Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-08-11

stand foremost IN this breach 10 repair
or perish IN II. What true sons oi'thc
patriot sires Of l776 cannot iiatcrnizo
and "shakc hands across the bloody
chasm" IN reunion Of this kind? II
VIC Of tho South committed error in
Judgment or in policy, IN our attempt
to withdraw from tho Union of our
Fathers, was 1t not tho object, rs
solcmnly avowcd by the ablcst and
most earnest advocates Of the measure,
"to quit tho Union only to save the
principles of the Constitution p Is
tho object of preserving these princi-
pies less dear 10 us now than then ?
Did not Georgia, by unanimous vote
of her General Assembly, propose to
her sister States, during the late war,
70 settle all matters at issue between
thcm upon tho principles announced
in the Declaration of independence, for
the commcmoration of which this Con-
tennial is TO be heldY Arc we less
devoted TO these principles now than we
were then?
If the gallant soldicry Of the North
committed error either in judgment
or policy, in preventing our withdraw
al, they were doubtles equally consci-
cntious in believing that the best way
to preserve the principles of the Con
stitution, and the best interests of all
the States, was TO preserve and perpet-
uatc the Union. The great object
with them was to maintain the intcg-
rity of the country. They had no de-
sire to strike single star from the
Constitution, but, ito preserve the
Union, with all the dignity, equality
and rights of the several States unim-
paired" {" This was the solemn declar-
alton under which they bore arms.
Are these principles, therefore, less
dear to them now than they were then
The great cause of the strife being now
removed forever, as an incident rather
than object Of the result, why | again
ask, cannot all true friends Of Consti-
tutional liberty in every State cordially
unite and harmonize 10 the future for
the maintenance and preservation and
perpctuation Of the true principles OF
government SCI iorlh IN the common
Declaration Of Independence? Why
may there not be perfect accord be-
tween all such at the grand Centennial
of next yearY Be this as it may,
INSIST that we OF the south, lose what
ever else we may, shail never irom
any cause whateVer lose or forfeit our
iul snare oil the glories OF the ever
memorable fourth oil July, l,I6.-
times chahge, ana men often change
win tnem, put principles never This
Is eihihehIiy u southern day, as clearly
appears from that exposition oi the
puplIc rccorus just made IL Is irom
no ieelihg OF ihvldious boosting that
.nls hohor Is cialmeu' All the Colo
mes III tne great struggle icr the alb
solete right oil local seli.-govcrnment,
wnicn u tne seminal prinelpal oil all
our our institutions, acted wen and nobly'
nu. ~ was virginia thnt made the iirst
can ior u congress OF tne Oolonles' II
was Nor'h oarollha tnat, slngly and
alone' maze inc hrsl declaration OF
independence, IL was virginia that
irst moved tne common Declaration
IN the Congress oil Colonies Thomas
Jefferson son oil Virginia, was the
author oi that common Declaration.
IL was the "oid Dominion, too, that
furnished Washington.whosc fame
MS the world-the Commanderin-
Cblei oil the Colonial armies from a
rev days alter tho battle OF Bunker
mn TO the crowning victory of York
town. This Is only claiming our own.