North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-10-05

10 THE CIT1ZENs OF PENNSYLVANIA.
! A prescribed dutyas well as long estab.
lished usage, impels us to address you in
regard to the questions involved in the sew
eral elections now at hand In dischargipg
this duty, we shall speak plainly and candid
ly what we know to be the truth.
In this, the fairest; richest, and (urtil
lately) the most faypred land Of all the earth;
here, where the last footprints of civilization
had been planted in this land alone Of all
the Christian nations of the world--the fell
spirit Of war is now raging. Our proud and
unexampled career of prosperity as nation
has been thus rudely checked; our industry,
that is not devoted TO the purpose of de-
structive war, has become paralyzed our
financial concerns have been thrown into ut
ter confusion and debasemcnt; We have
henceforth-probaby forever-to stagger
under load of debt greater, and under tax
alton more onerous, than that of any other
nation on the globe confidence in the sta
bility Of our institutions is everywhere sadly
diminished lin fine gloomy forebudings as
to the future, alarm cinbar rassment, and dis.
tress have taken the place of the happy peace
confidence, security, good order, and content
ment we SO lately enjoyed.
Nor can hope find a resting place in con-
templating the MEN who now control our
Government and administer its laws; and
1t turns sickened and sadly away from the
audacity, arrogance and tyranny it finds in
! high places, even ia the very citadel Of the
nation Sclclsts in government atheists in
religion men who are free lovers IN one
| sphere, and free thieves in another; rene.
gades in politics, and scoffrrs at every we'll
settled principles Of public right and private
virtue, now sway the destlnies of this Re-
public, and are crushing out the very life of
American freedom.
For three long, fearful years have the best
| blood and sternest efforts of our people been
freely given in a civil war which has no par
allie! in the history of the world, When this
war commenced, the Democratic party in
| The North, as such, was prostrate under re-
| cent defeat, which resulted from its own m
| fortunate divisions. But what a grand and
| inspiring spectacle was presented on hearing
| lie first thunder of rebelious arms PoIi,-
cal and partisan feelings, even IN that hour
"t party humiliation, were all laid upon the
altar of the country, and the sun Of Heaven
never shone upon people more united, res
"uie and determined thar those Of the North
err Stat at tie period We refer 10.
Whatever mig ht have been the views of
The Northern Democracy in regard to the
| causes which nj ttmately engendered this un.
Aappy STRIFE; however much in their nmost
souls they deplored the mad and reckless "a.
ree' OF Ab"llt ionsin; however deep was
their detestaion Of the course nf those par,
ltaGers, Wio bad bttn for Years sgeeninp nm
all the low, lurking el, ments Of byolrv and
lana icisD, and directing their vllest efforts
against the rights, interests, and institutions
Of the Southern people-stili, the attempt tf
portion oftitatspt1tle in echsequcnce. to
break down tbeiauthority of the Oonstitu-
tiou yer the " hoie country, and DESTROY the
Federal c,,mpact, was criminal act v hIch
could not be tolerated or Justified, The
ampIest remedies for the wrongs complained
ot were not only within hope, bui 8, hand :
Two millions of voters had just recorded their
ballots IN a general popGiar election aga,ns,
Abraham Lincoln n5and The ONE million rvbo
supported him and his policy. There was
oe''Hes, a Democratic maj ,rity in one, If not
both branches Of Cong ress, which would
render hun poWerless TO inffict any perms-
nent evil on the country, r.a -asa-
The right of,secesson, claimed BY the
South as the remedy for their grievances, is
political heresay, condemned by Madison
with his latest breath, and by many Others
of our ablest statesmen in all sections Of the
Union. Call the Constitution compact. if
You will as does Jefferson in the Kentucky
resolutions of '98-but 1t is compact of
States, made with each other as such, hay-
ing no right of secession "Domibated or con
sttuted in the bond" The Union thus
formed was in its nature, if not in terms
perpetual. SeceHsion then, in view Of
compact, 10 simply. REvoIrr,c.-- ,.,
A"s 'p .: ne rnion our fathers had be-
4"ea'"ea us.-was, under all the circnmstan,
ceS We have detailed, and the thousand other
lions and Consequences which mus,
cf""o every intelligent and patriotic mind
not only treason at law, but against ,be hes,
hopes Of mankind, We could moi thar - co,-
"ot nop-anu MEYER WILL consent to il,
In this spirit Undetermined loyalty to the
Constitution and the Laws, the Democracy
OF the N"rth, with scarcely an exception. re-
lying upon the pledges given by Presiden,
Lincoln, yielded him their ready and efficient
support. What were some of those PLEDGES 2
FIRST, IN his oath OF office: II will support
the Constitution of the, United States. so