The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-08-29
Hon. John Scott on Abolitionism.

"John Scott" in which the following reference
is made to this ioarnal:
ssfake up two papers of opposite political
parties. Instead of discussing the differences of
political principle which divide parties, they are
occupied in the effort to put each other in false
positions with regard to the Government and
the war. Ihave before me illustrations of this.
A late number of the Bedford Gazette calls the
Conference which nominated Hon. Edward Nc
Pherson for Congress in that district, IAN Abo-
lition Congressional Conference. ..... Mr..
Mcpherson went to this war, where the Aboli-
ZIONIST proper never is found. He went into it
as captain at the head Of his company"
Our friend, Mr.. Scott, is perfectly, welcome
to the use which he has seen fit to make of the
Gazette. We shall not urge the slightest OBJ
lection to his illustrating his points by referen-
ces to our course as an editor. All that we ask
of him, is to be permitted to illuminate the au-
thor of those points, as well as to furnish illus
trations Of the points themselves.
Mr.. Scots our paper as specimen of a
class which do not discuss 'the differences of
political principle which divide parties" but
which "are occupied in the effort to put each
other in false positions with regard to the Gov
ernment and the war" Our readers will bear
witness, that we have endeavored, to the best
of our ability, to resist Abohtionism as 'po-
htical p,1aciplc" And who, but the amiabe and
magnanimous ex-democrat who SO generously
comes to the rescue of the Abolition candidate
for Congress in this district, will say that Abo-
litionism is not "a political prinoiple?" Did it
not enter into almost every BILL resolution and
speech before the last Congress! Did it not dis
tract and lengthen and embitter the proceedings
of that body, until the people began to question
whether the Federal or Confederate Congress
was doing the more to prevent the restoration
of the Union and the return of peace2 Did it
not invade the counci-chambers of the Presi-
dent and in the fury and devllishness of its ram
pant energy, compel him to cry out for help, as
he did in his appeal to the Representatives of
the Border States? Did it not cast upon the
Government thousands of lazy and thriftless
creatures, purchased from slavery into pauper
ism, and now maintained and supported, by the
public purse! And are not lis agents, through
whose ever active and never firing exertions all
this trouble and misery have been brought upon
the country, now appealing to the people to re-
turn them to their places in the State and Ma
tional Legislatures where they have so success
fully established their engines of mischief and
destruction2 A duo respect for truth will COM
pei Mr.. Scott to answer in the affirmative. And
if it be true that the Abolition representatives
i'll the State Legislature and Congress, are ask
ing an endorsement of their course by a re-elec-
ton, is not Abolitionism presented as "a politi-
cal principle" aparty issue, to be passed upon
by the people at the coming election? Mr.. Scott
will certainly not attempt to deny proposition
SO self-eyident. Then, it follows that when we
make war upon Abolitonism we are not fight
ing mere shadow, nor are we engaged in an
'3effort to put Our political opponents, who, by
their action in Congress, in the Cabinet, and
even in the army itself, have shown themselves
to be Abolitionists, sin false positions with re-
''discuss the differences of political principle
which divide parties" and do what every sound
thinker and pure patriot must admit is necessa-
ry to be done to assist in saving the country
from impending destruction.
But Mr. Scott may say that some men in the
''Republican" party are not Abolitionists.-
Granting this to be true, it does not follow that
the organization of that party when controlled
and managed by such Aboliti onigts as Bena-
min +. Wade and Thaddeus Stevens, is not to
be regarded and resisted as the agent and in
strument of Abolitionism. Now, q local branch
of this organization met, as stated in our arti-
Gle to which Mr.. Scott refers, and nominated
Mr.. Mcpherson for Congress. This branch (the
Congressional Conference was an organ of the
Abolitionists, primarily, because it was part
and parcel of the machinery welded by Wade,
Stevens & Co.; and, secondariy, because It NOM
mated an Aboltionist for representative in Con-
gress ''Oh! but,"-exclaims Mr.. Scott
"McPhe is not an Abolitionist He march
ed to the war at the head of his company, and
the Abolitionist proper Is never to be found
fighting for his country" Very true, Mr.. Scott
Hunter is in the army, but he has done precious
little fighting for his country. Phelps is in the
army and he has "proclaimed" most extraordi-
narily, but hurt the rebels very little indeed A
man by the name of Fremont, too, was once
Major General and-that was ALL But, Mr..
McPherson-Captain Mcpherson, we mean
"went to this war at the head Of his company"
and, after desperate charge upon Uncle Sans
strong box), took-not ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
seat in Congress! OF course this valiant war