The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-07-28
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[From the Bedford Inquirer, April 5, l86l.l
Is the Voluntary Return Of the Seeding
States Desirable2

This question, we think, has not been sulfi-
cently considered. It ought to be considered
now, not only by the Government, but much
more by the people. UnthinkinglY, it seems to
be assumed that, if those States will return vol
unfairly, in mere discomfort with the growing
inconvenienceies and expenses of secession, all
will he well. We are of a different opinion;
and we are confident that thinking minds
throughout the country are coming TO the con=
clusion that the remuneration OF those States
even by their spontaneous return, is not 10 be
desired at present.
Such 2 remuneration is not to be desired,
less the principle is first established, by prece-
dents never to be forgotten, that secession is
treason, and that treason is q crime to be pun
ished The leaders of the present secession
have levied war against the United States. At
ter employing themselves in this way for six
months, shall they be permitted to retura, and
to remain within the reach of Federal marshals
and the jurisdiction of Federal courts, without
being hanged for their treason? If we live TO
see this, why may we not live to see Ioomb5
and Wigfall again adorning the Senate, and
Jefferson Davis the successor Of Washington
why shall not Twiggs be restored TO his rank
in the armys Why shall we not assume all
the debts of the Montgomery Government, and
pension all those who have served more than
ninety days in the revolutionary army! a 're-
construction even by the voluntary return of
the secessionists, presumes that there will be,
on the part Of the United States, . full amnesty
of the treason. Such an amnesty would be a
virtual destruction of the Government. There
fore, we say that the return of the seeded
States even voluntarily, is not TO be desired,
unless some of the leaders in the treason are to
receive the due punishment of their crime with
the full consent of the South and North
Norris it to be desired, unless the cause which
has produced this secession is removed. Less
than ten years ago the Union of these States
seemed, to US, indissoluble. The balance be-
tween internal self.gogernment IN the several
States, and more than imperial strength and
benifcence in the Union, IS so marvelously ads
jlusted by the arrangements of the Constitution,
the benefits which the Union confers on every
state are so very important, so numerous, and
SO cheaply purchased that it seemed impossi-
BILE for any Engish-speaking republic to exist
in proximity to this Union without falling into
it, as Texas did, by gravitation too powerful
to be resisted; and especially impossible for any
state, after the experience Of those benefits, to
lear lLSelI away from lbS place ana OfOlL IN tue
system, and make itself wandering star for
which is reserved the blackness of darkness for
ver."-We knew indeed the chronic insanity
of South Carolina, but we did not admit the
possibility of the same insanity in other states
Our mistake was that we did not adequately
consider the fact obvious even then) that in the
cotton states the structure, genius and all the
tendencies of society, are controlled by the bar
barous and barbarising institution Of negro sa-
very Il is the distinction of those states that
there the interest of slavery predominates over
every other interest in society, and the influence
of slavery over every other influence. There
is no impossibility Of permanent union be-
tween states in which slavery exists and states
in which all men are free, if slavery may be re-
garded as an abnormal, accidental and temporary
inconsistency, an evil which must be endured till
the progress Of civilization shall remove it. But
when, in eny portion Of such union, the IN
stitutlon Of slavery has become paramount
:he idea of slavery, rs ;ntsinsicaly right and
good, oontroling all legislation and public poll.
cy, all social and public morality, all religious
doctrine, and minging with all the impulses and
aspirations Of patriotisul-then it Is no longer
possible for those states 10 be ccmprehended
with free states IN one nationality, To such q