The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-06-19

izen, and there resume his place among those
who are laboring for the regeneration of th'
Constitution and the reconstruction of the Union
S. That in the letter of the Hon. Horatio Sey-
mour, of New York, to the late public meeting
of the Democratic citizens of Albany, condemn
ing the proceedings Of the Administration a
gainst Mr.. Vallandigham, we recognize the tone
and language of statesman, and the spirit o.
man worthy to be, at Il great crisis, the Chic
| Magistrate Of great State.
! g. That as it is only to the ballot box we car
look for permanent relief, and as we deem it tc
be altogether incredible and impossible that when
called to cast their votes, the citizens of Penn
sylvania, of whatever party, should not find
themselves, by such monstrous events as have
been passing before their eyes, moved in patri-
otic and just Indignation to drive from power all
Pennsylvania politicians who stand in the way
of our asserting the freedom of oul"persons and
the rights of our State, we will, therefore, wait
with confidence the October election to give to
the Democratic party-the party of conserva-
tism as well as freedom-a Governor and both
houses of the Legislature; and whom we expect
to bring in by such overwhelming malorities as
may be reasonably reckoned on, when the ques-
ton comes fairly up between liberty and the
Constitution on the one side, and on the other
the most ignominious oppression.
The reading Of the resolutions was interrupt
ed by frequent and enthusiastic applause.
SPEECH OF Hon. VIM BIGLER.
Hon. WIN. Bigler was then introduced, and
was greeted with prolonged applause. When
order had been restored, he addressed the assem-
blage as follows:
Gentlemen, 1t is not my intention to discuss
the primary causes, the present aspect or the
probable results of the bloody strife now raging
between the Government and the revolted States
nor to notice the measures and policy of the Ad-
minstration in the management OF this fearful
conflict. These things, as | am informed, dc
not come within the objects of this meetine.-
The sole purpose of our assembling here tonight
is to express, in most emphatic TERMS our con
demnation Of the late outrage upon personal lib
erty and the freedom of speech, in the arrest
conviction and banishmont of the Hon. Z. l.
Vallandigham, of Ohio, and to enter our sol
emn protest against the erepetition OF such wrong
| by those in authority. 80
In this we SHALL in my opinion, reflect th'
sentiments of three-fourths of the people OF thu
Northern States. Not that that proportion ap
proves all that Mr. Vallandigham has said, o.
thinks it was necessary and proper for him t'
say all he did; but that proportion believe HI
had "a eloar constitutional right TO do SO; ant
they are, besides, utterly opposed to any and al
attempts, on the part Of the Administration, tt
regulate or restrain free discussions or meeting
of the people to consider public questions
al, hat laxx cltnl
he passed abridging the freedom OF speech or o.
the press, or the right of the people peaccably
to assemble to petition the Government for {
redress of grievances" and it must not be pre-
sumed that the people will quietly submit t.
laws or pretended laws in derogation of thes
sacred guarantees, much less to be stripped o
their rights without even the pretence OF law.
The relations between the Government ant
the citizen are easily understood. The Govern
ment owes the citizen protection in the enjoy
ment of life, liberty and property, and the citl
zen, in turn, owes the Government obedience
implicit obedience, to all laws enacted in pursu
ance of the Constitution, and to all rules, regu
lations and orders adopted in accordance wit
|, such laws Obedience to law is the plain dut
of all. No matter how unwise the law may be
they must be obeyed until they can be changed
1t is even necessary to acquiesce in the opera
ton of laws which we believe to be unconstitu
tional until they can be 50 declared by the judi
.;ary The Government, on its part is boun
in good faith to see that the opportunity Tor sue
test is always at hand, and that the Iudiciar
is left free and unrestraned in its decisions.
The agents of the people directing the aflail
of the government for the time being includln
the President, derive their authority to COVER
from the Constitution and laws, and are as muc
bound to obey la as the humblest citizen
They should remember, therefore, that the INT
ment they transcend the limits OF the law, the
are themselves in the commission of crime, an
E thereby invite and warrant resistance to the
authority.
Ourdoctrine is that all llquestions Of law shoul
bo tested through the judiciary, and all que
tions of policy and politics decided through I'll
ballot. But all questions relating TO the futur
to the policy and measures of the Government
, the manner of dealing with the reyolted States
whether this mode of settlement or that, wou
be wise or unwise, must be as open to dscu
sion by the citizen as the President HIMSELF
These are as much my questions as MIR. Lincoln
and have all the right that he has to dlscu
them whether agree with him or not and {
the proper time intend to discuss them 1t
not only the right of the people to consider the
: questions, and express their views about then
but maintain that it is their duty to do So
+ that they cannot otherwise intellisently exerci
, the privileges conferred upon them by the Co
f stitution. Indeed without free speech and fr
: press, our elective system would be wholly II
practicable, and our scheme of sclf-governme
a become u delusion and fraud. 1t is dist
gushing feature of our Republican Governme
that it confers upon tlie humblest citizen, equa
" with the most elevated, the right to reflect /
t sentiments through the ballot and thus leave d
/ impress of his will on tile policy of the Cover
ment. But how can the people do these thin
properly, if the right of free discussion be deni
@ them? How are they TO weigh grave question
!. of national policy, except by free interchange