Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1863-07-29

parties, each an inconsiderable minority,
in the section of our country where they
existed, but men of purpose-men of
zeal-men of fanaticism. We bave seen
them wage war upon the Constitution
of our country, with a persistence and
power that has at last shaken it to its
very foundation, and brought us to-day
to the very brink of National ruin. We
have seen what zeal and purpose could do
when it was opposed only by a dull men
tai acquiescence i'll great truths. What
may not we hope that we may do when
the great majority of the American peo-
pie have fervcnt and vital faith in these
principles which you have heard and read,
and who propose TO maintain them at
every cost and at every hazard! Great
applause.) Do you wish for peace? Do
you wish for victory? Do you wish for
the restoration Of our National privileges?
Here lies the pathway, and let the Ameri-
can people once learn the full value of
their liberties as our fathers did, and the
battle is fought and won. Without this,
my friends, we can bring you no success
peace can give you no quiet, until the
American people are thus educated and
elevated-until that takes place, war or
peace are tie mere incidents of the great
underlying causes of convulsions which
have affected our land and shaken our
institutions to the very centre. Your
particular views may lead you to aitrib-
ute ii to one special cause, but there is
one great underlying general cause of
this war which must be removed before
the country can be restored, and that
cause was indifference to our rights, in
difference to our liberties, and want of an
elevated wisdom that could understand
the duties of American citizenship
When you have gained this, peace will
have been restored when you have
gained this all the world can see that we
have gone back to the wisdom Of our
fathers, and that we are again sustaining
institutions that invited the whole world
to their shelter and protection-institu-
tions that made us but three short years
ago the most glorious nation on the face
of the earth When we have again re-
stored that virtue and that intelligence
our country will again be restored to its
former greatness, and It's former glory
Great applause But, my friends, any
thing short of this will disappoint your
hopes. No victory can restore greatness,
and glory, and power to people who are
unworthy of liberty. No peace will
will bring back prosperity 10 a land which
cannot understand the great principles
upon which governments should be pro-
tccted, and the great objects for which
governments are instituted.
But, my friends, I must close. (Go
on! go on y Let us now, upon this sad
and solemn, as well as glorious occasion
re-dedicate ourselves to the service of our
country in pure and fervent patriotism,
putting aside passions and prejudices as
far as we may, and preparing ourselves to
assert and maintain the great principles
stated III the Declaration Of Independence.
and secured to us by the provisions of
the Constitution Of the United States
Let us resolve from this time on to do
our duty, and to demand our rights.
Great applause. In all that dignifies
us, and so far as they are acting in the
sphere Of their constitutional powers, lei
us be obedient to rulers, let us submit
cheerfully, patiently, and willingly tc
20 those commands which they have q
right to issue, whether we like them OF
or not. When we have done our duty
let us claim our rights in all their fulncss,
in all their completeness. and in all theil
perfection He who does not do his
| duty without regard 10 the misconduct o
others is untrue TO his country. He who
| does not claim his rights is untrue TO lib.
erty and to humanity Applause.
| Our pathways are clear before us if W.
| will accept the simple and wonderful
| teachings of our fathers. From this time
let us resolve that we will uphold all the
just powers of the general government
and the rights of the States, applause
and the rights of persons, and, above al
as their best and surest shield, the indie
pendence and purity Of the Judiciary
! (Applause) We stand to-day, amid new
made graves we stand to-day in lant
| filled with mourning, and our soil is satu
rated with the blood of the fiercest con
flict of which history gives an account
We can, if we will, avert all these disas
ters, and these calamities, and evoke :
blessing. If he will do what? Hold tha
| Constitution, and liberties and laws ar
suspended-be untrue to them-shrinl
back from the assertion of right? Wi
that restore them? Or shall we do a
our fathers did under circumstances O
like trial, when they battled against tn
powers of a crown? Did they say tha
men might be deprived of the right @
trial by jury? Did they say that Gbert