The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-11-16

Gus in the future. Had the President
consented to join Congress in forcing
negro suffrage on the South, all would
have been fair and smooth, and instead
of being denounced as fiend he would
now be worshipped as an idol by those
who so bitterly and unrelentingly y assail
him.
Those who are sincerely desirous of
seeing pacifcation of the country, and
a restoration of the integrity ofthe I'm
ion, ought to feel assured of the purely
patriotic and sincere intentions of the
President, when they remember that
he is, in good faith, carrying forward
the policy inaugurated by President
Lincoln, and that the only two men
who went into the administration with
Mr.. Lincoln at the beginning ofhis first
term, (the Secretaries of State and of
the Navy and the only two who were
trusted and confided in by him through
his entire official career, and to the end
of his life-who stood by, encouraged
and sustained him when the storm and
tempest of rebellion were beating most
fercely upon him. and the Ship of State
was tossing upon the waves Of turbu
lent sea, with broken masts and shat
tered sails, and who knew his most Sc
cret thoughts as to the best measures
to be adopted to bring her into port
are standing by President Johnson,
with courage and heroism equally
sublime, and cheering him on his he
roic efforts to achieve the same ends.
They were Yillified and denounced then;
and by the same men, are villified and
denounced now. They did not quail
before the storm that beat upon them
then-they do not quail before the tenn
pest that ragesaround them now.
Mr.. Lincoln was heroic then, and Mr..
johnson is heroic now. | am sure no
man can be sincerer in his purposes to
preserve the Constitution and save the
country than he is. No man can be ac-
tuatedb purer patriotism, or be more
averse to usurpation Of power. He has
not violated the Constitution in the past;
he intends no infractiOn of it in the fu-
ture; but ne does intend firm and
faithful performance of all the trusts
which that sacred instrument has de-
volved upon him. With every dispo-
sitiOn to be charitable towards those
who differ from me in opinion, it is
difficult to believe them sincere in char
ging the Presidentwith an intention of
violently forcing rebels into Congress,
and giving them the control of the Gov
ernment. What act has he ever done
that gives the slightest sanction to such
a charge? Not one can be specified. He
has neither transcended his own pow
erS nor invaded those OfthecO-Ordinate
departments ; and the only pretext for
the charge is, not what he has done, but
what he has said, in declaring again and
again his conviction that il was the du-
ty of Congress to obey plain constitu-
tional provision and each House for it,
self to judge of the elections, returns,
and qualifications Of each Individual
presenting himself as a member.
Our country is in peril-in very great
peril-nOt from public enemy, but
from the violence of our own passions.
Safety is to be found only in strict ad-
herence to the Constitution and laws.
AS long as they are obeyed no evil can
come upon us. We are in danger only
when we attempt something they do
not sanction. trust it will be the pride
and glory of the friends of the Admin
istration, in the threatening contests
through which we are passing, to keep
their passions in subsection to reason,
and to do no act not fully warranted by
the Constitution and laws. Ours is a
republican Government, where the ma
j0rity has a right to rule. Minorities
cannot, without subverting the Govern
ment. And when, according to the
forms prescribed, the will of the ma
j0rity is expressed in the Constitution
or the law, it is the duty of all to submit
to it, until it can be fairly and constitu-
tionally changed. Such | know to be
the Presidents intentions, and such
know he wishes to be the rule of con-
duct for his friends andsupporters. No.
man has a prof0under reverence for the
Constitution than he, and his purpose
as the executive head of the nation to
maintain and preserve it as it is, until
it be changed in the form prescribed
by it, is firm and immutable. He is
not brave enough wilfuIly to violate it..
He Is brave enough to uphold and de-
fend it in all that his duty requires.
In conclusion, let me beseech you,
calmlyand dispassionately, but earnest
ly and firmly, to do your duty to your
country inthis trying hour, and to stand
by our glorious Constitution as it is.
There isno safety for us but in this. DO
your duty and trust to God for results;
and reverently implore Him to save
us from the madness and infatuation
which threaten us with self-destruction,
and with the loss ofthe last hope for the
perpetuity Of free government.
Your friend and fellow-c citizen.
Q. II. BROWNING.
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