The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-10-03
SPEECH OF
HON. WM. 4. RICHARDSON,
or ILLINOIS,
At the Democratic Mass Convention, held

at Indianapolis, Indiana, July 80, 1852.
My FELLOW CITIzENs-It has been my pride
and pleasure frequently to alludc to the great
ness OF our country, and the prosperity and hap
plness OF our people. The sun of heaven new
er shone upon people so prosperous and hap
py as we were two years ago Our people from
three millions had increased to thirty millions.
From little line of population along the At
aniic, we had grown and spread until our shores
were washed by two oceans.-We had stretch
ed out our farms from the lakes of the North to
the Gulf of Mexico. We embraced every quail
ity of soil and every kind of production. The
sails of our commerce whitened every sea, and
the happy American tar, standing upon the
deck OF his vessel looking up at the stars and
stripes floating gloriously above him, and felt
that in that flag he had safety and protection
everywhere. Around every fresde were con-
tentnent, happiness and plenty. But what is
the scene that meets our eyes at the present
time, time from MI the ploTT T.g end from the anvil
justicc--we are hurrying to arms.
The Union has assumed the appearance of
one vast military camp. Thetax gatherer, too,
will soon be upon us, to wiring from us our sub
stance. There are grave and important questions
for us to decide. How can we return to that
happiness and prosperity which we once enjoy
ed | would answer, it can only be done by en-
forcing everywhere the Constitution rs it is and
the Union as it was. Whatever amount of
power is necessary, and in whatever form to
enforce that principle ought to be and must be
employed. A rebellion embracing thousands of
our former feilow-citizens arrayed in arms a.
gainst the Government must be put down by
force of arms. And at the same time that
this is being done for the rebellion in the South,
that class of our fellow-citizens in other parts
of the country who are seeking by other means
than those of cannon shot and bayones to des-
troy the Government, must be driven out Of
power and place, and other men, who will ac-
knowledge their obligations and perform their
duty to the country, must be put in their places
To accomplish that object depends upon you
and upon me, but moro upon you than upon me-
You will have to begin the work right here IL
you have begun this work, as | trust in God
you have, let me urge you to keep it up by ev-
cry means in your power-for remember, the
Government, the very existence of the country,
depends upon it.
am aware, my fellow citizens, that those
persons who have deceived you heretofore will
endeavor to do it again-They always promise
what your interests seem to demand, but their
performance is very poor.
Let us inquire a little into the past history of
these men. and see whether they deserve to be
trusted for the future. You remember that a
few years ago we warned the people that the
formation of sectional parties was dangerous to
the Union an the Constitution. You will
recolect that these men then sneeringly said to
us that we were constitutional Union Savers" "
They told you then that all our talk about dam
ger to the Union and the Constitution was the
, merest braggadocia. They asserted that there
was no danger of the South seceding--that you
could not get them. out of the Union-their
slaves would up and murder them. Well, we
did not find that exactly the case, did wes These
men cheated you then, didn't they Some of
them cheated themselves; Others, and by far the
largest portion of the party, did not, although
they cheated you.
Wellwe passed along as usual, and what turn
ed up next ! When there began to be signs OF
trouble in the Southern country, we conscrva-
tive men stepped forward and said, "Let us
compromise" They replied, 'No; we will new
er compromise with rebels in arms !" They pro.
fessed the profoundest contempt for the South,
said our women should go down there and
drive them all together into the Southern ocean
it was mere breakfast spell. Again they
cheated you. Again they proved false proph'
cts, and, like false prophets of old, they ought
all to be stoned to death. Cheers and laugh
ter MOI they would not compromise. They
wanted a little blood-letting--it was absolutely
necessary to the future peace. They said it
would not come to much; these people down
South would not fight at all. And at length
your President called for an army of seventy
five thousand men, and you were told that they
would make rapid work of the rebellion. 1t
was to be annihilated at single blow SO