Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-04-17
READ AND REFLECT.

Has the government right to defend the
public property from attack Would it be
coercion in the government to assert its au-
thority over territory acquired by the mutual
efforts of all the States, or at least by major
ity composed in part of those yet remaining
within the Union These are questions which
| imperatively demand consideration, even while
so much of our time is monopoliZed by atten-
tion to the reasonable acts of those engaged
in revolution against the government. Those
who have repudated the government. have
not relinquished any of their claims to protec-
tion or defence, else why do they persist in
pushing right to hold its property When
they violently withdrew from the Union, they
| forfeited all their interest in title to the
property of the government, and therefore
| the government that still exists in Union of
| States constituting federal authority, have
| the power to regain the property OF which
they have been violently dispossessed. If
they enforce the law, they only fulfil their Oh
| legations to those who obey the law-and if
the government neglects to enforce the law,
an example of disobedience is given in the in
activity and unwillingness of the government
| itself to maintain the power with which it is
| invested by asserting the authority in which
| it exists. As long the right Of secession is
in dispute, ard as long as the secessionists
themselves are without recognition, there can
be no argument against coercion, except that
| which is either prompted by cowardIce on the
one side, or actual participation in the treason
on the other. We all claim that there is in
existence strong federal government, with
its powers Of self preservation well defined in
its authority to make war or peace, collect
the revenues, contract debts, and enter into
treaties of commerce. With all these powers
combined, why should this government not
have the power to repel rebellion and punish
treason? Why should not the nation march
with its military resources to put down treason
in State, as State has done to suppress a
riot in county within its territory !? The
suppression of the sswhisky riot'' in Pcnnsyl-
vania by the federal authority, was not regard
ed as coercion. Why then should an attempt
to arrest and punish jeff. Davis for his crimes,
be coercion, any more than it would be such
to arrest and contne any prowling bully who
is disturbing the public peace He has coun-
tenanced and abetted larceny, by becoming a
party to the act. He has taken an oath to as
sst in the destruction of this government, for
the purpose OF maintaining one conceived in
anarchy and maintained by rebellion. If it
be coercion to arrest and condemn and punish
such william, all villianies are respectable,
while common rascalty has suddenly become
q virtue.
The right to protect the public property is
in the government. The government exists
at Washington in full force, and as the public
property has been assailed, who will say con-
sistently with Justice, that the government
has no right to exercise its authority for its
protection Only those who are parties to
or sympathise with the treason.