The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1864-01-27
Yankee Statesmen on Preserving the
Union by Force.

Aoun0c cIdlcslucu Uu Itc5oEVlu6 tl6
Union by Force.
Everybody at the North is now for war
to preserve the Union. The North now is
crazy from their partial successes. The
matured and deliberately expressed senti-'
ments other statesmen on great political
question. should certainly outweigh the
mad rayings of fanaticism. The Mrtrcpol-
itan Record, a paper published in New
York, is bringing The war makers to iudg-
ment and trying their own testimony. We
extracta portion of the evidence, and can
not see how the guilty criminals can hold
up their heads and look upon the frightful
record. The Record says:
II was never intended by the Fathers OF
the Republic that the Union should be held
together by force, and Alexander. Hamil-
ton, in speaking upon the subject, made
use Of the following memorable words:
ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
:" The coercion of States is one Of the
maddest Projects that was ever devised.
A failure Of compliance will never be con-
fined 10 a single State. This being the
cass can we suppose it wise to hazard a
civil war? Can auy reasonable man be
well disposed towards government that
makes war and carnage the only means of
supporting itself-a government that can
exist only by the sword :"
But it is not only the language of the fra
mers of the Constitution that is IN evidence
against the present sanguinary policy OF
the Administration. Ii is their acts.
When frequent attempts were made 10
commit the Convention to coercive m ga
sures. every resolution tina, was presented
for that purpose was laid on the table, aud
never taken therelrom. No men are more
thoroughly cnnyersant with these iacts
than Mr.. Seward. the present Secretary Of
State, Mr.. Everett, Mr.. Dickinson, aud a
number Of other vigorous prosecution Of
the war men. II so happens thai we have
their own testimony on the subject. Mr.
Seward acknowledged il in letter te Mr.
Adams. our Minister TO England, before
the war broke out. In that letter he said !:
WILLIAM n. SEWARD.
The Federal Government could not
reduce The seeded States TO obedience BY
conquest, even though he Ohe Presidens.) J
was disposed to question the proposition.
But, in fact, he continues, the Presiden,
willingly accepts it as true. Only an i'm
perial or desputic government could have
the right 10 subject disaffected or insurrec-
tionory States. The Federal Repu blcsn
system of ours is. Of all forms OF govern
ment. thevery one which is most united
for such labor"
We will not stop to criticise the language
| in which this admission is clothed, bat
merely desire 70 show how absurd il j. oE
Mr.. Seward TO state that only an impe-
rial Or despotic government could have The
right to subjngate disaffected or re,0u-
tionary States" Does that right exist ia
a government because ii is imperial or
despotic ?" IL this proposition b. granted,
then il must be admitted that the Adminis-
tration have long since established iheir
claim TO the exercise Of that right" b.
the conversion Of the government info q
despotism.
So much for Mr.. Seward. Now let Us
see what Mr.. Edward Everett has to say
in regard TO the matter. Inshis letter Of
acceptance Of the Union nomination for the
Vice Presidency. 10 1860. he expressed
himselfa as follows: ra.f .a
EpwARp BvERETT.
q The suggestion that the Union can be
maintained by the numerical predominance
and military prowess Of one svction, ex-
erted TO coeree the other into submission,
is. in my judgment. as self.contradictory as
| il is dangerous. II comes loaded with the
death-smell IRON fields wet with brothers'
blood. 1.-THE vital principle Of all Repub-
| lican governments b the consent Of the
governed. how much more does union OF