Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-09-14


be searched in vain for vote or sentiment
evincing true loyalty to the flag or cause Of
the country. or which was not at the time
in harmony with the prevailing political
sentiment at Richmond and Charleston.
Upon the records and candidates we most
confidently appeal 30 the patriotic voters of
the keystone State for most emphatic
verdict in favor Of the right.
SundTy dispatches captured from the enc
my disclose his mode Of organization and
plan of campaign The chairman of their
State Central committee, as sort of head
centre, appoints a reliable subordinate IN
every election district in the State, and
these, from the debris of the late knights
of the Golden Circle, and such other mate
rials as can be had, are required to organ
ize mystic seircles, or Democratic clubs,
which are to register the voters, collect
money for the party, distribute documents
and do various other things to insure the
full party vote These are semi-military
organizations, and the members are admit
ted by initiation, at which the candidate
'lpaces his right hand on his left breast,
and enters into most solemn pledges to vote
against all men Bhoare willing to give the ne
gro either political or social equality in this
State, or in any other State, District or Ter
ritOry of this country Their watchBords
are Silence, Obedience, Vigilance.
1t is a pity the great light Of these nlagnan-
imous patriots should be longer concealed
under a bushel, and that they can find
nothing more important to do IN this great
Crisis Of our eOnnntry S fate. But fore
warned should be fore armed. Guard well
against these insidious appeals to the preiu-
dices Of our people, and attempts to
mislead them By such means. Be not
deceived by the stale clamor about negro
equality and negro suffrage. These faForite
hobbies were supposed to have been ridden
to death at our last election, when, as now,
they were declared by these same men to be
the great issue of the contest They are
now raised up and brought upon the track
again mounted by the same riders, and
destined to the same ignoble end. The Con
stitution Of Pennsylvania permits only white
men 70 vote. By its terms 1t can be amend
ed only once in every FIVE years, and having
been amended in 1864 allowing the soldiers
the right to vote, it cannot, in conformity
with its own provision, be amended Ggdta
until 1863 1t is hoped, therefore, our
Democratic friends viii restrain themselves,
and not press negro suffrage upon us before
authorized by the Constitution OF the State.
Complete your township and county Or
ganizations without delay revive at once
everywhere the Leagues and Associations
which proved Of such vast service during
the war let every friend feel that he has
something to do in this good work, and pro-
ceed forthwith to do it with all his might
Exclude side issues and suppress all local
auarTels and personal aspirations, and labor
only for the public good See to it that all
assessments are made in due time. BE not
discouraged by the boastiug and clam0r of
our adversaries they have been inglorious-
~ defeated in every contest for years. and
cannot prevail against US. Nothlngb but our
base betrayal by the President and the hope
of Office could have galvanized them into
sufficient vitality to make another tight
against the victorious hosts Of freedom. The
phvsical conflict. for the time at least, Is end
ed but the moral conflict between loyalty
and disloyalty continues, and the grave
question is, whether the one or the other
shall rule the State and the nation, We
urge harmony, energy, systematic, assocla-
ted and individual labor, and renewal OF
the fires of patriotism. The loyal and
patriotic people of the State have nobly
sustained us and the cause of the country,
under the heavy pressure and discourage
ments of drafts, bereayements, taxation and
carnage, and when nothing but an abiding
faith in the justice Of God could enable us
to see the end Surely there can be no
faltering now, when the goal is almost
reached. and when one more united rally for
our principles and our flag viii enable
US to secure the ripe fruits of the late dread
full conflict, and to garner them safely for
ourselves and our children.
We stand over the ruins OF gigantic
rebellion, the most formidable enemy. .repub-
lican institutions ever encountered. We
stand by the graves of three hundred thou
sand Of our noblest men. who counted their
lives well spent when offered freely
for liberty and Union. In the presence of
their speechless but eloquent dust /: in the
presence Of doubtful and sneeEngienemies Of
free government at home and abroad in
the presence of oppressed millions, whos
from beneath crushing despotism, watched
our flag with tears hopes and prayers be-
fore the rapidly, coming millions OF the
future before God Of justice; and IN the
name of all that makes faithfulness to Him
and honor among men, we stand pledged to
secure and maintain forever the principles
for which our brothers died.
By order of the Committee
4. r. JORDAN, Chairman.