Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-01-17
For he Centre Democrat.
Aggression and Secession.

AQgT6SSlGU duu DSCcoSlOu.
Mr.. EDITOR: The continuous cry of ag-
gression that has been raised by Southern
against Northern States, seems not only to
have imbued the South with the idea that
they have be sn teacherously dealt with, but
many of the noble miRds of the North have
had their sympathies SO far excited by the
oft repeated cry that they have, at last sue
cumbed to the fassehood. 3 -
Believing that the best interest OF each
state would be best secured BY union OF
the whole under one government, the people
by their representatives drafted and adopted
the cor stitution of these United States, as the
basis of national Government whose leg-
isatiye powers should be vested in Con~
gress. and Senate of the United States. In
the development Of the country under this
new government. different sections were
found to be adapted to different pursuits, and
dEerent interests soon begun to call upon
Congress for protection, amongst which we
nay note the Cotton, Tobacco end other pro-
ducts of the South, which were promptly se'
cured by Legislation without single dissen-
ting vote from any northern state.
AS the mineral resources of the north and
its adoption 10 manufacture as well as agri-
culture begun to be understood, it was found
necessary TO ask Congress for that protection
from foreign competition which would enable
US to employ our own labor, in the deyelop>
mept OF our mineral wealth and manufaetu
ring Interests, the spirit in which this re.
quest was received by the Southern states is
patent to ste world; Opposition little start of
the most deadly hs'stili,y at once fired the
southern heart and one state at least took
inisatory steps for the dissolution OF the Con-
| federadv rather thnn see northern labor so
protected as to enable 1t to compste with the
Save labor of the sauth and this same idea
| that the free labor of the north should not
| be allowed to compete either with the serf
| labor IF the old world. or the owned labor of
the Southern states, has caused in them
steady and continued opposition to al pro-
| lection for northern products until our maI-
| ufactories are ruined, and cur labor has been
driven to seek an outlet in the wilds of the
west where they might reasonably expect
that they would be allowed TO tuild houses,
and open homes for themselves in peace. but
even a the wilderness owned labor must
persecute their still, their houses must be
Surrt, their "a ms laid waste, their families
bu G. cred, their laws trampled upon, and Il
slave-eudc forced upon them at the point OF
the bayonst'
| Again wien tie South asked Congress to
| protect their right in their negro's by passing
| a rendition fugitive slave law. no Northern
Stare threatened to dissolve the Union, tho
by their State Constitutions, no coersion
could bs prac;ised, except upon fugitive
from Justice, and consequently the law was
an aggression on the constitutional rights OF
eyery FREQ state and even low number of
Q ~ knVr., dIu-
solve The Union, because among other things
1'tf which they complain they say that the
| free States have passed laws forbiding kid
napping end which prevents the South from
stealing free negroes of the North. and mo-
king slaves Of them in the cotton fields ol the
| South.
In view Of the alarming position asaumed
| BY South Carolina, would it be well for ouS
Ssua,ors and members Of Congress from tie
| North, 10 put sackcloh on their lons, and
ropes n.,heir heads. Tor round their necks, J
| and GO to this chiyalric and warlike people,
and say to them, ''if you will only forgive ID
this time and stay in The Union, you may
steal every free negro in the North. and We
won't say O word, and if this is not enough,
whv there are our Orphan Asylums. you can
empty them and take ihe occupants Siuth
and call them quadroons. there will be efno
danger for they have no friends TO ceri9s n
convenient inquiries; and rather than you
/ should be put to Inconvenience. IT you are
| till too short of slaves, we will allow you 10
take tie poor laborers of the North, such as
may best suit you, until your .cotton leids
are amply supplied and 50 far as elecling
! President is concerned, we acknowledge that
we knew that the South did net allow Us to
elect man from one nt the Free States, no
matter what his politics were. and we are
sorry that we rebelled against your orders.
and promise that we viii do s, no more. but
always ask you who we shall vote for. y yo,t
aciH only stay in the Union and moi secede"
| MEMO