Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-03-28

remarkable that since the secession of South
Carolina, every step in the progress of Disc
union has been taken without fairly present
ing the matter to the decision of the people.
Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi
went out with only partial reference of the
question to the popular vote. In Louisiana
there was an actual majority against secess
sion, though the fact was suppressed by the
Disunion leaders. In Texas not half of the
people voted on the question at all. The
question Of secession was fairly and deliber-
ately submitted to the people of Virginia,
Tennessee, Missouri, North Carolina and
Arkansas, and in each State there was large
majority against it. Kentucky and Mary
land did not even entertain the project or ask
for a vote on it, Thus in every case where
the people of Slave State have been honest
ly consulted, the decision has been for the
Union.
Having endeavored to establish a new re-
public without reference to the fundamental
principle of all republicanism, the will Of the
people, the secession managers are obliged te
continue the same course in all their proceed
ings: The delegates to the Montgomery
Convention were not chosen by the people; ;
the President and Vice President were not
chosen by the people the provisional Con-
stitution was not submitted to the people,
and now the permanent Constitution is also
to be withheld from them, and they are ex-
pected to obey it, without being allowed to
say whether it is acceptable to them or not.
The people Of Louisiana, of Georgia and, we
believe, of other States, have asked to be al
lowed to ratify the Constitution by vote /;
but the Conventions have refused this privi-
lege, and we presume like course will be
pursued 10 each Of the seeded States.
Secession is modern Democracy fully RI
pened. The name, Democracy-a governs
ment of the peol le-is used but the great
object, is to deprive the people of all such
rights as were guaranteed to them by the
Declaration of Independence and the Consti-
tuition of the United States. 1t was the per-
version of the good old Democratic princi-
pies that drove respectable men from the pa1
ty and led to the amazing growth of the Re-
publican party. There remained in the Dem
ocratic party at the North the ofice-holders
and hireliDg writers, with their adherents,
and they, when they found their party at
home hopelessly disorganized, determined to
sacrifice the Union itself, if by 80 doing they
could deprive the successful majority of the
enjoyment of the rights they acquired at the
ballot~box. Hence Secession is Democrat.
ic institution. 1t would never have had a
particle of success, but for the support of
northern Democrats, and the enc Suragement
and material aid Of Democratic President
and Democratic Cabinet Ministers. Thus,
the development of the doctrines of the Gin
cinnati aud Charleston platforms and the
practices of the Cincinnati and Charleston
| politicians has brought the nation to its pres
! ent lamentable condition. In this condition,
The voice of the people is not allowed to be
heard, and events are hurried on, govern
ments are overturned, laws and constitutions
are disregarded, oaths are broken, robbery
and treason are committed, trade is Destroy
ed, vorkmen are thrown out of employment,
civil war is threatened-and all this simply
for the sake of carrying out {" Democratic
principles The fully developed Democracy
is thus demonstrated to the Destruction.
When the people, latter TIE fury of this se-
cession tempest is passed, and the madness
of the revolution is seen and Acknowledged,
shall become able to centrol the reckless pol
iticians, we are quite sure that they will re
pent Of the disruption of the country which
they have suffered to be brought about. They
will, if war can be avoided, gradually come
| to admit the wrong that has been done, and
to deny the binding authority of the new
system of government which has been placed
over them without asking their consent. 1t
will be quite as easy to rescind secession
ordinance as it was to enact one. If the
Union is ever thus restored, the people, who
have suffered so bitterly, South ard North,
at the bands of the politicians. must take
measures to prevent any revival of the doc
trines and practices, and any restoration to
influence of the leaders of the false Democ :
racy, which has broken the Union once, and
will disturb its peace so long as it has any
pewer.-PhiPa. Bulletin,