The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-11-07
THAT "HIsToRY" AGAIN.

of the United States" in last week
paper brought it up to the period jus
preceding the opening of the rebellion
After paying her respects to the "Aboli
tionists," Ultra Republicans" and TIN
Democrats who followed Stephen A
Douglas, the author has this paragraph
on the " Necessity of Secession
The threats and denunciations against tn,
South uttered in Congress. throughout thu
North, and in the publications of the day,
convinced the Southern States that their only
hope for retaining their rights and independ
ence was to reclaim the powers they had
yielded TO The Federal Government in acced.
ing TO the Constitution. They saw that the
Constitution had been openly and boastfully
violated by the Northern States, and they
felt it their right and their duty to withdraw
from the Union. Gen. Washington, in his
Farewell Address" had warned the coun-
try of the evils which must ensue from sec
tional legislation, and events proved the truth
of his forebodings.
This is special pleading with ven
geance. Not an instance can be pointed
out where Northern State openly and
boastfully violated the Constitution"
Everybody but a few fanatics strongly
condemned the John Brown Raid, and
believed that he was deservedly hanged.
The passage of the Personal Liberty
Bills" by several of the Northern States
was deemed a necessary act of protection
to their citizens, against the kidnapers
who raided the States under the cover
of the Fugitive Slave Law. The author
goes on:
The Southern States had no desire for war
no intention to trespass on the rights Of their
sister States. Their only purpose was to as
sert and vindicate what they believed to be
their own. Many of the Northern people also
believed in the right of secession and the I'M
lawfulness of coercion. Leading newspapers
and prominent politicians in New York and
elsewhere ayowed that if State chose to
secede there must be no attempt to force her
to remain in the Union. Again and again it
was maintained that coercion and strife must
be avoided by " compromise or peaceab!e sep
aration." The demagogs and Anti-Southern
men had determined differently. They were
in favorof taking the most extreme measures,
some saying that "a little bl0od-letting /"
would strengthen the Union while Others
affected to believe that the South had
neither the courage nor the desire to persist
in an independent course. All of them were
resolved to push her TO the wall.
Can worse perversion of history be
imagined? Only "demagogs and Anti
Southern men" were in favor of the
Union! A fine characterization of the
mighty uprising of patriotism which pro-
claimed that the Union should be pre-
served if it took their lives and every
dollar of property they possessed. VIII
the author indicate single prominent
public man who favored "extreme meas
ures"? She cannot do it. Not North
ern newspaper did so until after the firing
upon Fort Sumter. Absolutely nobody
was resolved to push her to the wall"
On the contrary, everybody was anxious
to avoid war. and to make any conces-
sion to the South, short of surrendering
principle. The best reply that can be
given to this TRADE are the closing words
of Lincoln's first inaugural-words so
simply grand that they seem to have been
inspired-in which he pointed out that
there was absolutely no reason for war,
and pleaded with the Southern conspira-
tors for peace. They answered these
pleadings with ieers and insults:
Why should there not be@a patient con-
fdence in the ultimate justice of the people?
is there any better or equal hope ia the
world? In our present differences, ia either
party without faith OF being in the right? If
The Almighty Ruler of Nations, with his
eternal truth and justice, be on your side OF
Inc North, or on yours OF the South, that
truth and that justice will surely prevail
by the Judgment of this great tribunaI-the
American people. BY the frame of the Gov
eminent under which we live, this same re0-
pie have wisely given their public servants
but little power for mischief, and have with
equal wisdom provided for the return of that
little TO her own hands Mt very short inter
vals While the people retain their virtue
and vigilance, no Administration, by any ex-
IRENE wickedncss or folly, can very seriously
injure the Government in the short space of
four years.
Ny countrymen, one and all, think calmly
and well upon this whole subject. Nothing
valuable can be lost by taking time.
If there be an object to hurry any Of you.
in hot haste, TO step which you would
never have taken deliberately That object
will be frustrated by taking time; but no
good object will be frustrated by it. Such
of you as are now dissatisfied still have the
old Constitution unimpaired, and, on the
sensitive point the laws of your own franz
ing under it; while the new Administran
ton will have no immediate power, ifsit
would, to change either.
If twere admitted that you who are dis
satisfied hold the right side in the dispute,
there is still no single reason for precipitate
action Intelligence, patriotism, Christi
anity, and firm reliance on Him who has
never yet forsaken this favored land, are
still pnrn ,1efept In a1ipcf -, ha Ln.t ,ror