Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-01-31
From the Cincinnali Gazette.


The Spirit of the NorthsFeHs.
| n mob has taken possession Of the Gov
sTnment defences near the mouth Of the Mis-
sissippi River, Another mob Is reported to
have planted cannon on the banks Of the
river at Yicksburg, with the aFowed purpose
of sinking every steamboat that offers opass
without consenting TO be overhaulsd and ex-
amined. The former act is palpablc treason
against the Federal Government and requires
prompt attention from the Administration.-
! The Demonstrations At Ficksburg, as stated
I have special interest fer the people. of this
city Both are offences SO injurious and
I insulting 10 the whole Northwest that what
ever the Federal Government may do, they
VIII not be tolerated By OHF people.
It is needless TO say that the FicksburP
dispstch referred to has created much excite
ment and mitigation among those more i'm
mediately interested, and, in fact, among all
classes Of our people. No idle threats OF
braYado are uttered, but no disposition pro
walls to submit to any interference with the
| rec navigation Of the Mississippi. No rash
or ill-adTised steps viii be taken, but on the
first insult or hindrance to any boats PURSE
ing its customary and awful business, meas
ures viii be taken to put permanent stop 70
this insolence. e ..tll
| What We have before said, we now say
again: The Northwest will be e unit in
maintaining its right to 3 free and unob-
! structei use Of the Mississippi River through
out its entire course. or this, all informed
dlers and traitors to the Union may take note
| and govern themselves accordingly.
No forts Of the United States Government,
anywhere upon that stream, or IN its vicini-
| ty, VIII be permitted to remain, for any
| length Of time in the hands Of a baIligerent
enemy, foreign or domestic. The insurgents
| who have stolen possession Of Forts Jackson,
St. Phillip, and Pike, viii speedily be cleared
out by the Government o. 6V some older
agency, not hostile 10 the Northwest It is
not likely, however, that any forces on that
errand would choose the route BY Yicksburg.
Here he lawless proceedings referred to at
that point do not result from any reasonable
fear. They must have some other purpose.
There are other modes Of warfare than ex
/ ploding gunpowder or hacking with STEEL
The Prince of 0rarge when bis country was
assailed by dangerous invasion, found much
more effective remedies. He opened the
| dykes, overhoWed the country, and put the
/ otherwise victorious enemy to fight.
The tame element but in a very different
manner, can be used for the diso0m6ture OF
any rebellious community on Eelower Mis-
sissippi The Father of Waters has already
volunteered on several occasions to teach
this lesson. The fact that the bed of the
river is at considerable elevation above the
surrounding country Is well known. The
terrible effects Of crevassee have been re
peatedly witnessed. All the lower country,
I Il .-
/ rights" can be subdued by the work of a
single night. We say this in no threatening
mood; but violence, meddlesome Interference
with legitimate river business, any sort Of
injury OF abuse to our vessels, their passen-
gers, their crews, or their leding, viii newt
ably lead TO hostilities, and when these &C
tually come, the most effective method Of
"conqueriDg peace" viii be adopted.
We regret much to see the spirit Of aliena-
ton and fanaticism which appears now to be
in The ascendantat NsgE Orleans. Weshould
regret still more # the day ever comes when
in defence Of our particularly that Of
the right Of the free navigation Of the Mis-.
slssippi obtained by on outlay of millions of
dollars-NeW Orleans and CinciHnati should
be parties, on opposite sides, 70 actual war
But Besay distinctly that The mouth Of the
Mississippi shall not pass into The hands Of a
Joreign power or our trade and intercourse
up and down that river Be left at the mercy
Of mere tTeaty, until afier a long and des-
perate struggle, in which the Northwest shall
have been Yanqnished. And this last result
we do not seriously apprehend. We are dis
posed 10 think, rather that New Orleans
would first End itself submerged in another
Dead Sea, should it eauselessly provoke and
msdly persist ia & warfare like that 81
We suspect that the Southern msleontents
are far less ignorant Of the material strength
Of the States of the Northwest than Of the
spirit which has been excited among oar
people By constant n1enaees and by recent
eFent0 Thet i 10 dGtt0a Of gs7timent ~
thiS sccti0H. The madeap disnnionists are
known 70 be soiekedig t1roag. Forbesranee
toward their insolence has ceased to be con-
sistsnt with g decent lErespect. They are
raising a storm at the North, which viii have
none The less force and tpry because It has
gathered slowly WewsnruU STRIFE. There
IS need ofnoue. VITA loyal citizens we are
prepared 70 talk over mitual gIio4ances, and
10 reconcile al diiIarenees ih 9 nesceful way.
/, Buf we are not % Be- s0eroi5 b Soath Caro-
Ina or Louisiana, sr Mississippi, into dis
honorable surrender Of our indisputable
RIGHTS, or into unfaithfulness to our manifest
DUTY. This is our position; and be the result
Whst it may, this position ne shall maintain.