Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-01-03
SECESSION AND CONCESSION.

South Carolina has declared herself an inde-
pendent nation. On Thursday, the 10th ult,
the Peoples Sovereignty Convention passed
without o dissenting voice the following ord
nance
We. the people of South Carolina, in Con-
vention assembled, do declare and ordain, and
it is hereby declared and ordained, that the
ordinance adopted by US in convention on the
23d day of May, in the year of our Lord 1888.
whereby the constitution OF the United States
of America was ratified, and Also all acts and
parts of acts of the General Assembly OF this
State ratifying amendments Of the said conSti
tuition, are hereby repealed, aud that the Union
now subsiStiRg between South Carolina and
other States. nnder the name of the United
States of America is hereby dissolved.
Well, the long agony of apprehension is
over. From the dire forebodings Of the Ca
Iamities that would follow this act. we confess
to q feeling of relief as we find that the sun
still maintains its position in the heavens, and
that the face of nature is unchanged. So long
she had become to regard it as an event fraught
with the choicest blessings to themselves, and
greatest horrors to the world at large and
upon its cousummation stood and gazed for the
ruin she had made. But she is disappointed
in the result. 1t was received without an emo
tion, save one of pity,-as one would pity the
maniac who applies the blazing torch to his
own home. Carolnans may meet in COnVen-
tion,-wave their palmetto fags,-howl trea'
son till they are hoarSe, 1T is no doubt pleas
ant amusement but there are other things to
be looked at in hours of calmer judgment that
may perhaps tend TO alIay her enthusiasm and
recall her wandering reason. She has how to
consider the cost Of maintaining a separate
government of defending her coast, of main
tanning an army sufficient to allay her fears Of
insurrection, Of supporting Tavy for the pro-
lection of her commerce-if she should have
any, and of defraying the expenses of mail
transportation. All this will cost money it
caanot be done by resolutions and ordinances
and with her limited population, and her doc
trine of free trade-drawing revenue from no
source whatever, the question, how is it to be
done when it comes to the pinch, will DE one
of great meaning. We can hardly believe
when we compare the proud position which
her orators assign her among the nations (D
of the earth, with her actual resources, that
she can be in earnest in her assumption of na-
tionality. 1t would be easier to think that it
is the last desperate resort of desperate and
fool hardy men to gain by intimidation some
great concession which would guarantee for
ever tie extension and pcrpetuatlon of Bla-
very.
For concession has been substituted the
word 'conciliaton," which means that the
North must give up, She must surrender the
fruits Of her victory She mnst practically IN.
do the election of Lincoln. She must with
draw her opposition to the extension of slavery,
acknowledge the right of property in slaves,
wherever found, permit Shareholders to travel
with their slaves in the free States, and incor-
porate the Dred Scott decision into the Cons
titution. When she has done this, tied her
own hands, dishanded the Republican party,
surrendered power into the hands of the South,
put down free speech and free press, and
planted her Beck under the heels of slavery,
the South will be paciiied This is "ConcilIi-
alton" 1t is this, nothing less and nothing
else, no matter under what generalities aud
fine phraseology it may be cloakeG
What say the Republicans to this program
me? Are they ready, after conquering, TO
take the position of the conquered-to become
victims instead Of victors Are they ready 10
surrender their principles for the sake Of peace
Can they conquer, no: their prtjndices, but
their convictions, and lay down the fruits Of
their triumph at the feet OF their opponents
This is what is asked OF them, and they are
even asked to pray that Heaven would help
them to do it,
For ourselves we stand by the platform of
the party. 1t is founded upon The Constitn-
tion and upon the doctrines of the fathers of
the Republic A firm adherence to it will do
more than concessions wrung from timidty and
fear If South Carolina will not return nn-
less ''conciliated," let her go in peace 1t will
be less loss than to lose our own honor aud
self-respcct.
PASSAGE OF THE PACIFIC RAILROAD Bill