Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-18
which Is he Government DE Facto,

The Confederate Commissioners have pre-,
scented their demand for recognition and ne.
gotiation, to the Administration, and it has
asked time to consider, which was ~graciously
accorded. Some one has said that when {
woman hesitates, she is lost meaning she il
won. When the Administration hesitates
after the Confederate Commissioners have
been two weeks in Washington, it may b.
reasonably concluded that it does not intend
to refuse to recognize them.
1t does not indicate the utmost unanimity
in the Administration that when this de-
mand was impending for two weeks, it was
not able to decide upon its course toward it.
Perhaps the pressure of the actual demand
may assist the Cabinet to unanimity and
wisdom.
In the mean time, it would add to the
stock of public intelligence if it could be
shown why they should not be received
and recognized as Commissioners from an
existing Government. If the question were
raised, and examined impartially on the
present evidence, it might be found that the
Confederates have the actual Government,
while the rump of the late lamented Union
would find it hard to establish such a fact
on its side. They have a Government
which, SO far as officially manifested, has the
support of their people; and which, at any
rate, takes the responsibility. Our Govern
ment has neither the support of the people
in any measure to enforce its laws, nor does
it take the responsibility.
The people of the Confederated States
promise to stand by their Government in
peace or war with their lives and fortunes.
The people of seven of our States threaten
to resist tho Government if il shall attempt
to enforce its laws. 1t will hardly be denied
by anyone that a Government which can
not enforce its own laws is no Government
at all. That is just the predicament we are
in. The Confederate Government does en-
force its laws; and declares its readiness to
maintain its integrity and independence in
arms. 1t would be singular if this should
refuse to recognize that as an actual Govern
ment, Instead, it should be thankful for
being recognized as an actual CONVENIENT
by that.
To be sure, the people of the diIapidated
Union would like to have the Government
hold its forts, if it can do it without firing a
gun, while they are seized, besieged and
starved out. They rage at the report that
the Administration is about giving up Fort
Sumter, but they made a demigod of the
commander, while in perfect resignation he
was being besieged by the guns and forts
seized from his own Government; and our
intelligent journalists insisted that he should
be promoted over bis seniors for this mastery
inactivity and pious designation. There is,
it is true, an Administration behind him to
share the responsibility but the course which
must inevitably terminate in surrender was
that for which they wished to bestow extra
ordinary honors on the commander; so the
Administration should share the honor.
The people of the rump of the Union
would like to have the revenue collected off
the seeded ports, although they have no
cepsure for the Congressman who refused to
authorize the Government to do it; and if
there is any who has distinguished himself
in q course intended to deprive the Govern
ment of all authority, our City Council
hoDors him with a special invitation to
glorify himself in our city, and our Repub-
lican and other journals proclaim that the
people are nightly moved in favor of giving
him the highest judicial honors for life.
And from the way the Administration be-
slows its highest favors on a Representa-
tive-so called because he represents
n~othipg-who voted against authorizing it
to collect the revenue, and provides also for
all Of the name and lineage of Corwin, one
might suppose that it owed a debt of graft
tude for being deprived of the means of car
ryiDg nj the promise of its Inaugural.
The principle that as a nation, we have
always. insisted on, is that Governments de
Jdeto are entitled to recognition, The com
pliment in this case would be TO us. If the
COnfederates are willing to recognize this as
a Government de fdetO, it will be exceed
ingly kind and magnanimous in them. It is
more than any Of the Southern States now
In the Union will do.
If we unAccountably refuse 10 recognize
them, how shall they convince us that they
are a ue yoCtO 0ONofnmontl luoy nave Ia
ken our forts one after another. Fort Sum-
ter is just about to fall into their hands.
Fort Pickens will follow in the same way.
So will every Southern fort for the most
impregnable and inaccessible fort, which
holds still to be besieged, has nothing to do
but succumb. Will that convince US that
they are e Government; or shall they march
on Washington When one side makes
war, and the other cries peace and eOnces-
sion, eoDquests are as easy as reducing
walled cities by circumVenting them, blow
ing rams horns, was in the wonderful days
OF old.
b To reject the Confederate Commissioners
means war. So they say, and we are bound
70 take them at their word and war in
which one side must do nothing but sur
render, is expensive. II the Administration
IS going to reject the Commissioners, 1t
should have $4,000 men in the field, and as