Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1863-03-25

ana unthlnkIng men should be found
ready TO follow such examples And
when, in addition TO all this, the Repub-
hcan press and politions, in violation of
sruth, decency, policy and patriotism, and
Tor the merest and basest partisan pur-
poses, were daily charging one-half, if not
more. of the northern people, with treason
or sympathy with treason; when even Go
vernors of States, in public speeches, cast
such lmputations upon a majority of their
own constituents: when every artifice
that malice could invent and industry
apply was being rcsorted to, in order TO
mIsiead and prejudice the army against
the Democratic party; when, for what
purpose, Democratic newspapers were ex-
Guided from IFS lines and camps, while
Abolition newspapers were freely admit
ed; when secret, irresponsible, oath-bonnd
and armed societies were forming to sup
press the voice of Democracy and tram
pie upon the public will when all the
machinary TO produce a reign OF terror
was being prepared and set in motion. it
. IL not wonderful that Ignorance, passion
and prejudice should bid defiance to the
laws.
We note these things, moi to excite
wrath, but 10 warn every mum who de
>ircs 10 preserve the peace OF society, tlrr
liberties and property of the people, the
laws and constitutions of the land, that
i bthuuyeS him To set his face against all
;l""@2reS~ionS upon either. Constitutions
and law make free government, respect
fer them preserves it, disregard of them
! brings despOtism or anarchy. Tie Dem
ocratic party has ever been, and vet is,
/ Il l;tw;biding party. 1t asks nothing
! but Its rights under the Constitution and
/ the laws. Ii resorts 10 no violation OF
( either 1t cOuntcDanccS no violation OF
! either. 1t has right to all the guaran-
/ tees CT public and private liberty, and of
property, contained in oUr fundamental
laws. and ii will suIren Ter not one of
! .Lcm. |! has the right TO discuss public
measures, and will discuss them 1t has
! the ri-ht TO propose and advocate that
/ policy which ii deems best for the nation,
! and il VIII exercise that right 1t has a
/ right to have lis policy passed upon by
7 III, people al praceable ;tnd untrammclied
( elections. ana it will maintain that right.
/ If iolni in minority it yields obedi-
enrc to all lawful rule of the majority :;
If it ~ the majority itself it claims that
it, lawful will be respectfully neither
IN majority, or minority, Ii o5eys all
laws .I.It are ii: iorcc. Those that it
,lislikes, it seeks 10 overthrow, not by
violence. but by legitimate repeal.
These that it proposes, it seeks carry, not
by force. but by legal enactment. And
what ii does III all these respects, If de-
nGand<. ani has right to demand, that
all others shall do. They owe the same
obedience TO the Constitution and the
l;yys that Democrats owe They have
the same interest tu maintain free govern
mcnt, to protect liberty, TO be secure II
their houses, persons and property, thai
, Democrats have. Ii Is neither their i'll
tercst nor ours that despoiism or anarchy
should prevail; and if they wish 10 aver
both. let them see To ii in time that theI
, give no occasion for either. We will d'
5 our duty, let them remember 10 do theirs
, la view OF The circumstances that hay
b-uu.ht us together, we hereby resolve
| That the will of the people is the foun
2 ilaiion of all free government That t
r give effect to this will, free thought, fire
2 speech and Il free press are absolutely In
disnensable Without free discusssor
: there L. no certainty of sound judgment
: without sound judgment there can be n
1 wise government.
L That it is an Inherent and constitution
al right of the people TO discuss all mea:
n urrs of their government, and TO approx
Il or diSappruve as to their best Judgmer
n seems right That they have Ink
n right TO propose and advocate that Pollc
:, which in their Judgment is best, and
e argue and vote against whatever polio
, seems TO them to violate the Constitution
,s to impair their liberties, or TO be detr
l, mental 70 their welfare.
That these and all other rights, guara
:. teed TO them by their constitutions, a
their rights in time of war as well as
- time of peace and of far more value al
:, necessity in war than in peace. For
- peace liberty, security and property a
= seldom endangered; in war, they are ev
he in peril
/; That we now say to all whom 1t mi
oy concern, not by way of threat, but cali
nd Iy and firmly, that we will not surrend
We these rights, nor submit to their iorcit
" violation We will obey the laws OF
n selves. and all Others must obey them
-. That the attempt rccitcd in the pral