Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-01-31
The Cost Of Coercion on-Reuly to Louisi-
Qnian.

An intelligent gentleman from Louisiana,
under date of January 4th, 1861 addresses
US as follows:
EDITOR OF THE CINCINNATI TIMEs-DEAR
SIR: am not one OF those who stop paper
because an offensive editorial appears in il.
like to compare the opinions of men in diff
ferent sections on the various important tops
les of the day. | even take and res; the n
Y. Tribune. that arch f,nd of Abolitionism.
in order to watch the movements of the ene-
my.
= would respectfully suggest that you give
US an editorial on the probable cost OF coer-
cion. You have counted the cost Of disun-
ion, and recommend "a bloody coercion. -
Every cotton State will cordially indorse the
South Carolina platform. How much will
their coercion cost the free States in men,
money, &c.. &c.,?
We like the spirit in which this letter is
written. The author, who is evidently an
intelligent man, does not discontinue news
paper because he happens to find in it occa-
sionally an article to which be takes excep-
tions. 1t is more difficult task to edit a
newspaper. and satisfy the readers, than is
generally imagined; and he who would in
form himself must consent to examine all
sides Of the question Tradition tells us of
two valiant knights of the days of chvalry,
who, travelling in opposite directions, encnuh-
tered q splendid shield, which had been plac-
ed by the side of the road. One instantly
pronounced it gold the other. without hesi-
tation, declared it to be silver. Each posi-
tive in his conclusions high words soon fol>
lowed, and notwithstanding to proper dis
tance, dashed at his adversary with his sword
and lance. While they were engaged in
desperate struggle. seriously endangering
their lives. pious monk came along. and as-
certaing the cause of the collision. assured
Them they were buth right and both wrong
that one side i0dS gold the other silcer and
remit ded them that each would have avoided
a vast amount Of trouble by looking at the
opposite side of the shield.
1t is thus in all the fairs of life man
gains nothing and loses almost everything,
by wrapping himself in the garments Cf his
own individuality, and refusing 90 permit an
idea TO penetrate his saul which he does not
fully understand, or which re finds inconss-
tent with SINE hackneyed notions of bis
childhood, or 10 have been delared. at some
period of the pas', by some chimney corner
council of literary owls, tn be founde in her-
scholar the msn of travel, 80 quickly as a
willingness. at all times to submit bis opin-
ions to the inspection of those from whom he
differs on all imaginable subjects If there
cannot be found two leaves OF the forest pre-
cisely alike-it two human faces cannot be
found to correspondent there oe shade Of
difference between sven two blades of grass
in :he fe,d-if there be not two lilies in the
.,l.o1 kba Aot; ,on.1 of ot,,.
has fashioned precisely alike--iiff even two
drops Of water will not balance in the micro
seopic scale If. in short, contrast, and not
uniformity. is the universal law Of nature.
why sh ould we erect Procrustean bed upon
which to rack the opinions and sentiments of
mankind? We are to day what our fathers
were a few hundred wears ago. 1Hey belev-
ed the earth to be fat surface and the great
center around which the Universe was proud
to revolve; they believed it proper TO destroy
even their own fithers, and mothers, and
children, when they assumed the firms Of
witches and wizards, and, instigated by the
d vii, passed through key holes and toImen-
ted ther neighhors' dreams and killed their
cattle blythe mere exercise or Will they be.
Iieved in Old Virginia, as late as the mid.
die of the seventeenth century, it was right
to bring n man to the chipping post. or take
his lite, if he abs ell hins rom church
We now criticise our fathers. bur our cbil :
dren in turn will criticise us, and will laugh
az heartily at our fo.lies as we now laugh at
the foliies of those that have gone before u.s.
But we must reply to the q lestian of our
correspondent: WHAT WtULD BE THE CusT
OF COERCION Z"
In the first place. let US remark. however.
that by the phrase '.bloody coercion" we did
not intend to convey the idea that we do not
deprecate as calamity of gigantic dmen-
sions, thr necessity of resorting to armed
force for the purpose of preserving tie Unien.
We had fondly hoped that such necessity
would not arise and that the g sober second
thought" of the people would be on the side
of law and order. We sincerely trust, even
vet that our brethren in the North and in the
South will be able to settle the questions
which distract them, and that they will, ere
long greet each other not es enemies. but as
friends-friends linked together ty consid-
eratons of interest, happiness. AID mutual
safety, altogsther soo exal.ed to be sacrificed
uu on the ignohle alter Of personal pre- udic-s
and partisan rancar. We believe. however,
as we have be ieved from the beginning, thar
the laws must be executed. that ST asson and
Nu}lificatiJn. which are identical in origin,
principle and effect, must be met (ifthe dis.
ease cannot be reached by the mid argu,
ments of reason) by the r,pg arm of mill
tary power. This ia precisely The view of
this question taken by w ashinaton, Madison,
Monroe. Jefferson, Webster, Winfel Scott,
Wool, Stewart. and all the lead ny statesmen
and soldiers Of the past ard present age. If
we are wrong. We enjoy at least the satisfac-
ton of knowing that we are 10 the company
of those whom the country. from its founds,
tion, has most delighted to honor.
But we are asked what will be the cost Of
coercion. From this question. we infer that
our correspondent believes that il would re-
quire an immense sacrifice of meH and money
to bring back the seeding States. Let Us
see. 1t will not belnecessary, it is possible.
to transport a single nan across the soil of
the S,uth. Mr.. Jefferson believed the true
policy in queling rebellion like that of
S nth Carolina to eonsistin in the employment
of the navy, instead of the army. We are
compelled to maintain our ships of war. and
I'm view of the rapid increase of the war ma
vies of Europe and Great BRITTANY to contin-
ually add to their numbers. vhether any Of
the Stutes of the Union secede or not. Has it
occurred TO our correspondent that 1t will
cost no more TO maintain these grim ocean
giants o6 tho har5ors of Charleston. Savan-
nah, Appalachieola. Mobile and Galveston.
and the mouth of the Mississippi river, than
a. ..z~.rt Al ,La r;oini,u ,f opD