The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-11-01

never be inaugurated. lie was personally
threatened with assassination. Soon South
Carolina passed an ordinance Of secession
and Immediately began to collect troops in
and about Charleston, and to iortify that
city. Fort MOultrie was threatened be-
cause it was garrisOned by U. S. troops
Meanwhile as matters developed themselves,
treason discovered itself in high places. A
portion of the cabinet proved to be even
worse than traitors; and the President true
to his lifelong practice occupied position
which makes it difficult even to this day to
determine whether he was traitor or u
superannuatcd imbecile.
At last Mr.. Lincoln proceeded to WASH
ington. He was Obliged to steal march
upon his enemies in order to do 50 with sale
ty. Was he wrong in doing 50? You
thought he was. Apparently you thought
he ought to have walked like stuped OK
directly INTO the SHAMELESS prepared for him.
You-yes you were foiled; and at once you
showed your disappointment by your howls
of wrath, and your shouts of ridiculc, here
ut the North. But he reached Washington
and in due time he was safely and peacefully
inaugunted.
On coming into power and selecting his
cabinet the policy adopted was that OF con-
citation, and there was vain hope that
South Carolina might yet be brought back
to her allegiance. Meanwhile inyestiga-
lions Of the state of the departments ex-
hibited the most astounding treason and
fraud. The public monies were missing /;
the navy was scattered and sent of to distant
ports; the army had been tamPered with
and its officers had handed in their resigna.
tons; almost all the arms and munitions
of war had been sent to the Southern States.
But why waste words? Last Of all comes
the bombardment of Sumter. Oh most
chivalrous act Ten thousand men with
nineteen batteries. against one battery de-
Tended by only one hundred nearly starved
men!
We have made hut hasty sketch ofevents,
and leave the outline to be filed up by the
readers own memory. Now, men Of the So
called peace party, dare one Of you stand up
and unblushingly assert that this war has
been inaugurated by Mr.. LineOln's party or
government? The truth is, you know per-
fectly well chat war had been commenced
against the government Of the United States,
by the leyying OF troops, by seizure OF forts
and Of money and arms, and the capital had
been threatened before a single federal soldier
had been caiiedmio the field. But knowing
all this you cry out that itis"an unholy war, "
"Lincoln 'swar, ""a black Republican war, "
and the like.
But us we said, there was a sitting process
going on among you, and that process cul-
minated when the white haired veteran trail
tor touched or the first gun aimed at Sumter.
That you was the menstruum thrown into
the political alembic, and instantly produc-
ing from all parties the tertiun quid patriot
ism, and precipitating you the unnatural
traitors Of the north, like dead weight to
the very bottom Of the deepest depth Of infa-
my.
We have but few more words to say to
you, you now cry for "peace, you are care
full to say an "hOnOrabIe peace" Is there a
man anywhere in the North who does not
wish for such peace? What would you
have? When Mr.. Lincoln called for $4,000
volunteers to protect the capital you Instant
ly cried out unconstitutional. The capt.
tai was threatened, but you would have him
sit still and await the approach ola con-
federate army. Would that have been honor
able? Thank God, he did not sit still and
we have not the animOsity against you to
wish what you richly deserve, the fate that
would have awaited you, your families, your
property, and all your future prospects, had
he been so recreant to his duty. But would
it be "honordJle' for the government to ''let
alone" the robbers of the public property,
to allow the eonspiratorsagainst its authority
to dismember the Union, and then quietly
to profit by their treason?
How would you bring about this "peace"
for which you are so loudly elamoringH Do
you not know that this very clamor is what
the rebels look to now for aid and comfort,
and Us they think to force the government
to withdraw the blockading acetH Suppose
that the government should all at once de-
termine to have peace, would it be "honor-
G6le" for it to cry "peocari" we have sinned,
we have been in the wrong you are perfectly
right to take our forts, and navy yards and
arsenals, arms and munitions, and public
monies. Forgive us, We will withdraw our
fleets and disband our armies. II you please
take everything and 90 in peace or il you
please, come back, and we will in future al
low you without let or hindance to extend
slavery wherever you please, and to abuse
and whip and tar and feather, or even kill
our northern men and women who may go
among yOu,-would that bring about an
honorable peace But you say that the
affair can DO managed by "cOmpromisc. -
We admit that much can be done in other
cases by it. The very spirit of free govern
ment is compromise. A Republican form of
government is based upon it and it is the very
essence of democracy that some rights should
be given up in order that other and greater
benefits should be secured. But in all cases
these right. given up are not absolutely
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