The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1864-08-11

avert the storm. 1t still continued to
gather owe. US, without molestation from
the authorities at Washington, until at
length it broke with all its fury upon the
country. And now, if we would save the
government from being overwhelmed by
1t, we must meet it in the true spirit Of
patriotism, and bring traitors to the pun
lshment due their crime, and By force of
arms crush out and subdue the last vest
ige OF rebel authority in every State. /
felt then as now that the destruction of
the government was deliberately determ-
ined upon by wicked and designing con-
spirators, whose lives and fortunes were
pledged to carry it out, and that no COM
promise, short of an unconditional recos-
milton Of the independence of the South
ern States, could have been or could now
be proposed which they would accept
The clamor ior southern rights" as the
rebel journals 'were pleased to designate
their rallying cry, was not TO secure their
assumed rights an the Union and under the
Constitution, but to disrupt the government
and establish an independent organization
based upon slavery, which they could at
all times control.
The separation of the government has
for years been the cherished purpose of
the southern leaders. Bafied, in 1882,
by the stern, patriotic heroism of Andrew
johnson, they sullenly acquiesced, only to
mature their diabolica. schemes, aud await
the recurrence of a more favorable oppor-
unity to execute them Then the pretext
was the tariff, and Jackson, after following
their schemes of notification and dsunion,
with prophetic perspieuity, warned the
country against the renewal of their efforts
to dismember the government.
In letter dated May /, 1888, to the
Rev. A. j. Crawford, after denouncing
the sheartless insincerity of the southern
nullifers, he said:
"Thcrefore the tariff was only pretexs,
and disunion and southern con:edeIacy
the real object. The next pretext will
be the negro, or slavery question"
Time has fully verified this prediction,
aud We have now not only "the negro
or slavery question" as the pretext,. but
the real cause of the rebellion, and both
must go down together. It is vain to
attempt to reconstruct the Union with the
distracting element of slavery in it, Ex-
perience has demonstrated it's incompati-
bility with free and republican govern
ments, and it would be unwisc and unjust
longer to continue it as one of the institu-
tions of the country. While it remained
subordinate to the Constitution and laws
of the United States, [ yielded to it my
support, but when it became rebelious
and attempted to rise above the govern
ment, and control its action, I threw my
humble influence against it.
The authority of the government is
supreme, and will admit of no rivalry
No institution can rise above it, whether
it be slavery or any other organized
power. In our happy form of government
the people, when reflected through
the Constitution and laws made thereto
State OF Federal. This great principle
lies at the foundation of every government,
and cannot be disregarded without the
destruction Of the government itself. In
the support and practice of correct prin-
ciples, We can never reach wrong results
aud by vigorously adhcring to this great
fundamental truth, the end will bs the
preservation of the Union and the over
throw of an institution which has made
war upon and attempted the destruction
of the government itself.
The mode by which this great change
the emancipation of the slave-can be
affected, is properly found in the power
TO amend the Constitution of the United
States. This plan is efectual, aud of no
doubtful authority; and while it does not
contrayene the timely exercise of the
war power by the President in his Eman-
cipation Proclamation, it comes stamped
with the authority Of the people them
selves, acting in accordance with the
written rule of the suprcme law Of the
land, and must, therefore, give more gens
eral satisfaction and quietude to the dis
tracted public mind.
By recurring to the principles contain
ed in the resolutions SO unanimously
adopted by the Convention, 1 find that
they substantially accord with my public
acts and opinions heretofore made known
and expressed, and are, therefore, most
cordially endorsed and approved; and the
nomination having been conferred with
out any solicitation on my part, it is with
the greater pleasure accepted.
In accepting the nomination, might
here close, but cannot forego the oppor-
tunity of saying to my old friends of the
Democratic party proper, with whom l
have SO long and pleasantly been associa-