Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-01-31
Mo Civil Var.

siasd always, mat Uaitso otates prop eriy be
not Withheld from i.s lawfnl owner and Uni
sed States authority be ret corrested in the
Territories. and elsewhere within its luris-
diclian. The United States own forts and
srsenals At various points sn the coas. As
they bough: tho sites, and erected the forti-
Sca.ions /: would seem to admit of no doubt
that they belong TO them. and to febody else.
II they he seized, and attempts ba made 10
hlld them, no one can be presumed to sup
pose that the United States ought not to Ie-
take them. IL doiog This, they make No wur
on anybedy, they simply recover their prop.
erty. ln expeiliug hoae who have taken
ana attempt 70 retain it, they exarcise an un'
questioned right for which nobody can 6nd
a pretense OF blaming them. If var is to be
avoided. let those who have seized the forts
and arsenals simply surrender chem on the
demand Of their rieh,iul owners. The Uni
ted States will not invade any State Or at
tacK its people. They carnot d. this. They
will have no occasion, unless invited to put
dowA rebellion or insurrection.
How of tho Territories? Of course the
United States will retain and protect their
Territories, as they Should. They bought
shem, aud have paid for them. and own
them. They have always governed tksm
end granted them protection. Why should
they not continue TO do go? 1t is plain
duty. But the seeding States will claim to
have IN interest in them. Of course they
will, and the claim viii DO cheerfully rscog
nizad. Every other Safe viii claim the
came right, and have it accorded to them
Blu. what is that right? Simply the righs to
go in peaesobly and occupy the land. by
paying therefor. All will have that privi-
lego. Seeding States, loyal States, or the
people thereof, white and black, native and
foreign, will all erjoy equal privileges. AS
10 carrying slaves there, the Congress of the
United States will regulate that, as they al.
ways Lave done.
Blu. the seeding States will send in an
army and try to conquer the Territories, or
q portion Of them, and establish Slavery
tbersln by force of arms? fthey should do
this that would bring on war in The Terrific
ries. But it would not last long, as the ex-
perience Of Kansas shows. And it would
net take much of au army to keep Slavery
!. cut. Slavery cannot be extended at the
{ point of the bayoncs against q free people
!. who ctject eart estly to it's spread. And any
war on this continent, or at least this por-
tion of it. tor such a purpose, wout be very
brief. The struggle would soon be over ar d
peace restored. We cannot have much of
civil war therefore IN the Territories.
Ifany attempt should be made 10 obstruc'
the navigation Of the Mississippi RIVER, 1t
would create difficulty, and might readily
lead to war. Bat the seeding States them,
selves say they have not the slightest inten-
ton of doing anything Of the sort.
The only danger of collision. then, would
appear to he on the sea- in the effort to drive
away the Coast Squadron, which may be
sert to enforce the laws. TIE seaports of the
seceding States would Object to being shut
up. They would aim to remove the blockade
that must be inpo, G., it those ports refuse to
pay Federal duties. They would thus have
20 attack the naval force used in the block
Ads, and drive it off, or defeat and destroy it,
If they could The war would thus become
a naval war, and the strongest party would
succeed. But. considering that one side has
payv and the other has none, the contest
would be very unequal, and its results hard
" admit of dCubt. The Slave States would
submit.
What then The aeceding States would
have no war in any other way than in the
modes suggested, unless they raise an army
and invade the loyal States. If they should
do this, they might very easily bring on
general civil war. But they nevsr yet have
Contemplated this neshod Of proceeding, and
II is difficult to perceive what ad vantage they
would gain By it. The interior and border
Slave States would be slow to do this, inas>
nash as the retaiiatory blow would first fall
upon them. Resides, such an attack would
unto the North, and greatly cxasaerate the
people. The inevitable rasalt would be de-
feat to the weaker party. Which that is can
easily be told beforehand, by examining the
census tables. The raising of armies in the
seceding States 10 invade the loyal States
does not, therefore. seem at all probable.
We do not see then in what wav general
civil war is going to be brought about. The
war, if we have any, must be localized and
specific 1t must be in the Territories. 1t
uus, be on the Mississippi River. Or, what
.sems to be moro probable than all, it must
ne war Of The seeding States on the block
ais &C uadron. To be sure, if Maryland
should secede, tbs terrible Mr.. Toclcbs sNay
march nor.hward, sword in hand, as he -
timatsd be shall, and attempt to take Wash
ington. Or seme other contest may be ini-
listed for the same object.
90 the whole. therefore. we are obliged to
confess that We do net zee just how we are
going to have 40 old-fashioned civil war
The war, if there is to be any, must iDevita-
sly Ls one of,se sections and, for the rea-
sous giyen, we conclude it will not be OF
much importance. Even before it begins,
everybody will want peace, and struggle tor
peace, and they will do this more and more
.zo-r IA 3; k;ll ;t iS fuiiv eatablish9d. We