The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-11-16

lsion with our European power, repairs OF fort
Moultrie have been begun, which required part
Of the walls ON the land side to be torn down,
and the guns on that side to be dismounted, 30
that there is no obstacle to prevent moo RON
entering the fort In halfa dozen different
places.
of arms ani large quantities OF ammunition In
the Arsenal in the city Of Charleston, without
any guard whatever over them-an open inyi-
tation TO the disaiIected to help themselves.
We submit these facts, which are susceptible
OF confirmation from other sources, with the
single remark that the President must take the
chief responsibility ofwhateyer occurs at Char
lesion in conflict with the federal authority
Having taken no means to defend the property
of the general government, and having placed
arms and ammunition to q large amount In the
hands ofwhat Is VIGOROUSLY an insurgent popu-
lation, without guard or protection Of any
kind he has exposed himself to the just suspicion
OF inviting treason in others, II not projecting
treason himself
In an article published the next day the
Post gives some additional facts going to
strengthen its presumption Of the Presidents
completely with these traitors and shows that the
defences Of Charleston Harbor have been pur-
pOsely neglected as it supposes to give aid
and comfort TO the secessionists.
Contrasting the course OF Mr. Buchanan with
that adopted by our Presidents heretofore
when il recalls the facts when the nulli-
fers. during the administration OF Gener-
al Jackson, threatened separation oil
South Carolina from the Union, and claimed
the right to make Charleston a free port, in
which the federal government should collec,
no duties, the President sent down General
Scott to the forts with q thousand men. A
vessel laden with sugar from the west Indies,
chartered by Governor Hamilton, who told the
people in speech that he twas sure that they
were ready to go to the death for his sugar"
was entering the harbor with the design ofpaSs-
ing Fort Moultrie and paying no duties. A
gun fred from the fort across her bows con-
WINGED the owners ofthe cargo Of their mistake;
she was brought to; she paid the duties re-
quired by the revenue laws, and there was the
end Of notification.
In 1852, or the year previous, when Senator
Rhett had dropped some threats Of stormins
the forts in Charleston harbor. and Colonel
Erying, then commanding at Forte Moultre,
had excluded from its walls the militia who
came down to hear the annual Grafton on the
anniversary Of the evacuation Of the fort by
the British troops, and the sentinels were
reyiled and insulted at their post, Mr.. Fillmore
privately withdrew the military stores from
the arsenal in the city, and filed the forts with
troops. The Governor Of South Carolina de-
mandei an explanation of these proceedings
"Sir." replied Fillmore, ",he President Of the
United States is not responsible for his conduct
to the Governor Of South Carolina. The
Post closes its article thus:
"what the motive Of Mr.. Buchanan Is in
thus negle,ting one Of the plainest duties OF his
otfce-whether he spitefully intends to leave
the affairs Of the country, on retiring from
Office, in the most entangled state to which his
mismanagement can bring them, or whether
he really means TO favor and promote disunion,
or whether he is eonspiring with the party OF
secession in an attempt to extOrt some conees-
sion 10 the slave interests from the tears Of the
majority, are questions which We may discuss
NJ time when We have more leisure. On either
suppOstion his conduct is equally criminal.
The trae principle Of a free government, the
principle which all citizens should strictly en-
force, or there can be neither liberty nor order,
is Land down by Thomas Jefferson in his first
Inaugural Address in these words
"The preservation Of the general government
in its whole constitutional yigor as the sheet
anchor OF our peace at home and safety abroad;
Jealous care OF the right Of election by the peo-
plea mild and safe corrective ofabuses which
are Topped by the sword of revolution where
peacea6le remedies are unproyided, and abso-
lutte acquiescencein the decision Of the majority
the vital principle Of republics, from which
there is no appeal but TO force, the vital prin-
ciple and immediate parent of despotism."
absolute acquiescenee in the decision Of the
majority peaceful submission to the will
Of the people, when declared in the manner
pointed out in the Constitution, is the only con-
ditiOn on which free country can avoid lapsinS
into despOtism. That acquiescence IL is the
duty of the Chief Magistrate to require and
enforce by the most stringent and ettectual
means which the constitution allows. The cir
eumstances which we have recapitulated show
that Mr.. Buchanan has criminally violated one
ofthe highest obligations imposed upon him
by his Office.