Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-02-15
For the Free Press.
WHAT DOES COERCION MEAN

20 sernment it to itself and TO the people to
sesfle this saestion without delay. It may not be
possible settle it during the present administra
i5on, bot it is to be hoped that the incoming ad-
-niuisration will make this its first subject of con-
sidsra:ion, and the proclamation of the its
FIRST announcement to the public. From all quar-
tiers, we hear that Misrepresentation and misrepre-
seatat;on between the Northern and Southern par
ties Of our country have been the chief existing
causes of the present unhappy state of public af-
fairs. And there is some reason to believe that
there is equal misapprehension in regard to what
is meant on this matter Of coercion or enforce
meat'-Aud also that this Misrepresentation is
working quite much mischief as any other. We
sre told that q meeting at Richmond, Va, Jan.
10Th, adopted the following
Whereas, The Legislature has formally declared
that any act Of coercion against Southern State
will be regarded by Virginia as an act of WAT and
resisted with all the means In her power.
Reso!ueI, That the attention of the Legislature
be hereby called to the fact of an overt act of CO.
ercion now actually being psrpetcsted at Fortress
Monroe
1t is understood that this overt act of coer-
cion is simply the putting Of the Fortress in such
a condition that 1t rlay defend itself against an
attack from any quarter, and nothing else. So
the authorities that Re, at Charleston, have over
and over again declared that any strengthening Of
Fort Sumter so that it could resist an attack upon
it, the furnishing to its few brave soldiers
the comforts and necessities OF life would be con-
side-ed act Of coercion against South Caro-
Z 1:t
forts Of Pensacola, and Mobile, and New Orleans,
sid even in respec! to the defences which Gen.
Scott is preparing at Washington, TO secure the
safety OF the national buildings aud archives and
Treasury, and Of Congress ITSELF
Now had supposed that these Measures Of The
/ Government we're everywhere at the North under
! stood to be only defensive. No thought or pur-
pose was ever entertained to send forth from these
| forts, al invasion Of southern territory. The
South knows that this has been tie policy It has
not the slightest reason to fuppose any other poll
! cy is intended. Yet it declares th, exceedingly
harmless and forbearing course to be offensive and
ooeTcive.
Is possible that South Carolina can suppose
that the moment she chooses to declare herself out
Of The Union, this great government must with
draw all claims to its authority its property its
rights, within her boundaries , That it can with
hold all support and all protection from its loyal
citizens and its faithful officers there Can Viz
gFnia seriously ssk,-vhile traitors are declar-
ing their purposes openly, gathering and arming
their forces not very secretly, and Threatening
insultingiy % overthrow the Government, and
actually, with force and arms seizing treasure
! and property which is not defended-that every
thing be left without protection or the means
Of defense Can SIC ask this with
any other aim than to keep the Treasury Of the
Government in such a defeuceless condition. that
the South can easily and safely seize them Can
this demand Of mo coercion, be- in itself then.
anything else than rank treason taking the def
inition Ct coercion from the above resolution.
viii the South offer, in order to secure this de-
mand Just TO dsbaai all It's forces. and vacate all
its le euces restore all Il has seized belonging p
the Government. and promise in no case TO make
an attack ~ force or even 70 threaten it, and
leave OF % be settled by peaceful measures It
li- not done this II usH not DO f.. And vet
while plotting treason, preaching treason from the
stump and the pulpit, Iegisatiug treason. collect,
Ing annie. nd drilling and a-ming them for t-ea-
son, comuiin such acts Of treason as se1ing the
forts, a1senas, suo-treasuries, minis, navy yards
CT the Government. obstructing harbors and firing
upon unarmed merchant vessels On lawful bust .
ness. the demand is ooolly and iu,ultiasIy made
that the Government shall take no measures to de-
foni and Protcc; itself ty raising or sustaiuinga
single soldier Of lis own. Every intimatiou Of .
willingness to do this Is cried out against a. CO.
ercias sovereign States and shutting every avenue
to peaceful settlement. And even CRY is
echoed back from tie Democratic Convention at
Albany as If !; lad foundation in truth and
justice. Cla2ceIo- VaITo1th pleads with tie
Worth 10 avoid collision, to s,ay its hand. He
pictures the horrors Of var AMI lcprecatcs its
evils, and his audience is bathei in tears q, the
recital Of his'womaaly aPprehensions Is II pos-
siole that lis idea Of coercion, and the enforce.
meut Of the laws, is the same as tat which is ia
ken At the South His instance Of the position of
Washington, all Of the battle Of Plattsbu-rb
seems TO show this. Yet it seems impossible that
tais great commentator On law could so falsifv the
facts Of history, and 50 egregiously misrepresent.
an so comPosedIy mingle, and SO unjustIy run
tnecomparl son between our past glorics, and our
present shame. "Di9 Washington Sc for enforcing
the laws No shade Of tie Father Of bis Coun-
try Did he not draw Lis sword, and fight bloody
battles on the soil of his native land, aud carry on
what was really civil war in South Carolina, If
Tot in Virginia, that he might defend the laws Of
congress, and maintain the freedom Of the Union,
md the integrity Of his whole country? ChanceI-
or Walworth deprocates the firing Of the bullets
hat 'ieli like hsilstones around his dwelling" at
'lattsburgh What then Would he have sent :
Jack to their homes tho patriotic men Of New
ok and Vermont who left their families, farms 7
nd merchandise and rallied as volunteer to de- 3
end their country and enforce its laws against :.
ostile foe Would he have ordered Macdonough
nd Macomb with their brave soldiers back to .
heir barracks AMI left the armies Of England to L
pread unresisted. and uncoerced, over our boaut-
l and loved land, plundering and wasting and a.
onquering, lest there should be the "horrors Of
2nfict, "lest his house should be sacked, and lest
me stray bullet sho1ld be be il bedied in the y
lsemcnt Of his door, to remain TIL this day" to '
ach his children the perils Of liberty in wicked Al
orld, and to prove to them the patriotism and
arless courage Of their fathers?
True it is that confiot has its horrors: but even -
eso are not 50 fearful as tyranny unresisted. or -
-ons unpublished; as anarchy and the defiance DC
just and established law, where there is neither
re, noT courage, nor ,riH to maintain that law. II
may be that we are coming fast to the point
lere VIC IUst take one or the other hern of this
lemma. Ii SO, the choice Of it is not doubtful Fe
t the policy Of the Government be carefully
ighod. its positions taken with moderation and
,hteousness, and then proclaimed with calm and
ID WORDS let Us know what coercion rms.
al at the South and the North, at the Eas.
the West, and We viii hope that no conflict
/ follow. 1t viii be hard for the South to re- PIE
with their blood, such laws and ordinances as
il commend themselves to the conscientious ap- the
val OF the civilized and christian world. Let I'm