--The "New York Tribune,"
Albany "Argus," and "New York Herald."--Great Public Meeting in
New York.--Speeches of Mr. Thayer, ex-Governor Seymour,
ex-Chancellor Walworth, and Others.--The Press in February,
1861.--Mr. Lincoln's Inaugural.--The Marvelous Change or
Suppression of Conservative Sentiment.--Historic Precedents.
It is a great mistake, or misstatement of fact, to assume that, at the
period under consideration, the Southern States stood alone in the
assertion of the principles which have been laid down in this work, with
regard to the right of secession and the wrong of coercion. Down to the
formation of the Confederate Government, the one was distinctly
admitted, the other still more distinctly disavowed and repudiated, by
many of the leaders of public opinion in the North of both
parties--indeed, any purpose of direct coercion was disclaimed by nearly
all. If presented at all, it was in the delusive and ambiguous guise of
"the execution of the laws" and "protection of the public property."
The "New York Tribune"--the leading organ of the party which triumphed
in the election of 1860--had said, soon after the result of that
election was ascertained, with reference to secession: "We hold, with
Jefferson, to the inalienable right of communities to alter or abolish
forms of government that have become oppressive or injurious; and, if
the cotton States shall decide that they can do better out of the Union
than in it, we insist on letting them go in peace.
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