Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-10-15
ADDRE Ess

To THE CITIZENS or Pennsylvania

established usage, impels US to address !
you in regard to the questions involved in
the several elections now at hand. In |
discharging this duty we shall speak plain
ly and candidly what we know to be truth.
In this, the fsirest, richest, and (untl
lately) the most favored land of all the !
earth here, where the last footprints Of
civilization had been planted ia this land !
alone Of all the Christian nations of the
world-ihe fell spirit Of war is now rag.
ing. Our proud and unexampled career
ol prosperity as nation has been thus
rudsly checked our industry, that is not
devoted to the purposes Of destructive
war, has become paralyzed our inan
cial concerns have been thrown into utter
confusion and debasement we have hesce-
forth-probabiy foreveT--tO stagger un-
der load of debt greater, and under tax
alton more onerous, than that of any other
nation on the globe confidence in the
stability of our Institutions is everywhere
sadly diminished--in fine, gloomy fore
bodings as to the future, alarm, embar.
assment, and distress have taken the
place Of the happy peace, confidence, Sc
curity, good order and contensment we 80
lately enjoyed.
Nor can hope find resting place in
contemplating the MEN who now control
our Government and administer its laws
and it turns sickeued and sadly away
from the audacity, arrogance and tyranny
it finds high places, even in the very
cItidel of the nation. Scolists in govern
ment; atheists in religion men who are
fra loya in
in another; renegsdes in politics, and
scoffers at every we'll settled principle of
public right and private virtue, now sway
the deshnies of this Republic, and are
crushing out the very life of American
feeedom
For three long, fearful years have the
best blood and stearnest efforts Of our peo-
pie been freely given in civil war which
has no parallel in the history Of the world.
When this war commenced, the Demo-
cratic party in the North, as such was
prostrato under recent defeat, which re-
suited from its own unfortunate divisions
Bat what grand and inspiring spectacle
was presented on bearing the first thunder
Of rebellons arms Political and partisan
feelings, even in that hour Of party hu-
milistion, where all laid upon the altar of
the country, and the sun of Heaven never
shons upon people more unitsd.rcsolute,
and determined than those of the North
era States at the period we refer to,
Whatever might have been the views of
the Northern Democracy in regard to the
causes which untimely epgendered this un-
happy strife; however much in their in
most souls thsy deplored the mad and
reckless career of Abolitionism however
deep was their de,tiuation of tAe course of
those patty leaders, who had been for
years sweeping mp all the low, lurking el-
ements Of higotry and frnaticism, and di.
rectiug their vilest efforts against the
rights. interests, and institution. of the
Southern psopIe-still the attempt of
portion OF that peoplet in consequence, to
break down the authority Of the Constitu
ton over the whole country, and destroy
tho Federal compact was a criminal act
which could not be tolerated or justified.
The amples! remedies for the wrongs
complained Of were not ouly within hope,
but at hand. Two millions Of voters had
just recorded their ballots in a general
popular election against Abraham Lincoln
and the ONE million who supported him
and his policy. There was besides,
Democratic majority in one, if not both
braubces of Congress, which would rem
der him powerless.o 70 nAict any permanent
evil Oh the country.
The right of secession, claimed by the
South as the remedy for their grievances,
lis a political heresy condemned by Mad
ison with his latest breath, and by many
others OF our abest statesmen in all Sec
lions of the Union. Call the Constitution
compact, il you villas does Jefferson
in the Kentucky resolutions Of '9S-but
it 10 a compact OF sovereign States, made
with each other as such, having n right
Of secession ''nominated or constituted in
the bond" The Union thus formed was
in its nature, if not in terms, perpetual. -
Secession, then in view of the compact, ia
simply Revolution and the breaking up
of The Union our fathers had beq ueathed
US, was, under all the circumstances we
have detailed, and the thousand other con-
sideratons and consequences which must
crow5 every intelligent and patriotic mind :,
not only treason It law, but against the
best hopes Of mankind We could not
then--caanot noW-and never wtH consent
to it.
In this spirit of determined loyalty to
the Constitution and Laws, the Democra-
OF of the North, with scarcely an exceps
ton, relying upon the pledges given by
President Lincoln, yielded him their
ready and efficient support. What were
some OF those pledges First in his oath
of office; II will support the Constitution
Of the United States, SO help me God. -
Then his Inaugural Address, and with
this solemn adjuration fresh upon his lips,
be said
III do bul quote from ono of ny speech.
es when declare that 81 have no purpose,
directly or indirectly, to interfere with the
institution of slavery in the Slater where
il eyists haliaxe haYa 30 law nj rinht