The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-06-21
The Rise and Downfall Of the Republic

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The Luzerne (Pa) Jsaison II an able
article on the rise and downfall Of the Re
publican party, closes thus:
The whole organization Of the Republi-
can party had been systematic and irrita-
ting war upon what they called the slave
power, and that power was now in open
revolt against its administration of the.
government. Good men were alarm
ed T; the leaders of the Republican par
ty only laughed. at their fears, ridiculed
the idea of o rebellion, denounced those
who raised voice for peace as doughfaces,
and 'defed the South through the press
and on the floor of Congress. That ven-
cradle old man of Kentucky, Mr.. Crit
tenden, who still fingers among us like a
monitor of the past to remind us of the
days of purer craftsmanship, and time
when patriotism was measured by the love
one bore and exhibited for his whole coun-
try, threw himself in the breach and en-
deavored to avert the, coming disasters.
But neither his grey hairs, nor long service
Of his country, could protect him against
the, persecution and vituperation of o party
founded upon a fanatcism, and raying
with the lust of power. The olive branch
Of peace was rejected with derision and
contempt, when it might have been accep-
ted by the President and his party with
no compromise of principle, oryat least of
ANY principle that had about it the least
practical value. It seemed as though the
controllers ofthat party were mad. They
would not reason, nor would they evince
the least anxiety for peace and harmony
Their only reply when the danger Of civil
war was pointed out was "let them under
take to fight if they dare;" and from the
minions Of secessonism came back. the
ready echo, 1--WE dare and can :, lick you
Eve to one" Between these contendiug
forces the Democracy strove to keep the
peace. The President elect was implored
to speak out for peace, believing that his
party would be potent for compromise and
cancellation, But as Josephine silently
pointed to the MoNITEuR when prepare
tory to her divorce she was questioned as
to whether she had been married with the
rites of the church, SO Mr.. LINCOLN with
sealed lips answered by pointing to the
Chicago platform. All hope was lost,
Fort Sumter was assaulted aud taken,
and half million Of armed men on each
side rushed to the field. Almost one
year has rolled around ten hundred mil
lions dollars have been spent, and still the
rebel army is almost within sight of the
Potomac? 3 "' g.
Now where is the Republican party !?
From the moment that the pillars of the
government began to tremble about them
AS soon as their eyes We're opened by
actual occurrences to the awful position OF
national affairs-true to the instincts of
revolutionary party built upon popular
passions, and placed in power by pander-
ing to the worst prejudices of our nature,
they became the most intolerant of parties.
Mob violence was substituted for Law
the freedom Of the press suppressed-the
habeas corpus was suspended and hun
dreds dragged off to government fortress
es, locked up and chained like felons,
without even being informed Of the crime
imputed or of the name or Character Of
their accusers. These things and many
more, Of the same general character, ia
miliar to our readers, have broken the
back Of the party, and they are now
dwindling down to a mere party Of negro
Abolition, the conservative and national
element Of their party having deserted to
the ranks Of the Democracy. Thus it
stands amid the crumbling fabric Of q
once. great. prosperous and happy govern
ment, q living monument Of its own
wretched and fatal policy as Of its ruin and
decay. But what would not the people give
now, when it is too late, if they had only
needed the admonitions and listened to
the entreaties Of the Democracy two years
ago, when it was not too late to save the
country from its present condition !?
MR. CLAY ON EMANCIPATION - On
the question of West India Emancipation,
Mr. Clay used the following remarkable
language 4 st'Tbe West India STAKEHOLDER
was neither represented nor representative
in that Parliament: And while most
feryently wish complete success to the
British experiment Of West India enamel
patton, /. confess that i have fearful fore
holdings of a disastrous termination of it.
Whatever it may be, I think it must be
admitted that, if the British Parliament
have treated the West India slaves as
freemen, it also treated the West India
freemen las slaves. Ifinstead of these
slaves being separated by a. wide ocean
! from the .narAnt country. three Or f0iiir