Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-09-23
THE ANTI-WAR NccLELLAN MEETING

THE ARHl-WAR ACCA4EA1EIAN
The meeting of the ne Clellanites, last Satur.
day. fell far short of our expectations considering
the strennouse forts that were made to bring out
large assemblage ofthe people. The day was very
ine, and if there had been as much enthusiasm IN
favor of the Chicago nomination as our our oppo-
nents would have the " World believe, there ought
to have been a much larger denonstraton.-lt Is
manifest that notwithstanding the attractions
promised, in the shape of brilliant fire works,
torehlight professions &c, there must have been
a vast deal of coaxing to collect thecrowd thatap
poared on the eecasion.-We make an exceeding
ly liberal estimate of the number in attendance,
when we say that it did not reach oyer FIVE hun
dred. or at the very outside, six hundred people,
including men women and children and these col
lected from the townships Of Cumberland Val
ley Bedford, ST. Clair, Napier, Juniats, Snake
Spring, Colerain, East and West Proyidence&c
One-:hird Of the crowd at least was made up Of U
mon men and women, who were curious to hear
what could be saidindefence Of the Chcag gplatform
and left the meeting more persuaded than ever,
that the war can be stopped, and permanent and
honorable peace obtained, only by our armies I'M
der the lead of those gallant peace commissioners
Generals Grant and Sherman
The speakers stand and the columns ofthe Court
Hoase, we're gracefully decorated with etergreehs
and notices in large letters of " Liberty f" The
Constitution and the Union, producing fine
effect andits agreat pity that purposes of the
meeting and the sentiments avowed, had not been
in harmony with the external arrangements.
After the organization of the meeting, the Con
etituton of the United States was read by Mr. Har.
tley-The introduction Of this greatest production
of human wisdom at the outset of the proceedings
led us to expect some special notice and severe de
nueiation of those arch traitors, Jefferson Davis
JhonC. Breckenridge, Howell Cobb, Rober
Toombs, Johnn Floyd, Judah Benjamin ant
others, who have SO defantly trampled this Con
stituton under foot, and inaugurated the bloodies
civil war the World ever saw, to subvert and de
destroy the government that rests on this sacret
Constitution as its foundation-But we waited II
vain. These rebels were treated with the creates
tenderness. None could be found to share th'
Firtuous indignation of these copperheads in eoun
Gil but Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet, wis
have been exerting all their energies to maintain
and defend this same Constitution.
TIE first speaker introduced to the audience, wa
T. DE. DoWeH Sharp esq. of Chambersburg
heralded as gentleman ofhigh character and dis
tingnlshed talents, AHdyet the speech delivere
by him is not entitled to be considered grea
speech It wasany thing else than great speech
1t was feeble in statement. defective in argume 4
andillustration and marked 10y the loosest partiza
characteristics. 1t served only to show how pool
" a bad cause ear be defended by men of vaunte
abilities His illustrations drawn from the stor
of the three Hebrew children, regarded By bin
doubtless, as not only pertinent to tAe point h
was discussing, but as rhetorical flourish of ez
ceeding beauty, was entirely unworthy of him.
Why should he say that Abraham Lincoln ha
erected the Niger idol and commando
Gen Mcclellan to fall down and worship it
There is nothing in the history Of the times I
Justify it. and Gen Mcclellan himself would NJ
dare to assert it. 1t is well known that whe
Gen Fremont and Gen. Hunter issued the
emancipation procIamations in Missouri and Sout
Carolina, they were revoked by Mr.. Lincoln al
IL was not until in the progress of the war tn
twas demonstrated to be stern military neee
sitv, and 80 regarded by the purest and BEST me
in>the land, Of all parties, the President issr
his "a nous emancipation proclamation Of Janua
/, ls63-this great measure was compelled by t
logic Of events, and adopted solely under the, W
mower Of the Constitution, as one ct the sure
methods Of putting an end to the rebellion. Al
then it must be understood that the rebels b
tAree rcEstr notice Of this proclamation with