. . . Meantime, with wisdom and
courage at the helm, we can easily avoid altogether the worst forms of war.
Unless the South is absolutely bent on its own destruction, there need be
nothing more than chance and scattered collisions among the people,—nothing
like any general mustering of legions and devastating marches of troops over
the soil of sister States. Whatever of war there is, may easily be made a war
at sea,—a war of blockades,—a war having for its sole object the protection of
American property and the preservation of American commerce. Let things stand
precisely as they stand to-day,—and within six months there would be a
readiness on both sides to come to some adjustment of all differences, which
should be honorable to both, as well as advantageous for the country, and which
neither section would ever care to disturb.
The paramount duty of the present day,
therefore, in our judgment, is to SUSTAIN THE GOVERNMENT,—to maintain the
supremacy of the Constitution and the authority of the law,—not necessarily by
blind and reckless force, but by such wise coercion as shall restrain the South
from positive aggressions, and repress violence, where it cannot be prevented,
with the least possible shock to the moral sentiment of the offering communities.
If we can do this steadily and calmly, the Compromises we need will come
precisely when they are needed most. Either the South will be ready to accept
what the North can grant,—or the North will be disposed to grant what the South
may require. (“Compromises for the Critics,” The New York Times
[January 10, 1861]: 4)
Further
Reading: