Year: 1861

rogatlon pro2ounded by him in relation 10
the present stale of the country. MIR. Tyler
takes thorouglv practical view OF existing
troubles, and in his usual clear and able
maCner, sets forlh in stating his own posi-
ton OF every true citizen OF Pennsylvania.
We call upon all OF our readers 10 give it an
attentive perusal:


PHILADELPHIA, January 5, 1861.


To JAMES GIBBONS, Esq.-My dear sir :-I
will endeavor 10 answer your friendly let
ter or the points indicated, as briefly aud
distinctly as possible.


You are quite correct in supposine that
earnestly deprecate a sentiment OF hostility
TO the Union, i! entertained and expressed
in wanton spirit OF desirnctiveness or in
pruden. desire Tor mere change of political
condition. But should the Government of
the Union ever be perverted into an instru-
ment OF oppression ard insult 10 The people
OF Pennsy sylvania, ] should denounce it and
oppose il with the most unrelenting enmiiy.
/ am now attached to the Union, because
so far from having attacked our rights in
this Slate or injured our property. has great
promoted our interests and happiness
Should it be permanently disorganized in
such manner as 10 render reconstruction
impossible | should consider such an event
as the most lamentable tragedy The human
race has ever witnessed since The world
was created


AS regards the second point of your en-
quiry, ] am aware that it requires some
courage TO meet unpopnlarity, under exist
ing circumstances. of an explicit declara-
tion in favor of the doctrine o. The right of
State or States pcaceably to withdraw from
the Uhion for cause or causes Of which The
people OF such State or States are ard of
necessity must be The sole judges. might
enter here into an elaborate exposition of
the political principles involved in this
proposition. But il would be both puerie
and Improbable TO waste time in arguing
question of Constitutional construction,
when we are already in the presence OF the
stern realty OF a great, intisputable Fact,
that no longer waits upon such discussion.
Revolution is upon Us, and unless il be inn
medialely arrested II must be consummated
by reaching, inevitably, one OF two results.
Should the Revolution not be arrested the
only question left US TO consider is what
direction shall il take 2 Shall the result be
in favor of Liberty, or in favor of Power T.
Shall the Revolution be accomplished in
Peace, or shall il be strained with the fra
tricidal blood of civil conflict ln other
words, is it best that the States be permit
ted, really or virtually, 10 separate without
force or the invocation of murderous pas.
slons, and TO fall back into the positions
they occupied before the Constitution was
established, or shall the Revolution be used
as an instrument TO blot out the State SOW
ereignties, wherein are 10 be found the
original sources of The liberties Of our cili.
zens, and 10 establish military potism m
in the interest oil Centralized aud Imperial
authority


For one, infinitely prefer the first TO the
last. can refer you to a striking precedent
to sustain the patriotism and good sense of
such view of The subject on The mere
ground of expediency. Our ancestors fought
The war OF Independence with England
under the articles OF confede ration. But
Immediately after the treaty of peace, many
of the Safes expressed Dissatisfaction with
the Government, and declared themselves
unwilling TO remain longer IN the conieder-
acy. They did not go 10 war with each
other, nor did the Continental Congress
threaten them with the sword, out they
wisely agreed TO separate without blood.
shed, and The consequence was that steps
were soon taken Cat the particular instance
of Vlrginia) for a Reconstruction OF the
Government, which led 10 the formation ot
the present Union, in which we have so
wonderfully prospered for three quarters OF
a century. Is il not possible, or even prob
able, that similar result might again be
produced under similar circumstances 3
But whether there would be re-conslruc-
ton of the Government or not, in the event
of peaceable dissolution of our system,
'it is impossible for mortal man to con-
be that of the present Union when revou-
tionized under the lead of a political party
into military Dictatorship of despolisn, in
which, with tine certainty OF mathematical
calculation, the independence OF each State
and tie priceless freedom of every citizen
is now protected by the Constitution and
the laws, would tie overwhelmed and sub
orJinaled by the combined force and cor
ruptious of armed and consolidated power" !"


thus designedly present the question as
purely PRACTICAL one. We must all SOON
er or later take one side or the other OF this
issue Now | am clearly OF opinion thai
one battle field between the bellIgeTenl
and the secediug STA es, would render The
re construction OF the Government impo,si-