Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-09-22
RATIFICATION. r.

| great enthusiasm, at National Hall, to rati6
the nominations made by the late Republican
Convention, and to listen to the distinguished
speakers who had accepted invitations to ad
dress them.
There were present upon the floor a great
many prominent citizens. The meeting was
marked by the utmost enthusiasm Hon.
John Cessna, Chairman Of the State Central
/ Committee, on opening the meeting, said
CITIZENS OF PHILABELPHIA--We are about
to organize the FIRST mass meeting of the DO.
/ litical campaign of 1865 in the Keystone State.
II is right and proper that this work should
| commence in the great metropolis of our
commonwealth. The city whose sons were
among the first to respond to the call of their
| country, whose means have contributed so
| largely for the last four years to the cause of
the Union, whose fires fpatriotism have con-
stantly burned brightly through the whole
| night of gloom ard darkness, and whose pa
triotic daughters have ever been Fastening to
the field of battle, before the smoke of the
! battle had passed away. to care for the woun-
ded and alleviate the pangs of the dying, may
well be among the first TO declare her posi-
| tion on the great issues raised by the war and
now presented for adjustment by the Ameri-
can people.
One year ago and the representatives of a
great political organization, in National Con-
vention assembled, pronounced the war for
| the preservation of the Union failure; and
| the papers, speakers, and leaders of that or
ganization, during the entire campaign of
| 1864, proclaimed that war could not restore
| the Union, that the reelection of our late Ia
mented and patriotic President, Abraham
Lincoln, would protract the struggle, fill the
| land with untold horrors, and finally over.
throw and destroy the republic of our fathers
| and rear a great military despotism on its ru
ms. The friends of the government boldly
and fearlessly met the issues thus presented
The people, by their verdict at the polls. by a
majority unprecedented in the history of the
republic, recorded their will The enemies
of liberty in foreign lands stood appalled, at
the result. The friends of the Union every
where took new courage. Rebels trembIod,
and the heart of the rebellion grew sick, and
sank IN the bosom of treason, and the friends
of traitors in our own midst hid themselves
away, and many of them deny now that they
ever advocated the doctrines, or made the
prophecies which composed the entire burden
of their songs of 1864.
The war is now over The promises and
pledges of our friends, made in 1864. have
all been kept and fulfilled Those of our DO
litical adyersaries have all been dissipated,
and proved hollow, delusive and false.
Thanks to the heroism, courage and skill of
American soldiers, sailors and officers, and to
the God of battles, our nation is saved and
the good old republic of our fathers still lives.
Sweet peace has again spread her gentle
wings over our once happy and still beloved
land.
The sound Of trumpets, the roar of cannon,
the noise of musketry, the tread of armies,
the victorious cheers of our brave soldiers. and
the sad and sickening groans of the wounded
are no longer heard throughout our borders.
To-day our nation stands forth more bright
than ever before, as a beacon to the down
trodden and oppressed throughout the world,
as terror to the tyraats of the earth, as an
asylum to the oppressed of all nations, and
as the wonder and admiration of the lovers of
liberty everywhere. The issues of the coming
political struggle in Pennsylvania are already
made up. The importance of proper settle
ment and determination ofthese issues can
not be over estimated. The past history as
we'll as the present position of our State enti
tie and viii secure for her great weight In the
settlement Of all questions of national policy,
The representatives of the political organi
zation with which you are supposed to sympa
thize declared as follows 'Pfhe Union party
of Pennsylvania, in State Convention assem-
bled, declare That as representatives of the
loyal people of the Commonwealth we reyer-
emily desire to offer our gratitude to Almighty
God, whose favor has Vouchsafed victory to
the national arms, enabled us to eradicate the
crime of slavery from our land, and to render
treason against the republic impossible forev-
ermore /; and next to Him our thanks are due
and are hereby rendered to our brave soldiers
and sailors, who by their endurance, sacrif
ces, and lllustrious heroism, have secured to
their country, peace, and to the downtrodden
shown that the war for the restoration of the
Union is not a failure, and whose yalor has
proven for all time, the fact that this govern
ment of the people, by the people, for the
people, is as invincible in its strength as il is
benefcent in its operation"
In contrast with the doctrine here stated
the representatives of our political opponents
in convention recently assembled, have also
presented a platform of their principles. In
substance and effect they have declared that
war existed as fact upon the advent of the
successful party in 1860 to the seat of power"
That slaughter, debt and disgrace are the
results of our late civil war" That the as
sassins Of our late President were murdered
by military commissions, and no more muir
ders of the kind would be permitted whether
it be the Andersonyille butcher, the importer
of loathsome diseases or the great second Lu-
cifer who now chafes and foams in his cell at
Fortress Monroe, and who for so long time
has been their beau ideal Of stern statesman
and Christian gentleman. They add in ex-
press terms that ''the men and the party ad-
ministering the Federal government since
1861 have betrayed their trust, violated their
sacred obligations, disregarded the commands
of the fundamental law, corruptly squandered
the public money, perverted the whole gov
ernment from its original purpose, and there
by have brought on untold calamities upon
the country"
The measures of the administration of
Abraham Lincoln were submitted to his coun-
trymen at the election of 1864, for ratification
or condemnation II would seem as If a de-
cent respect for the opinions of their fellow
men might have prevented the folly and ma.
hgnity of the late so-called Democratic CON
Yention at Harrisburg, as exhibited in the
adoption of their platform. 1t is perfectly
manifest that they have not excepted the re-
suits of the war, nor are they prepared to bow
TO its DEGREES. Again, fellow citizens, they
have forced upon you these issues. 1t viii be
for you to decide by your action in this cam
paign, whether the war just closed shall pro-
duce substantial results, or whether all the
blood and treasure Of the nation have been
expended and shed in vain. We intend to be
merciful, but our mercy must be tempered
with Justice. We ask not, we wish not ven
geance. But indiscriminate mercy to the en-
envy is danger and injustice to ourselves.
Whenever and wherever our late adversa-
ries come in true spirit of sorrow and re-
pentance, sheathe the sword, and promise to
obey the law in the future, we will extend to
them the right hand of fellowship ard forgive
tbau, for fbo ,ast A ftar fhav shall have civ