Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-23

Judged by the world 10 be simple and inexcusabs act OF
aggression. The Government would be regarded the
ssatnt and they wou be tn pjursd party. hey might
with this advantage appeal to the sympahes Of mankind
psope oppressed by unlawful force and the
part of patriots contendng for their dearest rights They
would present themselves to the tribunal of public udg
ment Legitimate Independent States having claim, by
the law OF nations to immediate recognition by all other
Powers not States struggling in the throes of revolution
to make themselves free but States free in their antece-
dent life, and now by virtue Of the fundamental
law free from all alliance with their late associates self
controlling and full organization nations from the mo
ment they severed their connection with the Union In
such aspect Of their case the law which controls the
policy of nations, on the question of recognising people
who revolt against their rulers, would have application
The question would not arise Are these people able
tach themselves from the ruled Them
maintain their attempted nationality by their strength
but it would be, with all the outside world What right
have to refuse the existence of body polite which by
the organic law Of the Confederacy to which it
attached has become independent nation through the
pointed form Of declaration of its will to be ~
The admission of this principle annus the whole law Of
treason in respect to the retiring State 1t is longer
under the Jurisdiction Of the common Government Its
people allegiance to that Government they have
10 moment, become aliens. If be made upon them
it is of established belligerents; tey alien
mics to each other and the party that begins the must
find it's justification in the ordinary code of nations appca
BILE to the disputes between foreign Powers The
act Of separation being pursuance Of actual right is
no just for The retiring party has committed
offence All he asks is "let alone This the
convenient theory upon which the omeners of this
motion ostensiby commenced their operations Accord
ing this theory there could bs rebellion and, of
Tho Gnvar If tho Inita
States and the Union only developing their future in
the due process of the normal law of their construction
falling to pieces it is true, but falling to pieces in pursu-
of the design and in the prescribed by the
authors of the Constitution.
This is the rationale of their scon explained in the
ocs expostons of the Government eet up in the revolt
ing States and which urged with eager reteaton upon
the Cabinets of Europe AS yet they have met no ac-
acknowledgement Of their claim The Cabinets persist in
gardlng the rebellion and its aim revolution. Fo
reign Powers therefore, may infer do not accept the
doctrine of secession 1t is true foreign
who are welwishers to the downfall Of the great Ameri
Republic and who delight to encourage any plot which
may compass happy end give aud then stimu-
lang hint of their favorable conviction this point but
nation has yet been hardy to make it ground for
interference in quarrel They, and ALL subject
the question of Intervention to the test afforded by
tiona law and usage applied to the of revolving
fractions of State.
There being right of SECESSION have demonstrated
my two last letters the whole movement to the
Union is simply enterprise of revolution No proca
nation of more lawful foundation for it, pretension of
different purpose contemplated by its leaders protes
tton of innocence of reasonable design by the thousands
who have taken up arm Of the muttudes OF men aud
women who afford material aid and comfort to the
ment encourage by their sympathy alter its
ob;a anIf ha
are rebellion The champions of the rebels If
the rebellion be without such justification the moral
law sanctions then it is Of the blacklist of crimes the
rebels traitors, aud they justly incur the penalty of
treason If the other hand there be such justification
for effort to subver the Government recognised in
the moral code of the most enlightened nations the rebel
lion is without guilt and the rebel Notwithstanding the
offence which the law may mpute TO him. is untainted by
the crime of traitor 1t is the Government that case
that betrays, and the citizen lawfully ressts.
This is brief summary outline of the ethics of
beon expounded by the most liberal ursts Of this age
and universally accepted in country There is no
right less disposed to deny than that Of revolution
1t is instinct of American society to sympathizs with
the revolt of people against their rulers We per
haps apt to do from priori presumption that
every Government Expresses body and that people
revolt without good There is popular at
traction in the idea Of lighting for rights phrase
often aung to love of adventure than susceptible
of definition have doubt that the Southern armies
are filed by the influence Of this sentiment Rash ard
thoughtless young men, who have paused moment
to inquire the merits of the have rushed into
rebellion simply because it was rebellion Men of ripper
years have thrown themselves into it, with that tradition
AIRY idea that revolution itself is glorious incident, and
that it is heroic to sustain it, think this trait of
tona character will disclose the secret of much OF that
enthusiasm which has spread the South and brought
the rebellion favor many worthy who to this
day. ere unable to give eligible account Of the
tves which seduced them into the conflict think it will
expsn the phenomena Of epauetted bishops and priests
ackboots deserving their vineyards to swagger in the
camp think it will salts actory osove the riddle Of the
remarkable vruence with which the that side
out their joy at every wound that inflicted upon
their country Rebellion has become the fashion in that
gentle world and like another fashion there is utterly
needless of the uncleanness into which it dips It's skirts.
Passing by these illusions stimulants of temper
which have driven many to the compromises Of their
loyalty propose to explore the real motives, far
they are attanable that have led of influence and
capacity to attempt bold aud desperate enterprise
as the overthrow Of the Government
Ia looking for the motives, should expect to find
either, the sid. oppressive feature in
Constitution inv eterate and ncurabe evil 10 it's
administration; or, the other, mistaken concep
ton Of injury resulting from governm ent nolerabe
ima ed curabe by