Year: 1877

dlu VI tuS OOutu III tuC cfCut VI q Wal
between the two sections, and then re-
fused to comply with their pledge. In
the first place, this is an unmanly
way OF evadng the Presidential issue,
with which the country is confronted, and
it does not relieve the South from bear
ing her share of the responsibilities that
may result from the threatened attempt |
Of the Radical leaders to nullify the elec-
ton and usurp the government The
attitude of the Nothern Democracy
neither before, nor during the
civil war has any relevancy to the existing |
controversy. The issues are different
The nature of the quarrel is different.
Its bearings upon the various sections
of the Union are different. There is no
similarity between the two; and the pub
lie agent who pretends to find in the con-
duct, or the asserted conduct Of the
Northern Democracy at any time, mo-
tive for abandoning his cause now, is
paving the way for selling out to the
usurpers.


But in point of fact, it is not true that
the Northern Democracy did make a
pledge to espouse the side of the South
with arms in their hands in the event of
war resulting from secession. A few
Jealous men in their opposition to the
abolition party, and to its obtaining con-
troll of the government, may have made
declarations which admitted of the in


terpretation, and two Of the number we


now remember, the late Daniel S. Dick


enson, of New York, and the late


Governor Willard of Indiana, but they


we're exceptional cases To the credit of


the Northern Democracy, it ought not


be forgotten that they did resist with rea


son and argument the encroachments of


fanaticism upon the Constitution, to the


last moment, after every other Northern
J organization had been absorbed by the
Radical party, but it is not true that they
ever advised the secession of the South
ern States as a remedy for the evils of the


party whose triumphant march to power


they had struggled to defeat, and much
less did they promise to take up arms In
behalf of such a movement ii 1T was
made. Common sense forbade such a
course on their part. The consummation
they least desired was separation from
the South, and to be left in Union


powerless in the presence of the over


shadowing abolition party which WAS


predominant in the Northern States. Ii
is a poor return from their constancy
and sacrifices in opposing the growth
and spread of abolition and its contraliz
ing tendencies, to charge them with
apostacy for not taking up arms against
e their own section after the discussion was


transferred from the forum to the field


So much for the truth of history. But
if the facts are precisely as designed tc
$ be conveyed by the ipert remark
e above quoted, about "invincibility, anC
r invisibility" they would not justify indif
$ ference on the part of the South te
e the grave issue now pending; nor render
t her people unmindful of the fact that the
e success of hesmeditated Radical usurpa


ton would mean the continuation ot


Grantism, the riveting of the chains up
= on Louisiana and South Carolina, and the
= overthrow of the governments in the


Southern States, which by superhumar
, efforts have wrought out their deliver


ance from carpet bag misrule. MOI


would it absolve them from the obligation


to stand firmly by their Northern allies il
the Presidential election and share with


them whatever sponsibilities may resul


from bold assertion Of the right to in


augurate the man who has been choser
a President by majority of the people.


The following is the act of 1871 under


which it is assumed that new election
for President will be held if vacancy
? should exist by reason of the failure O
!. the two Houses of Congress to agree il
- counting the votes before the 4th o
! March


!, Whenever the Office of President anC
Vice-Presdent shall both become vacan
It the Secretary of State shall forthwith caus,


notification thereof to be made to the Elk.
/ ecutive of every State, and shall also caus,
I the same To be DuhliShed in at least one o.