New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-28
LET WASHINGTON BE DEFENDED

While Congress are amusing themselves with
propositions of compromise, which, II they were
yet more humiliaring to the Free States than
they are some of the rebelious States would
scorpfuIly refuse; while cosed apparently BY
the insult TO our flag, and the brutal treat
mept Of Northern citizens, our Representa-
tives are preparing 10 yield 10 threats and
violence what they have heretofore denied
from principle; while they are assuming the righ.
to trample, as the servants Of the people, upon
the verdict rendered by the people 10 their own
sovereignty at the polls; while amid the Sc
cession day by day OF Southern States, they
are drafting bills to introduce new States Of
extraordinary magnitude. that viii possibly
secede within month 10 join the new
Coniederaey; whse monster petitions from
Northern merchants ready to buy peace AT
any sacrifice, are being borne to Washington BY
gentlemen 80 enraptur.d with the happy lnhu.
ence Of Slavery On our national prospt rty, as
now exhibited to the world, that they would el-
tend II over every foot Of Southern territory;
while the country 10 being shorn of its strength,
robbed Of It's property, aud cajoled by Mr.. Blu
chanan's gracious assurance that he will drive
Mr.. Lincoln 10 be insugurated in his own err
rage; and while stocks at the Exchange go up
and down, aud Wall street wegs "a merrily as
though the South was quiet as a lamb-by day
and night the plot goes on for selling Washing
ton, for preventing the Congressional announce
ment of the peoples will, and for proelaIrning
Slave Coniederacy on the ruins Of our glorious
Republic.
We cay to the North and West and East, that
there is not an hsur to be lost if you would pre-
vent this catastrophe. Let the people, their
Governors aud their Legislatures realize the i'm
mibence of the danger. Let them insist that
Congress shall act ON the instant, and make
searching scrutiny into the delenses of Washing
ton. Let them demand that the oath of ale
giance be rendered anew TO every officer OF Gov
eminent, civil military, aud naval, as was dooe
by Gen. Scott to his officers at Charleston during
her first rebellion, when We had Government,
and Jackson was at its head. Let every man
who hesitstes to take the oath be placed In
position where be cannot play the traitor; and
1T Northern policemen and Northern troops IN
sufficient numbers be joined to tho police and
militia of the District, that Washington may b.
in the hands Of defenders whose numerical aad
moral force will cause the cherished plan OF the
rebels TO be IN truth abandoned.
Better q thousand times if it were possible,
that martial Law should be ut once declared at
the Capital, and every abettor of Treason BE-
placed in irons, than that it should be 70 weakly
and treacberously guarded-as 10 invite attack
for, with the invasion of Washington will come,
beyond all question, attempts at insurrection IN
Philadelphia and New-York; civil war in the
Border States, sweeping downward toward tho
Gulf; national CONFUSION that will shake the
world, and perhaps the final disruption of the
great Republic, by action more stern than paper
resolves and all the by-play Of Secession.
One would suppose that since the departure
from Washington Of Senator's snd Representatives
from the rebel States there must be o working
majority in both Houses really desirous TO pre-
serve the Unionj but in the quasi interregnum
that now exists In the Federal Government eacn
day brings US news of some rebel triumph owe
Federal authority-a new theft Permitted--an nd
dtional fortress betrayed or some similar outrage
meekly acquiesced in. Our national flag trails 10
the dust dishonored and dcspised. Mandates from
the War Department at Washington are counter
handed by rebel guns at Charleston. Federal
troops ordered to Fort Sumter, and within sight OF
their destination, shrink from the FIRE Of Fort