Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-03-28
POLICY OF TIE ADMINISTRATION

POLICY OF TIE ADMINISTRATION.
We do not know of any person or any Jour
nal authorized to speak the sentiments and de-
clare the course to be pursued by the present
administration. President Lincoln nor none of
his Secretaries are likely to employ an organ or
write "heavy editorials" after the manner of
James Buchanan and his cabinet Whatever
policy they may determine upon in the present
exigency of national affairs, or in any future
contingency that may arise will be maturely
considered and, as we believe, carried into exc
cution without first being brought before the
public in the columns of any metropolitan or
provincial journal.
The National Intelligence, of last week con-
tains six column article entitled "The Past,
The Present. and The Future" in which the
progress of events which has resulted in the
formation of the Southern Confederacv, and
the true policy to be pursued under existing
circumstances, is ably and dispassionately re-
viewed and set forth. 1t is minated in some
quarters that this article was written by, or with
the concurrence of, some person high in the
confidence of the present administration. We
do not give any weight to that assumption, but
the InteHigencer in and of itself is always high
authority, and most Of its leading articles dis
play an ability, thoroughness, large knowledge
of public affairs, and a candor and liberality of
views which entitle them to great considerations
The article in question starts on the premis
that "our government is essentially a govern
ment Of consent, depending for its orderly and
harmonious working on the support it finds in
the heart of the people. In ordinary cases of
local instruction the tumult can be put down
by the strong hand Of federal power, but in the
present case seven states have abolished the
federal authority. The policy of coercing the
States, conquerng them back into the Union,
is not to be thought Of, and the only course re-
naming is the collection of the revenue and
the holding of the federal property not now in
the hands of the rebels, which has been reduced
to one single fort, Pickens, in Florida In re-
lation to collecting the revenue the writer of
this article holds that the President has no
power, in the absence of express provision
States He is in the same condition that Pres
ident Jackson found himself previous TO :he
passage Of the Force Bill. Consequently the
writer holds that as matters now stand the
revenues had better remain unsolicited as their
collection wall cost more than they will amount
to, and will be likely to provoke a collision.-
The captured forts ought not to be retaken.
Fort Pickens should be surrendered, and all
the local forts that affect the States should be
allowed to remain with the confederated States
Tortugas and Key West, not being built or
claimed as local forts, should be retained as
they affect the commerce of the world The
conclusion to which the writer arrives is that
there should he general convention of the
loyal states for the revision of the Constitution
and a final reconstruction OF the Union, or a
recognition of the Southern Confederacv. In
this connection ave quote the following para
graph.
"As no enc proposes the subjugaton of the
seeded States, ii follows that the adjustment
of their relations to the Federal Government
can he arranged only by their voluntary return
to the Union or by the definite recognition of
shall be made apparent that the people of the
seeded States desire permanent separation
from their former confederutes it would seem
to be the part of wisdom and sound policy for
the people of the United States to acquiesce in
that desire Nothing can be gained il the in.
tercSt of peace or dignity, or goud neighbor
borhood Or reciprocal trade, by persistent re.
fuSal to ascertain and fix disputed relations
which must be adjusted in the end, and which
can be more satisfactorily adjusted V negota.
tons before war than by negotiations ate war"
We lay these views before our readers that
they may know the opinions of the moderate,
intelli.en Union men of the border states on
both sides of the dividing line of Slavery. We
by no means endorse them fully, but we as vet
fail to see how we can escape the ultimate re.
cognition of the Southern Confederacy, unless
the Cotton States come back of their own ac-
cord, ian event not likely soon to happen,) or
the administration is empowered to treat them
as yiolators of the laws OF the land