Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-11-22
Going 10 Co.

| lne feOple Ol tue OnlteO StateS nave
indicated according to the forms prescribed
by the Constitution, their desire that Abra-
ham Lincoln Of Illinois shall be their next
Presideut, and Hannibal Hamlin of Maine
their Vice President. Avery large plural
ity Of the popular vote has been cast for
them, and decided majority of Electors
chosen who will undoubtedly vote for and
elect them on the first Wednesday in De-
cember next. The electoral votes will be
formally sealed up and forwarded to Wash.
ington, there to be opened and counted,
on a given day in February next, in the
presence of both Houses of Congress; and
it will then be the duty of Mr.. John C.
Breckenridge, as President of the Senate,
20 declare Lincoln and Hamlin duly elect
ed President and Vice President of these
United States.
Some people do not like this, as is
very natural Dogberry discovered, good
while ago, that "When two ride a horse,
one must ride behind" That is not gener.
ally deemed the preferable seat; but the rule
remains unaffected by that circumstance.
We know how to sympathize with the de-
feated; for we remember how ice felt when
Adams was defeated; and Clay and Scott
and Fremont. 1t is decidedly pleasanter
to be on the winning side especially when
-as now-it happens also to be the right
side
We sympathize with the afflicted; but
we cannot recommend them to anything
desperate. What is the use they are beat.
en- now; they may triumph next time:
in fact they have generally had their own
way: had they been subjected to discipline
of adversity as often as we have, they
would probaly bear it with more philoso-
ply, and deport themselves more BETTING
ly. We live to learu; and one of the
most difficult requirements is that of meet.
ing reverses with graceful fortitude.
The telegraph informs us that most of
the cotton States are medi,ating with
drawal from the Union because of Lin
coins election. Very well: they have a
right TO mediate, and meditation is prof
liable employment ofleisure. We have a
a chronic, invincible disbelief in Disunion
as remedy for either Northern or South
ern grievance; we cannot perceive any
necessary relation between the alleged dis
ease and this ultra heroic remedy: still, we
say, If any body sees fit 10 mediate Dis
union, let them do so unmolested. That
was base and hypocritical row that the
House once raised, at Southern dictation,
about the ears of John Quincy Adams be-
cause he presented a petition for the disso-
luton of the Union. The petitioner had
a right 10 make the request; it was the
Members duty 10 present il. And now,
if the Cotton States consider the value of
the Union depatable, we maintain their
perfect right to discuss it. Nay:we hold
with Jefferson 10 the inalienable right of
communities to alter or abolish forms of
government that have become oppressive
or injurious; and if the Cotton States shall
become satisfied that they can do bet
ter ont of the Union than in it we insit on
letting them 60 in peace. The right to
secede may be revolutionary one, but it
exists nevertheless; and we do not see how
one party can have right to do what an
other party has Oright TO prevent. We
must ever resist the asserted right of any
State to remain in the Union and nulify
Or defy the laws thereof: to withdraw from
the Union is quite another matter. And
whenever a considerable section of our
Union shall deliberately y resolve to go out,
we shall resist all coercive measures design
ed to keep it in. We hope never to live in
a republic whereof one section is pinned to
the residue by bayonets.
But while we thus uphold the practical
liberty if not the abstract right of seceess-
ion, we must insist that the step be taken,
if it ever shall be, with the deliberation
and gravity beftting so momentous an is
sue. Let ample time be given for reflec-
tion; let the subject be fully canvassed be-.
for the people; and let popular vote be
taken in every case before secession is de-
creed. Let the people be told just why
they are urged TO break up the confedera-
tion; let them have both sides of the ques-
tion fully presented, let them reflect, delib-
crate, then vote; and let The act of secess-
ion he the echo of an unmistakable popu-
lar fiat. A judgment thus rendered, a'de-
mand for separation so packed, would eth
er be acquiesed in without the efusion of
blood, or those who rushed upon carnage
to defy and defeat it would place them
selves clearly in the wrong.
The measures now being inaugurated in
the Cotton States within view apparent
ly) to Secession, seem to US destitute of
gravity and legitimate force. They bear
the unmistakable impress of baste-of
passion-of distrust of the popular judg-
ment. They seem clearly intended TO pre-
cipitae the South into rebellion before the
baselessness of the clamors which have
misled and excited her can be ascertained
by the great body of her people. We
trust that they will be confronted calm
ness, with dignity. and with unwavering
trust in the inherent strength of the Union
and the loyalty of the American People.
RThe Cleveland Leader understands
by letter received in that city from Chi
cago, that the bankers of the latter place