New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-01

States by thousands OF miles OF phireh Po'.o m.
snow-clad mountains. Their commerce Is naturally
with the East Indies and the isles OF the fasinc
Ocean. The tie of commercial interests between them
and the other States is weaker than that whch oiuS
together any other sections Of the Republic. =,
The right of secession conceded, and the way 10 90
having been shown TO be safe and easythe prerge
Of the Republic gone-the National pride exnguisnea
with the National dea-seeession would become the
remedy for every State sectional grievance, real
in aeinary And in few short years we should Wit
ness the total dissolutioof that mighty Republic whl.
has been the hope and the glory Of the world. We
should then have before US the prospect presented III
the history of the petty States of Greece, italy ana
the Plinciralies If Germany. Need / stop TO argue
the POLITICAL intellectual, rocial and commercial deth
involved in this wreck and ruin. We must then eng
to the idea that Nation one and lndlvisine,
and that although undivided by state lines for local ana
domestic purposes, but one people the citizens
Of a common country, having like institutions and
manners, and possessing common interest IN tht l-
heritanee of glory richly provided by our fathers.
We must therefore do no active must tolerate no
active must concede no idea theory that looks 10
or involves the dismemberment of the Nation. And
especially must of the inland States cling to the
National idea.
If South Carolina may secede peaceably, 20 may
New-York Massachusetts, Mary land and Louisiana,
cutting off our and destroying our night OF
way 70 the ocean. We would thus be shut up III the
interior of continent, surrounded by independent,
perhaps hostile nations through whose territories we
could obtain egress 10 the seaboard only upon mch
from foreign lands could only reach by permission
Of our neghbors and we could not reach any Atlaitic
port except by passports duly Dised. In such coId
ton Of affairs the seaboard States would possess i'm
mense advantages, which may be illustrated and
understood by comparing the wealth. prosperity and
power of the seaboaId kingdoms with those shut
up in the interior of Europe Can it be possible
tfen that Kentucky Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri or
Mississippi can ever become infatuated, utterly
demened az 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 louisiana command
ing ale does the outlet OF the Mississippi and The
entrance TO the Gulf As the matter now stands, the
port of NewYork is the property of the nation held
for the benefit of all the States the revenue there col
lected being disbursed for the benefit Of Gil.
But told that if we use force to compel sub-
nson TO the laws in South Carolina 1t will 80 excite
and exasperate the other Slave States 10 lead them
TO make common with her. / am not willing to
believe that this treason If widely spread, and that
sympathy with South Carolina traitors Will be stronger
than devotion to the Union. Should such be the case
however, il should not, III my judgment, change the
ought to pursue. If the people OF the other
Southern States will not permit the enforcement Of the
laws in South Carolina il would be evidence that they
were intending TO follow her example at their own
convenience II they intend to stay in the Union, and
adhere to s fortunes they will thrust no obstacles in
the way of the General Government 20 prevent Its
compelling obedience TO the laws. Mere caprice
and pride will not determine their action in
of millions for all time. But if such is their
pun ose and such the condition of public
sentiment, cannot know the fact too soon that we
NAV prepare for the worst. i am not willing to be-
leve that the bad example of South Carolina would be
followed by any other Statee-certainly by not more
than one or two. II South Carolina gets ont OF the
Union trust il will be al the point OF the bayonet
after best efforts have failed TO compel her to sub
init the laws. Better concede her independence 10
force to revolution than TO right and principle. Such
conce ssion cannot be drawn into precedent and con-
srued into admission that are but combination
of petty States, any OF which has night to secede
and SET up for herself whenever IT SUITE her temper
views of her peculiar interest. Such contest, let it
terminate as it may would be declaration the other
States Of the only terms upon which they would be
permitted TO withdraw from the Union
The looping off of South Carolina by the sword Of
revolution would not disturb the unity of the balance
of the nation; but would simply be dminuion from
its aggregate power TO the extent of her and
population NotwithstandingtheA American Revolution
terminated 70 disasrously to the British Government
after an enormous expenditure Of blood and treasure
accompanied by such humiliation of the national pride
still il preserved the integrity of the remaining portion
Of the empire. Had our claims 10 Independence been
at recognized and conceded by the mother eount
and the thirteen colonies peaeeaby allowed 10 cons
tute a separate government and take their place
among the nations of the earth, an example wonld
have been set, and admission made of which every
colony island, and dependency, OF the empire would
have speedily claimed the benefit The Canadas, the
East and West Indies, and Australia, would, in turn,
point TO this epoch in British history palpable and
unconditional avowal of the doctrine that they had the
right under the British Constitution, at any time
peaceaby TO terminate their allegiance 10 the crown
and secede from the empire. An admission Of the
existence of right made, could II be retraced al
ALL could only be at the end of numerous civil and
bloody wars.
Shall we now surrender the Nation without a strug-
gle and let the Union go with merely few hard
words Shall we encourage faint-hearted traitors 70
pursne their treason BY advising them IN advance that
il will be safe and successful If it was worth q
bloody struggle to establish this Nation il is worth
70 preserve It And trust that shall not, by sur
rendering with indecent haste, publish TO the world
that the inheritance fathers purchased with their
lood, have given up TO save ours Seven years If
but day in the life Of nation, and would rather
come out Of struggle at the end Of that time, defeat.
ed in arms and concedng independence 10 successful
revolution than TO purchase present peace by the con-
cession of principle that must inevitably explode this
nation into small and dshonored fragments. But OF
the result of such struggle, should entertain the
utmost hope and confidence.
He who compares our glorious war for liberty and
independence against grinding oppression to another
war TO be set foot for the propagation OF human
slavery crush out liberty Of speech and OF the press
and TO inaugurate and revive, with all Its untold ana
Undesirable horrors the African slaye-trade, must
have an Indifferent idea Of the justice OF that Prov
dence who hods in his hand the issue OF battle. 10
employ the language Of great statesman Surely the
Almighty has attribute that could take sides WIN
them in such contest" will not stop 70 argue the
right of seceesion. The whole question il summed up
in this proposition: Are we one nation, one people,
or thirty three nations thirty independent and
petty States The statement of the proposition fur
nishes the answer. If are one nation, then no
State has a right seoede Secession only be the
result Of successful revolution answer the question
for vou and / know that my answer will ind re-
spone in every true American heart, that we are one
people, one nation, undivided and indiyisible.
ROBERT DALE OWEN AGAINST SECESSION.
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov 20 1860
To the Editor Of The Indianapolis DAILY Journal
SIR: man ought to have good apology when, in