Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-10-20
Uo6sIthGnIness Of the South to It's Northern
...frrUI AIIles. HsN -

AfIieas
In no way can the election, Of Lincoln be
now prevented but by frightening the North
by pictures Of the dreadful things the South
will do in such an event. But just as 1t be-
came apparent that all other means had
failed, and when the sheet-iron thunder
should have redoubled peal on peal, the
South began to let up and to roar gently as
doves at the maternal breast. Now the most
fearful fre-eaters in the South are those who
proclaim their determination to shoulder
muskets and thrust promiscuously into the
bowels Of those who attempt to resist the
inauguration Of a Republican President.
This treachery is most unaecountable. 1t
weakens the hands of the Northern national
men. Instead of the terrible picture of
wholesale secession, the patriotic journals
in the North, like the Cincinnati Enquirer,
are reduced to a retail panic-business, about
some operator who is going to ship his -four
''by the most expeditions route" if Lincoln
is elected or some Southern dealer who has
left Cincinnati without purchasing patent
rat-trap, as be would have done but for the
complexion of the late elections.
South Carolina, too, has failed us, and
right in the face of this emergency has
elected Legislature with but one or two
secession men in it fewer than she has
thought necessary at any time, these twenty
years.
1t must be admitted that Douglas helped
much to disarm us of our only resource,
by the anxiety which he declared at Nor
folk. Va, 20 have the Office of hangman un-
der Lincoln, for the pleasure Of administer
ing to the bronchial affections of the Seces-
sionists. His iswillingness to accept Office un-
der Republican President and such an Of
fee, has had demoralizing effect on the
South, and now there is considerable doubt
whether the Postmasters and Customs-col-
lectors in the South would throw up their
commissions upon Lincoln's Inauguration, as
but little while ago ii was supposed they
would do. Indeed, so rapid is the decline in
political virtue, that it is probable that all
these will be found warm supporters Of his
administration. s..."- ..-
In Washington, also, the very capital of
the nation, where we looked for peculiar
sympathy aud assistance in our panic, they
have taken to Wide-awake parades, and Gov
ernment officers are donning capes and
torches so fast that the Republicans are
beginning to fear that no changes viii be re-
quired in the Departments, as all the clerks
will be found to be old original Republicans,
thoroughly impregnated with the smell of
coal-oil. 0- .ltE|.
What hope of frightening the timid con-
servatives of the North can we have when
the South desert us in this way? How can
we hope to persuade our people that the de-
feat of Lincoln is necessary to save the
Union when the South receive the prospect
of it in such way as would indicate that il
was the very thing that was required to turn
them all into Union-sayers?
If this is the way the South back their
friends, we might as well hang up our dole
ful harps; for our fearful songs of what the
South will do in case of the election of Lin
coin, and their contented and even jolly state
of mind as the prospect grows imminent, are
rather incongruous. If, upon the recent
elections, the South had thrown itself into
its most tragical attitude, and had talked Of
promiscuous slaughter, and of dying like
the celebrated Kirby, we might have done
something for the Union in the North. II
a Republican President is inaugurated, and
the South shall have occasion to mourn, like
Rachel 10000 of her children beheaded by
the official guillotine, she will have none but
herself to blame, Like PLATE, we wash oul
hands Of the consequences.