The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-01-27

every demand made upon her, whether to
repel invasion or to fight the battles of
! the Union whenever and wherever her
people were demanded. Upon every field
made historic and sacred by the valor of
onr troops, some of the martial youth of
! Pennsylvania have fallen There is scarce
hospital that has not been visited by our
kind Offices to the sick and wounded, there
is not department. in which brave men
do not answer with pride to the name of
our noble State, and while history endures
loyal hearts will turn with feelings of
national pride to Gettysburg, where the
common deliverance of Pennsylvania and
the Union will stand recorded in the un-
surpassed glory of that bloody field.
l need hardly renew my pledge, that
during the term of Office on which | am
about to enter, will give my whole moral
and official power to the prosecution of
this war, and in aiding the National Gov
ernment in every effort to secure early
and complete success over cur malignant
foes.
For the preservation Of our national
| life, all thirgs should be subordinated. 1t
is the first, highest, noblest duty of the
citizen-it is his protection in person, pro
perty, and all civil and religious privileges,
and for its perpetuity IN form and power,
he owes all his efforts, his influence, his
means, and his life. To compromise with
treason would be but to give it renewed
existence and enable it again to plunge
US into another causeless war.
In the destruction of the military power
of the rebellion is alone the hope of peace,
for while armed rebels march over the
soil of any State, no real freedom can pre-
vail and no governmental authority con-
sistent with the genius of our free insti-
tutions, can properly operate.
The people of every State are entitled
under the Constitution to the protection
of the Government, and to give that pro-
lection fully and fairly, rebellion must be
disarmed and trodden in the dust By
these means and these alone. can we have
enduring uuiop, prosperity and peace.
As in the past, I will in the future, in
faithful obedience to the oath l have taken
spare no means, withhold no power which
can strengthen the Government in this
conflict. To the measures of the citizens
chosen to administer the National Gov
ernment adopted to promote our great
cause, will give my cordial approval and
earnest co cooperation. 1t Is the cause Of
constitutional liberty and law. Powers
which are essential to our common safety
should now be wisely and fearlessly ad-
ministered, and that Executive would be
faithless and held guilty before the world
who should fail to WELD the might of the
Government for its own preservation. The
details of my views on the measures which
I recommend arc contained in my recent
annual message, and need not be here re-
peated
! | beg to return to the generous people
of my native State my hearty thanks fer
their unla.tering support and continued
confidence. They have sustained me
amid many trying hours of official en-
barrassment. Among ali these people to
none am | more indebted than to the
soldiers of Pennsylvania, and here pledge
to those brave men my untiring exertlons
in their behalf, and my most anxious ef-
forts for their future welfare, and com
mend here, as have frequently done be-
fore, those dependent upon them, to the
fostering care Of the State.
| cannot close this address without an
earnest prayer to the Most High that He
will preserve, protect and guard our be
loved country, guiding with Divine power
and wisdom, eur Government, State and
National, and [ appeal to my fellow-citi-
zens, here and elsewhere, in our existing
embarrassments, to lay aside all partizan
feelings and to unite in hearty and ear
nest effort to support the common cause
which involves the welfare of u. all.
Gentlemen, pray you, in Gods name,
let US, in this era in the history of tie
world, set an example of unity and con.
cord in the support of all measures fol
the preservation of this great Republic.
A. 6. CURTIN.
1),-u- -, I,-c JIyI, - 49,.