The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-04-26

ago lflS precious StICkfer tor The Union, in-
structed his readers that the return of the sece-
ded states was not desired, and that, 'eTo such
a Union the Providence of God has said, Two
nations are IN thy womb, and two manner of
people saal be separated from thy bowels ~
Then, the cry was, ''Let the seeding States
go. "And il the dwelers on the Atlantic
slope of North Carolina and Virginia choose
that destiny, let them too 60" But now how
changed
From the Bedford Inquirer, April 5th, 1861
is THE VOLUNTARY RETURN OF THE
Seeding STATES DESIRABLE
This question, we think, has not been sufIi-
GENTLY considered. 1t ought to be considered
now, not only by the Government, but much
more BY the people. UnthlnkingIy, it seems
10 be assumed that, if those States will return
voluntarily, in mere dIscontelt with the grow
ing inconveniencies and expenses Of secession,
ali will De well. We are of a different opin-
ion +; aud we are confident that thinking minds
throughout the country are coming to the con-
cluSlon that the remuneration OF those States,
even BY their spontaneous return, is mol to be
desired at present
Such remuneration is not to be desired,
unless the principle is first established, by pre-
cedents never to be forgotten, that secession is
treason, and that treason is crime TO be pun
ished. The leaders oil the present secession
have levied war against the United States -
After employing themselves in this way Tor
SIX months, shall they be permitted TO return,
and to remain within the reach OF Federal mar
sbaI. ~ oF
without being hanged for their treason five
live to see this, why may we not live TO see
Toombs and Wigfal again adorning the SEN
ate, and Jefferson Davis the successor of Wash
ington ? Why shall not Twiggs be restored to
his rank in the army Why shall we not as
sumo all the debts of the Montgomery Govern
ment, aud pension ali those who have served
more than ninety days in the revolutionary ar
my? A Reconstruction" even by the volun-
tary return OF the secessionistS, presumes that
there will be, on the part OF the United States.
-'s'tt -e,r'rIeoty tTedsun. al amnes-
ty would b. virtual destruction of the Gov
ernment. Therefore, we say that The return
of the seeded States, even voluntarily, is moi
TO be desired, unless some of the leaders in the
treason are 10 receive the due punishment of
their crime with the full consent of the South
and North.
Nor is il to be desired, unless the cause which
has produced this secession is removed. Less
than ten ears ago the Union of these States
seemed, to US, indissoluble. TIE balance be-
tween internal self government in the several
States, and a more than imperial strength and
beneficcnce in the Union, is so marvelousiy ad-
iusted By The arrangements OF the Constu-
tlon,-the benefits which the Union conlers on
every state are SC important, 50 numerous, and
SO cheaply purchased, that It seemed mPoss-
ble for any Englsh-speakiGg republic to exist
in proximity to this Union without ia ling into
II, as Texas did, by gravitation toe powerful
10 be resisted and especially impossible Ior any
STATE, after the experience Of those benefits, TO
tear itself away from ITS place and orbit in the
system, and make itself "wandering star for
which is reserved the blaCkness Of darkness for
ever" We knew indeed the chronic insanity
OF South Carolina, but we did not admit the
possibility oI the same insanity IN other states
Our mistake was that we did not adequately
consider the fact (obvIous even them that in the
cotton states the structure, genius, and all the
tendencies of society, are controlled by the bar
barous and barbarizing institution of negro
slavery. 1t is the distinction of those states
that there the interest of slavery p-edominates
over every other interest in society, and the
influence Of slavery over every other influence
There is no mpossibiity Of permanent union
between states IN which slavery exists and
states IN which all men are free, if slavery may
be regarded as abnormal, an accidental and
temporary inconsistency, an evil which must
be endured tIll the progress ofcivilzation shall
remove ii. But when, in any portion of such
4 nnion inctifufipn of ela bas banopon
paramouht-the idea of slavery, as intrinsicaI-
ly right and good, controlling all legislation an1
public policy, all social and public morality, all
religious doctrine, and mingIlng with all the
impulses and aspirations OF patriotsm-then il
ls no longer possible for those states TO be com
pretended with free states in one nationality
To such Union the providence Of God has
said ''Two nations are in thy womb, and two
manner of people shall be separated from thy
bowels" We must accept the fact. Il is no
accident that has caused this secession. The
predOminance Of slavery in the cotton states
has produced there, distinct nationality, and
unless tint cause Of The present secession can be
the return CT the seeded states to
their place in the Union is not to be desired.
Let the Seeding States go How evident
is il that God, for great and baneicent purposes
OF his own, has permitted this insanity to come
upon them. Let them go to work out their
own destiny by themselves find if tie dtoeI-
lers on The Atiantac slope Of .North Carolina
md Vrginaa choose tdat destiny, Jet them foo
go? The policy Of coercion is impoticy. The |
boundary between the two inevitable national |
ties will be most wisely determined by the |.
elective affiniIles ofth population. Where