Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-01-16


ths, there is no other alternative.
Time is u great conservative power
Let us pause Mt this momentous moment,
and afford the people of both the North
and South an opportunity Tor reflection. (
Would that South Carolina had been con-
yinced of This truth before her preclpita-
ted action therefore appeal, through ,
you, to the people of the country, to pro- J
claim in their might that tho ''USIoN |
MUST AND SHALL DE PRESERVED by all con
stitutional means.
most earnestly recommend that you
devote yourselves exclusively to the ques'
ton how this can be accomplished in
peace. All other questions, when com |
pared with this, sink into insigniticance'
The present is no time for palliation. Ac-
ton, prompt action, is required. delay
in Congress to prescribe and recommend
distinct ana practical proposition for
concilliation, may drive us to a point
rom which it will be almost impossible
to recede. a common ground on which
conciIiation and harmony may be pro
duced is surely not unattalnabe.
The proposition 10 compromise by let
ting the North have exclusive control of
the territory above certain Inc, ought
to receive universal appreciation. In it.
SELF indeed, it may not be entirely salts
factory but when the alternative is be-
tween reasonable concession on both
sides, and the destruction OF the Union, IL
is an imputation on the patriotism of
Congress to assert that its members will
hesitate for moment. r...... ...
Even now the danger is upon us. In
several States which have not snceded
the forts arsenals, and magazines have
been seized. This is by far the most Sc
rious step which has been taken since
the commencement of the troubles
This public rorerty has long teen
/ left without garrisons and troops for
its protection, because no person doubted
its security under the flag of the country
in all the States OF the Union. Be sides
our small army has scarcely been sufficient
to guard our remote frontiers against In
dian incursions. The seizure Of this Prop
erty from al! appearances, has been pure
ly aggressive. and not in resistance to any
! attempt to coerce State or States 10 re
! main in the Union.
At the beginning of these unhappy
! troubles, ! determined that no act OF
either section OF the country. If the pos
liticsl conflict were to end in civil war, it
was my determination not to commence it,
nor even TO furnish an excuse for it by
any act Of this Government. My opinion
remains unchanged, that justice as well
as sound policy requires us still 10 seek a
peaceful solution OF the questions at issue
between the North and the South. En-
| tertaining this conviction, | refrained
even from sending reinforcemcnts 10 Ma.
! ior Anderson. who commanded the forts
IN Charleston harbor, until an absolute
necessity Tor doing so should make itself
apparent, least it might unjustly be re
garded rs menace OF military coercion
and thus furnish, if not provocation, at
least q pretext for an outbreak on the
part of South Carolpa. No necessity
for these reinforcementS seemed to exist,
| was assured by distinguished and up,
fright gentlemen OF South Carolina that
attack on Major Anderson was intend,
ed, but that on the contrary it was the
desire of the State authorities, as much
as ii was my own, to avoid the fatal con>
sequences which must inevitably follow O
collision. And here deem it proper tt
submit for your interruption copies Of 8
communication dated tho 2Sth Of Decem.
ber, 1860. addressed to Inc by Il. w
Baruwell j, II. Adams and James l..
Orr, Cum missioners from South Carolina
with accompanying documents, ard cop
les Of my answer thereto, dated the 3lst o
Decemrer.
IN further expiration Of Major Ander
sons removal from Fort Moultrie 70 For
; Su,npter, it is proper to state that after
my answer TO the South Carolina Commits
sioners, tho War Department received {
letter from that gallont officer, dated OF
the 9th Of December, 1860, (the day aftc,
this moyement,) from which the following
is an extract:
81 will add as my opinion, that many
things convinced me that the Nuthoritie
Of the State designed to proceed to II hos.
tile act Evidently referring to the or
dera dated December lltb, of the late
Secretary OF War. Under this impress
sion could not hesitate that it was my
solemn dUty to move my command from
a fort which we could 2ot possibly have
held longer than forty eight or sixt,
hours, to this one, where my force is in
creased in a very great degree"
Il 1t will be recollected that the conlud
ing part of these orders were in the fol
lowing tor2is; The smallness of YOU
forco will rot permit you, perhaps g, to oc
zupy moro than one of the three forts
but an attack on, or an attempt to TAX
possession of either of them, will be re
garded as an act of hostility, aud yo,
, may then put your command into either
of them which you deem most proper {,
increase its power of resistance. You ar
also authrized to take similar defeusiv
.. steps whenever you have tangible evi
! dence ola design to proceed to hostil
: act"
{ 1t is said that serious apprehension
are TO some extent entertained that tn
! peace of this District may be csturbe
/ before Mach next. In any event it wi
be my duty to prevent it, and this dut
p shall be performed.
. In conclusion, it may be permitted I
. mo 20 remark. that have often warne