The semi-weekly mountain Democrat., 1860-12-12
Owplaetty.

Before the election, the supporters OF
Breckenridge and Lane were fiercely de-
nounced by the Black Republicans and
their Douglas allies as disuniOnists.-
Breckenridge, Buchanan, Davis, Dickin-
son, Hunter, Mason, and other prominent
Democrats we're called secessiOnists and
traitors. Every vile epithet was applied
to Southern Democratic Senators for ad-
herring to their principles and deprecating
the election OF Republican President
The Republican and Douglas speakers
proclaimed from the stump everywhere
that Mr.. Breckinridgc and Yanccy had
entered into n conspiracy to dissolve the
Union; that the Southern Senators were
in favor of "Southcrn Confcdcracy;
that Douglas was opposed because he re-
fused to become party TO the conspiracy,
and that the election Of Breckenridge
would desolve the Union. The Southern
Senator's came in for full share Of their
abuse, and many timid Democrats were
deceived and induced to desert their par
ty by these vile slanders. Since the cleo
ton their tune has changed. These same
Republican speakers and organs now pro-
fess to have the greatest confidence in the
purity and patriotism of the Southern
Senators. They say that the Union is in
no danger so long as the Democrats have
the majority in the Senate that Lincoln
is powerless; that he cannot interfere
with the institutions of the South, even
were he SO disposed that the Senate will
refuse to confirm the appointment Of an
ultra or unsafe Cabinet officer, and will
not permit him to violate any Of the obli
cations Of the Constitution. They tell
the South that they have nothing to fear
that their interests will be protected,
their rights respected by the Scnate-by
body a majority Of whom are the sup
pOrters Of Breckenridge, by the very men
whom the so recently denounced as Sc.
cesSionists and traitors. They are dis
trUstful Of their own party, their own
President, and turn to the Democratic
Senators and implorc them to save the
Union. They no longer call them "sc.
cessiOnists" and traitors" they are viii.
ling now to acknowledge that they are
National, UniOn-lOving men, cmincntIy
wise and pure, and that the destinics of
our country could not be entrusted to bet
ter or safer hands. True, Lincoln in
dOrses the Republican platform, true, he
"hates slavery as much as any Abolition
ist" and would be pleased to see it abol-
ished,-true, he approves of the acts Of
the nine Northern States where his party
is largely in the ascendant, in which laws
have been passed "imposing heavy pccu-
mary fines and infiicting long terms of
imprisonment upon anybody who may
ask for the rendition Of his fugitive slave
or invoke the Constitution and the laws
Of Congress for his protection against
spOliatiOn"-but what of that? lie can
not violate the one or set at defiance the
other, so long as the Democrats are in the
ascendant in the Senate. No matter how
ardently he might desire to do both, he
can't do it, his hands are tied. The Dem
Ocratic Senators, possess the power, the
ability, the patriotism to preserve the I'm
ion, now say the very men who but few
weeks ago denounced them as secession.
lists and traitors! They admit that the
Union is in danger and that the very men
who, they assured the people, had con,
spired to dissolve it, are its warmcst and
truest friends Such is DouglaS.RepubIi.
can duplicity.