Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1860-12-20

On thy head-yea, though it aoore a cro'on,
launch the curse
" If the republic must fall, better to fall
with i've tell every man holding high offi~
cial position in the government-better for
present reputation-bette for place in the
istory yet to be written-better than to bear
the recorded shame of this cowardice OF de-
sertion. There was two hundred and ninety
nine who fell at ThermOpyle: they were all
honored. There was one who dared to sur
vive, and even Platsee could not afterwards
wash away the memory"
Dar The Democratic papers Of the baser
sort are laboring hard to convince the people
that the bogus panic gotten up by the disuR
ionists and the doughiaces is the natural re-
suit of Lincoln's election. They are pres
sing this idea with great industry, but with
very little effect. The great mass of the peo-
pie have sense enough to perceive that the
commercial agitation, where it has not been
designedly created for political effect, arises
entirely from the treason of the Breckenridge
party in the Southern States. If portion
of the States choose to revolt against the
government, administered by men after their
own hearts, the Republicans are surely not
to blame. Lincoln will not be our President
for three months to come, and all attempts
to saddle the evils Of disnnon upon him an
his supporters are alike absurd and contemp-
tible. The Northern slavery hippers
who have helped to get up the disunion pans
c for political ends will themselves have to
suffer the inevitable Consequences Bucks
Co., Lntelfgencer.
THE GREATEST OIL DISCOVERY YET--West-
ern Virginia promises to divide with Slippery
Rose Creek, and the districts up the Allie
gheny, the attention of oil speculators. In
Clark county, some time since, Mr.. Harms
sunk well one hundred and fifty feet, and
is new taking out fifteen barrels day. Mr..
Rathbo ne, from whom Harms leased, subse-
quently sunk we'll himself, and in twelve
hours after I" lie" was struck, it filled cis-
tern containing one hundred and thirty bar
rels offorty gallons each. But this is not all.
They have discovered a vein of oil coal one
thousand feet thick. in a mountain on Hugh's
river, tributary Kanawha. This coal when
put on shovel and held over the fire, melts
into oil, so that the discovery is a most i'm
portant one. A good deal of excitement
prevails in the neigh borbood, and ile' sites
are being disposed of rapidly at fabrlous
prices.
THE ELECTION OF Mr.. JEFFERSON as Presi-
dent, in the year 1900, frightened many
very worthy but rather verdant people
throughout the county. A correspondent OF
the g National Intelligencer," who remem-
bers the excitement sixty years ago, says 1t
was then contended that Mr.. Jeferson's elec-
tien would dissolve the Union; cur country
would be 9verrun by paupers and criminals
from other countries our religion would be
destroyed /; our churches closed and bibles
burned None of these occurred. The wrl.
ter adds: Mr.. Jefferson proved to be one
of our most popular Presidents, the right OF
each state protected, no churhes closed and
no bibles burnt. Such dare believe, win be
the course of Mr.. Lincoln; and it do not
greatly err in my judgment, he will prove to
be one of the safest and best Presidents we
ever had"
Bg President Buchanan coolly asserted
in his message that the disunion movement
is the result of the long continued :" interfer,
ence of the Northern people with the ques-
ton of slavery in the Southern States, y
Every other man it the country knows that
the Northern people meyer meddled with sla-
very in any OF the States ; and that the whole
question rested quietly for several years prior
to 1854. when the Missouri Compromise was
overthrown by Mr. Douglas at the instigation
of the Southern States themselves, thus
throwing open to fresh agitation the subject
of slavery in the Territories. Evidently the
Old Public Functionary has worshipped at
the shrine of slavery SO devoutly that some
of most marked events in our history have
entirely slipped from bis memory.
glg Ii should be borne in mind by the
weak kneed men in the free States, who in
their eagerness to conciliate the South, are
clamorous for the repeal of all personal lib
erty bills and other Legislation alleged to be
unfriendly to the prompt rendition of fugis
tive slaves, that the fire. eaters of South Car
olina, Alabama and Florida declare such
concessions will not satisfy them. They sol
emnly assure US that the time for conciia-
ton has passed, and that they are fully intent
on secession. They have no hesitation in
telling us that they have been plotting treas-
on for years, and that their intended separa-
ton from the Union is the result of long de-
liberation. No entreaty, concession or hus
initiation OF the part of tae North can sway
them from their purpose So our Northern
Union. Savers might as well preserve their self
respect. -Bucks County Lttligencer.
sG~ While the Southern States are de-
manding repeal Of the Northern personal
Liberty bills" and Northern conservatives
evince a willingness to accede to their de-
mands, the freemen of the Nofth-the great
body of the peope-will require the enact
ment and enforcement by the Southern
States, os such laws as will fully protect our
citizens when travelling through, or sojourn-
ing in tbese States. They will require the
repeal of all laws for imprisoning our sea-
men when they arrive at Southern ports, all
laws preventing the circulation of Northern
newspapers, and they demand that full free
dom of speech and of the press De guaran-
tied. We are willing to do the South justice
but we ask little of that commodity ior our
people in accommodating more.
BG~ President Buchanan finds its difficult
to fill the vacancy in his Cabinet. Nobody
wants to succeed Mr.. Howell Cobb. The
Hon. Lucius O'Brien Branch, NJ. G. from
North Carolina, was honored with an invita-
tion, but declines. Meanwhile that distin-
gushed son of Connecticut, the Hon. Isaac
Toucey, temporarily discharges the functions
of the departed Secessionist Secretary. Who
will be honored with the offer of the place is
not kaown.