Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-02-01
VOLUME 40; NO s.

| 1ouiplncu WIN the nope that q reasonable
reduction will be made in our habitual an
nual expenditures, viii cheer the people on
ward in the pathway Of duty
Among the most delicate and important
obligations required Of those in official no.
sitlons is a strict and faithful management
| OF the public revenues aud expenditures of
the Commonwealth. Taxation should be
| applied where its burdens may be least felt.
and where it is most just that it should be
borne. Every resource should be carefully
husbanded, and the strictest economy prae-
| tlced, so that the credit Of the State shall be
maintained on firm aud enduring basis.
and the debt surely and steadily diminish
| ed, until It's hnal eXtinguishment. Unpec-
essary delay in this would, in my opinion,
be Incompatible with our true interests.
That these expectations are capable of
| speedy and certain cOnsummation, has al.
ready been demonstrated The public i'm
proYements, the cause of our heavy debt,
which seemed to be an incubus upon the
prosperity OF the State, so long as they were
managed by her agents have been sold; the
tax on real estate has been abolished and
considerable reductions have already been
made on the State debt
This important branch of the administra-
ton shall receive my constant and jealous
attention.
The general and essential principles of
law and liberty declared in the Constitution
Of fPennsylvania. shall be watchfllly guarded
1t will be my highest ambition to administer
the government in the true spirit of that in
strumeut. Care shall be taken "that the
laws be faithfully executed, and the deci-
sions of the courts respected and enforced.
| if within their authorized Jurisdiction. In.
| Huenced only by considerations for the
| public welfare, it is my imperative duty to
| see that justice be impartially administered.
The mercitCl provision, the pdrdonia0
power, conferred upon the Executive doubt
lessly y for correcting only the errors of crimi-
nal jurisprudence, and securing justice, shall
not be perverted TO the indiscriminate pro-
| lection ofthose who may be justly sentenced
to bear penalties for infraetions Of the laws
made for the security and protection of
society Those cruelty or Excessively"
punished, or enormously convicted, are alone
| entitled to its benefcient protection, and
only such should expect its exercise in their
behalf.
Whenever the people deem it expedient
| or necessary, from actual experience, to alter
the laws, or to amend the Constitution. il
| Is their undoubted right TO do so, according
| to the mode prescribed within itself. here
repeat, what have said elsewhere, that $50
long as the people feel that the power to
alter or change the character OF the govern
ment abldes in them, 30 long will they be
impressed with a sense of security and Of
dignity which must ever spring from the
consciousness that they hold within their
own hands remedy for every political evil
a corrective for every government abuse
and usurpation
We are confessedly in a transition state.
1t Is marvellous how prejudice has persisted
In the furnace OF war, and how from the
very ashes of old hatreds and old parties,
the truth rises purified and triumphant.
The contest between the Executive and a
Congress twice elected by substantially the
same sutfrages, a contest so anomalous in
our experience as not to have been anticipa-
ted by the trainers of the National Consti-
tuition, has only served TO develop the re-
markable energies of our people, and to
strengthen them for future conflicts. That
contest is virtually decided.
The victorious forces, physical and moral
of the patriotic millions, are simply pausing
before they perfect the work of reconstruc-
ton. Twenty six States have not only been
saved from the confagration of war, but
have been crystalized in the saving. The
unrestored ten still disafected and still de-
fant, seem to be Providentially delaying
their return to the Union, so that when
they re-enter upon its obligations and its
blessings they will be the better able to fulfil
the one and enjoy the other. Their condi-
ton is a fearful warning to men and nations
and especially TO ourselves
Until slavery fell we did not fully under
stand the value of Republican institutions.
Accustomed TO tolerate, and IN many cases
| - i lglo, 4 r. i 2.
close proximity, so far from assisting, was
gradually destroying our liberties; and it
was only when rebellion tore away the mask,
that we saw the hideous features of the
monster that was eating out the vitalS of
the Republic.
If we are now astonished and shocked at
the exhibition of cruelty and ingratitude
among those who, having inaugurated and
| prosecuted causeleSs war against a gener-
Gus government, and having been permitted
to escape the punishment they deserve, are
once more arrogantly clamGring to assume
control Of the destinies of this great nation,
how much greater cause would we have for
surprise had slavery been permitted to in
crease and multiply?
Boast as we may Of our material and our
moral victories, yet is it not true that there
is no such thing as Republican government
in the ten States that began and carried on
the war? There is not, to day, a deSpotic
State in Europe where the rights of the in
diyidual man are so defantly trampled IN
der foot, as in the sections which were sup
| posed to have been brought into full sub
mission to the Government of the United
States. But the disease has suggested its
Providential cure
The abhorrent doctrine that defeated
treason shall not only be magnanimously
pardoned, but introduced to yet stronger
| privileges, because of its guilty failure,
seems TO have been insisted upon, as if to
strengthen the better and the contrasting
doctrine, that nation, having conquered
its freedom, is its best guardian, and that
those who were defeated in honorable battle
should be constrained to submit to all the
terms of the conqueror.
The violaters Of the most solemn obllga-
tions, the perpetrators Of the most atroclous
crimes in the annals of time, the murderers
of our heroic soldiers on fields of battle, and
inlothsome dungeons and barbarous prisons,
they must not, shall not, re-appear in the
council chambers of the nation, to aid In its
legislation, or control its destinies, unless, it
| shall be on conditions which will preserve
our institutions from their baleful purposes
and influence, and secure republican forms
of government, in their purity and vigor,
in every section of she country.
That they are indisposed to accept such
conditions, is manifest from their recent and
even arrogant rejection of the proposed
amendments Of the national Constitution
amendments which are believed, by many