The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-08-11
HARKI FROM THE T0MBS, THE
D0LEFUL SOUND.


reasons of their Chairman for having postpon.
ed the time of the meeting Of the Convention.
/ CIRCULAR.
HARRISBURG, Pa, July /, 1865.
/ To the Members of the Nationut Union State
/ COnUentioa IF the State of Pennsylvania.
| GENTLEMEN You have already been in.
formed Of the fact, that the time appointed for
/ your meeting has been indfaiteiy postponed;
and as it would have been injudicious for the
journals Of the Party to have given the reasons
for such action, it has been deemed advisable to
address this secret circular to you apprsing you
of the causes of our decision, in order that you
may properly appreciate the impending political
dangers.
/ The magnificent triumph achieved by Us last
fall threatens 10 be lost to us, owing to the as
s4ssnation of our lamented President which
has caused The elevation of successor, whose
feelings towGrds the organ cation chach elect
ed him are 10. say the least, questionable This
statement, gentlemen, is based upon my own
knowledge and that Of other members of the
Committee. 1t IS bat proper, therefore, that
the proofs Of this assertion should be adduced.
First. lie has released many persons from
confinement (who were arrested last fall, in or
der TO be kept out of the Way at this time,
when their presence viii do much to revive the
absurd feelings against military arrests. Their
wan and emaciated appearance In public will,
it is feared, greatly injure US.
Second He has directed that in future Of
fenses committed by civilians, shall be cogniza-
Bile only in civil Courts. This, foreshadowing
as it does, the possible abolition Of military ar
rests and trials, will have the most preju iicial
effect upon our success, as it will deprive US of
what has been our most powerful auxiliary in
the late elections.
But his conduct in relation to the Insurgents
people of the rebel States to organize in accord
ance with the law Of their respective States as it
existed before the rebellion.
He was urgently pressed 10 disfranchise the
citizens of such States, and substitute hs own
military rule for municipal law, and though he
was advised that lis refusal 10 do SO might
land most probably wouldi jeopardize our con-
troi Of the next Electoral Coltege, and deprive
us Of the immense patronage aceruiug from
such military occupation, and thereby lose to
us the impending State elections. He positive
ly refused TO be governed by these counsels.
In view therefore, gentlemen, Of all these
facts it has been deemed a matter of serious
doubt whether he should be endorsed by our
State organization, whose interests he has 50
thoroughly disregarded.
For this reason therefore, with others, it
was thought best to postpone the Convention
until among other things time had more clearly
indicated to US the course the President intend
ed to adopt.
Then again, gentlemen, it is well known to
all Of you that a very serious schism exists in
the party in reference to the position to be as
sumed regarding the States lately in insurrec-
ton.
a very large number Of those who lave up
TO this time acted most zealously with US urge
the endorsement of President JoHNsoN's posi-
:ioH on this subject, upon the ground that the
war was fought by US upon the principle that
no State had right to secede, that its people
had no power to diyest themselves of their al
legiance to the Government, and that the war
being now over, the States occupy their origi-
nal position in the Union, subject to their old
laws and that those who are loyal and are vo-
ters by their State laws should be allowed to
re-organize. Another equally respectable body
Of our followers maintain the theory that such
States should be governed by military rule, and
/ that no State should be re-admitted save upon
its primarily disfranchising every man who had
ever IN any manner aided directly or indirectly
the rebellion, Chat is the entire population and
allowing the negroes to vote
/ The objection to the first theory is that its a.
doption may give the control Of such States to
/ the Democracy.
/ The second plan is subject to disapproval up
on the ground that we would lose the votes of
such States until they had been re-populated
with a sufficient number of loyalists, a very
tedious experiment, one which will require much
time, and even then be defeated owing to the
unreliabihty of the negroes who may vote as
directed by their old master. The plan first
mentioned was adopted partially by the Ohio
State Convention who had it forced upon them
by their military members.
The other theory was unanimously carried II
the Vermont State Convention, while as if tC
increase our dilemma the Democratic Congen.
ton of the last State endorsed the President:
position on this subject
1t is earnestly hoped, gentlemen, in view O.
all these facts that you viii appreciate the ac
ton of this Committre. Let the sagacious ex
ample of that English friend of liberty, J. VIII
KINs MIcAwBER, be remembered and followed
by all of you, for truly and beautifully has i
been said by the wondrous Poet Of the League
(GEo. BOXER, ESQ., that
'sIf you waits and tolls
You'll surely grab the spoils."
1t is above all else hoped you Will discourage
any discussion of party action. IF you ar,
true to your glorious past it should be perfeetl,
immaterial to you upon what platform you q
chieve success.
Denounce the Copperhedds upon all occasions
and by so doing you win unite our friends
Let our watchword be God Liberty and Union