Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-09-23


the victorious armies Of Grant and Sherman
They viii continue the fight until the rebel horde
Of Lee and the flying remnant Of hood shall be
oyertAroMn. The unity and integrity Of the ma
ton shall be preserved and peace shall be restored
throughout her borders. Renewed cheers
Myfellow-citizens, allow me to call your atten-
ton p the issues Of the present crisis. They are
mostmomentous. None greater have ever stood
forthin the progress of history. Is man capable
Of sdffoyernment To establish this PROPOSE
ton VAS the great object of the American Revo-
lutiot. 1t found few advocates before thatperiod.
At that time there were many unbehevers In the
doctfile. Notwithstanding the result Of thst
Revblution, and the remarkable and unexampied
SUCCESS and prosperity Of the nation born of it,
theh have always been among Us men who have
no hith in the doctrine. They are stiIl quite nu-
merolls and constantly predict the success Of the
present rebellion I'm this they are heartily joined
by the tyrants and aristocracy of the Old World.
The success of our nation thus far has created
an intense interest throughout the world If we
can survive the present shock, suppress the rebel
lion, and return to our path Of progress, the ex-
ample can not, and viii not, be long resisted by
the Other nations of the earth. The success -or,
rather the continuance civil and religious lib
erty, moi only in our own country but throughout
the worl depends upon the result of our present
conflict. Our failure now would rejoice the enc
mics ofiberty and make glad the hearts oftyrants
in even land aud bring additional grief and sor
row tothe dowh-trodden and oppressed Of every
cline The destruction of our republic would do
more TO perpetnate despotism and to roll back the
tide OF progress and check the advance Of civiliza-
ton than any event which has ever occurred in
tie history of the human race. Words cannot de-
sribe, nor can language measure, the magnitude
aid Importance Of the present struggle. 1t be-
cimes, therefore, the paramount duty of every pa.
tot to use his utmost exertions to secure its fa
prabe termination.
! The present rebellion and civil war were in
aguratad by those who maintain the right of se-
ession. 1t requires no argument to show that the
omission of this principle in any one case leads
Inevitably to dissolution, dsintregation and final
narchy Admit the possibility Of northern
nd southern confederacy, and you thereby con-
ede the establishment of an eastern and western,
! h a New England aud border State, or an Allan
/ dc and Pacific, or Mississippi valley, or any 9TH
er confederacy, or any number of confederacies,
which the discomfort or ambition Of individuals
may require to suit their unworthy and wicked
purposes The history ofour country during the
period of the Revolution, and shortly after that
time, or too well known to require repetition
The adoption of the articles of confederation, and
It,eir inadequacy, after short trial, to subserye
te ends and purposes of the nation, are matters
ohistory known to ALL Our forefathers those to
Wom we owed our existence as an independent
ntion and our continuance as a government,
siedy superseded the articles Of confederation
bthe present Constitution, for the express pur=
pie of preventing, through all time to come, the
pctice Of secession, and strengthening the arm
ofhe central power.
his doctrine of secession is not only without
wrant in the Constitution, but must lead to wild
cdusion in the working of our political system,
stem established by the judgment and wisdom
otur fathers, the ablest statesmen ever given to
: tlRorld. and system without model in all the
2 as of the past--a perfect structure, which dis
tItites all the powers of the government in such
} aay as to prove perfect check upon each
4
a ming all the great objects of its creation. The
a serate States may become great in population.
, git in territory, great in resources but their
tr greatness at last consists in their being parts
= of greater whole, members of one great faIni-
4 " Our natiun can only live and accomplish the
= pposes of its creation, protect and uphold the
n cae Of civil and religious liberty on this eonti-
o ne and throughout the world, with one eonsti-
n ton, one Union, one government, one set oflaws,
IS ohestiny One flag only, and that the stars
: astripes, can ever be permitted to float over
d aportion of our land and silent be the wicked
e toue that would ever utter word against that
:, A and palsied the traitor arm that would ever
If d to make an effort to haul down that flag orto
It ht another in its stead. To preserve our unity
n anation, and to prevent dissolution, dsintegra-
It I and final anarchy, may, and viii no doubt re-
/, ne many and fearful sacrifices in addition to
is tse already made. Our fathers endured the sufi
t. Ings and perils of seven year $ war to estab-
h II the nation. They were working for an exper-
C lent, moved by hope The realityis before US
: Re have all of their hopes, strengthened by years
j [ fruition, Of example, and of unequalled pros
5 erity and success, We cannot we dare not sur
ender the government they gave us, but must
hand it down to the latest posterity unimpaired
'ind untarnished as we received it. True, We
may now be sorey tried and grievously afflicted
the kings of the earth may shake the head, and
shoot out the lip and laugh us to scorn, but we
are only passing through those constant dndshdrp
antagonists which are thelaw ofall growing things.
The eagle mighty wing is neryed by the hurri-
cane. Human progress is ever like that of a ship
bearing to windward in the very eye of the tenn
pest Even Christianity, from its rude cradle,
down through all its mighty triumrhs in long an
tiquity, has fulfilled the same law and grown strong
through aatagonisnls so that the comsummatlon
af God most stupendous purpose was achieved
not BY the ministry of singing angels but through
human antagonisms, with treachery and a cross. +"
This Union, thce favored Of Heavens richest
promises, must otdie. It will survive even the
gigantic conflicts now so fercely raging, and un.
Ill