The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-12-24

MONDAY giASHNA NS A. ASDs 80 'N'''
Coercion.
THE revelations Of the Springfield Republican
Of the in ten ton OF the President elect TO COM
pel a seeding State, by force OF arms, TO re-
main in the Union, or in other woras 10 IN
volve the country in civil war, as soon "S he
.eizes the reins OF power, can surprise no one
who unders lands the principles ahd mas op'
served the course of the party which he rep
rasan,s during the present troubles. The
aln,nsus silence of Mr. LINCOLN during tae
whole Of the storm which has brought such
sIsas,er and distress upon the land, 10 itself
more expressive than words. There cannot
be the shadow OF doubt that within one hour
af:er his inauguration, Geographic dispatches
will be sent TO all the military and naval
stations in the North for troops and ships
of war to he set in motion, with the ut
most dispatch. In the event OF universal
secession of the Southern States, 1; is not at
all unlikely that volunteer companies OF Wide
Avakes will be sent 10 garrison Old Point
Comfort. which, being still in the hands Of the
Government can be easily occupied and de-
Tended by uudiEciplined troops, whilst the
whole disposable regular force and the Navy
will be brought TO bear upon the forts in
Charleston harbor, either TO reinforce and
streunthen them, If still in the hands OF the
United States, or 10 recapture them if taken
nv the Caroiinians. We have no expec tation
that the u. States will attempt 20 send troops
through Virginia and other southern States, to
attack South Carolina. When such possibility
YVES sugges ted in the Notification era, ocean
steam transportation had nor been inaagurated
Nov. an army, when il is raised, can be con-
-, saxYF laws hnFa a
TO march The same number of troops, with all
the munitions Of war, through virginia and
North Carolina, wouid take SEINE time. 1t is
not at all likely that the various railroad COM
NAMES would extend them the usual facilities
of travel, or that II they did, the cars that car
ried such 4 load would find the track clear
and unobstructed. IN fac, the pilgrimage OF
ISRAEL through the desert was l. short trip
aud Jolly time, compared 10 the trioulations
of W ide Awake march through Virginia and
North Carolina. These two old States are not
deficient III hos pitaiit7, and. on such an occa-
sion, every man, woman and child IN 01th,
would give them reception the warmth OF
which they have no ldea OF, and vie with each
other in doing the h0noTs Of the occasion.
whatever differences of opinion exist in the
Southern States as to the right OF Secession
and whether 1t be true or not that the
interests of the border and cotton States
are not Identical, there is but one opinion
about coercion. They are all mem bers OF one
family and, even if they were destitute OF the
natural feelings ii brotherhood, have TOO much
sagacity to permit themselves TO be cut up by
a common enemy III detail. The Union has
no warmer fIends than in Virginia. but ii is
Government Of opinion, not OF force, OF mu-
tual affection, not Of the sword, which they
support The measure Of Coercion VIII only
consolidate the whole South as one man
whilst on the other hand, it Will not unite the
North, but divide it, aud, in all reliability
rally 10 the Southern side multitudes Of brave
and patriotic men in the free States. III any
event. the Champion OF Forceneed not expect
10 find the blood Of Yorktown extinct i'll Viz
s!uia, nor have the hunters OF Kentucky, Ten
pessee and Louisiana, WHO made New Orleans
memorable ia the late war, lett behind them
degenerate successors. If few raw militia
men, having only a temporary earthwork de-
fence could drive back and annihiiate the
choicest soldiers and conquerors OF Europe,
we appreheud that the " ide Awake leyies Of
LINcoLn need not expect an easy victory.
Moreover it is evident, ii Coercion is 10 be
employed against Secession, it Is becoming
every day Elre probable that the new PFesi-
dent VIII have i wider theatre for the exercise
OF his bloody tyranny than the Soulh. We
have already noticed that several leading New
York journals boldly urge, III the event Of
Disuuion, the secession OF that city from the
State, and the establishment Of New York as
u free port In his late mastery sermon in
Brooklyn, DR.. VAN DICK alluded elCquently
TO the same possibility. y movement is now
openly on foot in that city, at the head Of
which i. Col. kERRIGAN, Il member elect of
Congress, ~ raise force OF ten thousand men
for the purpose Of defending New York
against The Black Republican tyranny. spolia-
tion and plumber under which she has so long
suffered That city is essentially American,
always has been, always will be, the GRKE-
LYYs, kAYMoNDs, BEgCHRRs Il Co being all
New England squatters, who have come there
10 make money, and miserable minority a.
that. They are in New York, hut not OF it.
and viii NOT be permitted 10 influence hel
policy When she rises in her strength, sh'
Will shake Them off as the lion shakes the dew
drop from his name VIII "Oid ABE" cOeTct
New York! Instead OF talking about cOercine
Siates 10 the tuliiIlment of national engage
ments. tie Northwest would better fulfill II:
priyate engagements, pay its honest debts, re-
neal its own multiplying statutes, and, when il
has done all this it can talk about force with
= little more consistency and decency.