The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-07-12

embraces moro than the fate Of thesc United
States.
ltprcsents TO the whole family Of man tho
question whether a constitutional republic
or democracy Is . government Of the people;
the same people can or cannot maintain its
territorial integrity against It's own domestic
foes. II presents the question whether die.
contented indiyiduals-too few In numbers,
to control the administration according to
organic law In any case, can always upon the
pretencs made In this case. or any other pre-
tence or arbitrary without any prctencs.
break up their government and thus practic-
ally put an end to free government upon tho
earth. II forces Us to ask, Is thcro In all TO
publics this Inherent snt fatal weakness!
Mus. q government Of necessity DO too
strong for the liberties Of i,s own people, or
too weak to maintain its own eIistan.ei
THE NECESSITY TOR THE war FowKs.
So viewing tho issue, no choice IVES left
but to call out the war power Of the Gov.
ernment, and 90 to resist tho forco employed
for its destruction by force for Its prsrva-
ton. The call was made, and the response
of the country was most gratifying, surpass-
in upanimity and spirit tho most sanguins
expectation. Yet mono Of the States com.
monty called .lavs States, except Delaware,
gave a regiment through the regular State
organization. A few regiments have been
organized within some Others Of those States
by individual enterprise, and received into
the Government service. or course the 90
ceded States. 20 called, and to which Texas
had been joined about tho time Of the inau.
gurstion, gave no troops to tho cause OF the
Union. The border States, 90 called, wcro
not uniform In their action, some Of them
being almost for the Union, while in Others.
as in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee
and Arkansas, the Union sentiment was
nearly suppressed and silencOd.
The course taken In Virginia was tho most
remarkable, perhaps the most Important
A Convention. elected by the people Of tha.
State to consider this very question Of dis
rupting the Federal Union. was In session at
the capitol Of Virginia when Fort Sumter
fell. To this body tho people had chosen
largo majority Of rrofcscd Union men. AL.
most Immediately after the fall Of Fort Sum-
ter. many members of ths. majority went
over to the original disuniou majority. and
with them adopted an ordinance for with
drawing the State from the Union. Wheth.
er this change was wrought by their great
approval Of the assault upon Fort Sumter,
or their great resentment at the Governments
resistance TO that assault, Is not definitely
known. although they submitted the ordi.
nance for ratification to q vote Of tho people
to be taken on day then somewhat more
than month distant.
The Convention and the Legislature, which
was also in session ut the same time and
place, with loading men Of the State not i'm.
mediately connected with either, immediate
ly commenced acting as IL tho State were
already out Of the Union. They pushed mill
itary preparations vigorously forward all
over the State. They seized the U. States
armory ut Harpcr's Ferry, and the navy yard
at Gosport. near Norfolk. They received.
perhaps invited, into their State large bodies
of troops with their warlike appointments,
from the so.called seeded States. They for
mally entered into q treaty Of tempo.
rary alliance and cooperation with tho 20.
called Coniederated States, and sent members
to their Congress at Montgomerysand finally
they permitted. the insarrectiOnary Govern
ment To be transferred 70 their capital at
Richmond. The people Of Virginia have
thus allowed this grand iniurection to mako
It's nest within her borders, and this Govern.
ment has no choice left but TO deal With II
where II finds il, aud II has the less regret,
as tho loyal citizens have Ia due form claimed
its protection. These loyal citizens this Gov.
eminent is bound tofocoguize aud respect as
being virginiaIs.
ARNEp NEUTRALITY HOSTILE 10 covIRSxxsr.
In tho border States. 20 called, In fact the
middle States, there arc those who favor .
policy which they called armed neutrality
that is. nm arming Of thoss States to prevent
the Union forces passing ons way, or the
disunion the other, over their soil. This
would be disunion completed. Figuratively
speaking, II would bs the building Of an i'm.
passatle wall along tho line Of sparssion;
and yet not quits an impassabls one, for
under the guiso Ofncutrality itwOuld tie the
hands Of the Union men, and freely paAs sup
plies from among them TO the insurrcction.
lists, which !. could not do .sn open enemy.
At stroke Il would take all the trouble oa
the hands Of secession except only what pro.
cceded from the external blockade. Itwould
do for the dinnionists that which Of oil
things they moot desiro-fssd them we'll and
give them disinion without struggle OF
their own. !, recognizes no fidelity to the
Constitution, no obligation to maintain the
Union, and while very many who have
favored /. are doab.lss loyal citizens. Il b
nevertheless injurious In effect.
rm ACTION or THE oovrnSxrr.
Recurring tothsactiOn ofshs Government.
II may be stated tha. at nut call wssmads
for $4,000 militia, and rapidly following
this . proclamation was Issued Tor closing
rhs ports Of the insurrectiouary dhtrict BY
blockade. 50 far all was believed to b