The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-01-27

feIOU CutZeHS ~ Me CeHHto u"" AA0"0O
of RepresentdttUes:
Called by the partiality of my fellow
citizens to the office of Governor of Penn
sylvauia for another term, appear before
YOU to solemnly renew the prescribed
obligation to support the Constitution OF
the United States and the Constitution OF
the State of Pennsylvania, and to dis
charge the responsible trust confded to
me with fidelity.
Whea irst summoned before you, three
years ago, to assume the sacred duties OF
the Executive Office, the long gathering
clouds of civil war were about to break
upon our devoted country. For years
treason had been gathering in might
had been appropriatiDg to its fendish
lust more and more bountifuIly of the na-
Eion's honers-hsd grown steadily bOlder
in assumtion of power until 1t had won
the tolerance, if not the santclOn OF Tor
midable element Of popular strength even
in the confessedly loyal States. The elec-
tion of President ia 1860, in strict cor
fermity with the Constitution and the
laws, though not the cause, was deemed
the fit occasion for an organized attempt
to overthrow the whole fabric of our fres
institutions, and plunge nation OF thirty
millions of people into hopeless anarchy.
The grave offence charged against the
President elect seemed alone TO consist ia
his avowed fidelity to the government,
and his determined purpose to fulfil his
solemn covenant to maintain inviolate the
Union of the States. When inaugurated
he found States in open rebellion, dis
claiming allegiance to the Government,
fraudulently appropriating 1ts property,
aud iusolensy conteming its authority.
Treason was struggling fer supremacy
In every department of administrative
power. In the Cabinet it feloniously dis
armed us-our arsenals were robbed to
enable the armies of crime to drench a
continent in blood-our coasts were left
comparatively defence!ess to fall an easy
prey to traitors-our navy was scattered
upon distant seas to render the Republic
helpless for its own protection-othcers
educated, commissioned and sworn to de
fend the Government against any foe, be
came deserters, defed Heaven in shame
less perjury, and with fratricidal hands
drew their swords against the country O
their allegiance, and when treason hac
thus completed its preparations, wanton
wicked war was forced upon our loya
people.
Never was war so causeless. The Nort}
had sought no sectional triumph, invaded
no rights, inflicted no wrongs upon tht
South. 1t aimed to preserve the Repub
lc, not tc destroy it, and even when Re
belliOn presented the sword as the arbi
Ter, we exhausted every effort consisten
with the existence of our Government Il
avert the bloody drama Of the last thre
wears. The insolent alternative presented
by treason of fatal dismemberment or in
teinecine war, was met by generous effort
to avert the storm of death which threat
eued to fall but the leaders of the rebel
lion spurned peace, unless they could glu
aheir internal ambition over the ruins O
the noblest and freest Government eve
devised by man.
Three years of bloody, wasting war, ,anc
she horrible sacrifice of quarter of I
million lives attest the desperation G
their purpose to overthrow our Liberties
Mourning and sorrow spread over the en-
aire na,i0n, and defeat and desolation ar
ths terrible trophies won by the traitor
hand. Our people have been sorely trie'
by disasters, but in the midst of the deep
est gloom they have stood with unfalter
ing devotion to the great cause of ou
common country. Relying upon the ul
timate triumph of the right, they bav
proved themselves equal to the stern dut,
aud worthy of their rich inheritance o
freedom. Their fidelity has been well re
varded. Ia Gods own good time, He ha
asserted his avenging power; and if thi
war is persisted in by the leaders of tn
rebellion, as las become evident, theI