New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-11-30
SECESSION, PAST AND PRESENT.

In the enrly days of the Union, danger to its
permaHeney was apprehended, not from any an
ticipated conflict of interest sentiment between
the North and the South but from the probable
Emergencies of interest and ambition between the
East and West. In those days, the Allegheny
chain Of mountains was regarded a. formidable
and permanent barrier, which, by separating the
Atlantic States from the new settlements in the
Valley of the Mississippi, might suggest the idea
of setting up an independent government beyond
those mountains.
What gave additional force and urgency to
these apprehensiOns was the fact that not only
the western bank of the Mississippi but, what
was of still more Importance, the mouth of that
river was in the hands Of the Spsniards. The
people Of the incipient settlements Of the West
were thus dependent on the consent of the Span
ish Government for the only access for their sur.
plus productions 10 the markets of the world
Spain, it was thought, might be willing, by the
prefer of increased commercial privileges, 10 Sc
duce them from their allegiance to the Union;
and among the sdventurers who were fOcking
into the Western country might be- found those
accessible to the double temptation of ambitious
aspirations and Spanish gold. The Spanish Gov
eminent had eyaded all the diplomatic attempts
made during the continuance of the confedera-
ton TO arrange the questions of the boundaries
of Florida and the navigation of the Mississippi;
and when the Government, under the existing
COnstitutiOn-if, in the face of the secession
movements in South Carolina aud the adjoining
Gfatan rua ha allouaH 10 hat, ho
Federal Government still continues to exist
went into operation, an intrigue was in progress
between the Governor of Louisiana and some of
the leaders in the new western settlements hav-
ing in view the object above indicated. This in
trlgue, however, was carried on with great Sc
crecy, the time not having yet arrived when
secession was claimed as constitutional right,
and treason was openly arranged in conventions
called for that express purpose.
The treaty with Spain in l775 somewhat re-
heved these apprehensions But as the night of
deposit at New.0rleans for American Merchan.
disc secured by that treaty was only temporary,
the possession by Spain of the mouth of the
Mississippi was still regarded with much anxiety
as dangerous to the integrity of the Uaion and
seriously compromising the hold of the Federal
Government upon the Western Territory. When
in 1902, it became known that Spain, BY re-
cent treaty, lad re-eeded louisiana to France
these apprehensions were greatly aggravated.
The settlement Of the West had meanwhile made
rapid progress, and should an enterprisinp nation
like the French-a nation too for wkch, at
that time, such strong pauialities were felt on
the part Of large portion of the American
peope-obtain possession of the key of the Western
waters, who could tell what results might follow
" This state Of things 50 wrote Jefferson then
President, 10 Livingston, our lhen Minister o
Paris, completely reyerses all the political
relations of the United States, and will form
"a new epoch ia our political course.
" We have ever looked to France as our natural
" frend--One with whom We could never have AN
occasion Of differences but there is one spot ON
" the globe the PO,sessOr Of which is our natural