The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-02-09

ton party has determined upon re-en-
forcing its ranks, with negro voters and
is about 10 make the dogma of equali-
ty Of the races the great overshadow-
ing issue before the country. John W.
Forney is kind Of weather-cock on
the Abolition church and his motions
generally show which way the wind
blows in that quarter. In a recent let
ter 10 hispaper, the Press, over his we'll
known signature, Occasional. ne
write as follows:
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1866.
The passage by the House of Repre-
sentativee yesterday. of Judge helley's
bill. striking out the word white from
all laws and parts of laws, prescribing
the qualifications OF electors in the Dis
trict Of Columbia. devolVeS a solemn
duty upon every loyal citizen. The
vote was nearly eoiid-itll the National
Union members but fourteen in the
affirmatiVe-sllth the ~O-c&iled Democrats
thai were present i'll the negative. The
issue i made up; for whether the Sen
ate seconds the bill or not anG there l.
no doubt that ii will prevail there at an
early day, and by large majority, the
case viii be carried to the people, and
will be discussed at every tireSide in the
Republic. And it il one well calcuia-
ted to awaken extraordinary interest.
II belongs TO the class of measures COM
PEELED by the rebellion, as-ailed by the
traitors and their friends, and, in every
instance, taken up and carried through
by the earnest support of the masses.-
Made a party question. ii should be met
with equal unanimity by the Union
party everywhere. The powerful vote
OF the House being but a reflection and
re-echO Of the popular will, will doubt
less produce Il response not less decided.
The Obedient Representatives must be
sustained by the obeyed constituencies.
! do not know better time to meet
this issue than the present. 1t Was
blind folly ia suppose that We could
staVc ii of. lie was a madman who
supposed that the great Union party
would not be called 1T last TO meet the
upon four million Of slaves rescued by
the rebellion from their former mas
ters; and there was no spot upon which
the national authority could be cOnsti-
tutiOnally exercised for the trial of the
/ experiment a the District Of Columbia.
The objection 10 universal COlOred suf-
frage, on the part of those who We're so
anxious to see il exercised by the re-
/ turned rebels, would have been equally
/ vehement against qualified suffrage
! Now they charge that all the negro :
/ are 10 rUtc: Dut tlIrIE tiivv would have
| been agOniZcd had the test been intel
! ligencej. because it would have opera
/ ted against larg, classes OF fOreign-b0rn
/ whites. Let Us then prepare ourselves
/ for fhe exciting controversy at hand
/ The subject need not practically arise
/ at the next election in Pennsylvania
| ut no bold and patriotic man viii re-
! fuse to show his hand, convinced, as he
! is, thatin every Northern State TO which
/ the terms Of the bill that yesterday pass.
/ ed the House, may he applied, will q.
! ventually be agitated by the discussion
! of the principles therein contained
! Having met eXigenCieS far more trying
! during the war, We must not shrink
| from this. \ people that We're 50 pen
ctrated with attachment 10 country a.
! to stand ready 10 sacrifice their own
lives, and To give up millions of mon
ry, 50 that the country might be saved
whose men, when not in the field, sus-
! tanned suspensions OF the writ of h0bGuy
/ c0rpUS. and all the strong measures OF
the Government. and whose women
cheerfuIly surrendered their time and
their pleasures 10 endure mequaIled
labOrs in those charitie- which immOr-
taliZed their sex and our Republic al
the same time-rsuch people will not
be dismayed when they are called up
on to say whether it was right 10 enun,
ciate and practiCaliZe the pledges of the
Declaration Of Independence. When
the institution of slavery lay a mass 0
ruins at their feet, and when they art
asked IL organize Christian liberty fOl
the victims of that internal institution
they must not hesitate. Are You ready
for the issue. my c0uHtrymen? | Ito not
fear your answer. The contest will bt
most acrimonious. and probably some
If us may fall victims To our honest de
votiOn To the truth. But the duty i,
ours 10 discharge, and we dare moi
postpone il to po>terity. What field
for the young men of America! ! How
in the coming controversy, all the fun,
damentai principles nfour Government
all the immortal maXims taught and
practiced by the early teachings, fol
genuine Democracy, will arise, to in
spire, 10 guide, and 10 strengthen them
The very magnitude of the stake vii
} give a raDturp to the strife and the PJC
icW beG Government IN Which al c}u&se,
IrW be eatiHed 10 tie same prjrjieqes. oi1C
jCW rise bY thejr rjrt1fe and j3teiii0encc
or tdH by their iQ7,0r0nce and rice.
OCCASIONAL.