Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-10-19
a d ID RESS
OF THE
STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.

y
A prescribed du.y, as well as long es
ta6llshed usage, impels us to address you
IN regard to the qaestions involved in the
several elections now at hand. Ia dis
charging this duty, we shall speak plain "
and candidly what we know to be the
truth.
In this, the fairest, richest. and Cuntil
lately the most favored land of ali the
earth; here, where the last foot prints of
CIVILIZATION have been planted in this
land alone of all the. Christian nations of
the world the fell spirit of war is now
raging; Our proud and unexampled ca
reer OF prosperity as q nation has been
thus gudely checked our industry, that
Is not devoted to the purpose of a destruc-
tive war, has become palaly2ed; our enan-
clal concerns have been thrown into utter
confusion and de6asement; we have hence
torth-probably toreyer-to stagger un-
der load Of debt greater, and under tax
alton more onerous, than that OF any 9th
er nation on the globe confidence in the
stability OF our Institutions is every where
sadly dlminished-in the gloomy forebod-
Ings OF tue future, alarm, embarrassment,
and distress have taken the place Of the
happy peace, confidence, security, good
order, and contentmeEt we lately enjoy
ed.
Nor can hope find resting place in con-
!emplating the MEN who now control our
Government and administer its laws and
ii turns Sickened and sadly away from
the audacity, arrogance and tyranny 1T
finds in high places, even in the very eta
del OF tne nation. Sciolisis in govern
ment; atheists in religion men who are
free lovers in one sphere, and free thieves
in another; lenegades in politics, and
scotlers at every well-settled principle Of
public right and private virtue, noY sway
the de8tlnies Of this Republic, and are
crushing out the very life Of American
freedom.
For three long fearful years have the
best blood and sIcrnest efforts Of our peo-
pie been freely given in a civil war which
has no parallel in the history ofthe world.
Whom this war commenced, the Demo
cratic party in the North, as such, was
PROSTATE under recent defeat, which re-
suited from its own unfortunate division.
But what a grand and inspiring spectcle
was presented on hearing the first thund-
er of rebelIious arms Political and par
tisan feelings, even in that hour of party
humiliation, were all laid upon the altar
OF the country, and the Sun of Heaven
resolute, and determined than those Of
the Northern States at the period we re-
fer to.
Whatever might have been the views
of the Northern Democracy in regard to
the causes which ultimately engendered
this unhappy strife however much in
their inmost souls they depiored the mad
and reckless career of Abolitionism bow
ever deep was their detestation Of the
oou rse Of those party leaders, who had
been for years sweeping up all the low,
lurking elements OF biGotry and fanatic
ism, and directing their yIest efforts
against he rights, interests and inStitu-
tlons of the Southern people-stIll, the
attempt of a portion OF that people IN con
sequence, TO break down the authority Of
the Constitution over the whole sountry,
and destroy the Federal compact, was a
criminal act which could not be tolerated
or justified. fhe amplest remedies for
The wrongs complained OF were not only
within hope, but at hand Two millions
of voters had recorded their ballots in q
general popular election against Abraham
Lincoln and the ONE million who supper
ted him and his policy. There was be-
sides, Democratic majority in one, II not
boath branches of Congress, which would
render him powerless TO iniltct any per-
manent evil on the country.
The right Of secession, claimed 10y the
South as the remedy for their grievances,
is political hcresy, condemned 10y Madi-
son with his latest breath, and 10y many
others of our ablest statesmen in all sec
tions OF the Union. Call the Constitution
a compact, if you villas does Jefferson
in the Kentucky resolutions Of '96-butit
| is a compact of sovereign States, IN lde
with each other as such, having no 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, Is
simply ReUJlHionj and the breaking up OF
the Union cur fathers had bequathed US,
was, under all tue circumstances we have
detailed, and the thousand other consld-
erations and consequences which must
crowd every intelligent and patriotic
mind, not only treason at Law, ont against
the best hopes Of mankind We could
not then cQHEOt n0O-aud NEVER WILL
conset TO it.
In this spirit of determined loyalty tc
the, Constitution and the Laws, the Dem
ocracy Of the North, with scarcely an eX-
ception, relying upon the pledges given
by President Lincoln, yielded him lhei'
ready and efficient support. What were
some of those pledges? First, in his oath
, of office al will support the Constitution
Of the United States, so help me God. -
Then in his Inaugural Address, and will
this solemn adjuraton fresh upon bis lips
= he said:
p :" do but quote from one Of my speech
er when declare that " ! hare no purpose
directly or indirectly, to interfere wih the inst
tuition Of slavery in the States whsre Il eEsts;
} BELIEVE HAVE NO LAWFUL RICH
: TO DO 50 AND HAVE NO lNCLlN. d
. TION TO DO So" Those who nomina,
= ted and elected me did so with iull SIiT".
I edge that made this ard similar Ns. ues'''
ations, and have never recanteu mem. en-,
7 yo,g re;ic-ot, H.se sentiments; and IN doiii
go only press upon the public attention
!, ,be most conclusive evidence OF which Tn