The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1864-08-27
NC 10

the most scathing and conclusive thing
we have heard in long time. He show
cd by extracts from the document itself
that Messrs ITado and Davis both Re.
publicaus ofhigh standing,-charge Mr.
Lincoln with deception, falsehood and
u3urpation; and in addition that they
charge him with the intention of prac-
tieing a grave fraud on the ELECTORAL
College through the scheme of ten per
cent vote in certain of the revolted
States, should that become necessary to
secure his eicction-and ask the signif-
cant question whether he supposes his
opponent would submit to a decision
attained by such means The vast crowd
responded to Mr. Bigler, in a common
voice that they would submit to no such
usurpation
But we must pass over large portion
of Mr. Bigler's speech, snd glauce only
at the conclusion.
He said he was not willing, after so
much complaint against the acts and
policy of Mr.. Lincoln, to take his seat
without some reference to what the
Democratic party would do, should it at
tain to power. He said he did not uu.
dertake to determine what would be the
position Of that party on all the complex
questions before us. He knew 1t would
stand up for civil and religious freedom
under all circumstances the freedom
of the press and ofspeech; that it would
WELD every moral and political influence
Of the Government and all its material
power to maintain the Union as constitu'
tional by the fathers; but it prefers
peace to war among the people and
States Of America. And, whilst aux-
ious to WELD every means to restore the
Union of States, it could not fail to see
that the experiment of war had been
made, most thoroughly and horribly
made, and that it has failed. The wi
sest thing Mr.. Lincoln ever said, was,
that if we went to war, we could not
fight always. Mr.. Bigler said he would
pay the expenses of any one who would
go to Washington and read that passage
of the Inaugural to Mr.. Lincoln. He
feared it had been forgotten. The
Democrats would not forget it, should
.he Chicago nominee be elected. He
expressed the belief that the very first
effort of Democratic President would
be to stop the war-to put the sword to
rest, in order to try what virtue there is
in reason, negotiation, and intercourse
He expressed the belief that ten com
petent men as Peace Commissioners
could do more to rescue the country
from its Affections, than a hundred thou
sand, or five hundred thousand conscripts
He had long since declared himselfin ia
vor ofan armistc, to the end that commits
sioners might be appointed to arrang
the terms Of temporary peace, with {
view Of referring our national trouble
to Convention OF States, under tht
forms of the Constitution.
MI. Bigier was followed by Hon
VIM. A. Wallace, who engaged the at
tention Of the vast crowd for more thar
an hour. Mr.. Wallace talked as if hi,
feelings we're fully up to the occasion
and never did a speech elicit more hear
ty responses, or plain truths create great,
er enthusiasm.
He briefly referred to the constitu
tional right, peaceably to assemble ant
apply for redress of grievances, and the
right to bear arms in defence OF them
selves and the State, and affirmed that
both were inviolate.
He discussed the nature of the Gov
ernments, State and Federal; showed
that the States created the Union by the
formation of the Constitution. Vested
it with defined aud limited powers
within the scope OF which it was su
preme, that the control of all things not
granted to the Federal Government by
the Constitution remained in the States
and people, that under this system we
existed as a government of law, with
the rights, duties and powers of the ru
lar clearly defined, and that the duty Of
the citizen to yield obedience to him
therein, was equally clear.
That the revolution Of the Federal
Government around its clear defined axi,
and the control of the State Govern
ments within theirs, each in its proper
sphere created the spirit of the old Tn
ion. He portrayed in glaring language
the blessings of the old Union, its dig
nifty, its character as a beacon to the op
pressed, that while justice reigned liber
| ty was enjoyed, prosperity and happi
ness was the lot of all who sought them
aud that a gospel of "peaoe on earth
good will to-man" was preached to all
and affirmed that return to that Union
was the earnest wish Of nine-tenths Of
the people.
He combated the argument that slav
cry was an incubus, by contrasting the
condition of the black, then with his
squalid misery now, his mental aud
moral condition then, with his uucon
trolled volition now.
He demonstrated the fallacy Of the
argument that slavery ruled US then
and appealed to our unhappy condition
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