Year: 1861

Federal Government, there has never
been more important or alarming
crisis in our national affairs than the
one now agitating the public mind,
and threatening the dismemberment OF
our hitherto peaceful and happy Uni
on For the first time in our national
history, we are called upon TO con
template the painful spectacle Of a
State, irnpelled by selfish and unpatri-
otic motives, voluntarily seyering her
connection with her sister states, and
preparing by force of arms TO resist
the authority ofthat government which
ste helped to frame, and whose laws
she is still bound by every obligation
Of duty and right, to respect and
obey. In an emergency like the pres
emf, when every eye is watching with
eager and intense interest the dark
clouds Of civil dissension, discord and
war, that are now gathering, cminous
and forboding in the Southern sky,
there is one sentiment that should and
does command the approval of all pat
riotic citizens of all parties and sec
tione, and that is, that our National
Union mast be preserved, and the su-
premacy of our national laws main
tanned. For fthe precedent Of peace
able secession be once established, it
requires no prophet to fortell for our
country a destiny too deplorable even
to contemplate. Hence it is unmis-
takeably the duty of those charged
with the administration of the gov
ernment, to use such measures as will
efectually quell this incipient rebel
lion, (for it is virtually nothing else)
and induce the refractory State to
discharge faithfully all the obligations
and duties imposed upon her as a
constituent member of the Union, and
one in the sisterhood of states. There
can be no question as to the right of
the President to use coercion, if neces-
sary, to secure this result. Indeed he
cannot do otherwise without violating
that constitution which he has sworn
to maintain; and we are pleased to
hear that our Executive is at last
awaking to sense of his duties in
this direction, and if he but now dis
charges faithfully, firmly and fearlessly
the weighty obligations resting upon
him, and uses the power and influence
of his high position in a proper and
Legitimate manner, we doubt not the
threatened danger may yet be averted,
the Union still maintained, and the
peace and happiness of the country
secured.


Bnt to bring about this result, it is
highly necessary that wise and judi
eious counseis should prevail in the
halls of Congress. If our Represen-
tatives there would act with a wise re-
gard for the good of the country, and
the wishes of their constituents, and
not yield themselves to the dangerous
influence of passion and predjudice,
but in calm and conciliatory spirit,
listen to such propositions for the ad-
justment of the existing difficulties as
the exigencies Of the case demands
and then act upon them under the
higher impulses of patriotism and
right, rather than upon party procliv-
ities and personal whims, the dreadful
alternative of internecine war might
be avoided, and fraternal feeling re-
stored.


But the agitation has been allowed
to,continue, and Sonth Carolina has
maintained her attitude of defiance to
the general government, until now
the quarrel seems about to culminate
in conflict between the Federal and
State forces. IF such a collision
shonld unhappily occur, it is evident
that South Carolina cannot long sus-
tain her present position, unless aided
by her sister states of the South, or
by some foreign power. If this hy-
pothesis should prove correct, there is
no telling what dreadful consequences
might ensue. But the majority of the
Southern States are still loyal to the
Union, and will not follow South Car
ofina in her mad attempt to break it
up, and it is hardly probable that any
foreign power will interfere in the mat
ter. South Carolina then left to her.
self will soon have to succumb to Fed
eral authority, and her insane attempt
to set up for herself as an independent
sovereignty, will only result in her dis
grace and humiliation.


But whatever may be the issue of
the present war-like demons srations at
the South, it will be earnestly hoped
by all good citizens that this strife may
soon cease, and that our country may
be spared the disgrace and misery that
would inevitably result from civil
war, wherein brethren who have long
toiled together in the arts of peace,
and stood shoulder to shoulder in bat
ting for our country's rights against
. foreign foe, would be called upon to
imbrue their hands in fraternal blood.