Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-02-20
OUR REPRESENTATIVE ON 10y
Atty.

Atty.
We have already referred to the discus
sion in the Legislature Of this State, on the
subject ef clause IN the resolution which |
requires persons claiming damages for inju- |
ries or losses, by the rebel invasion, to
prove their. loyalty. Our Representative,
Dir. Purdy, with others, took exceptions to
this very proper and necessary proviso, and |
made speech in opposition to the same.
tain the position they have taken, without
showing to the world, what they carefully
deny; namely, that their sympathics are
with the rebels. We have no desire to place
the opponents of. this fair and necessary
measure in q wrong position, but can men
factiously oppose every effort of the govern
ment; assail every measure of the Admin
istration; abuse our best Generals, unless
they belong to a particular party; attempt
to depreciate our currency and thus sap the
foundations of the financial policy of the
government; ard yet lay claim to the title
of true patriots and good citizens. Nr.
Purdy tells the Legislature how he defines
loyalty:
81 claim that loyal man is man who is
loyal to the Constitution-who is loyal to
the Government of our fathers; but, sig, that
man who bases bis claims to loyalty upon
his adherence to the ideas of a particular
iudividual-who bases his claim to loyalty
upon the theory that if man supports the
doctrines of a certain platform, or the par
tcuar notions of certian President or a
certain Governor he is loyal say that
such man knows nothing abont loyalty"
We always supposed the government of
our forefathers was the same We are now
defending, but which the rebels ere cndeav-
'oring to destroy.
The great trouble of Mr.. Purdy is, that he
imagines he can assail and oppose the adj
ministration Of the government in its most
vita. functions, and then turn round and say
that he only intended these attacks on the
administration. Now there can be no gov.
eminent without an executive or admins
tration. 4 written constitution is, OF ITSELF
mere form of government Mr.. Purdy's
loyalty, therefore, TO the. constitution, is 10y
atty only 80 mere form or shadow, and no;
TO the government. 1t is upon similar princi
piles that infidels attempt to prove from the
bible, that the christian religion is not oi
divine origin, a mere invention of charlatan:
and not obligatory on man. Mr. Purdy
also finds fault that oar people are annoyed
by taxes. II he attempted to show how tht
government could be sustained without tax
alton, his sneer5 might be excusable, if moi
justiiable.
Mr.. Purdy then refers to the suppression
of newspapers by mobs, and states that nj
member Of the Union party ever denounced
these violations of law. We are surprised
he should risk such an assertion in the fac
of an intelligent audience who read til
papers.
In regard to the attack on his own office
he says the soldiers who committed tn
attack, were never in town before, ant
knew nothing Of his Press. In this he
again at fault. These men had been j
town before, and it is idle to suppose Tbs
our soldiers, who nearly all read the paper:
and many of whom are able correspondent
Of the Press, should be ignorant of affair
that so vitality concern themselves. If thes
soldiers have been instigated as eharged
lot those guilty Of the charge be held II
sponsibe, and not blame whole commun
~ for the acts of a few individuals.