Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-01-30

FslIoveeitisens Of 1e Senate
o,.5 TL,ss - o,r D.-,,-s,.x-, f.,f s~ns

Fetto1ceH7sens of tte Scnd.e
and Hov.c OF Representatives..
Called by the partiaiity of my fellows
citizens to the Office Of Governor Of Penn
sylvania for another term, appear before
you to solemnly renew the prescribed obliga-
tion 10 support the Constitution of the
United States and the Constitution Of the
State of Pennsylvania, and to discharge tho
responsible trust eon6ded to me with fideli-
ty When first 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 trea-
son had been gathering in might--bad been
appropriating to its fendish lust more and
more bouptifully of the nations honors---
had grown steadily bolier in its assumption
of power until it had won the tolerance, Il
not the sanction of a formidable element of
popular strength even in the confessedly
loyal States. The election of a President
in 1860, in strict conformity with the Con-
stitution and the laws, though not the
cause, was deemed the fit occasion for the
organized attempt to overthrow the whole
fabric of our free institutions, and plunge a
nation of thirty millions of people into
hopeless anarchy. The grave offence charged
against the President elect seemed alone to
consist in his avowed fidelity to the Gov
ernment, and his determined purpose to
fulfill his solemn covenant to maintain in
violate the Union OF the States. When
| inaugurated, he found States in open rebel
lion, disclaiming allegiance to the Govern.
ment, ffauduently appropriating its pro-
perty and insoleEtly contemning its authori-
iy.
Treason was struggling for supremacy in
every department of administrative power.
| In the Cabinet it feoniously dsarmed US
our arsenals were robbed to enable the
armies of crime to drench a continent in
fraternal blood-our coasts were left COM
paratively deienccess to fall an easy victim
to traitors-our navy was scattered upon
| distant seas to render the Republic helples:
for its own protection officers, educated
commissioned and swOn to defend the
Government against any foe, became de
serters, deticd Heaven in shameless perjury
and with fratricidal hands drew their swords
against the country OF their allegiance, and
when treason had thus completed its pre-
| parations, wanton, wicked war was forced
/ upon our loyal people.
| Never was war so causclcss. The North
had sought no sectional triumph, invaded
no rights, inflicted no wrongs upon the
Z OOutil. IL dltlitSi W pitsCibC tHC ltSpupiN
not to destroy it, and even when rebellion
presented the sword as the arbiter, We
/ exhausted every effort consistent with the
| existence of our Government to avert thu
| bloody drama, of the last three years. The
| insolent alternative presented by treason oi
! fatal dismemberment or internccne war
was met by generous efforts TO avert thu
storm of death which threatened to fall
| but the leaders OF the rebellion spurncc
peace unless they could glut their internal
| ambition over the ruins of the noblest ano
frcest Government ever devised by man.
Three years in bloody, wasting war, and
the horrible sacrifice OF Il quarter of Il mil
lion lives attest the desperation of thoi
purpose to overthrow our liberties. Mourn
ing and SORROW spread over the entire nation
and defeat and desolation are the tcrribll
trophies won by the traitors hand. Oul
people have been sorely tried by disasters
but in the midst of the deepest gloom to thu
great cause of our common country, relying
upon the ultimate triumph of the right
: they have proved themselves equal to TIN
stern duty, and wofty of their rich inheri
tgnce of freedom Their fidelity has beer
well rewarded. In Gods own good time
lie has asserted His avenging power, and il
this war is PERSISTED in by the leaders %
the rebellion. ms has become evident, ther
slavery and treason the fountain and stream
of d:gcord aud death, must soon share ,
common grave.
In this grand struggle for our honored
nationality, Pennsylvania has won immortal
fame. Despite the teachings of the faith
less, and the hesitation OF the timid, she
has promptly and generously met every dc
mand made upon her, whether to repe
/ invasion or to fight the battles Of tie Union
whenever and wherever her people were
/ demanded. Upon every field made historic
and sacred by the valor of our troops, somt
of the martial youth of Pennsylvania have
fallen. There is scarce a hospital that has
not been visited by our kind officers to thC
sick, and wounded, there is not depart
ment in which brave men do not answer
with pride to the name of our noble State
and while history endures, loyal hearts vii
turn with feelings OF national pride to
Gettysburg, where the common deiiveranct
! of Pennsylvania and the Union will stanc
recorded in the unsurpassed glory of thai
! bloody field.
! need hardly renew my pledge, that dur
/ ing the term of Office on which am abou,
to enter, l will give my whole moral ant
official power to the prosecution of this war
and III aiding the National Government IN
every effort TO secure early and complete
success over our malignant foes. For tn,
preservation of our national life, all thing'
should be subordinated. IL is the first
| highest, noblest duty of the citizen-it Ii
J his protection in person, property, and al
civil and religious privileges, and for lis
perpetpity in form and power, he owes al
| lis efforts, his influence, his means, and his
life. TO compromise with treason woulc
be but to give it Il renewed existence, and
enable it again to plunge US into another
| causeless war.
! In the destruction of the military power
/ of the rebellion is alone the hope OF peace
| for while armed rebels march over the sol
of any State, no real freedom can prevail
and no governmental authority, consistent
with the genius of our free Institutions, car
properly operate. The people ofovery State
! are entitled, under the Constitution, to the
protection Of the Government and 10 give
! that protection fully and fairly, rebellion
/ must be disarmed and trodden ia the dust
/ BY these means, and these alone, can We
have enduring union, prosperity and peace.
\ As in the past, will in the future, in faith
! iul obcdience 10 the oath have taken
/ spare no means, Withhold no power which
can strengthen the Government In this'con
/ tlict TO the measures of the citizens chosen