Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-01-24

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government to compensate them
equally and generously, with boun.
ties and pensions, for their services
and sacrifices.
| desire that it may be distinctly
understood that | do not speak OF
myself, in connection with this sub.
ject but l am happy to avail myself
of this opportunity to speak kind
words of Pennsylvania's gallant pri,
vate soldiers, and the noble officers
who commanded them.
The generosity of the people of
Pennsylvania to the Union soldiers
has been initiated, but not equaIled
by other States. There is something
peculiar in the loyalty of Pennsylva-
mia. She seemed to feel, from the
first, as if upon her devolved the set
ting of a superior example. The fact
that she carried upon her standard
the brightest jewel of the Republic,
that in her bosom was conceived and
from her commercial capital was is
sued the Declaration of independence,
gave to her contributions, in men and
money, and her unparalleled charita,
BILE organizations, all the dignity and
force of a model for others to copy.
The rebel foe seemed to feel that if
he could strike fatal blow at Penn
sylvania, he would recover all his
losses, and establish a resistless pres
tige in the old world. But thanks to
Divine Providence, and to the eudur-
Ing bravery of our citizen soldiers,
the invasion of our beloved State
sealed her more closely TO the cause
of freedom.
The result of the battle of Gettys-
burg broke the power of the rebel
lion, and though the final issue was
delayed, it was inevitable from the
date of that great event. That bat
tie rescued ali the other free States :;
and when the arch of victory was
completed by Sherman's successful
advance from the sea, so that the two
conquerors could shake hands over
the two fields that closed the war,
the soldiers of Pennsylvania were
equal sharers in the glorious consum-
nation.
No people in the worlds history
have ever been saved from so meal
culable a calamity, and no people
have ever had such cause for graft
tude towards their defenders.
And here | cannot refrain from ali
expression of regret that the Gener-
al Government has not taken any
steps to inhict the proper penalties of
the Constitution and laws upon the
leaders of those who rudely and fe-
rociously invaded the sacred soil of
our State
1t is certainly a morbid clemency,
and a censurable forbearance, which
fail to punish the greatest crimes
known TO the laws of civilized ma
tions )" and may not a hope be rea-
sonably indulged, that the Federal
authorities will cease to extend un-
merited mercy to those who inaugu-
rated the rebellion and controlled the
movements of its armies If this
be done, treason aciU be rendered
odious," and it will be distinctly pro-
claimed, Oh the pages of our future
history, that no attempt can be made
with impunity to destroy our Repub-
lican form of government
SOLDIERS ORPHANS.
And while we would remember
"the soldier who has borne the bat
tle," we must not forget his widow
and his orphan children" Among
our most solemn obligations is the
maintenance of the INDECENT widows,
and the support and education of the
orphan children, of those noble men
who fell iu defence of the Union. To
affirm that we owe a debt of graft
tude t, those who have been render
ed homeless and fatherless, by their
parents patriotic devotion to the
country, is a truth to which all man
kind will yield a ready assent and
though we cannot. call the dead to
life, it is privilege, as we'll as duty,
to take the orphan by the hand, and
be to him protector and father
Legislative appropriations have
honored the living soldiers, and en-
tombed the dead. The people, at the
ballot-box, have sought out the meri-
torious veterans, and the noble spec
tacle is now presented of the youth
| full survivors Of those who f-ll for
their country, cherished and educated
at the public expense. Even if l
were differently constituted, my Off
cial duties would constrain me vigil
lantly to guard this sacred trust But
having served in the same cause, and
been honored by the highest marks
of public favor, l pledge myself to
bear in mind the injunctions and
wishes of the people, and if possible
to increase the efficiency and multi
ply the benefits of the schools and in
stitutions, already so creditably es-
tablished, for the benefit of the or
phans of our martyred heroes
FREEDOM AND SLAVERY.
| Inc inIdludllOu vi lIedSoH, TIE
downfall of slavery, the vindication
of freedom and the complete triumph
of the government of the people, are
all so many proofs of the Divinity
that has shaped our ends" and SO
many promises of future crowned
with success if we are only true TO
our mission. Six years ago the
spectacle of four millions of slaves,
increasing steadily both their own
numbers and the pride and the mate
rial and political power of their mas
ters, presented a problem so appall-
ing, that statesmen contemplated it
with undisguised alarm, and the NOR
alist with shame. To-day these four