Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-01-28

hates these arc many individuals who
Fallor their patriotism, and in some 10
stances, their fsnaticism 10 blind them
from great and apparent realities. In
their enthusiasm, they shout coercion
coercion - wien the great national
topic 10 introduced, without calmly ana
living the meaning Of that awful word.
What 10 coereioni 1t is nothing more
or less than making . province of an
Independent State; and, make slaves OF
American citizens, for the men at the
South are Americana, however they may
deviate from the path Of the mighty
Confederacy. II, in the opinion Of the
Southern States, the stars and stripes
have failed to protect them ifthe South
ern States no longer admire the national
banner If the North has slienated her
self from them, soAdt right haze zoe to
attempt to force them into associations
which haze become repugndnt to them ?
From wAence did we derive that right ?
There are those who pretend to say that
the North can coerce the Southern
States. Do they understand, do they
mean what they saya II they will but
take q glance at a map Of the two sec
t;ous, they will find that the difference
in favor of Il Q North 10 not SO alarmingly
great, as some have supposed. Small
countries have often conquered larger
ones. Great Britain could not coerce
America, although she was the "Mistress
Of the World" aud "Queen Of the Sea, -
while America was but dependent
province. What was the reason!-
When q nation of freemen deliberately
determines to become separate and in
dependent government, no power under
the sun can keep it from doing as it
wishes. That the Southern States are
determined TO resist with all their power
any attempt at coercion, we all know,
and that they are able to, we also know
Then why inaugurate q civil war, the
end of which, no one can predict p
act so that this great government can
not be reformed again? Why become
the derision of the world for pretending
to self-government, while we allow our
passions to prove our ruin? This Con-
iedcracy may possibly be reformed agaiIl,
if we do not allow our passions to get
the better Of us. Greater things have
been accomplished by calm, cool-headed
patriots, who were willing to cast aside
all personal interests for the good of the
common county. What is it which
prevents Crittenden's Compromise from
passing Is it not personal interest
The Republican members of Congress
would gladly vote for it, were it not that
they feared their popularity at home.
But let things be as they sciN, let as
haze no coercion. 1t would even be
better to surrender to the Southern
States the forts and arsenals within their
lines, than to commence a civil war.
Have We not full possession of the Ter
litories, and the Northern forts? And
did they not contribute as much towards
the building of our forts as We did to
theirs? Then why rot make an equal
division of this property? The loss to
us by civil war will be thousand times
greater than the mere value Of those
arsenals and forts. Emigration will
cease altogether, aud immense numbers
OF people will leave the country, through
terror of fire, sword and famine. The
authorities of Canada have already been
making arrangements to encourage the
citizens Of our country to emigrate to
their dominions. These arrangements
will immediately lie taken advantage OF
by thousands of discouraged individu
ais, and when they have once fairly set.
tied themselves, it will be difficult
matter to allure them back, however
durable peace may appear. Besides, it
will give such cheek to our emigration
that it will take years of peace and plenty
to countcract it. Then let us all unite
oppose coercion. Let every voice in
the land be raised against it, however
feeble it may be. Let every pen be busy
in denouncing it, for our salvation is
dearly concerned. Let as haze no
coercion. PATRIOT.
lie Claire, Iowa, Jan. oath, 1861.
Population Of the South.