Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-12-05


have abundant cause for secession, and de-
nies positively their right to 'secede. But
his justification consists Of absurdiies and
positive fslseboods while he shows that
every thing which has been definitely al
legged as grievance, is no cause fors secession.
The charge that the North has forced and
kept the slavery agitation upon the country
until ii has endangered the safety of the
South, is of the usual character Of our Presi-
dents Messages for the last three terms,
during which they have been vehicles for
false partisan charges against one-half of the
people of the nation. To lie like drab, is
now changed for the popular phrase, ITO lie
like Presidents Message"
The idea that the agitation in the North
has inspired the slaves with vague notions
of freedom, and the pathetic touch about
the Southern matrou retiring at night in
dread of servile insurrection, all on account
of Northern Abolitionists, is worthy of
maudlin reaction of that Old Monongahela
which the President Isl so excellenta iudgeof.
What the slaves know of Northern Abo-
litionists they have learned from the liar-
augues of Southern politicians. 1t is con-
stsntly proclaimed in their hearing that the
Republicans will free them if they succeed.
The more ignorant slaves of the extreme
South actually believe that the Republicans
are black, from hearing them constantly
called Black Republicans, and from this they
expect that Republican success will be the
success Of their own raoe.
He shows that the election Of Lincoln is
no cause for secession, and that there is no
cause of complaint on account of the exclu-
sion of slavery from the Territories and that
the enforcement of the Fugitive-slave Law
depends on the Federal authorities and is
not defeated by State legislation. He might
have added that no law is enforced with so
much certainty. and the resistance to no law
is punished with so much severity as the
Fugitivc-slave Law. .r-
This disposes of the case. If he had re-
strictcd bimselfto that and then taken his
position against secession, he would, for the
first time in his life, have taken a decided, bold
and honest stand. But he destroys his po-
sition against secession by charging the
North with oflenses and aggressions upon
the slave property of the South, and with
necessarily exciting the slaves to insur-
rection, which, if true, would make the
South false to themselves and fit for slaves,
if they did not secede, no matter what the
cost.
He calculates, how easy it would be for
the American people to settle the slavery
question forever by letting the slave States
alone, and permitting them to manage their
own State affairs, as they only are response
be to God for slavery, and the North has no
more right to interfere with them than with
similar institutions in Russia or Brazil
Who has tried or proposed to prevent the
slave Statesl managing their own affairs?
There is only one case on record, the inva-
sion of John Brown, and certainly Virginia
had full satisfaction out of him. The North
has no more interfered with the slave Stale;
managing their own slaves, and no more pro-
poses TO interfere with them, than it does
with Russia or Brazil.
Why. then is not +bo s'arvry question
settled forever and peace and harmony re-
stored 10 the distracted country? There is
question of slavery in the Territories, but
there is no reason why this should distract
ard erdonger the country. But the danger.
Gus excitement and sectional hostility arise
from the perpetual misrepresentation OF the
Old Public Functionary and of the politicians
and presses of his party, who are trying tc
save party by exciting civil war in tht
country.
This Message, with its pretended deter
miuation TO maintain the integrity of the
country, is merely adding fuel to the sec.
tional hostility, and justifying South Caro-.
lima in all that she has done or threatend
A President who would use the army and
navy against people rebelling for the cause
which be has made out would deserve t.
have his neck stretched.
The secession part Of the Message wind
up by affecting that the Federal GOvernmen
is imbecile as to enforcing the Federal law
against a seeding State. His own i'm
becility seems to him a weakness of tn
Government His recommended amend
ments 10 the Constitution are merely
declare things which the Supreme Court ha
already declared, and which, so far as lay
can make them, are iudically settle
questions.