The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-12-13
Jhe gailp gpnrnal.
4HURsDAYs IoRNINC ........... DECEMBER /
The Question of Coercion.
INDIANAPOLIS. Nov. 2G
EVANSVILLE, IND.

t4s''s H1f1 oSS4A, 4oE seven years past, q dis
tant and therefore perhaps dispassionate,
spectator of the party strife. the results Of
which now convulse our republic; and.
lastly, that propose to address myself 20 a
single point, and that practical one. of
which the decision is imminensiy impend-
ing,
Let US, for simphGitys sake and because
we are sure Of South Carolina's sentiments,
here speak only OF her position; and let US
ask how, under possible or probable eontin-
Rencies, justice and expediency require that
We should bear ourselves toward her.
South Carolina demands that all northern
laws which have been framed TO neutraliye
certain provisions Of the United States Con-
stitution should be repealed She is right
in that and none the less, because she her
self has violated in practice the liberty of
conscience and Of free speech guaranteed by
the Constitution 10 which she appeals
Soath Carolina further demands, that sla-
very shall be deemed legal, and shall be
protected i'll all territories of tho United
States. As TO this, in nay judgment, she is
neither right nor reasonable. She is not
right because, according to all sound legal
precedent, slavery is the creature of law; it
can go nowhere by implication, but only BY
direct enactment, constitutional or statute
~. She is not reasonable, because, even if
il were equally right to make all United
States territories slave as to make them free,
(they cannot be both at the same time yet
a majority cannot reasonably be required to
sacrifice themselves to a minority.
| think that the North, on sober second
thought, will reflect that if the Constitution
contains certain clauses which crate on her
feelings, still it is not only the supreme law
of the land, but the best which the wit Of
man has yetdevised for human government;
and, so rejecting, that she will repeal the
obnoxious statutes in question. | think,
too, that sue may accede to other conces-
sione, as, an agreement that fugitive slaves
shall be paid for, in cases of non-rendtion.
But feel that she never viii, as am sure
she never ought recognize the carrying of
slavery anywhere by implication.
South Carolina may insist npon this doe
trine of Implication; and when we reject it,
she may take measures to secede. l hope
that, when the first excitement coOls, she
may think better of this; but do not con-
hdently expect that she will; she has long
been meditatiRg Sc cession. And if she does
take such measures, either we must suffer
her to secede, or we must make up our
minds TO coercion. Here we reach the prac-
teal question which desire briefly to con-
slider.
In the contingency referred to, shall we
resort to coercion? The Constitution has
no provision for secession. Secession i'm
plies State control over the tariff laws. A
combination, by armed force, to overpower
duly appointed United States revenue Of
fceTs, and to nullify duly enacted United
States laws is treason. The bonds forfeit,
and the forfeiture is death by hanging. We
have the legal right, then, to coerce.
Tttf oil (xHn fpi1 ry, tbo hi,rbac o.
authority,) which are lawful for ussare not
therefore expedient.
Our fellow citizens, now the Inhabitants
of the South, had nothing to do with the in
tloduction, within its boundaries, of slavery.
lf we had been born to the same circum-
stances as they we should probably have
tboughtand felt in regard toslayery as they
do II Is equally unchristian and unphilo-
sophcal in us TO denounce them as criminals
because they are. slav eholderS. In SO doing
we are neither fair in principle nor guilt
less of having famed the flame of sectional
hatred that RACES around US now. Every
Grievous word, stirring up anger, is grave
offence, both against religion and agains
Justice. Christianity and prudence alike
call upon us to refrain. 5--r 4 es-
In the olden time, before Jesus taught
the prevailing spirit was that of reprisal
"An eye for an eye, and tooth for tooth ,
The Author of our religion substituted fol
this another more civili%ing principle of &C
ton. He reminded us that there are case
III which we should resist not evil. He bic
Us ndge not that we be not judged. Hi
teachings were of that charity which suffer
eth long and is kind; which beareth al
things which endureth all things. .r
Violence breeds violence. Wemay deter
mine, in advance, when we are ~oommene
IL. - IL, 4, :
aud no further But the dogs of war. ono,
let slip escape beyond our control. W,
may call them back in vain. -rDr
This is the general view, bat let as com,
to particulars. E a.t:5-
BY coercion what Go we propose to our
selves? 10 convince? The sword neye
convinces; it subjects. Is it our purpose Il
subject, il we cannot convince, Eour fellow
citizens of South Carolina? But it is ut
terly at variance with the spirit of our gov
eminent to have, in our midst, subjects KEEP
loyal by force And if it were not, Soutl
Carolina, it she lack judgment, has spiri
and courage; too much spirit and courage t
submit to the degradation. a political cree
cannot, any more than a religious one, b
thrust upon brave men Icy force, tah
But there is another point of view
which it behooves Us to regard this matter
Ia certain cases numbers suffice to conft
considerations When numbers combine fc
an unlawful object, the o1ense changes il
character. That which, in six men, is rot
berry, becomes warfare in sixty thousan,
The difference between rebellion and revC
luton lies chiefly in numbers. Had Wasl
ington struck for liberty and independent
at the head of fifty followers only, and la
he and his men been captured, they Nigh
without outraging civilization, have bee
hanged as rebels. But with Washington
the head of fifty thousand, the British Gov
ment feltconstrained to regard their cOlonii
prisoners as any other captiyes taken
war; and to allow them the mercy whicl
in such cases. the law OF nations prescribe
And thus it is when opposition is made
the authority of the United States. Ifit
by a handful OF men, we may coerce then
it is fitting that we should. But what W
can properly do in the case of thirty {
three hundred, may assume the aspect ,