The Nevada journal., 1861-03-15
SECESSION.

Treason still continues to manifest itself
to abuse the Americas government. A
sham confederacy has formally been inau-
gurated and JEFF Davis, Toombs, and that
sort of beings, put at its head to direct and
control its affairs. The steps are apparently
taken in all earnestness to sever the con-
nection of the Slave with the Free States
forever. Forts have been taken, vessel
bearing the flag of the United States-a flag
never insuhed with impunity before-has
been fred into, government property taken,
and arch traitors have dared to belch forth
their treason in the Legislative halls of the
country
| Is there to be no end to such contumeiy?
Has the government that has hitherto COM
manded the respect and admiration of the
world to endure all this, placedly and ST.
people have arrived at that stage of perfec-
ton that when one cheek is smitten by a
bully the other is cheerfully and philosoph-
ically turned to receive the second and a
harder blow; but for one, we must plead
old fogyism, and claim not yet to be exempt
from the passions that pertained to our
| fathers few years ago. Force we would
meet if need be, with force, and traitors
should be made to pay the extreme penalty
of their crimes. Compromise is better than
bloodshed if the former can be had honor
ably. But compromise with the hot-heads
of the South is impossible. They will not
surrender the property of the government,
preliminary to a commencement of the ad-
justment of differences, and without such
surrender the Union cannot honorably enter
into an arbitration. The first requisition
the Union will make is, that the bellige-
rents return to quiescent state, lay down
their arms, return to their homes, and as
sumo the attitude of good citizens. Moth
ing less should be required.
Is it probable that the maicontents who
ride upon the storm they have raised will
accede to this demand of the Govern
ment. We confess we see no grounds for
hope. The secession move was either
made with the design of discovering the
Union at all hazards, or to coerce the free
States into compliance with demands by
show of arms. If either object was in
view it is hardly to be expected that the
diserganizers will return to their duty,
and demean themselves as good citizens as
condition for negotiation. We may be
as well prepared first as last, then, for a
failure in all attempts at compromise,
and proceed to consider whether it is best
to suffer the slave States to go by them
selves and realize if they can the benefit of
slave Republic, or whether the Consti-
tuition of the United States is to be sup
ported by the President and the Governors
of States in accordance with their oaths of
office. If the American people decide for
the former course, what is the government
worth The precedent once established,
and the government becomes the prey of a
captious minority on all occasions, as pas
sion or caprice shall dictate,
Plainly, if we want government wor-
thy of the name, it must command respect
and obedience by its virtues or its power,
or both. The Union is to-day in the con-
dition of the old man who found rude
boy on one of his apple trees stealing his
apples. Kind words and gentle means are
of no avail. Christian forbearance is met
with insults, and no course is left but the
last and hardest resort.
The Union can never again occupy the
proud position she has done in the eyes of
the world till it has indicated its claims to
respect and confidence. Separate the Union
and the northern portion would be respected
by civilized nations for its intelligence in
dustry and enterprise, but the time would
not be long before it would be compelled
by a bloody war with some foreign power
to command respect for its strength and
nationality. The impunity with which we
would suffer treason to flourish in the land
would be an invitation and bid 20 foreign
nations to insult our flag. There is but one
conclusion to which any sane, patriotic
mind can come, and that is, that the Union
must maintain its integrity, or sink to
level with the imbecile, revolutionary states
of Spanish America.