The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-10-16
THE AMERICAN coxsr1rUr1ox.

the battle-fields OF the Revolution, an
nounced the adoption ofof orm of gov
ernment, and the formation of a Con-
stitution, under which the several
States could live in Union and har-
mony, but under which they all re-
! tanned their sovereignty.
Eighty-one years ago to-day the hal
lelujaha of three millions of freemen
went up to Heaven, and their rejoic-
/ ings signalled the birth of a new mem
Der into the family Of nations-told of
/ the Inauguration Of the American Re
public, Republic destined to be great
/ er in its power and might than the
/ greatest empires of ancient or modern
| times.
Our retrospective thoughts on this
day spread out before our wandering
I eyes scenes of uRexampled magnif-
/ cenee.
1t is with wonder and admiration we
contemplate the grandeur of our Re
/ publican systern uf Government, and
the wisdom which led to the fOrma-
tion of that great charter of freedom
/ the AMERICAN CONSTITUTION.
Searching through the record pages
of all history, we find the greater part
of governments the deformed offspring
/ of force and fear, unworthy the c0nsid-
/ Grafton of an American. But there are
/ those which claim a higher regard.
! The greatest establishments which his
/ tory boasts were those of Sparta, of
I Athens, and of Rome. So conceited
were these peoples in the enjoyment Of
their supposed liberties that they con-
ceived themselves far above the rest of
the human race, which they designa-
ted with the degrading title of barbara
ans. But in all their pride and pomp
OF liberty, did they furnish such an eX-
hibition to the astonished world, as
we to-day contemplate?
The far famed establishment of LY-
| curgus Was introduced by deception
and fraud. Under the specious pre-
tense of consulting the oracle concern
ing his laws, he induced the Spartans to
make temporary experiment ofthem,
and to swear they would suffer no al
ternation until his return.-Taking an
advantage of their scrupulOus regard
for their oaths, he prevented his return
by a voluntary death, thus seeking to
secure a proud Immortality to his sys-
TEN.
Even Scion, so far from considering
himself as employed only to recon-
mend such regulations as might seem
necessary to promote the welfare of the
Athenian commonwealth, made and
promulgated his laws with all the
naughty airs of despotic power, and he
Was afterwards frequently found boast
ing of his iiberality because he did not
establish a disposition in his own IA
vOr, and reduce his equals to the hu-
initiating condition of his slaves.
And so with Numa. His institu-
tions were not submitted to the free
investigation and judgment of Rome,
but We're received in special communi-
cations from the goddess Egeria, and
imposed upon the easy faith of the
people as the dictates Of an inspiration
that was divine.
Such was the origin Of the most
splendid establishments that had been
hitherto known, and such were the
arts by which they were introduced
and made successful.
How different with the American
Constitution. Delegates were appoint
ed to deliberate and propose. The re-
suit of their deliberations was submit
ted to the people, who criticised it in
the fullest, freest and severest manner
1t was discussed by individuals, by
public bodies, and by the press-by its
enemies and by its friends. The voices
OF nearly all were in its favor, and
State after State fell into line, ratify-
ing, almost unanimously, the Constitu-
tion of that Republic which has shone
brightest among all in the constella-
tion of nations.
For more than half a century,
through peace and war, through sun
shine and shadow, through day and
through night, under the benign infiu-
ence of the grand old Democracy, that
Constitution has been the Iife-light of
the Republic-our guiding star 10 peace,
happiness and Union.
But there came change.
The Constitution of our forefathers,
the great a merican charter of liberty
and bond of Union, found its enemies
in traitorous mob of fanatics, who
Burned ID :
Spdt upon it
TrampIed ii a01deF foot!
Tore it Ia Slreds at pit5lic meetings!
And pronounced IL q cOUsaaat aoiM
death and an agreement 10ith he'll!
These traitors and fanatics were put
in the high places of power, and they
have brought our great government to
the verge of destruction, and left but
little remaining Of the old Constitution
We may look about us this anniver-
sary and see the ruin Radicalism has
accomplished.
We can see our blessed America, as
it was in years agone, safely guided by
the Constitution and the Democracy in