Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-03-23

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Ned 81 y rtsv I $ quoted =
'ligiouJ ( per Ioause i % ssts( =
itssIt aud 3 pSisss.i to be. P.ssiSs
judgment on the matter it contains, We
should designate IL = . very able And
very able and very rabid and very nm
compromising Republican paper.
But We concede that It is "religious
paper" And such being the case, its
comments on secular affairs, and upon
the situation in particular, afford % >
spiritual vicso Of oil these things! VI
course ouch . view cannot fail to be IN
teresting to men who rarely rise to the
contemplation Of other than the soblu-
nary aspect Of affairs; but who can yet
appreciate the super-terrestrial when u
is fairly presented. To oil such We
commend the New York Independent
or, If they have not the paper, We COM
mend such extracts from its columns a.
our space permits us to make. First,
Is to the evacuation OF Fort Sumter:
The news OF the probable Withdrawal
of the United States troops from Fort
Sumter, flashing by telegraph all over
the land, has profoundly affected the
public mind Of the country. This low
ering Of the national flag in the face Of
the traitorous bands that beleaguer it
this conspicuous and GndenidbIe con-
fession Of defeat by the National Gov
crnment-this surrender Of post so
important and 80 strong to the Revolu-
tionary Government which now rules at
the South-it is, to say the least. im-
mensely unfortunate that such should be
the first prominent public act Of the new
Republican Administration.
After charging the surrender to the
last Administration, the independent
proceeds:
But the fullest explanations will ceT-
tainly be needed to satisfy the patriotic
and rcsolute men who compose the great
mass Of the voters ct the North that such
necessity has existed. They will de-
mand to know, they have right to be
informed, Oh what basis the persistent
representation of Major Anderson that
he needed no further supplies have been
founded. And they will claim to know
at least that the various modes Of reach
ing and reinforcing the fort which have
at different times been suggested, and
which hundreds Of men have been ready
to take part in, have been severally con-
sidered, and proved impracticsble, be-
fore they will be satisfied that so signal
and stupendous a sacrifice should have
been made, Of the dignity, prestige, and
strength of the Government. Unless
it shall be plainly shown that its hand.
were not manacled only, but really par
alyzed by circumstances, the indignation
will be well-nigh universal that this key
to the gate of South Carolina SHOULD
have thus been rellnquished.
The Independent which SO recently
thanked God that at last 1--WE have ;
Government''-waxes eloquent as j
dwclls upon the Republican capitula
ton i:
The effect of this surrender on tn,
minds Of foreign pations can hardly b.
over estimated. Their prompt recogni
ton file integrity and indeDendence o
the Southern Nntederacy, whose patti
has been so early strcwn with success
ion of triumphs, is hardly too large OF
too important result to follow lOgicaA!
from it. Its effect at home, unless coun
teracted by prompt, wise, and efficient
action IN other quarters and dItfercn
direction, cannot fail to be disastrous
1t is The most unerpec.ed and prodiy
ious national humiliation kno,cn to ou1
history. II seems to offer license to re
bcllion, and to put the largest premium
upon treason. Unless it be speedily
followed by measures positive and cu
phatic, in distinct affirmation of tn
rights, purposes, and power Of the Gov
ernment, we shall have no longer an,
Government, except for such as are to-
lazy to question it, or too timid to with
stand the most empty OF menaces. Their
will be nothing left for jnsurrection t.
fear nothing left for patriotism to elm!
to. The old flag will trail in the dus
SO that the very swine may run over j,
But in another srticle,our religious
contemporary becomes more composed
and philosophic. Considering the grea
question, sis Freedom in Danger 2" b.
almost discards the spiritual aspect o
the matter, and looks with sharp ey
to the merit Prudential election 7 HI
says:
Mr.. Lincoln was not elected to de
stroy the Union, either b. precipitatin'
its dissolution or by becoming accessor
to it after the fact. He was elected t
preserve both Freedom and the Uniol
by restoring the Administration OF tn
Government to the principles of tn
Constitution. Ii now, he should rashl,
discard the Union on the one hand, o
on the other should attempt to maintain
it by precipitdte measures Of force, Z
war that would not carry with it tn
moral sentiment Of the North,-h
would throw his administration into tn
power OF the enemies of freedom, wht
by cIamoring for the Union or against
civil war provoked by rashness, woult