The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-07-19

blood of the noblest and best of that age,
and reared under the tutelage of the
wisest and greatest men the world has
produced, and not resolve to guard it
as the very ark of the covenant of Lib
erty?
The true lover of our form of govern
ment, is attached by the blessings it
confers, with cords of imperishable af-
fection, to its principles and institu-
tions. He needs not be told that those
who founded it, passed through the
fiery ordeal of revolution; he needs not
be reminded of the valor, the fortitude
and the self-denial of its authors he
knows it to be as nearly perfect as any
system ever devised by man, and ac-
cepts and defends it with that whole
heartedness and singleneSs of purpose
which always characterize the sincere
patriot. But there are those whom
neither the example of the men of the
Revolution, nor the advantages con-
ferred by our government, can reconcile
to it's continued existence. The spirit
of innovation stalks throughout the
land, and men fall down and worship
it as god! Its brazen image has been
set up in the Temple of Liberty and in
the very holy of holies incense is burn
ed before this strange deity. But the
icOnoclasts will come and the idol will
be broken in pieces. Let us take care,
however, that in the storm of evil pas
sions, the temple itself be not pulled
down. Let us read with profit the les
sons of history, so that ours may not be
the fate of the Amphyctionic Council,
orthe Achaian League, but that brighter
and more glorious than the splendor OF
Republican Greece, or Rome, may be
the record of the Republic of America.
Let US be true to the nature and spirit
of four government, and no Macedonian
fraud shall ever rob us of our liberties,
no Cesar cross the Rubicon Of our Re
publicanism. But it cannot be that in
the light of those historic examples af-
forded by the decay and downfall OF
the ancient Republics, we, too, shall
lapse into those fatal errors which
proved their destruction. 1t cannot be
that lust for conquest, greed of power,
the tyranny of majorities, or the turbu-
Ience of faction, viii be permitted to
add America to the catalogue ofruined
Commonwealths. History gives us an
apocalyptic glimpse of what may. be
our future. We could not, if we would,
shut our eyes and refuse to see our pos
si5Ie fate. We are compelled to look
upon it, and surely we will not delib-
erately walk into peril so vividly re-
vealed. Besides, the divine warmth of
Christian philosophy has tempered the
human heart, and we are better adapt
ed to the mild government of Repub-
lie than those who lived in the cold
light of Pagan systems and in the cheer
less gloom of idolatry. No, it is in
credible that in our case history will
"repeat itself" The beacon that warns
us of danger shines brightly upon our
pathway, and though the darkness OF
war and the chaos of domestic tumult
surround US, we will fix our eyes upon
the Constitution, in the light of an un-
shaken faith that it will bring us safely
through every difficulty,
Coward through the cave of night,
Boring with our signal light
Though the sky is glooming o'er US,
We will trust the track before u"
Yes! "We will trust the track ~ 1t was
laid by careful hands it rests upon the
imperishable rock; it was made to bear
the precious freight of a nation,-made
to bear it as well when the sweet sun
shine of peace beams upon it, as when
the sulphurous clouds of war burst ov-
er and spend their fury against it. We
need not fear the track. But, now and
then, distractions are placed upon it.
Now and then it is buried beneath the
land-slides of fanaticiSm or the scori@
of civil feuds. Now and then there is
a reckless, or unfaithful, engineer. But
the track itself remains and will con-
tinue to exist, though mountains ofer-
ror fall upon it, though the ashes and
desolation of civil CONFUSION hide it
from those of little faith. We can trust
the track, but not those who would de-
viate from it. We cannot trust those
who teach us to forsake the Constitu-
ton and seek political refuge in the
dogma of the absolute sovereignty OF