Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-01-31
SECRETARIES.
Concession and Com promise.

These are terms frequently used in theee
troublous times And there are many men
who are willing to concede every thing to
compromise the difficulties which environ the
Union. They reflect but little upon who or
what has produced the crisis which imperls
our form of government, but are anxious on
ly to avert the calamity which threatens, by
some peaceable remedy, They are sadly ag-
itated at the thought of cpercing State in
to submission. and would rather dissolve this
fair fabric of government by submitting to
peacablA secession, than adopt the maxim of
the immortal jackson, and declare that the
g. Union must and shall be preserved y
There has been worse than wemanish weak
ness exhibited on this subject at Washington
on the part of the President, bis Cabinet and
both Houses of Congress, and we are not sur
prised that. like an infectious disorder, it has
had an effect in less distinguished places and
amongst men from whom we ought to ex-
poet less.
For our part we cannot see how we can
concede to and com promise with traitors who
have risen With arms in their hands defied
the government, seized upon her public ar
sensls forts ard Notifications. fired upon the
flag four country, and continue in open re-
bellion to law and order It is very pretty
thing TO talk about conce1ing something
fer the sake OF the Union," but in what other
fha 10 of he vfnb
an idea be entertsine under similar circum>
stances?
We doubt very much whether the S:ate
which have conceded can be reached by any
compromises which might be offered. The
train of circumstances developed show cOb-
cert of action and plan OF operations which
have been maturing for years, under the aid
and encouragement Of traitors in the Cabinet
and in other high places, showing deep
seated and long concocted scheme of disuuon
and secession, AID exhibiting a matured de
termination TO accomplish tie end in view.
The trnth is, these men were determined to
rule or ruin" And when the result of the
Presidential election ann sunced to them that
their day Of rue" was ended, ru n" be. .
came their watchword; and the rapidity
with which secession has spread, proves, If
there was no other evidence, that the train
was laid yea since, aud the traitors only
awaited a favorable opportunity to apply the
match and pillow our government to frag-
ments.
Now, what do such men care about cam
cession and compromise? Nothing at all !!
And no new guarantees can be given than
thoss eDgrafted in the Constitution. In
that instrument are found provisions amply
sufficient to protect each section in It's pecu-
liar rights and institutions. All that is nee
essary is to have these provisions put in force
by laws faithfully executed. For our part
we go for the Constitution as it is and the
Union as it is, and for preserving il by all
the means at the command of the Federal
government, without regard to consequences
and at all hazards.
If any compromise can be effected, with
ont violating principles, and without dishon-
or, most heartily would we concur in any
such measures as would bring order out of
confusion, and stay civil war with its atten
dent horrors. But come what will the unity
Of this government must be preserved. To
admit tho light of State to secede, without
the consent of her sisters, from the Union, is
doctrine rspugnant to every just view of oIs
sacred compact and a tacit acknowledgment
that our government is but rope of sand,
sutjecs to the caprice and whim Of the smal-
lest section which may at any time choose TO
assert its sovereignty and dissolve the CONS
pact Crawford Journal.