Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-08-13
The War ns Viewed by n True
Democrat.
SPEECH OF THE HON. JOHN CESSNA.

SPEECH OF THE HON. JOHN CESSNA.
The annual address before the Alumni
Association of Franklin and Marshall Col
lege, at Lancaster, was delivered, on Tues
day evening of last week, by Hon. John
Cessna, of Bedford county. Mr.. G. is well
known as a lifelong Democrat, and we re-
joice to be able to be able to contrast ais
noble sentiments with those of some of the
wouldbe leaders of the democratic party.
The following extract from his speech will
be read with pleasure by every loyal man
The great mass of the people of all parties
are honest at heart, and mean to do that
which they think will best promote the
welfare and prosperity of the country. But
it Is not always So with party leaders. Some
OF these, ut least, are INSCRIPTIONS. SO COM
pletely do they become embittered against
each other, that they would sacrifice almost
anything, not excepting the cause of coun-
try and OF truth, in order to secure their
own triumph and the overthrow Of their
political adversarles.
These are the most efficient emissaries of
the rebellion, and vastly more serviceable
to its leaders than an equal number of armed
men in the ranks of the countrys enemies.
In our own midst those emlssaries have
been actively at work to aggTayate the ran
cor OF party spirit-to array one portion of
the people against the other--tO cause dis
satisfaction among the people with the ne
| cessary measures adopted to suppress the
rebellion-to excite the people against the
enforcement of the draft and the collection
OF revenue sufficient to carry on the war
Our people are taught to favor peace-com-
| promise-an armistice-anything except a
| vigorous prosecution of the war.
AT one time this is styled negro war-at
another negro has no business to serve as
u soldier When our armies are defeated
the Government Is incompetent or inefficient
or it would have raised more men. When
volunteers are called they are opposed to
the plan. They want an enrolment so that
all may have an equal and fair chance
| When the draft comes 1t Is unfair, unlawful,
and deprives them of their constitutional
rights. The clause of the act allowing pay
ment of communication is all wrong, because
it discriminates between the rich and the
poor. AS soon Us it is repealed these same
men strive to excite the anger of the people
because it is another step towards q military
despotism. All these things do the people
no good, lead only to angry discussions, bit
ter controversies, numerous dissensions, pre-
vent men from enlisting into the service o:
their country, have slready produced bloody
riots, and may eliminate i'll fierce neighbor-
hood and tircside war. These dangers are
truly great, and calculated to diShearten the
patriot; but it is confidently believe that
they will all, sooner or later, be overcome
There are, unfortunately, those among us
who cannot discuss the question single
moment without showing that they are at
heart foes of the government and enemies
Of their race. The people soon learn to find
out and know these men. Human skill and
ingenuity and all of Il traitors cunning can.
not long succeed in concealing stheir real
sentiments. They hang back or skulk away
from our public gatherings on our national
holidays; they disparage Union officers and
: soldiers and eulogize the rebels. All Union
victories are gnifcant--of little account
rebel victories are of incalculable value and
importance.-GOodn news is never credited
bad news is often originated, believed
and circulated long before verified. Take!
are obnoxious and oppressive; drafts ar,
unconstitutional and OdiOus; war Is bloody
and desolating, and the nation ought at
once to stop it. Fer nearly four years every
thing has been wrong; nothing excellent
nothing even praiseworthy or passablc ha;
ever been done by their own government
only mistakes, wrongs, wicked acts OF tyran
ny, and earnest appeals are made to thu
people to arise in their might and prcven
=, the establishment of a military despotism
During all this time they have never known
to utter word of denunciation against tn,
rebellion, or see an improper act south o
the rebel lines. These are the unmistakabl,
ear, marks of the traitor. He may remon
strate; he may write down beneath the pic
ture in large letters the word Patriot; hi
may, in very noisy and earnest words, insist
that he is "sound Democrat" and tina
every man of his party who sustains the wa
/ is an "AbolitioniSt." Yet, after all, he i
neither patriot or good Democrat, Ior
may turn him upside-down and inside-out
and cleanse and wash him with all the pur
waters ofAmerica, and you can make moth
ing out of him but poor, miserable traito
Just such one as General Jackson woul,
have strung up for treason in his day anC
l.. 4 Al. =. n. }