Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-09-19

uPOh tuo pOOple W lolloW, We Will dJ olCs
rally 10 the call. The highest officer and
the humblest individual were on level
now, and every person should do his duty.
He thought we should be led by our con
stitutional Commander
"To this Mr.. Kunkel strongly objected,
saying that is would be an abandonment
of his Office.
"Mr Cameron.-It is not an abandon
ment Of his Office; it is out part of his
legitimate duty.
"Mr. Kunkel.-I can't understand this.
| don't see why our Governor, who is
worn out by the duties of his office, should
lead the van Of the militia, when General
Couch, a United States Officer, is with us.
There is disposition on the part of Mr..
Cameron to drag the Governor from his
legitimate duties. l would as soon the
President of this meeting should be our
leader, and lie is as much fitted and called
upon to perform that duty as the Governor.
"Mr. Cameron. / am ready 10 Shoulaer
a mushet anil go as q prioats, under the
| Governor.
"Governor Curtin then said he could
do no more than this he would 90 as he
did last fall, when he went with the Militia
to Hagersiown, but got from the United
States the cooperation Of a military
mind to direct immediate operations.
Thus we give from the Harrisburg pa
pers of juno 10th, Gov. Curtin's own
statements-an attempted defense, but
real confession. lie declares, in effect,
! that he knew of the contemplated invasion
by Jenkins "last week" that is, from about
the sth of June, week before the pre-
liminary movement of the enemy, and
more than two weeks before their army
entered the State. Worse even than this
the Governors speech was actually deiv-
cred twelve days before Lee crossed the
Potomac and all these occurrences were
more than eight months after the emphatic
warning of Stewards raid
To avoid possibility Of error and conso.
quent injustice, let us marshal the dates.
October, 62.--Stewarts invasion.
JuEe 8, l663.-Curtin knew that the
State was about to be invaded second
time.
June l4.-Jcnkins entered Pcnnsylva.
mia.
June l5.-Curtin's Harrisburg speech.
June 26.-Lee entered York and Car
Isle at head of rebel army of Virginia.
July pa The battle of Gettysburg
The Governor did some things, and VIC
give him the benefit of them.
He supplicated the President Tor means
Of defense, but it was refused and thus he
says 1--WE were treated wrongly" Was it
fit that the Governor of the great State of
Pennsylvania should crouch as beggar
to be spurned from the foot of the Federal
throue? Was not every citizen thus in
suited in the person of the Governor p
Would they have dared thus to treat us,
if Governor Curtin had rightly represent
cd the dignity and power Of our ancient
Commonwealth, instead, as he himself
states, "beiDg willing to conccde every
thing to the administration"
The duty Of the Governor was clear
instant attack Of the assailants Defeat is
not necessarily degrace, but submission is
always infamy. Timely preparation would
have avoided either.
We admit that Pennsylvania was deep.
ly wronged by the Federal Executive
that half of the men whom she has furnish
, ed for this could have defended the sancti
ty of her soil, and that in preventing then
from doing SO, the administration wa:
both base and cruel; that, probably, the
refusal to sanction Governor Curtins cal
= for the militia, was deliberately designed
to arouse our people by ravage of their
homes, and plunder of their property ;an'
; in short, that we were the victims of th
. weakness and wickedness of our rulers.
; But these were not reasons for abandon
, ing the natural right Of self defense. 1t il
not in the presence of peril that the remot
! cause is TO be considered, except for tn
G purpose of future punishment. 1t is no
t when the enemy thunders at our gates tha
y we are to pause and hesitate, because, i
. : others had done their duty, he would no
= be there. Ii is not when the foe has u
: by the throat that we are to speculate al
e 10 who set him on. Our State was mena
ced, invaded, insultcd. 1t was the cleal
y duty of the Governor to use his ampl
power for preparation and, having fo
# months neglected this, at least he shoul'
t have called on the militia on the sth 0
!, June to take arms and instantly repel the
! attack made or threatened. Pennsylva
t MIA was strong enough to protect herself
e patriotic enough to make every effort ant
+ any sacrifice which was necessary. Th