Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-03-27
FACTS WORTH REMEMBERING

|
Those earnest and ardent Republicans whose
impa;ience at the bare suggestion of the with
drawal of the force from Fort Sumter 10 uD-
bounded, and who denounce- the Administra-
tion in advance for its supposed purpose of
s'surrendering' to the secessionists, forget
that Congress has given TO the President no
authority to raise and equip armies to defend
the fortress, and that the blame, If blame ex-
lists, must rest upon the shoulders of a majori-
~ of Congress, and, upon the late President
Buchanan. 1t is now almost physically i'm
possible to relieve Fort Sumter with. the sien-
der means at the disposal of the President
Equally unreasonable are the complaints
that no steps are taken to- collect the revenue
in the seeded States. 1t is well known that
the revenue laws on the statute books contem-
plate the active cooperation of the people of
the several States in their enforcement,
well as the acquiescence OF the State authori-
ties. There must, by the terms OF the law, be
Custom-houses in the seaport towns, with col
lectors and other officers, together with pub
lie warehouses in which goods may be stored
t'in bond,' until the merchant chooses to
draw them forth. Suits may arise for attempt
ed frauds upon,the Government, which, suits
must be tried before the Federal Courts ard
local juries. But in the seeded States there
are no Courts, the Judges, Marshals, and Dis
rict-Attorneys having resigned and acknowl-
edged exclusive allegiance to the State au-
thorities. 1t is, therefore, impossible to col
lect the revenue in the ordinary way. Mr..
Bingham, of Ohio, in view of this state OF
things, proposed to apply remedy, know8 to-
the public as the Force bill. This bill pro
posed to collect the revenue at the bays and
rivers, by stationing vessels of war at conve-
nient points, TO command the entrances. This
bill was held by Mr.. b. to be essential to the
object it had in view, and was urged upon the
House of Representatives with his usual, zeal
and ability but that body neglected TO take it
up and pass it, thus leaving the President
without the power to collect the revenue in the
States which have taken hostile attitude TO
the Government. Mr.. Bingham now consist
emily admits that the enforcement of tie rev.
enue laws has become impracticable by tho
failure of Congress to take up and pass his
bill. At the door of that body, therefore, tho
fault lies, and not at that of the Executive
mansion. Mr.. Lincoln has been left power
less to enforce the laws, and yet by the igno-
rant and unthinking he is held responsible for
the failure.
The fact must not be lost sight of, regret it
as we may, that our Federal Government Is
theoretically and practically weak. 1t was
hoped by the trainers of the Constitution thas
the defects of federal forms OF government, as
exemplifed in the history of Greece, Holland,
and Germany, had been provided against in
that instrument; and very probably the Gov
ernment, which they organized. would have
possessed sufficient strength, il the subject of
1t had been homogeneous, even free: But
it has become evident that confederacy of
slave holding States can never be strong and
compact. Shareholders, from an innate con-
sciousness that their cherished institution Is
contrary to natural justice, prone to be
Jealous, especially OF communities which con-
denim and prescribe slavery. There can be no
such thing as perfect harmony between them.
Like the wicked, they s-flee' when man
pursueth" and given to much babbiing
upon 'sthe reserved rights of the States;'' and
to the assertion OF the rights of resistance to
the Federal Government, as often as their ia
vorite policy of slavery extension is threatened
with overthrow.
While this element of evil remains in our
system, We must be patient under indignities
to Federal authority. The President and Cab
met are conscious of this fact and being anx-
ious to cement the bonds of Union, they are
now disposed to adopt policy of peace and
forgiveness toward the rebels, as best calcula-
ted to destroy the morbid sympathy for them,
which to greater or less degree pervades tho
Border and Middle States.