Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-02-01
aWno ARE RESPONSIBLE ~

Under tais caption, the Gazette of last
week hae an article, in which it attempts to
place the blame Of The present difficulties be-
tween The North and tue South, upon the Re
publican party. We can clearly prove by the
Southern traitors themselves, that it has long
been their settled purpose TO secede from this
glorious confeder4ey, and set up great cot
toD government, with the avowed purpose of
Free Trade, and The rcopening Of the hclsish
African Slave Trade. These plaus were focm-
cd and n.amred long before the rise Of the
Republican party. What are lhe facts
When, iu the year 1850, it was proposed to
convene ''Southern Congress" for lie iuira-
tion Of measures looking to tue defence of the
South, a debate was had Oh the topic 10 The
Legislature of South Carolina, from which we
sakc fcw excerpts, sufficient to show the
spirit which then prevailed in that cody. We
quote from the Charleston Courier's report of
the debate at that time:
"Mr. w. S. LJles said Be Sould not reca-
pitUlatc the series of wrongs inflicted upon us.
ani the ouly question which he would consid-
er was the renaedy. The remedy is the union
Of the South and The formation of Southern
ConfedeSqcy. The friends of the Southern
snovemept IN tho other States look TO the act1on
of South CGToiilla; AMI he would make the
issue IN reasonable time, aud the only way
TO do SO is by secession. There would be no
concert among the Southern States until
Jloao as Struck
"Air. Sullivan proceeded to discuss tAe SOW
erelgnty Of the States and the right of seces-
elon, and denied the right or the power of the
General G9gerDme0t to coeree tie State iE
case OF secession. lie thought there never
would be union of the South until this State
strikes the bioac, and makes the issue.
''hr. Z. D. Richardson would not rtespitu-
iat' the evils which had been perpetrated npon
the South. Great as they have been, they are
comparatively unimportant when compared
with the evils to which they would inevitably
lead. We unst not consider what we hare
borne, but What We must bear hereafter.-
There is no remedy for these evils ia the Gov
ernmeLt; we nave no alternative left US, then.
but 10 come oat of the Gouernment.
"MT. Preston said be waa opposed to calling
Convention, because be thought il would i'm
P0dS toS aStVu " tHtS Otdfe on Inc QueSUolS
now before the country He thought ii ,could
imP@de our progress fowords dtSunion. All
his objections t) a Congention of the people
applied oaiy 10 lie proposition 10 call il noso
lie thought Conventions dangerous things,
except Wien tbs necessities of tie country al
saluieiy demand them. lie said be had adopt-
cd The course be bad taken on these weiphty
matters simply ani entirely vuh the viec Of
hosfeaiag the dissolution Of this Union.
"Mr. Keit. said he would sustain The bill
for electiug delegates to Southern Congress
because he ibo0ght it eoutd bring cbout a
more speedy dissotQtion Of tie Uaion.'
Equally significant are the declarations made
u The open sessioas of the "sovereigu Con-
Vent'on" lately assembled a, South Carolina.
A few extracts from the debates bad on the
passage Of tic ordinance of secession. and
other proceedings, sill set this point in a clear
liglr:
eMr. Parker. Mr.. President it appears TO
me, with great Difference to the opinions tbat
have bsen expressed, that the pubic mind IS