The Shasta courier., 1861-02-23
SHASTA COURIER.
SATURDAY MORNING, FEB. b, 1861.
Dissolution.

are calling for compromise or peaceable seces-
sion. The same men, if one State alone were
concerned, would be for exercising that right
which every government must possess,-the
right of self-preservaton- n-and thus compel
obedience to Federal dominion. With the peo-
pie of one State alone to contend against, such
action would be practicable, without the neces-
sity of firing Federal gun or spilling drop of
blood, unless to repel an attack. If we had the
people of but one State to deal with, the plan
suggested by Ex-Governor Wickliffe, of Ken
lucky, would be feasible. But with the people
of all the Gulf States engaged in concert in the
movement. the question assumes altogether
different aspect. True, the right of the Federal
Government to use all its power to preserve its
elf from distraction, is just the same when a
dozen States are concerned as when but one is
concerned. But discretion is the better part
Of valor." And wise statesmen will not attempt
to accomplish by what they know is an i'm
possibility. The Federal Government cannot
conquer the South. Therefore, if the North re-
fuse all compromises, and, in consequence, the
South determines to withdraw from the Union.
the Northern States will be compelled to elect
whether they will make war upon those who are
really their own countrymen, in thousands of
instances their own blood kin, or whether they
will permit them to go peaceably. We have not
single doubt but that the North in that dlem-
ma will say, Go peaceably, if go you will. Let
us, brothers, though estranged, not engage in a
war wherein neither can reap aught but calami-
ty." Already have $4,000 citizens of Boston
asked Congress for peaceful adjustment of our
difficulties. Seward, who is to be the head of
Lincoln's Cabinet, says compromise or peaceful
dissolution. And so will say Lincoln. We have
the strongest possible faith that in his Inaugural
Message he will suggest compromise satisfac-
tory to both sections. If, however, he fails in
that, be will never SO play the fool as to recon-
mend the policy of whipping back into the Union
the seeding States by war-neverl
On this point, 0 ye matchmaking Republi-
can, listen to the chief organ of your party in
the State of Ohio-the State Journal:
If any State or States wish to renounce the
benefits of this general protection the protec-
tion of the general government Aoio can fAey be
compelled 10 continue the recipients of such adcanta-
gesY The Cotton States are not resisting any
particular general law. They simply request to
be released from the Union compact. 10 coerce
them to remain IN the Union By force of the United
States Government, is TO ENTIRELY CHANGE THE
NATURE OF FEDERAL AUTHORITY 1t will make
the Federal Government not a representative of
the States, their instrument in providing for the
common defense, &C., but superior, centralized
power, having an existence independent of the
States We regret being compelled to take this
view OF the matter but it seems inevitable"
And also to the N. Y. Tribune, whose editor,
Greeley, has the distinguished honor of having
been chiefly instrumental in the nomination of
Lincoln by defeating Seward After asserting
that single State-South Carolina for instance
=" will not be permitted to break up the Un
ion"-he continues:
"But if the Cotton States generally unite with
her in seeding, we insist they cannot be prepen-
ted, and that the attempt must not be made. Five
millions of people, more than half of them of
dominant race, of whom, at least Half Mil
lion are able and willing to shoulder muskets,
can nerer De suodued Uhile fighting around and oper
Their oen hedrthstones. If they could be, they
would no longer be equal members of the
could be overcome, and their military forces
destroyed: what then ? Can you make them
accept Federal offices: Can you prevent their
tnrring and feathering those who do? If not.
how idle to talk of subduing theml
As to all that is so we'll said of the duty of
remaining in the Union and submitting to its
constitutional authority, &c. &C., we concur in
II most heartily and suppose they won't-what
DO you propose do about it? Webster and
Marshal and Story have reasoned well-the
ederai nag represents a Government,not a mere |
ieague &c we are IN many respects one nation, |
from the st Johns to the Rio Grande.
But the genius of our institutions ia essen. |
TALLY republican and averse to the employment |
OF military force to fasten one section of our
confederacy to the other. If eight States hav-
ing fhe Millions of People, choose to seperate |
rom US, they cannot be permanently withheld |
from SO doing by Federal cannon
From this high authority in the party
which is soon to assume the reips of govern.
ment let us turn to the great Douglas beau
'deaI of a Democrat, and of an American States
man. In mastery speech delivered in the q.
3: Senate, on the Sd of January last, he utters
sentiments on this question with which ours ac.
oord entirely After acknowledging the fact
mat all Federal authorities had been expelled
from South Carolina, and Government de facto
put IN operation, which ais in the unrestrained /
ana unresistsd exercise of all powers and func-
uons oil government, local and national,p (ust
the very same powers with which the Continent
tai Congress, under the Articles of Coufedsra.
ton, was invested during the Revolutionary
War)-after agreeing that secession is a WRONG.
unlawful, unconstitutional, criminal and that
south Carolina had no right to secedes-after
proclaiming; al agree that the laws should be
enforced. | hold that our Government is clo-
'hed with the power and duty of using all the |
means necessary to the enforcement of the laws.
according to The Constellation and ia,rsu-fno. bv
establishing military despofism) after declaring
that the word government means coer-
cion,' that there can be no government with. |
out coercion" that " it is the vital principle
upon which all governments rest but that in
our country, "coercion must always be used in
the mode prescribed in the Constitution aud
laws, he asks: But "are we prepared IN OUR
HEARTS for war with our own brethren and kim
dred y and nobly answers, " Tconjess I an NOT.
No continues this great American tribune
who IN the course of long service in the Som
ate, has never uttered sectional sentiment, n
ever permitted himself to be influenced bv So