Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-04-18
Limits of Patriotic Opposition.


No sensible man objects to the existence OF
parties In free country. They subserve
some very important uses and seem, If an
evil. necessary and incident to free States.
But there must, of course, be limits to the
legitimate action of an opposition party In
the Government. Opposition from patriotic,
or even from inferior motives, is to be allow.
ed, in quiet times. But the case becomes
very different when an armed opposition is
made to the Government The factious OPP
ponents of the Administration may, at such
times, come within the description of men
yielding aid and comfort to the enemies of
their country.
| WITH the declaration of war, or the inaug-
uration of decidedly warlike measures. the
country, in regard to the great measures of
the Administration, should be one. IT is no
longer question which relates to mere diff
! ferences Of opinion, or mere theories; no
longer a eaestion of the management of one
or another set of men, The question relates
to the very existence of the nation. In infe-
rior matters there may be neutrality or OPP
position; but in those of vital Importance,
all patriots are cne.
| The course of certain Northern papers Is
/ rapidly becoming intolerable to all true
|
country now concerning slavery or any par
ticular platform; the question is one of life
and death. If the end of the whole business
were the secession of half dozen States quiz
| etly from the Union, that would be one
thing. But it is quite another when we see
that demands in view of the supposed power
lessness of the government rise ever higher
and higher; that its very forbearance is sup
posed to be imbecility, and that the whole
| nation was coming to consider it as harm
less King Log. There are most alarming
symptoms of Generalization as affecting the
entire people. 1t began to be felt that if the
authority of the government were not now to
| be enforced, succession ef tentatiYes upon
its temper would be tried in all quarters,
and the experiment be fully made, for diff
ferent motives, as to the point to which ra-
pacity and dinsolence could 90 in boarding the
nation. 1t is by no means, therefore. merely
| to hold til ese Confederate States in the Union
that the President pursues his present course,
| but to sustain the very idea of sovereignty.
| The plan of the Administration begins to
be clearly seen at last, in its general out
lines. 1t is as we laid it down early in this
month in the Bulletin, but maintaining an
armed defensive position. 1t would seem,
| however. that the President claims the right.
under this general line of policy, Of furnish
ing Fort Sumter with provisions by an un-
armed vessel, and if this be fred on, then of
repelling force by force. In similar spirit
he claims the right of reinforcing Fort Pick
ems with men and provisions.
The time has come, we repeat, when all
patriots should lay aside at once all opposi-
tion to the Administration, in the matter Of
war, as not only fact:ous, but reasonable
Indeed, how far it is to be allowed in case Of
open war, is serious question, one that pub
lie opinion at least will soon take up. All
honest men. however they have stood aloof
from politics, or from peculiar theories about
slavery, and however quiet and peaceful
their associations, are coming up to the sup-
por. of the Government The nation breathes
more freely, since the war feet has sailed. 1t
turns out now, that the policy of the Admin
istration is unfolding, that all felt uncomfort>
able at the former state of things, and that
war itself is more endurable to the American
people than degradation. We contended
earnestly against this fearful civil war, 80
long as we could but if it must be SO. the
sons of our Revolutionary fathers can fight
for their country, but cannot see it debased.
I-EUening Bulletin.