Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-06-25

~ lthe Declaration OF IndepeDdeDce justified the Sc
cesson from The British Empire Of three millions of colo
nsts i77o zoe do mot hy uoud justify the sess-
sion u 0e mill ons Of SoAhrons from The Union in 1861
From The Tribune Of February 20, 1861.
We haze repeatedly said and insist, that the
great principle embodied by Jefferson in the Declaration
OF American Independence that Governments derive their
Just from the consent of the governed sound and
ust and that the SLaDe States the Cotton States, or the
Gulf States only choose to form independent nation
they haze cl moral right to do WhemsUer ii
shall be clear hiatt great body Of the Southern people hare
become coneusDely aLienated from The UnOn and
10 escape from it, WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO FORWARD
THEIR VIEWS.
From the date Of February %, 1861, when the
Tribune said it would do its best to forward the
views" of the Southern conspirators, down to the
present time, it has, we are free to admit, sa-
credly kept its fearful promise By saying the
wrong thing at the wrong time-now words Of me-
mace and complaint, now words Of fatuous exulta-
ton followed by words of equally fatuous despair
talking of peaceful arbitration to-day and of gno
BILE submission tomorrow, it has indeed been va
liable ally to the insurgents by the confusion it
has aided to bring on the plans Of the Government
Alike by prophecy and counsel it has poured
rottenness into the bones of those who were de-
Tending the of the Union, for all its prophe
cies have been brought to nought as all its coun-
sells have led to only deeper despair.
just month before the first Proclamation of
Freedom" was issued by President Lincoln, the
I slbune risked the prophecy that " the war could
not last until Christmas" if every fugitive who
comes to us from Jetfdom be welcomed as free
man." About two weeks before the edict of Sep
TENDER I'D was issued, this same journal express
ed the belief that if this policy were once adopt
ed in good faith and thoroughly carried out, sixty
days would amply suffice to break the backbone of
the shareholders rebellion" The prophecy was
SO idle shat discerning minds could see in it only
the frantic utterance of one who was seeking to
generate a universal public dependency as the
basis Of enforced peace built upon the ruins of
the Union. Nor was this suspicion left to mere
inference, for the contest waxed hotter the Tr-
bune grew only more and more "pacifc" in its
tendencies, until, finally, on the 9th of last De-
cember, it came out fatty for Arbitration" A
few weeks passed and it proposed to exchange ar
bitration for submission, three months after date
1t said on the 22d of January last:
three months more of earnest fighting ,oiH not serre
TO make serious impression the rebes the end Of
that term shall 6Bd further advanced than it's begin
nngif SOME malignant Fate has decreed that the blood
and treasure of the nation shall be quandered fruit
less eforis- us bon to destiny and make the best
tainabte peace"
This melancholy announcement was prefaced by
the statement that the rebellion may be virtually
crushed cut within the next ninety days, and that
Il as far more likely to be aoithin that term than
eoer ayfterWard."
The "three months" have more than elapsed,
and, if the opinion of the Tribune is worth any
thing, that opinion is now on record to the effect
that all the probabilities are 10 favor Of the ult-
mate success of the rebellion, for it certainly was
not /" crushed OUT during the /" term" when, as it
said, such an event was more likely than it would
ever be afterwards.
Near the close of the month of January last
the Tribune again announced that there was no
hope Of conquering the rebellion unless we could
have new Cabinet, and unless the President
would submit himself to the guidance Of its mem
bers. This view was corroborated by the following
doleful vaccinations
in every aspect which this attempt to carry on the
Executive department Of the Government upon Presdn
t responsibility alone be viewed it be regarded
us frauRht with innumeTabe mischiefs A man of
u
time upon this auocrac principle bit Nth of lesser
potcer must inevitably and continually inuoipe them in
mortifying failures The 4h Of March approaches
may Senators and Repre- part their
high duty unperformed filthy d. let The nation prepare
for the night that cometh, ,ohen nork
The shadows CT this night" have SO overhung
our bilious contemporary from this date that its face
has gathered only backness and despair from every
prospect before it, 1t is but few weeks ago
that the Tribune proclaimed the opinion that our
present rulers men "who only day after day
have given proof upon proof that they can neither
comprehend nor grapIle successfully with the mag
nitude and the demands tf the task before them"
This it said, we suppose, to encourage the decin-
ing hopes of the people And within the last few
days, at the cry of the rebel invasion" cur dolo
rous and subdued contemporary jumped at the
prospect of making a craven peace, if only Gen
Lee could succeed in placing bis foot on the pros
trate North To this effect we quote from the
Tribune of the 18th instant
Now trust all is at il seems-that Lee has qu tly
gathered and holds in hand vetera army hundred
thousand strong and is pushing the Potomac
with intent TO bring the contest to immediate issue
is best for all sides that it should be This has
dragged about long enough The rebellion has heen
apply, though not very accurately characterized by Col
Gerson shell with nothing in it aud this 10 so far
tr.a fk.4sk knt.~ IL.