The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-08-22
A D D R ES S
Democratic State Central Committee
10 the Democrats, and all other Friends
of the Constitution and Union
in PENNSYLVANIA.

The Democratic State Central Committee
address you upon subjects of the gravcst mo-
ment. The life of our beloved country is in
danger The nation writhes under the throes
of widespread civil war. All our patriotism,
all our wealth, all our physical powers, all of
whatever virtue exist in the Republic is invoked,
and should be promptly afforded to save the'Na-
tional Constitution and the Union of the States
from utter overthrow.
Is there Pensylvanan who values the title
of American citizen-who reveres the memory
of the men of the reyoluion-who values civil
and religious liberty--who abhors anarchy and
despotsm-or, who claims to possess manly,
patriotic heart, that is not prepared 20 n
life fortune and sacred hv,or 4or his country
IN This, her hour OF greatest need and peril.
None can withhold such assurances OF a Just es-
innate of the importance of preserving the ex-
istence of our Republican institutions. We APP
proach YOU with the full conviction that the
hearts of the great body of the people of Penn
svlyania are with their country in this great cri-
sis of her destiny that all that is needed is to be
satisfied of feasible mode OF relief ana extflca-
ton, and of the most effective organization 10
combine all the forces that can be applied to
speedily and effectually yield the happy fruits
of returned peace and prosterity' :,
! To clearly indicate the mode OF rehef IL "ouio
appear to he proper to first determine the cause
or causes of our present difficulties Under
| standing the causes it would seem to be IN the
order of nature, that restoration should ioilow
upon their removal 1t is not compatible with
the practical efficiency Of an address, such as
this, to engage in amy elaborate exposition OF
historical account of the gradual progress Of
antecedent causes, that have at last eliminated
| in the dreadful results we now behold. we
shall, therefore, necessarily be brief, and best
discharge our purpose by statement OF tacts
which you will all recognize as correct, ana by
assertion of propositions and conclusions which
we maintain, cannot be successfully controverted
| The troubles that are now upon us are those
that the Fathers of this country toresaw might
arise upon the decay of patriotism, and agains
which they undertook to guard by the Constitu
tion of the United States, and the establishment
thereby of what was deemed by them-and has
until recently, proved to be the harmonious ac
ton of the States and the Federal Governmen
in their defined and just relations to each 9th
er. Washington, in his farewell address, point
ed out these dangers; and, above all, Indica
ted as the eevidence of waning attachmen
for the Union and as precursor OF its fall, tn
creation of sectional parties. 1t was in view
probable efforts in this direction that he appeal
ed to his countrymen ''to Indignantly trown up
"on the first dawning of every attempt to al
s.ienate any portion of our country from the rest
"or to enfeeble the sacred ties which link togeth
ser the various parts" Had the counrymen o
Washington sufficiently appreciated his patriot
ic warning, the wide spread civil war that nov
afflicts us would never have existed but, o.
the contrary, we should, at this time, unde
the support which a most bountitul Providenc
is extending to us, be in the enjoyment OF
degree of prosperity and happiness 1--WE ventur
to assert) unequalled in the history OF nations
Most unfortunately, sectional parties hav
grown up, begetting sectional bitterness an
already the title of American citizen begins
pale before the invasive progress OF such title
as Northerner and Southerner
Years ago, men in the North, then very in
significant combination, began to assail our Con
; stituion and our Union. This faction basing it
!. opposition upon misguided sentimentality il
regard to the servitude of the negro race in tn
Southern States, and allowing that sentimental
f ity to swallow up all true feelings of patrl
ottism and all duty as citizens, boldly proclaim
ed their hostility to the Constitution and the
Mon, which they rightly claimed recognized an
was pledged not to invade the control OF tn
States respectively over the institution OF domcs