The Nevada journal., 1861-03-15
prACEaBLE SECESSION.

I, the laissez fare sort are impressed with the
idea that if she cotton States are really IN
tent on separate government the best pol
icy would be to allow them to 60 out of the
Union peaceably without the horrors Of
biz lshed. Such are not looked Gs,ply
into the geography of their country. Did
they examine how inseparably one section
is connected with another different view
would be taken altogether. There can be
no separation without civil war. 1t is i'm
possible in the nature of things. The in
terests of the North West demanded the
acquisition of the Louisiana territory and
Mr.. Jefferson although, as he said, he found
no warrant in the Constitution for the pur-
chase of territory, took the responsibility
Of straining point in view of the public
necessity. The needs of the North West
then rapidly settling up demanded an out
let through the mouth of the Mississippi.
What were the necessities of the Upper
Mississippi then compared with now Then
we had an almost unoccupied territory
now We have States and population num-
bered by millions. What was slight in
convenience then has become great neces-
sity now. The proposition that the valley
of the Mississippi in 1904 could not tole-
rate a foreign government sitting at the
mouth of its great highway, comes home
with redoubled force now that the foreign
government has been extinguished with
money and millions have been made de-
pendent upon the privileges purchased. 1t
is a plain and indisputable proposition that
the Northwest will never peaceably con-
sent to an independent government on the
Lower Mississippi. Peaeeable secession is
out of the question. 1t is among the i'm
possibilities. Even if all parties should
consent to it for the present, difficulties
must arise calling for hostile arbitrament
before many years elapse, and if blood must
be shed let it be done in defense of our own
An independent nation at the north of the
Mississippi will have the right to control
and regulate the navigation of that river.
We have the right now and are towards if
we do not maintain it. Once settle the
question and it VIII remain settled, without
repeated recurrence to arms, and treaties
to be constantly broken.
The free states furnished the larger sum
for the purchase of the territories of the
United States, and they are entitled to at
least equal rights in those territories. Will
they surrender those rights tamely into the
hands of factionists, and handful at that?
Then, indeed, has the Union lost the breed
of noble blood. The spirit that animated
our fathers in their long and bloody wars
with the French, who attempted with con-
sumate skill and energy to confne the An
glo Sa1ons to the Atlantic Slope, has be-
come sxtinguished; the soul of '76 has
fed; there is no virtue left in the descend
ents of men who fought at Lexington and
Bunder Hill.
Look at the facts as we may, and the con-
viction will come home to any sane mind
that the whole valley of the Mississippi was
designed to belong to one government. 1t
belongs to one by nature it belongs to one
by purchase, and the obligations to belong
to one can never be severed even after
streams of blood be poured out that shall
rival the Father of, Waters. A sanguinary
and mad contest may ensue, but let it be
when the right is on ouc side as it is now.
endless cause for trouble to our children.
Our fathers were made of sterner stuff.