VOL I'.VIE .17. NEW SERIES. THE BEDFORD GAZETTE X PUCLISUED EVEIIY FRIDAY MORNING BY BY It. F. YIEYEUS, At the following terms, towit: $1.50 per annum, CASH, in advance. $2.60 " if paid within the year. $2.50 " " if not paid within the year subscription taken for less than six months paper discontinued until all arrearages ar< naid, unless at the option of the publisher, it hai seen decided by theUmted States Courts 4 tha: tb< stoppage of a newspaper without trie payment ot are Tearages, is prima facie- evidence oi fraud and is i criminal offence. courts have decided that persons are ac countable for the subscription price of newspapers if they take them from the post office,whether 'hey subscribe for them, or not. HATES CF CHARGES FOR ADVER TISINQ. Transient advertisements will be inserted at the rate of SI.OO per square of ten lines for three inser tions, or less, but for every subsequent insertion, 25 cents per square will be charged in addition l'able and figure work double price. Auditor's notices ten lines and under, SI.OO ; upwards often lines and under fifteen $1.50. Liberal reductions made to persons advertising by the year. EQUAL RIGHTS. From the Somerset Democrat. MESSRS. EDITORS. — With your permission, .he writer of this will start out by saving that he always has been, and ever shall be, a devoted friend and a zealous supporter of tne Constitu tion and the Union of these States—that he is what is generally denominated a wlyte man ; and without intending the least disparagement to our adopted citizens, "native and'to the man. or born"—and that the dearest ties that bind bim to the North are identified with it, and more especially with the good old State of Pennsyl vanis. He has nothing to ask in the shape of political favors, nor does he expect to receive any reward for services rendered in the past or to be rendered in the future—and nothing influ ences him in his devotion to our common COUG try, but a spirit of patriotism which is as pure as it is loya! and just. With this preface, which it is hoped will not be considered in the slightest degree as egotisti cal, let me ask, have we any Secessionists tn our town or county—that is, men who approve and justify the recent dismemberment of"the Union, and who are likewise willing and ready to profler and render aid to the so-styled "Sou thern Confederacy ?" You are, no doubt, very well aware, that this chaige of secessionism has been daily preferred against a number of our most worthy citizens, both directly and indi rectly. Inuendoes are thrown out —the most despicable of all other modes of accusation—that such and such an individual is in league with the South, and a traitor to the Union. These assertions and inuendoes are made on the mer est pretext, without even the shadow of justifi cation, intermingled with curses and threats, disgraceful in themselves and to their authors, and discreditable to the community in which we live, and are wholly directed against indi viduals who have heretofore been members of the Democratic party. In r.ot a single instance has any other kind ofa partizan been thus stig matized. If there is treason here, it is charged upon Democrats, and upon them alone. Why this is so, let the public determine. If there is a mystery in it, it is the most mysterious thing on record. But we opine there is no mystery about it at all. It is but the malignancy of par ty prejudice—the petty malice of political ene mies, and constitutes the worst and basest pas sions of sectional partizanship. For being thus accused some ol our most respectable citizens have been held up to ridicule ; have been threat ened with a coat of "tar and leathers," and e ven with (lie gibbet itself. Now, we ask, "Can such things be, And overcome us like a summer cloud, Without our special wonder 7" And by whom are these threats made ? Why, by the very men, of all others whatever may be their love for the Union who blaster and boast the most, and who have not the moral courage to face the common enemy ; who will never seek the "bubble reputation at the can non's mouth," and who, while they possesses the boldness of the lion, they lack the bravery ola sheep. But such chaiges are not to be be lieved—they have not even the semblance ol truth—because it is unnatural in itself (hat men of the North would war against their own homes and firesides; ami when we hear accu sations of this nature imputed to them by so niany, we are almost led to imagine that pan demonium has been evacuated—that "Hell is empty, And all the devils are here Now, (or my part, Messrs Editors, and it is ottered in the proloundest sincerity, Ido not believe that there is a solitary Secessionist, ot Disunion man, resident within the limits of the county of Somerset. I know the people of this region too well ; have too high an appreciation of them as a whole, and have too much confl lence in their patriotism and in their fidelity vo the Union to suspect, even for an instant, ihat we have traitors in our midst. All men are entitled to their opinions, and they must be permitted to enjoy them. My own sympa thies heretofore have been with the South, and - f am not ashamed, or afraid, to make the ac- But the aspect of things has een changed, (loveinment property has been seized—tbe flag of the nation has been train pled in the dust, and hostilities have been com menced by the seceded States.