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

| ded and shaped by their actions and conduci
towards the nation. In all cases where they
adopt, adhere to, and carry out, in good faith
| the policy of reconstruction generously offer.
ed them by President johnson, we will cordi.
ally welcome them as returning brothers into
the great family. But if they come with ha-
tired and bitterness, and only that they may
the better restore themselves to power so as
to accomplish those original designs, by po-
litical management, which they failed to Sc
cure by the hazard of battle; Justice to our
selves, duty to the country and to posterity,
require that we shall keep them in a position
to prevent harm. By the valor and patriot
ism of our brave soldiers, and by the help
youchsafed by that Providence which has al
ways watched over and protected our nation,
we have proved TO the world that the whole
host of rebels in the south, with the aid of all
their foreign friends and northern sympathi-
zers, have been unable to resist the power OF
our country or successfully vie with her ar
mics on the field of battle. BY the help of
the same brave men, and with the blessings
of the same Providence, we do not mean that
their John Mosebys and Wade Hamptons
shall be permitted to rule the Councils Of the
nation.
Our political adyersaries were the first to
demand for the rebels belligerent rights. Our
enemies abroad united in the demand. To
save the lives of sur prisoners, and from mo-
tlves OF humanity, we were obliged to yield to
the demand. Now that the war is over, these
are the first men to demand that they shall
be released from all the liabilities and respon-
sibihties of belligerents. BY the law of ma
tions it has been long and well settled that in
every unjust war the victor may exact indem-
nifty for the past and security for the future.
So may the victor hold his adversary in the
military grasp until he has accepted the re-
suit, and until security against all future dan
ger shall have been exacted and obtained. 1t
is to be expected that our political adversa-
ries viii object. Yet who but they can OBJ
jeet that the widows and orphans of the land
should be supported by the authors Of the ca
lamities? Who but they viii object that the
wounded soldier who lost his ability to sup
port and maintain himself shall be aided and
supported by the wickedness which brought
the injury upon him2 Who but they will OBJ
ject that the vast debt created by the work of
treason shall be at least partly paid and dis.
charged by the traitors themselves
They tell us the innocent in the south, and
the women and children of the south win suf-
fer. They forget that such is the result in all
wars, and never once think that the innocent
and the women and children of the north suf
fer from the war of treason. Yes these are
the men who are now striving to secure the
votes of the soldiers of Pennsylvania. When
volunteers were needed for the army they
were opposed to volunteering. Drafting was
the fair way-only Democrats would volun-
teer--in the draft all would have fair chance.
When the draft came they were violently OPP
posed to the $500 commutation clause. That
was a discrimination against the poor man.
The rich would all pay ont and only the poor
would go. When the Communication clause was
repealed they became more clamerous because
the only chance for the poor man was now
taken away-he must now go while the rich
man could get a substitute. For a time it
was negro war, and no white manshould go.
When negro troops were called for they were
aroused to the highest state of indignation.
'The south would never stand 1t. 1t is an
evidence of our weakness. If you can't con-
quer them with white troops you never can
with negroes. Thus they continued during
the whole four years of the war. No single
measure of the government ever received
their appreciation. No matter what course
might be adopted they were found in opposi
ton. Are these the men to be now placed in
power2 Are they to control the government
of this nation. The late administration, so
recently endorsed by majority of four hun
dred thousand at the ballot box, is still by
them denounced and abused. They clamor
only for the rights of rebels. They forget
that by the very act of war all who engaged
in it forfeited all the rights they ever had nm
der the Constitution which they we're trying
to overthrow.
The very instant war commenced, under
the laws Of war and the laws of nations, all
obligations, contracts, treaties and stipula-
tions between the belligerents were at an end.
Shall the settlement of the great questions
growing out of this war be left in the hands
of those by whom the war was carried to
successful issue, or shall it pass into the
hands of those who opposed it from the be-
ginning? 1t is right for you to answer at the
ballot-bo Upon you depends the result of
the issue, and for you it viii be to say wheth-
er the war has been failure, whether it exis-
ted as fact, because in 1860 you voted as
freemen had right to vote, or whether it
was commenced by wicked, ambitious and de
signing men, without cause. 1t will be for
you to say whether the fruits of the war are
only debt, disgrace and slaughter, or whether
they shall add to the glory, renown, greatness
and power of our common country.