NEWS OF 150 YEARS AGO
May 1861
From The Missouri Democrat, Tuesday, May 14, 1861.
“Invading Southern Soil.”
We hear a great amount of clamorous indignation from the Southern press and people about the troops in the service of the general government being about to “invade Southern soil.” This is all idle gammon. The forces of the general government cannot “invade” a State. They have a perfect right to go and come everywhere on every foot of soil covered by the jurisdiction of the Federal Union. The general government is not an alien or an intruder as to the States. Its sway extends over them all alike, and its laws, officers and armies are at home everywhere throughout the common domain. If it were not so, there would be no nation and no national government.
It is just as absurd to talk of the government troops “invading the South,” as to talk of British troops “invading” Liverpool, or the militia of the State of Missouri “invading” St. Louis county. This stupid idea of the just and lawful government of the country committing and “invasion” whenever it sets on foot a movement to execute its laws, could have its birth nowhere but in the maggoty and seditions brain of a secessionist.