—That the South -'.as been unjustly dealt with—that her consti 'utional rights have, to a considerable extent, tieen disregarded and trampled under foot, and that she has not been allowed that equality to which she was entitled, I know—and to which every honest and candid man must acknowl edge. That this lias been the case, is most de. 1 rue to the letter, and so plain to the comprehension ot every one, that the "way-fa •mg man, though a fool," must have been cog nizant of it. By what process it was effected, ©cbfuri) (ft alette. and by whom, it is not my purpose here to in quire. We have enough to do now, every mat of us, to stand by the flag of our country an( to "keep step to the music of the Union," with out taking up our time in discanting on" part) politics. Freedom of opinion in all things i: the corner-stone of our political fabric. It wai asserted and gloriously maintained bv our fore fathers in the war of the Revolution"; and sub' sequently, when the Elder Adams sought tc muzzle the Press, it was vindicated in Selec tion ol Thomas Jefferson to the Presidency.— And is it again to be nullified, and, perhaps abrogated, under the rule of Abraham Lincoln ' Are his political parasites, the blusterers, the the sycophants, the self-esteemed bullies, and the place hunters, par-excellence, who cringe and fawn like very spaniels at the feet of the ' powers that be I '—to hang Democrats for the mere expression of opinion in regard to whai has caused the present deplorable state of affairs! Are they to be constituted our dictators as tc what we shall think and what we shall utter ] Are they to control our consciences, mould oui opinions, and make us lick the tod that smites us.' Let me tell such of them as contemplate any tlung of this sort, that they had better try it on first. \o power under this government can make slaves of white men ; and when the time does come, if ever it should, when the liberties of this country are destroyed, and such a spe cies ot tyranny permanently established, may it be sunk deeper in the fathomless ocean than plummet ever sounded. 1 fie author of this, as you verv well know, did not aid in bringing the present federal dy nasty into power. He thanks his God that he opposed the election of Abraham Lincoln. No blow ol that kind did he evei strike against the perpetuity of the rich inheritance o°f our fore fathers. And whatever may be the final result, it cinnot in truth be said of the Democratic par ly that it, in any way, produced the rebellion that now exists South ot Alison's Dixon's line. Although no imputation, like unto this, can, in justice, be laid at the door of the Democ racy of the country, still it is the duty of every one, without regard to political antecedents, to stand boldly up in these troublous and perilous tunes, and render that aid to the Government which will crush out the spirit of rebellion, protect the government property, and perpetu ate the American Union. But let us discoun tenance, one and all, that spirit of malignity which basely seeks to stigmatize and defame those of our people who entertain sentiments, not of hostility to the Union, but who may have expressed tvrawrtbv for our Southern hreih..- n under the present peculiar condition of things. Let us know no North, nor no South, but rally is one man in deience ol the stars and stripes, protect the government, and thus help to work aut our "manifest destiny." In conclusion, Jet me say, that what is here written has not been engendered by anv spirit af ill-will. I have "nothing extenuated, nor set down aught in malice." What has b,en uttered has been done more with a view to curb the insolence and impetuosity of a pack of braggadociasanci busy-bodies, than for any other purpose. If it shall produce a good effect, the object for which it is written will be gained. If otherwise, it will be time fruitlessly spent in an endeavor to correct an evil. A fictitious signature is herewith appended, having no de sire at present to appear in the public prints over my own name ; but if any one shall feel aggrieved at anything contained in this article, you are at perfect liberty to make known its author. JEFFERSON. From the Philadelphia Inquirer (Republican.) THE GREAT OUTRAGE OF THE DAY. Nothing short ot a judicial investigation will appease the righteous indignation of the people against the parties engaged in defrauding the State, and plundering tfie soldieis by imposing upon them the n.ost worthless supplies. This is due alike to the brave men who have "one aut to fight our battles, to the honest merchants who have been compromised, to the people ol he Commonwealth, and to the United States, is the Geneial Government will be called up an ultimately to foot some of the bills. No man ol ordinary intelligence, who makes a critical examination of Ciovernor CURTIN'S exhibit ot the disbursement of the military fund of the State, can fail to detect on almost every page such evidences of jobbery