. . . 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.