Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-06-11
Wnndn

In the blessed days when that incorruptible
patriot, Fernando Wood, was lamenting to Rob
ert Toombs that he could not send him rifles to
shoot loyal men with there was great deal said
about coercing' States. The right Of secession
was not exactly clear to some minds, but the
wrong of coercion was palpable. In other
words il was doubtful 10 these minds whether
the Government of the United States had the
right TO enforce its laws; or, in truer words, a
convenient sophism being wanted by which the
Northern mind might be cajoled into assent TO
anarchy and the overthrow of the Government
by defeated faction, 1t was declared that "coer-
zion" was unconstitutional. Those were the
DAYS in which all practicable methods of saving
the Government were Observation-Disclosures the
only clearly constitutional thing was 10 connive
Mt the destruction of the Constitution.
The word coerce" played great part in tho
debates of those days; but since the first battle
of Bull Run II has gone out OF fashion. since the
American people have sooerly addressed them
selves to the maintenance of the Union and Gov
ernment we have not heard 30 much of the Con-
stituuonal duty of submitting to national ruin.
But another word now serves the purpose for
which the werd coercion" was employed. The
new word is subjugatiOn." Mr. Long informed
us in his famous speech that the alternatives now
concession of the Of the rebellion, or the
subiugation of the rebels He calls them States
but that does not alter the fact.
We beg to ask Mr. Long If there has ever been
any other alternative Either the rebelous citi-
Zens of the United States are to be compelled by
force of arms, and by every other effective meR-
sure TO submit to the Government, or they are
TO overthrow the Government. There Is no mid
die ground, and there never has been. The in
surrection has taken the proportions of II war.
All warlike methods are properly invoked The
struggle has endured now for three years. But II
still remains what II was at tristan armed and
powerful insurrectiOn of citizens of the United
States against their Government; and either that
sbni
insurgents will subjugate the Government The
word suhjugate means bringing under the yoke.
And that il exactly the business in which we are
now engaged. The rebels are being brought I'M
der the yoke; that is, the authority of the Gov
eminent.
If the question is asked, what then becomes
of the assent which is declared to be the basis of
the Government I" the reply is, that II is the as
sent of the people collectively which Is intended.
When u people have formed a Government by
common consent which provides for its own
amendment and change, no portion Of that people,
without appealing TO the prescribed method OF
amendment, can insist that their interest shall
prevail BY arms over the interest of the whole.
Nor in half the region in revolt was that assent
ever given, while to-day those who do not assent
are brutally murdered. When it is said that the
Government rests upon common consent, II is not
meant that every individual citizen is ut liberty
to obey or disObey the laws II lie disobeys,
he justly pays the penalty. If the county Of
Chatauqua should refuse 10 obey the laws of
New York what would New York dot She
would compel the citizens Of New York living
in Chautauqua County to submit to the laws,
exactly az the United States urc compelling the
citizens of the United States living in the State Of
Georgia TO obey the laws. For the Government
ofthe United States exists, or II does not. If it
does, its first duty il TO enforce itself against
armed citizens in rebellion, and to subjugate them;
that is, TO compel them to yield 10 the laws
which they, in common with all other citizens,
have made.
This process was formerly called coercion. 1t
is now called suhjugation. In both cases it is
exactly the same thing. 1t is the fOrcible main.
tenancu of the authority of the Government
Alexander Hamilton long ago declared what all
experience confirms, that the vigor Of govern.
meut is essential to the security Of liberty. This
will henccforth he the first lesson in our political
prmer-HGrpers Weekly.