Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-09-07
BIGLER's SPEECH.

D1Ghbh - SL dbOh,
When ;;Our Own, started from home to
make his pilgrimage to Chicago, he was fnl-
" cooked and primed for the occasion. He
had prepared himself for any exigency-
whether TO act as Chairman Of the Conyen-
ton, or of the Committee on Resolutions.
The exceeding caution he had exercised in
drafting both his speech and resolutions, was
the theme OF conversation between himself
and certain valiant Major who resides in
this vicinity, several days before he left.
When it is known that the gallant Major is
little hard of hearing it will be readily un-
derstood how Others come to be acquainted
with what was said during the interview.
Whether his speech and resolutions thus
carefully prepared, were submitted for re-
vision to his friends at Niagara, which
place he visited on his way to Chicago Is
not definitely known but no doubt any adj
ditional stimulus that was required, was
promptly afforded.
Aware of this protracted and careful prep
aration, we looked with some anxiety to the
proceedings of the Convention to ascertain
the result. We discovered that he had been
selected as the temporary Chairman, and
that he so eifectually exiting Iished himself
in his speech-which viii be found in full in
another column-that his name does not
again occur in the whole history of the ses-
sion. 1t is not surprising, indeed, that he
was exhausted by the effort. His prelimi-
nary preparation was 50 extensive-the grasp
Of thought so tremendous-the ideas so vast
the oratory SO briIliant-the lightning
flashes Of his geniusso vivid-the commis-
Grafton for the Rebels so pathetic-the- de
nunciation of the lawful authorities so in
teuse-that DO doubt the delegates aad spec
tators were lost in amazement
That one small head could carry all he knew
while still the wonder grew" that after
such burst of eloquence-such an exhibi-
ton of WISDOM and such display of parts,
/ there was anything at all left Of one so pro
verbally weak in the knees
But seriously, when an infamous rebellion
is aiming to destroy the Government. to
ruin the country, to establish a nation upon
the bloody denial of the rights of man. to
annihiate every guarantee Of civil and reli-
gious liberty, and to substitute bloody war
| for permanent peace, what must be thought
of citizen Of that threatened country-one
TOO, who has enjoyed It's highest honors and
become wealthy on It's fatness-who has no
word Of condemnation for the effort but by
all that he says and all that he does gives
aid and comfort to that fierce assault Of dis
order and barbariSm upon order and ciyili-
zation? Is not the Indignation of every 10y
al man and thinking citizen kirdled against
him as one with all the guilt and more than
the cowardice Of an open rebel? But when
I this man, without solitary word of sympa-
thy or generous forbearance for the Govern
ment which Is battling to sustain itself and
save the country, declaims bitterly against
ahe measures necessary for that purpose, as
destroying the liberties of the citizen, the
feeling of Indignation changes into one of
bitter and inexpressibe contempt With
no other emotion can any faithful citizen
possibly read the speech of William Bigler