North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-07-15

The man who stands by and says nothing
when the peril of his government is discuss
ed, cannot be misunderstood. If not hinder
ed, he is sure to help the enemy; much mure
If he talks amb ,guously talks for his coun-
try with butts and offs " and I" ands"
it is seen by this letter, at least, that there
Is no longer donbt as to where the response
bIhty for those unconstitutional acts of the
last two years, perpetrated by subdornate
officers OF the federal government, both civil
and military, properly attaches but who
ask, has clothed the President with power to
dictate to any one OF US when We must or
we may speak, or be silent upon any subject,
and especially in relation to the conduct of
any public servant ? By that right does he,
presume to prescribe formula Of language
| Tor your lips or mine ? 1t seems incredible
even with this authenticated paper before US
is amazing that any such sentiment should
have found utterance from the elected repre-
sentative ola free government like that of
the United States. Ny friends, let those
obey such bcnest who will you and have
been nurtured here among the granite hills
and under the clear skies of New Hampshire
into no such servle temperament True it
is, that any of you, that my sely, may be
the next victim Of unconstitmonal arbitrary,
irresponsible power.
But we, nevertheless, arc freemen, and we
resolve 10 live, or if it must be to die. such.
! " U-ill IoI1
up on high the Constitution of the Union,
though torn to shreds by the sacrligeous
hands Of its enemies. How strikingly sig
nlfcant, how suggestive to us, on this occa-
sion, is the contemplation Of that august spec
tacle Of the recent convention at ndianapolis.
of seventy-five thousand citizens calmly and
bravely participating In the discussion of the
great principles underlying their sacred rights
as freemen-neither awed by cannon frown
ing upon their liberties nor provoked bv
threats into retallatory violence. Iwould say
to you fellow citizens, emulate that exhibition
Of wisdom aud patriotism. Be patient, but
resolute. Yield nothing Of your rights. but
bear and forbeaI. Let your action show to
the wolil that with courage to confront des-
potism you have also the discretion to avoid
nconsiderate action in resisting its advances
George Washington and Samuel Adams,
Mathew Thornton and Charles Carroll
George Reed and Roger Sherman Philip Liv
ingaton and William Hooper, Benjamin Frank
lin and Edward Rutlege, George Walton and
Richard Stockton, with their associates of all
the thirteen then Independent sovereign
states, stood eighty-seyen years ago to-day,
in that simple but most memorable room,
where the Declaration was signed like the
people Of the states whom they represented
with the solemn grandeur Of high resolve, c
pparently weak, yet with their armor on and
heir hearts strung for the great contest of
Ill ;tc!-- l. we cannot be joyous and ex
uItant Oh this anniversary of that day, it may
do us good to remember that joy and exulta
ton were far from the hearts Of the brave
men who sanctioned the d tciara'iOl Of Inde
pendence, and then fought seven years to
mantainit. NJ they were not joyous, but
determined. They felt the inspiration of
great object and they sought its accomplish
ment with stern, devoted, seIf-Sacriticing
spirit. They were animated by that deter
mination which in righteous cause of self
vndication is invincible. They knew the
condition of the provinces in point of men
and munitions, and they had clear percep
ton of the colossal power which they were to
confront. But neither one nor the other
consideration nor both combined, shook eli,
| ther their faith or their courage. They com
| pensated for the want of numbers, arms, and
all which ulder ordinary crcu stances goes
to constitute the sinews Of war, by the glow
| of their patriotism and the strength Of their
| purpose. Tor be sure they fought for their
| rights, but their endurance and energy were
| quckened by an incalculahle power ; they
fought for their homes, their hearthstones,
| their wives and children behind them. /
| trust it may be profitable on this OCCASION as
the call of your meeting suggests, to revive
the memories of that heroic epoch Of the re-
public, even though they come laden with re-
grets, and hold up that period of our history
| in contrast with the present. Though they
come to remind us of what were our relations
during the Revolution, and in later years,
prior to 1861, to that great commonwealth
which we were accustomed to refer to by the
name of the Mother of Statesmen and OF
States :" and of what those relations now are.
Can it be that we are never to think again of
the land where the dust of Washington and
Patrick Henry, Of Jefferson and Madison
repose, with emotions of gratitude, admIra
tion and fllial regard 2 Is hate for all that
Virginia has Taught, all that Virginia has
done, all that Virginia now is, to take the
place of sentiments which we have cherished
) all our lives ? Other men may be asked to
, do this, but it is in vain to appeal to me, So
| Eur hnart iS cnr,cnrnol II IL Snh