Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-06-22

irom the foundation OF the present Govern
ment-using that word in its proper sense
this present Constitution-there have al
ways, in every generation, been parties thai
| had no faith In it. The men who formed
1t were doubtful of its success The meI
who opposed its formation did not desire It's
success and L am bold to say, without de
tanning you upon this point, that after all
| the out-cry about our violation of the Con
| stltutlon, this present living generation and
this present Union party are more thorough
ly devoted to that Con stitution than any
generation that has ever lived under it.
While ] say that, and while solemnly be-
lieye it-while [ believe it is capable of the
clearest historical proof will also add that
it is great error which has been propaga-
ted in our land, to say that our Federal life,
our National life, depends merely upon the
existence Of that Constitution. Our fathers
made it, we love it, and we intend to main
tain it, Applause But if it suited us
TO change it, we would change it, and when
1t suits us to change it, we will change it.
Applause. If it were to be torn into a
thousand pieces, broken all over, the nation
would be as much nation as it Is to-day
as much nation as it was before this par
ticular Constitution was made; nation
which always declared its independence as
a people, and who have lived united until
now, nation independent of the particular
institutions under which they lived, and ca
pable Of modelling them precisely as the in
stltutlons Of successive generations may re-
quire. Applause. We ought to have it
distinctly understood, both by friends and
enemies, that while we love that instrument,
and are IN most respects satisfied with it.
and will maintain it, and that we viii, with
undubltable certainty, put to death the
friend or foe who undertakes to trample it
under foot, if we can get rid of them in no
other way, yet, beyond doubt, we will al
ter 1t to suit ourselves from generation to
generation. Cries Of good, good, and
applause.
Now, one more idea on that subject. We
have sanctitied and put into that instrument
the natural right of revolution. This very
thing, that you may change it, which never
existed before the American Constitution,
and which existing, there is no rebellion, in
surrectlon, or civil war, except upon the
denial of the fundamental principle of all
free governments, TO wit That the major
part must rule. There is no other method
OF carrying on society except that the power
of the majority shall be the power Of the
whole SO that, in one word, to deny the prin-
clple which have tried to state to you. is
to make dogmatic assertion that the only
form OF government that is possible,
or that is approved by philosophy, or
that IS acknowledge by God, is pure and alb
sOlute despotism. The principles, there
fore, which | am trying, in this feeble man
ner, to state before you are principles which,
II they be not true, freedom is impossible, and
no other government under the sun but
government OF pure force is or can exist and
ought not to endure among men. But the
idea which L say they are to carry out as
special compensation for these troubles and
sorrows is this Dreadful as they are, these
fearful truths run through the whole history
OF mankind, that whatsoever else may be
done to give stability to an authority; what
ever may be done to give perpetuity TO
institutions, however may be the philosophy
oft, 1t has been found that the only imper-
ishable cement of all free institutions has |
been the blood Of traitors. Applause. No |
government has ever stood upon irresistible |
which foundations were not |
truth, but we had as well avow it at |
once Every blow you strike, and every |
rebel you kill, and every battle you
win, reluctant as we are to do it, is adding |
A decade, 1t may be a century, it may be ten |
centuries, to the perpetuity Of your Govern |
ment, and the freedom Of your children. !
Cries of good and applause.
Now, passing from that point, and passing
over many other things that it would be |
proper tor me to say to you if the time ser
we'd, and this were the occasion, let me add |
that you Union party. Your origin |
has been referred to as of years ago In |
1ne sense it is true, that you are far older
han that. / see before me here not only |
primitive Republicans and primitive Aboli-
,lonlsts, but see ais 0 primitive Democrats.
see primitive Wings. | see primitive A
nericans, and if you will allow me to say so,
been in a party to myself Laughter and
applause. Asa Union party | Will follow
you to the ends Of the earth, and to the gates
If death. Applause. But as an Aboli-
ion party, as Republican party, as Wing
party, as Demoratic party, "a an American
party, will not follow you one foot. Laugh
er and applause. And this is true of the
American people. Whatever you may be-
come hereafter, however you may divide or
scatter, while the country is in this peril,
ali yourselves as you call yourselves to-
lay, as you styled yourselves III the call of
his convention, Union party. You are
or the preservation of the Union. You are
or the destruction of this rebellion, root and
)ranch !; and, in my judgment, one of the
srand errors that has been committed by the
Administration of the Federal Government,
he chief of which we are now about, as |
hink, to give another term of office lap
,lause l-one of the errors which has been
is their readiness to believe that
hey had succeeded in places where they
lad not succeeded, and to act in manner
n which it would be proper for them to act
n accordance with that belief But you
lever will succeed until you have utterly
broken the military power of these people.
Enthusiastic applause
Well, [ will not detain you on these points