Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1863-07-15

Union last? IF there be- that man is be
side himself; he has lost his wits. | vii
reason with such man. But, though few
may believe that the Union can long en-
dure the shock Of the conflict, yet many
people thlnk that freedom-absolute, un
conditional, universal freedom-is S,
great boon, and negro slavery so grea
a reproach and evil, that the whole in
fiuence OF good mans life and conduc
should be directed to promote the one
and suppress the Other-evcn though. as
a consequence, the slave States should be
driven out of the Union This is the
prevalent dlstemper Of the public mind
" w ho can minister to q mind diseased 90
Feiiow-citizens, | profess no ability in
tins regard, but my mouth is open, and
Will utter some of the thoughts that press
up from the heart to the lips
When under the articles of confedera-
ton, which carried US through our Revo-
iutlonary war, States had grown Jealous,
untraternal, disobedient; and the General
Government had proved itself too weak
TO suppress conflicts that were arising, the
people took the remedy into their own
hands, called a Convention, and formed a
stronger government, The call of the
Convention, the election of deputies, the
State Conventions which followed, all
served to engage the public mind, and to
| direct 1t to the common danger, and the
possible remedy. Thus the popular mind
prepared itself to receive with appreciation
the Constitution that was formed, and
| impending dangers were averted.
History Is said to be philosophy teach
ing by examples Let us be instructed
by this example. AS we, Pennsylva-
mans, were the first to abolish slavery,
let us be the first to move for the saliva
ton of the Union. Under the amenda-
tory clause of the Constitution, Congress
is b2und to call general convention on
application OF the Legislatures of two
thIGss OF the States Our Legislature
Will assemble next month. Let us petit
| ton them, 10 demand the convention.
Good examples, like bad ones, are con-
tagIous Perhaps one and another of the
Northern and Southern States may do the
like until the requisite number have con-
CURED, and then we will have a National
| Convention to consider the evils and dan
gers Of the day, and to devise remedies
which, 1t may be hoped, shall prove as
! salutary as those Of 1887. And now, as
| then, the progress Of these measures will
awaken inquiry and thoughtfulness in the
masses, will call Of their minds from the
petty politics Of the pay, and from the
mlschlevous agitation of slavery questions,
to the grand problem Of how we can rem
der this glorious Union perpetual
| In what form and TO what extent the
| power Of the General Government should
! be increased is not for me to indicate. but
with the confessions of President Bu-
clanan and AttOrncy-Genera! Black be-
! fore us, that the Government, as now
| constituted, is unable to prevent or pun
lSh secession, or TO suppress the proud
conflict that disturbs our peace and boasts
itself irrepressible, have | not a right TO
assume that the Government needs to be
strengthened Have / not Il right TO say
that Government which was all sufli-
cient for the country fifty years ago, when
soil and climate, and State sovereignty
could be trusted 10 regulate the shrcad Of
| slavery, is insufficient to-day when every
upstart polititition can stir the people to
mutiny against the domestic institutions of
our Southern ei9iibors-when the ribald
jests of sedicious editors, like Greely and
Beecher, can sway Legislatures and pop
ular votes against the handiworll OF
Washington and Madison-when the
scurrilous lbels of such a book as
Helpers become 4 favorite campaign
document, and are accepted by thou
sands Is law and gospel both-when
jealousy and hate have killed out all our
fraternal feelings for those who were born
our brethren, and who have done us no
harm The traditions of the elders lin
gered IN the generations which immedi-
ateiy succeeded the adoption of the Con
stltutlon, and their passion for freedom,
just as strong as ours, was chastened into
loyalty to the Union, and veneration for
the rights of the States The Constitu-
ton, which was strong enough, TO govern
such men, is too weak to restrain us who
have outgrown the grave and moderate
wisdom that excited no irrcpressible con-
flict between brethren, but taught them TO
dwell together IN unity. | would make
it strong enough TO restrain the madness
OF our day.
And let the people consider the mo-
tivcs for preserving the Union. They
would be brought directly to these by the
debates Of the conventions and 10y the
antecedent and subsequent debates. |
can suggest only some of them
First, our name, and place, and power,
as one Of the nations of the earth Are