Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-03-02

crsed.--iowo STATE Register.
1t is cheering to hear declarations like
the above made by the official organ of
the Republicans of Iowa. 1t is conceived
in the proper spirit, and exhibits sense
Of duty untrammel!ed BY party devotion
and uaawed by party and caucus dicis-
ton. 1t 10 not to the blind devo,ees of this
Or that organization tha. the country mus:
turn for delivsrance. These are blind or
hostile to the public good. They have no
pride Of country to which you can appeal
no vitnl patriotism which you can invoke
in this hour of national calamity. IF we
are saved at all from the agopies Of dis
solution and the desc lations of civil war
it will be done through the united and un
selfish efforts of men Of all parties who
are the genuine friends Of constitutional
hbsrty-who believe that this is the bes,
system Of human government which the
world has ever seen aud are willing to
sacrifice everything but honor and princi-
pie for its preservation and unity. The
popular heart is right upon the importan,
questions Of the hour. The politicians
only try to shackle and control it. But
day BY day the wand of party loses its
magic power, and men see that greater
and higher interests are involved than
those embraced in convention platforms.
The questions now before the country are
very different from those which the people
discussed and acted upon last fall. Why
canact Republicans meet the present issue
with wisdom and patrio,ism-with the on
~ available means OF preservation 1t IL
one Of the hopeful signs 10 see leading
Republican statesmen and journals oppos
ing extreme measures and counseIliug
moderation.
The policy fnreshadowed in Lincoln $
indianapolis speech of retaining the
forts and other property Of the General
NoNC'hhSpt toheu W INC SeCesSiohisie
will not receive the cordial support VI the
conservative Republicans. The Register
very truly says if such is to be the policy
Of the incoming Administration the coun-
try may as we'll prepare for coercion and
war to the fullest extent. Nothing can
b more certain. No one eau doubt the
determination of The Cotton States to
stand by the Provisional Government
which they have inaugurated. If so, self:
preservation will require not only that
they should hold the forts now in their
possession, but take all others within their
territory. They have troops-means aud
courage for this purpose. These they will
oppose to The General Government So
that if the General Government under,
takes reclamation i, can be accomplished
only by tho utter 81 ojugation Of the Con-
fedsrate States Would such course be
wise, polite, or humane? This Govern.
ment was not formed, nor can it be pre-
served upon the theory of suhjugation A
State retained in the Union only by force
and intimidation would at best be worth
less and dangerous member. If mutual
confidence and good feeling cannot be res
tored between the North and the South
if our Southern brethren cannot be retain.
Cd by peaceable means what benefit is to
Be- derived by retaking the public property
and holding i: by armed force In order
to hold it we would be compelled to resist
any and oil attacks to repel force by
force. When the strife Is thus once begun
ii will not lie confined to the forts, bu,
must necessarily become general and re
solve itself into revolution and q war
almost of determination.
Thus coercion and civil war would inc
vitably result from Mr.. Lincoln's policy.
Are ceerclouists ready to meet such grave
consequences Are they prepared to
make an annual offering of thousands of
lives and millions Of treasure for the sake
Of retaining an Improbable and useless
possession of property fer which We have
no use if the Union is dissolved? Gran.
that by reason Of superior force and re-.
sources we could hold those forls one
year or even five years, yet, at the end Of
that time our difficulties would be far
more complicated than now, and the pros
poets Of an adjustment upon any honor
able basis greatly lessoned if no, wholly
destroyed. Peace, however, is a necessity.
The country must have it. If we spurn
the offers Of peace now it is not i'm proba.
ble-judging from, tho teachings of history
that after a bloody civil war when our
resources are exhausted our pride hum.
bled-our credit runed-and our homes
desolated, we shall be willing to accept
peace, on terms less honorable than those
upon which it may now be purchased.
II is impossible to foresee the result
Mr. Lincoln has the power to say what it
shall be. whether peace or war-honor or
prosperity or ruin. The course
Of Seward, Cameron, kellogg and others
in the confidence of Mr. Lincoln inspires
the country with hope that something will
be done, which if it does no, Mt once win
back the erring States will at least retain
the Border Statrs-henceforth ENSURE a
moro perfect Union,' and preserve the
noble example Of free government
DUBUQUR L Sioux CRY R. R-We learn
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