Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1860-12-13
Before and After the Election.


pie pages, from the views and opinions of the
worlds greatest statesmen and philosophers,
and at the same time to so apply our aceu.
mulated wisdom as to steer clear OF tbt ir
vice. folly, and wickedness. To inform him.
self on all the great national questions of the
day should be the duty Of every American
citizen. And while we are thus re. re.counting
the past. it may be well enough to call TO the
remembrance of our readers some of the
events and peculiarities of the last President
tial contest
When The great parties of she country had
met and each had selected is standard bear
er foy the contest, it was declared evrywhere
by the best men iE tie ccnntry, that there
was secession, a disunian party in the
South, and that 1hn c. B.eckin ridge was
the chosen leader and candidate If that par
ty. The people of the North, or a respecta.
BILE number Of them, refused to believe this
great truth, and under the sacred name of
Democracy voted for Mr.. Breckinri lge. thus
not wilfully, we charitably hope, aiding to
strengthen the secession sentiment, and to
give aid and comfort to class of men who
have became absorbed on the question of
nigger as to lose all their love for the Union
Of the States, their reverence for the name of
Washington, jeff srson, Madison, Henry, Ma
son, and all the glories of the Revolutionary
struggle.
Whom the gods would destroy they first
make mad, is as applicable to the Secession-
lists now, as when it was first written. For
years they have been tampered to, by our
Northern politicians and place seekers SO
that they have become perfectly wilful, and
as incorrigible as petted, spoiled child.
In the last campaign tae cry of these men
was disunion, in the event of the election of
Abraham Lincoln. The free working men
of the North, determined, however, to vote
as they pleased, bidding defiance to the
threats of the Democratic Union DISCOVERS
of the South. Abe Lincoln was, therefore,
elected-elected constitutionallv. The lead-
ers of the Democratic party in the North de-
MED that their party or any ortion uf it was
in favor of secession or Gisunion. They were
loyal to the Constitution and denied that
they were in any respect pro slavery par
ty. Now what are the facts and develop
ments since the election? First, that there
was, an is, q secession party in the South,
that John c. Breckenridge as the candidate
of that party, really and truly. and that all
the prominent Democratic U. S. Senators
from the South, and all the Democratic lead
es in the same section of the Union are this
day aiding secession, and doing all in their
power to sow diseord and hasten the disso.
luton of this goriou confederacy. Even
President Buchanan in his last message,
weak and pueriIe as it is, has winked at the
almost open treason of these men, and thus
proved to the world that he too is in the pow
er Of the South, and too weak in the knees to
maintain the Constitution and to vigorously
enforce the laws of the country. How be
gets over, or evades his oath of off ee is a
mystery to us-all mysieryl The President
in face of the facts of the history, attempts
to cast the whole blame upon the Northern
freemen who love Justice, Mercy and Lib
erty by showing that the North is guilty Of
Numerous aggressions upon The South, and
hence the trouble. lie is sustained, we say
it to their shame by nearly all the Democrat
ic papers in the North, in these foolish and
better. They do know better, but they have
not the manhood or moral courage to confess
it. Who repealed ths Missouri Compromise?
And prior to this act did not Democratic
South Carolina under Jackson's admiuistra-
tion attempt to 60 cut of the Union ?
What we said before the election we say
now, that the Republican party is in favor
Of. the Union. the Constitution and the en-
forcement of the lave. 1t guarantees to the
Southern States every right and all their
rights under the Constitution, and nothing
more; that the Republican party is the only
party that can save this Union," and that
the Democratic parsyis tn only party that
OFSI dhOuptCu w uissUlto tIl0 OulOD, ana
that party is really guilty of all the agi, alton
On the Slavery question, that they have ours
ed the country with t,eir free trade policy,
and are. therefore, guilty in the first degree
for all the hard times. as well as for the
gloom that now appears to darken our po-
liticai horizon. Ii has baeu a slam for the
last twenty-five years tie cheat, however,
has become go apparent az to render the par
iy harmless, save, perhaps the power to
howl disunion, and her.by frigbten timid
d women and such DuEgh-face papers a.
the Philadelphia Lnqnt'es and other kindred
sheets.
Save tie Union, should he the cry. the
wachword OF every patriot and statesman;
hut it should also be the fixed determination
of the great Republican party to stand by its
principles as laid down il the Chicago plat
FORM Our cwn doctrine is, no more COM
promises with Slavery. Let us conciliate,
let us deal kindly but firmly with these Dem
"crafic Union Discovers. Let us hope that
President Buchanan will not violate his oath
rf Office, anu therefore hold the Union tcgeth-
er until she fourth of March next. IF he
does, our word for il. alter the inauguration
3 II