The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-04-03

Almost without exception, from Douglas
down to the most Insignificant members Of
the party, the Democrats, while p'ofeSsino
to be an.i.seceSsionists and Union mcr, cry
out against coercion and force, on the Iart
Of the Federal government. The GnlfStatcs
are in open rebellion they have stolen Forts,
Arsena's, Custom Houses. Minis, anil pub
lie Funds they are lavving troops; laying
in munitions of war, and marching troops to
attack one of the few Notifications remaining
in the possession of the United States. ard
their rebel leader openly threatens TO attack
the Capital Of the Nation and tie North.
with an army Of 80. 0nn men. In full view
Of these facts, and well knowing that owinr
to railroad facilities, it would he in the pow
or Of this rebel leader, who-is amiiifarv man
Of energy and capacity, to carry his threat
into execution without moments warning
these men, born, reared, nur he'd, and hon
ored here, insist tina; the people of the North,
whose peace and even lives are thus insult
ingly menaced, shall remain passive spccta.
tors Of preparations to cut their threats and
carry war and devastation throughout the
land, insisting that no troops shall be called
out no arms provided no munitions Of war
got ready, even threatening to resist bv force
the first movement in any such direction.
Now it strikes us that : Ich conduct, under
the circumstances, is singular, and we can
not see how the purposes and interests Of
the southern rebels. could ne more effectively
subserved, how aid and comfort could he
rendered to rebels in any more effrctual
shape. Itseens to us that the most ordinary
motives Of self-interest. prudence and securi
ty, would dictate and require under such a
menacing and dangerous stats &C affairs, at
least to pre- pare to meet force with force, and
hostile army with another army, whether it
would be necessary to use it or not. An
armed neutrality, at least, would be justified
and is demanded.
And in this consists the real difficulty ir
the way Of saving the Union. Almost every
professed unionist, outside the Republican
party. is practically engaged in holding back
The loyal men oftife country, until traitors
complete their preparations to give the las
final stab to the Constitution, the Union, and
the liberties Of the country And they have
been engaged in this work for thirty years
or thereabouts, in spite Of sectional pride
interest and duty. and not unseldom, of part,
respect and consistency They have not
only submitted to disunion outside Of Their
party, but in it, They have been kicked
cut ofrnational conventions, by factiausr M
norities, and they submit to even this. Ant
now they are looking, hoping, scheming, and
praying for reconstruction Of the Union
or as they understand and mean it, of tn
Democratic Party-a re union with tina
factious minority who disintegratcd the part,
at Charleston and beat the party in Novem
Der, and this too, in face Gf the fact, tina
the Secessionists from the Party at Charles
ton, the present rebels, most soemnly as
sure them that they will never consent t
any such an arrangement. If history an
where tells of Inconsistency and folly equs
to this, we have never been fortunate enoug
t. come across it.