New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-19
ENFORCING IsAyT.

ENFORCING LsAU.
Disuniol in fact, aud the right Of pislGioE,
have not hitherto been considered, The one
question beyond controversy, the other an event
past doubt, in any respectable quarters north
OF Mason and Dixon's Line; but both are now
assented TO by that influential sheet, The Journal
of Commerce Of this city. The right Of secession
has been almost universally denied at the North,
from our faith in the Constitutions and but
very small proportion Of the Northern people
have been willing TO acknowi, dge that the bonds
of our Union were utterly broken, partly from
sincere feeling of attachment TO Government
which has is roots in tie Revolution and partly
from aa unwlhngness to acknowledge the fact
that Government purchased with the blood OF
our fathers il 30 weak that il crunb,es at the
first touch of treason and rebellion. But The
Journal of Commerce, superior TO such errors Of
judgment and weaknesses Of seutiment--if errors
and weaknesses they bc--in discussing the present
position Of public affairs, assumes not only that
the Union is diuolSed in fact, but also in denying
to tho Federal Government The right ~ execute
the laws, that the right to dissolve il ia inherent
in the insurgent States. Ii would be ouricus
fact were it an ineIplicable one that the jour
| nails and persons who a month ago were loudest
and ferce5t in demanding that somo Compromise,
no matter what, shoqld be acceded 10 in order TO
aay5 the Union preciiely the journals and per-
sons most ready now 10 denounce and emtarsa>s
Mr.. L.ncoln's Administration because DO has
shown no dispostion 10 accep. Disunon a. -
gone conclusion. but, on IL utTcry, is deter
. mined to executo the laws OF tho Union til the
competent authority, that Of tie people them
selves, shall declare that il exists no longer.
The simple truth is, these Compromises OF
month ago, tLoso phlo-Secessionists OF to-day,
Ike Tic Journal II Co1smeroe, do not care
brass fartlirg for the Uuion whether it is saved
or whether il 5lilesi they only care for the loss
of the scepter Of nlisruc, which has slipped from
hands trembling with too much deLauchery, and
| hope that, either BY demoralzing one party or
a6etting the treason of the other, they may, in
, the universal confusion, scramble once more into
the sea! Of power.
I. accordingly suits The Journal of Commerce
10 repreaent the present Administration ms utterly
and strangely ignorant, OF its advent TO power,
! of tho condition Of affairs that awaited II, ard
M
duties. In the latter assertion, indeed there is
some measure Of truth; for the treocherous thieves
! and thieyish traitors Of Mr. Buchanan's Admins-
| tration, the abandoned wIetchcs VI that house
hold Of faith Of which Tie JoKraaL If Commerce
! is al accredited mouthpiece, Lad done all that
! lay 10 their power, as private citizens and rs
public oficers, regardless alike Of any dictate
! "A
ticn Of public responsibility or Of official oaths,
to render the incoming Government deionseless
against treason, end helpless in tho hands of les
cnemie5. But 30 well does the Government IN
| derstsnd its position, 30 narrowly, We believe,
! has il watched tho progress Of eTonts, go care
fully weighed the probabilities and possibilities Of
chances, Of changes, and Of positive acts, TINT il
will DO enabled to defeat even the wellaid plans
| Of Tbs Journals friend8 Cobb Floyd, aud others,
who hoped-partly that they might cover up private
vilIainy by public scounirelin--to Oyerwhelm in
irEeYocable ruin the G0erBmen. which Las passed
| out Of their hands.
To one policy which has been proposed for,
though not yet BY, the Administration, The Jour
nal has Cd especial repugna1ce. This in itself
is an additional argument for itf wisdom, for
that s likely to conduco 10 the true welfare OF the
country which its enemies disapproye That
paper Obecis to a repeal Of tho law making GER
tain Southern ports ports Of entry. Such an act
ii declares would DO piracy" opposed 10 Tho
" principles Of modern civilization" and ono
which would not be submitted to b. ctho. M.
tiopa OF course, such assertions cal be based
only upon the assumption that tie Union 10 10
lonle, !l existence, and that the Seeding States
have simply ezerc.ssa Q sovereign right in set.ing
up Government for themselves, which the Fed
eral Government has neither the right nor tie
power 10 resent or resist. We viii not argue that
point, but assuming The contrary, that tho Union
ia not yet legally lissovedi that il cannot be with
out tho consent Of all parties to tho contracts
that 10 such consent has Jet been asked for even
pro Jorma; We maintain that precisely the thing
tOr tho Government 10 Do lie TO shut up the polss
Of alty Shcne'er il shall find that there Is any