New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-18
v.,sp cuAmOR FOR PEACE.

city were asked, on taking Office, whether he
intended to pursue Peace or War policy,
be would doubtless require his catecbist TO ex.
plain his singular question. certainly intend"
be would add, to do my duty, to enforce the
{" laws, to preserve order. and cause the consti-
20 tinted authorities to be respected. / mean thus
{" to keep the peace; but if my expectations
:. should be disappointed much the worse for
I. the law.breskers." And every one not a felon
at heart would say that this response WIS
thoroughly clear and perfectly right.
How is it, then that any one has ever had,
or pretended to have. q shadow of doubt as to
President Lincon's policy How could any have
looked to him, rather than to the Secessionists,
to decide the mOmentous issue of Peace or War
Consider the question Of Revenue alone. No
Government can live without income. To cut
of its supplies is to doom it to speedy overthrow
and dissolution. The SccessioDists seize all the
Federal money in the Sub Treasures located
within their several States, and convert to their
own use all the accruiDg revenues as well.
Thereupon, sympathzng merchants in the loyal
States protest against the exnction of duties on
the goods they severaly import, urging that the
Constitution requires oil duties and imposts to
be uniform throughout the country, and that,
since no duties are paid to the Federal Govern
ment at the South none can be legally exacted
at the North And the false clamoreTs for Peace
insist that this anarchy shall be indefinitely con-
tinued VIII they show how the Government il
to exist under their policy they dare not
attempt it.
Virginia sends emissarlos to President Lincoln
to learn whether his policy is or 10 not to be one
of Peace. Will, they are awaiting their an
swer, two prominent Observation-Disclosures Ru'hn
aud Roger A. Pryor-are in the batteries sur
rounding Fort Sumter, amusing themselves by
hurlng shot aud shell at the National flag aud
its handful of defenders Virginia has not n
terror nor rebuke for these; she suPinely 'ers
her Convention cowed by Secession rabole ana
likely to be driven into their tolls che hears her
city MODS firing a hundred guns aud knocking
the heavens with their shouts Of triumph over
Sumters fall. yet she only cries the louder for
Peace.
The Democratic Governors OF the Border Slave
States. being called on by the President for their
quota of Militia to defend the Federal authority
aud property, peremptory refuse, adding quite
gratuitous rebuke Of the "wicked purpose Tor
which these troops are required That the Fed
eral Government should vindcate it, right to e.
lat, by putting down armed rebellion IL abhorrent
TO their sensitive natures. But that the rebels
should plumber Sub Treasures, storm Arsenai''
seize ATmorirs and besIego Fortrescov eclougiug
to the Union, seems to them very natural and
innocent The Richmond Enquirer calls on the
Sccessionists Of unseceded ylrginis to organize.
arm, drill and 80 be ready to JOIN the grend
army Of JEFF. Davis as it marches on Wasbinetoni
but there 10 10 coercion" IN tbs-nothlDg but
devotion to "Southern rights" Governor Ma
coffin aud Vice-Presiden. Brecklnriege are
reported as telegraphipg TO JEFF. DAVIS that they
have Seven Thousand men IN Kentucky ready to help
him; but there is no wicked purpose Of cub.
dung anybody i'll that-nothing but defensive pre-
caution, though Kentucky has perenptoriy re-
fused even to entertain thu question OF Secession.
Tennessee, too smphaticaly refuses to have part
or lot in the rebellion; but Gen. Gideon j. Pill
low teleeraphs to JEFF. that he has Ten thousand
Tennesseeaus enrolled aid ready to JOIN his
forces. Gov. Ellis asserts that North Carolina
is appalled, at the atrocous usurpation OF the
Federal Government 10 mpudently affirming its
own vitality, and in the breath orders his
Secessiopst cronies aud understrappers to seize
the ungarrisoned Federal fortresses along the
coast Of that State. Virginia, when she speaks
out, will doubtless parallel these utleruuces of
assembling treason.
Can any loyal soul be duped by these hypo-
crites They decalm against force, but only
when it ia employed to uphold the lawful author
ity of the Federal Government; they deprecate
War; but only when arms menace the impunity
of traitors. So long as the conflict 10 between
seventy loyal Americans and seven thousand
traitors, and the latter safely and surely bat
teriDg down Federal fort they consider war nice
| thing; they rub their hands and cbuckle with
delight; and the fall Of the fortress ELECTS ,clI
of axulting delight from every traitor throat in
the Republic; but whep there is talk Of retakiDg
the National property and strongbods thus felc-
| nousy wrested from their riehtiul owners, then
the case 10 bravely altered Then you hear that
Blessed are the peace makers'-(as they doubt
less are, even though Of the Pai1han or Arm
stroag percussion THAT fraternal shedding OF
blood is horrble-that civil war is Of all things
most revolving, &c. &c.--aH very true in its
place, but q trle too late 1t should have been
thought of at least three months ago.
"If we are to have an end OF killing men"
said a sharp French writer in behalf Of Capital
Punishment. "let Messieurs the assassins set the
example" We think that a bad quarter
whence to look for examples but If We are to