The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-05-06
VOL. Z, NO 40.

/
public and 50 fairly expressed by John Quincy
Adams, that our Government was, after all, in
the heart, 1t would be better, severe as would
be the pang of regret TO part in friendship, ra-
ther than to hold sovereign States pinned to US
by the bayonet, as Mr. Greeley expressed it, in
1861. What advance have we made in the sci
ence and principles of government, Mr.. Chair
man, if we cannot rise above the Austro Rus
sian principle of holding subject provinces by
the power of force and coercion? What be-
comes OF the Declaration of independence and
of all our teachings for eighty years After all,
Mr.. Chairman, it Is not the extent of territory
which should be the object of our desires. Bet
ter sacrifice over nlne-tenths of the territory
than destroy republican form of govern
ment What our people desired in 1861, and
which | honored though regarded as mistaken,
was the preservation OF the government and the
retention of our Jurisdiction over the whole
| territory. They were rightly willing to sacri-
! flee every material consideration for that pur-
pose. Land is nothing, Mr.. Chairman, COM
I pared to liberty. We existed as Republic
when the mouth of the Mississippi was held by
a foreign power, when we had nothing west of
that river, when Florida was held against US
and we could exist again if by the chastlsement
Of heaven we should be curtaiIed to our old ter
ritoriai dimensions. For fifteen millions of dol
lars we purchased the whole of that immense
territory, and were it hundred thousand times
as valuable, It's preservation would not be worth
our admirable form of government. Pride of
territorial ambition is Il vulgar and low ambi-
ton of national greatness. Russia, and even
China can vie with IN that but who would
rather reside iii one of the Cantons of >witzer-
L. - Il.
tries. II is not the extent Of territory that we
possess, but in the manner IN which we govern
Ii that renders Us respectable Many gentle
men seem rather to look to the quantity than
the quality. All Republics have been destroy
ed by the thirst OF territorial aggrandizement
and the lust OF conquest. The great object of
| our Government should be 10 develop and cul-
tivate the internal resources OF those friendly to
It's jurisdiction rather than To extend it over hos
tile and foreign people. 1t Is in that character
that true patriotism is to be cultivated and true
national glory found. Especially should ali re-
pubics cultivate the art OF peace, since it is by
the war power that free Governments are com
monty overturned The charge has been made
that Democracy Is turbulent, warliie and ag
gressive, but it So it Is Il terrible misconception
OF lis true interests, for upoa the people fall
eminent poet has saiI--Lor,I Byron that war
was a game which il the people vie,
kings and princes would never play at The
venerable DIR. Franklin, at the close of his IL
lustrious career, remarked: ''That there was
never good war and Il bad peace"
We have male, Mr. Chairman, by this war
eight millions of bitter enemies upon the Amer
lean continent. While time snail last the rec
ollections OF this blooIy strife will never fade
from the memories of the people North and
South, but will be handed down TO the latest
generation The words Shiloh, AntietaIn, Get
tysburS, Mnrfreesborough Richmond, Nicks-
burg and Fort Donelson are words of division
and dIsunion and will serve TO bring up emo
tions of eternal hate. If it were true, as was
alleged by distinguished Senator from Ohio
(Mr. Wadel, in speech in Portland in 1890,
s.that he believed that no two nations on the
earth hated each other as much us the North
/ ard South" how much more true is the remark
now after they have been arrayed in such bloody
contests 1t is the object of The sword to cut
and clcave asunder, but never 10 unite. hat
union is there between Russia and Poland, be-
tween Austria and Hungary, between England
and Catholic Ireland, where the sword and the
bayouet for centuries have been employed In
stead of comforting national strength, they are
sources Of weakness to countries that hold them
in subjcction, and which would this day be stron-
ger without them than with them.
/ Mr. Chairman, these lessons of history are
full of warning and example. Much better
would it have been for US in the beginning
much better would it be for US now--to con-
sent to division of our magnificent empire and
cultivate amicable relations with our estranged
brethren than to seek to hold them to US by the
power of the sword. Here let me advert TO the
common yet perfectly garing and apparent er-
ror, that to part with one jurisdiction over elev-
en- States involves the destruction of our govern
ment. The statement of the proposition de-
| monstrates its absurdity. AS we'll might one
say, who had a farm of two hundred acres Of
| land that he had lost his title deed to all of 1t
| because by some misfortune he had parted with
! fifty. In losing the South, not one function OF
our government over us is surrendered. 1t re-
mains over us as completely sovereign as 1t ever
! did Here let me say, rs the experience OF my
/ individual belief, that if it had been understood
in the North, as in the South, that by the terms
! of the Federal compact a State had right to
secede from the Union, this disruption would
never have occurred. Had the North so un-
I derstood the matter there would have been upon
I It's part forbearancs from the exercise of ex-
treme measures, and desire not to press its
Southern sisters to the wall that would ever
have maintained the Coniederaey unbroken. 1t
/ was the prevalence of the idea of the ConsoIi-
dationists in the North that tie Southern States
had no right to and would not secede, that
tempted them and that fatal policy that has sun
dered tire C0niedcraey.
1t is said that no con.cderaey can exist by a
rccns.r: :t.n,, Of tkis nrncinle lllL snch Mas NOT