Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-09-29

taking away its wealth. What loyal man
could object that by means of this fund, q
few OF the comforts, if not the luxuries OF
hfe, should be added to the tables of those
widows throughout the land whose firesides
have been made desolate by the war, or
rather by the treason which caused it. Who
would object, that the bounties and pensions
OF our soldiers, by whom the victory was
won, the nation saved, should be increased,
and trifie added to the pecuniary compen-
sation so Justly due them for the sacrifices
made. Who could object, that BY means Of
these funds, so justly forfeited, large por-
ton of our national debt should be paid,
and thereby the taxes Of all classes of our
people diminished and part of the heavy
load imposed upon the shoulders of our peo-
pie by treason, thus removed by treason il.
self The rich men of the South, the aris-
tocracy of the rebellious States, are almost
entirely responsible for the rebellion. For
centuries they have been living in ease and
luxury sustained, supported, and enriched
by the sweat and toll of the slave. Our So
called Democratic adversaries tell us that the
war was for the negro, and for the abolition
of slavery. IF this be true, would it not
seem to be just Judgment or decree of an
oyer-ruling Providence, that the fruits of
the negro's s labor and toll should thus be
Wrested from the hands of his master to
purchase and secure his own freedom?
1t is absolutely indispensable to the fnture
peace of the country. that the world shall
be made to understand that treason Is a
great crime, and must be punished. Yet in
the settlement of these questions, the Rebels
shall receive at our hands all that justice
and safety will permit us to grant. Our
treatment of them shall be greatly Influenced
by their future conduct and actions towards
the nation. And in shaping these, it would
be well for them to remember that the war
was of their own seeking, and of their own
making, and that no one is so completely
bound By verdict as the man who sought
the advantages of the trial.
The Soldiers.
Extraordinary efforts are now being made
by our opponents to obtain the votes of our
fellow citizens recently returned from the SER
vice Of the country in the army of the nation.
In these efforts they should, and it is conf
IDENTIFY believed that they viii fall
1. Because vigorous prosecution of the
war for the suppression of the Rebellion has
ever been urged by the Union party of the
2. Because the war has never been sustain
ed or advocated by the leaders of the party
opposed to the Administration
8. Because the friends of the Union cause
have always sustained and supported the sol
lers in the field, and the leaders ofthe pretend
ed Democracy have ridiculed and derided the
soldiers of the Union, calling them Lincoln
llrelings," "robbers, iplunderers, and
other epithets unfit for repetition.
A. Because when volunteers were calledfor
they demanded a draft
5. Because when the draft came they op-
posed the commutation clause, and declared
It was a discrimination against the poor man.
6. Because when that clause was repealed
they complained that the only hope of the
poor man was gone.
7. Because they denounced the war as a ne
gro war, and did nothing to aid or assist in
carrying it on.
8. Because they became highly indignant
when negro troops were called for, and threw
he benefit of all their sympathies with the
South.
9. Because they opposed every measure the
Government found it necessary to adopt for
he suppression of the Rebellion.
10. Because they magnifed every Rebel
success, and deprecated every Union victory.
II. Because, in 1864, they declared the war
\ failure.
II. Because they tried to prevent the ex-
ension of the right of suffrage to soldiers in
service. Their leaders opposed it in almost
Every form. Senator Wallace, now Chairman
If their State Central Committe, said, (see
Record of 1864, pages 335, 1897, II vote a.
,ainst this bill upon principle, as well as for
orm. 1t is said that so meritorious class
volunteer soldiers shouldn not be disfranchised.
70 this | answer, that neitherthe constitution
If 1890, nor that of 1888, conferred this privi-
ege, and the act of the soldier in taking up
IN himself duties that are in their nature in
with the right of suffrage, de-
,riyes him of this privilege. He disfrGnchi-
es himself tchen he ceases to be a citizen, and
axes upon himself the duties Of soldier"
When the amendment of the constitution was
to a vote of the people, many of
he so-called Democratic counties gave major
ties against it, while every county in the
State land it is believed every election pre-
,inct), which gave to Abraham Lincoln ma
ority of its votes, gave majority in favor of
he amendment.
A. Their leaders almost invariably opposed
irving bounties to volunteers, while the friends
# the Union party always sustained and sup
ported these measures
15 Even since the war is over, they en-
,loyed their ablest lawyers in an effort to de-
lare the bounty laws unconstitutional, and
eally persuaded their two friends on the
,ench of the Supreme Court so to hold.
l6. When men were greatly needed to fill
Up the ranks, and the Government ordered q
lraft, they resisted, and all of their represen-
atives upon the bench of the Supreme Court
declared the law authorizing the national Gov
rnment to take men out of the State, by draft,
vas unconstitutional and void Men were on
y obtained and the nation saved because their
,arty was defeated at the polls in 1868, and
he act of three of these Judges rebuked
~ the people, and one of their places
illed by loyal man and sound Judge.
II. Because they have tried to injure the
,redit, and disparage the currency of the
country, by means of which the pay, bounties,
md pensions of the soldier can alone be paid.
This point they also pressed before the Su
,reme Court of the State, and failed by a di-
rision of three to two.
ls. Because the platform of the Union par
" recognized the services of the soldier-de-
elares that the war was commenced by Rebels
that peace was to result of the courage and
leroism of the Union army-that the cause
n which he fought was holy and sacred, and
hat honor, glory, and prosperity to the coun-
ry, and not debt, disgrace, and slaughter"
are the legitimate fruits of his toll.
10. Because when Union men expressed
he hope that our troops might soon be able
o conquer the South, even by their exhaus
ion and want of food, those leaders of the
new Democracy, declared that 1--WE couldney-
er conquer the South,' and that 'sthey had
more TO eat in the South than We had ia the
North.
: 20. Because when Rebels were starving our
brave soldiers by the hundred at Libby, Belle
Island, Andersonyille and elsewhere, these
same leaders excused or mitigated the crime
BY declaring that fsthey fed our prisoners as
u.nn s thas- Al tha; rrra non ~ tLnt l.r...r