The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-08-18
NEW SERIES.

/ anu Wouta make aggreSSIonS on Southern right
and institutions.
I WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED.
Then, sir, we should have had the whole De
mocracY of the North rallying around their Vi
olated Constitution and standing by the South
And if war had come, it would have been a
the North where the people were divided. an,
not at the South, where they were all united
1t would have been a civil. as well as a section
al war, in the Union, and for the Constitution
OF the Union. But, sir, there was not tn,
slightest probability Of such an issue. The Re
publican party voted almost unanimously. II
Congress, in $50, that they had no pover II
interfere with Slavery in the States. and no wish
to do so if they had When the Southern State,
seeded from the Union, and Withdrew tbei,
members from Congress, they took the Fedora
Government out Of the hands of the Democra-
cy, and turned it over to the Republican par.
ty. They abandoned their friends and allies
the Northern Democracy, who had manruIlv
stood by the South for more than half a centG.
ry, to the tender mercies of their political Oh.
penents and enemies, This was not in aceor.
dance with Southern honor and chivalry.
What other cause had the Southern States
for their act Of Secession? For eight years
Immediately preceding this revolution, during
the Administrations of Presidents Pierce and
buchanan, there was not an act Of the Federal
Government Of which they complained They
could not complain, for the Government was in
their own hands, Il IS true the Northern State
Legislatures had nu!lifed certain acts Of Con-
gress favorable to the South. But was this
just cause for rebelling against the Federal Gov
ernment Should they not have adhered the
closer TO that Government, and assisted ia en-
forcing its laws? How strange to think Of the
Southern States rebelling against Il Govern
ment OF which they did not complain!
II Is SAID that the Southern States left the
Union to preserve Slavery. How fatalthe mis-
take Every one ought to have known that
Slavery was stronger in the Union than it pos
siby could be out Of the Union Indeed, the
Union was its only safety and protection While
in the Union we had the power of recapturing
our fugitive slaves out Of the Union we could
have no such power. The whole civilized world
was opposed to US on this question, asasl, as -
slave power, would have looked upon US with
scornfuI Jealousy.
But, Dir. Chairman, the madness and folly Of
the Southern States, in commencing this revo-
utl9n, IS now manifest to all. There was fan
aticism at the South as well as at the North.
Politicians did all they could, in both sections,
to stir mp the worst passions OF the human
heart, and make the people forget they were
Of one great Republic We were
told that the Northern people would not fight,
that there would be no war, and offers were
made to drink all the blood that would be she'd.
History should have taught them that no gov
like ours, ever was, or ever could be
broken up without war and all its dire c0nse-
luences.
WHY THE SOUTH FAILED.
How was it, Mr. Chairman that the South
ern States failed in their rebellion? 1t is true
the contest was a most unequal one, S, O00,-
900 of persons fighting against p, 600, 600!
The one having neither government, army, navy
or manufactures and the other having all these,
with an influx Of foreigners and Southern ne
groes to increase their strength. The South
ern people are an impulsive, enthusiastic peo-
pie but they want the energy and perseverance
Of the North. said to my friends, at the be-
ginning Of the war, that my greatest apprehen-
sion was that our soldiers would Get tired Of
the war and quit it. | did not believe it rossi-
ble 20 hold in subjection s, 600, 600 of people,
scattered over such an immense territory as
the Southern States, if they were
disposed to make any and every sacrifice, as the
Dutch Republic did in their war Of indepen-
dence. Bot, sir, the great cause of our failure
was that the heart Of the Southern people never
was in this revolution There was not State,
except South Carolina, in which there was
majority in favor of Secession! Even in South
Carolina there were many districts in which
onehalf of the voters did not 90 to the polls.
THE GOVERNOR FEELS DEGRADED BY COMING
BACK.
Mr. Chairman, | will here frankly say, as |
have often SAID during the past four years, that
there was not a man in the United States who
more deeply regretted the secession of the
Southeran States any one who feels more Bit
terly the humiliation and degradation Of going
back into the Union than do. Still, l know
that we shall be more prosperous and happy IN
the Union than out of it.
JEFF. NOT TO BLAS1E.
1t has been too common, Mr.. Chairman, to
attribute the failure Of this great revolution to
the President of the late Confederacy. This,
sir, is mistake The people were themselves
70 blame for its failure. They were unwilling
TO make those sacrifices which were essential to
its success. Many who were most prominent
in the movement never did anything for it after
the war commenced. Instead Of seeking their
proper position, in front Of the battle, they
sought 'bomb-proofs" for themselves and their
sons. There were others who got into 'ssott
places" and ''official Positions where they
could speculate ard make fortunes on Govern
msnt funds.
In fact, toward +bc latter part Of the war, it
seemed that every one was trying 70 keep out
Of the army, and was willing TO pay anything,
and make any sacrifice 10 do so. When Gen.
Johnson surrendered his army he had on his
muster roll 10, 600 men, but only IA, 600 to
bo carried into battle. Gen. Lees army was