New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-08-20
WHO sTAnD On TIE DEFENSIVE ,

The one plausible assertion Of che occess0nists
and Of their sympatbisers IN the loyal States im-
norris that the subjects OF JEFF. Davis are fighting IN
,lIJ.d,tense-" for their homes and hresides and
that support OF the authority of the Federal Govern
mept involves the invasion and sUbugatiOn OF the
revolted States. Let MS consider:
Tint the Federal Government has rghtiul
power. we have not yet heard disputed; TINT,
within the limits Of is constitutional authority il
has at least as good right 10 uphold aud exercise
that power ~ any State can have 10 vindicate its
own reserved rights, follows rosistlessly. And tbc
rights of the Union, having been conferred on il Dy
the deliberate action of the People IN their sovereign
capacity-thnt is, through the Fedora Convention
of III and the several State Conventions by which
the Federal Constitution thence proceeding was
rntifed--arr rs perfect and well derived those
reserved to the States can be-
The Federal Government, thon, being clothed
BY the People with the exclusive power Of MAX.
ing war and peace and charged with the duty
of defending the whole country against foreign
enemies, bas constructed iortresses at command
ing or exposed points along our coasts, for the
protection and defense Of tho whole country
He who does not know that tho forts in aud
about our harbor for instance. we're intended TO
protect the people Of the jersey shore Of the
hudson equally with those on the New-York
side, would be imperyiOus to demonstration. so
the Notifications at the mouths Of the Mississippi
and other points were designed for no mere local
purpose, but for the protection Of the people Of
all tue States exposed 70 peril from enemies de.
barking at or near that point. Or entering aud
passing up that river.
SO with regard TO Custom Houses. The Fed.
era Government OIL! may levy duties OF Ini.
ports Custom Houses are erected b facilitate
this levy. But the Custom House at New Orleans
10 more belongs b Louisiana than TO Illinois or
Missouri as that ia our city Is 30 more the
property of Ncw.lCrk Than Of Michigan. Every
custom.bousc sJb-treasury, mint. Or fortress,
constructed or purchased by the Federal Govern.
ment, on ground ceded FOR that purpose by this
or that STATE, is Us truly and absolutely the
property OF the Union as IS any state House or
State Prison the property OF the state TO winch
it belongs.
When theo, is the inyader-tbe revOited States
which have seized and converted 70 their own
ends the forts, Custom.Houses MINIS, Sub.
Treasures, &c, constructed by the Federal Gov
ernmeut for its own necessary uses-each Of
them with the ,ull consent Of the state which
surrounds IT, and after cession Of Jurisdiction
over its site 10y said State-or The Federal Gov
ernmeut. which seeks to reclaim It's own, in or.
der to use It as It must be used Il tho Union l.
to oe preserved
Remember that most of these Federal crea-
tons were seized by the already reyolted States
before Mr. Lincoln became President--that the
money found therein lover Half q Million dollars
ia New Orleans alone,) was converted TO the
uses Of the rebelloni aud that vessels 10 like
manner wrested from the Republic arc now
cruising and plundering in the service of Jelf.
Davis. Up to the time that Fort Sumter was
bombarded and captured BY The Rebels, they had,
through treachery, captured our largest army
that serving in Te1as-with nearly oil the forii-
hcalions and all the public money, Custom
Houses, Sub-Treasuries, DC, &c, in the seven
South Western States, get not Que SHOT had been
fired, one life taken Oh behalf Of the despoied
aud outraged Union.
These are facts which human hardhOod "a un-
equal to the task OF denying They are inefiace.
ably burnt into our National history. lie who,
in the face of them, can talk of tie Federal
Government as making war on the receded States,
invading them, seeking to coerce them, &C.,
must be equal to aoy audacity of ialsehood.
Whatever may be- tie issue OF this struggle,
History will decide that the meekless, the long
suffering, tho submission 70 in.Glt. TO oatrage, 10