Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-09-09
Letter from Hon. Charles R, Buckalew


! GENTLEMEN or LYCoMING - You are TO
/ be commended tor assembling yourselves
as men opposed to the administrations at
Harrisburg and Washington, and am
glad to contribute to your proceedings
the expression of some few earnest words:
An issue between power and liberty is
distinctly presented to us by the policy of
our rulers. and if we stand Indifferent to
| it, or acquiesce in its decision according to
the pleasure of those who aspire to be our
masters, what shame will be ours what
loss and injury what degradation and
eternal disgrace
By liberty do not mean license, but
that regulated freedom established 10y our
ancestors which we have enjoyed hitherto
without question, and the example of
which we have held forth proudly before
other nations as the reproof OF their sys'
TENS and the glory Of our own.
By power do not mean legitimate au-
thority, but authority usurped and law
less, pursuing its own ends over broken
Constitution and thro' the baleful flames
of civil war.
Between these -beLween power and
! liberty can you hesitate in your choice? {?
Will you hold up balance and weigh,
doubtfully, the arguments which sustain
liberty against those who oppose it?
ecessity--safety--ar these the mag
icol words by which despotism is to be
changed in character and made fit for our
adoption Shall the plea OF tyrants be
accepted as our standard of public rule !?
Shall we concede force. and justice, and
wisdom, to one of the most impudent
false and Injurious doctrines ever intru-
ded into the discussion of public affairs
But there is a necessity (quite different
from that asserted on Lehalf of power)
which we must admit as most evident and
urgent--a necessity that zee rid ourselves Of
those who plead necessity as the Justification Of
their n6Sdeeds. Those who cannot govern
lawfully and Justly are not to govern at
all, but to give place to others. For j. is
monstrous to say that the incapable and
vicious shall lord it over their Fellows
| The rulers who say they cannot govern
by law and according to right, stand self
condmned Judged out of their own
mouths, they are unfit for rule and should
be voted out of power
Gentlemen, the greatest son Of New
England spent most OF his life and won
his great fame in this Commonwealth .--
| We are proud that he became a Pennsyl-
vanian, and took rank in our history with
the founder OF this State--with the illus
| trious man who established it "in deeds
Of peace" Let us try the logic of tyrar-
ny by the judgement Of that great man.
Let us invite the apologist of arbitrary
power and advocate of "strong govern
tp l. ,
discourse upon pgjEc SAFETY and national life.
and Hccessuy, to 90 with us to our great
commercial metropolis and there stand
with US beside the modest slab which
marks the resting-place Of " Benjamin
and Deborah Franklin." oh how mean
and pitful, and low, and utterly false
aud detestahle will there sound all these
apologies for wrong--all these lreteNts
for stealing away, or taking away from
the people the rights and liberties achie-
yed for them by the great men of former
times. We will hear .he voice of Frank
liE sounding in our ears those memorable
words OF wisdom and warning which
should be written up or hung up in great
letters wherever the people meet for con-
sultation in times Of public danger:--
"Ibose VhO COuLd gsUc mp essential liberty 10
purchase a Title temporary Satctg deScrrC nciHcr
liberty nor sqtsty."%
Gentlemen, your political opponents
think that patriotism should be called
loyalty, and made 10 consist in uncOndi-
tional, unquestioning devotion to an ad-
ministration of the government be-
lieve you will agree with me that this
great virtue requires no new name borrow
II. II. II -
it is shown in devotion 10 the Constitution
and laws Of the United States and of the
several States, and that the true patriot
regards public officials with respect pre-
cisely proportioned TO their observance of
law, justice and right and to their skill,
wisdom and honesty in the performance
OF their public duties.
Judge your public men fairly but freely. !
Let no man put paddock upon your lips, |
nor impose upon you any of the false and
pernicous sophisms OF arbitrary power.
An important election approaches IN
this Commonwealth, and another impor-
tant one succeeds it next year. At these |
you are required tn judge those who have !
ruled or misruled YOU since lS60 and TO
determine, as & r as your votes will 60, |
the policy Of the future. You need no
labored exhortat;on from me to inspire |
you with zeal, courage determination and |
fidelity in the discharge of your electoral
duties. Behold the evils which afllict the .
nation and the dangers which threat en- it T!
These exhort you beyond the art of mine,
to right action, and Justify that opinion
which we hold in common, that upon
Democratic success in the elections just
mentioned, depend the existence Of free,
liberal and just government in this coun-
nv a restoration of Union founded in
the avoidance Of future wars,
and the preservation and growth Of that
material prosperity which results from
good government when vouchsafed to an
united, industrious and virtuous people.
am, your fellcw-ctizen, and obedieat
servant, C. Il. BUoKALEw.
sworks Of Franklin, by Sparks, " III, PIP.
O7, 429, 4S0
This was the declaration of the Provincial
Assembly of Pennsylvania, November IL, 1855,
n answer 10 Governor Morris upon the auestion }