New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-16
THE QUESTION.

The fact that daily grows palmer and Piainer
is. that the Slave States are going rapidly to
ruin as they progress in their secession move
ment. They must inevitably back down, unless
the Federal Government and the Free States
shall save them that trouble by backing down
themselves This outrageous and causeess rebel
lion having gone thus far, it would seem 10
be pity now that it should be deprived of the
poor privilege of eXhausting itself. IL Is really
of the greatest aud most enduring consequence
10 know whether the nation called the United
States Of America is sham, humbug, myth,
or not. 1t has always been supposed to be o
power Of stability aud consequence. 1t is fash
onable now to deride it as q fabric without
strength or cohesiveness, that a few unscrupu.
lous politicians can pull down and tramPle under
foot with impunty and that absolutely holds
its existence on the suferance of handful of
traitors
1t is about as well to have the truth Of these
propositions demonstrated one way or the other.
If the Government is not good for anything if it
has no power of sefpreseryati1n, it ia better to
let it 60, and if possible, have one established
in its place that ia deserving Of respect and con-
fdenee. But If it is what II has long been sup
posed to be by the people who live under it, aud
by the world in general there never was, and
there never will be- better chance to demon
strate the fact, and teach lesson to all future
imes, "a well as to the arrogant rebels who pro-
pose, in n fit of ill.temper, to break II up.
We may be excused for suggesting that il such
sentiments as we have here expressed were oitencr
put forth in the United States Senate, instead Of
timd and deferential utterances toward those pes
tilent traitors who are yainly endeayorng to bury
this nation and people in common ruin we should
sooner revive tine national spirit in oil quarters
and put an end to existing disorders. The tire
has come for plain talk and decisive action. We
have a country to defend and n country to be
preserved At the South, that country is forgot
ten By the politicians, and the negro only re-
membered. Be il the business OF THE PEOPLE
everywhere, to forget the negro, and remember
only the country The wandering allegiance to
the common flag, now manifested in numerous
Slave States, suddenly fostered into unnatural
proportions by maign but temporary influences,
must be recalled. The old feeling and the old
ItfNOf must Ht IDuhtus MS IN NV W w ""h'
By soft words or by concessions to unreasonlng
fears, or disappointed hopes, or defeated ambi-
tions. But it is to BIO done by boldly confronting
and denouncing sedition, revolution, and treason,
and calling upon the yet interrupted heart OF
the nation to back every honest effort to trample
them under foot. We need to nyigorate the pa
triotism Of the country, to dispel the unfounded
fears Of the timid to strengthen and confirm the
strong, ard to elevate and magnify the yet
unconquered ensign of the Republic. Let
us but do this, in spirit of faith
and confidence in the stability of the Govern
ment the intelligence Of the people, and in the
principles of eternal justice, and in no fear Of in
sane political tumults founded pride and pas
sion, and these United States, which skepticism
alone sees totterng to their fall, will emerge from
existing trials in triumph, Respondent with new
trophies, guaranteeing a long career of future
happiness and glory.
The rebeious movement Of the seeding States
is simply fight for Slayery-fcr its extension
and perpetuaton. 1t is for the people to decide
whether they are willing to see this Government
DESTROYED for an object so insulting and contempt
ible as this. If they are now forced to decide
whether Slavery shall go down, or the Govern
ment go down, We suppose they will not long
hesitate in settling the question.
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