Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-11-20
FANATICS,

That abolitionism caused the present war we
have never entertained doubt. The members
of that fanatical organization, by series OF
aggressions on the rights of the Southern people,
exasperated them, and caused them to regard
the Union as a curse instead of blessing. They
furnished to such demagogues as JEFF Davis, the
fuel. with which they kindled the flame of rebel
lion We know that it has been asserted in
high places, that slavery is not the cause of this
war, but we do not think that those who make
this assertion honestly believe that it is true
The history of the country since 1920, proves
its falsty beyond quibble douot. At the
time of the establishment of the Union the South
was as devotedly attached to the Union as the
North and the citizens of that section of the Re
public would be so yet, but for the foul spirit of
abolitionism with witch the North has during
the last forty year. been polluted.
It is doubtless true, that selfish ambition
prompted the leaders of the Southern rebellion
to endeavor to bring about the dissolution of the
Union. They wished to build up new Repub-
lie, in all the States of which slavery would be
recognized as domestic Institution. Counting
on the speedy acquisition of both Cuba and Mexi
co as matter of certainty, they enter tanned no
doubt as to their ability to soon build up the
rnightest nation the face of the earth. But
these visions, these day dreams, were not indul-
ged in by the great mass of the Southern people.
They, we repeat, loved the Union, and were
proud to acknowledge themselves American citi-
zeus. But the demagogues in their midst, soon
discovered that the abolition agitation IN the
North, furnished them with the means to alien
ate their fellow citizens from their attachment to
the Union. They told them that the North had
become thoroughly abolitiorized, that they had
inaugurated an irrepressible conflict" against
slavery. that they were determined to forcily alb
oish it in all the States and that therefore there
was no longer any security for their property in
the Union. In support of these assertions, they
pointed to the speeches Of Seward and other ADO
lition members of Congress, to the organization
of great sectional party in the North, the car
dinal principle of which was hostility to slavery
to the opposition in all the Northern States to
the execution of the fugitive slave law, to the
personal liberty laws. and 20 the John Brown
raid. The people believed what they were told,
they believed that their rights were endangered
by remaining IN the Union, and hence they be-
came secessionists.
Thus it Is plain, that but for the aboli.ionists,
our country instead of being cursed with bloody
and expensive civil war, would be happy and
tranquil. Their fanatcism has indeed been the
direful spring of woes unnumbered to the Ameri-
can people And yet they now claim TO be
the only Union loving patriots in the land, and
insultingly style their Democratic fellow citizens,
who have always opposed abotItionism aud sec
tionalisna secessonists. There is no limit to
their insolence, 1t is only surpassed by their
fanaticism.
The people of the South, even if conquered by
cur army will never remain tranquility in the
Union, while abolitio2ism continues triumphant
in the North 1t is therefore the duty of all
true patriots at the present time, to Indignantly
frown down, all attempts to carry out the fan
atical doctrine of the Aholitionists. Let ut show
by our course in carrying on the war, that we
are not sectionaliss but national and conservative
patriots, and that we are fighting not for the alb
olition Of slavery but for the preservation of the
Union. AS soon as they are convinced of this,
thousands who are now seceSsionis.s, viii become
Union men, and the war will be brought to
speedy and successful close,