Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-05-22
What is Said of Us Abroad.

What is Said OF US ABROAD.
The leading papers OF Europe are dis
cussing American affairs with much earn
estness. All the London papers, we be-
ieve, with The exception of the Times,
have heretofore sanctioned tbs conduct
of Mr.. Lincoln, and his Administration
and consured Mr.. Buchanan for not doing
what NJ. Lincoln IS now attempting to
do. With them, the South have no sym.
path-no friend. The following article Is
from the London Chronicle, a paper of de
cded abolition prociviiies-and shows
how our conduct u now viewed across the
water:
Sympathizing heartily, as we do, with
the North-wilh lis free press, free speech,
free soil, free men-and aliena'ed as we
must be from the South, stained with
slavery, We cannot but censure the North
for an almost Austrian stupid.t. in states
manship. The L. States isIota military
power-it is not construct,d d for the coer-
con OF any large mass Of its own people
and though the South was wrong, accord
ing TO the letter of the law, yet the spirit
OF American institutions sanctioned the
SUGGEST scccssicnS. Were it at all
lpracticaole, President Lincoln might, nc
colding to the literal theory of the cons,i-
tution, suppress with high land all re.
6ellions and hang all traitors; bat this
course was out OF the question. lie might,
on the other hand, even without any for
NAL acknowledgement of secession, have
said There are certain f,rts in the South
possessed 10y the general government for
the protection of the States from foreign
invason--they were never builb for the
coercion OF tie people-and as at present
there is some danger OF riotous attack
on them, will withdraw all troops from
them" By this means he would tako
from the cause of secession all the charm
Of daring he would remove that aspect OF
heroism which arises when hot South
erncrs defy Northern aggression. By say
ing, IL have no idea OF sending a single
soldier into the South, though | still con-
sideg the States as not seceeded," the
people in the Confederate States would
say, Now that all apprehension of force
Leyies would have been disbanded, the
war fever would have suosided, and the
border States would have remained III the
Union, Bu, by talking Of coercion Mr..
Lincoln kept up continual fever in the
South, enabled the Mon gomery govern 7
ment tc exercise dcSpOtlsm, and 20 con
centrate its energies on military prepnra-
tion, and forced the border States into
hostility to the Union. Were coercion
actually practicable, this course might
have been defensible, but strong words do
not take forts, and Mr.. Lincoln is further
now from success against the South than
he was when he started from Chicago. AS
regards Fort Sumter itself lie did the
worst thing he could do. lie intended TO
it in Il few days ; but sooner than
consent to acknowledge that South Caro-
lima was rebellious, he expressed his in
tent!on TO send in provision, by force, if
necessary. He thus gave TIE South the
provocation and opportunity of brilliant
victory, and had TO submit to Dnortify-
ing defeat. The conduct Of the Southern
government has, on the contrary been
marked by moderation and good sense
They chung to no tictions, and were ham
pered by no legal ignorance CT plain facts.
They wanted to leave the Uuion and they
left it. TEey wanted to take Fort Sums
ter and they took it. They wished the
border States to join them, and, by pc
a collision, they seem to have
got them-unless, indeed, some unexpec-
ted good sense at Washington prevent
them at the eleN entE hour.