The hydraulic press., 1861-03-02
TWO GOVERNMENTS IN ONE.

summated. Six States of those formerly
reckoned part of the American Union, have
withdrawn violently from the ssterhood,
and set up an independent Republic. The
Montgomery (Ala.) Convention has desig-
mated Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, Presi
dent, who is at this time nominally Senator
of the United States, under the solemn re-
sponsibilties of an official oath and Alexan-
der II. Stephens, of Georgia, Vice President
man upon whom public admiration had
for some time been fxed for his bold and
eloquent opposition to the secession move
ment. He fought the traitors nobly for
time, but has at last succumbed to the ire
sistible popular tide which set in against
him. He was himself afraid of this result,
and went SO far as to say, that his destiny
was cast with Georgia, and if she was deter
mined to sccede from the Union, he would
be compelled to follow her fortunes. 1t was
not choice, therefore, but gratitude for past
fayors, which placed Mr. Stephens in the
attitude where we are now sorry to find him.
His counsels may yet have salutary effect
in persuading the recusant States of their
great sin and folly.
We had supposed that in the nineteenth
century, surrounded by the intelligence and
countless national blessings which have been
enjoyed by the American people, that no
formidable number of even wickedly ambi
tious men could be found to perpetrate so
great an outrage upon the spirit of the age,
of the American Constitution and the en-
larged liberty secured under it, as to assume
the fearful responsibilities growing out of
disruption of the Union. But precedent
has been set at defiance, and prophesy falsi-
fed. There are those, and they are num-
bered by thousands, too, whose patriotism
was narrowed down to State lines, and who,
sacrificing every noble sentiment of fraternal
affection, have suffered their honor before
the world and the future happiness of them.
selves and their posterity to be imperiled by
the commission of an act which, by the
gentlest mode of designation, must be pro-
nounced treason
The time is past when it would be proper
to address argument to such men. If the
preservation of their own fair fame in the
presence of astonished and offended foreign
nationalties was not sufficient to deter them
from the act if the prickings of conscience
were inadequate; if their love of country
was so feeble as to inspire no flame of patri
otism let them go-and go peaceably, if
| they shall be content to do so. Nobler men
and nobler minds are capable of appreciating
the blessings which they have trampled un
der their feet, and will preserve and conserve
them. Let them go. The excess of popu!a
ton from the Old World, where tyranny still
has foothold, will come in and fill their
places. Let them go. They were not wor
thy of the great heritage transmitted by our
Revolutionary forefathers. They have de-
spised the weapons of enlightened minds
discarded the teachings of sages and patri.
ots-that "he alone is a freeman whom the
truth makes free; )" and invited mankind to
Judge them by that narrower and more des
picable line of conduct which they have
adopted, of assaulting their -4,ma 4Nater and
attempting to subvert the institutions from
which they derived all their greatness and
their power.
Let them go, and remain away from US.
Let us even forgive them their allegiance to
the Government-the violation of their oath
to the Constitution-but if they needlessly
and wickedly shed one drop of innocent,
patriotic, American blood, then, say We, let
this Government show its might, and terri
bly, avenge the outrage.