The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-09-16
VOL. 65.--WHOLE No. 5,5O7.

c0ncen, fateQ all his powers IN her ue-
velopment, to him who has by these
acts proved his capacity to successful
ly manage and control his own busi-
ness, to him who has by his business
intellect, his upright department, his
spotless character and his deeds of
charity, won the highest grade among
his fellow men-to Asa Packer, tie
successful business man, as the man
whom Pennsylvania now needs to
| Danish corruption, to pay her debt, re-
store her credit and develop her re-
sources. Immense Applause)
With unseemly haste Governor Gea-
| ry transmitted to the legislature the
resolutions Of Congress proposing the
Fifteenth Amendment, and in doing
| so he declares, 81 cordially approve
| this action of the National Congress
and unhesitatingly recommend the
| prompt ratification of the same by the
| Legislature"
He thus initiates the gross wrong
that has been perpetrated upon the
people of the State. Sworn to support
constitution which emphatically de-
clares that the right of suffrage shall
vest in one class of citizens to the ex-
| clusion of all others, he recommends
the destruction of that rule and the
substitution of another without the
authority of the people and in viola
tion of their right to pass upon it at-the
polls.
In obedience to his command the
legislature with equally unseemly
haste passed upon the question of the
ratification of the Amendment and at
tempted to fasten the people in
favor of its adoption. / shall not pre-
tend to discuss the abstract question in
volved in the Amendment, but shall
endeavor to show how gross wrong
has been perpetrated upon their con-
stituents by the Legislature and the
| Executive.
The express will of the people,
moulded in the organic law of the Com
vention Of 1898, ana adopted by the
people, was against the ratification,
and their right to be heard before their
verdict was reserved, was as clear
as was their a right to pass upon the
question originally. 1t has not enter
ed into the canvass in the election of a
single member or senator, and nearly
all of those who voted for its adoption
in 1869, voted against an amendment
of the same character in 1868, known
as the Hickman resolution. So deter
mined were they in their refusal to
permit the voice of the people to be
J heard, that in the Senate, on the 11th
of March, the Radicals, by stict party
vote, refused to postpone the question
for two weeks in order that an oppor-
tunity might be had for the people to
be heard by petition and remonstrance
on the subject. Never before was the
right of petition denied iD a Pennsyl-
vania Senate. In the same body reso-
lutions providing for the preparation
| of bill to submit the question of rat
iication of the amendment to the peo-
pie at the polls in October, and to post
pone action until the result was ascer-
tanned, was also voted down by the
. Radicals, every man of them voting
against submitting the question to the
r people. In the House the same propo-
sition was submitted and there, too,
the Radical refused by strict party
l vote, to submit the question to vote
e of the people. The resolution ratify-
l ing the amendment was then adopted,
, in both branches by the votes of
Radical members, and senators, and
t we appeal from them to you. The
: question tor you to determine is,
t aoas it yoor right TO pass upon so pitat q
change as this, or a0W you be bound iUithr
e out yo,tr consent or opportunity 10 So
: press yolY dissent The sentiment of
= the people of the State is unmistaka-
0 bly, against the ratification of the a
: mendment. Yet Radical orators ar
e que that the question is settled and
| cannot be re-opened, and that there
e fore, you should not punish them for
t their violation of duty. The principal
n of local government is violated by
/ the servants of the people, who declare
s themselves their masters. The inner
: ent powers of the people to determine
It for themselves their rule of suffrage
:. and to adopt or reject their organic
n laws, is denied and trampled upon
q and they are deliberately told they are
; without remedy and that their faitf..
l. less agents should be again employed,
5 Can impudence further go? The right
: of appeal exists, and adheres in equity
s and Justice. The forms of our consti
e tuition, and ndsovereignty ofthe people, as
l. we'll as the powerful voice of our great
y State, when deliberately announced
II through the ballot, will demonstrate
y to the petty tyrants, who would thus
? deprive us of our dearest rights, thai
IS fraud and chicanery upon four million:
L of people will not win, and that thu
l. voice of Pennsylvania, the keystone
81 of the Federal arch Is not for but a
u gainst the ratification of the Fifteenth
r. Amendment Great applause.
e -z~~~-z~zz-<-nu4~~-~m~@m
e You will never convince man o
y ordinary sense by overbearing his un