Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-03-26

respondent telegraphs under date Of the
22d inst, that it il understood that the
Attorney General hss given . written
opision 70 the President, that, under the
eighty-ninth section Of the law Of 1899.
it will be impossible to collect any reve-
nue. in any Of the seeded States. That
section declares that the trial Of any
fact regarding , violation Of the revenue
laws shall be within the judicial district
in which the seizure or forfeiture occurs.
Al there are no United States Courts,
Judges or Marshals in any Of the secs-
ded States, there are no means, under
existing laws, Of enforcing any penalties
for violation Of the revenue. Had such
an opinion been rendered by the late
Attorney General Stanton or Black,
what = howl Of patriotic indignation
would have gone up from the Republican
press.
Talking 10 the Point.
We like the man who speaks his
mind freely and scorns al concealments
who talks just as he thinks and leaves
others to do likewise. In this crisis, the
idea Of making use Of ones tongue to
cover up his ideas is not exactly the
thing. The South has declared upon
forming Confederacy Of her own and
seven States have already come together
upon that declaration and have taken
an oath to carry out the project at any
cost-at all hazards. The present Ad-
ministrstion has been in power some
three weeks and IS yet has taken no
positive grounds with reference to the
great matter at issue. The Inaugural
is subject to as many interpretations as
there are parties that wish to interpret
it, and, therefore, has no good effect
and we yet fail to discover what the
man intends to do, if, really, he intends
to do anything. In this connection, we
submit to our readers paragraph from
the Chicago Tribune, which comes
more to the point than anything We
have seen lately, and which Mr.. Lincoln
will do we'll to regard. The Tribune
says:
To our comprehension, no fact is
palmer than this-that nothing can in
duce the Union sentiment at the South
to show itself, or to make itself potent
at the polls, but a demonstration of
strength on the part Of the Government.
1t is idle to talk of secession wearing
itself out, or of a reaction in favor OF
the Union. The ruling class are resolved
upon going out of the Union, and IS
they have the power, so will they be
very careful to nip the first symptom Of
reaction in the bud. There is just as
much probability Of reaction on this
subject as there is that Wendell Phil
lips will be permitted to harangue the
people of Charleston, New Orleans and
Mobile upon the evils and wickedness Of
slavery. The Shareholders rule is Is
absolute as that of the Gear. Hence
every thing looking to delay on the part
of the Federal Government,o nly strength
ems the rebellion. Ii the Government is
to be saved q. all, it must be by the ex-
ercse Of its Inherent right Of sclfprotec-
ton. A strong man now has possession
OF the Southern people. His power will
not be broken by mastery inactivity.
If a reaction ever takes place, it will
only be when the strong man shall have
been confronted by stronger. II that
policy is not to be pursued, then the
Confederate States should Re recognized
as government. That is the shape the
question will ultimately assume, aud we
might as we'll look it in the face now as
six months or six years hence.
Thus the question is stated-thus the
dilemma with two horns only, is present
Cd to the President. The one is Eight
it out" and the other "back down." and
though he may Parley about till the
crack Of doom, and strive to do so ever
SO much, he can't do both at the same
time, and one or the other must be done
Immediately. All this waiting and Cab.
met caucussing and figuring, and writ
ing letters to Commissioners, and keep
ing large armed force at Washington,
don't help the matter one whit only
tends to make it worse, and will teach
the President a severe lesson, when it
has become too late for any chance to
dodge it.
The Wisconsin PERSONAL LIBERTY
BILL TO BE REPEALED.-The Madison
Patriot informs rs that bill repeating
the Personal Liberty Bill of Wisconsin
has passed the State Senate. and will
undoubtedly pass the House. An in
dication Of this result is afforded by the
decided vote by which the House re-
fnsed to refer the Bill to the Committee
on Federal Relations, the chairman of
which is known tobe opposed to repeal.
The Bill has been made the especial or
der for next Tuesday, when it will be
pnt on its passage. The Wisconsin
Legislature should do one more thing for
the Union before it adjourns. 1t should
ioin Ohio Il1inoia Tonnoeaoo KoctroL