The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-19
I" Whether we Have q Government"

The vast, expensive and imposing military
demons tra atoms at the North are based upon
the shallo west and most wanto pretext ever
avowed In the history OF warfare. Rivers of
blood aud millions OF treasure are to be spen {,
merely 70 ascer Tain whether we have a Gov
ernms All is not pretended that the
South has attacked the section from which
these ornaments proceed. 1t is not pretend
cd that tho South entertains a hostile feeling
against that section, or in tends TO wage an Of
fensive war upon 1t, except under compuis,cn
and for self -defence. 1t is not pretended that
tho South has commit ted any act of war eX-
cept to seize upon forts and arms within its
boundaries provided for its defence. The
most fragrant OF all her acts has been the
taking of Sumter by Charleston, of her own
fort by South Carolina. The head and front
Of her offending hath this extent, no more.
1t is for this imputed crime that the North
has taken mp arms. 1t is for this act of al
legged fnsurrection that IuBuoLS calls ont
seventy Ave thousand men. 1t is for this
measure of self defence, AIKEN while fleet
and army were threatening invasion, that the
Northern President assumes a power of max
ing war upon the States, which was express
~ refused to be granted in the Constitution
under which he exercises authority. and
which was declined to be gran ted even by the
late subservient Congress in killing the Force
bill, which was before that body for this very
purpose. Such is the crime imputed such
the justification or excuse alleged, for the
coming crusade; but what is the object
sought to be attained Cut bono, for what
good, is this unconstitutional power usurped-
are these aggressive measures undertaken
N09fnet a Int 80 do N %r;o +h,
defensivef The sole ayowed object, forsoo tn,
IL to ascertain whether we have a Govern
ment."
One would suppose that the previous wsrs 1t
had successfully waged against external enc
mics had sufficiently settled that question:
The Government, such as it was, had whipped
Great Britain il had beaten and exterminated
the Indian tribes; 1t had conquered Mexico
Much more than this. Before its operations
had been disturbed by the fendish spirit of
Abolitionism, the Government, such as it
was, had engrossed the affections of the PEG.
pie; had commanded the cordial and unani-
nous support of the States had harmonized
and blended the sections had conducted the
great affairs of the country with beneficent
and glorious success had sowed broadcast,
with profusion unexampled, the seeds OF
power, greatness prosperity and progress 1t
was Government planted in the consent of
the people, and feurishing like a green bay
tree in their exuberant affections. No expert.
ment was needed to test its existence; its
presence was felt by the people, as the genial
atmosphere of still, sunny day in Spring;
not as the chilling blasts of winter, or rs the
fierce wind in the destructive energy Of hurri-
cane and storm.
1t is not the mere existence of the Govern
ment that the mad North is now testing. 1t
Is Its capacities for mischief-its powers of
self obstruction. The not unfrequent end Of
a long career Of folly, vice and phrenzy, is
suicide 1t Is upon this last act of madness
and despair, that the North is rushing the
Government. 1t is in no now work that that
section Is engaged. With small beginnings
they commenced the same experiment forty
years ago. 1t was not merely whether we
had Government that they sought from the
f'rst r. BOW; but whether the Government
which had could be used for mischief, in
JussNee. 80 -tional ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, and section
~ sion. Long and earnestly, implor-
y "A AHectionately, did the South warn
49, ~gsslAst this unfraternaI and fatal ex-
NsE They persisted in it, in season and
out VI Jason cautiously at first, boldly af.
forwards; cunningsy and persis tently always
They lave at length abused the functions of
the Government to the extent of alternating
from 1t the support Of an entire section of the
Union. To that extent have they proved its
capacities for self-destruction That m uchthev
did under constituti onal forms. They now for.
getting thatit was Government by consent.
ana that to make it a Government of force il
to change it's fundamental nature, and having
nothing left to do-are determined to force the
aiienated Section back into it's dominion. OF
course, they must repudiate in 80 doing the
forms OF the Constitution. and resort 10 mere
usurpations Of power. They may, by some
most improbable chance, succeed in whippine
the South into subsection, and in proving, to
their own satisfaction, that they have Gov
ernmsnt; but by the time the bloody work is
all done, the Government will have totally
changed its nature and become scourge to
the eonquerors As we'll as the conquered.