The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-05-15
BLOOnSBURG, WEDNESDAY, MAY Is. 1861.
Political and Moral Treason.

scys the Patriot and Union, are guilty not
only Of actual treason against the United
States Government. but also OF moral ;rea-
son agains, the Democratic party os the
North-tba: party which sacrificed every
thing in defence of their supposed rights
Even il The Administration of Abraham
Lincoln had been as hostile 10 Soethern
rights as the most apprehensive Southern
man supposed. that in itself would have
furnished no justification for rebellion
Nothing had been done injurious TO SoGth-
ern interests-and the leaders were fully
aware iha. nothing conld be Done The
House of Representatives contained a ma
iority opposed TO the doctrines of the Re.
publican party. The Senate was equally
hostile, with little or no probability of
change being accomplished for years -
With the law-making power completely
under the conirole OF hostile political par
ties, the Republicans could not have passed
a single measure of partizan legislation
Mr. Lincoln could not even have formed
his Cabinet and appointed his foreign min
listers without the consent of the Senate
His polite enemies had supervisory pow
er over all his actions and in fact, the real
power Of his administration might have
been limited to the distr button of patron
age and the exercise Of those limited func-
lions pertaining exclusively to the Execu-
tive and The Heads of Departments Never
had the opponents of an administration
better opportunity 10 render its power un-
real and unsubslantial. Never had those
who were apprehensive of the encroach-
ments OF Repubtcanism more absolute as
surance of its powerlessness for evil.
Had the Southern enemies of the Repvb-
lican party adhered 10 the Union, and op-
posed the principles of that party by legiti-
mate means, il would in the natural course
of events have fallen into diSrepute, after
proving lis inability to redeem any Of lis
engagements.
But ihey<chose TO rebel and levy war
against the General Government, and 10 de-
sert and betray Inc Democratic party Of the
North under the singular delusion that the
Democracy would sympalhize with and
sbei their treason. la this :hey made
fatal mistake. Northern Democrats owe
the South nothing. The weight of obliga-
ton is entirely upon the other side. We
have borne their burdens and fought their
battles against most inveieraie enemies; not
from any peculiar affection for t1em or their
institutions, but entirely out of respect for
our constitutional obligations and an earn
est desire for the perpetuation of those fra
terra. sentiments necessary TO make us
united and eonteLted people. This regard
for the Constitution and the Union drew the
: Northern Democracy into political alliance
with those who, psesuming upon their
friendship, allowed themselves 10 infer that
we would aid and encourage their rebellion
against .he Union and their treason TO the
Constitution.
While the Southern leaders were 90 in
faiua:ed as to believe that the Northern De-
mocracy would passively aid their rebellion
even after thei. scandaIous desertion and
betrayal OF party which had sacrificed
everything in their behalf, the Republicans
chose to insinuaie suspicious OF Democratic
fidelity 10 the Government, thereby falling
into the same error as the Southern traitors.
The alacriiy with which Democrats have
entered the army, and the cordiaIi:y and
unanimiiy with which they support the
Government, has shameJ and banished all
snch suspicious. But what possible motive
could Northern Democrats have for siding
with traitors These men have betrayed
and deceived Us as well as their country
we can have no sympathy for them aside
from patriotic considerations: we would be
impelled by deiestation of their duplicity to
withdraw any sympathy we ever enteTtain-
ed for their cause As Northern Democrats
we constitute a portion of free society, with
an abiding faith in the superiority of free
institutions Our struggles in behalf of
what we believed TO be the cohslitutioral
rights of the South arose from no love for
slavery per Sc, or from a desire to see the
institution extended and perpeluated-but
from an abiding belief that the South
had certain rights which the North was
bound to respect, and that nothing could be
lost by according those rights TO their fullest
extent; because. in every conflict between
free and slave labor upon the national do
main, the former would be sure to main
tain the supremacy, and the popular ex
clusion ol the latter ultimately satisfy the
most determined propagandisis that the
mission of slavery was not expansion in
the lace Of superior free society.
But the treason OF the South, both moral
and political, has put its rebels ont of the
pale of Democratic sympathy, and CONSOLE
dated all parties in defsnce of The Govern
ment. Wecan have no political fellowship
with those who commenced by betraying
the Democratic party and are now seeking