Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-03-19
A Question for Lincoln 10 solve.

The seeded States, seven in number.
have already passed the question of their
right to secede. They are now, by reyolu-
ton with force of arms, separate power.
In all the vast territory Of those States.
with the exception of few small forts.
the Government, Of which Mr. Lincoln il
the head, commands not one foot of land,
and cannot rely upon the obedience Of
single inhabi,ant outside of those forts.
These States which have separated them.
selves from the Union, have established
new Government and adopted new con-
sttution, to which the people have declared
their allegiance. They have selected as
their chiefs statesmen and warriors Of no
common repute, and are prepared and re-
solved to maintain their independence and
sovereignty to the utmost extremity.
Without entering into the discussion of
the constitutional right of secession, we
have simply stated facts. 1t Is stubborn
facts that have got to be dealt with now,
and not theories IF constitutional law or
legal technicalities. Whether right or
wrong, or constitutional or unconstitutional
the seeded States have raised the stand
ard of revolution and established Govern
meut of their own. The argument that
because secession is not legal it does not
exist, will do no good. Nor will the threats
OF coercive measures produce remedy fer
the trouble.
To talk about retaking the property Of
the Government in the separated States,
and collecting the revenues, is to propose
propositions which would inevitably result
in all tho horrible atrocities of civil war
Neither will the project of placing vessels
OF the harbors of the Southern ports, to
intercept and collect duties on imports, be
acquiesced in by foreign nations, much less
by the people Of the seeded States. Du-
! ties cannot be collected at sea, as the mas
ters Of vessels have no authority to act in
the matter. 1t is only when they enter
ports that their cOnsignecs can be held for
duties. Their seizure on the high seas
would be regarded by civilized nations as
little less than robbery and piracy; and
should our Government adopt such policy
how long would it be before we should have
something more to contend against than
the new confederacy in our borders?
Therefore, as we view the matter, it re-
mains for President Lincoln to determine
whether we shall be plunged into the hor-
rors of relentless and devastating war. or
whether the peace policy is to prevail. Let
war be once begun, and the ruin of ou-
country Is accomplished. We firmly be-
lieve that the Union can never be recon
structed by the shedding Of blood. The
boast of the Abolitionized Republicans that
they can overcome and subdne the revolt |
ing States and hold them in subsection is
ridiculous. Let an effort of this kind be |
attempted, and we shall have the whole Of
the slave States in arms against US. A
war thus begun, no human foresight can |
tell when 1t would end or what would be |
its terrible consequences.
Whether the Confederated States" be |
an independent nation in accordance with
the terms Of our constitution or not, we be
Aeve that the best policy dictates that Lin
coin should deal with them as such. Let
him deal quietly with them, and demand
any honorable concessions we can
make will bring them back into the Union.
Let peece and Cancellation be the polie7
and the country may yet be saved. A re-
union can only be brought about by these
measures.
A vast responsibility now rests upon
President Lincoln. 1t is for him to saw
whether our fair plains shall be drenched
With blood, Or whether the olive branch of
peace shall wave over US. May Heaven
lirect him right.