Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1860-11-15
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A North ,rn u;euu of the South.


First lee Us present the case Of the North,
as 1t should be regarded by onr fellow-eoun-
trymen ct the South. On Tuesday last. the
people of the United States elected their
Chief Executive Magistrate to serve fer four
years after the Fourth of March, 1861, and
their choice is ABRAHAM LINCOLN, of Hi
nols. This act of the people is looked upon
by some of the citizens of a minority of the
States as good cause for seyering their connec
ton with the Union, and thereupon they de-
clare their purpose TO secede. If there is any
thing in this act to justify secession, it must
be in the manner of Mr.. LINcoLN's election
in his conduct and character as public man;
or in the authoritative declaration of princi-
Piles Of the party by which be was supported,
So far as the election is concerned, is was
conducted in perfect conformity to the Consti-
tuition and laws, just as every other Presiden-
tial election has been; and therefore there can
be no room complaint on that score. As
to Mr.. LINCOLN himself, he has served in
Congress, and has occupied conspicuous
position in the public eye as the competitor
of Judge DOUGLAS for seat In the Senate
Of the United States and he has, therefore,
a record upon questions of national politics
upon which he can be judged. When tested
5y this touchstone. land it is an ordeal from
which not few of our statesmen sometimes
shrink, it will be found that he has never
cast vote. nor expressed a sep timent. as
public man, in which he has not the compa-
nionship of CLAY, WEBSTER, FILLMORE,
EVERETT, and their eompeers-men whose
patriotism is undoubtej. Moro than that,
they are men to whom the people ofthe South
were perfectly willing to entrust their politi-
cal fate. Hence if the political record of
ABRAHAM LINCOLN presents an act done by
him, or any principle of public policy that
he entertains, which makes his election just
cause of secession to the people Of the South,
the record of CLAY, EVERETT. WEBSTER or
FILLMORE would bave furnished the same
cause, if either had been elected to the Pres
dency at this time; yet, who would be in
sane enough to maintain such an absurdity
as this?
The same cource of reasoning will lead 70
similar result as to the platform of principles
upon which his party placed him before the
public. There are, Of cource, wide differ
ences of opinion in regard to the soundness
of the different matters of policy declared in
the resolutions passed by the Chicago Re-
publican Convent ton. This had always been
SO. and will perhaps always eanhnus to be Sc.
But whatever differences of opinion may ex-
ist, truth requires the admission that there
is neither principle nor sentiment in those
resolutions that has not, at all periods of our
history, been held by statesmen who were
heno orsd and trusted by both South and
North wher living, and whose memories are
cherished by all patriots, now that they are
dead.
Nthese principles, when held by such men
were consistent with fraiernal relate ms and
Union, in the earlier and purer days Of the
Republic. it is difficult to conceive, how they
of themselves can furnish just cause for dis
solution now. Examining, in this way, this
vexed and vexatious subject of disunion on
account of LINCoLN's election, the concu-
sion is Inevitable, that neither the mode of
his election, nor his record as public man,
nor the authoritive exposition of the princi-
pies Of the party by which he was supported
furnishes any tenable ground on which any
of the Southern States can.justify their alleg-
ed purpose to secede. This is the Northern
view, and, if our Southern brethren could
only contemplate It calmly, those who would
not admit is entire and perfect reasonable
ness would be very few indeed.