Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-04-24
VOL. XXXl.-WHOLE NO 1862.

that election cnuld resolve them. But
the solution is every way remarkable
For while Mr.. Lincoln is elected Presi-
dent-the majority of the nation is so de-
cidedly against him, that he would have
been beaten If the power of Congress to
to create uniform electoral districts had
ever been exercised ; nay, would have
been beaten under the existing system, il
all opposed to him had been allowed by
the corruption or folly of parties to unite
on one opponent. Moreover the solution
is further remarkable, IN this, that both
Houses of Congress, and, as is alleged,
the Supreme Court of the United States,
held his most dangerous opinions to be
unconstitutional and it is still further
remarkable in this, that Mr.. Lincoln
himself, while representing the Northern
section of the anarchial tendency of the
times, is known TO repudiate the original
principle of that faction concerning the
rendition of fugitive slaves-and is by
universal consent, even of his candid op-
ponents, an able, honest, and patriotic
man. At the end of thirty years Of works
ing of the spirit we have been tracing, a
decisive event had thus put the country
in a posture where it would clearly ap-
pear whether the the hereditary law-abi-
ding spirit of our race remained, the
great prop and safeguard of all our insti-
tutions or whether the spirit of anarchy
already so signally manifested at beth
eXtremetes of tbs nation, had so far
poisoned the national life OF our race al
its fountain, that the time had come for
one Of those great explosions OF human
passion which fill SO many melancholy
pages in the history Of our race.
s. II is not easy to conjecture, and it is
impossible to say with certainty, what
would have occurred il the late Presi-
dental election had terminated different
ly from what it din any one of the
various ways in which different termi-
nation was possible This far we may
now speak with cert'inty, that in some
form or other, the spirit of turbulent fa-
naticism which had pervaded the States
of the extreme North so long and so
! deeply, would not without miracle, such
as history does not record, have been al
I layed or composed under any defeat that
! was possible, in the state of national par
! ties as they are now known TO have eXis-
! ted at that time. For there was this ia:al
! element, long concealed generally
believed but openly avowed since the
secession Of south Carolina that secess
sion, rs the final and dc liberate choice of
the extreme South, was the point to wich
political opinion had beer long ard care,
fully traiLed, and political parties, long
and singly directed. This fatal training,
added to the widely diffuseI spirit y: arr
4 ii, t,,., ll,r
signal add unnecessary, and stimulated
by considerations OF the very highest i'm
portance connected with the question of
| the Black Race in every aspect of that
question-produced the apparently sud
den revolution which has already, when
these pages are written, led the six cotton
States (South Carolina, Mississippi, Flori-
da, Alabama, Georgia and LouisIana) TO
pass separate acts of secession from the
United States of America. Here then
is the consummation of this spirit of law
lessness and anarchy, working as we have
already said it universally works, unto the
disintegration - the mCrcelment Of all
things the consummation of it, so far
as TO embrace all the States producing
cotton, sugar and rice, as their great Sta'
pies. What is next to be determined is,
the fate of the mixed slave States
- those divided between farming and
planting North Carolina Tennessee, Ar
kansas and Texas); and then the fate OF the
border slave States, delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, Kentucky MisSouri): and then
we MAJ coniidentially add, the fate of the
nation. Whatever, IN the meantime, 1t is
of the last Importance bear in mind,
shall be the conduct OF the whole of the
free States (Ney Jersey, Pennsy lyania,
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa., may be
decisive alke of their own fate, and Of
that of all tie Iest Of the nation itself for
many generations.
6. Is it possible for any thoughtful per.
son to suppose, that thus spirit of reckless
disregard of all existing institutions, has
already accomplished all the results Of
which 1t is capable ? What shall prevent
it from the swallowing up all the remain=
ing slave States? What shall, after. that
is accomplished, prevent counter>revo.
luton in every one OF those slave Statesg
What shall prevent its taking some new
direction with still more vehement force,
throughout he wI)l North What
shall prevent counter revolution in every
Northern State2 And who can venture
TO hope, tha: everywhere tramples under
foot those institutions which everywhere
have been esteemed most sacred, and ev-
erywhere despises the most venerable and
the most cherished traditions OF our coun-
try and our race. will finally slake its
thirst in anything but human blood, or
fail 70 assuage its Unsuitable rapacity by
universal plunder? Cannot even the
blind see, that when laws are violated in
the name of morality and order, and con-
stitutions are set at nonght in the name of
liberty and security, and revolutions are
accomplished by terror and conducted
underline guidance OF Observation-Disclosures
that there can be no result to such a Ca
reer, as long as it has way. but the des-
truction OF everything that human govern.
ments are instituted to protect; and that
at every step OF the career the overthrow
of every salutary power and the disirteg-
ration of every healthful foice OF society.
more and more confirms the existence and