The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1860-11-17

1rtbune, as enunciating the views of one
who next to Lincoln may be said to speak
ec cathafra for his party, on a question now
in fair way to become the great topic o.
the day, will be read with no small iute
rest:
The people Of the United States have
indicated, according to the forms preecrib
ed 10y the Consultation, their desire thai
Abraham Lincoln Of Illinois shall be their
next President, and Hannibal HamIin ot
Maine their EicePresident. very larce
plurality OF the popular vote has been
cast tor them, and Il decided ma oritv OF
Electors chosen Will undoubtedly vote foY
and elect them on the first Wednesday ia
Decemqer next The electoral vote, VIII
be formally sealed up and forwarded To
Washington, there to be opened and
counted, on given day in February next,
in the presence Of both Houses OF Con
gress; and it will then be the duty of
John {. breckenridge, as President of the
Senate, to declare Lincoln and Hamlin
| duly elected 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 generally
deem cd the preferable seat; but the rule
remains unaffected by that circumstance
We know how 10 sympathize with the de
tcated; for We remember how sce felt when
Adams was defeated; and Clay; and Scott:
and Fremont. 1t is decidedly pleasanter
10 be on the winning side. Especially when
as now-It happens also 70 be the right
side.
We sympathize with the afflicted but
We cannot recommend them to do any
thing desperate. What Is the Use; they
are beaten nov; they NAV triumph next
time: in fact, they have generally had
their own way: had they been subjected
to the discipline OF adversely a. often "a,
We have, they would probably bear it with
more philosophy. and d~port themselves
more hetIttingly We live 10 learn aud
one Of the most difficult requirements Is
that Ot meeting reyeT9rs with graceful for
iitl.de
The telegraph informs us that most Of
the Cotton States are Indditaliuc a with
drawal from the Union because of Lin
cola - election. NeTy well. they have :.
right TO mediate and meditation Is a pro
,.rable employment Of leisure We have
a chronic, Iuyinc.h!e disbelief in Di-uu.on
a. a remedy for either Northern or South
eru grievance: we cannot perceive any
necessary relation between the alleged dis
ease and this ultra heroic remedy. still
we sJv. If ANYBODY secs 1T to mediate
DlSuu.pu. l.t them do 20 unmo.e-ted
That was base and hypocril.c rov that
the House once raised, al Southern dicta-
ton. about Tia. ears OF john Quincy Ad-
ans, because he presented q petition for
the dissolution OF the Union. The peti-
TONER had a night 10 make the request.
it Wa, the Member, dUty to present it
And low. if the Cotton States consider
the value of the Union debatable. We
mu tain their perfect right 20 discuss it
Ma We hold with Jefferson 70 the inal!en-
able right OF communities 10 alter OF abol-
i-h forms OF government that have become
oppressive or injurious: and if the Cotton
States shall become satisfied that they
can do better out Of the Union than IN it,
we insist on letting them 90 in peace
The right to sccede may be u revOlutioua-
y one. but it exists nevertheless; and we
do not see how one party can have a right
to do what another party has a right TO
prevent. We must ever resist the assert
ed right of any State 10 remain in the
Union and nu.lIfy or defy the laws there
Of. 10 withdraw from the Union i quite
another matter. And whenever a conSid-
siderable section OF our Union shall de
Hherate!y resolve 20 out, We shall resist all
coercive measures de- gned TO keep il III.
We hope never to live in republic where
of one section is pinned 10 the residue by
bsyonets.
But while We TINS uphold the practical
liberty if not the abstract right OF seces-
sion, We must insist that the step be Il ken
II it ever shall be, with the deliberation
and gravity betitting 80 momentouS an is
sue. Let ample time be given for reflecc-
ton let the subject bee fully csnvassed be
fore the people; and let "A popular vote lie
taken in every case before secession Is de
creed. Let the people be told Just why
they are urged 10 break up the contedera-
ton let them nave both sides OF the
question fully presented; let them reflect
deliberate, teen vote; and let the act Of
secession lie the echo Of an unmistakable
I popular fat A .iud-meu thus rendered,
a demand for separation so backed would
other be acguie>ced in without the etfu-
sion of Llood. or those who rushed upon
carnage TO defy and defeat 1t would place
themselves clearly in the wrong
The measures ROW being inaugurated in
the Cotton States with a view (apparertlv)
10 secession, seem 10 Us des itute of .rari-
" and legitimate force. They bear the
unmistakable impress of haste-of pas
sion-of di>truSt of the popular Judgment
They seem clearly intended TO precipitate
the South into rebellion before the base
lessuess 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 with calmness,
with di gnity, and with unwavering trust
in tho inherent strength Of the Union and
the LOYALTY of the American People.-N
!. Tribune.