Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-01-22
ADDRESS OF HON L. w. HALL,
On taking the Chair as Speaker of the Senate

ailty Wnlch has raised ME to the dignity Of
| your presiding officer. L accept the honor
with difhdence in my ability to fulfil your ex-
| pectations, but with the determination so far
| as in me lies, to give to the position my indus
| trlous and impartial efforts, and claim, as
nave no doubt shall receive, at your hands,
indulgence towards myself, whilst YOU exer-
else forbearance and courtesy towards each
other. l cannot but be impressed with the
lveliest emotions of pleasure at this generous
confidence on your part, animatiDg me anew
in the discharge of public duty; / yet feel
how idly L would employ your time in felci-
tating myself upon the attainment of civic
honors, in this ''awful and rugged crisis''
when above all personal considerations, the
salvation of the Republic should engage all
our thoughts.
We meet in stirring times. An epoch in
our National life is upon us. Events of vast
Importance in quick succession cluster fast :,
decisive, perhaps of our destiny of mankind .
For let this government be overthrown from
within itself, and who can say, but that its
great underlying principle, the capacity of
man for self government, shall be thrown a
side for the future, by the People of the world,
failure.
Our State is inseparably linked with all the
others. We share common fate, either of
disgrace and ruin, or permanent power and
glory. All other que stions of political econ
omy, or governmental policy, are merged in
the one great issue of National life or death.
For what are all other interests worth, without
government that can maintain itself
What other public calamity can be compared
to the National overthrow Wars have visit
ed our country in time past, waged by the
savages of the forest, and the self styled ennis
tress of the Seas" Pestilence has, at various
times wasted us public credit has gone down,
while succeeding waves of financial revulsion
swept the social state. Yet, blessed by be-
nign government, our country has outlived
them all. But where is the hope of resurrec-
tion from the grave of National disintegra-
tion? We cannot be too deeply, anxiousy,
impressed with the conviction that unless we
conquer in this struggle, all is lost. There
can be no peace unless we conquer peace. If
should even tender the olive branch, a
thought which cannot be entertained for a
single moment. the rebellious States would
disdainfully reject it. All the sacrifice that
may be made in this war, all the treasure that
may be expended, all the evils that are insepa-
rabe from it, and which the humane croakers
for peace are constantly aggravating,
light, in comparison with the untold evils
which would follow triumphant rebellion.
But if we could even agree upon a peaceabie
separation, how long would peace continue
The disloyal Southern States intoxicated with
success, would be more aggressive, domineer-
ing and INSCRIPTIONS than ever before. An
eternal conflict of jarring interests would en-
tail minable internal wars upon all our
poSterity, whilst our weakened, divided, de-
moralzed condition would constantly invite
the aggrcssions of the grasping potentates of
Europe. Ii this government has not the pow
er OF subduing rebellion, it has not the pow
er of preserving itself. 1t is now on its great
trial. N ow is the time for the solution Of the
grand problem. European monarchists point
to this country as the last great exemplifica-
tion of the impossbility of permanent repub
lie. Do they predicate the failure Of our
country on the mere fact that civil war exists
What Nation in all history has been exempt
from it Is it peculiar to Republics Then,
whence the civil wars that from the earliest
history until recent reigns, have time and a
gain, ravaged and scourged the British En-
pire (! Why is it, that England safely moored
in that quiet cove of blest tranquility, limit
ed monarchy, has been frequently torn from
her moorings and tossed madly in the seas of
revolution? If monarchy be the symbol of
strength and perpetuity whence the War of
the Roses Why has the blood of monarchs
in France so often glutted the savage ven-
geance of internal factions Civil war indeed
exists. A war on our part to put down an I'M
natural, ungrateful, matrcidal, He'll born Re-
belion. Long plotted, it has been Matched at
last into wicked life, and seeks, with treach-
cry, falsehood theft, robbery, arson and mur-
der, IS its allies, to dissolve this blood bought
Union, our priceless heritage from our FORE
fathers. The magnitude of the contest, the
tremendous consequences of discontinue, can
hardly be exaggerated. But who doubts the
result Superiority, of strength, numbers
and resources, and the invincible will of u
nited North must triumph. AS certain as
Truth and Justice sit enthroned in Heaven, |
there can be but one issue from this conflict. |
The n orth may have to spend profusely her |
treasures, and her patriotic sons pour out
their life blood like water, but the Govern |
ment must and ,oiH be sustained. The omens |
are auspicious. Hitherto the Rebels inn |
inferior to the Loyalists in numbers |
and aggregate wealth, have far excolled us in |
energy and vigor. We were slow to apprcci- !
ate the true state of the case. Nor is it sur |
prising. True to the Union and the Constitu- |
tion ourselves, hereditarly and proudly loving |
the one and relig iousy generating the other, |
we were 10th to believe it possible that men |
were so lost to the glorious memories of the |
past and the bright hopes of the future, as to
reck lessly and diabolcally conspire to over
throw both. Six hundred thousand free citi-
vounteers-marshalled on the battle
field in defence of the government, affords an
evidence of strength which the world has new
er before witnessed. Let monarchists con-
template the incredibly short time in which |
this immense army has been raised, the dici-
pliae to which it has attained, the spirit of un-
dying devotion which animates ALL and learn
the lesson of our Republics strength.
The noble State which honors us with seats
in this Chamber, has been true to her tradf- |
.ional renown. More than1 10000 Pennsyl- |
vanans arc now in the field, and wherever
they have had an opportunity of facing the |
foe, their actions have shown them as martial
in spirit as they are distinguished for dici-
pline. OF such gallant spirits, ready to die
for their country's flag, Pennsylvania may |
we'll be proud. We know that their names |
and deeds will illus trate the brightest records |
of this unhappy war, and that they never de- |
raxt Tho posf ~ dufv nnfil viefnrv u reafhg III