New-York daily tribune., 1861-09-08
s. aIrls.yTGA Atom

defined BY Webster OF Worcester. Let us take
the most accessible definition, and that ia, the
" act of subduing and bringing under the power
"or absolute control of another" Subjugation,
then, is tho purpose of this present war-subjuga'
ton of the Rebels sow in arms against the right.
ful authority Of the Government. We do not
propose to subjugate South Carolina as men,
ber of the Federal Union, but simply South
Carolina a. a rebel community and State; not
Jefferson Davis as q citizen OF Mississippi, but
Jefferson Davis as an armed rebel. Over South
Carolina and over Jefferson Davis We propose to
eSo.scise our lawful governmental power. II this
isei' subiugaton, then We mean to subjugate
bo,,. But some Of the Democratic editors who,
we must think are not provided with an un-
abridged dictionary take alarm at the word we
have quoted. III, Concord (N. H. Statesman
having accused some papers OF this class OF
bawling" out that this is on abolition war y
for the sake of " clcakiDg their hostility to the
L" subusaton OF the Rebels" The n. N. Patriot
starts. back in horror, real or affected, and
shriebs out Does Tie Statesman really then
admit that the war s for subugation We
have not seen The Sta',smon's response; but we
do not suppose it shrinks from the con-
clnsiou to which The Patriot wishes to force
it, The whole question is one OF &" subjugaton;
. we have got to subjugats the Rebels or be
subj gated by them. Thus fsr the sbjugstion
has hen on the wrong side, aud until the tide
turn, ge do not think The Patriot need alarm it.
self about the ultimate consequences. This re-
beon began with small squad of restless poll
ticiaas, mostly in South Carolina. On the 7th
day of November not single State except South
Carolina had a majority in favor of Secession,
while Georgia the most powerful and Influential
of the Cotton States wa, strongly opposed to 1t.
In process of time, however, South Carolina, hav-
ing seeded. subiugated Mississippi, Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas to her
will, the last named State not being reduced to
subjsc'ou until the first OF February. Then
caS,f combined assault upon Virginia, which
Wa, reduccd by the guns fired at Fort Sumter.
Arkansas. forth Carolina, and Tennessee followed
in May. Here tho tide of conquest has been
STAYED: bu. Maryland Missouri, and Kentucky
have been continually threatened, and are now
in danger OF being oyerrun and subugated by
armed men from Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, and
other States of the Southern Confederacy. Does
anybody doubt the intrinsic loyalty Of Maryland
and Kentucky Under the most painful and ad-
verse circumstances they have proved their stead
fastness TO the Union and their desire not to sep
arate from it. Yet the military power Of the South
ern Confederacy has been by statute extended oyer
these States, and no effort will be spared to sub.
I..u ,,tn tinn n.xyhio oh
they abhor.
But the Rebels do not stop here. Jefferson
Davis has Just now placed his signature to bill
which makes war upon every Northern man in
his 80 dominions. All natives, citizens deni-
zens, ., subject, of the United States, being
male. and upward of fourteen years Of age, are
now liable, by law, to be apprehended, restrained,
secured, or removed as alien enemies, the alter
native being declaration Of intention to become
citizens OF the pirate Coniederacy. Neutrality is
not enough; silence will not avail; active aid to
the Rebel Government, and that alone, secures
the NorthernbOrn man from banisbment and re-
moyal, or Imprisonment. The exceptions, viz: of
citizen, of Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, M,-
souri,. the District Of Columbia, Arizona, New
Mexico, and the Indian Territory, only prove the
intention which we have before commented upon,
to subiugate all these places, contrary to the
will of vast msjorities of their people, under the
control Of the Richmond despotism.
The United States not only theoretically holds
that it has right to the loyalty of every State
which has professed TO secede, but that practi-
cally, the people of every one of them, except
South Carolina, where there are no people, but
where power is in the hands of an aristocracy
or olgarchy are really waitrg for the appear
ance and relief of our armies. Whether this be
true or not, cannot yet be determined. But il is
certainly beyond doubt that great spaces OF terri.
tory, like Western Virginia and Eastern Ten
nessce, aud portions of North Carolina, en-
braciug hundreds Of thousands Of people, are
loysl TO the Union, and are in danger Of subu-
raton and ruin at The hands Of enemies whose
principles aud whose rule they detest and will
never willingly submit to. Our armies have thus
far mainly been confined to enterprises within
these loyal States and parts of States, and in no
sense of the word can they be said to be en-
gagged in the work Of subjugating anybody, even
rebels. unless the rebels come near them upon
errands of subjugaton.
We hold then, that our proper work in this
war is subjugatOn, in the literal sense of the
word, and that although we have thus far made
but small progress in it, we shall not do our
duty TO ourselves and 10 the UniOnists of the
Southern States unless we prosecute the war
with vigor. Aud, furthermore, that We are not
to be deferred by any considerations Of danger
to the institution of negro Slavery. Tile Patriot