Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-08-10

tall OF Sumpter--an event long anticipated
as by the notion that "ipsurrection," as
it was called, might be crushed out in
few weeks, if not by the display, certainly
at least, By the presence of an overwhelm-
ing force.
These, sir, were the chief causes which,
along with others, led to a change in the
policy of the Administration, and instead
ofpcace, forced us headlong into civil war,
with all its accumulated horrors.
| But whatever may have been the causes
or the motives of the act, it is certain that
there was change in the policy which
the Administration meant to adopt, or
which at least they led the country to be-
licve they intended to pursue. 1 will not
venture now to assert, what may yet some
day be made to appear, that the subse-
quent acts Of the Administration, and its
enormous and persistent infractions of the
Constitution, its high-handed usurpations
ofpower, formed any part of a deliberate
conspiracy to overthrow the present form
of Federal republican government, and to
establish strong centralized Government
in its stead. No, sir; whatever their pur-
poses are now, rather think, that in the
beginning, they rushed heedlessly into the
gulf, believing that, the seat of war was
then far distant and difficulties of access,
the display of vigor in reinforcing Sumpter
and Pickens, and in calling out seventy
five thousand militia upon the firing of the
first gun, and above all, int hat exceeding
ly happy and origional conceit of COM
manding the insurgent States to "disperse
in twenty days." would not, on tho one
hand precipitatc crisis, while, upon the
other, it would satisfy its own violent par
tizans, and thus revive and restore the fall
ing fortunes of the Republican party.
1 can hardly conceive sir, that the
: President and his advisers could be guilty
of the exceeding folly of expecting 10 car
, ry on general civil war by mere posse
comitatus of three months militia. 1t may
, be, indeed, that, with wicked and most
q desperate cunning, the President meant
S all this as mere entring wedge to that
t which was to rive the oak asunder or pos
e sibly as test, to learn the public senti-
: ment of the North aud West. But howev-
/. er that may be, the rapid secession and
s movement of Virginia, North Carolina,
It Arkansas and Tennessee, taking with them
: as have said elsewhere, four millions and
f half of people, immense wealth mex
c haustible resources, five hundred thousand
e fighting men, and the graves Of Washing-
r ton and Jackson, and bringing up too, in
s one single day, the frontier from the Gulf
: to the Ohio and the Potomac, together
: with the abandonment by one side, and
It the ocupation by the other, of Harper's
It Ferry and the Norfolk navy-yard and
e the fierce gust and whirlwind of passion
d in the North, compelled either sudden
a waking up of the President and his advi-
d scrs to the frightful signifcancy of the act
d which they committed in heedlessly brca.
& king the vase which contained the slum-
n boring demon of civil war, or else pre-
n mature but rapid development ofthe dar-
t. ing plot to foster and promote secession
: and then set up new and strong form Of
l. Governmet in the States which might re-
: main in the Union.
If But whatever may have been the pur-
: pose, assert here to-day, as Represen.
Il tativc, that every principal a ct of the Ad.
e ministration since, has been a glaring
usurpation of power, and a palpablc and
/, dangerous violation of that very Constitu
n ton which this civil war is professedly
e waged to support Sir, 1 pass by the
4, proclamation of the 18th of April, sum-
lie moning the milita-not to defend this cap
% ital there is not word about the capital
e in the proclamation, and there was then
4. no possible danger to it from any quarter;
lie but to retake and occupy forts and prop.
Z. erty thousand miles of-summoning,
a say, the militia to suppress the so-called
l. insurrection. do not believe indeed, anc
ii no man believed in Februar last, when Mr.
If Stanton, of Ohio, introduced his bill t.
re enlarge the act of 1875, that act ever con
l. templatcd the case of general revolution
Of and of resistance by an organized Govern
r. ment. But no matter. The militia thu
r called out, with shadow, at least, of au,
i, thority, and for period extending on
Sc month the assembling of Congress, wer,
I'D amply sufficient to protect the capita
at against any force which was then likely t
nd be sent against it-and the event has prc