Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-05-28

CONVERTING STATES INIO PROVINCES.
1t is said that TO conquer the South, will de-
siroy the old Union Of independent States ex
tinguishing the American principle Of self govern
ment, and reduce one section Of the country to
condition Of humiliAting vassaage.
Nobody proposes to conquer the South, or to
diminish in any particular the rights Of tho
Souther States, as they have existed since the
formation Of the Constitution. After thi- war Is
over, they will govern themselves ns fully as
they have done so heretofore, and subject only
to the same limitations and restraints Of the
national authority as heretofore.
What will happen, as they are successvely
| rescued from their present social and political
| disorganiEaton, is, that the Union men who are
the majority in every one Of them Except (pos-
sibly) South Carolina, being enabled BY Tue as
sisiance Of the national forces to oyerthrcw u
dynssty fastened upon them by surprise, will
resume the control Of affairs, aud everything will
then 20 on harmoniousy as before.
The case Of Maryland illustrates what will be
witnessed elsewhere.
That State, to be sure, was in the hands OF
secession mob for only few days, but that was
because the national power, pledgei by the Con
stitution to guaranty to all the States u repubh
can form Of govern ment, was close at hand 10
redeem the pledge.
The rights Of Maryland as q State remain
intact. Her people govern themselves TO all
intents and purposes, as fully Us ever they did.
The national authority is not exerted within her
territory, single inch beyond its old limits.
President Lincoln appoints collectors snI post
masters, holds Fort McHeDry, aud marches
troops through the State according TO his views
Of the public interest," just as all bis predecessors
In the Presidential office have done, time out Of
mind. II this makes Maryland province she
has never been anything else.
In truth, what has been accomplished IN Mary
land is not the overthrow, but tue restoration Of
the right Of self-government, temporarily lost by
the asoendency Of a minority faction.
Precisely the same restoration is now demand
ed by the people Of Virginia, who arc groau ng
under as barefaced a tyranny % was ever estab
lished on the face OF the earth.
That outraged people, BY deliberate ma
jority Of more than fifty thousand votes, at the
election at the 4th of February, directed
their State Convention to do nothing to change
the then existing poliucal relations, without
their consent had and obtained In the teeth
Of this direction, the Convention, yielding to the
terrors Of a Richmond mob, proceeded without
consulting the people, not only TO put the State
into a condition Of war with the United siates,
but to transfer the military direction of affairs TO
q foreign Confederaoy, aud 10 introduce. the
troops Of that Confederaoy in large numbers
within the limits of Virginia, thus prostrating
all freedom at the feet of a military despotsm.
To expol this despotism, will not be to reduoa
Virginia TO the condition of province, but to
raise her from that condition, into her old dig
nifty as o free and Independent American Com
mon Wealth.- Warrington Era.