Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-06-06

Letting Alone

All that we wanted" says Mr.. JEFF Davis
is to be let alone.n All that the Rebels in
Charleston wanted, when they were for five
months building batteries to fire upon the
United States flag and take United States
fortress, was to be let alone. All that the
rebels of New Orleans wanted, when they
stole the Mint. was TO be let alone. All that
Gen. Brax;on Bragg wanted, as he concen-
trated troops and reared batteries against
Fort Pickens, was to be let alone. All that
the rebels who took the nayy-yard and hos>
pitals at Pensacola wanted, was to be let
alone. All that Floyd wanted, as he robbed
the treasury of the United States and put the
arms OF the people of the country. within
reach of the rebellion, was to be let alone.
All that Toucy wanted, as be sent the ships
away and put the navy-yards into the hands
Of weak men, was to be let alone, All that
Cobb wanted, as he strained himself to cre-
ate disastrous financial panic in the coun-
try, was to be let alone. All that the Vir-
ginia traitors who went to seize the arsenal
at Harrer's Ferry, and were going to pos.
sess the navy-yard at Gosport wanted, was
to be let alone. All that the Baltimore Plug
Uglies want at this moment is to be let alone.
And JEFF Davis, at the head of q rebellion
which struggles to destroy the government
of the United States, and would snatch
Washington if it conld, merely wants to be
let alone. Yes, and Gay Fawkes going to
touch the slow-match which should explode
the powder in the cellar Of the Parliament
House only wanted to be let alone. Hicks,
who who murdered the sloop's crew last only
wanted to be let alone. The forger writing
your own name. the incendiary kindling
your store, the thief picking your pocket, the
burglar breaking into your house, only want
to be let alone.
My friend, if you cry out so Justify, when
you see the sheriffSs officer coming, that you
want to be let alone, / shall do my best to
detain you until the eficer comes up.
During all the years in which the mind Of
section of the country has been carefully
prepared for this rebellion, the leaders of the
movement of their friends have said, polite
ly. "All that we wish is to be let alone
We think that we understand ourselves bet
ter than you uL derstand us-so, if you please
only let as aloae." There was an inexpress
ible sarcasm in this request. They certain-
~ did understand themselves better than we
understood them. They acere let alans"-
and this is the consequence.
They have led US by the nose and kicked
US, and laughed at US, and scorned Us in
their very souls as cravens and tuppenny
tinkers. They have swelled. and swaggered,
and sworn, ard lorded it in Washington and
at the North, as if they were peculiarly gen.
hemen, because they lived by the labor Of
wretched men and women whom they did not
pay-whom they sold to pay their debts, and
whipped and MANNED savagely at their pleas
ure. They have snorted superciliously about
their rights, while they deprived four mill
ions Of human beings of all rights wbatso'
ever, and have sought to gain such control
of the General Government shat they might
override altogether the state laws which pro-
tect the equal rights of men. They have
aimed to destroy the bene6cient popular sys-
tenn which peacefully and patiently and law
| fully was working out the great problem OF
civilization and while they have been dig
ging about the foundations of the temple to
make sure of its downfall, they have loftily
! replied to our inquiries. We only want to
be let alone"
The teachery, the Deanness, of the whole
rebellion now stand exposed to the world
There is nothing heroic in it, nothing just,
nothing fair; nothing that appeals to any
emotion iu the breast of honest men but de-
testation and contempt. The only two things
that have lately fourished in the region
which has bred this rebellion are cotton and
treason. And the conspiTatcrs, who have
now made this clear enough to the dullest
mind, will discover that the Government oi
their country will "1et them alone" only
when they haye paid the penalty of the mt st
m9nstrous social crime by fight or the hal
ter, and when the seeds of the treason they
have sown are utterly destroyed = Harper s
Weekly.