The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-09-11
VOL. 64.--WH0LE No. 5,459.

to forbid any decision at all. The un-
fortunate individual, guilty of nocrime
who had fled to that sanctuary as his
last refuge and laid his hands upon the
horns Of the altar, was dragged away
and handed back again to the "slave
power of his oppressors to be impris-
| oned, scourged or killed if they should
think proper. Thus they prevented
the judicial exposure of one outrage by
committing another, still more afro
ciOus.
Ifthe majority in Congress has ha-
bitually legislated in willful and cor
rupt disregard of the constitutional OBJ
legations what ought to be the popular
judgment upon them? What should
be the verdict upon candidate for the
Vice Presidency who has been the
speaker and organ of such a Congress?
What should be your decision upon q
candidate for the Presidency who hav-
ing ''ja0 31oticy' of his own, consents to
become a mere instrument in their
hands?
All political philosophers, and all
men Of common sense concur in the
belief that public virtue is the only Sc
cure foundation upon which a govern
ment like ours can rest. How long can
public virtues survive among men who
dc not recognize the duty of obedience
to that fundamental law which is the
only protection we have for the rights
of life, liberty or property?
Congress must be sadly demoraliZed
already. OF course you will not be-
lieve without evidence. that they vote
on money bills as they vote on consti-
tutional questions, according to their
interests and not according to their pub
lie duty. But lift were proved to your
entire satisfaction that they represent
their own breeches pockets with far
greater fidelity than they defend the
rights Oftbe Taxpayers, it would not
excite your surprise or lower them
much i'll your estimation. They cannot
commit any higher crime than that of
betraying the liberties for which our
fOrefathers suffered and died. If they
have done that you may say to them
what OthellO said to the man who had
slandered his wife
'Neyer pray more abandon all remorse;
On horrors head horrors accumulate;
For nothing eanst tbOl to damnaton add
Deeper thar that"
But look little further and see the
horrible effect of their example Con-
gress has taken control of the execu-
tive branch. The Senate usurps the
power Of removal from Office and for
bids IFS exercise by the President-they
are masters of the administration and
command the army of Office holders
Of course the subordinates are ready to
adopt the code of morality which their
masters act upon. All dishonest Off
GERS may say to Senators and represen-
tatives ''You are bound to protect us;
we are not faithful to the public,
but we are as true as you are to the
party and ourselves ; you sW0re to sup
port the Constitution and we sWofe to
perform our duties with fidelity; our
oath is not stronger than yours; if you
can sWindle the nation out of her liber-
ties what shall hinder us from cheat
ing the treasury? Aye, the lesson you
have taught US we will learn, and it
shall go hard but we will better the in
structions."
The consequence is that we have the
most corrupt government on the face
Of the earth. | can not speak with per-
feet accuracy, but ! believe | am with
in reasonable bounds when 1 tell you
that a thousand millions would not
cover the frauds committed since the
close of the war. We have the heavi-
est debt that the industry Of any peo-
pie ever struggled under without being
totally crushed, and it is increasing in
stead of being diminished. We are
taxed enough to keep the government
running and to pay off the whole debt
in ten years, if the money were honest
ly applied. But One-half the internal
revenue imposed by the federal gov
ernment, and collected from the pe0-
pie is stolen before it reaches the treas
ury, and the other half is squandered
ed by Congress in schemes Of the most
eXtraVagant corruption. Before the
war our current expenses We're less
than SeGeqty,15Ue millions of dollars now
they are nearly four hundred millions,
besides the interest on the national
debt and without counting what's sto-
len Ia traaSitu. The financial difference
between Democratic rule and Radical
naisrule is certainly worth your serious
attention.
This is the necessary result of the
radical system. 1t cannot be otherwise
as long as they remain in power. No
evil tree can bring forth good fruit.
If you cease to be governed by law and
allow yourselves to be held down by
mere brute force you must pay for it.
Tyranny isalWays expensive. The price
OF your own enslavement will be pro-
pOrtioned to the cruelty of the va5sal-
age. Congress keeps up an army, a ma
Wy, freedman'S bureau, and other
machinery of deSpOtisin, and makes US
pay hundreds of millions for them in
order to maintain in the South, law
less domination of negroes, scalawags,
and carpet baggers. BY this means
they hope not only to control the South
but to do Whakthey please in the North
to rule us for their pleasure and plum
der us for their profit.
The most hideOus shape that tyranny
ever puts on is that of a corrupt Oligar-
clly, where the forms of q free govern
ment are coupled with substantial des-
potism, where the rights of the people
are acknowledged in theory, while
they are practically trodden under foot
where there is written Constitution
which the rulers swear to preserve
without keeping their oaths. Rather
than see General Grant elected Presi-
dent with the understanding that he is
to administer the government on the
congressional plan of disregarding all
constitutional obligations it would be
far better to let him or somebody else
be proclaimed absolute dictator and "a
bolish the Constitution at once. For
myself, if | must choose between the
two most frightful evils that ever
scourged the human race, | will with
out hesitation, take an unlimited mon
archy, in preference to rotten repub-
lie.
But we are not reduced to that al
tentative. We will save our institu-
tions by putting an end to the power
which threatens their overthrow. This
mighty and puisant nation is already
'rousing herself like a strong man af-
ter sleep and shaking her invincible