Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-10-09
The Address of Loyal Governors.

address to the President Of the United
States, adopted at meeting Of Gorer-
mors Of Loyal States, at Altoona, Pd,'
on the 22d day Of s ptem6er, 1862.
After nearly one year and half spent
in contest with an armed and gigantic
rebellion against the National Govern
ment of the United States, the duty and
purpose of the loyal States and People
continue, and must always remain, as
they were at its origin-namely, to re-
store and perpetuate the authority OF this
Government and the life of the nation.
No matter what consequences are involv-
ed in our fidelity, this work of restoring
the Republic, preserving the institutions
of democratic liberty, and justifying the
hopes and tolls of our fathers shall not
fail to be performed.
And we pledge, without hesitation, to
the President of the United States, the
most loyal and cordial support, hereafter
as heretofore, IN the exercise OF the func-
tons of his great office. We recognise
in him the Chief Executive Magistrate
of the nation, the Commander-in Chief
of the Army and Navy of the United
States, their responsible and constitu-
tional head, whose rightful authority and
mower. as we'll as the constitutional pow.
ers of Congress, must be vigorously and
religiously guarded and preserved, as the
condition on which alone our form of Gov
eminent, and the constitutional rights
and liberties Of the people themselves,
can be saved from the wreck of anarchy
or from the gulf of despotism.
In submission to the laws which may
have been or may be duly enacted, and
to the lawful orders Of the President, CO.
operating always in our own spheres with
the national Government, We mean to
continue in the most vigorous exercise of
all our lawful and proper powers con-
tending against treason, rebellion, and
the public enemies, and, whether in pub
lie life or in private station, supporting
the arms of the Union until its cause
shall conquer, until final victory shall
perch upon its standard, or the rebel foe
shall yield dutiful, rightful, and I'M
conditional submission.
And, impressed with the conviction
that an army of reserve ought, until the
war shall end, to be constantly kept on
foot, to be raised, armed, equipped, and
trained at home, and ready for emergen-
cies, we respectfully ask the President to
call for such force of volunteers for one
years service, of not less than one hum
dred thousand in the aggregate, the quo
ia of each State to be raised after it shall
have filled its quota of the acquisitions
already made, both for volunteers and
militia. We believe that this would be
measure of military prudence, while it
would greatly promote the military edu-
cation of the people.
We hail with heartfelt gratitude and
encouraged hope the proclamation of the
President, issued on the ODD instant, de-
claring cmancipated from their bondage
all persons held to service or labor as
slaves in the rebel States, whose rebel
lion shall last until the first day of Jan
uary now next ensuing. Tho right of
any persons to retain authority to com
pei any portion of the subjects of the ma
tonal Government to rebel against it, or
to maintain its enemies, implies in those
who are allowed possession of such au-
thority the right to rebel themselves;
and therefore the right to establish mar
tial law or military government in State
or Territory in rebellion implies the right
and the duty of the Government to lib
crate the minds of all men living therein
by appropriate proclamations and assur-
ances of protection. in order that all who
are capable, Intellectually and morally,
of loyalty and obedience, may not be
forced into treason as the unwilling tools
of rsbellious traitors. To have contin-
ued indefinitely the most efficient cause,
support, and stay of the rebellion, would
have been, in our judgment, unjust to
tho loyal people whose treasure and lives
are made a willing sacrifice on the altar
of would have Disseminated
against the wife who is compelled to sur
render her husband, against the parent
who is to surrender his child to the hard
ships of the camp and the perils of bat
tie, in favor of rebel masters permitted
to retain their slaves. 1t would have
been final decision alike against hu-
n,onitv iustice tho rights and dipnity