Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-03-16
OLYMPIA WASHINGTON TERRITORY MARCH l6 !
Who 10 to blame =?

W. ~ 10 w U1dMCt
Ed. STANDARD while am one of
those who hope and confidently believe
that the difficulties and dangers which
threaten our great Republic will yet be
settled i'll some way, it may not be
amiss to speculate upon the possible
result. While the solemn and spectral
theme of disunion is daily discussed
with deep seated expressions of sorrow
and regret, allusion is seldom made to
the primary and actual cause of the
present troubles. If the days of this
glorious Union are numbered, for
one wish to know where the blame
justly belongs. Judging by the pres
cnt aspect of things the long-cherished
idea of sclf-governmcnt is dclusion,
if the majority cannot rule. Have we
the right of suffrage when small mi
nority of the people of these United
States refuse to be governed by the
majority, in Constitutional manner :?
Is not the minority clearly in.thc wrong?
1t is not my purpose to review the his
tory of our political troubles, for there
would be no end to accusations and re-
ordinations. 1t can be proven beyond
doubt that disunion movements are
not of recent date. The admissions of
Rhett, Keitt, Ivcrson, Toombs, Cobb,
Floyd and Barnwcll show that this trea-
son has been concoctcd many years
ago, and has been concealed until some
nrcteXt could be found to act upon, and
some of the disciples of Calhoun de.
clare they will not be satisfied with any
concessions the North may make. Of
what use is it to reason with such men
1t is not pretended that we violated
any law in clccting Mr.. Lincoln, and
it is admitted that he has not the ghost
of chance to assail the "pcculiar in
stitution," if he wished to, and if his
own assertions are worth anything he
does not wish so to do. But says one,
the Territories are the bone of conten-
ton. According to the last of my dis
ccrnmcnt, the South has got al! she
asks for already. If the decision of
the Supreme Court is law, they have a
right to bring as many niggcrs here as
they please, and demand protection.
We are told that for the sake of pre-
serving the Union the Republicans
ought to make concessions. l for one
would conccde much for the sake of the
Union, but where will these concess-
ions end? Must all the compromises
come from our side! Do the Secc.
sionists offer to conccdc anything ?
Have we any assurance that they will
meet us half way? If peace can only
be preserved on condition that we SUR
render all our principles, am sick of II
Republican form of government. What
kind of satisfaction is it to us to cast
our votes if we know they will not be
respected. The ballot-box is farce
in these degenerate times. 1 believe
concession comes with good grace
from the victorious party, but as yet
they have not given us a chance to
conccde anything. We arc not yet in
power. What right have they to pre-
sume in advance that we are going to
annihilatc their institutions. If they
had just apprehensions, why did they
not dissolve before Fremont was voted
for! Since that campaign, the Rcpub-
lican platform has been essentially al
tered, purposely to convince our South
ern friends that we did not wish to in
terferc with the "divinc institution"
where it already exists; but it seems
as though assurances on our part are Of
no avail. If truth lends facilities to
argument then we are certainly many
points ahead. Are we to be fri ghtcncd
out of our propriety by threats and
mcnaccs? Is it worthy the name of
an American citizen to acknowledge
that he voted against his convictions of
right and justice, through fear of the
consequences. If there is one of that
stamp, he must have degenerated rap
idly in our short history. Twill remark
in conclusion, that 1 shall ever vote in
accordance with my convictions of truth
and justice, believing that if evil con-
sequences cnsue, they will fall most
heavily OH those who are in the wrong.
MUD-SILL.