The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1861-02-13

less press, and the Summary, sunshine
politicians all over the n orth, are plead
no against "coercion." Old, defunct,
timersome, compromising chaps, whom
The awakened spirit Of the people
has consigned to obscurity, emerge from
tier hiding places, and
-"distilrd
Almost to jelly with the act OF fear"
they reach out their sinewless hands in
q deprecating manner, and fecbIy say,
tdon't, don't 'coerce' anybody
Democratic Conventions in several states
have resolved that they loved the Union,
felt an agony of grief at the prospect Of
its rupture, but still the Government must
not use coercion" TO maintain its integ-
rity.
Now tho Republican party, conscious
of the trust confded to it, strong in the
rectitulo of its principles aud tho jueti00
Of its policy, stands unmoved by the fear
FIJI, unawed b. the threats Of the bold.
| In the present state Of affairs, it freely
and fearlessly pronounces itself in favor
| Of COERCION.
! Now let US not be cheated by any play
upon words. Let not the adro:t, special
| pleading Of the press, nor the brazen as
sumption of politicians, lead any man to
believe that there is any resemblance or
kinship between that coercion that
force which is enlisted in the service of
Divine Order and Peace which is the
erecutire department of Law, and that
| other force which seeks broils, and bat
ties, and blood to crafty personal or Pc
Iitical hate. A portion OF the Northern
Democratic press continually charge up
on tic Republicans desire to imbroil the
country in war, and because we advocate
coercion, they say we thirst for the blood
Of brothers. Those who make this ASSET
ton are below the contempt of decent
men, and merit only that pity which we
bestow upon born villains and natural
fools.
In order to understand This matter
clearly, let us consider
|. What is coercion.
2. The circumstances in which Gov
eminent can use il.
3. Its necessity.
l. Coorcian IS simply the use Of legit
innate Auther,y-it is the exercise of
| that power HAich enforces the penalty Of
| violated Law. no trick OF words-uU
perycrsion of logic can degrade it into
mere ebuIHtion of mob force, or drag it
into the service ofparty or sectional IA
naticism. What coercion is, and what
we mean by it. IS simply the exercise Of
that power which dwells alike in the vii
Iage constable, in the metropolitan police
and in the Federal army-the power to
arrest wror 6 doiag-to preserve peace,
tranquility and order. While Law is
oleycd there is no need of coercion, but
when Law is disregarded and confusion
begins, then coercion steps in and restores
Authority to its rightful supremacy and
compels obedience and peace. To use an
illustration which will be patent to all;
Old i anil Peace are beautiful twin sis
sers, aud Coercion ia the big brother
who protects them It is only rasesls
wLo wish him away.
2. Now let Us examine into the nature
of the General Government ard see if its
laws are brokeR, and whether the neces,
sty Of coercion is not now forced upon i.
lis authority is denied.
It's mails ar, robbed.
It's revenue is refused.
Its property is seized.
It's flag is fred upon.
Is not that sufficient count fl an in
dctnent2 Is it not time that coercion
stepped in and yindicated the insulted
majesty Of Law? But we are told that
this action has been taken in accordance
with State authority, and ,vc are desired
to believe that there is n circuitous kind
oflogic by which ii may be made appar-
ent that the subjects Of the Government
may safely defy its auti Gritty, fin doing
50 thcyaet rs citizens Of State. No moro
absurd or dangerous dogma was ever in
troduced into our politics, and it has re.
ceived 3 moments credence only because
our Government has hitherto worked 50
well that the masses have not closely n
.peetcd its theory and operations. This
Republic is not mere Confederation OF
independent powers. whose bond of unity
can be severed at the will ofany factious
memhcr-it is not M assemb!age like a
mass meeting or sewing society, whose
members can secede at pleasure, bnt it i,
single, indivisible Nation, with Ma