New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-06
1' OEGANIzE TO PRESERVE THE CAPITAL.
Corrsspou dsnee Of The N. Y. Tribune


. q Ii Washington 70 be defended or retaken' Should
the Southern States seeede in body, seize upon the
Capital and tie archives Of Government would they
not have a very fair claim 10 the title Of tie United
States Do not the conspiratos design to prevent the
counting Of the Electoral at the legal hour and
Tins claim to have prevented, once and forever,
coins becoming the legal Presidents and are not
these same conspirstos well aware that, should this
nefarious programme be carried out, the hesitang
Southern border States would Immediately wheel into
line. the voice of Southern Union men be husbed,
and Southern Government officers declare the old Gov
eminent dead, and proceed al once to swear allegiance
10 therew.
Shall the North defend or retake the Capita' Wash-
ngop belongs the Nation nine teDths Of the people
Il the United States would if freed from Il influence
Of ambitions demsgogues, vote that the Union must be
preseryed the South, reign Of terror makes con-
seryatiye men powerless. The North must then, take
mp the Of the people, it has constitutional night
TO defend the CAPITAL Daugnrste Lincoln, ana mus
preserve the Constitution and the Union; for, this
iuaug alton is prevented the prestige and dignity OF
the nation will have departed the reign Of the people
he over and our boasted Republic sink into military
desposm.
Can the conspirators obtain possession OF Washing
toni Yes. For as things now are, the nauonsl s'eeo
Is within their reach, the door unboed and invtngy
0len What are its defenses Most Of the militia Ia
the District Southern men. and half s officers at
heart S.cpssioniss How long cosd eco regulars con-
tend with the 90 GOO armed traitors who, at ~ hours
notice, could be predptated upon it Ia not every
railroad steamboat aud telegrapb-ne south OF the Po'
ornac under he control Of the Secessionists Are not
| heir Minute Men and Knights of the Golden
\ - al nIaHE nf
the operators Instruments at Washington, to set
heir faces and feet Washington-ward
Can the North preserve the capital to the nation
Yes: by presenting 70 the eyes and the fears of the
Ctaliuss Of tie South an avalanche of 200 COO armed
freepep, ito edge resting on MARY land and Virginia,
and ~ poised that motion OF Gen. Scots finger would
bring with resstess sway TO the rescue OF the peo-
PIES property and the peoples rights
What is now The duty of the North J Manifestly to
organize force for the defense Of the capital. Tie
Governors OF the Free States should at once contract
with tie railroad and steamboat lines the routes To
Washington, for the exclusive at All hours police
of all means Of transportation the exigency may re-
qre; and the drilled troops Of these States sbould he
ready nj a moments warning 10 proceed by land or
water, from Naw-York, Boston, Philadelphia, ai q
Cincinnati upon The Federal City. And the crisis
came, every citizen VINO eould rho" n"she' e"o"'u
bs accepted an volunteer, and moved forward as enc
Of tie hrnyof reserve. This entire force should be
organized by theseeond in command to Gen. scott. 30
much for the power at call; but TO sustain Gen Scott
at Washington against the tint attack there should be
ten thoas,ild sxm g.nerved Union at the Federal
city, ready to be enrolled 10 Government Police fer
the Of law and order nsde and outside Of
the halls Of Copsrrss and these tried men should take
| e. 49, ntal
tits only by such u vigorous manifestation on the
part Of thu peoPei the ccnsprators can be held
cheek the capital preserved and Lincoln constitution
ally seated in the Presidential chair. Shall Washing
ton b. DEF, nded rethen Shall We wait until the
steed Is stolen, or seasonhby and enecsualy slam the
door In the face Of the secessionistsi BosroslAs