and malfeasance as lawyers are accustomed to style "badges of fraud." The prices are exorbitant; some bills are so made out as to conceal instead ot to ex hioit the particulars of the purchase ; petty bills are certified and sworn to with great formality, while large ones are hurried through thel ac rounting offices, and paid upon '.he bare cer'ifi :afe of irresponsible and inexpeit agents ; mid llemea are resorted to, and a large proportion at the supplies of clothing would disgrace the :ommon jails of the country as clothing for (el ans. We merely recapitulate these points here, is they hate been already referred to at length. Tbe parlies w ho seem to have surrounded the military fund of the State in close column, will -emind a naturalist of a gigantic mollusc with unbounded stomach for absorption, ar.d with entaculse extended in all dir-ctions, and rap-d -y revolving in search of prey. The disclosure vould be humiliating at any time; but when ve reflect that all this extortion, imposition and ibuse have been practised not only upon the state, but upon the gallant men who have led heir workshops, their business, their families ind their homes, to fight the battles of the U lion, it is calculated to excite, as it has excited, i feeling of intense indignation and disgust. Among the many inquiries that have been ;ent to this office on the subject, is one which isks whether the soldier is really victimized, a veil as the State. We answer yes. Upon lim the imposition, or plunder, or whatever il nay be justly called, is direct. His clothing is. virtually, a part of his pay. For each year ol ;ervice he is allowed a specified nutr ber of gar ments; and if these, whether from ill usage o; j bad quality, are unsufficient, he must buy othi ■ out of the small pittance he is paid in cash.- I Thus, he is entitled in his first year to two caf two coats, three pairs of trowsers, four pairs t shoes, &c. A pair of trowsers is, therefore, e: pected to give an average wear of four months and a pair of shoes to last three months—ant the excellent work turned out by the Genera Government is fully equal to this service. Bu if the soldiers are fuinished with miserable a pologies for shoes and trowsers, such as havt been sent from Jamp Scott to this office, whict Went all to pieces in two days' wear, the sup ply of clothing for a year would last but liltlt more than a week. In such case, the soldier n Compelled to draw for further clothing out oi his pay, and if the additional supplies are uc better than the first, it is easy to calculate how soon his eleven dollars a month will be exhaus ted, and his body left in rags. From this, the dullest mind can perceive how emphatically true is the statement, that this wretched busi ness is direct plunder of the soldier. We repeat that the manner in which these supplies have been furnished, their quality and price, and the extraordinary agencies which have been brought into requisition, must be ju dicially examined. The meeting of the Leg islature is too far off, and besides that body Is itself corrupt frorr. center to circumfereuce. I here is business here for grand juries and dis trict attorneys not alone of the State but of the United Sta'es, for Governor CURTIN informs the Legislature that "the accounts of the Com missary Department of this State will be mainly reimbursed by the United States." We urge it upon the attention of the grand inquest of the county and General Gov ernment. While there lemainsa spark of the patriotism now burning so brightly througoout the Free Slates such a gross wrong should not go unpunished. A SCREW LOUSE IN THE COM MISS l- RIAT- The session iu the House of Representatives on Friday was prolonged until a late hour in the afternoon, debating a resolution of inquiry offered by Mr. Williams. It is alleged that the appropriation of §500,000, made by the Legis lature to arm and equip the military and place the State on a war footing, has been expended every dollar of it—and it is but right that those who voted for the appropriation, as well as the tax-payers, should know #hat has be come ot the money. No' having been present during the debate we are unable to say how far *♦ niao sorrt(k/4 it. .1 :* ... ingly warm, and strong insinuations were made that money had been used for purposes not con templated by the act, and that the State was "bleeding" tor the benefit of speculators. That there is some foundation for these rumors may be inferred from the following received from Camp Curtin : " Can any one interested in furnishing the blankets for the volunteers give the cause of the original blankets being cut in two ; for we are freezing, with only a half blanket to shield us from the cold and damp." SOLDIER. The Legislature has ordered an investigation and we hope they will find out the actual price of half a Mackinaw or Indian blanket. At a time like this, when the patriotic peo ple of Pennsylvania are ready to pour out their blood and treasure like water to support the Government, it will not do to trifle with them. The tax payers of Pennsylvania we believe are willing to be taxed to the last cent lo prove to the world that Republican Government is not a failure, but they will not coolly submit to men enriching themselves by their patriotism. We hope that all through whose hands any of the $500,000 have passed will be able to prove a clean record. If not, it will be all the worse for them .