The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-04-16
The Crisis has Come.

ing point which is to decide its destiny
For over three-quarters of a century it has
been the home OF the oppressed, the admira-
ton of the world, and the wonder of the
age. Springing from the vigorous loins of
Great Britain, great even in its youth, like
Minerva full armed from the head of Jove,
each decade has witnessed its rapid advance
from one degree of strength to higher, I'M
til no nation on the earth exceeded ours in
material resources and true greatness. Our
citizens and the world at large had come to
regard the American Union as the perfection
Ofhuman wisdom and the particular favorite
of the Almighty amongst the nations of the
earth. Freedom had here her home, and
prosperity fourished in perennial bloom.
But suddenly, amid this delightful Eden,
Satan is found in the garb of Disunion and
Secession. We are startled, as by ire-belI
in the night, with the tocsin of war on our
Southern border and in rapid succession
we hear of an attack being made on United
States property and then Of the ignomin-
ious surrender of that property to a band of
armed traitors, acting against the lawful
authority of their government. The cir
cumstances under which this outrage is
committed are such as to magnify a hun
bred fold the enormity Of the crime of the
traitors who with parricidal hand strike at
the heart of the Federal Government. They
have during the whole of its existence con-
trolled its affairs and lived on its bounty
The government has always been fostering,
kind, and protecting to it's children Of all
sections, including the South. Its hand
has never been laid on them except in the
way of kindness. ALL they are they owe
to its sustaining hand without that they
would be nothing.
While the South bad its own way in the
management of affairs, and could enjoy the
Federal offices and patronage, they were
dear lovers of the Union, and great sticklers
for the duty of submission to the decree Of
majority or even plurality. So long as
Presidents were elected who suited them
they were content, but when a President
succeeded to the Executive chair who was
not likely to pander to their peculiar inter
ests and tastes, but who instead might be
relied on to see that all parts of the country
were guaranteed their constitutional rights,
they set about the work of overthrowing
the government to crafty their spite and
revenge themselves for their defeat.
The events of the past few days have set
many sincere, patriotic men to Thinking
Until lately citizens of the same community
have honestly differed on political questions.
One man has been Republican, another
Bell man, another Douglas man, another
a Breckenridge man, according to their
sense of duty. They have differed on ques-
tions of policy and principle because it was
their privilege to do so as American citi-
zens and nobody said nay. But the case
has assumed a different aspect. There is
now no room for difference of opinion
or, rather, whatever men may think
of the questions which existed during the
campaign, the simple question is now pre-
scented to every citizen, Are you for the
rightful government or against it in the
present crisis of its fate? Now is when the
Union needs friends. We all have profess
ed friendship and undying devotion to it
through our whole lives, and many are the
Fourth of July speeches we have heard and
applauded in the day of the Unions pros
perity Have we all been sunshine friends,
or are we friends also in adversely? A few
days will show who are the true Union men.
Previous professions go for naught, if at this
dark hour in our country's history we do
not all rally around the rightful authorities
the Government at Washington and
prove our loyalty and patriotism by deeds
as well as words.
There is no such thing now as political
parties in the common aceeptatiOn of the
term. Men are, or soon will be, divided in
to Unionists or Disunionists. Recent events
have drawn the line of demarcation plainly.
We must be for the Union or against it
There is no middle ground. They that are
not for the Union are against it.
Mr.. Lincoln was elected in a decent, fair,
and constitutional manner, strictly accord
ing to the forms prescribed. No President
was ever more so. He is the rightful Presi-
dent. and since his Inauguration has done
nothing to forfeit the confidence of his
countrymen. On the contrary, he has
shown extraordinary forbearance toward
those who are in open hostility against the
government, prudence in preventing civil
war, wisdom in conducting the affairs of
the government, and energy in preparing to
execute the laws. He is surrounded by
wise counselers, and merits the confidence
of all loyal citizens.
There is, therefore, no excuse for the
present secession movement 1t is open and
unmitigated rebellion and treason, and as
such should be put down and punished, if
TO do SO requires every man and dollar sub
ject to the requisition of the Federal author