Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-02-04
The Crisis ComIns 10 n Head.

The Crisis Coming TO n Head.
at the request of many of our citizens,
comprising representatives of the leading
branches of industry and trade 10 this city,
we shall republish on Wednesday, in pamph
let form, several articles which have ap-
peared in the Press during the week past on
a peaceable separation of the free aud slave
States, including the article in this paper.
1t is time for the people, the press and the
politicians to begin to realize the actual state
OF affairs, Instead of talking of the enforce.
ment of the laws, when there is no Govern
nent, and of preserving the Union, when it
is already dissolved.
This Secession cloud, at first no bigger
than mans hand, and which faithfulness
ard firmness in the Administration would
have crushed at once, has grown upon the
tIeachery of the Cabinet and the imbecility
and cowardice of the President, aud the
encouragement held out by the promise of
concessions from the North, until it has
overspread one half of this national frma-
ment; and now it has only to organize itself
in the national Capital, and assume the
fcIms of Government, to contest with the
Northern States the claim to legitimacy,
and divide at once the allegiance of the
army, navy, and all of the Government
officers.
This it may do by force, for the small gar
rison at Washington could offer no effective
resistance to the number which the South
can bripg. Or it may organize a Provisional
Government peaceably at the Capital; and
der the principle of non-coercion that the
President has established he could not pre-
vent. Then the Government would melt
away, ard the army, navy, custom house
officers, and officers of all the departments,
would dissolve and precipitate according to
their political affinities.
Then, with the control of the Capital the
machinery of Government, and the reve.
nues-in which it would be backed by a
secession at New York-the South would
dictate terms to the free States as to rebels
egairst legitimate Government Would the
| North submit 10 this? or would they fly to
arms? Arms? They are all in the South.
| lG NOIlu Will DG III lhO Ctuu4JlOu VI lue
Corthsgerians, when they gave up all their
aims to the Romans, to procure peace, and
then undertook to resist the sentence of
| banishmeDtj and the women cut off their
| hair to twist into bow-strings.
The army and navy will most of it go with
the South, for the South has always looked
to its interests, while the North has been
singing idiotic peans to the Union. Will the
North go to war, With all the advantages of
| the first campaign in the hands of the South2
or will it surrender as a conquered province2
or will it then in degradation seek for a
peaceful separation, which before it might
have had in honor?
We are not inclined to panic-making; but
here is an actual state of things which he
that Iuns may read; and wayfaring fools
may comprehend. The North is on the
brink of a dishonor and degradation which
it will only be able to overcome by a general
war, which, besides all the present horrors,
will entail bitter enmity, that will out-last
generations. Immediate recognition of the
actual state of affairs and prompt action
upon it, is required to preserve the peace and
save us from dishonor; and no possible ac-
tion can touch the case, except peaceable
separation. a..
We are singing hosannas to the Union
while the Union is gone, and the South are
making all their dispositions toward US a
1 if we were an enemy. Such a course il
making us every day more helpless to defend
our rights and welfare.
The Union, if it existed, would b,
nothing but a question of Government
subject to the consent and revision o
the governed; not matter of faith, to b
accepted asa holy mystery which it is saeri
lege to investigate or doubt. No matte
what men may believe in regard to the futur
fate or obligations of the Union, just con
sideration of its nature, merits and opera
tions, will be beneficial in every respect.
We commend these articles TO the consid
Grafton of all. 1t is the first time, that W
are aware Of that the merits of the othe
side of the Union question have been argu
mentstiyely considered in the North. If tn
Union is TO be preserved, it can be made a
the more stable by perfect understandin
that the North has only an equal interest i
it, and that it is not bond which one pa
will cling to in spite of any violations o
the other part
: SPEAKING of the Secession of Louisian
/ II n.