Daily national Democrat., 1861-06-12

served to show them what they had to ex-
pect. 1t demonstrated that Mr.. Lincoln was
a fool when he told the people that tue eX-
citement was all "artfical,' and that Mr..
Seward was no wiser when he assured them
that all of our difficulties would pass away
in sixty days, now long passed since he made
the promise. II proved to the world that,
however perfdiouSiy the Administration had
acted towards the Southern Commissioners
in attempting to re-inforce Sumter, after
promising to withdraw the garrison, the
Southern people intended to be and were ms
good as their word 1t brought the two
sections, and the tUo GogeramCutS, and the
t'oo PRESIDENTS face to face, and fixed the
status Of each fairly before the world. so
much good, and no e0a, that we can see III"
tie Storming Of Fort Sumter do.-E%Pre'S
We assure our readers most positively that
the above is an extract from the leading edi-
torial in yesterdays Express 1t is not from
the Charleston Mercury, nor the Richmond
Examiner The extract cannot fail to create
pleasurable sensations within the breasts OF
those who voted for Breckinridge last fall
but who now think the United States Gov
ornment should be maintained "The Fort
Sumter farce has not, we believe, very gen
orally excited the risibes Of Union men. We
always said that it elated the party of which
the Express is now the organ; and when
they laughed eXultantly over the desecration
Of our country's flag, we said, {" let those
laugh who win"
That the Administration acted "perfidiously"
towards the Southern Commissioners,
would be very true, if the latter had the
right TO dictate to the Government in the
premises AS we do not think they had that
right, we must express our opinion that the
ATTEMPT to furnish beef and bread to the
starving soldiers under Major Anderson, was
no exhibition of perfdy Its not true that the
Government had ever "attempted to reinforce
Fort SUMTER" it only sought to furnish S"P-
plies to those already within the Fort. 1t is
moral treason against the United States
Government, according to the generally re-
ceived opinion here TO say that any 1.-TWO
Governments" or "two Presidents" have
been brought face to face by the batteling
down of Fort Sumter. The traitorous mis-
crcants headed by jeff Davis have faced the
Government to which their allegiance is due,
and threatened its overthrow. If the Ex-
press thinks that some good and mo evil
was done by the stormins of Fort Sumter,
then it must think civil war blessing for so
was the present war commenced
There may be no power to prevent the
utt crance of such sentiments as we have quo
ted from the Express. The crime of treason,
as defined in the Constitution of the United
States, consists only in levying war, and in
lending aid and comfort to the enemy. If
laid and comfort" only mean actually furnish
ing money and supplies to the enemy, then
the sympathizers with treason may with inn
punity labor to destroy public confidence in
the National authorities, and to create sym
pathy for hardened criminals who conspire
for the Nations overthrow. If, however,
"aid and comfort" may be so defined as to
embrace open sympathy with the cause OF
rebellion, and undisguised hatred and con-
tempt IOT JuG OONG liCtl lhS I'uOllSh-
tion Of anti-Union papers should be stopped
by legal process, and all who labor to build
up an anti-Government party should be
brought to justice. Itis question of law,
entirely and one which it is the duty of the
United States District Attorney to carefully
study There should be no restriction Of the
lawful freedom of the press on the one hand;
and no license for sedition and treason on the
other. If the Constitution really defines the
crime of treason so loosely that it is no oilense
for men in times of rebellion, to speak and
write in favor Of the rebel cause, and to Bit
terly denounce the Government for attempt
ing to suppress the insurrection; if loyalty
nay be demoralized by gross misrepresenta-
ions of fact, by speakers and writers for the
,ress if no man is a traitor until he has fred |
gun upon U. S. troops, or fed those who |
ire so doing; if apologies for treason, en-
enlargement for traitors, and ridcule and
lbuse of the Government may with propriety
constitute the platform of a political party at
popular elections if, in short, the question
of whether the Government ought to be de-
stroyed by force, is open to argument and
proper one to be voted upon at every cleo
ton in every locality where a batch of
traitors are tolerated, then our Governmental
system is not Constitutional representative
Democracy, but we are swarm of Red Re
publicans. Can the minority be safe under
the rule of Red Republcanism ? Who are
the minority here? Let these two questions
be well considered by those who claim and
now exercise the right to vilify and denounce
the Government of the United States. We
hope that reason may some day resume its
sway, and that when the present enemies OF
the Goverement shall look back with wonder
at what they did and said in these times
they will learn to admire the spirit of tolera-
tion which governed the citizens of loyal
States during the mad revolution Of 1861.
MINED. The Tehama Democratic Conven-
tion must have fallen into the hands of the
enemy. The following was laid on the tables
Resolued, That each person who becomes a
candidate before this Convention shall take