Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1861-07-09

The Border States, so called, were not
Uniform In their action-some Of them
being almost for the Union, while in 9TH
ers, as Virginia, North Carolina, Teuncs
See and Arkansas, the Onion sentiment
was very nearly repressed aud silenced.
The course taken in Virginia, was the
mos, remarkable, perhaps the most impor
taut. A convention, elected by the pco.
pie OF that State 10 consider their relative
position toward the Federal Unios, was in
session at the capital of Virginia when
Fort Sumter fell. 10 this body, the tco-
plo had chosen large sjority Of Fro!ls
Union men, aud almos. Immediately after
the fall of Fort Sumter, many members Of
that majority went over TO tho original
minority, and with them adopted an or!i-
nauee for wihdrawing the State from the
Union. Whether this change was wrous
by their great approval Of the assault on
Fort Sumter, or their great resentment at
The Governmcnts resistance to tha. as
sault, is not definitely known.
Although they submitted the ordinance
for ratification to vote Of the people, 10
be taken On day then somewhat more
than a month distant, the Conven.ion, aud
the Legislature which was also in session
at tie same time and place, with loaling
men Of the State not members Of either,
commenced acting as if the Stale were al.
ready out Of the Uniou. They pushed
military preparations vigorously forward,
all oTer tho State they seized the United
States armory at uarper's Ferry, and the
navy yard at iosport, near Norfolk they
received, perhaps invited into their State,
large bodies of troops, with their warlike
appointments, from the so-called seeded
States. They formally entered into ,rea-
" of temporary alliance and cooperation
with the SO called Confederate States, and
members to their Congress at Mongom-
cry; and finaIy, they permitted the III
surreciionary government to bc transferred
10 their capitol at Richmond.
The people of Virginia have thus allow
cd this great iusurrcetion TO make lis nest
within her borders, ani tho Government
has 10 choice but to deal with 1t where 1t
finds it. And it has the less regret, as
the loyal citizans have, iu due form,
claimed its protection. Those loyal ci;i-
gems, this Government is bound to recos
nizs and protect as being Virginia.
In the Border States, SO cal!eG-in fact,
the Middle States-ihcre are those who
favor policy which they call armed neu'
irality, that is, the arming of those States
10 prevent the Union forces passing one
way, OF the Disuuion the other, over their
soil. This would be disunion completed.
Figurativeiy speaking, it would be the
building of an impassablo wall along the
line of separation and yet not quite au
neutrality, it would tie the hands Of the
Uniou men, and freely pass supplies from
among them to the lnsurrectionis's which
it could not do as an open encmy. At a
stroke, it would take all the trouble off
the bands of secession except only what
proceeds from the external blockade. Ii
would do, for tho Disubionis's, that
which of oil things they most desire-feed
them we'll, and give them Disuuion with
out q struggle Of their own. Ii recogni-
yes no fidelity to the ConstitutioG-no Oh
legation to maintain the Uninn ; and Will"
very many who have favored 1t are doubt
less loyal citizens, it is nevertheless very
Injurious in effect.
Recurring to the action Of the Govern
meut, it may be stated that at first call
was made for Seventy Five Thousand nil
itia, and rapidly folloSiDg this pTocll-
nation was issued for closing the potts OF
the insurrectionary districts by proceed
inss in the nature of blockade. 60 far,
all was believed to be strictly legal.
At this point the iusurrecilorlsts an-
nouuced their purpose to enter upon til
practice of privateeriDg.
Other calls were made by this Govern
ment for volunteers to serve three years,
unless sooner discharged, and also for
large adlitiyu to the regular army aud
navy.
These measures, whether strictly legal
or not, were ventured upon under what
appeared to be a popular demand and a
public necessity, trusting, as now, thai
Congress would readily ratify them. II
is believed that nothing has been done be
yond tic constitutional competency Of
Congress.
Soon after the FIST call for militia, IT
was considered du'y to authorize The
commanding general, in proper cases, ne-
cording to his discretion, to suspend tie
privilege Of the writ Of h1Jcas corpus; or,
in other words, to arrest ana detalu,
without resort to the ordinary process
and forms of law, such individuals as he
might deem dangerous to the public safety.
This authority has purposely been exer-
cised but very tpariugly.
Nevertheless, the legality and proprle'y
of what has been done under it are ques-
toned, aud the attention Of the country
has been called to the proposition that one
who is sworn to take care that the laws be
faithfully executed, should not himself
violate them.
OF course, some consideration was Civ
CO to the question Of power and IroprIety
before this matter wss acted upen. The
whole of the laws which were required to
be faithfully executed, were being resisted;
and, falling Of execution in nearly one
third of the States, mus: they be allowed
TO finally fail of execution, even had it
been perfectly clear that by the use of the
means necessary to their execution some