The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-07-09

knowledge would arouse the people, and
thus of course the danger would be avert
ed
The silly editor very significantly asks,
why is it that our militia run helter
skelter, and that sufficient force cannot
be raised to protect our borders without
seeking aid elsewhere Why is it that
New York and New Jersey can send
armed and disciplined men at the request
of our Governor for the protection of our
fresides +? These questions are very easily
answered. New York and New Jersey
have regularly organized militia system;
Pennsylvania has none. But why have
the Rebels risked their presence in
locality filled with sturdy population,
supposed to be ready and able at any
moment to repel an attack on their soil
and their homes? We will answer
Invasion has thus far been a success
because we have not been prepared TO
meet it. 1t was attempted because the
rebels knew by information derived from
those who live in our own midst and
sympathize with them, that the people of
the State were not prepared to meet any
foe, and at least of all such foe as
marches beneath the black flag of treason.
Why are we not prepared for invasion ?
Let the record answer. IL his last annual
message to the Legislature, in January
last, Governor CURTIN called the attention
Of that body to the danger of invasion in
the following language:
's'Thc militia law of this State is greatly
defective, and I earnestly recommend the
appointment Of commission to prepare
and submit an efficient system, to be
reported before the adjournmet Of the
Legislature, so that action may be had on
the subject at the present session. In
the hurry of ordinary business the Legis-
lature might not be able to give the
necessary attention to the preparation
of proper measure, and events which
have already occurred prove the necessity
of effcctual legislation on the subject, sc
that our people may be adequately pro-
tected."
The Lewistown Gazette, referring to
the record, says that in the Senate, as
we'll as we remember, bill was reported
and perhaps passed, but the House was
far more inter ested In bounding General
Cameron and passing monopoly bills than
the defence of The State, AMI nothing was
done. The border counties of Fulton,
Franklin, Adams aud York, as also
Cumberland, sent Democratic politicians
of the sympathizing stamp to the Legisla-
ture-men who profess to believe and
taught others that President LINCOLN
was violating the Constitution in arrestipg
suspected traitors or aiders and abettors
of treason that the CONSUMPTION law was
unconstitutional and an outrage, and
various other charges which IN other days
were construed as toryism, but are now
falsely converted into Democracy. One
would suppose that men thus interested
would exert their energies to place the
homes ct their constituents N comparative
security. But, no Foul party was
upper1uost in their thoughts, and the
consequence is that in the mids. of a
promising harvest, the citizens Of all that
region are fleeing, their fields made
desolate, their horses and cattle taken,
and the desolatior of war visited upon
their homes. Had these men acted on
the suggestion of the Governor, bill
would have been passed authorizing the
formation of State Guard $4,000 strong,
who ought to have been drilled for at
least three months, and then furlouShed
home to be ready at a moments notice;
liberal pay ought to have been offered
while In seryice-not less than $50 a
month-and their transportation to and
from their homes paid. Such force
would have saved us from invasion, or at
least checked the rebels in their career
Of plunder until an adequate force could
have been raised to drive them from the
State. AS it is, ordinary measures,
effective only after the evil has been
accomplished, will have to be resorted to.
The Reason.