Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1860-12-20
Our Position as a Party.


"Under this head the Erie Gazette makes
the following sensible remarks, which we be.
lieve will find an answering voice in the
heart Of every Republican in this County.
There is not an honest Republican in the
country who does not in his heart believe the
principles of the Republican party are right
in themseh and just towards every portion
Of the Union. Tie must regard the triumph
of those PRINCIPLES as necessary to the preser-
yat;on of the Union, the prospects of the ma
tion and the liberty of the people. Indeed
no one who will candidly examine our creed
as LAID down at Chicago, can come to any
other conclusion. We have just elected 8
President pledged to carry out the sentiments
embodied in the Republican platform and to
bring the Government back to its original
moorings. After years of effort we are about
to try the experiment of a Government whose
influence is to be exerted for the protection
OF Freedom rather than the preparation of
Slavery, And now when this experiment is
to be fairly tried for the first time in more
than thirty years, we are grayely assured
that it will inevitably lead to the destruction
of the Union, anu that it must be abandoned.
The Republican party is peremptorily re-
ouired to give up it's designs, forsake the
principles which brought it into power. re-
trace it's steps upon the subject of Slavery,
and fall back into literally nothing! 1t is
told that it must strike its colors and con-
tent itself with reiterating only such opin-
ions and adopting such meas ures as may be
acceptable to the South. Are the Republi-
cans prepared to take this backward step
Are they ready, under the threats of dough-
face panic makers and Disunionists, to make
new compact with Slavery We trust
not.
Let US not be misunderstood. We are de-
cidedly opposed to fanaticism or radiealism
in the pursuit of the objects of the Rspubli-
can party. We would have its course char
acterized by coneliatory, temperate. pa
triotic, Union-loving feeling But We shall
not consent to the sacrifice Of its manhood
in other words, to the exhibition, by those
wAs compose or control it, Of craven, cow
ardy spirit, which yields everything to the
demands of boistereus opponents, and dis
cards all its original characteristics. In the
name of the Republicans of Erie-of the Res
pubicaus of Pennsy yvania, we protest against
such @ surrender"
We endorse each word OF the aboYe, and
so does every Republican Of Centre County.
In electing Lincoln President, We did just
what we had "a right to do, and now let US
stand up like men and maintain our right to
vote rs we please. If we had thousand
votes to east to morrow for President, every
ore would go for 'Old Abe Lincoln." There
ars no doughfaced Republicans in Centre
County-and there viii be none.
We are sorry to see our neghbors OF the
Press lend its columns to advocate peaceable
secession. You are mistaken, John, as sure
as yon live. you are mistaken. The Repub-
licans Of Centre County are not for secession n
at all-but if the South does seeede we are
for bringing her back.
Hon. EDWARD BATEs.-A telegraphic des-
patch from Springfield. ILL.,, dated Dec. 10,
Gays" The Hon. Edward Bates had an in
terview with the President-elect, to-day, and
it is said, was formally offered the Secretary
ship of the interior, in Mr., Lincoln's Cabi-
net. Mr.. Bates is strongly opposed to seces-
sion, saving that it is treason, and must be
mt down, and the Authority of the Govern
ment maintained at all hazards"