The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-12-14

-1-@ 11.1 11a1-1
grievance, real or imaginary And in a few
short years we should witness the total dis
solution of that mighty Republic which has
been the hope and glory of the world. We
should then have before US the prospect pre-
sented in the petty States of Greece, Italy,
and the Principalities of Germany
Need | stop-to argue the political, intel
lectuaL, social ana commercial death in
volved in this wreck and ruin. We must
then cling to the idea that we are a Nation,
one and indivisible, and that although sub
divided by State lines for local and domes-
TIC purposes, we are but one people, the cit
liens of a common country, having like in
situations and manners, and possessing a
common interest in that Inheritance of glo-
~ so richly provided by our fathers. We
must therefore do no active must tolerate
no active must concede no idea Or theory
that looks to or involves the dismember-
ment of the Nation. And especially must
we of the inland States cling to the Nation
III idea.
If South Carolina may secede peaceably,
so may New York, Massachusetts, Mary
land and Louisiana, cutting off our COM
merce and destroying our right of way to
the ocean. We would thus be shut up in
] l.
/ Independent, perhaps hostile nations,
1 through whose Territories we could obtain
| egress to the seaboard only upon such terms
rs might be agreed to by treaty. Emil
grants from foreign lands could only reach
us by permission of our neighbors, and we
/ could not reach any Atlantic port except by
passports duly cised In such condition
of affairs the seaboard States would possess
immense advantages. which may be illus
trated and understood by comparing the
wealth, prosperity and power of the sea-
board Kingdoms with those shut up in the
interior Of Europe. Can it be possible then
that Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mis-
souri, or Mississippi can ever become so in
fatuatad, so utterly demented as to subscribe
to the doctrine that State has the right
to secede, thereby placing the existence of
their commerce, their peculiar institution,
their everything, within the power of Lou
isiana, commanding, as she does, the outlet
of the Mississippi and the entrance to the
Gulf As the matter now stands, the port
Of New York is the property of the nation,
held for the benefit of all the States, the rev
enue there collected being disbursed for the
benefit of all.
But we are told that if we use force to
compel submission to the laws in South
Carolina, it will so excite and exasperate
the other slave States az to lead them to
make common cause with her. | am not
willing to believe that this treason is so
widely spread, and that sympathy with
South Carolina traitors will be stronger
than devotion to the Union Should such
be the case, however, it should not, in my
judgment, change the course we ought to
pursue. If the people OF the other South
ern States will net permit the enforcement
Of the laws in South Carolina, it would be
evidence that they were intending to follow
the example at their own convenience. II
they intend to stay in the Union, and adj
here to its fortunes, they will thrust no
obstacles in the way Of the General Gov
eminent to prevent its compelling obedience
to the laws. Mere caprice and pride will
not determine their action in a matter SO
momentous, involving the deStinies of mill
ions for all time But if such is their pur-
pose, and such the condition of public sen
tmeut, we cannot know the fact too soon,
that we may prepare for the worst
am not willing to believe that the bad
example Of South Carolina would be follow
ed by any other States certainly by not
more than one or two. If South Carolina
gets out of the Union | trust it Will be at
the point Of the bayonct, after our best Ell
forts have failed to compel her to submission
to the laws. Better cOncede her indepen-
deuce to force, to revolution, than to right
and principle. Such a concession cannot
he drawn into precedent and construed iu-
to an admission that we are but combine
ton of petty States, any one of which Ina,
a right 20 secede and set up for herself when
ever it suits her temper, or views Of her pc
culiar interest Such contest, let it ter
inmate as it may, would be a declaration t.
= the other States of the only terms upon
/ which they would be permitted to withdraw
from the L Mon.
. frlNTIIDED TOMORROW