The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-07-17


Union and the preservation of the Consti-
tuition. and all the liberties it guarantees to
every citizen. And it makes me feel bad
when hear some honest friend, brimming
full with patriotism, say he does not care
for the Constitution, and does not want to
have it forced into his way or thrust in his
face until the war is over. The rebels can
not thrust it in his face, for they have no
rights under it save the right to be tried
and hung for treason. Continued applause.
In certain districts the military law is su-
preme. Gen. Grant is in command of an
army in the State of Mississippi, which is
in revolt. Will any one deny his right to
make arrests, his right to suppress newspa-
pers, and to level trees like those around
you tonight, in order to get a range for his
guns? No. And yet these are all arbitra-
ry powers. But those exercises of it are
not the troublesome cases. The great diff
Guilty is in those districts where rightful
civil government is in operation, where the
judicial tribunals are open and the laws re-
spected-the laws which afford remedy
loI every WTouS.
Asa rule we must remember that the civil
law is superior to the military law, and the
cases are rare, very rare, where the rule can
be reversed. 1t then resolves itself into
the plain naked question whether the Pres
ident and his generals, by the simple click
ing of telegraph instrument, can cause the
imprisonment of A, B, or G. If one gen
eral can do it, another can it, and where
is the end? who will fix the limit7 Great
sensation and murmurs.
Do you propose to interfere with the bal
lot-box? Cries of No! MOI Never! New
er!' from all parts Of the meeting. | am
glad to hear you say that, and glad you are
so unanimous. Did it ever occur to you
that the next election may put an entirely
different face upon affairs The next cleo
tion may bring great and deplorable chan
ges, when Vallandigham and men of his
class may determine who are to be arrested.
| Cries of ''No. that can never be-" '.Nev-
er, never" from all parts of the crowd.
Well, gentlemen, there is no use iii clos
ing your eyes to the facts which exist a.
round you on every side. l told you came
here to address myself to your reason, and
not to your passions, and in view of that
| light ask you who are being elected Gov
ernors of loyal States, who compose a ma
ority of the Legislature of the loyal State
| of Illinois, and who was recently elected
| Mayor of her principal and most loyal city,
and in view of these facts what may the flu
furc not have in store? Cries of "Jenni-
son. 'Music." eve don't want to hear
yon.' ''You sent telegram to the Presi-
| dent"
You are wrong-it is your greatest and
gravest mistaken allowing your adverse
ries to place you in the position of being OPP
posed TO the Constitution. Cries for "Jen-
nison," and "Give us somebody else."l |
sec that am distasteful, but | cannot help
it, and will not detain you long. Who is
there among you who does not believe in
| adhering strictly to the Constitution in these
times, and extending to every citizen of the
loyal States its guarantee? Who among you
is prepared to acknowledge our government
| is failure?
Who among you is prepared to say the
Constitution is a fine thing for peace-good
enough-but when war comes it must be
rolled up and laid away? Or in other words
for it means the same-who among you
is ready to substitute the will and opinion Of
one man, who may be another Vallandigham,
in place of the Constitution as the supreme
law of the land? Cries of ''We don't want
any more of that" ''What's that band
for2"l Well, hear me through, for / will
not be long, and the questions before you
are of so much Importance and gravity that
you should listen patiently, and not only
that. decide dispassionately. The Consti-
tuition is broad. 1t grants all powers ne
cessary, even for the suppression Of treason
in the North. Applause.
Yes, gentlemen, it is just as legal and
binding upon the general in the field, and
the civil officers of the nation, as it is upon
the humblest citizen in the land. Has it
come to this, that you will deny in the free
city of Chicago the right of a citizen to dis
cuss the acts of the President? Cries of
1--WE won't allow it," and 'none but cop
perheads do that, and we will stop them.
Is there man in this audience who has not
expressed to-day his dissatisfaction with
some act of the President2 Cries of eyes,
Yes," "We have none Of us expressed any
dissatisfaction"
All, do all of you, then, think the Pres
ident's revocation of Gen. Burnside's order,
suppressing the Chicago Times was right 2
Cries of ''No." "No!" '.It was wrong"
''He ought to have enforced the order!" =
Then you all deserve to be taken in hand
by the military power and sent beyond the
lines. You will be much stronger with the
law on your side. Show that Mr.. Storey
has counseled resistance to the draft, or en-
u.