Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-02-20

Hon. Abraham Lincoln, President elect of
the United States, aow on has way to Wash
ington City. visited Pit;sburg on last Thurs
day, and remained until the morning of the
next day. He delivered two speeches while
there; one Immediately after his arrival at
the Monongahela House, the other before he
left in the morning. The perusal of these
speeches, is not calculated to produce the i'm
preston on an unprejudiced mind, that the
President elect is anything more than second
rate orator aud statesman. His evasion of all
efforts to get an opinion cat of him with regard
60 our national difficulties, reminds us forci-
bly, of the story of the old woman, which
went the rounds of the papers short time
since. She was asked her opinion concern
ing q neighbor. WE'LL she replied, l dcL t
like to talk about my neighbors. Sometimes
think, and then again l don't think, but
after all, guess aeighbor Jones will turn
out to be Just the kind of man take him
70 be- Just SO with the rail splitter in all
his recent speeches, when referring to the
perilous position in which the Government is
now placed by the formidable and thoroughly
organized secession movement in the South
ern States Sometimes he thinks, and then
again he don't think, but after all he is con-
hdent matters will turn out exEc.iy as he an
ticipates He thinks that the crisis is an ar
ti6cial one, and that the grievances complain
ed of by the Southern States are imaginary.
1t is evident that he is at heart coerciouist
and opposed to all compromises which would
result in the amendment of the Constitution,
but be is either too timid or too dishonest to
say so like man. He must frs. know the
views of those who are to have charge of him
and his Office daring the next four years, be-
fore he commits himself on any of the impor-
tant political issues now agitating the public
mind.
Mr.. Lincoln admits that the present con-
dition of the country is an extraordinary one,
and fills the mind of every patriot with anx-
iety and solicitu le- Why then his silence at
such crisis 1t is the right of every Amer
ican citizen, whether occupying an exalted or
humble position, to express his views freely
ut all times, on all questions agitating the
public mind. The fact that man has been
elected President of the United States, does
not deprive him of tnat right. tits, as Dan
iel Webster once truly said, homebred
right, 6reside privilege, and its fearless ex-
ercise by Mr. Lincoln at the present time,
would, SO far from being wrong, be highly
commendable. A few words of enlightened
patriotism from his lips, might do much
towards restoring tranquility to the country,
and averting the fearful storm which is now
too evidently coming on. Delays are DOW dan
gerous. for the events of years, under ordi-
nary circumstances, may chance in a crisis
like this. to be compressed into weet or even
day. We are slumbering over powder
magazine, to which the fatal match may be
applied at any moment 1t is essentially
necessary that Congress should pass some
measure looking towards conciliatioE and
compromise. before it adjourns, and we doubt
not Mr.. Lincoln by word could secure the
passage o. such a measure. Congress will
adjourn on the End of March. and he will be
inaugurated on the 4th After that nothing
can be done until next December 1t will
then, We fear, bs too late to talk about the