The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-05-23
THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE ON THE
RIGHT OF SECESSION.

The New York Tribune, it is we'll known, at
tie breaking out of the war was anxious to let
the south 60 and set up for itself, it 1t wished
The Tribune took the ground that ours was not
a coercive, but popular government; that If
the people forming given community were un-
animous, or nearly so, in wishing to dissolve
their political connection with another communi-
ty, they had right to do so under our system,
which is based upon the consent of the governed
We as a people claimed the right to dissolve our
political connection with Great Britain. 1t
seems that the Tribune still sticks to its doctrine
as promulgated at the beginning OF the war, and
which has been often cast in the teeth of its edi
tor as reproach.
The truth is at the opening of the war major
ity of the people of the southern states were not
in favor of secession but opposed to it. They
were dragooned and terrorized into it. Had the
people of the south been pretty nesrly units
for secession in 1861 and taken peaceable steps
to accomplish their purpose in convention of
the states, by showing that the popular wish of
nearly the entire southern population was for
separation, it is difficult to how with our
principles of government separation could have
been hindered, foolish as it would have been.-
But war was precipitated by the leaders, in Or
der to drag the reluctant people into the vortex
of secession, and the federal government was
justified in resisting the traitorous attack upon
it's forts and authority. Il resisted successfully
force with superior force. But it fought not in
order that it might destroy the equilibrium of
state and federal authority, and be all in all
henceforth, centralized despotisn, such as
Thad, Stevens would have it, holding subjugated
provinces, confscating, exiting and prescribing
like Caesar Augustus. Some silly editors and
congressman are fond of ringing the charges up
on the phrases ''beaten rebels conquered
provinces" &c. These are un-American words
They do not properly belong to republican
North American dictionary We read some
whore, the other day, in radical organ, that
'South Carolina has no rights" because Wade
Hampton, forsooth, had taken the liberty to send
a letter to the United States senate, denying the
allegation that be had ordered the city of Col
umbia to be fred upon its evacuation by the
confederates, and complaining that South Caro-
lima had no representatives in congress to take
care of the rights of her people.
If Thad. Stevens doctrines are to be enforced
against the SOUTH the people of that section will
soon be a unit for secession, and they will be
right in being so. The fact is, if we are ever to
have harmonious Federal Union again, good
many words of opprobrum and slang phrases
which came into fashion during the war, bu,
which were imported from the glossaries of old
world despotisms and governments of authorit,
and pretended divine right, must be dropped
from our vocabulary, for they irritate and keer
alive sectionalisn and bitter memories. which
should be consigned to Oblivion as soon as posi-
ble What words We refer to is hardly mecca
ssry to specify. Thad. Stevens and his disciple
are fond of ringing the changes upon them, bu
no true Union lover will do it. The fact is GU
government is based upon the consent of tn
people and not upon conquest or subjugation -
We cannot govern conquered provinces w
have no provisions for such government.
was because the people of the south were dragge
against their wills into secession an attack ut
on the federal authority that the government
had right to viDdicate ITSELF If, however, tn
people of any single state number of state
are united in wish and determinati ton to seye
their connection with the central government
owing to its arbitrary exercise of power and a
tempting to govern them for series of yea,
without allowing Them voice and represents
ton in it, they will have the sympathy of a
true lovers of popular rule. If the federal go
eminent is wisely, temporarily and impartial
administered in the spirit of the compact Or COZ
stitusion, there is no more danger of another il
stance of secession than there is of any one .
the planets forming the Solar system flying o
tangentially from its orbit into space and rul
ming lawless through the sky. Our forefatheI
set up no popular absolutism ON this continent
no tyranny of the majority, but constitutions
government with plenty of peaceable means O
redress for all grievances, without resortipp t,
force. In its ordinary, normal condition tn
federal system does not weigh feather on an,
man or section and was not intended to Tb,
taxation rendered necessary by war has made !;
Just now onerous, but it was not intended to b.