Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-02-22
Non-Coercion.

1t IS sometimes said that there is moth
ing new under the sun that immemarial
causes operating with uninterrupted uni
formity, describing circle or a Gle in
the most comprehensive order, by the
force of unvarying principles and guided
by eternal laws, produce only that which
has been. If this is true history must be
greatly at fault. If the non-coercton doe
trine is not something new, we would Ike
to see some history of its existence in time
past, as future history will record its exis-
tence at the present time. To-day there
is not greater wonder in the world than
this monster birth of depravity, arrogance
and pride; gendered of political prejudice
aud ambition. It is easily accounted for;
all sensible minds readily perceive it to be
pure invention, brought into being by
tia damon slavery, as a means Of setting
all municipal compscss and laws at def
sncs, just as ii has cast all decencies, and
moral and christian principles, under its
feet. Nobody can doubt, that the pur-
poses from which the secsssionists act, are
of She most depravsd kind, as much more
blame worthy than the motives common
to thieves, robbers, and murderers, as the
consequences of their purposes upon the
people ard the country would be more
dreadful In general, crime affects only
one individual, or a small circle or neigh
borhood, but here is a scheme Of most 81
gantic proportions; like the gunpowder
plot, or rank treason, aiming at the sub
version Of the government and the de-
strucsion of national polity-and sll this to
grAtify the most dlabolical passions Of the
human heart The hundreds and thou
sands of outrages on the persons and prep
erty Of unoffending citizens pcrpetratsd by
southern mobs within ten years past; tie
flibustering during the same period to ex
tend the greatest of curses over Central
America the most unscrupulOVs viola
tious OF the solemn pledges by the Federal
Government; the armed invasion of Ter
ritory, overthrow of the ballot box and
murder and arson in Kansas and the
smbezzloment of public funds, and rob-
berry Of government property, as in the
case of Floyd, and Selling of Forts, Arse
nails and I. S. mints, together form one Of
tie darkest catalogues of dspravity and
guilt ever recorded in history. And, to
put the climax on tho whole, the doctrine
of non-coercion is invented. We know Of
nothing ina ginabls beyond this, unless,
perhaps, it is the idea that the same doc
trine should be imposed upon the Governor
of the Universe, as relating to the worst
spirits of the pit. What if Floyd has sto-
len from the Treasury six millions of money
thus putting all other robberies immeas-
urably into the shade what if he did dis
arm the free states and transfer almost ev-
cry weapon of defense and the last pound
of ammunition away from free men of tie
North, into the hands of southern rebels.
that they might thereby crush US don't
speak of it above breath; be very mod
est even in simply asking them if they
'had'nt ought" to stop doing such things
Dou's you know that the constitution. gov
eminent, people, and laws all arc non-rc-
sistants
Don't say anything about the laws, the
constitution, or any thing else, excepting
sugar plums for the spoilt children. Let
US pacify these noble patriots; these gen.
srous and Conscientious souls-don't talk
of principles, nor right-only Southern
rights-but COMPROMISED If some Repub-
licans-wealthy men, who fare sumptuous-
ly every day on oysters and wine, and re-
cline on downy through fear that
their tenure of creature comforts may be
loosensd and others, whose mothers, be-
fore they wsrs born, were frightened by
the howlings of a dog or of thunder
storm, counsel sequiescencs to traitors and
treason. and very solsmnly shout ''ths
Union first and Liberty afterwards" let
no Republican or patriot gainsay or CEN
snrs such base compliancss
Strange enough-such is the aspect of
things. Such was not the course of the
immortal Jackson such would not be his
course, were he now President Was Jack
son right? No one doubts that the sim
pie nanls of the Hero of New Orleans
would have frightened the coward traitors
into at least an outward Observance of de-
cenciss, and hemp would have risen in mar
kst. Old Hickory would never have been
guilty of suggesting that traitors should re-
main unhung. or be allowed to hold govern
ment property and swagger disuniOn doc
srines. until the people could be convoked
in general convention TO make a govern
msnt, instead of one which they had mis-
sakenly supposed to exist. Shade of Gen.
Jackson--spirit of common sense-arise
from the graves and breathe life and truth