The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-12-13

ebullltlon, which a proclamation and a
Garln revision suthced TO quell. Now, il
South Carolina acts unitedly and persists. it
will be the result of deliberate end settled
policy. ~
II these lines ehould chance to mcet the
eye of any among those to whom, ut this
Juncture, are c0nlmitted the deetinies of our
country, let them suffer few earnest words
OF caution. These are the times when it is
easy-tataliy easy-to take irrevocable
steps TO advance to L point whence, ex-
cept through fields of suicidal warfare, there
is no return. If evils before US there he,
these are the times when it is easy, by one
false move, to multiply them a hundred
fold. Sister States discovered is ii grave
misfortune, but sister States beliigerent
would be deadly cnrse.
The baptism Of blood conieIs on national
enmities terrible perpetuity. Light quar-
rels, thus embittered, turn to envenomed
feuds, to descend, an inheritance OF evil,
from father TO son, it may be for generations.
The blood shed on the grass plat of Licking
ton yet cries from the ground. The heart
burningS created by the last war still nour-
ish irritation against tho mother country
The lapse Of centuries often proves unavaiI-
ing to erase the damning spot The heart
nation against portion of the island be in
habits when he passes the field of Flodden !;
still burns within him when he reads of the
noble deeds and the traitors death of Wal
lace. Long may it be ere dark memories
like these shall, among US, brood over the
gulf of sectional separation, over-clondng
the glory OF our national future, and stir
ring the brothers heart of one American
in hatred against another .-...
What, then, is to he done Shall we
employ toward South Carolina urgency and
entreaty +? There is neither dignity nor
use in entreaty beyond a certain point
What remains? Let us act toward her in
that spirit which is gentle and easy to lac
entreated but if we cannot convince hei,
let us bid her Z" go in peace
Thus going, she may some day, as did one
of old, return to the pAternal home In any
event, we shall gain an ally if we lose ii
sister.
Such course will conciliate while coer-
cion would exasperate, other Southern
States, now wavering in their allegiance
Kindness, the Christian principle, is 4trong-
er than severity, the Heather one. The
genial sun induced the traveller to discard
his protecting cloak, while the clustering
wind but caused him to hing it more closely
around nlnl-
If be said that this is virtually to sane
ton dissolution of the Union, the reply il,
that the Union is not dissolved because it
may have to exist without South Carolina
! no, nor yet if two or three al her sisters
| should join her IN secession. 1t is the same
/ flag still, when three or four stars are added
why not the same, If by misfortune to be
/ lamented, three or four drop out 2
! We shall still preserve unimpaired Our
identity, our national existence, our rank
and weight among the Great Powers OF the
earth. On the other hand, they who de
part will learn, by experience, how little
consideration, in the Councils of the world
a petty Sta:e can command. Happy, if in
| their isolation, they retain influence suf-
ficient, in foreign lands, TO protect theiI
own citizens from injury and wrong.
am, sir, your obi sery't,
ROBERT Dale OWEN.
P. SIT is aside from my present pur.
pose to inquire by what means, in what
circumstances and under what conditions
the right to secede, not now existing, car
be, or ought to be, conceded TO the torma
application of q disaffected State
#.I r. b. O.