The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-08-21
A I'D I'D R IL 8 8
ei'v 10. OF THE 4a
Democratic State Central Committee.

d i
To the People of Penny,ranu =.
An important Election is at hand, and the is
sues involved in it may now claim your atten-
ton The tide of war has been rolled back
from our borders, and with thanks TO GoD, and
gratitude to the skill and valor which, by His
favor, achieved the prompt delverance of our
invaded Commonwealth, we may now give our
solemn consideration to the causes that have
brought to its present condition country once
peaceful, united and secure. 1t is now the
scene of great civil war between States that
lately ministered to each others prosperity in
Union founded for their common good. 1t was
this Union that gave them peace at home and
respect abroad. They coped successfully with
Great Britain on the ocean. and the 'doctrlne"
uttered by President Monroe warned off the
Monarchs of Europe from the whole American
Continent. Now, France carves out of it an
Empire, and ships built in England plunder our
own commerce on every sea. A great public
debt and a conscriphon burden the people. The
strength and wealth of the nation are turned
from productive industry, and consumed in the
destructive arts of war Our victories fail to
win peace. Throughout the land arbitrary pow
er encroaches upon civil liberty
What has wrought the disastrous change?-
No natural causes embroied the North and the
South. Their interchangeable products and
commodities, and various institutions, were sour
ces of reciprocal benefit, and excluded competi-
ton and strife But an artificial cause of dis
sension was found in the position of the Afri-
can race; and the ascendency in the National
Councils of men pledged to an aggressive and
unconstitutional Abolition policy has brought
our country to the condition of the 'house di-
vided against itself" The danger to the Union
began where statesmen had foreseen tit began
in the triumph of sectional party, founded on
principles of revolutionary hostility to the Con-
stitution and the laws. The leaders of tins par
ty were pledged to conflict with rights recog-
nized and sheltered by the Constitution; they
called this conflict ''irrepressibe," and whenev-
er one party is determined to attack what ano-
ther is determined to defend, conflict can al
ways be made ''irrepressible." They counted
on an easy triumph through theaid of insurgent
slaves, and, in. this reliance were careless how
soon they provoked collision Democrats and
conservatives strove to avert the conflict. They
saw that Union was the paramount interest of
their country, and they stood by the great bond
of union, the Constitution of the United States
They were content to leave debatable questions
under it to the high tribunal framed to decide
them; they preferred it to the sword as an ar
bitter between the States; they strove hard to
merit the title which their opponents gave them
in scorn---the title of ''Union-savers." We will
not, at length, rehearse their efforts In the
Thirty-Sixth Congress, the Republican leaders
refused their assent to the Crttcnden Compro-
mise On this point, the testimony of Mr..
Douglas will suilice he said: 81 believe this to
be fair basis of amicable adjustment. If you
of the Republican side are not willing to accept
this, nor the proposition of the Senator from
Kentucky, (Alr. Crittenden,) pray tell us what
you are willing to do? / address the inquiry to
the Republicans alone, for the reason that, IN tie
COMMITTEE Of Thirteen, fer days ago. eOe,y menu
ber from the South, 'actadmg those iron, The Cotton
States, (InessrS Dacts and Ioombs) oppressed dicr
readiness to accept the propositions of my ven
cradle friend from Kentucky, Mr.. Crittenden, as
final settlement of the controversy, if tender
ed and sustained by the Republican members.
Hence the sole responsibility Of oar disagreement,
and tile only difficulty an tie cay Of an amicable
adjustment, as aeith the Republican party" Janu-
ary 3, 1861.
The Peace Congress was another means by
which the Border States strove to avert the i'm
pending strife. How the Republican leaders
then conspired against the peace Of their conn
try may be seen in a letter from Senator Chand-
Ter, of Michigan, TO the Governor Of that State
"To HIS E1cccltmw dustin Blair: IH'f
"Governor Bingham and myself telegraphed
you on Saturday, at the request of Massachu-
setts and New York, to send delegates to the
peace or compromise Congress. They admit
that we were right and they were wrong; that
no Republican State should have sent delegates
but they are here and cannot get away. Ohio,
Indiana and Rhode Island are caving in, and
there is danger of Illinois; and now they beg
us, for Gods sake to come to the rescue, and
save the Republican party from rupture. hope
you will send st,6-bacted men or none. The
whole thing was gotten up against my judgment
and advice, and will end in thin smoke Still,
/ hope, as q matter of courtesy to some of our
erring brethren, that you will send the delegates
Truly, your friend, m
. -. s.-a5.,' i. CHANDLER
"P. S.-Some of the manufacturing States
think that a fight would be awful. Without
little blood-letting, this Union will not, in my
estimation, be worth rush. ...l1 tsa
r." Washington, Feb. IL, 1861" he'|
In Pennsylvania, too, the same spirit prevailed.
IL was not seen how necessarily her position uni
ted her in interestwith the Border States. She
has learned it since from contending armies
trampling out her harvests and deluging her fields
with blood. Governor Curtin sent to the Peace
Congress- Mr.. Wilmot and Mr.. Meredith.
MIR. Wilmot was chiefly known from the con-
nection Of his name with the attempt to en-
broif the country by the "Wilmot proviso,"
baffled by patriotic craftsmanship, in which
Clay and Webster joined with the Democratic
leaders, just as Clay and Jackson had joined
in the tariff compromise of 1888. b..
Mr. Meredith had published his belief that the