The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-09-19
The 18th of September,

pennsylvania appropriately celebrated Wednes-'
day last, 18th inst, it being the sevehty-ffth
anniversary Of the day on which the Cohstitu-
tion of the United States was adopted. 1t is
hoped that much may have been accomplished
by the observance of this day that may tend to
Undue the minds of the people with a deeper
veneration for that holy and inviolable law which
is the basis of our liberties, the bond of the u
Mon and the buIwark of our nationality
The idea Of celebrating the anniversary of
the adoption of the Constitution, was eminent
ly proper at this period of lawessness and disre-
gard for the restraints and prohibitions of legal
an Unconstitutional authority. 1t is an absolute
necessity that the ancient love for law andorder
which animated the bosoms of the sires should
be rekindled in the hearts of us, their degener-
ate sons 1t is necessary that not only the re-
bellious lawlessness of traitors in arms, but also
the violence of mobs Composed of selfstyled
''loyal men'') and the disregard by public Off
cas for their oaths of office, should be denounc-
cd and rebuked. IF there is not virtue enough
left in the American people to do this, the time
has, indeed, come when we must 'despair of the
Republic" IF the binding force of the funda-
mental law is to be no longer acknowledged by
men high in official position, who are sworn to
support it, what is to be expected of the popu-
lace who are naturally restive under any res
traint upon their native freedom? IF Presidents
and Cabinet Ministers and Ministers Of the
Gospel teach us-(the former by example and
the latter by direct precept)-that the Consti-
tuition is mere tissue paper and can be torn into
shreds, with impunity, by any officer of the
Federal Government, whenever he deems it ne
cessary, can we hope that rebellion against the
Government will cease, or that order and peace
will be restored to the naton2 Why the Con-
rebellion is against the authority of the Con-
stitution. But, if we permit the Federal Exec
utive, or his cabinet, or preachers of the Cos
pei, or other persons who by their political or
social position, are enabled to exert great infu-
ence over the public mind, to indoctrinate the
people with the idea that there is higher po-
litical law than the Constitution and that that
sacred instrument is not perfectly and absolute
ly invioable, then we suffer a Northern rebell-
ion to be inaugurated against the Government,
which cannot prove less disastrous to the liberty
and general welfare of the country than the
insurrection headed by Mr.. Jefferson Davis
Then, indeed, would the Union be worthless,
for the nation would be in state of anarchy
Chaos would come again, and on the pages of
ktld &ohld stine Fl s as 1tghf in Comparison with the
Egyptian darkness that would follow the setting
sun of the American Republic. But whilst
those in position and power inculcate false po-
ltical views in the minds of the people and
whilst their plea of ''necessity' is taken and ac-
cepted as sufficient reason for the violation of
the fundamental law, there is another class Of
persons, who are also in position and power,
hard-thinking, Woodworking men of the country
who urge the same plea of ''necessity," but
for the very opposite purpose, that of bringing
the administration of the Government back to
a strict observance of the Constitutions These
find that the salvation of the country depends
upon the untouched sanctity of that paramount
law of the nation made by the fathers in coun-
Gil on the 18th of September, 1887. These
have learned that unless those at the fountain
head of the Government keep their hands clean,
the whole stream that flows from it, must be
impure and unhealthy. These acknowledge |
that Daniel Webster was right when he said that |
''The Constitution of the United States is the
Bond, and the only Bond, of the Union of these
States; it is all that gives us National char
acter." And through these men, patriots who
know no guile, fear no calumny and dread no
hardships nor danger, it is the province and the
duty of the friends of the Constitution, to re-
generate the politics of the country. To such
men we can and will appeal. Through their
efforts and influence, the plea of ''necessity' on
the side of the Constitution, can be made to
reach even the ears of the populace whom the
threats or Establishments of official myrmidons
have so long held spell-bound. Let our BAN
ners be inscribed with the motto,
'Ihe Constitution as it IS and tie Union as it ,vas"
and whilst we march to do battle for this senti-
ment, let our avant-couriers proclaim to the
people in the celebrated words of Montesouieu,
"1He enjoyment Of liberty, and even its support
and preservation, consists in epery mat's being al
loced to speak his thoughts and lay open las senti-
,ncnts."
e9rThe Inquirer man cannot, for the life of
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