The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-09-13

was tnat our malorllles urOppeU uO"u, dI
the Governors election to 973, and at the
Presidential election to $50.
Now let me call your attention here to
what explains these votes. In 1856, four
years before, the tot Presidential vote
was, 6467, and in 1860 it was 6463 !;
that is, instead of there being an increased
vote at the end of that period of four
years, the vote remained abost the same.
The inevitable conclusion is that there was
large number of votes uDpolled in this
County, and, Of course, as ours was the
disorgaBized party, they were Democratic
votes. Three years afterwards, at the
Governors election in l663-and you
will observe that the votes at the Govern
or's elections are usually. much lighter
than at Pres't. elections-the total vote
polled was '7702, showing conclusively
that at the Pres. election of 1860 in these
counties alone, there must have been over
1000 votes uDpoled in consequence OF
our divisions and of the hopelessness of
of the contest after we had lost the Gov
ernor's election in October. The vote of
last year. when there was fair issue be-
tween our party and the opposing one,
showed majority in the old County of
Columbia (includiDg Montour) of 1918
votes, against majority little exceeding
1000 thirty years ago; and the record
shows, throughout the whole intervening
period, q consistent and continued support
by our population of the Democratic party
and of its candidates This record also
shows the Importance of party organiza
tion, of party union, of party harmony
and that whenever we get TO disputiDg up
on candidates and divide and disslpate
our strength by our own action, we fall
down in msjorties as the figures show we
fell down in 1860.
Fellow citizens, I have thus briefly
sketched the political career ofthis county
from the foundation of the Government
when the party of Mr.. Jefferson was es-
tablished and when be corresponded with
citizens oil distinction amongst us. l have
shown you how those who preceded you
in this portion OF Pennsy ylvaDia thought up
on public policy and how they acted. The
record is a remarkable one and may al
ways be referred to by our people with
pride and satisfaction.
Now, at the end of great war the
pressure of which has fallen upon the
country with extreme severity, and the
burdens OF which are to remain with US,
it is most important that our people in
popular assemblies and wherever they
meet together, should confer upon public
aft irs and determine their course for the
future. We have arrived, so to speak, at
q new point of departure. The war is
closed, and new questions are thrust upon
US which must be met aud solved by those
who are charged with the conduct of gov
ernment, and BY us also in selecting them.
Therefore, the question have now to
submit to this audience assembled at the
base of our great mountain on the closing
day of August, 1865, is this Are you
satisfied your fathers decided wisely in
choosing their political associations Do
you think they displayed sagacity and
virtue in selecting the creed Of Mr. Jeffer-
son as their standard of political faith and
in supporting policy founded thereon in
the practical administration of the gov
ernnent! That creed has been read in
Jour hearing. You have heard its em,
phatic endorsement of econc my in govern
meat outiays of free elections, (unco-
creed aud uncorrupted j of state rights
of an unfettered press, and of trial by ju-
ry. These are leading points ofits text,
and they smite existing and recent abu-
ses as they smete those of former times,
with most righteous condemnation.
| understand that a few persons have
been greatly troubled very much exercised
an mind, with reference to the object of
this meeting Why does it assemble
There is no President to elect there is
no Governor to elect; no one is to get an
Office now by political action There is no
question OF patronage or of individual pro-
tit involved at this time The little coua-
" Offices, that are TO be filled in this county
are not matter of debate or Of contest;
nominations for them being equivalent to
election. There Is, | repeat, no Governor
to be elected to distribute the little drip
pings OF patronage left to our Executive
uRder the present State Constitution.
There are no Offices of Pres. ap' tment to be
filed. Why then, some low minded men
may think and may iDquire-that class of
men with whom politics consists in getting
Office and of going through maneuvres for
the purpose of getting offce-Wby then
should there be a popular meeting here !
Such persons cannot comprehend, they
are 80 constituted that that they are una
BILE to comprehend, the meaning OF
meeting when there is not sone per oDai
object in view. can tell you,gentIemen,
why this meeting assemblies. l think |
the significance Of this large
g altering of citizens upon this quiet morn
ing, in this quiet grove. You assemble
yourselves together as independent free
men to determine your course for the fu-
iure. You meet to review the history of
the past from the beginning of our ex