Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-28

The New York Post strangely perverts the
facts when it represents the government of the
United States as reversing Richelieu's maxim
for the treatment of enemies. Use, first, all
means to couciliate; and, at last, if these fail,
ali means to crush" Congress, it says, dealing
with one third of its own constituents, after try
ing, 60 far in vain, almost all means to crush,
refuses, even as a last resort, to try The most
simple and obvious measures of Cancellation.
The enemies with whom the United States have
to deal are the foes of equal rights, who main
tain that political power should be lodged in the
hands of an aristocratic caste, that the working
classes should be kept in ignorance and subiec
ton; they were the supporters and pro-
pagandists of slavery while slavery lived.
In our dealings with these enemies
Cancellation was exhausted long ago. II
has been carried so far as to degenerate into
pusillanimity. The Missouri compromise was
one conciliatory measure, the fugitive slave law
was another, Douglas Kansas-Nebraska bill
another We were for many years so bent upon
Cancellation, that the whole history of national
law making for that period is a record of con-
cessions extorted by threats on the part of the
slave holders and pathetic appeals from north
ern states, men who feared nothing so much as
the wrath of their southern masters. Besides
unlimited concessions in the matter OF legisla-
ton, we ignored or apoogized for a
continual series Of lawless acts. A cen
sorship of the mails for which the
law afforded no pretext, was permitted to
pass unquestoned, and men were assaulted and
prosecuted to extremity, without pretense of
law or reasonable excuse, in all parts of the
south, for no offence except their opinions
Even in the north we allowed mobs in the inter-
est of southern trade aud southern patronage to
dictate our political opinions, and men ofinhnence
and social and official position in northern cities
looked on complacently while abolitionists were
assaulted by furious rioters, and the law Sc
cured them no protection and gave them nc
redress.
This policy Of Cancellation at last became in.
tolerable. Even the patience of the northern
people had its limit. If we had had the Post
then to recommend Richelieu's maxim, we
should have replied that we had used all posi-
BILE means to conciliate and, if the enemies Of
the government persisted in their inadmissible
demands, we must employ another policy
Even then when they had begun to execute
their threat Of disunion, Mr.. Lincoln urged
measures of Cancellation. They were contempt
uously rejected, and then there was nothing tC
be done but to adopt the other alternative ant
use all means to crush. This policy wal
pursued for four years, with what success W,
all know Then, under the guidance of Mr.
johnson, we tried Cancellation again, but the re
suits were not on the whole very encouraging
But we did not give it up altogether. Nobod'
has been punished for his crimes against tn
country. Even the arch traitor is at large un
convicted, and political amnesty has been ex
tended till it is almost universal, and only very
few of the leading rebels are deprived in conse
quence Of their crimes Of any rights which theil
fellow citizens enjoy. All the time oppression
and outrage have more than kept pace with the
extension Of amnesty.
NOW, then, according to Richelieu, having ex-
hausted Cancellation, we should use "all means
10 crush" But the Post is not satisfied that we
should follow its own authority. Why should
we be more tenderly regardful of the tyrants
and oppressors than Of the weak aud defence.
less7 To save the freedmen from the despotism
Of an oligarchy we have given him the ballot ant
guaranteed to him political equality with bill
former masters. II they viii respect these right
they have nothing to fear from the government
If they want peace and order with liberty anc
justice, they can have their wish.
is not proposed or desired to deprive then
Of their rights, but only TO insis
that they shall respect the rights Of others. l
no peace will satisfy them but one founded upor
The subjugation of tine blacks, no order except
that enforced by terrorism, and no political bar.
mony but such as results from the abstinence
rom political action of all who differ from them,
then they cannot aud ought not to have their
way there is any possible method BY which
tne national goVernment can redeem its pledges
70 the freedmen and secure the results for which
It has paid 50 heavily. While Offering the largest
liberty to all, we must at the same time restrain
any person or class from interfering with ,bo
liberty Of Others. In this policy there il moth.
Ing vindictiye; it Is only the discharge Of an i'm
perafiye duty. Any other course would he
WeakEeas and worse than weakness cono,,,.-