Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-12-20
OUR DUTY I

We are in the midst of an excitement of
no ordinary character,-days are now passing
that will be regarded as al era by the future
historian The Union which we have been
taught to cherish, and which we. have been
| accustomed to regard as the noblest work Of
wise men is threatened with destruction
Perhaps ere this the Convention of South
Carolina has struck the first blow and decIar-
ed itself an independent confederacy In this
extremity the question comes home to every
man, what is my duty? To every Republican
who has loved the cause he has labored for,
| there can be but one answer. Had we com
mtted any act of injustice, or outraged the
rights OF any Southern State, duty would de-
mand reparaton. But the ground of com
! plant is simply that we have eiected-conSt-
tutionally, aud by larger vote than ever be.
| fore given-a Republican President Issues
were presented that have always been the
creed of the party, and their success are being
made the occasion Of a secession that has been
! the day dream of Southern demugOgues for
years. We have a right to presume that the
administration of Mr. LINCoLN.wiIl be const;
tutional The principles Of the party, his an
! tecedentS, and his oath Of Office will all pre-
clude his interfering with the rights of Slavery
! in the States. No reasoning man doubts but
that his administration will be just and con.
scrvative. Our dufy is as plain as it is ev,
dent that the whole oRtcry is an attempt at
/ intimidation. For years, at the cry of seces-
sion has Northern knees trcmbed, and out
stretched hands given up all that has been de-
manded. Our love for the Eaion is strong,
but 1t is too great price to purchase it at the
expense of principle, and humiliation South
Carolina will try 10 shuttle off her connection
with the Cnion-wilI try, and perhaps will
wisely be permitted to succeed Wisely, be-
cause a decent respect for ones own manhood
would not permit Il member of a frm to use
force to compel a partner to continue con-
neXiOn be denounced as hateful. Therefore
If Sonth Carolina wants to go OFT of the
Union--let her 90. A few men-fossiIs-
men Who stand with their faces turned TO the
past and who 90 back an age or two to wor-
ship something that was very good in its time
"A few snch men look upon the secession Of
a State with honest horror. They worship
an idea, the idea that what was done, and
well done century ago must obtain to-day,
else society will resolve itself into chaos 1t
may be humiliating, it may be hard to stand
! up before the nations and confess that our
! falhers we're not infEllibie as Statesmen but
it is one Of those truths that will come out
nevertheless, in time. They began 10y com
promising with Southern insolence, and the
end of it will compare favoraby with the end
of all spoiled children, that is, the child
must rule in the fathers house-Or go out of
II.
Tae Republican party is now required to
show the country whether it believes in the
doctrines it has been promulgating for six
years Those who assisted at its birth and
nursed it into lusty life, are waiting to learn
if their work is to 90 for nothing and with it
their hopes, born of days and nights Of trou,
hled thought and vigllant action The party
is how of age. 1t has won its FIRST great bat
tie, upon well defined issue Fit now elects
to compromise with wrong, to its shame aud
humiliation, its nurses will beget another child :,
IuSter and more noble I; one that will never
forget its benefact0rs and one which shall
never fear to oyerwheIm right in destroying
wrong. If Mr.. LINCOLN goes one step from
the platform to concliate any State, and if
single State repeals its personal Gberty laws
for like purpose, and if we go down on our
knees to supplicate for peace, it will net only
be the death blow to our party, but it will be
the signal for the Inauguration of despot-
ism, whose encroachmen:S will never cease till
it has placed its accursed mark upon every foot
OF free territory we possess. Nothing can be
gained by truckling-but every thing depends
upon our taking a firm stand upon the princ-
piles Of Justice and freedom which are the ba
sis of our organization If the South cannot
abide our Union as it is, upon their own heads
and upon the cravens at the North who have
encouraged them, be the crime and response
bility Of destroying it.
News OF THE DAY.-The news from Wash
inuton iS in tho hIuhnct dorraa imnort,nt