Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-01-24

| fTOVluenco WIN prOluse nDerallty. Ou
temperate climate, productive soil, and in
exhaustible mineral wealth, hace stimulates
the industry of our people and impr ovet
the skill of our mechanics, 20 develop
enlarge and protect the interests which grow
out of our national advantages, have becom
cardinal principles Of political economy il
Pennsylvania, and the opinion everywher
prevails among our people that development
progress and wealth depend on educated
and requited labor ;,..and that labor, and thu
interests sustained by it. should be adequate
ly protected against foreign competition
The people of Pennsylvania have always
favored that policy which aims to elevate
and foster the industry of the country ir
the collection of revenue for the support Of
the General Government and whenever
they have had the opportunity, in a faii
election, they have vindicated that policy al
the ballot-box. When the trade was pros
trated and their industry paralized by the
legislation IF the General Government, which
favored adverse interests, they waited pa
tiently for the return of another opportunity
to declare the public will in a constitutional
manner, In the late election of President
of the United States, the principle Of pro-
lection was one Of the prominent issues.
With the proceedings of Congress at its
lest session fresh in their memories, . large
majority of the people of Pennsylvania en-
rolled themselves in an organization, which,
in its declaration of principles, promised, il
successful, to be faithful to their suffering
interests and languishing industry. Pro-
te.tion to labor was one Of the great princi-
pies of its platform; it was inscribed on its
banners; it was advocated by its public
journals and throughout the canvass it was
leading text Of the orators of the success.
full party.
This is propitious moment to declare
that while the people Of Pennsylvania were
not Indifferent to other vital issues of the
canvass. they were demanding justice for
themselves in the recent election, and had
no design to interfere with or abridge the
rights of the people of other States. The
growth Of our State had been retarded by
the abrogation of the principle of protection
from the revenue laws of the national gov
ernment; bankruptcy had crushed the en-
ergies Of many of our most enterprising
citizens; but no voice of disloyalty or treason
was heard, nor was an arm raised to offer
violence to the sacred fabric of our national
Union. Conscious of their rights and their
power, our people looked to the bailot-box
alone as the legal remedy for existing evils.
In the present unhappy condition of our
country, it will be our duty to unite with the
people Of the States which remain loyal to
the Union, in any just and honorable meas
ures of Cancellation and fraternal kindness.
! Let us invite them to join US in the fulfil
ment of our obligations under the Federal
Constitution and laws. Then we can cor,
daily unite with them in claiming like
obedience from those States which have
renounced their allegiance. If the loyal
States are just and moderate, without any
sacrifice Of right or self respect the threat
ened danger may be averted.
Ours is q National Government. 1t has
within the sphere of its action all the attri-
hutes of sovereignty, and among these are
the right and duty of self-preservation. 1t
is based upon compact to which all the
people of the United States are parties. 1t
is the result of mutual concessions, which
were made for the purpose of securing re-
ciprocal benefits. 1t acts directly on the
people, and they owe it personal allegiance
No part of the people, no State nor comhi-
nation of States, can voluntarily secede
from the Union, nor absolve themselves
from their obligations to Ii, To permit a
State to withdraw at pleasure from the
Union, without the consent of the rest, is
to confess that our government is a failure.
Pennsylvania cannot acquiesce in such a con-
spiracy, nor assent to doctrine which in-
wolves the destruction of the Government.
IF the Government is to exist. all the re-
quirements Of the Constitution must be
obeyed and it must have power adequate
to the enforcement of the supreme law Of
the land in every State, 1t ia the first
duty of the National authorities to stay the
progress of anarchy and enforce the laws,
and Pennsylvania with united people
will give them an honest, faithful and 40
tive support. The people mean TO preserve
the integrity of the National Union at every
hazard.
The Constitution which was originally
framed to promote the welfare of thirteen
States and four millions of people, in less
than three quarters of a century has en-
hraoed thirty-three States and thirty mil
lions of inhabitants. Our territory has
been extended over new climates, including
people with new interests and wants, and
the Governments has protected them all
Every thing requisite to the perpetuity o
the Upian and its expanding power, would
seem to have been foreseen and provided
for by the wisdom and sagaoity Of the fran
ers of the Constitution.
1t is all we desire or hope for. and oil
that our fsllow-countrymsn who complain
can reasonably demand. 1t provides sha
amendments which Congress hfsy propose
ths careful and delibersse cbnsidsrasion