The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-10-16
THINK OF II,

Who that studies the history of our
country for the last eight years, exam
ines the state of society, and has OBJ
served the progress of public events,
can deny that there has been in that
brief period of time fearful decadence
in all the elements that go to make up
the character of a great and noble peo-
pie?
a marked change has come upon Us.
We are pervaded by almost universal
public and private decentralization.
We have lost respect for law. We
have become corrupt in nearly all
things. Our legislative halls are hot
beds, in which are grown schemes for
plundering the public treasury, for
p0rations, for enriching rings of public
robbers in cities, for giving legality to
gigantic systems Of fraud, and author
izing almost every species ofbOgus en-
terprise and confidence operation. 1t is
well understood that anything can be
carried through that has money enough
in it to warrant the necessary eXpendi-
ture to meet the modest and virtuous
expectations Of the peoples represen-
tatiVeS. Their votes are always in the
market in sufficient numbers to enable
the highest bidder to control legisIa-
tion. Seats are sought in this branch
of the government on account of the
money that is to be made out of
them in this way. As in the legisla-
ture, so in every other department Of
the government where advantages can
be gained by the bribery Of public Of
ficials ; and the same susceptibility to
the charm of money can be found in
the executive and administrative
branches us in the legislative. Even
the courts, and the officers of the courts,
are subject to similar influences, and
confidence is essentially impaired in
the purity and uprightness of the adj
ministration ofjustice. Going down
into business circles, fraud and siWnd-
ling, defalcation and stealing, prevail
TO an astounding extent. And in pri-
vate life, secret vice, and open and
shameless depravity. are fostering each
other, and making fearful strides to-
wards introducing universal debauCh
cry, and destroying the last hope of
society-the purity and sanctity Of the
home circle.
These things exist to an extent and
in rankness that no pen can describe.
They have grown rapidly. They are
still growing and as never before.
What has brought this great moral
ruin upon us?
Beyond all doubt, the Jacobin par
ty!
1t has debauched the public mind,
and spread infdelity and lawlessness-
throughout the whole land.
1t denounced the Bible, because it
was shareholders Bible!
1t defied the Constitution, because it
was shareholders Constitution
1t trampled on the laws, because
they were shareholders laws!
1t severed the bands of the Union,
because it was a Union with slave
holders!
1t set on foot armed invasions of
States, because they were sIaveholding
States!
Itliccnsed stealing, robbery and mur-
der, because the victims were slave
holders
1t permitted the most brutal Outrages
upon the persons of delicate, refined,
and high-bred females, because they
were the wives and daughters ofslave-
holders
1t has administered the Government
"outside of the Constitution, to in
suit, degrade and oppress slavehold
ers, enrich themselves upon what they
are robbing from a tax. ridden people,
and perpetuate their political power!
1t has prostituted the Northern pull
pit to the preaching of politics, and
the denunciation of Shareholders
1t has turned congregations of pre-
tended religious worshippers into Jaco-
bin clubs, where the voting of the Rad
zeal ticket has been the only test of
orthodoxy and fellowship, and any de-
gree ofmoral pollution is overlooked,
if this one great essential be not lack
ing
1t has earonized JOHN BROWN, the