The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-05-23
VOL. s. NO. AZ

is this ''high constitutional privilege" which
Daniel Webster declared he would 'sdefend and
exercise within the House and out of the House
and in all places, in time of war, in time o
peace, and at all times !" II is right secured
by the people, and formidable to tyrants only
III ever there was a time when the existence
and consolidation of the Democratic party upon
/ its principles and policy was vital necessity 10
public and private liberty, it is now.
Unquestonably the Constitution gives ample
/ power TO the several Departments of the Gov
! ernment to carry on war, strictly subject to its
provisions and in case of civil war, with perfect
security TO citizens of the loyal States. Every
act necessary for the safety and efficiency of the
! Government, and for complete and most vig-
orous trial of its strength, is yet wholly consis-
! tent with the observance Of every provision of
/ that instrument, and of the laws in pursuance
of it, if the sole motives of those in power were
the suppression of the ''rebellion,' and no more.
And yet the history Of the administration for the
twelve months past has been and continues to be
a history of repeated usurpations of power and
of violations of the Constitution, and of the
public and private rights of the citizen. For
the proof we appeal to facts too recent to need
recital here, and too fragrant and heinous for
the calm narrative which we propose. Similar
acts were done and like policy pursued in the
( threatened war with France in the time of John
Adams, and with the same ultimate purpose.
Bnt in two or three years the people forced them
into an honorable peace with France, rebuked
the excesses and abuse of power, vindicated the
| Constitution, and turned over the Federal Gov
J to 4ba ,,Io md IF thn
ocratic party. To the ''sober second thought of
the people," therefore, and to the ballot box, we
now appeal when again in like peril with our
fathers.
But if every Democrat concurred in the pol
icy of prosecuting the war TO the utter subiuga-
tion of the South and for the subversion of her
State Government with her institutions, with
out Convention of the States, and without an
overture for peace we should just as resolutey
resist the disbanding of the Democratic party.
1t is the only party capable of carrying on u
war; it is the only party which has ever con-
Quoted war to a successful issue, and the only
party which has done it without abuse of any
class of citizens, and with due regard to econo-
my. All this it has done; all this, if need be,
it is able to do again. If success, then, in
military point Of view be required, the Demo-
cratic party alone can command il,
To conclude Inviting all mens without dis
tinction of State, section, or party, who are for
the Constitution as it is and the Union asst was,
to unite with us in this great work upon terms
of perfect equality, we insist that
The restoration of the Union, whether through
peace or by war, demands the continued organ
ization and success of the Democratic party;
| The preservation of the Constitution demands
! it:
| The maintenance of liberty and free demo-
| cratical government demands it;
Economy and honesty in the public expendi-
lures now at the rate Of four millions of dollars
a day, demand it;
The rapid accumulation of an enormous and
permanent public debt already one thousand
millions of dollars, and equal at the present
rate, in three years to England's debt of a CEN
tury and a half growth;
| The heavy taxation, direct, and indirect, State
and Federal, already more than two hundred
millions of dollars year, eating out the SUBJ
stance of the people, augmenting every year,
demands it,;
Reduced wages, low prices, depression of trade,
decay of business, scarcity of work, and inn
pending ruin on every side, demandi it;
And, fnally, the restoration OF the concord,
good feeling, and prosperity of former years,
demands that the Democratic party shall be
maintained and made victorious.
w. A. RICHARDSON, Illinois,
A. l.. KNAPP, Illinois,
J. C. ROBINSON, Illinois,
JOHN LAW, Indiana,
D. w. VOORHEES,, Indiana,
w. ALLEN, Ohio,
c. A. WHITE, Ohio,
WARREN p. NOBLE, Ohio,
GEO. ii. PENDLETON, Ohio,
JAS. r.. MORRIS, Ohio,
c. L. VALLANDIGHAM, Ohio,
PHILIP JOHNSON, Pennsyla.
S. +. ANCONA, Pennsylvania,
GEO. X. STIIl1L, Oregon.
NoTE.-'The names of absent members con-
curing in the above will be affixed to the pam.