Year: 1863

OENTLEMEN OF LYCOMIEG - ou are
to be commended for assembling yourselves
as men opposed to the Administrations at
Harrisburg and Washington, and am
glad to contribute to your proceedings the
expression of some few earnest words.


An issue between Power and Liberty is
distinctly presented us by the policy of
our rulers, and if we stand Indifferent TO
it, or acquiesce in its decision according
to the pleasure Of those who aspire to be
our masters, what shame will be ours
what loss and injury what degradation
and eternal disgrace


BY liberty / do not mean license, but
that regulated freedom established by our
ancestors which we have enjoyed hitherto
without question, and the example of which
we have held forth proudly before other
nations as the reproof of their systems and
the glory of our own.


BY power do not mean legitimate au.
thority, but authority usurped and lawless,
pursuing its own ends over broken Con-
stitution and through the baleful flames of
civil war.


Between these-between power and lib
erty-can you hesitate in your choice !
Will you hold up balance and weigh,
doubtfully, the arguments which sustain
liberty against those which oppose it!


Necessity-Satety-are these the magical
words by which despotism is to be changed
in character and made fit for our adoption
Shall the plea Of tyrants be accepted as
our standard of public rule 4! Shall we
concede force, and justice, and wisdom, to
one Of the most impudent, false and inju
rious doctrines ever intruded into the dis
cussion of public affairs !


But there IS necessity (quite different
from that asserted on behalf of power)
which we must now admit as most evident
and urgent-o necessity TINT aDe rid our
seives Of those a0ho plead necessity as the
justsfcation of their misdeeds. Those who
cannot govern lawfully and justly are not
to govern at all, but to give place to others.
For it is monstrous to say that the iucapa
BILE and vicious shall lord it over their
fellows. The rulers who say they cannot
govern by law and according to right, stand
selfcondemned. Judged out Of their own
mouths, they are unfit for rule and should
be voted out of power.


Gentlemen; the greatest son Of New
England spent most of his life and won
his great fame in this Commonwealth.
We are proud that he became Pennsyl-
vanian and took rank in our history with
the founder of this State-with the illus
trious man who established it Gin deeds of
peace" Let US try the logic of tyranny
by the judgment of that great man. Let
us invite the apologist of arbitrary power
and advocate of of"strong government" who
fills our ears with impassoned discourse
upon public safety, and national life, and
necessity, to 60 with us to our great COM
mercial metropolis and there stand with
us beside the modest slab which marks
the resting place Of Benjamin and Debo-
rah Franklin Oh! how mean, and pitt
full, and low, and utterly false and detesta.
BILE will there sound all these apologies
for wrong-all these pretexts for stealing
away or taking away from the people, the
rights and liberties achieved for them BY
the great men Of former times We will
hear the voice of Franklin sounding in oul
ears those memorable words of wisdom
and warning which should be written W
or hung up in great letters wherever th'
people meet for consultation in times o
public danger ;-"TuosE WHO wouLI
GIVE UP ESSENTIAL LIBERTY TO PUR
CHASE LITTLE TEMPORARY SAFETY, DE
SERVE NEITHER LIBERTY NOR SAFETY l'''


Gentlemen; Your political opponent
think that patriotism should be called 10y
atty, and made to consist in unconditional
unquestioniDg devotion to an administra
ton OF the government. l believe yo'
will agree with me that this great virtue
requires no new name borrowed from th'
literature of monarchy that lis shown il
devotion to the Constitutions and laws o
the United States and of the several States
and that the true patriot regards public
officials with respect precisely proper
toned to their observance of law, justice
and right, and 10 their skill, wisdom ant
honesty in the performance of their publi'
duties.


Judge your public men fairly but freely
Let no man put paddock upon your lips
nor impose upon you any of tho false ant
pernicious sophisms of arbitrary power.


An important election approaches il