The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-04-05
Let the seding States Go.

cannot provide against it, because ii will
not admit the possibility of such an event.
a State may wisely contemplate invasions
nom abroad, and insure ctions from
within, and pass laws beforehand to re-
pei the one and suppress the other; but
State that admits the possibility of
Revolution, (Which is successful, estab-
lIshed insurrection) by passing enact
ments to meet it, at once acknowledges
Its own terminability, and invites the
very Revolution it apprehends.
The movement at the South that has
detached, de facto, IL no de jurc, seven
States from the American Union, is call
ed by its authors Secession. But:it is
nothing less than Revolution. 1t was H.
legal, unconstitutional and, we are COM
PEELED TO think, understandable and un-
natural. But it is a fact. The Federal
Government witnessed its rise and pro-
gress without the will to prevent it, and
the Federal Government is now cempell-
ed to behold its practical success without
the power TO overthrow it: and the sim.
pie question now presented is how shall
the Government treat this strange, un.
prccedented, and unnatural fact?
We cannot look INTO the Constitution
for counsel because the fact is not proyi-
dcd for in the Constitution. We. cannot
look to the laws for instructions, because
the laws, though providing Al psf slight
disturbances and ephc~ky insurrcc-
tons, make no provisions for the terrible
cXigency Of Revolution. 1t is the duty
of the President to enforce the laws but
how can he enforce the laws when he has
not the means OF doing SO? The strength
of the Republic does not consist in rigid
laws with powerful standing army and
huge navy to execute them, but in
the hearts and the arms of its People.
But portion Of the People have re-
volted, abandoned the Republic, and
erected new Government. What shall
we do? The Seeding States have not
only wronged. but have insulted, the
Government. They have committed out
RACES on what rdS their flag, and what is
still ours, which if rerpetratcd by a for
eign State-aye, or by dozen combined
foreign States would cause nation to
rise as one man, while million glad
swords would leap from their scabbards
to avenge the aifront. All this, Seeding
States have undeniably done; and yet
and yet-but moment ago, they were
our brothers, and the bleeding wounds
OF the several ligaments must be healed
and hardened by years of separation, be-
fore we can forge. the old fraternal rela-
ton
Having been brothers, it is no dishonor
to endure the ailronts which in their
madness they have offered us. Having
been brothers and equals, we cannot treat
them as subjects, and 90 tn war to rc-im-
pose on them the authority they have
thrown off. Besides, although they have
left us for insufficient causes, and left us.
too, in manner that sets all dignity and
propriety at defiance, we cannot, pei
haps, and we should not, force them, an
unwilling People, to live associated with
us.
a war between the Federal Goyern-
ment and them would not be a war in
the modern sense Of the word: it would
be series of massacres, characterized
by that hellishness into which estranged
ana cmbittered fraternity never fails to
degenerate, and prosecuted with unhag-
ging ferceness, until both parties, drip
ping from hundred cruel wounds, and
exhausted by bleeding could scarcely
raise their arms TO strike. Every field
would be blasted with desoiation or
drenched with gore, and every happy
hearthstone would be made dreary with
the shadow of a bloody bereavement
Every city and town would become the
scene of deadly combats, and, and every
house would become the house ofmourn-
ing.
The feleral Government would enter
upon the struggle with scarcely less than
q million adult vehement opponents Of
the movement on its own ground, and
the Confederate States would be compell-
ed to recognize and treat as tories, the |
thousands and scores Of thousands who
still cherish a longing affection for the
old Union.
The inevitable result would be not only
a fierce and long protracted duel between
the Federal Government and the revolted
States, but a chapter of carriages and
butcherics throughout the land, that
would surpass in reehing horror, that
troublous thirty years period of civil
strife in England during which no one
OF her noblemen died peacefully on his
bed, since all persisted on the battlefield,
by assassination, or on the block.
We are not prepared Cor this. The
very thought makes the heart shudder
with deathly sickness. We honor the
natural feeling in the breasts Of loyal
Americans that prompts them to make
m effort to maintain the unity and CO.
herency of their Government. 1t is q
noble and salutary sentiment, and when
evoked by the prospect of attacks from
foreign foes, should be encouraged to the
largest development, and the most ener-
getic action.
But the horrors Of such war as that
which would ensue from conflict be,
.ween the Government and the revolted
States, would never find compensation