Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-01-10

planned of would have been found or placed
among the Statutes of single State. They
ought never to have been enacted. They
should be repealed. They will be repealed
unless revolutionary action at the South
should render the repeal unnecessary
While / admit that they are just ground of
complaint have yet to learn that they have
ever prevented the return Of q single fugi-
tive. Said laws are just cause for COM
plant, but not an adequate cause for revo-
luton.
That these laws are not the cause of the
present trouble, appears from the fact that
so little is known respecting them at the
South. The ignorance manifested by a
Southern Governor respecting them, shows
that they are not the cause of the present
trouble.
Does not the real cause lie in the depar-
ture of the scepsre of power from the South
For the first time for half century, an Ex-
ecutive has been chosen who is not pledged
to be subservient TO the interests of the
South Before be can perform single exec.
utive act, before there is the slighgtest evi-
dence that be will not administer the Gov
ernment according to the Constitution, the
signal for revolution is given.
I am reluctantly compelled to believe, as
you say, that 'the Southern mind glows as
furnace in its hatred CT rhe North" but l
believe that hatred to be without cause. 1t
has arisen from making the whols North re-
sponsible for the fanatical acts Of few
The North has not held the whole South re-
sponsible for those who would reopen the
African Slave Trade.
An overwhelming majority at the North
haYe no feelings of hatred toward the South.
They do not, it is true, believe that one man
can be the chattel of another. They do not
believe thateGod made men and women to
be bought and sold in the market. They do
not believe that it is right to take the daugh-
ter from the mother, or the wife from the
husband, and sell them to strangers. They
do not believe it is right to withhold the
word of God from souls fer whom Christ
died, They believe that the SYSTEM of Amer
ican slavery is wrong-that every one who
buys and holds and sells his fellow man for
purposes of gain, is great sinner before
God
At the same time they believe that one
may without sin, sustain the legal relation of
master, provided it be for the good of the
slave, anu until such time as freedom
would be blessing For those Christian
shareholders who recognize manhood in the
slave, and who strive to do their duty to him
the great majority of Northern Christians
have the deepest sympathy. They would
gladly leave the solution of the problem of
slavery in their hands. They would give
them all the aid in their power.
An overwhelming majority of all classes
at the North, have no disposition to interfere
with slavery as il exists in the States. They
believe thas the responsibility rests with the
States, and are prepared to abide by the pro-
visions of the Constitution. They were pre-
pared to stand by the Missouri Compromise,
but since that has been repealed by Southern
Influence, they will not be accessory to the
extension of system which they beheYe to
be wrong.
admit that there is growing " feeling
in the Free States, which says, Let tho South
co." but i. is not feeling of hostility. But
if the South is resolved to break down the
protecting barriers of the Constitution, if she
is determined that the North shall say that
slavery is right and ought to be extended, if
she insists that we shall regard human be-
ings as property, if she insists that she shall
be permitted to bring her slaves to the free
homes of the North, if she insists that North
ern freeme en- shall give utterance to no opin>
ions which differ from those of the slavehold Id
er-if concessions like these must be the
Union, then will the voice of the North, like
the voice of many waters, be heard saying,
i" Let the South co." but even that voice
will be lifted up in sorrow, not in anger.
Tn North is aware of the fact that the
agitation has reached the minds of the
F slave population of the South, and rendered
every home in the distracted land insecure" "
How did this come to pass Not 5y means
of Abolitionist emissaries, for they have not
been in communication with one slave in ten
thousand. Their masters havs declared in
their hearing that it was the purpose of the
North to free the slaves. The uRfounded
assertions o { the master have reached the
minds of the slaye." This is said in SORROW
not in exultation We sympsthize with
"the CONSERVATION which reigns in the
homes of the South" We are ready to full
fl our Constitutional obligations to protect
those homes. Thousands would march at
{ the call Of the Executive to put down servie
Instructions. What stronger proof that
madness rules the hour" than the idea
that safety depends upon the dissolution Of
the Union! What will be your security,
when the protection of the Constitution is
rutblessly cast away? I
The people of the North do not delude
themselves into the belief that the Revolu-
ton which shall destroy the Constitution will
be bloodless one. They will be careful that
no act of theirs shall commence a revolutio4
whose results no human sagacisy can foresee