The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-10

the subject Force and nothing force be thought
Of vndicate the national honor and recover
If the President should for moment doubt whether
Congress is willing TO permit resort 70 mlder mean.
be removed when he reflects that the committee which
reports this bill has been specially charged by the House
been holding communication with the sscedng States
this and kindred SUBJECTS which inquiry either looks 70
nstitutiDg an impeachment, or has no legitimate object
at all.
When the President finds himself in possession Of the
whole military resources OF the nation, almost without
which has never before been Conferred on sny man in
America. Our beloved Washington received from
Congress greater mark of It's confidence, and In
the darkest days OF the Revolution, and the bright
est days OF his transceDdeat glory, received
at its hands much power sustained by such vast
phys steal forces. The incumbent President whe by his
forbearance and moderation has done much TO keep
the country out Of the OF civil might be safely
invested wa msen powef @ ne has shown that
neither he any other human being ought to be
entrusted with 30 much as this bill proposes 10 confer
Such mark Of confidence, especially coming from those
who have not generally approved the principles which
he has for nearly four years. administered the govern
ment could fail TO be gratifying to him personally
but il would surely Ill his mind with gloomy forbodings
Of the future Of country When openly proposed
Congress by individual TO establish military die
tatorship ard under feversh excitement captains OF
armed bands excite enthusiasm m the breasts OF the
people, OF which Washington during his years Of
patient endurance and brave suffering in the cause OF
liberty was never the object-when he sees throughout
halfthe Union public meetings and legislative bodies,
and private persons who do not themselves expect TO
participate in the dangers and suferings Of urging
measures Of vioence-and when he Congress drawn
into the vortex Of popular excitement, and under the
morbid passion enactng this extraordinary his
heart will be greved At the decay Of that jealousy OF
power and especially Of military power which made
free people, and which alone save from being
hurried into military despotism by mobsh enthusiasm
The real question for decision H. will we permit the
secession OF portion Of the States from the Union
will we attempt to prevent 1t by military power2
II we intend TO permit it, Of course We will yield the
forts. we intend TO prevent by force and have de-
termined that we will not try conciiaon give time
for palatives then let this bill be enacted into q law.
II we have not yea determined what course shall be
taken In the emergency then let this bill be rejected for
IL is declaration of war-instant, stern, ferocous.
The civilized world must condemn the eager desire
manifested in Of the Northern States TO shed the
blood Of the people Of the South But the people OF the
South know that the noisy braggars who vapor forth
their own courage and parade paper armed muttudes
who will not obey them will not be formidable on any
fair field Of battle.
II we fad that reconciliation is impossible and that
the States more live together under one govern
ment, let us separate in peace, and form other
and more satisfactory arrangements. The object
OF government is the happiness of the governed,
and no government ought to be maintained
over large Of mankind which does not
in essentials promote their welfare and happiness In the
United States cannot be- because we hold that govern
ments derve their just powers from the consent OF the
governed; that whenever any form OF government be
comes destructive of these ends TO promote the welfare
and safety Of the governed is the right OF the people
10 alter or TO abolish it, and to institute new govern
ment, laying it's foundations such principles, and
organizing its powers in such form AS to them Shall
seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness
All our institutions rest on these great principles and
when millions Of people, occupy ing eight States Of
which have constitutions older than that OF the United
States with unanimity unparalleled In history, and
very far exceeding that which prevailed In Revolu
tion declare that they consider the existing
destructive Of their happiness and dangerous to their
security and prosperity and that they intend to change
be crime against the principles Of fathers to marshal
armies for the purpose of holding them in subsection