The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1861-01-25
FOrbearnnce has ceased to be "A
Virtue.

FOrbearnnce mas ceased TO be a
Virtue.
The fippunt talk against coercion I,
worn threadbare. Likewise tho pathet.
ic snivoling about shedding fraterna
blood. If a mob was at your door,
threatening your property with destruc.
ton, and painting 10 slay yourself and
family, would you hesitate to enforce
one Of the first laws Of n0ture--thHt OF
self-dofense--bocauso in 80 doing you
might possibly shed "fraternal blood -
The United States Government " AZ.
sailed by a horde Of disunion traitors
aud ia, or soon will bO compelled 70 act
on the defensive, or surrender at disers.
ton. Which shall we do II q man
attempt to take your life and you kill him
who is responsible for the act : II trai.
tors attempt'to destroy the Government,
and the Government turn aud ovsrWhelm
them, can the Government be held 70.
sponsibls for the civil war involved, anC
= 't1haETRG dehefGf tsotlmment eahnol
coerco State is the speeious doctrin,
by which the leaders Of secession delud,
their followers into frenzy Of rea son
How often must this trick be exposed
ero tho infatuated mass Of seosders be-
come disillusioncdl If the whole, or I
part Of the people Of State, resist Uni.
ted States law and authority, the pen atty
for tho ofonse must be suffered in an in.
dvidual, not corporate capacity. So
likewise, IL the same persons make wal
against the General Government, the
punishment for their treason must be ad.
ministered 10 each offender as In cases
Of other crimes. Il is true that State
cannot be ooereod, az il Is a mere crsa.
ture Of lsw--an immaterial existence
Neither can a railroad company be mad,
10 expiate an offonGe through capita
punishment. Yet tho law reaches ia
uRents-through whose instrumsntality
murders have been eomitted-with the
death penalty.
However much is TO be deplorod thC
want Of vigor and promptness In the
present administration Of the Govern
ment, all persons actuated with the sen,
timents Of humanity must rejoice tina
actual hostilties have been delayed, tha
every possible opportunity might be Civ
en- the misguided and frenzied people o
the extreme South to retrace their errini
steps and become once more loyal, peace
ful and law-Sbiding citizens of our com
mon country. Although We deprocat
the evident completely of our nations
rulers in the treason Of the Cottor
States, we sincerely believe that il will
yet rebound TO the advantage Of the pa
tTiots; for should the latter be compelle
to take up arms to save tho country fror
fatal dissolution, the moral strength o
their cause viii be augmented in tie fac
that aggression has been wholly on In
rebel side. Had the Administration beef
thoroughly loyal and patriotic, the dan
ger Of imPulsiye, precipitats actio
would have naturally been imminent.
But beyond certain limits forbenrane
ceases 20 be virtue. We believe thos
limits have been reached In the pfesen
crisis. The rebels have seized Unite
States fortifeations; they have nppro
priatod to their own reasonable use, bl
force, United States arms and othe
property; and more daring and crimina
Of oil, they have fired into a vessel bear
ing tho ensign Of the Republic Wha
other nation on tho face Of tho earth
civilized or savage, would permit sUci
| Ihigh-handed tressoR 10 20 unpunished
The time is now upon us 20 test whether
we have a government or not; whether
nation Of thirty millions Of people d
at the mercy of few thousand restless
desperate traitors. Shall we still delay
action until there Is no government e
act, and anarchy Teigns supreme =
What II duty is hedged about with try
ing difficulties, and It's path lead through
blood, should we hesitate at is perform
ance Though the responsibility b,
fearful, should a people who boast great
ness and power, energy and courage
shrink from meeting It The Govern
ment Is the recognized power In this land
treason against i has not grown out o
oppression; and the government must b
sustained. the consequences falling OF
the heads Of the traitors whu would pul
Il down. Now is no time for tempori
zing or dodging. The State coercion
trick will not win. The people under
stand that the secession action Of th
cotton States is simple treason, and viii
treat il accordingly. They fear not l.
test tho strength Of the Uaion. tn
majority believe it superior 70. treason
superior TO slavery. They bslleYs
viii have a aourishing existence when al
traitors have been snbdued, and whe
the abominstion Of African slavery vii
have passed into history. The CLEAN q
sunshine penetrating the thick gloot
enyeloping the country, is the irresisti
bic faetj that the neck Of the slave pow
ef is tsoks6 Siifs Io,{rnaL