Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-08-25


and their defeat. Slavery Is dead, and must
and shall be buried. The spirit Of slavery
must die and be buried with it. The aristoc-
racy of the South, which has fostered and
upheld slavery, and which inaugurated the
late terrible civil war, must be shorn of its
power Already it is at work stirring up
opposition to the policy of the Government,
and creating hostility and bitterness among
the people. For two years we carried on
the war without striking at the cause of the
war; indeed, we rather guarded and protect
ed it, AT last, Abraham Lincoln, when his
time had come, on the memorable LIST day of
January, 1868, struck at slavery. The re-
suit is before us. And yet it still seems as
| if no lessons are sufficient to reach the au-
thors Of the rebellion. 1t is fast becoming
manifest that no permanent peace, even with
the death of slavery, can be secured until the
authors and supporters of slavery are sub
dued. In the words of our present patriot
ic President, This aristocracy is antagonis-
tic to the principles Of free democratic gov
ernment, and the time has come when this
rebellious element of aristocracy must be
punished. The time has come Nhen their
lands must be coniscated; the aristocry must
be put down, and their possessions divided
among the worthier laborers of the land.
This result will throw into our National
Treasury many millions of dollars Justly for
feIted by the treason OF their former own
ers. What loyal man can object that by
means of this fund few of the comforts, if
not the luxuries of life, should be added to
the tables of those widows throughout the
land whose fresides have been made desolate
by the war, or rather by the treason which
caused it? Who viii object that the bounties
and pensions of our soldiers, by whom the
Al 4
| be increased and tride added TO the pecu
mary compensation so justly due them for
the sacrifices made? Who can object that
by means of these funds SO Justly forfeited
large portion of our national debt should be
extinguished, and thereby the taxes of all
classes of our people diminished, and part
Of the heavy load imposed upon the shoul-
diers of our people by treason thus removed
by treason itself? Having proclaimed the
| freedom of the slave, let us not weaken our
selves or endanger his condition by any con-
troversy among ourselves about his present
position or the extent of his privileges, but
carefully and surely provide that the free
dom thus proclaimed shall be firmly and ir-
revocably established and secured through
all time to come Let unity of action and
cheerful acquiescence in the decision of
the majority mark our deliberations let the
glory, perpetuity, and success of our COM
mon country, alone, be our object, and all
will be viii.
A temporary organization was effected, as
follows: Hon. John K. Morehead of Alle-
gheny, aud Hon. Jeremiah Nichols of Phil
adelphia, vice presidents; and Messrs, j. B.
Cara of Erie, and Wayne McV eigh of Ches-
ter, secretaries.
The first business In order being the call
ing of the roll, the order was proceeded with
by districts, the delegates answering to their
names. In the cases of the Berks and the
Lycoming, Union and Snyder delegations
the seats of the delegates were contested.
On motion of Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, of
Lancaster, the Chair was empowered to ap-
point committee of five ON contested seats,
to whom should be referred the credentials
of all parties in regard to whose seats con-
test existed.
On motion, deputationof gentlemen re-
presenting the Association of Loyal Penn
sylEanians, resident in Washington City, ID.
| c., Mr.. Thomas Mcnamara, chairman, were
privilege Of participating in the proceed
lngs.
Mr. Robert B. Carnaham, of Allegheny,
moved that commltte, to consist of one
from each Senatorial district, be appointed
to report officers for the permanent organi-
zation of the Convention. Agreed to.
On motion, the rules of the House of
Representatives of Pennsylvania were a
dopted for the government of the Conyen-
tion
Hon. Lemuel Todd, of Cumberland, Of
fered the following resolution, which was
read:
Resozved, That this Convention, represen-
ting the loyal people of Pennsylvania, rec
Ia aIo,v,,y oP tba osf.1on Sold.oro of
the State, on its confidence and gratitude as
superior to those of all others and In to-
ken of this, its declaration, it will nominate
as candidate for Office none but those who
have proven their loyalty and patriotism by
services in the field, against the enemies of
the Republic. Applause.
A member rose to point OF order, which
he stated to be that the convention, not be-
ing fully organized, could not consider res
olution which should be considered by an or
ganized body.
Mr.. Stevens, of Lancaster, said that he
had hoped the resolution would not have
been offered until after the appointment of
a Committee on Resolutions, when it could
be referred to that committee for action.
Mr.. Todd said he desired the Convention
to decide at this stage of its proceedings the
policy which would control it In making its
A vica-voce, on proceeding to the second
reading and consideration of the resolution,
being taken, the Chair declared the result
doubtful A division of the vote was then
taken with the following result: In favor
of, thirty-four: opposed to, ffty-seven.
Mr. Vincent, of Erie, called the yeas and
nays. He asked to have the names of those
who refused to consider the resolution.
Mr.. Stevens suggested that the unanimous
consent of the convention be given to con-
slider the resolution as being before them, for
the purpose of moving its reference.
The call for the yeas and nays having been
withdrawn, and the resolution being consid-
cred as upon second reading, Mr.. Stevens
moved to refer it to committee to be ap-
pointed, which should consider all resolu-
tons coming before the body.
Mr.. Todd then addressed the Convention
in opposition to the motion. He contended
that, notwithstanding the apparent fairness
of the proposition, every one who reflected
for moment must perceive that its adop-
ton would be the death of the resolution,
because the Committee ON Resolutions would
not make any report until after the nomina-
tions were made. Such being the case, the
sense of the Convention might not be car
ried out. He did not believe there was an
individual present who did not entertain the
warmest admiration of those men who had
hazarded their lives in defence of our insti-
tutions and our liberties. 1t was necessary
20 fba r,raca,xafsnp Of a c0nGictapt raanrd in