The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-03-13

Government which drew its sword upon its own
people when they demanded guarantees for their
rights. This cry, that we must have govern
ment, is merely following the example of the
besorted Bourbon, who never learned anything
but misfortune, never forgave an injury, never
forgot an affront Must we demonstrate that
we have got a government, and cocrce obedi-
ence without reference to the justice or injustice
of the complaintsl Sir, whenever ten millions
of people proclaim to you with one unanimous
vote, that they apprehend their rights, and their
family altars are in danger, it becomes a wise
government to listen to the appeal, and remove
the apprehension. History does not record an
example where any human government has been
strong enough to crush ten millions of people
into subection when they believed their rights
and liberties were imperiled, without first con-
verting the government into despotism, and
destroying the last vestige of freedom
Let us take warning from the examples of the
past. Wherever a government has refused to
listen to the complaints of the people, and at
tempted to put down their murmurs by the bay
onet, they have paid the penalty. OF all those
who listened to the people i'll lS48, and granted
charters of liberty, and took the oath to support
them, only one has been faithful, and he has
been rewarded for his fidelity; the others win
pay the penalty OF their perfdty. The King
of Sardinia granted aconstitution took an oath
to support it, and to-day he is King of Italy.
If George III had listened to the murmurs of
our fathers, and granted their just demands, the
war of the revolution would have been averted,
and the blood that was spilled would have been
saved. laia r U.~
If we consider Ibis question calmly, and make
such amendments as will convince the people of
the Southern States that they are safe and secure
in their family relations with the Unon We can
restore and preserve it.. Ii we cannot satisfy
the people of the border States that they may
remain in the Union with safety, dissolution is
inevitable Then the simple question comes
back, what shall be the policy of the Union men
of this country! Shall it be peace or shall it be
war! What man in all America, with a heart
in his bosom, who knows tho facts connected
with For. Sumter, can hesitate in saying that
duty, honor, patriotism, humanity, require that
Anderson and his gallant band should be instant-
l would scorn to take a party advantage to man
ufacture partizan capital out of patriotism.
Peace is the only policy that can save the
country. Let peace be proclaimed as the poll
cy, and you will find that thrill Of joy will an
innate the heart of every patriot in the land;
confidence will be restored; business will be re-
vived; joy will gladden. every heart bontires
will blaze upon the hill-tops and in the valleys,
and the church bells will proclaim the glad Ii
dings in every city, town and village in Ameri-
ca, and the applause of a grateful people will
greet you everywhere. Proclaim the policy Of
war; and there will be gloom, and sadness, and
despair pictured upon the face of every patriot
in the land. A war of kindred, family and
friends; father against son, mother against
daughter, brother against brother; TO subjugate
onc-half of this country in obedience to the 9TH
er half; if you do not mean this, if you mean
peace, let this be adopted and give the President
the opportunity, through the Secretary of War,
to speak the word ''peace," and thirty millions
of people win bless him with their prayers, and
bonor him with their shouts of joy.