—lJarrisburg Union. THE DEMOCRATIC ELEMENT JN THE ARMY. —The New York Express, in reply to the Tri bune says, that so strong is the New Yoik city Democratic and Whig element of the army now in and about Washington, that if an elec tion were to occur here to-daij, the very absence of Democratic voters would probably throw the city into Republican hands though the Demo crats and Union men have here 30,000 major ity. The enlistments of anti-Republicans in the following Regiments in Washington, are from 80 to 90 per cent, viz : The New York 7th. The New York 71st. The New York 69th. The New York sth. The New York Bth. The New York 13th. The New York sth. The New York 69th, is said to have in it but ten men that voted for Lincoln ! if it be "treason" to say that such men volunteer to uphold the Union and the Flag, in the ratio of four to one Republican, make the most of it, Mr. Tribune—for such treason we shall repeat and repeat at will, as facts justify us —because it demonstrates that when Union Whigs and Democrats proclaimed, "THE UNION, THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS," they were ready to die, even, to up hold their Proclamation, —and were"lJnion Savers" in earnest. Far be it from us, though,—even with such great facts before us to maintain our assertion, that though 80 per cent, of the men in the army are opposed to Lincoln, —to say* all Re publicanism is without patriotism. We give the Tribune ihe full benefit of its statement,that. St. Lawrence, .Monroe, Jefferson, Onondaga, Oneida; and other strongly Republican counties, have contributed largely to swell the ranks ol volunteers ; and,though their men are mainl}- in camp at Elmira and elsewhere, that is not their fault. The rafio of Democrats, we hear, however is large, very large, even in these counties The interior Regiments that have passer throdgh hepe, such as Col. Pratt's, were threi Democrats to one Republican. Freedom (Thought and Opinion. BEDFORD, PA., FMY MORNING, MAY 31,1861, From the Journal of Commerce. HAVE WE A CONSTITUTION ? The patriotic uprising oi the people in defence of the Constitution, and the dag which symbol izes it, very naturally turns one's thoughts to the sacred instrument for which the whole North (at least) now manifests so much interest; and if I mistake not the meaning of the very Constitution which we all so much value, it is at present in great danger of being sacrificed in the house of its friends. What are its most im eortanl provisions and safeguards? We read the Bth article as follows : " The Congress shall have power * * * to peclare war ; * * * to raise and support ar jnies ; * * * to provide and maintain a navy ; I * * * to provide lor calling forth the militia, to execute the laws of the Union, suppress in surrection, and -epel invasions." All this, be it remembered *' the Congress," lti do, —and no other power under the Con stitution is authorized to do it. The president aa> no more authority "to raise and sup ooit armies".—" to provide and maintain ana .•v ' —or to call forth the militia in any other wiy except as the Congress has previously by aw provided,—thau has the Chief Justice of he Supreme Court ot the United States, the 'rtiident of the Senate or the Speaker of the loise of Representatives, or the Mayor of the Cttj of New York. But what have we seen vitjin the last thirty days? 1 say nothing of tfeoriginal call by the President lor the militia •f ;he different States, to "Suppress insurrec <33," which is predicated on the Acts of 1795, —; Act which in its very terms limits the sefice to " the expiration of thirty days after the commencement ol the theo next session of Congress." But what 1 pariicularly refer to he*, is the proclamation of the President, for a miliary force not to serve pursuant to the Act of 79 = f till the 3d of August next, which will bethirty days after the next meeting of Con gis, but for "three years," unless sooner dis charged. More than that, he also by proclama tioi adds several regiments of regulars to the exuting army of the United States. In other words, the President has undertaken, without thtshaduw ol constitutional authority, " to raise am support armies," —when the language of the Constitution confines that power to Congress the Representatives ot the people,and the States. More tjian this, he is providing by purchase an immense navy, beyond anything that Congress ever thought ol ; when the Constitution which he is sworu to preserve, protect and defend, confides the power " to provide and maintain a " - ~- e> *<• C/VJWJT only. The expenditures Irom the public treasury lor the new army and new navy, called forth on the executive proclamation, are beyond any thing ever before known under the government; every dollar of which is taken Irom the treasu ry without any previous appropriation by law. What then becomes of that other fundamental provision of the Constitution which declares, that