The mountain Democrat., 1863-06-13

AnReGh
1ivered before the Democratic Gem
1raI Club, OF Phtlade de Iphta, on the
29th Of last March,
Mr. Reed being introduced to the meet
ing, spoke as follows;
| fear | shall poorly REPAY the honor
you have done nc, ny auytking Of interest
that can utter TO night | am unused to
the sound Of my own voice. II ns7 been
so long repres>cd that it sounds strangely
in my ears-for since the 18th OF Jauua.
~. l86l-morc than two Ion. years ago
II have not attended pubic meeting
beyond the limits Of my own neighbor-
hood, or opened my ips in public on any
political question whatever. Chatting. As
every free man Of common intelligence
must, under the restraints which the cd
eral Administration has put upon IL, hold
ing, as do, very clear and decided oiin.
ions, have written traukly and positively
have not concealed, or tied 10 co;ccal,
what have written, and ain repou>lhic
for every word ;hat ha> ia!.sn Il ~ my
pen-spokcn, have unt. .tNi irr t'd~
simple reason, or rcSn,Ill,a, t.ia' ! W"., j
not speak till c''ui say ii I"; 4.
did say should benny honest clnvitti 'n,,
uttered without disguise or app'o-y. |
have never been able Il reconcile II to
Sclf.reSpect to unite 10 any extent in what.
with nv views, would bc the tH,rc iarg "a
of war and coercion, when dcplrrr ami
condemn the war, aui be-! ~ yuvt,.un t.
have been mistake from ;hc b,,iau;'g;
and pray, and iore, All mr. the Htcrr.
sity of Peace, and, II Vo>~li'ir, Isccoh-
ciliation;" but Pcact, even Ii The bpnd ii
sympathy be, as fear - -, il,lar2h.y
brokea. And tonight Az c1me Aeic l.
speak reasoning, moderate words IA favor
OF that provisional cessation Of hust.,.tle>
which allows time aud temper for drhbcr-
alton and conversion. And Why should |
not? Look back. ! beg you, w!ih nc,
through the Ii ary two cars that have
Just closed-look back II the Nat..ual
Hall meeting Of January, '6i-think, MT
Of the timid and Ackle men who were with
us then, and who have gone from us-hut
of the true men, like your Chairman, (Mr
Ingersoll.) and others who stood b. us
think of our supp.ica,!one aal warnings
then-think Of tbs sha>t.y rc,jIih II Of
what we ioretoll, AMI the SORROW now
breaking the nations heart, aid then
watch the great craving Of the = pu'ar
mind for the restoration Of re?cSc to this
disordered people, and tell me why, aS an
honest man and patriot, should not think
rs do. Nr. Secretary Seward, in his
last dispatch &c France, says that 10
human being out Of the seeded States
had vet dared to raise his voice since the
war began in favor of peace and comprO-
mise" lie is very much mistaken. He
NAV not choose to listen TO II now. But
tell him the still small voice which, be-
fore the wind, and the earthquake, and
the firc, long ago, whispered Peace, will
soon swell into tones which he will have
to give heed to.
And nowhere is this sentiment stronger
or surer than here amidst this great con
stituency-the Democracy Of Pennsylva
mia. That constituency is far, very far
ahead of its leaders, its orators, and its
reputed organs. The mass Of the people
of Pennsylvania look the certain future in
the face. Its instincts shrink from stand
ing on doubtful ground. That constitu-
ency has no sympathy and means to have
no cooperation with any organization OF
doubtful principle. 1t stands by the Con-
stitution, and it rescnts and never can
forgive any violations of it; and when |
hear whispers OF the new semi conserva-
tive combinations, | say with knowledge
and with emphasis, the Democracy of
Pennsylvania will have nothing to do with
them. When, as lately, | see two of the
volatile politicians of the city of New
York lighting on branch of the blasted
tree oil Aboltionism, and chirping, and
twittering, and plu,ning their weli-worn
and ragged feathers with the idea that
they can draw others around them, tell
them, and tell you, that the wing of the
true Democracy of Pennsylvania is too
strong and its flight too high for such
companionship. Mr.. Brady and Mr.. Van
BHren are not leaders for us.
II, tomorrow, there could be an cleo
tion-if this constituency could be poIled,
and every man be allowed to put into the
ballot box his opinion on the great queS-
tiOns agitating this country-l tell you,
my friends, in every county of the State,
there would come up q vast surge of pop
ular sentiment in favor of staying the
bloody tide of wAr-arreSting the in
crease Of debt and taxation-calling back
to peaceful industry the gallant men now
wasting away in camps and pickets-car-
ing with unwearing gentleneS! for the
sick aud wounded-furling the flag of ag-
gressive strife, and gathering up and
nursing for the evil days hereafter, those
local resources and emergencies which
will be needed, and must be invoked be-
fore long, to withstand the fearful march
Of. centralized dominion, and MAINTAIN
within the Union, or, if it be destroyed
by no connivance OF OURS, without IT. the
sovereignty Of the Commonwealth. In
my opinion, the next political contest in
Pennsylvania will turn mainly upon the