the aaqas of him who reared that
temple has persisted from our memories,
think we my expect that. under change Of
policy, the Blessings of the Union may yet bs
restored and made perpetual
Mr.. Chairman, l am very much Obliged to
the committee for the attention with which i
has listened to my remarks. have spoken
freely and fairly, and attempted to domy duty
in this great crisis of our country.
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