Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-05-11

Runuent dBdinS' tuc IlSHt Vi seceSslOn. lie
also indicated his purpose to collect the
revenue and defend the forts in South
Carolina. In special message to Con-
gress on the sth of January he declared
Il use the language of the Message.) "The
right and duty to use military force defen-
sively against those who resist the Federal
officers IN the execution of their legal
functions and against those who assal the
property of the Federal Government, is
clear and undeniable. (Cries of Good
for him!" and loud cheoring) The au-
thorities of South Carolina were repeatedly
waraed THAT if they assailed Fort Sumpter
it would be the commencement of civil
war, and they would be responsible for the
consequences Cheers The last and most
emphatic of these warnings is contained in
the admirable answer of Mr. Holt. Secreta-
ry of War, TO Mr.. Hayne, the Commits
! sioncr from South Carolina, on the OH of
February. 1t is these words: eff, with
all the multiplied proofs which exist of the
Presidents anxiety for peace, and of the
earnestness which he has pursued it the au-
thorities of that State shall assault Fort
Sumpter and peril the lives of the handful
of brave any loyal men shut up within its
walls, and thus plunge our country into the
horrors of civil war, then upon them and
those they represent must rest the respon.
sibility." Enthusiastic applause, and wa
wing of hats.) l believe the letter from
which have read this extract has never
been published, for I as member of tho
Administration at the time it was written
have right to say that it had the cordial
approval of the late President and all
his. constitutional advisers (Cheer for
General Dix) And this brings me to the
point wish to make. 1violate 10 conf
dcnce in making it. 1t is this: If South
Carolina had rendered way to the late Ad-:
ministratior as she has toS Sthis-I mean by
hostile and deadly assault-it would
have been unanimously accepted. pro
longsd cheering) I repeat, then, that
i this Administration has done no more than
: its duty. Nay, / believe that self.preser.
u vation rendered necessary what it has DONE
> L have no doubt that the Confederate lead
=, > ers at Montgomery have entertained, and
- still entertain the design Of marching upon
Washington to over throw the Government
taking its place and presenting itself to the
:, nations Of the world as the true represen-
tative Of the people Ct the United States.
(Cries Of "Never, never they can't do it.)
q Against this usurpation and fraud, if il
; shall be attempted, l trust we shall contend
:, with all the strength God has given U.S.
~ Cries of eve WHY ana for supporting
IL the Government. do not ask who ad-
= ministers it. It is the Government of my
: country, and as such shall give it in this
IL extremity all the support in my power
- rega:d tbe pending contest with the Sc
ccssionists as death.struggle for consti
VI tutional liberty and lava contest which
y if successful on their part, could only enc
= in the establishment of despotic govern
III ment, and blot out, wherever they were il
IL the ascendant, every vestge of nations
Se freedom. You know, fellow citizens, tina
- l have always been in favor Of adjustin
% controversies between the States by con
III ciiation, by compromise, by mutual con
=. ccssion--in word, in the spirit in whicl
: : the Constitution was formed. Wheneye
|" the times shall be propitious for calm con
>. IL sultaton, they will find me so still. Blu
''' until then, let us remember that nothin
~ could be so disastrous, so humliating an
oi so disreputable to us all as to see the con
w .oo mon Government overthroya, or its legiti
w mate authority successfully resisted. L,
eo US, then, rally, with one heart, to its SUP
port. believe it will act with all Il
wv moderation and forbearanee consistent wi
oH the preservation of the great interests col
o'' tided to it. There is no choice left but
J0' acquiesce in its surrender to revolutionar
''- leaders, or to give it the means it nee
in' for defence, or selfpreservation, and f
Tue the assertion of its authority, holding it r
ISL sponsible for theip legitimate use. FeIlc
citizens, we stand before the statute Of Il
the Father of his Country, The Fag of t
the Union, which floats over it, hung abo
ill, him when he presided over the Conventic
by which the Constitution was framed.
0"' The great work of his life has been reje
up ed, and the banner by which his labc
we're consecrated has been trampled in t
. dust. If the inanimate bronze in viii
W. VI the sculptor has shaped his image could
the changed to the living form which led