Newark (OH) Advocate, “The Threats and Pressure Under which the President Acts,” July 12, 1861

The Threats and Pressure Under which the President Acts

A few days before Congress met, the N. Y. Tribune, referring to a letter from its Washington correspondent, seized on one of its statements as an excuse for threatening the President and his Cabinet as follows:

“But the most startling point of our correspondent’s letter is the statement that no vigorous military movement is intended by the Administration, or, to speak more exactly, the Cabinet. The war is to be dragged along until the people, weary of armies without action, and taxes without triumphs, can be brought to consent to some compromise like that of Mr. Crittenden. If this purpose, or anything approaching it, is really entertained by the Cabinet, or by any members of it, we warn those gentlemen that THEY CANNOT REMAIN MUCH LONGER IN THE SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES. Indeed they might as well begin to pack their trunks now.”

--- The plain meaning of the above is that Greeley and his fanatical followers will forcibly overthrow the constitutionally chosen officers at the head of the government unless their action is such as suits them. If threats like these were made by democrats, the tory Tribune and its followers would insist upon their being hung without trial.