The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-02-07
UniOn1sln.

SO universally, instinctively, and ardently
cherished by the American People, that
it has for years been assiduously professed
and played upon by our Pro-Slavery poll
ticians as their most potent enginery.-
"The Union, the Union forever has been
their toast and song. Disloyalty to the
Union and desire to subvert the Consti-
tuition, have been charged by them upon
their hated antagonists so positively and
persistently that some of them may by
this time have dinned themselves into a
half that there is some truth at the
bottom Of this senseless calumny. Year
after year have the Disunion diatribes of
Garrison, and the philippics oe his more
eloquent confederate and eulogist, been
paraded in the Pro-Slavery journals as
Republican, until thousands OF ordinarily
intelligent citizens this day, actually be-
lieve both Garrison and Phillips leading
Repubhcans-that they voted for Fremont
and Lincoln, and urged others to dc like
wise! Men who do not sign with cross
have, until within the last two months,
really talked as if they supposed the dis
ruption aud ruin of the Confederacy
were the chief ends of Republican et-
fort
During the late canvass, the People
were agonizingly implored by the Demo-
cratic, and more especially by the Bell
Everett oracles, to vote down the Repub-
licansin behalf of the Union. ''The Union
ticket" was run against us in this and 9th
er States, and thousands voted it with
no other intent than that of preserving
and perpetuating the Union.
III did not ayail-the Republicans tri-
umphed And no man can truly say that
whether Ia or out of power, the party
which has elected Lincoln and Hamlin
ever threatened to break uV- or break
out of the Confederacy. When soreiy
tried by the passage of the Nebraska bill
when deeply moved by the fragrant
wrongs of kansas-when saddened by the
triumph of Buchanan--when gladdened
by the election of Lincoln-it has been
steadily loyal in attitude and act. Wheth-
er IN victory or defeat, no Republican
State has regarded disunion as either de-
sirable in itself or a remedy for existing
evils
Pro-Slavery Democracy, on the other
hand, after engrossing and enjoying pow
er for years on the strength of It's devotion
to the Union, now having lost power rath-
er through its own feuds and fights than
through the superior force of its oppo-
nents, siezes frantically upon the pillars
Of the Union and endeavors to drag down
the fabric they uphold. Since Unionsm
no longer pays, Democracy tacks ship and
steers for disunion Give way to us or
We'll dissolve the Union!" is virtually
the menace and the demand of the most
decided Democratic States and section.
Whether this threat be earnest or hol-
low-apd with some it is the one, with
others the other-it is manifest violation
OF the first principles Of constitutional lib
erty. 1t Is addressed, not to the under
standing, the reason of the Republicans,
Dut to their fears. 1t says to them in eff
fect-"We know you do not think you
ought to do what we require yet you must
for we will make you" Its necessary
tendency is to transform our Government
Of intelligence and reason into one based
on force and fear
1t seems to US that concession to these
threats must be the grave of constitutions
al freedom. Legislators must cease to
deliberate when the questions at issue are
to be decided by cannon. 1t is of little
consequence that the exactions thus backed
be moderate or immoderate, endurable or
inadmissible. The objection is to conce-
ding at all to demands made in this spirit
and enforced by such appeals to the pre-
sumed weakness of the Government, the
cowardice of the loyal. Let us first estab-
ilsh the right of tho Union to exist before
we decide on the merits of the various
nostrums prescribed by those who assume
that it is already in the throes of dissolu-
ton.
At all events, the pretense of exclusive
or at least especial, devotion to the Union
hitherto put forth by the Pro-Slavery fac
tlohs Is thoroughly exploded. Search
lnSly anaiyzed, 1t rests on an assumption
that, while the Republicans are sure to
remain loyal at all events, their adversa-
rles are only loyal as long as they have
their own way so it is safer to let them
have their way, and thus obviate all dam
ger of a disruption. The logic that coun-
sells such Difference to violence and men,
ace would require the appointment of the
most unprincipled and selfish aspirant to
office in each case-he being far more like
ly to bolt anu make trouble, if defeated.
than his worthier competitors 1t is i'm
possible that the Reput licans should max e
concessions in the face Of such threats
without forfeiting their own self-respect
and the confidence of the country.
If an amendment to the Federal Con-
stltution is desired, that Constitution clear
ly prescribes the method in which alone