The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-05-23
BEDFORD, Pa, FRIDAY MORNING. MAY %, 1862

panslon OF territory; self government for the
Territories, subject only to the Constitution; the
absolute compatibility of union of the States,
''part slave and part free;" the admission of
new States, with or without slavery, as they
may elect; non-interference by the Federal Gov
ernment with slavery iii State and Territory,
or in the District of Columbia; and, finally, as
set forth in the Cincinnati Platform, in 1856,
and reatlirmed in 1860, absolute and eternal
''repudiation of all sectional parties, and plat
forms concerning domestic slavery which seek to
embrol the States and incite to treason and
armed resistance to law in the Territories, and
whose avowed purposes, if consummated must
end in civil war and disunion."
Such was the ancient and the recent policy
OF the Democratic party running through u
period OF sixty yeals-a policy consistent with
the principles OF the Constitution, and absolutely
essential to the preservation of the Union.
Does the HISTORY of the Democratic party
prove that it ought to be abandoned! ''By
their fruit shall ye know them" Sectional
parties do not achieve Union triumphs. For
sixty years from the Inauguration of Jefferson
on the 4th of March, 1901, the Democratic
party, with short intervals controlled the pow
er and the policy of the Federal Government.
For forty eight years and eight months the
Democratic policy prevailed. During this period
Louisiana, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, and
California were successfully annexed TO our ter
ritory, and an area more than twice rs large as
all the original Thirteen States together Eight
new States Were admitted under strictly Demo-
cratic Administrations-on under the Admin
stration of Fillmore From five millions, the
,I,t,D Al
The Revolutionary debt was extinguished. Two
foreign wars were successfully prosecuted, with
a moderate outlay and a small army and navy,
and without the suspension of the habeas cor-
pus; without one infraction of the Constitution:
without one usurpation of power; without sup
pressing a single newspaper; without imprison-
ing single editor; without limit to the free
dom of the press, or of speech in or out of
Congress, but in the midst of the grossest abuse
of both; and without the arrest of single
''traitor," though the Hartford Convention sat
during one of the wars, and in the other Sena-
tors invited the enemy to 'greet our volun-
teers with bloody hands and welcome them to
hospitable graves"
During all this time wealth increased, busi-
ness Of all kinds multiplied, prosperity smiled
the North and the South furnished a market
for each others products at good prices; public
liberty was secure, private rights undisturbed;
every mans house was his castle; tho courts
were open to all; no passports for travel, no Sc
cret police, no spies, no informers, no bastiles;
the right to assemble peaceabiy; the right to pc
tition; freedom of speech, freedom of religion
free ballot, and a free press and all this time
the Constitution maintained and the Union of
the States preserved.
Such were the choice fruits of Democratic
principles and policy carried out through the
whole period during which the Democratic par
ty held the power and administered the FEEDER
al Government. Such has been the history of
that party. II is a Union party, for it preserv-
ed the Union, by wisdom, peace, and comproni-
ise, for more than half a century
Then neither the ancient principles, the poll
cy, nor the past history of the Democratic par
ty require nor would Justify its dsbandment.
Is there anythngin the present crisis which de-
mands it! The more immediate issue is, to
maintain the Constitution as it is, and to res
tore the Union as it was.
To maintain the Constitution is to respect
the rights of the States and the liberties of the
citizen. 1t is to adhere faithfully to the very
principles and policy which the Democratic
party has professed for more than half a cen
tury. Let its history, and the results, from
the beginning, prove whether it has practised
them. We appeal proudly to the record.
The first step towards restoration Of the
Union as it was, is to maintain the Constitu
ton as it is. So long as il was maintained in
fact, and not threatened with infraction in spirit
and in letter, actual or imminent, the Union
was unbroken.
To restore the Union, il is essential, first, to
give assurance to every State and to the people
of every section that their rights and liberties
and property will be secure within the Union
under the Constitution. What assurance so
doubly sure as the restoration to power Of that
ancient organized consolidated Democratic par
ty which for sixty years did secure the proper
ty, rights, and liberties of the States and Of the
people; and thus did maintain the Constitution
and preserve the Union, and with them the
multiplied blessings which distinguished us a.
bove all other nations?
To restore the Union is TO crush out section
alism North and South. To begin the great
work OF restoration through the ballot-box is
TO XIII abolition. Ihe Dittcf waters of Seces-
sion flowed first and are fed still from the un-
clean fountain OF abolitionism. That fountain
must be dried up. Armies may break down
ihe power of the Confederate Government in
the South; but the work of restoration can on
ly be carried on through political organization
and the ballot in the North and West. In this {
great worl, we cordially invite the cooperation
of all men of every party who are opposed to
the fell spirit OF abolition, and who, in sinceri-
tv, desire the Constitution as it is and the I'M
ion as it was. Let the past dead bury its dead.
Rally lovers OF the Union, the Constitution,
and of Liberty to the standard of the Demo-
cratic party already in the field and confident
Of victory. That party is the natural and per-
,is.nnt nnnmy of ahnltinn. IIunn this nlleS-