The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-09-11


ans which had been established there
under Congressional auspices assailed
General Blair with all its brutal
strength. They refused to let him
vote because he would not swallow
their infamous test oaths, which he de-
nounced as disgrace to the civiliza-
ton of the age. They threatened his
life daily and once, while addressing
a public assemblage, he was shot at and
came within an ace of being murdered.
But nothing could tame the audacity
of his courage he said his say, and re-
asserted the right of free speech.
In war and in peace, in the halls of
Congress and upon the hustings, at
the council table and upon the battle
field, he was ever true to the constitu-
tional rights of the people. Now it is
our turn, and we the people will be
true to him. Loud applause.
But there are other considerations in
this election besides the mere personal
merits or demerits of the different eau
didates. The continued existence Of
this government life Of the ma
tion-iS at stake upen the issue. Some
of you possibly may suppose that this
is false alarm. If you really believe
that the institutions of this country are
not in very great danger, or that their
destruction would not be a very seri-
Gus calamity, of course you will disre-
gard our warning. 1t is true, howev-
er, that many judicious and sober men,
uninfiuenced by party prejudice, have
come to the deliberate conviction that
unless the ship of state is speedily put
upon her Constitutional tack, she will
be driven upon the rocks and become q
total wreck. We cannot possibly en-
dure much longer this DEVILS dance Of
discOrd, misrule and corruption.
How can the government (which is
the Constitution and laws) survive if
it remains in the hands of those who
are hostile to it? The struggle we are
now making is to save the nation alive
ont of the hands of its enemies.
Who are its friends? Who are its
enemies? ? These are questions which
can easily be settled.
For more than three quarters of a
century while the Democracy controIl-
ed our public affairs, no serious infrac-
ton of the organic law took place
none at all which they had power to
prevent. We were faithful to the Con-
stitution because we sincerely believed
it the best form Of government which
could be adopted for any people in our
situation. II was framed by the wisest
and greatest men that ever lived in all
the tide Of time, at the head Of whom
was General Washington himself, an
honor not only to his country, but 10
human nature, and man whose name
isneycr pronounced by any true patriot
without emotions Of profound respect
and reverence. They told Us in ham
guage at once sublime and simple what
were the objects for which they had es-
tabIished and ordained it. They said
it was ''to form a more perfect Union
between the several States, to estab-
lish justice, to insure domestic tran
guilty, to provide for the common de-
fence, to promote the general welfare
and to secure the blessings Of liberty to
ourselves and our pOsterity." These
great objects it has accomplished in
times past, and will accomplish again,
if its limitations be observed anI its
precepts obeyed. We owe no personal
allegiance to any man or any body of
men. Obedience to the Constitution
and laws is the test of all loyalty, and
the essence of all patriotism. The
country says to all her people what the
Founder of Christianity said to His
disciples, ''if ye love me keep my COM
mandments. -
On the other hand, our opponents
by their acts and their utterances eX-
press the profoundest contempt for that
instrument which we consider so sa-
cred. They claim the privilege Of do
ing whatever seems to be good in their
own eyes, without regard to any pro-
of the fundamental law, if it
will promote their interest or crafty
their passions, or give them an addi-
tiOnal chance to perpetuate their pow
er. They have never upon any occa-
sion treated with decent respect, a con-
stitutional objection to any of their
no matter from what quar-
ter it came Private individuals who
have attempted to argue such points
have been arrested, thrust into dun
geons and treated with a cruelty such
as no humane man would infiict upon
his beasts. The President took ground
in favor of the Constitution they an
swered him by an impeachment, and
came within one vote Of deposing him
from his office, and putting in his
place a creature of their own who
would trouble them with no cOnscien-
tious scruples. The Supreme Court
came to the rescue; they broke down
its jurisdiction, inSulted that high tri-
ounal, and trampled its just authority
under their feet.
Remember that this is not dispute
upon an abstract question of political
ethics. They have carried out their
hostility to the Constitution into the
fullest practical operation. And this
they did not merely in time of war,
when the passions engendered by the
contest might have afforded some fee
Die excuse for their conduct, but in a
lime of profound peace, when the