Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-09-05

traitors among our citizens. To all such
Holt has said, the word "Compr0nsiSe can
now be uttered only by disloyal lips or by
those openly or directly in the interests of
rebellion" To those who assert that there
is no disloyalty-he says Zone of the most
fearful obstacles which has been encountered
in the successful prosecution of this war, is
the disloyalty found in our midst. This is
especially true in relation to Washington
City and the Border States but it is in
degree true every where, and to this is
traceable much of that discouragement un-
der which the nation is now suffering. The
country is now rejoicing in those bold and
decided measures which the President is
taking to subdue this fatal source Of weak
ness and defeat" How this language of
Patriotic Democrat contrasts with the tone
of the Democratic Wathchman, and yet you
are compelled to admit that the war has
been forced upon the country by the Dis
unionists of the Southern States. Let US
ascertain when and how this was done and
the present situation of the war thus forced
upon US, that we may the better compre-
bend the sum of your offending. On the
9th day of March 1861 the rebel Congress
sitting at Montgomery, authorized Jeffer-
States OF raise an army of one hundred
thousand men, On the 18th day of April
! 1861 Fort Sumter was reduced and on the
same day, Walker, the Confederate Secre-
tarv of War, exulting iu the victory said
'.No man can tell where the war this day
commenced will end but | will prophesy
I'that the flag which now faunts the breeze
here will float over the dome of the old
| n. VNagbipnr laf,ra tbo of
| Nav. Let them try Southern chivalry and
test the strength of Southern resources
and it may float eventually over Faniuel
Hall ITSELF" On the 18th April 1861 Pres
! ident Lincoln issued his call for seventy-fve
Thousand volunteers to protect the Capital.
On the 10Th April, 1861, portions of these
volunteers, en- route to Washington. were in
suited, fred upon and murdered in the
streets Of Baltimore by the very men whom
you complain John G. Breckinridge was
prevented from addressing on his return
from the extra session of Congress in which
he had opposed all the leading war meas
ures of the administration, and this preyen-
ton of public speaking in honor of seces-
sionist of Kentucky, the guest of seees-
sionist of Mary land in the streets of city,
for he safety of the government under mar
| tail law, you denominate "Disgraeeful pro-
| ceedings.
| Prior to the call for volunteers we had
witnessed the seizure, byssrebeis, of United
| States Forts-the rihing Of United States
Mints-the firing on the United States
Flag-the capture Of United States sol-
diers-the pillqge Of United States Arse
nals-and the seizure Of Unitel States Ships
and Revenue Cutters. Whilst the Federal
! Government have entered upon Virginia
| soil in defence Of the National Capital, the
rebels have invaded the loyal States of
Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri. They
! have actually seized an arsenal in Kentucky
| and striped it of its cannon and muskets,
and even now Missouri is invaded for the
purpose Of forcing upon her people a
opposed and selfexled Governor, and for
driving out Of the Union State which pre-
| fers to maintain unimpaired her Federal
relations.
Congress, without distinction of party,
with very few dishonorable exceptions
(among whom unfortunately for the Demo
| cratic RatcbDoaR, and the late representa-
tives of the Centre county Democracy were
your friends Breok inridge and Fallanding-
ham voted FIVE hundred thousand men and
FIVE hundred millions of dollars for the
vigorous prosecution Of the war.
The President has called for men to Ell
up the ranks of the army, deminished by
the return of sixty thousand three months
volunteers.
The rebel army is pressing hard upon
Washington, and threatening from day to
day to pass the Potomac.
In circumstances like these, endangering
our national existense, it is the duty of
every good citizen to speak to his follow
only 'oords Of encouragement, to urge him
forward to sustain and uphold the Govern
ment as ordained by God-to speak Of the
war in which we are engaged, not as of our
own choice, hntas necessity forced uponus
by rebels and traitors-''a war in the sue
cessful issue Of which rests our only hope
for the integrity Of the Union and the
restoration of an honorable peace"-to urge
the emerge ic and vigorous prosecution Of
the war as the discharge Of daty 80 God and
man.
And, yet, you gentlemen, as Editors Of the
Democratic lVtctman, the mouth piece of
Centre county Democracy, say Democrats
want Peace. They never wanted blood,
they are sick of what they have already
had" You say Christianity does not call
the people to this work Of blood No IT'S
net the command of God? "Tis not the
teachings of Christ 'Tis the doctrine Of
devils y
Yours respectfully.
H. n. MCALLIsTEB.