The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1860-01-25

circumstances naturally work III the minds oYal
atriotic citizens. He who learns nothing from tho
urrent Of passing events, ard clings excInsivclyto
he memories ofu purer age, and obstinately closes
lis eyes, heart aud brain to the stern actnaes az
he present. is an unsafe counselor, and iinycsted
With authority, would lead any State or natiounto
disgrace or ruin If circumstances permitted Che or.
ercise OF his destructive proclisities, AZ times
change, men change, and as men make nD the ar.
gregate of communities aud nations communities
and nations must also change, to meet we'll the
emergencies Of the times as they present them.
selves. Nothing is immutabe, save the laws Cf
God and nature. 80
Formore than a quarter Of a century sectional
warfare, based upon hatred of the institution Of
slavery, has been waged by the North upon the
South. At the outset, the members of this despic.
able organization We're contemplate in number and
in intellect; and their anatical, treasonable and
atrocious promnlgations were deemed as dtsubiects
forsmirth in both sections Of the Confederacy IA
that time each State respected its constitutional
obi cations the comfy of the respective sovereign
ties was maintained, brotherhood and good feeling
prevailed well nigh universally--al tie South re.
quires now, or wanted then, was the simple OBJ
seryance of the organic compact, which ives cheer-
fully rendered on all sdes--the most bcneGoetit
system of'gosernrnent the earth ever knew, when
rightfuliy administered: q union of sovereigntieg
under confedcrated head, armed with expressly
delegated powers, worked Sc beautifully and har--
monousys that it was the wonder and admiration
of tile world It grieyes me to say that this happy
picture has been changed; that the small band oE
fanatics once only deemed fit subjects for laughter
have grown into powerful organization; that the
cloud, once a mere speek upon the horizon has at
tanned such dimensions that it blackens the skies
of the majority section Of the Contt derscy; that
sovereign States, through their Legislatures and
Governors, have passed laws Which set at defiance
the Constitution OF the United Suites which n1l
lily the lsws Of Congress; which trample under
foot the decisions of the Federal Court of last re-
sort, aid which openly contemn the executive
authority Of the government, when exercised IN
strict conformity to the demands OF the Gonstituy
ton. All this is done too without cause, proyoca.
tor or warrant of any Kind. The slaye-holdng
States have not wronged, nor attempted to wrong
their Northern brethren in any aman,er, and IN all
controversies they have been the first to yield;
they have compromised and compromised, for the
sake Of peace, when they had rights and interests
At stake and the North had none--but every yield.
ing, and each compromise, has been followed by
fresh demands aud renewed aggression, until IA
natieism grown bold by our yielding and com
promises, us well as by tile wondrons growth OF ito
cover in the North, now says in the Federal Sem
ate, in the Hall of the House OF Representative
and from the Legislatures of most OF the nonslave.
holding States, backed by on overwhelming pre-
ponderailce OF the masses almost sufficient to elect
La President that no another slave State shall eyer
lbe Audited into the Unon--no matter what the
circumstances Of: the case--no matter what tile
obligations imposed by the one common organic
| law
rreat. bad man great nintellect and fearfully
| great in infnence--th foreordained candidate OF
4 the Black Republicans Tor the Presidency, not
twelve months ago announced, in his place IN the
4 United States Senate, that his party would soon
i have control of the Government, and that they
would then ..re-organiae the Supreme Court IN
such manner as would lead to decisions agreea-
ble to themselves. Al,erw ards, in several speeches
made in his own State, OH tie eve Ola general
election in presence OF immeuge assemblagesof
the people he distinctly declared that there was an
ir.epressihle conflict between the free labor Of the
North and the slave labor of the South, and that
a the South must become free or the North slave.
fen days after the delivery Of these addresses, the
) government ofthe nIiehtiest state Of the Union
passed, by an overwhelming majority OF the peo-
Il nle, into tie hands Of those who agreed with him
in opini0n.
!, WHAT'S true Of New York is true when applied
to many othe non-say eholdipg States tle gloomy
II nall Of Aholitionism oyefshadows nearly ali; ard,
If We are to take the past as criterion for the fu-
tufe il is almost useless to look beyond Mason and
Ixons line for relief, unless the South presents
! for tile Presidency man SO unexceptionable as 70
command respect and support among all good mer.
And With this as her ultilnata, tile laet alternative
1she viii ever present: Shall this man. unonlec.
tjonal,ein other respects, he rejected merely be
cause Ills home IS in the South! Nso, we Should
f know 1t, and the sooner tie better"
Z But one party-the Democratic party--remalns
i Ito fight the battle for the Constitution and tie
Union; as our .ioreiatbers framed IT. That party,
howeycr, Notwithstanding its services TO the coull-
try, the great men it has Produced Its cianslo 81,
! Ieral support its magnificent past and Its spehoia
promises forthe future. is ina minority IN lhe ma.
liorjtv section Of the Contedemcy. Its banner hos
been brayely defended, ard there are tillgallant
snirits in tile North WHO will fp around il " the
death. Yet lis folds, alncst cltNMlnre nsha1
!, seeionof tie country, are ti,iled in the dusec
defeat. ItMere idle to close our eyes to these faci
l.. land what would be aerelct in citizen becomes
d criminal in a public officer. am determined Y
&c discharge mn duiy--the rest reniains With you
d land to Your wisdom and discretion conhdchul
$. commit it. B
e. The Harpcr's Ferry disturbance is a case i. Y
lpoinr, which significantly indicates the mode .
warfare which constantly accommodating tliousans
propose to wage upon us. The numbers actiyell
:. engaged in it were Insignificant whenue TAX
into Consideration that they committed the chme
. Of treason and MURDER and provided TO coup VIII
% arms for the work Of DEATH several shousand Save
" or other confederates; that the geneal press an
" neople Of tile extreme Nortb, on various grounos
synipathised with the traitors ard murdercrs an
solicited their pardon We cannot close our eyes
- the inauspieious condition Of affairs ,, 3.
= The State Of Virginia has noby vlndca'eu y I,
- laws and brought the traitors TO condisn pnnsl
- ment. This is gratifying, alhous y sas hols !,
'e more than vas 10 be expected from Che prouo 9
mother of sages aud statesmen. But, whllss !
on acknowledge and commend all this, is there y
We something more than words required IRON tle IS
nal exposed slaveholding States! The batle ios q
ed r;ahts and in deeuse Of our institutions, IS .
,se fought must be fought nthe border States w,1s'
ab- slavery exists. 1t would be cowardiee, 90 we,
til penuoasness, to leave them fight the oa..
in alone, which, in more than one sellse IS our g
it tle as much as theirs we should give tlc aesu
re- sympathy positive support. Virginia, 3 s'a II
sa- Holding border State, has beer invaded =
,.;,,,es Enc bpnn nrODcfIY VIII