The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-02

he were disposed TO question that
proposition. But. in fact, the Presi-
dent willingly accepts II as true. Only
an imperial and despotic government
could subjugate thoroughly disanected
and insurrectlonary members of the
State. This Federal republican coun-
try of ours is of all forms of govern
ment the very one which is most UNI
fitted for such labor. Happily. how
ever. this is only an ina inary, defect.
The system has within itself adequate,
peaceful, conservative and recupera tive
forces. Firmness on the part of the
government in maintaining and pre-
serving the public institutions and
property. and in executing the laws
where authority can be exercised with
out waginB war; combined with such
measures of justice, moderation and
forbearance as will disarm reasoning
opposition. will be sufficient to secure
the public safety until returning re-
Election. concurring with tho fearful
experience of social evils, the inevi-
table fruits OF faction, shall bring the
recusnnt members cheerfully into the
family which. after all. must prove
their best and happiest. as il unde-
niably is their most natural home"
<hho ~ ilNc c19 aittl iildl
to Minister Adams, Mr.. Lincoln. in the
very teeth of the principles of right
and liberty which it enumerated, in.
augurated the war OF coercion and
subjugation against the seven, then
seeded. Confederate States.
There was a vain attempt to Justify
the wor thus begun by attempting to
make distinction between q state
and the individual citizens of the
State While 1t was conceded that the
Federal government had no power to
coerce a seeded state by war VI
otherwise. 1T was ndroitly contended
that II could proceed against the cit
izens who composed state, even to
the extremity of waging war upon
them TO compel their obedience To The
laws of the Federal government
How these able and clear headed
men could distinguish between n state
and the people who constituted the
State. and how they could fail TO see
the refinement of the sophistry IN the
proposition that war upon the people
of State which had withdrawn from
the Union to compel them to resume
their allegiance to that Union and to
obey Its laws, was not, necessarily, q
war OF coercion against such State. Il
is dimcult to conjecture upon any
theory consistent with their sanity and
sincerity. How could a State be
coerced except by coercing the people
who constituted the state?
But the mighty Alternative OF war
against, or peace with. the new Con-
federacy OF seven seeded States was
presented TO Mr.. Lincoln. and he de-
cided for war. The responsibility was
his, and he assumed It with the ire
mendous consequences OF destruction,
hioodshed and revolution which en-
sued.
1t Is true that the FIRST shot In the
war was unfortunately fred by tho
troops of South Carolina and the CON
fcderate States: but that was In re-
Spouse To the fla grant act of hostility
committed by the government Mt
Washington in sending reinforcement
OF men and war supplies to the gar
rison of Fort Sumter, whose guns worn
already turned upon the homes OF the
people of Charleston. That such at
tempted reinforcement would be an
act of war was the conclusion of i've
out of the seven members OF MIR Lin
coins Cabinet. who for that reason
advised against it,
Mr.. Seward expr=sse1 his views In
the following convincing terms
IF 1t Were possible 10 peaccably
provision Fort Sumter. of course. I
should answer that 1t would he both
unwise and inhuman not 10 attempt H.
But the facts OF the case are known
to be that the attempt must be made
with the employment of military and
marine force, which would provoke
combat and probably initiate civil
war. which the government Of the
United States would he committed to
maintain. through all changes, to some
definite conclusion.
suppose the expedition successful;
we have then garrison In Fort sum
ter that can defy assault FOR six
months. What is it to do then? is il
to make war by opening its batteries
to demoiish the defenses of the Caro-
linians? Can It demoliah them # 1t
tries? If 1t cannot. what is the adj
vantage we shall have gained? If It
can. how Will It serve TO check or
prevent disunion? In either case IL
seems to me that we Will have in.
augurated a civil war by our own act
without an adequate object, after
which reunion viii nc hopeless. nj least
under this administration or In any
other way than b. ? popular dislvownI
both OF the wat and OF tho adminIs-
tration which unnecessarily com
menced 1t. Fraternity is tho clement
OF union; war the very element OF dis
union. "--"Virginin's Attitude Toward
Secession and slavery" PIP. 2s6-6.
Secretaries Welles Cameron. Smith,
and Attorney General Bates were
equally emphatic.
The War OF Coercion II Mistake, Even
From the Standpoint of MIR. Lin
coin Ilia Party, ana of the
Northern suites.
1t is fairly deducihlc from the his
tory of that unhappy conflict. and the
consequences which flowed from it,
that IL would have been wiser and.
upon tho whole. far better for the
whole country--better for the loyal
North" az well ms for the loyal
South" embracing the border States
and North Carolina and Tennessee--if
Mr. Lincoln had chosen The alternative
of peace and refused to inaugurate
civil war by sending n hostile feet
with supplies of munitions of war and
provisions and men to strengthen he
garrison of Fort Sumter. in Charles
ton harbor. and make its guns