Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1860-12-29
Tue TUG OF WAR.


lima has at last assumed bold and def.
an, position. BY the unanimous vote Of
he. convention the ordinance of secession
has been passed, and Commissioners de-
puted to Washington TO obtain from the
United States a recognition Of her indie
pendence. 1t was comparatively easy for
her Hotspurs to excite the popular feeling
Of that State to pitch that thus far has
Sufficiently answered their purpose, Bat
the "war Of words" is now over. Threats
aud resolves, and pron"nciamentos have
Exhausted their force; and ye:, mach re
mains 10 be done before South Carolina
can get rid of her obligations under the
Federal Constitution, or start out upon an
independent career OF her own. We can
afford to tolerate her peculiarlt'es so long
as they do not directly infringe upon the
dignity, rights aud duty of the Federal
Government Let her declare herself in
dependent if that in the least appeases
her wrath. But when she attempts prac-
,:cally to establish and exercise that indie
pendenee outside Of the general govern.
ment, or interfere with our property-dis-
regard the laws and violate treaties, she
will fad that it is an experiment unwisely
conceived and doomed to utter failure
OF course her commissioners will not
be recognized Mt Washington. What
then? vii! she attempt to take Fort
Moultrie, Fort Sumpter, and Castle Pinck-
ney? Ii SO, che makes war upon the
Tilted States, and the President will, OF
necessity, employ the necessary power to
protect the public property and sustain all
the garrisons lie can make no distino-
!ion between the armed attacks Of c for.
eign or domestic foe. The national honor
and safety require it. In the meantime,
how is South Carolina to carry on inter.
course with the world. VIII she refuse
ali communication with those States that
do not second her movement She cannot
carry OF any foreign trade Of her own and
independent OF the government. If a
vessel leaves Charleston fer foreign port
without clearance from the United
States, she will be treated as q pirate up
on the seas. Nor will any foreign gov
ernmeat recognize she independence Of
South Carolina until that has first been
done by the UnteQ States, Nation. at
r.aca with us will not disturb those har
monious relations for the sake Of crafty
ing the caprice and ambition Of South
Carolina.
The country will therefore await with
some anxiety aud curiosity Ii. movements
OF cur nervous sister, when her demands
y: Washington are refused From any
thing that has yet transp:red it hardly
seems proJsb.s that shy other State will
raskiy prrcpita,e herself into such dill
sympathy or encouragement from the sob
er.;ain.irg men of the South. 1Lev re-
cognize this as the best government Oh
earth, md are content to contend for their
rights and interests in legitimate ana
peaceful manner, within that Union to
which every State is indebted for what
she IS.
/! is impossible to form a government
under which some man would not have
como either real or imaginary grievances,
and nowhere is the cause of real grievan
ccs so readily removed as with us. The
great mass Of people are disposed to up
hold the right, and impart equal justice.
Let every State adhere to what is right
and reasonable, and the rest Of the coun,
Try will not provoke conflict, but cher
ish the spirit o. Cancellation and justice
The government must be preserved as
aatter a justice to every State and sec.
.lon-uo, by coercion and war-but by Ii :
deity to the Constitution, the execution
Of all laws and the protection Of all prop.
erty. ii this cannot be done, then our
political experiment is a failure.