The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-09-07

1866 An are Will you, ana JIloU CTG WlSl
which ffes nearest their hearts is that
perfect restoration of our union at tn,
earliest moment be attained, anda con
victiOn that that result can only be ac
complished by the means which yot
are pursuing.
And in the discharge of the dutie,
which these impose upon you, we, a;
did every member Of the Convention
again, for ourselves, individually ten
der you "our profound respect, and as
surance Of our cordial and sincere sup.
port"
With a reunited Union, with no foot
| but that of freeman treading, or per
mitted to tread our soil, with industry
renewed, with nations faith pledged
| forever to a strict Observance Of all its
/ obligations, with kindness and frater-
nal love everywhere prevailing, the
desOlation OF war will soon be removed,
its sacrifices Of life, sad as they have
been, will, with a Christians resigna-
ton, be referred to Providential pur-
pose of fixing our beloved country ON
firm and endurable basis, which will
forever place our liberty and happiness
beyond the reach of human peril.
Then, too, and forever will our Gov
ernment challenge the admiration and
receive the respect of the nations ofthe
world, and bein no danger of any effort
toimpair our rights, or to impeach our
honor; and permit me, sir, i'll conclu-
sion to add that great as is your solici-
tude for the restoration of our domestic
peace, and your labOrS to that end, we
rejoice that you have also a Watchful
eye to the rights of the nation, and that
any attempt by an assumed or actual
foreign power to enforce an illegal
blockade against the Government or
citizens of the United States" to Use
your own mild but expressive words
twill be disalloWed."
In this determination l am sure you
will receive the unanimous approval
of your fellow-citiZens. Now, sir, as
the chairman Of this committee, and in
behalf of the Convention, l have the
honor to present you with All authenti-
Gated copy of its proceedings.
At the conclusion of this speech, the
President made reply, of which the
following isa rer6dfim report:
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the
Committee: Language is inadequate to
duced By this occasion. Perhaps Icould
express more by permitting silenceto
speak and you to infer what ought to
say. [ confess that, Notwithstanding
the experience / have had in public
life and the audiences | have addressed,
this occasion and this assemblage are
calculated to, and do, 0verWhelm me.
As have said, l have not language to
convey adequately my present feelings
and emotions.
In listening to the address which
your eloquent and distinguished chair
man has Just delivered, the proceedings
of the Convention, as they transpired,
recurred to my mind. Seemingly,
| partook of the inspiration that pre-
vailed in the Convention when l re-
ceived {, despatch, sent by two OF It's
distinguished members, conveying in
terms the scene which has just been de-
scribed, of South Carolina and MaSsa-
chusetts, arm in arm, marching into
that vast assemblage, and thus giving
evidence that the two extremes had
come together again, and that for the
future they were united, as they had
been in the past, for the preservation
of the Union. When l was thus in
formed that in that vast body of men,
distinguished for intellect and wisdom,
every eve was sutfused with tears on
beholding the scene, l could not finish
reading the despatch to one associated
with me in the office, for my own feel
ings overcame me. Applause |
think we may justly conclude that we
are acting under a proper inspiration,
and that we need not be mistaken that
the finger Of an overluling and uner-
ring Providence is in this great move.
! mCnt.
The nation is in peril. We have just
| passed through mighty, a bloody, {
momentous ordeal, and yet do not fine
ourselves free from the difficulties ant
dangers that at first surrounded us
While our brave soldiers, both officer:
and men, turning to Gen. Grant, whC
stood at his right, have by their hero
ism won laurels mperiahable, there ar
still greater and more important dutle
to perform; and while we have ha'
their cooperation the field, now tha
they have returned tC civil pursuits
we need their support in our efforts t.
restore the Governments and perpetual
peace. Applause. So far as the Ex
ecutive department of the Government
is concerned, the effort has been mad
to restore the Union, toheal the breach
to pour oil into the wounds which wer
consequent upon the struggle, and It
speak in common phrase,l to prepare
as thelearned and wise physician woul
a plaster, healing in character and CO