The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-05-06
DEMOCRATIC MEETING.

Levi Devore, d. Fletcher, Andrew Crisman,
d. A I. Black, A. J. Morgart, Nicholas Koons,
Emanuel Statler, Asa Howser Henry McDon-
aid, George Beegle, j. c. Brumbaugh, Jos. 3.
Noble; SecEetaries-Joseph w. Tate and Isaac
Z. Reighard
The meeting was addressed by VIM. Hartley,
Hon. A. H. Coffroth, o. E. Shannon, and Wn.
P SchelI
The following resolutions were then offered
by jolu Palmer and adopted, after which the
meeting adjourned with three cheers for the
Constitution and the Union.
1Fheleas: The present administration and
party in power lave violated the Constitutional
right of Free Speech and Free PreSs-of per-
sonal security from illegal arrest and search
Of trial by jury in States wherein tie evil law
vas in full operation; and have made tie mi,
itary superior to the civil law by the suspension
| of the Ha5ca8 Corpus-a privilege '-incsiima-
Die 70 freemen, and formidable to tyrants only"
And, Whereas They have abrogated Tie right
of private property by the Confscaion Act and
the Emancipation Proclamation, and have viU-
lated the Constitution by making paper money
legal tender thereby impairins the obligation
of contracts. And they have iutcrlered with
the rights Of citizens go worship God accord
Ing to the dictates Of their own conscience
they have destroyed the efficiency Of the State
Malta and impinged the rights Of the States
by passing an unconstitutional conscription act
,,,nv have violated the Constitution By the di-
vision otr Virrinia-they have destroyed the
freedom of elections by causing the military to
interfere in the Border States; and have admit
IL. a. q
an accomplished thing.
And .edereas: They have, at the present seS-
sion OF Congress, refused to affirm thai they are
conducting the war in TIE spirit of the Cl'tten-
den resolution, and for the purposes therein a.
clared. And ,rsereas they are using The army
of the United States for the abolition of Slavery.
and prostituting it for The basest party purpo-
s5s TO perpetuatc their present dynas:y o. fraud,
force and corruption. Now therefore, be it
AsS6tesd. That the states are essential parts
of the Federal Union which was established by
the Constitution of tho United States That
each State is sovereign in its own sphere and,
as such, has the exclusive right to order and
direct its own domestic affairs and policy
That the Federal government is one of limited |
! delegated powers; and that .he exercise of any
powers not delegated to it, il violation of the !
reserved rights of the states, and greater evil
..an disunion itself, if submitted to by the peo.
pie.
2 That the Federal government is not supe-
nor 10 the State governments, nor the State |
govclnments Superior to Tho Federal govern
neat; ''nor is either authorized literally to de- |
eide what belongs to itself or It's co-partner in
government; but in differences Of opinion be- |
tween the different acts of public servants, |!
the appeal is to neither" but 10 the people rep
resented in Convention assembled. But in the |
case OF a deliberate, palpable and dangerous
exercise, hy Congress Ct powers not granted
by the Constitution, and 4 refusal by it tCon-
greSs) 10 appeal TO tie people, lie source of all
power step ever due 10 the peace and nar.ao-
ny OF the government; then and in that case, /
tile states "have the right aud are in duty
bound, to interpose, for arrestia5 the progress
OF The evil, and for maintaining within their
respective limits, the authorities, rights, and
Liberties appertainiDg 20 them"
:. That inasmuch as the policy OF the Pres
ldent and party in power. by managing and con
ducting The war, has not been consistent with,
but IN palpable and criminal violations Of the
spirit and letter of the Crttenden resolution of
July 1861, as avowed Ivy them ard conveyed
TO The people, that we are relieved from giving
1t any support, aid or sympathy, believing that
TO do SO voluntarily, would be to give willing
hand IN subvering the Constitution and des-
troying the Union.
4. That we are in favor Of peace on terms
alike consistent with the honor and dignity of
the people North and South and recommend
to the President, his Cabinet and Congress, aal
10 all who now administer the Federal govern
ment, lie language ei Chatham in the House
OF Commons in l776 on the proposition 10
Withdraw tho British troops fro4 Boston:
''W;t! dignity becoming your exalted stu
at;cn, make the first advances 10 concord TO
peace, and happiness; for thai is your true Dig
nifty to act with prudence and justice That
you should first conceIe, : obvious, from sound
ana rational policy Concession comes with
better grace and more salutary effect from su-
perior power. 1t reconcites superiority of pow
er with the feelings Of men. and establishes sol
id confidence in the foundations of affection and
gratitude"
D That we are utterly opposed to the idea
oF > reconstruction OF the Union; because. such
reconstruction implies that tic Union has been
destroyed, or broken up, and that the Southern
States Lave legally seeded from the Federal
Union, and cast OFT Their constitutional obIjoa- i!
tions-a hypothesis opposed TO the spirit of the
Feder:l constitution, and destructive of the /
reserved rights Of the States as they existed
before the secession-and as we believe still ex-
list. And, that our position may be fully un- !!
derstood on this point; we declare It 10 be our
opinion that secession is ertra constitutional and
that though the said States have, and still
may refuse to perfora their functions during a |
state OF war, yet, so soon as the Federal au- |
thority shall be re-cstablsted in any such state,
that iinr