Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-08-09

From the National lnteilReheef'l
A RETROSPECT.
In the hurry and rush OF the momentous
events that for the last seven or eight months
have engaged the public attention., there is
constant danger that the foas ct origo OF the
cnlAmities which now aillict thewhole coun-
try may be left out of view, especially as there
are many who assiduously labor TO keep their
causes from sight by concentrating the
thoughts Of the people upon some of the later
developments of the great drama now enact
ing before our eyes. 1t is only, however, by |
carefully marking the sequence of events, from
their beginnings to the present time, that we |
can rightly discern the secret springs in which
they have had their rise, the motive power by
which they have been impelled, and the re-
suits to which they have been conducted by
| their authors And, moreover, it is only by
rcmounting to the fountains from which the
bitter waters of strife have spread over the
land that we can detect the presence of the
hands by which their sources were first IN
! sealed
II may be within the recollection Of our
readers that in the lnteligenccr Of the nth of
january last we published n report of the
| proceedings of " Disunion Caucus" held IN
this city by the Secession Senators from the
States of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Missis-
sippi Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas. This
report was communicated to us by dstin-
guished Southern gentleman, an ex-member OF
Congress- whom we knew to have derived his
information from the most undoubted sour
ccs, and who, in publishing the subjoinea
communication, authorized us to state, as we
did. thnt he held himself responsible, either to
tic public or the parties implicated, Ito any
one among the latter Of whom lie also author
lied us to give his name,) ior the accuracy oil
his statements and the justice Of his inenipa-
tons The communication contained the fol-
lowing announcement OF the steps proposed to
he taken in precipitating and conducting the
disunion movement:
"WAsnNGroS, January ., 1861.
81 charge that on last Saturday nighta eau
cns was held in this city by the Southern ST.
ccssion Senators from Florida, Georgia, Ala
; bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and
Texas.
at was then and there resolved, in effect, TO
assume to themselves the political power OF
The South, and, to control all political and
military operations for the present, they tele-
graphed to complete the plan OF seizing forts
nrsenals, and custom-houses, and advised the
State Conventions now in session, and soon to
assemble to pass ordinances for immediate Sc
crssion hut in order to thwart any opera
tions OF the Government here, the COnven-
tions of the Seeding States are to retain their
representations in the Senate and the House,
; assembling of Convention of Delegates from
= the Seeding States at Montgomery ON the 18th
q of February This can OF course only be done
, by the revolutionary Conventions usurping the
powers OF the people and sending delegates
over whom they will lose all control in the
4 establishment of Provisional Government,
which is the plan of the dictators.
, "rhis caueus also resolved to take the most
y eilrctual means to Dragon the Legislature OF
= Tennessee, Kentucky Missouri Arkansas,
o Texas, and Virginia, into following the seced-
d ed States Maryland is also to be influenced
4 by such appeals to popular passion as have
u led to the revolutionary steps which promise
N 4 conflict with the State and Federal Govern
Is ments in Texas.
,s "rhey have possessed themselves of all the
!. avenues of information in the South-the tele-
It graph, the press, and the general control OF
Vt the postmasters. They also confidently rely
20 upon deectiOns in the army and navy
In giving n place to these allegations we
said At the time that " nothing but assurances
+ coming from such an intelligent, reliable
it source, could induce us TO accept the authen-
'e ITCHY of startling statements so deeply con-
IN corning not only the welfare but the honor ol
-, the Southern people,
II The subsequent progress Of events since
that date has served to show how accurate
ar was the intelligence OF our informant and
i, how deliberate was the inception OF the plot
aHA INT sNH
az devised in this ely against tne iniegrl.y Vi .e
tmon ana the stupll'ty o' lne oNe.,,nem.
u Tor all Tue events Whlch nav harAeu tne pLoI
IN gress oil inc ulsuhioh tonsplI"vy s'n ' sn"
no time nave peen out the lulnilen. " l,e pro,
a. gramme prescribed oy 'his oen"toria, t"'a,,
a orlei fe ,.! 81 lew sa im Pu,n's ~ ou
recent political history WIN ses lnls N.Y. IN
he clear light. FoF 1t cannot nc uehleg 'na' tn'
is leaders OF the dlsnhlon movement eG essun',
ir TO- themselves the Oh inc south
" They dh control "all poluca' anu military
rs operations Forts' arsehalsi anu custom
houses ""e sel1eu IN ooeulehec 10 'e,vsr"pn'
lc orders sent rom ihls Guy; n'''le oohNuh
tons dd pass ordinances OF immaculate ah'
separate secession a convention OF deic
gates from the seeding states 'dS helu 4"
l., Montgomery in pursuance OF the plan eAposet
" by our correspondent, and these delegates
" perr arbitrarily appointed by the several Stat
MS Conventions whose members had been elected
Sc with no reference whatever to any such ulte.
to rior junction. The Legislatures and people o
es Tennessee Kentucky. Missouri, Arkansas Tex.
RS u.s. Virginia. and MARYLAND ,perc "dragooned'
IL by Hmeans' which, in the cases OF four among
er lhcse 'olAtesi WoNVu ohi9 W"