Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-12-26
Clearficld, Pa, December 20, 1850.
Shall the Politicians, or the People
Rule?

prosperous nation in the word is mos
mentarly threateped with civil war. ln-
numerabe plans for the adjustment OF
our rational difficulties, and for averling
The impending danger, have becn pre-
sented by our wisest and purest states
men, without, as yet, giving the least hope
Of success. The nation, through i;s Chief
agistrato-cordially seconded 10y the
patriotic ministers Of the Gospel in all
quarters is called upon TO last and
pray" "to the God Of our Fathers" ito
save us from the horrors Of war" and
.blood guiltiness,r and "to remove from
our hearts the false pride of opinion Which
would impel us 10 perseyerc in wrong"
Business Of all kinds is languishing; thou
ands and hundred; OF thou,inis Of h on
est poor men and women are thrown ont
Of employment, without prospect for
food or raimant; and all the business en-
orgies Of the country are completely and
hopelessly paralyzed. For the first time
IN its history, in time of peace, our Ma
tionsl Treasury is bankrupt, and unable
to pay .he daily demands upon it. In
places where the highest state of prosper
ity existed few months ago, sadness and
gloom is now seen upon every hand.
And what has caused this wonderful
change in our nations prosperity? We
answer, the judgment OF the people of the
sixteen on-slaveholding States, as ex.
pressed by the election Of Lincoln, that
"Mi, Government cnmot," in the language
Of Mr. Lincoln himself, "triss hay free aud
haJ SIavc."
1t may lie that this, Of iiselr, was not
Efficient, any more .han a single plank is
enough to build ship but it is the last
feather" that has broken the camel's
back.
But is there no remedy? We answer,
there is but one. The North must either
convince The South that the above is not
fair Interpretation of the verdict of the
late election, or else, that the North is
willing to recede from that verdict.
Will either of these things be done?
Seven weeks have now elapsed, and not
single ord has come from the Presi-
dent elect-hence the South is compelled
to understand him as still adJtermg to his
formerly expressed opinion that this goys
crnment cannot exist half slave and
half Free" and as it is we'll known he is
opposed 10 slavery himself, his silence is
to be Interpreted as in favor Of the total
exiting sushment Of the institution of sa
very.
No alternative, therefore, is left 10 the
South. The abolition e slavery would
DC their ruin-and they prefer not to be
ruined and believe that in secession is
then only hope.
Nor has thSRepublican party-as a par
ty-tnken a single step, in any quarter,
giving the slightest hope Of an adjustment.
On the contrary, instances are not want.
ing in which they boldly and defantly
persist in their nggressions, and within
avery few days. Witness the refusal of
the Vermont Legislature, by very large
vote, to repeal their laws nulifying the
Fugitive slave law and also the vote in
Congress the other day rejecting the reso-
luton declaring slaves property" within
the meaning of the Constitution. And,
with here and there an exception, the
whole Republican press is as high. tone d
and defiant now as it was before the elec,
ton. 1t is true, some of them do talk
of concessions. But the concessions they
offer 10 make are coupled with condi.
tions which they know are utterly i'm.
practicable. Take, for instance, the terms
upon which cur neighbor, the Clcarfeld
journal, offers TO negotiate:
"The freemeu of the North, whilst they
are ready TO extend all just and constitu-
tional guarantees 10 the people Of the
South. should require The enactment and
enforcement of such laws by the Southern
States as will protect our citizens when
travelling through, or transacting business
in those States the repeal of all laws
preventing the circulation Of Northern
newspapers, or any Others calculated TO
Interfere with the rights Of the citizens of
the North and guarantee that full free.
dom of speech and of the press shall liere-
after be allowed in all the Slayeholding
States ofthe Union"
"Heads, win; tails, YOU lose" truly.
Our neighbor very candidly admits that
the North has something to concede. But
in making these concessions the South is
to concede a good deal more than she
now. complains Of. If, says the Journal,
the South will guarantee us "full freedom
of speech and of the press" in order that
we may 90 down their and preach and
publish our Abolition doctrines among
their slaves. and stir them up to cut their
masters flrnats wp will lripllv rapnol