The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-18

By force Of their power ,onah s Ss q, sn sdr az
pressed Tn atom 10 override national rights
ne a,usr he reoy separated INTO two sections.
itself, At the sams moment and by the same act,
me exclusive ,nss right Of settlement in the HTs,
snys,,nr common property Of the uh,n a. ,rS
and the right Of the States 10 fosm AIu s.pe
VI institutions in their own way, oeyonu vac re-
rcon s. they should % ss 81 vadea b. wise policy
and bera spirit became Puritant ana lhsoeraDie Inc
first phase of the revolution o. noveol was psaee.u
states Of the conederacy. The mode adopted by the
southern States their rights and TO avoid the
which they dreaded and of protesting against
the revolution Of November he mode by which they
nr nosed 10 escape the consequences of that revou
ses omen % them suppose they had dete mued 70 re-
sort TO every Parliamentary straagem to cut of supplies
They could have done 50 constitutions and their adop
ton this remedy would be destructive 10 the govern
ment Without supplies the government could not have
existed. But ths South did not resort 10 this
remedy Another remedy, within The constitution,
was a revolution between the States restriction Of
all Itercoursea restriction trade This would have
been equally destructive TO the government tnird
remedy would have been the withdrawal OF all the south
representatives from both branches OF Cong and
hus for want OF constitutional quorum the election OF
President would have been rendered cOnBtitutoniy I'M
possible fourth remedy would have been for the
Southern States TO have occupied by emigration such
tons of the Territories as they might have thought most
suitable for their occupation and most necessary 10 their
interests protected there their property by force
arms. This would be fighting within the Union; and,
having poss ssion IT would be legitimate remedy And
yet il would be fatal TO the government This course
might have been less exceptoDabe and less likely TO lead
vii and which has been heretofore resored
by people determined TO effect revolution IN the form
and cha acter Of government. Now il question
for consideration whether the precpate action OF South
Carolina had not changed the original character of the
movement, and 1t was yet TO be whether
not by their interference with the forts and asena
navy yards custom houses and other property OF the
confederacy they have committed fatal in
The devepement OF their policy and whether they have
.rcon which they had wisely and properly deprecated
defence Of their first strictly secession proceedings IL
had entered into the minds Of the trainers Of the
constitution that the federal government through any OF
its Instruments should employ force TO compel the action
Of any sovereign state. Forae brought TO bear by the
federal government upon the seeding States would
suit in az appeal for aid and protection and alliance with
any Power that might be found willing to JON the
weaker side; and then they would see armies and
paves transported ~ their shores and foreign Powers
would be made the arbiters of the destiny OF the
United States. History taught that tho inevitable
result Of foreign Interference the subverson Of the
people calling upon their aid. This lesson Of history
ought not to be forgotten by the American people, But
there was no foreign interference The conservative
policy Of the country recognition Of the equal
rights of the South without qualification, and nonnter
ference with the institution OF slavery where existed
and recognition Of their right to go with their slave
property into the territories Of the country.
These rights recognized and acted upon would be Just
Su Ssn
enforcement Of the laws That, indeed, would be de-
sirabethat was solemn duty, necessary perhaps to
| the enforcement Of the laws the Union could not
continue. But that remedy did not meet the
| any provision Of the constitution, enforce the
law against seeding State. The law applica-
BILE to individuals and to enforce the law against the in
dividua you must have judges and ures and you must
proceed against him. according TO the constitution in the
State where the crime was committed. It was clear,
therefore, that they could not enforce the law against an
Individual South Carolina for jury would bring in
verdict OF guilty upon any indictment found at this juno
and under present circumstances II wastrue there
general demand for the enforcement Of the laws but
however abstraction however necessary at all
times and imperative might be the government to
enforce them il was now mpracticable and impossible
well wholly unsuted to the occasion. The question
then was, what was the duty Of the administration and
Of Congress II Of pacihcaton and reconstruc
ton duty which must undoubtedly be committed to the
next administration and the country must therefore
await an appeal 10 the people But what in the mean
time is TO be doneY AS yet no practical remedy had
been devised and State after State going Of the
Union. All the votes taken in the different crisis com
mittees tended to strengthen the indication that
dy from these sources rs out Of the question The domi
nant party have shown indisposon To make those
concessions indispensable TO reunion. Their bounden
duty, then, to preserve the status quo and to pre-
the existing state of things nearly possible
TO avoid the employment Of coercion But to do this 1t
essentially necessary to their policy that like pur
and spirit should ANIMATE their Southern friends II
would not do for the South TO protest against coercion
while at the same time they seized the arms arsenals,
fortress yards and ships that within their
reach and power To act thus not and could
be peaceabe secessonhat would not be preserving the
Sdtns quo. II declaration Of war and when
reign States make war they could not cry peace,
the ordinance by which any OF the states adopt
cd the Union and coded land other property,
which became grant in foe simple not only as proper
ty, hut matter OF jurisdiction, which by sovereign
acts they parted with forever TO the United States
impossible. The constitutional compact was a com
pact between equal sovereign States and when therefore
sovereign State did act, whether by law treaty,
or by grant on parchment cedng unaeraely piece Of
territory, large small, whether for the purpose Of
erecting on II fortress, fort custom house, or
city town. that state could not recall that
unmake the grant That was out Of the qseson. Such
In Ia h fnwG and
tics, and utterly unenable and indefensible. He
hoped the South therefore, would not force issue Of
war in defence OF this incontrovertibe right and in dis
charge of the imperative and paramount duty of occupy
ing and keeping those fortified places provided for the
common defence ofhe country TWAS ON this point alone
the whole danger Of collision 10 DO dreaded-on this
only civil war can happen, and on this position the first
battle may be fought II cannot be said by the South
that the seizure Of the forts had been made for the pur
pose OF protection. Remember the OF events in
South Carolina in her Convention, convened for the pur
pose Of taking steps TO secede met with interference
from any quarter-no Interference from the Executive
from Congress That Convention was held the tpancc
Of secession was passed, and they met with no nier
ference with the actnone whatever. Noarmy naval
forces sent for the purpose of coercion But what
had the Legislature OF South Carolina doneG They or
gained army and yet there interference with
that hostile act from quarter The act of secession
from its inception TO Its consumpston rendered
complete and perfect az human agency could make u,
and hot tho nightes interference VAS asserted al
tempted by the Executive Legislative departments.
Through all these acts there show Of coercion.
The transfer Of sixty from fort 10
another however simple was gave rise TO inbound
ed approximations not only in state but throughout
the whole section o. the country The transfer Of
handful OF men, not under instruction TO at
tack anybody, was assumed TO be wRrkc measure
the part Of the federal government What ne1t2 An
unarmed vessel approaches the harbor OF Charleston,
bearing despat hes and provisions and TO place
within the unquestonablc Jurisdiction Of the federal go
vernment OF the United States From Its masthead Is
displayed the American flag and az she approac:as and
Is within sight 81 fertilization Of the gessrai COVERT
ment-the official character Of the vessel being well
known-thc authorities Of South Carolina opened a 6r
from their guns upon her, defcnccess as she was and
compelled her TO return and abandon the legitimate and
war, of unqualified and fragrant war: and had s,o ~
an act been done by another government or authori,
'"""r whatever, IL would have aron"s3
the justice II every IN tno nation, ANA nave
ELECTED from every patriot heart loud ana earhcst
prottst and deman3 for immediate appeal 70 al tno
necessary ropcl the insult and avenge tne
outrage. II was an act OF But eternal thanks 70
the moderation and noble magnanimity Of gallant MAYOR
And n I'd " rcmcm