The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-06-06
I 0t0l Correspondence.
For the Elk Advocate.
THE ISSUE OF THE HOUR.

! - NhS ana yo here all the day idle
| Is life 50 dear, or rclce so sweet us to be
! purchased at the price Of chains and ,sa
/ very "
These queries Of Patrick Henry are
to-day az pertinent as when more than
ninety years ago his cloqucnce fired the
American heart, and aided in arousiug
the people to what posterity has de-
cIar1d to be & just rebellion. BIT, taxo
ridden, stamp accurscd, and loaded with
On irredcemable and deprecated currcn.
cy, we 10 day groan beneath an opprcs-
sion hundred times greater than any
ever imposed upon the Colonies by
King George and his Parliament.
Our fortfather5 rose and threw of
that tyranny, and arc we, idly and pas
sivcly, without one effort to release our,
selves, to submit to tyranny so much
worse " Forbid Il AImiyhty coat"
Blood and treasure have been squon.
dcrcd lavishly to maintain and enforce
obedience to Constitution which is
now tramplcd undcrfoot by the very
men who bat few short months ago
were loud in its praise by men solemn.
ly sworn in the sight of God and their
fellow men to It's support Is there
one count of the Indictment set up in
the Declaration Of Independence, that
Magma ChaIta OF American liberties
that might not with equal truth be
brought by the people of these disunit-
ed States against their Congress-ago
ainst those men who.should be but the
puppets Of their will?
Disregarding.their oaths, disregard,
ing all their own solemn pledges, and
ignoring laws which they themselves
have placed ubon the statute book, us.
ing power but TO oppress, raising hope
but to destroy, God forsworn, treacbcr-
Gus and cowardly, the Congress of the
United States has forfeited by mis-
user all the rights ever given,it, and the
power to make.laws and command ODE.
dience, reverts 10 its source and where
it OF right belongs-to the people.
Trembling towards, without honor or,
manliness, shrinking from the light of
day, fearing their own shadows, and
dreading open discussion of their plans
and hopes. Congress resolved in the
first months Of the war that the war was
only prosecuted to suppress insurec-
ton and maintain the supremacy of the
the Constitution and the laws, and when
that was accamplshod ~ -~,- o,.aht -
cease. Believing this promise, the
people, when the last insurgent laid
down his arms, looked for the rainbow
Of peace to brighten the political holi.
zon, for the mechanic to return to his
tools aud the laborer to the fields.
More than two years have passed
since the last armed foe disappeared,
but the gentle influences of peace have
not yet resumed their sway. From the
fertile fields of the South come the walls
OF tamishing men, women and children,
and ten States bow beneath the iron
heel ofnfiiitary rule, and life and prop
orty are held only by the -sagcIance Of
the irresponsible, unprincipled and dcs.
Potic shoulder-strapped minions of
corrupt and vcnal Legislature.
" How long o, Lord How long ?"
From the gently springing grass, the
rustling leaves, the ripping brook, the
rolling thunder, the flashing Lightning
from each of Gods ministers and
agents, comes the answer in tones clear
and unmistakable Until the people
rise in their might aud assert their
right to HIS gifts, te life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness"
Connecticut but the other day,
fought at the ballot,box the battle of
right against might-fought boldly and |
conquered. Tho power of wealth and
the voices of demsgogHos availcd not
against minds awakened to our peril, |
and seeing the downward path which
the nation Is treading towards the prec.
iplcc which threatens the ruins of ma
tiona! unity, general and individual
prosperity, and civil and political libcr.
ty. Mechanics and operatives, threaten
ed by the loss Of employment if disobe,
dient to the commands of selfish capi.
talist5 and manufacturers, cast loving
look upon the upturned faces of wives
and oh l,lran coain,, ,oo,Lo.. =: l..