Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-06-19
WILL THE SOUTHERN STATES Sc.
CEDEI

CEDEI
In view of the oft repeated threats of
secession in case the extreme men of the
South cannot have their eyer-changing
whims gratifed, it becomes every good
citizen to look the proposition right in
the face. During the early part of the
present session of Congress, while that
body was in state of disorganization,
in consequence Of their inability to elect
Speaker, more than forty speeches were
delivered in that Hall, in which the
threat was distinctly made of disrupting
the Union on the happening of certain
contingencies. Some declared that the
election of a Republican Speaker would
be sufficient cause, and the proper occa-
sion, for dissolving the Union, while
others, pronouncing such an election a
sufficient cause, said it might possibly be
expedlent to wait little longer, while
all agreed that if the people should elect
Republican President in 1860, then
the Union of these States, and the Gov
erhment our fathers founded, should
cease to exist. Many good and patriotic
citizens feared for the consequences, and
looked forward with gloomy anticipa-
tions to the future. A Republican
Speaker was, however, elected, and the
Union still stands. Very many are re-
lieved of their fears in consequence, but
there are still thousands who fear hese
threats will be executed in the event of
the election of a Republican President;
and being ardently devoted to the Union
of the States and the Constitution of
their country, are still consulting their
convictions of the right and their fears
of the consequences of its success, to find,
if possible, a pathway of duty between
them. Thousands are convinced of the
correctness and benefcence of the Re
publican platform-believe its practical
adoption into the policy of the Govern
lnent would be for the material and So
cial advancement of the people; but fear
to carry out these convictions, least these
threats be put into execution, and the
greater evils Of Disunion, fraternal strife,
and social and material retrogression
would follow. With this feeling, origina-
ting as it does, in sentiment of patriotism,
we have no quarrel. We profoundly re-
speGt the motives of those who are so
actuated, although we believe they are
totally mistaken in the premises. Many
Of them cannot, and will not act with the
party whose leaders make these threats,
and fear to act with the Republicans, lest
these threats should be executed The
consequence is, that unless they can be
satisfied that there is no danger to the
Union they will take no part in the
impending contest, or vote for ticket
which cannot be elected and thus abjure
their own political power and practically
aid the enemies of the Union they so
much venerate.
1t seems to US, however, that careful
survey of the whole field must satisfy all
such that there is really no danger of
secession. Who will lead the hosts of
the disunionists? The men who talk so
glibly of oyerturning the Government
without decent pretext, will hesitate
before they take upon themselves the
brand of open traitors and place their
secks in jeopardy of the halter. Head
ing reble army, against the power of the
Government sustained by the still liv-
ing patriotism of the great mass of the
people, as we'll as their manifestinteres
and stimulated by no very friendly feel
ing toward those who would lay their
ruthless hands upon the beautiful struct-
ure of the sages of our country, is quite
different thing from spouting brave
words in the Senate chamber. The veri-
est fre-eaters among them would stand
appalled, in the presence of their own
terpitude were they to attempt to exc
cute their vauntings. But beside this,
the people of the South are not with
these leaders. They may not care to
breast the storm so long as it is harmless.
But let the attempt be made to sever the
ties which bind us together as one great
people, and the slumbering patriotism of
the masses, even in the South, would be
aroused -aal-L-Pfotters of treason
would be constrained to fly from the in
dignation of those whom they expected
to use for the accomplishment of their
purposes.
But how will they divide the Union?
Where shall be the line of separation?
These men seem to forget that there is
now something more than North and
South. There has come to be West,
as we'll. Orperhaps more strictly speak
ing, North-we and Southwest. And
these have become "powers in the land, "
whether nullifers and disunionists rec
egnize the fact or not These have in
terests to take care of, and the poeoer to
taks care Of tkena The mighty North
west seems to be wholly overlooked in
this little play of treason It has grown
up so quietly that its manhood seems to
be ignored, and Southern fre-eaters talk