The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-30

january g 1861, In the following language:-
Il certainly had no right to make aggressive
war upon any State, and am perfectly satisfied
that the Constitution has wisely withheld that
power even from Congress. But the right and
the duty to use military force defensivelY against
those who resist the Federal officers i'm the
execution OF their legal functions, and against
those who assail the property of the Federal
Government, Is clear and undeniable.n This
was also the doctrine of the annual message and
1t is precisely the doctrine on which Mr.. Lincoln
based all his earlier action. In the light of
these facts, we ask candid men TO Judge Of the
trustworthincss of the editor Of the tribune as
historian.
w. During that memorable winter Demo-
cratic conventions were hed in several States
that IN this state (held in Tweddle Hall, Albany
January 81, 1861 beng one of the ablest and
strongest tbat was ever convened. But from
none of these conventions, nor from the Demo-
ciats 10 Congress, nor from the thousand to
fifteen hunured Democratic journals published
in the country, was voice raised in depreca.
ton of or dissent from these disOrganizing doc.
trines. On the contrary, they were generally
re'r choed, and almost universally aCquiesced in
10 tins 1t IS a sufficient reply to have shown,
as we have under the last head, that "these
disoreanizing doctrines are willul peryersions
OF the historian. Under subsequent head we
shall show that Mr.. Buchouan's ooctrnes, as he
actually stated them, 'were aCquesced ipn hy
President Lincoln himself
'. Seven States having seeded before Mr.
BuChanans term expired, their Democratic
members vacated their seats m Congress with
very. rare exceptions. OF their few anti-Demo-
cratic members, nearly or quite every one
remained TO the close.
. Another appearance of Nos and II with a
new variation Of costume. The answer need not
be repeated.
VI. MIR. Lincoln was inaugurated on Che 4th
OF March, 1861; and his inaugural address was
mainly devoted to the incucation of doctrines
regarding secession and coercion the exact
opDosites of MessTs. Buchanan and Blacks
Mr.. Lincoln was well known to hold (as we did
and do) the night OF the people to modify or
change their form of government as transcend
ing all written Constitutions or charters: but
he, with great clearness and cOeency vet in
perfect kindness, demonstrated that President
must to the utmost limit of his ability, cause
the laws of the Union to be respected and
Obeyed IN every State and TerriIory-that should
a collision OF forces result, his position would
be strictly defensive and COnseryatve-that the
consequent war would be made upon him, not
Dg hlm, Never was a manifesto more tirm and
lucid; never was one less irritating. Either It's
doctrines were souno, or any State might at any
time dissolve the Union. Yet, of the five hun
Ored Democratic journals within our reach we
believe no single one approved and sustained
the POSITIONS of Mr.. Lincoln.
ii the reader will compare the summary here
given OF the doctrines of the inaugural address
with the foregoing quotation from Mr..
Buchanan's message, he will see that, instead of
being "eXact opposites,n there Is no theoretical
contradiction, and practical identity The
following is the most significant passage of Mr..
LInCOln's first inaugural:-''The power cOn6ded
10 ne will be used to hold occupy, and possess
the property and places belonging to the Gov
ernment and to collect the duties and imposts
but beyond what may be necessary for these
objects, there will be no invasion, no using of
force, against or among the people anywhere
Now, let us hear what Mr.. Greeley himself
says of this firm and lucid inaugural, in his
comments on it IN his history:-'The ha bitual
tone of this remarkable paperr he says us
depTeCatOry, not to say apOlOgetc. Mr.. Lincoln
evidently composed IL under the fixed impress
hot tn dad lN,VtN II
OF her Impressions and apprehensions OF North
ern OstIlity, to restore her to loyalty and the
whole land to peace Ii she can be made to
feel that the new rule does not desire to meddle
with slavery in The States which cherish it, but
will hunt and return fugitive slaves to the ex-
tent OF its ability. then secession VIII be given
up, and the country restored to peace and har-
mouy. That certainly Is an amiable view OF
the situation; but 1t was not justified etc. etc.
And agaln:-"The weakest portion of this docu-
mCnt is lis inCOnsiderate talk about an 'inya-
sion of the States by the Federal Government,
and its quasi pledge not TO appoint Federal
officers Tor communities unanimously hostile to
the authority of the Union. A surgeon who
should volunteer pledge not to disturb or
meddle with any proud flesh he might hnd in
his patients wounds, would hardly expect to
augment thereby that patients confidence in
his skill" etc. etc. etc. Does Mr.. Greeley, who
is clearly the writer of the article in the Iri-
GaEe mean TO impugn the accuracy of his own
American COnlCt ~ He says that of five
uululGu DGUlOCTdJlC IOuIubl5 uO Slngle one
he believes, sustained the positions OF the
inaugural. Admitting this statement to
be honest, IL discredIts his diligence,
and though the point is trivial, shows his
readiness to hazard assertions OF which he
has no proof. The Boston Pos, the leading
Democratic paper of New England SAID of
the ural:-"The Conservatives will be glad
TO see, at this time, the opening avoWals OF the
ADDRESS. The pledge not to interfere with
slavery IN the States; the denunciatiOn of law
less invasiOns OF those States: the avowal to
protect slavery IN case of a servile insurreCton;
the promise to carry into effect the fugitive slave
oblgation, seem to come Hp TO the requirements
OF the Con sttutOn. Nor is this all. Towards
the conclusion the President returns to the sub
ject, and iurther manifests his desire to concli-
ate, by frankly endorsing the CorWin amend
ment to the Constitution, which has just re-
cejyed two-thirds vote OF both branches of
Congress-" More quotations to this effect can
be furnished, If they are called for.
We have met and, as we suppose our readers
will think, exploded, the first six counts of the
JTiJune'S Indictment. We are ready to pay the
same compliment to the other six, when the
tribune shall have made the explanations which
are due from it TO the American public, and 10
the assumed chaIacterot its editor as historian.