Coercion.
The revelations of the Springfield
Republican of the intention of the
President elect to compel a seceding State, by force of arms, to remain in the
Union, or in other words to involve the country in civil war, as soon as he seizes the reins of power, can surprise no one who understands the principles and has observed the course of the party which he represents, during the present troubles.
The ominous silence of
Mr. Lincoln during the whole of the storm which has brought such disaster and distress upon the land, is itself more expressive than words.
There cannot be the shadow of a doubt that, within one hour after his inauguration, telegraphic dispatches will be sent to all the military and naval stations in the
North for troops and ships of war to be set in motion, with the utmost dispatch.
In the event of a universal secession of the
Southern States, it is not at all unlikely that volunteer companies of Wide-Awakes will be sent to garrison
Old Point Comfort, which, being still in the hands of the
Government, can be easily occupied and defended by undisciplined troops, whilst the whole disposable regular force and the Navy will be brought to bear upon the forts in
Charleston harbor, either to reinforce and strengthen them, if still in the hands of the
United States, or to recapture them if taken by the Carolinians.
We have no expectation that the
U. States will attempt to send troops through
Virginia and other Southern States, to attack
South Carolina.
When such a possibility was suggested in the Nullification era, ocean steam transportation had not been inaugurated.
Now, an army, when it is raised, can be conveyed to
Charleston in a few days, whereas, to march the same number of troops, with all the munitions of war, through
Virginia and
North Carolina, would take
some time. It is not at all likely that the various railroad companies would extend them the usual facilities of travel, or that if they did, the cars that carried such a load would find the track clear and unobstructed.
In fine, the pilgrimage of Israel, through the desert was a short trip and a jolly time, compared to the tribulations of a Wide Awake march through
Virginia and
North Carolina.
These two old States are not deficient in hospitality, and, on such an occasion, every man, woman and child in both, would give them a reception the warmth of which they have no idea of, and vie with each other in doing the honors of the occasion.
Whatever differences of opinion exist in the
Southern States as to the right of Secession, and whether it be true or not that the interests of the border and cotton States are not identical, there is but one opinion about coercion.
They are all members of one family, and, even if they were destitute of the natural feelings of brotherhood, have too much sagacity to permit themselves to be cut up by a common enemy in detail.
The Union has no warmer friends than in
Virginia, but it is a Government of opinion, not of force, of mutual affection, not of the sword, which they support.
The measure of Coercion will only consolidate the whole
South as one man, whilst, on the other hand, it will not unite the
North, but divide it, and, in all probability, rally to the
Southern side multitudes of brave and patriotic men in the free States.
In any event, the
Champion of Force need not expect to find the blood of
Yorktown extinct in
Virginia, nor have the hunters of
Kentucky,
Tennessee and
Louisiana, who made New Orleans memorable in the late war, left behind them degenerate successors.
If a few raw militia men, having only a temporary earthwork defence, could drive back and annihilate the choicest soldiers and conquerors of
Europe, we apprehend that the
Wide Awake levies of
Lincoln need not expect an easy victory.
Moreover, it is evident, if Coercion is to be employed against Secession, it is becoming every day more probable that the new
President will have a wider theatre for the exercise of his bloody tyranny than the
South.
We have already noticed that several leading New York journals boldly urge, in the event of Disunion, the secession of that city from the
State, and the establishment of New York as a free port.
In his late masterly sermon in
Brooklyn,
Dr. Van Dyck alluded eloquently to the same possibility.
A movement is now openly on foot in that city, at the head of which is
Col. Kerrigan, a member elect of Congress, to raise a force of ten thousand men for the purpose of defending New York against the
Black Republican tyranny, spoliation and plunder under which she has so long suffered.
That city is essentially American, always has been, always will be, the Greeleys, Raymonds,
Beechers & Co being all
New England squatters, who have come there to make money, and a miserable minority at that.
They are in New York, but not of it, and will not be permitted to influence her policy.
When she rises in her strength, she will shake them off as the lion shakes the dew drop from his mane.
Will "Old Abe" coerce New York!
Instead of talking about coercing States to the fulfillment of national engagements, the
Northwest would better fulfill its private engagements, pay its honest debts, repeal its own nullifying statutes, and, when it has done all this, it can talk about force with a little more consistency and decency.
