Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-01-07


them but TO pray.
There are circumstances which give fair
ground to presume that the whole NDvern-
ing agency Of the nation is demoralized.
Defalcations and Interpretations Of funds
in high places indicate more than
general derangement of the finances.
The presage, in the minds of many,
that official defalcation is to DO the rule
and that the Government is to be left at
the close of the present term Systematically
dismantled and dospoiled, is growing stronger
with each new display of perfdy of those to
whom its management is entrusted.
1t is said that there is evidence of the
formation of conspiracy, by politicians, to
prevent by force the Inauguration of the
President-elect. This is no more incredible
than that the President and his assistants
have been engaged in arming one part of
the nation against the other. Whether the
Union will be dissolved by the defeat of an
Inauguration ceremony, is questionable; but,
unless there is the want of a President, there
car. be no dissolution. All that has been
done will 60 for nothing, if the new Presi-
dent is permitted to come in possession of
official authority. Having gone so far, it is
matter if not of life and DEATH of consid-
erations almost equally vital with the
conspirators, to guard against an event
so fatal TO their plans, and so dangerous
TO themselves. They must prevent it
or 90 to the wall and of this they
are doubtless convinced. They have power
will never again possess. They have the
Government, the treasury, the command of
the army, the mastery Of the mob of Wash
ington, and the power to gain the control of
the railways that lead to the Capital City.
And is it probable that all these things have
been overlooked2 Conspirators are usually
wide awake to their advantages. We now
know that those of the Cotton States have
been proVident, at least in the matter of
arms and ammunition. It is the people, un-
willing to believe that President of the
United States would willingly consort with
traitors, that have been slumbering. 1t is
true, perhaps, for them to begin to ask them
selves: If all these things are true, what is
next to happen?
1t is not probable that the people Of the
Northern States will readily submit to the
rule of a Government established by South
ern force at Washington; but what will they
do2 If Washington is seized, the fact of
its seizure will impose upon the insurgent
ba yooacuifx- 20 kaop u Tha 4i,,n
can never arrive when it will be safe for
them to relinquish their hold upon that which
alone can give their acts the semblance of
legitimacy. They may not foresee this con-
sequence now but such is nevertheless the
fact. If Washington is seized, one Of two
results is inevitable; the captors will make
their possession perpetual, or they will have
to be driven from it by superior force. If
things come to a forcible arbitrament, the
contest will be bitter one, and bloody. 1t
will probably be brief; and as to its result,
it will not be such rs will b0 regretted by
any true friend of the Union.
The loco that we desire to inculcate is, that
it is idle, under the circumstances, to assume
that serious disturbance-a disturbance that
may retard even the operations of the Gov
eminent for atime-is impossible. The better
way is to contemplate it as a thing that may
arrive, and to prepare our minds accordingly
If attempts are made to forcibly prevent the
doing Of any act prescribed by the Constitu
ton, fraternal blood or no fraternal blood
] they must be resisted. Let the chivalry 0
the Cotton States play their revolutionary
antics upon their own soil as long as th
Administration is willing to permit them
but the Seat of Government belongs to all o
MS, and when there is reason to believe tha
conspiracy looks in that direction, it is higI
time for every sound and loyal man, ever,
man who feels pride in the thought that h
is an American citizen, to consider what
viii be his duty to do in case the attempt
made to carry into effect the designs of tn
conspiratoIs.