Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-04-17

sure very many OF our FeadeIs WIZ III" "
difficult TO realize-it is well to inquire
what, in such an emergency, IS the duty
of Democrats? The answer is best
furnished by reference to the past history
OF the Democratic party, and to the thor
oughly national and patriotic principles
upon which it is founded and, although
opinions as TO what course Democrats
,hould now pursue may vary as much as
they ever have upon any other question
presented to the American people, yet we
apprehend that those who fully compre-
hend, and properly appreciate, the pur-
poses Of its organization, can have no dit
Gculty in deciding what course to pursue.
Every Democrat can console himself
with the reflection that neither he nor his
party is in any respect responsible for our
present troubles. Beginning with 1910,
the Democratic party, foreseeing the Ger
tain dissolution Of the Union in the event
Of the practical application of the North
ern Anti-SlaveIy sentiment in the Admins
istration of the General Government, was
careful to embrace in all its platforms, the
plain and clear doctrines Of the Consttu-
ton, aud which were as cordially accept
able in the far South as in the North. Its
competitor-the old Whig party did the
same thing. Between these two parties,
therefore, the country, so far as the ques-
ton of Slavery, or questions Of sectional
preiudices were concerned, was entirely
safe. But, ten years later, the Whig par
ty, finding itself controlled, in great
measure, by the Abolition spirits OF both
Old and New England, ceased to be Ma
t:onal party, and its speedy dissolution
followed-and out of its ruins grew the
present sectional Republican party, which
IS completely under the control Of the
Abolitionists.
Our present troubles are the legitimate
fruits of the success of a party elevated to
the control of the Government upon the
distinctive doctrine of hostility TO the in
stitution of Slavery and for which, we res
peat, the Democracy is in no way resNon-
sible- having dore all in their power to
prevent the success of that party, by warm
ing the people Of the consequences that
would certainly follow, and which We are
now realizing.
But while we are thus clearly blameless,
'ye still have duties TO perform, as citizens,
and it is well for US carefully to consider
what those duties are, and how they shall
be performed What the Future has in
store for us, a. a natiCn, time can only
unfold. 1t is the mighty Present with
which we are now dealing. We should
reflect that we are in imminent danger Of
losing our nationality and not only this,
but that we are in equal danger of losing
this nationality only after long years Of
intestine war, hloodshed and anarchy
And what reflection! What patriots
heart does not shudder at the dreadful
thought? Six months ago, the first among
tho nations of the earth nov, on the
very brink Of utter and hopeless ruin -
Shall this be Can nothing be done to
avert this dreadful fate? Is there no pos,
sibie way Of escape? Alas, we can as yet
see no hope, and can only rely upon the
inscrutable providenceS Of the Great King
of Nations for deliverence.
In the meantime, it is our duty to sus-
tain "the powers that be :" and although
we emphatically condemn and denounce
the policy Of tie President, yet We are not
insensible to the fact that tho Govern
ment at Washington is entitled to orr al
legiance. Constitutionaily elected, Mr..
Lincoln is the Chief Magistrate cf the ma
ton, and as such must he sustained by ey-
cry good citizen. But lie is Il Constitu,
tionsl President--not a Dictator and his
duties are as clearly defined, and as nice
ly restricted, as those of any of his subor-
dinates. Beyond these restrictions he
cannot move without authority from Con.
gress. Hence he cannot declare war, nor
cali out the militia, except in case of in
NuslOu' pHOulu hO iiiaAilN ulttlult tnt
subjugation Of the seeded States, md Jy
force Of arms undertake 10 compel them to
return TO their allegiance to the Union.
it would be folly to expect TO be sustained,
for the plain reason that the common
sense Of every unprejudiced mind would
see that the end desired-the restor.
alton Of the Union oanuot possibly be
attained in this way. Hence we see the
wisdom of our foreiatheis in so carefully
defining the duties Of our Chief Maiistrate.
The voice of every Democrat in the free
States, and we believe in all the States
still in the Union, is in favor of res>
toration o! our once great and powerful
Coniedcracy at the earliest possible mo-
menl, and upon such basis Of equality
and justice thpt it may endure forever
fIba & L., Ia