Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-10-01
POLITICAL DELUSIoNs.

| ern Disunionists "precpitated the Cotton States
into revolution" they deluded the great mass Of
people in those States by variety of promises
Foremost among these was the prediction that the
revolution would be accomplished without blood
shed, because, in the first place, as "Cotton was
King" the manufacturing and maritime Powers
Of Europe could not permit the outbreak of any
hostilities which might have for their effect to de-
prive them of staple whose abundant supply was
the condition of their own social and political sta
bility. They would, therefore, promptly interfere
to prevent any attempt of "the North to coerce
" the South" The revolution would be bloodless
la the second place, it was said that the North.
ern Democracy, who had so long defended what
was called the constitutional rights" of the South,
could at least "keep the peace" between the two
sections by staying the hands of any in the North
who might persuade resort to coercion.
But, in fact, the Northern Democracy had never
engaged to sustain their Southern political allies in
any schemes for the violent dismemberment of the
Union and when the latter began the war by firing
on the national flag and capturing Fort Sumter
there was an end of all interposition on the part
not only of Northern Democrats, but of Northern
Conservatives, to procure peaceful solution of
difficulties which the Dsunion leaders had delibe-
rately chosen to decide by the sword. Before this
and similar acts Of violence had been perpetrated
against the peace and dignity of the nation there
were many and earnest voices lifted up in all parts
of the land in favor Of the longest possible absti
hence from an armed collision between the National
Government and those "disafscted citizens" Of
the Republic to whom President Lincoln made ap-
peal in his Inaugural Address And until the at
tack upon Fort sumter the present Adminstra-
ton, after its accession to power, maintained
attitude Of expectation. 1t did not join issue with
the secessionists until they had made their appeal
to the law of violence, and had thus forced upon
the National Government the necessity of either
defending itself or of accepting its right to live at
the hands of armed CON pirators against its very
existence. And it is probable that if the disunien
leaders had abstaiued from alfTioence, the States
in whose name they assumed to speak might have
preserved peaceful relations long enough to pro.
cure at the hands of the adhering States an even
tual recognition Of their independence, to be OBJ
tanned by arrangements concerted in Convection
/
of all the States that they had been bound together
under the Constitution. 1t was only by similar
Convention, whose work should be ratified by the
people, that they could be peacefully unbound and
released from their obligations. But when they
sought to cut this Gordian knot with the sword,
hand Of every friend of the Government was neces-
sarily turned against them for to desert the Gov
ernment under such circumstances was to inaueu-
rate violence aud anarchy in the place Of rightfu
government and law.
But there was still another class at the North
which disappointed the expectations Of the South
err disunionists. We allude to those who promised
them IMMUNITY in their schemes because, as it was
said, any armed resistance to their revolutionary
endeavors would be contrary to the " right of re-
volution" as vindicated by our fathers and as as
serted in the Declaration of IudepenG ence. 1t is
known that the New York Tribune was a constant
as well as an earnest exponent of this view, and
said much in the winter Of 1S60-'61 to justify the
hopes of the Southern agtators that they might at
least count its aid in procuring for them immu-
nifty from Federal attack. As early as the 9th of
November, 1860, when the secession storm was
brewing in the Southern heavens the Tribune said
"If the Cotton States shall become satisfied that they
do better out OF the Union than in it, insist let
ting them 60 peace. The right secede may be re-
volutiouary one, but 1t exists nevertheless. We
must resist right of any State to remain in the
Union and nullfy defy the laws thereof To withdraw
from the Union quite another matter; and whenever
consde section of Union shall deliberately resolve
to 90 out shall resist all gned
keep il in We hope to live in Republic whereof
one section is pinned to another by bayonets.''
Seventeen days afterwards, on the 18th of No
vember, it held the following language:
IF the Cotton States unitedy and earnestly wish to
withdraw peacefully from the Union, think they should
and would be allowed to do SO Any attempt to compel
them by force to remsn would be contrary the prnc
Piles euunciaed in the immortal Declaration Of Iudepen
dence contrary to the fundamental ideas which human
| liberty is based"
On the 18th Of December, when the secession
s'orm had come to head aud was bursting over
South Carolina, the Tribune said
iii it (the Declaration of Independence justified the
'sion from the British Empire of three millions OF
coonsts in 776 do tchy ooud not justify the
secession c fpe mions Of Southrons from the Usion
| 1861"
i And, after all the Cotton States had seeded"
on the 23d of February 1861, it still held over
them the shield of the Declaration Of Indepen-
| dence. Under that date it said
1--WE have repeatedly said and insist, that
the great principle embodied by Jefferson in the Declare
ton Of American Indrpe that Governments derive
Tr., nj Nha 70