Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-03-07
which is to affect you for a time.

ItDC IiabiOli tifObC WIN dlt uilIlilhldktu-
bly, and unquestionably loyal--thoso
men who acknowledge their allegiance
to the government, and men to sup
port the Constitution 1t is all en-
braced in that. The amplifcation of
an oath makes no difference ifa man
is not loyal. But you may adopt
whatever test oath you choose to prove
their loyalty.
That is matter of detail for which
! care nothing. Let them be unques-
tionably loyal In their allegiance to
to the government, and willing to
support it in its hour of peril and of
need, and ! am willing to trust them.
know that some do not attach so
much Importance to these principles
as / do, but one principle there should
tbeno taxation without representation.
/ hold to that principle laid down as
fundamental by our fathers.
fit was good then, it Is good now.
If it was a rule to stand by then, it is
a rule to stand by now. 1t is afunda-
mental principle that should be adhsr-
ed to as longas free government lasts.
i / know II was said by some during
the rebellion that our Constitution had
been rolled up as a piece Of parchment
and laid away and hat in time OF war
and rebellion there was no Constitu-
ton. Well, we know that sometimes,
from the very great necessity ofthe
case from a great emergeney,we must
do unconstitutional things in order TO
preserve the Constitution itself
Butif while the rebellion was goiag
ON the Constitution was rolled up as
q parchment, ifit was violated in some
!, particulars to save the government,
there may have been some excuse to
Justify IT; but now that peace has come,
now the war is over, we want
better Constitution, and / say the
! time has ceme to take the Constitution
do wn, to unroll it, re-read it, and to
understand its provisions. Now il you
saved the government by violating the
: Constitution in war, you can only
: save it in peace by preserving the
Constitution, and the only way to
preserve it is by strict adherence to
the Constitution Of our fathers as ia
5 now unfolded.
1t must now be read and understood
(. by the American people. | come here
4 to-day,as far as can in making these
| remarks, to vindicate the Constitution,
and to save it, for it does seem to me
2 that enereaehment after encroaeh-
mentsi is proposed. stand to-day pre-
pared, 90 far as can to resist these
r cncroachments upon the Constitution
5 and the government Now that we
have peace, Get as enforce the Consti-
tuition. Let it be published, let it be
r printed in blazing characters, as if it
) were in the heaEens, pnnctuated with
stars, that all may read and UNDER
. stand. Let us consult that instrument,
. let as digest its provisions and under
5 stand them, and understanding, abide
] by them
r / tell the opponents Of this govern
a ment, 4 care not from what quarter
D they come, whether from the east, west,
S north or south, you who are engaged
: in the work Of breaking up the GOV.
/ ernnent by amendments to the Con-
:stitation, that the principles of FREQ
/ government are deeply rooted in the
# American heart. All the powers com
y bined, care not of what character
It they are, esHnot destroy the great in-
" strument-that great charter of free
y dom. They may seem to succeed for o
> time, but their attempt will be futile.
n They might as well undertake to lock
l. up the winds or chain the waves ofthe
y ocean, and confne them to limits.
e They may think now il can be done
@ by concurrent resolutions, but when it
. is submitted TO the popular will, they
It will find that they might as well in
e troduce resolution to repeal the law
n of gravity as to keep this Union from
N being restored.
% It's just about as feasible to resist
A. the great law of gravity which biads
d all TO a common centre, as that great
a law of gravity which will bring back
e these States and replace them
e ia their relations. All these conspir-
& acies and Vaccinations north and
l, south cannot prevent it. All that is
Al wanted is time, until the American
t. people can get to know what is going
d on. | would the whole American
2 people could be assembled hero to-day
o. as you are. j wish we had an smphi-
D. theatre capacious enough to hold these
Is 30,000,O00 of people, that they could
g. be here to witness the struggle that is
W gong on to preserve the Constitution
il of their fathers They would settle
&c this question; they could sec who it is,
Q and how it is, and what kind of spirit
l. is manifested in breaking up the gov
of ernment. Yes, when they come to
p see the struggle, and to understand
y who is against them, II you would
n make them perform the part Of gladi-
Il afnra In iha frat tilt Won 1unnld And