The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1865-08-31
Speech OF Hon. John Cessna.


by Hon. John Cessna on taking the chair
as temporary President of the Union
State Convention which met in Harris
burg on the l7th inst It is bold, elo-
quent, and patriotic:-
Gentlemen Of tie C2aUcniion: [ retrrn
you my sincere thanks for the honor con-
ferred in selecting me to preside over the
preliminary proceedings of your Coayen-
ton. L am iully aware of the fact that
the position Is one of difficulty, aud re-
quires the discharge Of arduous duties
l earnestly solicit the CO operation of
every delegate in my efforts to preserve
order, promote harmony, aud hasten the
business OF the Convention. On my own
part, pledge you that | will endeavor to
| discharge the duties of the position to the
utmost of my ability, with mpartiality
and fidelity.
l sincerely hope that the deliberations
of this body may ne harmonious, and all
the results of our action entirely satistac-
tory TO the people whom we represent [
regard the Convention just being organi-
zed as one OF no ordinary interest The
| position of Pennsylvania in the Union as
welt as her past history entities aud will
command for her potential voice in the
reconstruction Of our Government. Al
! all hazards, and at every sacrifice of ev-
| erythlng save principle, Inust the action
| OF this Convention, in the end, be unani-
nous. The Whole army Of loyal voters
/ who IN 1861 rallied around the standard
OF Abraham Lincoln, and proclaimed 20
the world that the Union should be pre-
served, and the rebellion suppressed at
every hazard, must again be called into
the field under the banner which shall be
| hoiste0 here to-day.
The military power Of the rebellion has
been crushed. Our brave and heroic of
! fcerS, soldiers aud sailors have well per-
formed their part. Before the magnitude
OF tNelr achievements, the wars of former
times and the battles OF other nations sink
into comparative insigniicance. Our ma
uon to-day occupies a prouder position
before the world, and is more feared by
the aristocracies of Europe, thar ever
| before. The glories rs we'll as the tolls
of our surviving heroes, both officers and
soldiers. the memories of the thousands
! slain and starved in defense of our cause,
the tens of thousands Of widows and or
! phans made such 10y the war, and the
millions of debt willingly incurred by a
! loyal people to preserve the life of the
| nation, all demand that the fruits of the
| great victory OF human freedom shall not
| be trittered away oy the mistakes of poll
! ticians
Every mar of US must oe prepared to
yield up on the altar of patriotism all his
! lpTSnnnl J,rpf,rpncos .lv,.i
! es for the common good There may be,
and there no doubt are, some questions
/ about which we may reasonably and safe
/ ly differ. Upon all the great vital issues
| OF the day, all truly loyal men must aud
will agree. During the four years of
fearful and bloody war just closed, the re-
beiiion increased and strengthened and
was greatly protracted by reason Of North
ern sympathy. Now that it is over, these
men in the North have grown boder and
more defiant by reason Of the aid aud
comfort which they expect to receive in
turn tom those lately in arms againstthe
Government. True, the rebellion is over,
the fighting has ceased, but the war is not
ended /: the spirit Of rebellion still lives,
and is to-day active, InSolent, defilnt.-
The great object of the rebellion was the
death of the republic, the d;smemberment
OF the nation-that object has NOT been
| abandoned Tho e who undertook it fail
ed TO accomplish their purpose by force
of arms. They now strive to reach the
| same end by means of management and
appeals to the prejuGices Of the people at
the ballot box.
This may appear to be harsh judg-
ment. | would that | could believe 9th
erwise. But the spirit that for thirty
years and more has distract ed our people,
and disturbed the peace OF the nation, In
a bold attempt 10 make slavery the ruling
power OF the nation, and all other interests
subservient TO that--the spirit " hich slew
our wounded and mangleG our dead on the
field of battle after the battle was over
the same spris which presided over the
prisons of Andersonville, Libby, Bell Is
land, and elsewhere-that which organ
lied Irresponsible bands Of guerilias-
slew innocent women and children In rail
road cars, poisoned fountains OF water,
and imported lOathsome diseaseS-the
same spirit which animated the band OF
the assassin as il sped the fatal ball to the
brain of our late merclful, maguanimous,
and patriotic President, will not Eesi,ate
to seize the throat or stab the heart of the
nation, and destroy, if possible, the noble
old republic of our fathers, utterly regard
less OF the ruin and woe which may fol-
low.
Already these men in the South are or
ganizing TO send representatives of their
kind to Congress. Their friends in the
North are rallying for the same purpose.