Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-08-26

Of the Government by which the negroes were and
are formally invited to enter the service Of the Re
public, that hosts are made free, on the principle
that he who fights for his country shall not 20 unre
warded and forgotten. But these several cases do
not cover the objections that live in the midst Of
some Of our wisest Union statesmen against the
proclamation Of emancipation, which was the act of
the President alone. And here will come the con-
Hiet between opposing theorists and thinkers. Sup
sposingthe national authority be eestablished and
The nationsl unity be reassumed, may not this com
pheatiop be safely entrusted to the people and the
national courts Nay at the rery last must il sot
go there
We have now to deal with facts, and not with
sophisms. IN the forefront Of almighty peril meua-
cing our individual prosperity and national existence
some Of the most cherished convictions may have to
be changedor surrendered. When Mr.. Lincoln was
elected President, he enuneiated his willingness to
dc anythng consistent with national honor to recall
the insurgents and spread peace over the land. At
this moment his inaugural address is the hest index
Of peace that any party could desire, unless, indeed
il may be those who regarded at first as an impedi
ment to war. Never shall we forget how Judge
Douglas construed the Inaugural He hailed it as a
message of eminent Cancellation and such was the
fact Of the reading of it by all, save wAo desired
to see the impending conflict spread, so that dis
union might be consummated. Nearly every word
since uttered or printed by Mr.. Lincoln has been in
consonance with his original declaration. 1t is true
events have suggested changes as to politics and
measures. Everybody. has amended his opinions and
his actions since the inaugural Of President Lincoln
when this was essential to the public good except
only the rebels aud their sympathisers- All despots
are consistent in one thing the assertion andenforee
ment oftheir 5wn will But, in this country, he who
resolves that tlie Union must be restored cannot
stand on Ne idea Of making that master obligation
Subordinate to ang other thing. The moment he
does so he ceases to be patriot. He falsely pre-
supposes that there may be better condition in the
event Of separation. Woe BE to our country if the
statesmen adhere to what are called records or
platforms and in this dread hour seek to make
man former pledges to the Republican or the Dem
ocrac party the inexorable guide of the action of
our Representatives in Congress or in the Executive
Departments Woe. we add, unutterable woe, if
such teachers are to educate our people for the a
ture, or to dictate to the armies or administrations
And that we may not be misunderstood in these
words, we say that we find almost as much danger
IN e&actng eeinandS OF thoSe VINO can LueihsSAfSs
ultra Republicans as in these who call themselves
| Democrats We would not Insult Senator Wade, Of
Ohio or Henry Winter Davis, of Maryland, by coz
pairing or contrasting them with the Vallandghams
/ and Woods, but with their grave relations to the
Union party and their close connections with it, it
is our deliberate and sorrowu Judgment that their
late manifesto has done more lasting injury among
the only consolidated friends OF the Government than
twenty Of the pronuneiamientos from the escaped
refugees in Canada or remorseess prince Of discord
| in the House Now that slavery is absolutely gone
we would sacrifice all other things but the Union to
save the Union. We would see Mr.. Lincoln him-
self out of the canvas with all attachment
TO his person, and our high sense of his prescienee
which SO many did not see three years ago who now,
SO readily recognize it, il BY such surrender we could
/ save the country from the election Of representa-
tive Of a dshonorable peace on the basis Of sepaTa
ton. From that catastrophe we must be saved at all
hazards lFashington Chronicle Arg, IS.