Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-01-24

point upon which, to say tho lenst douot is
admissible. Indeed, il may be fairly ques-
toned wbeiher--politically spealdng-there
is such a thing as the United States. Govern
ment, in the sense of POWER intelligently
directed to the preservation of the public
peace, there is none. If the opinion Of the
Chief Executive officer of our national pol
ity is TO be taken as authority, our Govern
ment is so loosely constructed that it has not
the faculty of representation; it is impo-
, tent to enforce the observance Of its own reg
ulations. Not only so but for the last four
years it has been in the hands of band of
malefactors who have exerted themselves TO
"convey" from the national treasury and
store. houses, the means to set up dynasty
of their own upon part of the national
territory. Crime at the seat of Government
has been the signal for wide spread demoral-
ization. Peculation and treachery in high
places have prepared the way for turbulence
and mob rule over large section of the coun-
try, whose inhabitants seem mad to rob the ma
tion of its property, set its laws at defiance
commit acts of insult against its sovereignty,
and treat its agents with contempt and in
jury. Bodies of fanatical politicians, backed
by rabbles, dissolve the Union upon paper,
and take upon themselves the airs of arti-
6ctrs of a new nationality. Society appears
shaken to its foundations; and reign of
terror has commenced under which desire
for order is holden to be crime, and wealth
and respectability are offenses which entitle
their possesso or TO pillage and persecution.
This is called the Secession Movement"
and grave men and statesmen-save the
mark dignity it by that title; as if all
these social phenomena. this trenching ofso-
ciety and placing its worst elements on the
top, is inseparable from the withdrawal of
State from the Union. If this is Secession,
God help those who secede By its inventor,
Secession was proclaimed o peaceful
remedy" In the light of current events, we
are able TO discover in what a peaceful
remedy consists. The nation has kept the
peace; but the Secessionists began with war.
Their first act was an act of violence-an in
suit which, had it been perpetrated by any
other nation, would have aroused the whole
people 10 demand from the Government the
most energetic efforts 10 avenge our wounded
honor.
I But this most disgraceful crusade has been
/ quite as strongly marked by another and
/ a meaner feature, even, than violence
theft. The propensity to ilch that so strik-
ingly distinguished the conduct of Southern
members of the Executive branch of the Gov
/ eminent, seems to have become fixed char
| acteristic of the whole transaction. To seize
upon more arms than they can use, and gain
| possession of fortresses that they can only
hold by sufferance, are, thus far, the great
events of Secession. At this day, when the
ipsurrectionists are carrying ona war against
the Union for the purpose of open robbery,
upon one hand, they are retaining their Off
cial hold upon it, with a view to private pill
age, upon the other. Grave Senators aud
honorable members of Congress, retire in
foods of tears from the halls of legislation,
not forgetful, however, amid the very tenn
full pay for the session, and their exact pro.
portion Of CoDgress-knives, sealing-wax
foolscap and other unconsidered trihes. And
it is in this complexion-this harmonious
combination Of the filibuster and the pick.
pocket, that chivalry has eliminated.
A movement on the part of the people o.
a section to withdraw themselves from the
national polity, if initiated and prosecutej
in proper manner, and in the right spirit
wCuld-howeyer misjudged-deserve to bC
treated with respect. 1t would present only
political questions, in the discussion o
which neither heat nor animosity need b.
excited. There are no necessary element:
Of strife in resolution to go; nor in the
measures requisite to render the separation
complete. A genuine Secession movement
would be a solemn one, upon both sides
Both parties would see the Importance O
making the change-if change was deter
mined npon-in such manner, and upor
such terms, that the present and future
peace of both parts should be preserved
and to that end would employ every pre-.
caution which the nature of the case would
admit.
This is not genuine Secession movement
1t is rising ofthe mob, fomented by party
politicians and dignifed by them with
name TO which it is not entitled. Does
single sensible man in South Carolina sup
pore that the military power of that State
or all the cotton States together, is able, a
will, to overrun and conquer the Union
And yetit is upon this presumption that III
whole performance has been directed. Ever
species of insult and defiance which it wa
in the power of the insurrectionists to hea
upon the nation, they have taken every or
portunity to perpetrate. That they have no
done more has been not because they wante
the disposition, but because they wanted tn
ability. Taking their words and actions Q
evidence of their designs, they are not cor
tent to separate: they want to provoke an
excite more than they want to secede, and {
: arouse the strongest possible feeling of CT
nifty against themselves throughout tht
! part of the nation which does not propose {
dissolve. To secede, they have done nothing
to beget hatred and disgust every thing.
This is not, therefore, genuine Secessio
movement. What then is it 1t is an ou
break of the populace against law and orde
as inimical to the peace Of the cOmmuniti'
where it is fostered as it is to the nations
dignity. The time is close at hand Whe