Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-07-31
SPEECH OF
COL. JOHN W. FORNEY

Delivered IN the Union Convention, Assembled
al Harrisburg on the I'm of July, IN sup,
part Of The Resolutions adopted on that 0c,
caS1On.
The resolutions, Mr. President which have
just been read, comprise, in brief terms, the
duty of the loyal men of Peunsy lvania, and
they will go to the country as an utterance
that must produce healthful consequences
There are elements in this assemblage which
have never been combined on any former Pc
riod of our country'S issue. We have here
representatives of the Republican party, the
! Peoples party, the American party, and of
the loyal men of the Democratic party I
notice that at least twenty counties of the
State have sent DemocC attic delegates to this
Convention. The heavy gloom which seems
again to have settled upon our unhappy coun-
try, has had the effect of extinguiohing many
dsscnsons. Men who have differed radically
in former years now stand together like band
of brothers. Bot one motive animates this
! splendid organization-tha of devotion to
| country and determination to maintain the
! Union There is no spectacle, says a great
! poet, more Inspiring than a brave man strug
! Cling with danger, and can there be any
| spectacle more Inspiring than great people
struggling with their enemies The fiend,
slavery, which is the beginning of all our
! tror bltS, in tearing itself from the Republic,
seems determined to tear the vials of the
| Republic, away with it. For however men
may dlife: Mr.. President, this is not merely a
struggle for our existence as a free people, but
it is a struggle between liberty and slavery
All other issues have subsidized before this issue
Slavery in beginning the war, to perpetuate
itself, has laid a Stro:g hand upon our free in
stitutions aud is resolved failing itself, to
bury them in one common ruin. Those only
deny it who themselves pray COR the success of
the rebellion, ard those only believe what |
have said who earnestly pray for the triumph
of the Union arms. And it is fact we'll cal
culated to agouize the soul, that hitter and
dreadful as have been the general suffering n
this extraordinary strife, notwithstanding thou
sands OF homes are covered wich mourning
although torrents of tears are shed over the
freshly heaped graves OF those who have fallen
ia defence of our flag, yet all these terrible les
sons produce no impression upon many who
live amoag and around us. These men see their
country bleeding at every pore, aud have 10
word Of hope or comfort to give to her While
we, forgetting all old antagoniSms and parties,
while we throw of the coaks O. former organ
izations aud reveal ourselves only in the garb Of
patriotism, they clOthe themselves with all the
hatred, and rancOr and Gncharitabeness for
which they have Been so distinguished brfore,
aud prepare TO strike at the country, if not in
the lame at least, in the name OF the doctrines
of that candidate for the presidency who less
than two years ago marShaIed the boats of
dlSunion at the ballot EoX, and now leads an
army Of traitors i'll the battle field. Applause.
Ii, Mr.. President slavery is the cause of this
great crusade upon human liberty its imme-
dia:c agents and ministers confess bv all their
acts that they are fully conscious of the truth
of this assertion. They have pursued the fell
purpose which has now ripened into war; with
persistence which can only be explained by
their close sympathy with the rebellion ITSELF
and their sincere ha red of the government of
the United States. Calling themselves Demo
Gratis, they are banded together in favor of
slavery and aristocracy. Let me take
prominent example of the school. The
old man who lives in neglected solitude
within an hour and halfs ride of the capital
of Pennsy ylvana. He is now beyond the
PSalmist's age. He entered the Presidential
chair more than five years ago. with as fair
an opportunity to serve and save this country
as ever had been presented to man. He was
elected upon distinct and voluntary pledge
that he would rive to the people of the un
happy territory OF Kansas the right to dispose
of their own affairs in their own way Had he
been true to this we should have had neither
secession or bloodshed. The history of his un-
paralleled treacAery is written written sir 10
carnage aud in shame 1t ought to be supposed
that now looking over this history, he would
sieze the occasion TO eXpiate his mighty crime
by some manifestation of public penitence.-
1t might be supposed that now, in his old age
he would secure the favor and forgiveness of
Heaven by appealing 10 those he still controls,
to rally to the common defence and to shun his
fatal example. But no, gentlemen, so far from
this the anmating soul of the rebellion in the
southern states is not more Jefferson Davis than
| the animating soul of the rebellion in the free
states is James Buchanan He seems to desire
the immortal infamy of dragging our glorious
Union into the dishonored grave he is himself
soon to fill. Around his own home, as proved
by the convention which assembled in his own
county few weeks ago, aud by that which
disgraced this hall on the 4th Of July his former
followers, doubtless under his lead and counsel,
Knocked at the peris of the nation aud delight
in nothing so much as to embarrass and retard
| the operations Of the constituted authorities
Is it possible that this man aid his parasites
can rally any portion of the. people of Pennsyl-
vania to their standard ? Monuments themsel.
YES of the mercy of the government, permitted
to live in comfort under the flag they toiled to
defame and to dishonor, shall these men be
permitted to 60 on 10 their w-rk of treason
They proclaim that this war is an abolition