The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-07-10

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in the inaugural address, y on can have no
conflict without being yourselves the ac.
grcssors,' he took pains not only to keep
this declaration good, but also to keep the
case so far from ingenious sophistry that
the world shosld not misunderstood it.
by the affair at Fort Sumptcr, with its sur
rounding circumstances, that point was
reached. Then and there, by the assail-
ants OF the government, began the conflict,
without gun in sight or expectancy to re-
turn their firing, save only the few in the
fort, sent to that harbor. years before for
their own protection, and still ready to give
that protection in whatever was loyal. In
this act, describing all else, they have fore
cd upon the country the distinct issue of
immediate dissolution or blood, and this
embraces more than the fate of these L.
). ltprescnts to the whole family of man
the question whether a constitutional re-
public or democracy government of the
people, the same pcople-can or cannot
maintain its territorial integrity against its
own domestic foes. 1t presents the ques-
ton whether discontinued persons, too few
IN numbers to control the administration
according to the organic law in any case,
can always, upon the prctcnces made in
this case, or any other pretcnces, or arb-
trarIiy without any prctcnce, break up their
government, and thus practically put an
end to free government upon the earth. 1t
forces us to ask, is there in all republics
this inherent and fatal weakness? Must a
government of necessity be too strong for
the the Liberties of the people, or too weak
to maintain its own existence.
SO viewing the issue, no choice was left
but to call out the war power of the gov
eInment, and so to resist the force employ
ed for its destruction by force for its pre-.
servation. The call was made, and the
response of the country was most crafty
ing, surprising in unanmity and spirit the
most sanguine expectation. Yet none of
the States commonly called slave States,
except Delewaee, gave regim mt through
the regular State organizations A few re.
giments have been organized within some
other OF those States by individual enter
prise, and received into the government
service Of course the seeded States, so
caiied,and to which Texas was joined about
the time of the inauguration, gave no troops
10 the cause of the Union. The border
states, so called, were not uniform in their
acton, some of them being almost for the
Union, while in others, as in Virginia,
North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas,
the Union sentiment was nearly rcprcssed
and silenced. 5
The course taken in Virginia was the
most remarkable, perhaps the most impor-
tant. convention elected by the peopl,
OF the State, to consider this very question
OF dlsrupting the Federal Union, was in
session at the capital of Virginia when
Fort Sumpter fell. TO this body the peo-
pie mad elected large majority of profess.
Ell Union men. Almost Immediately after
the fall Of Sumptcr, members of that ma.
jority went over to the original minority,
ana, with them, adopted an ordinance for
Withdrawing the State from the Union
'" neither this change was wrought by their
great approval of the assault on Sumpter,
OF thelr great resentment at the govern
meht resistance to that assault, is not de-
nhltely known. Although they submitted
the ordinance for ratification to vote oil
the people, to be taken somewhat more than
month distant, the convention, and the
Legislature, which was also in session at
the same time and place, with leading men
OF the State not belonging to either, ilnmc-
diately commenced acting as if the State
was already out Of the Union. They
pushed military Operations vigorously for
ward all over the State. They seized the
U. 5. armory at lIarper's Ferry and the
haVy-yaid at Gosport, near Norfolk. They
received, perhaps invited, into their State
large bodies of troops, with their warlikc
appointments, from the so-called seeded
States. They formally entered into trca-
ty OF alliance with the so called ''Confcdcr-
ate States and sent members to their
Congress at Montgomery. And finally
they permitted the insurrectionary govern
ment to be transferred to their capital a,
Richmond.
The people of Virginia have thus allowed
this giant instruction to make its nest
within her borders, and this government,
has no choice left but to deal with it where
1t finds it, and it has the less to regret a.
the loyal citizens have, in due form, claimed
its protection. These loyal citizens the
government is bound to recognize and pro
tect as being in Virginia
In the border States, so-called-in fact
the middle States there are those VIII,
favor policy which they call armed neu
, trality; that is, an arming of those States
to prevent the Union forces passing one
way or the disunion the other over theil
soil. This would be dsunion completely
tIguratively speaking it would be the build
ing of an impossible wall along the line o
separation, and yet not quite an impassa
bic one, Tor, under the guise Of neutrality
it would tic the hands of Union men, ant
freely pass supplies from among them t.
the insurrcctionists, which it could not d.
as an open enemy.
AT a stroke it would take all the troublt
off the hands Of secession, except only ha
proceeds from the external blockade
would do for the disunonists that which
of all things they most desire-fecd then
well, and give them disunion without
struggle of their own. 1t recognizes n,
fidelity to the constitution-no obligation
to maintain the Union. While very man,
who have favored it are doubtless loyal citi
zens, it is nevertheless very injurious il
effect
Recurring to the action Of the govern
? ment, it may be stated that at first, a cal
was made for $4,000 militia, and, rapid,
following this, a proclamation was issue,
for closing the ports Of the insurrcctionar,
districts by the instituting in them of
: blockade.
So far, all was believed to be strictly lie
gal. At this point the insurrect;onists an
nounced their purpose of entering upol
, the practice OF privateering. Other call
were made for volunteers to serve tire
years unless sooner discharged, and ais
large additions to the regular army an,
navy. These measures, whether strict,
,, legal or not, were ventured upon what APP
peared to be the popular demand for pub
lie necessity, trusting then, as now, tina
Congress'wonld heartily ratify them. 1t il
believed that nothing has been done be
! yond the constitutional competency 0
Congress.
Soon after the first call for militia, it wa
! considered duty to authorize the commandin:
. General in proper cases, according to his d
cretlon, to suspend the privilege OF the hobea