Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-02-14


shipment of which, N ryfcd cdnnon, had
Just been received at Charleston. Near the
close of the session Mr.. Davis succeeded in
getting bill through Congress, forbidding
the Secretary Of War 10 purchase patented
arms, the object being to leave Government
without supply of the most approved weap-
ons. To Mr.. Cobb was assigned the role
of destroying the means of supporting Gov
ernment, by breaking down its credit, and
leaving powerless when the outbreak should
occur. Mr.. Thompson sdutics were various.
He was to manipulate the. members of the
new Confederacy, and leave the property in
his department where it should be stolen by
his old associates and friends. The whole
line of Southern ports were left in such a
condition as would allow them to fall an
easy prey to the conspirators. The Prcsi-
dent, for long time, was the coadjutor Of
all their measures, of which Mr.. Floyd and
the South Carolina Commissioner have
| furnished abundant proof As-'
The schemes of the ,Secsssionists succeed
led almost to-the extent Of Their aims. The
election of Lincoln brought matters to a
crisis. All the important forts in the South
ern States, with the exception of Fort Mon
roe in Virginia, Fort Sumter at Charleston,
Fort Pickens at Pensacola, Key West and
Tortugas, were seized and arc now in their
hands All the magazines of arms and nit
nitions outside these forts, have been also
seized. These were judciously placed by
Mr.. Floyd far inland, at such places as Bat
on Rouge, Louisiana, and Augusta, Georgia
thus supplying ample means for placing
an army of 80, 900 men in the field. These
very arms, stolen by Mr.. Floyd, are now
going into the hands of the new regiments
which are being organized in the Southern
States. Mississippi has just authorized the
formation, we believe, of eight: Georgia
and other States of several each. These
arms, only few months ago, were in North
ern arnories, where they now belong.
While we at the North, like honest but very
stupid people, foolishly supposed everything
to be going OH fairly and above-b board the
most stupendous conspiracy tho world ever
seen has been enacted under our very noses,
while we have been hugging to our breasts
its very chief. The sacred spot of West
Point has again been the scene of plot,
compared with which that attempted by
Benedict Arnold sinks into insignificanee.
The value of arms and munitions of wal
stolen by Mr.. Floyd, together with money
raised upon his fraudulent acceptances
which, by mastery stroke of policy, were
sold North. amounts to many millions OF
dollars. Adding the cost of the forts sur
rendered; the Whole amount of which our
Government has been despoiled by this stu
pen,lous conspiracy, must equal $l5, 900, 900
What is the method and plan of all thes'
: robberies and seizures? Defence first,
necessary, and aggression afterwards-no
North, but against Mexico and the Yves
Indies. As for secession, that long ago wa
foregonc conclusion. As the Southerl
r army now forming is relieved from the tea
of coe .cion from the North, it is to be launch
8 ed against Mexico. Southern imagination
is fred at the prospect Of revelling in tn
I, '.Halls of the MopteSumas. The uneas
4 and restless spirit which will compromise it
army will brook no delay. Offhis new fora
f, MIR. Jefferson Davis is to take the Lead
, The movers of it count, and not withou
: reason, upon the effect of Il brilliant dasl
\ upon the restless temper ofa large popula
e ton that crowd our Northern cities; VIII
, would flock in crowds to the standard of
It successful military leader. 1t is well know
!, that number of retired officers and militia
Il nv men now in New York stand ready t
9 drum. Such is the inclination ofthe masse
d at the North to peace, it is felt no interfel
o encc would be experienced from that qual
tcT, ohouiu viz SAPSuieioh iohA "ieiA -
:. imposing force.
y Such is the programme ofthc Gulf State:
y of which the Northern States are soon to !
1t the spectators, if not directly involved; au
..e such is the scheme to which the quiet an
l, peace-oving capitalists of the South are,
,r be yoked. 1t remains to be seen wheth'
n they have the courage or strength to atteml
/, any resistance IF not, who is to oppo,
d, any? Will the Northern? Win England
rs At the South, movement toward the tro
O. les is felt to be a necessity. More room i
ne the slave, or black Republic bordering Il
C. Gulf, instead ofa white one, is inevitable
OF The law of population will soon bring I'll
y round without an outlet for the redunda
to population of negroes, increasing in mu
raater ratic .h.i 4 4: %h;.os TheSouthe
he peop,e feel the coils of the anaconda abo
IL their necks, hence the intense restlessnt
ng they display; hence secession and the II
N, nation of new Confcderacy, with V;
M domain, where slavery can indefinitely {
Is. pand. To compress it within narrow limi
,as is to provoke an explosion fatal to all W
nc may happen to be near.