New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-20
SENATOR BAYARD ON SECESSION.


ADDRESS TO TIE PEOPLE OF DELAWARE.
To the people " ne stat, Of Dolard,e:
FELLow-cITIZEss: Though like all men who have
mingled actively in political contests have often been
subjected 10 misrepresentation and caumnes, under
no past circumstances have felt it necessary To
reply merely personal attacks, but have been
tent let my general character and of act be
the answer my sssailants. From occurrences, how
ever within tie iast ten days, and the excited state OF
popular feeling which seems TO accept the flssst and
in,~t absurd charges IA truths il Il due 10 Eysel TO
make TO you the following statement, viii Il, though
il will not sati-y the bitterness Of partisan hostility
the msigity OF personal Latred, will trust, vndi-
cate 10 the opinion of the Of my citizens,
both my motives and my acts though may differ ron
many OF them in my political opinions
In the speech which made in the Senate in March
last you have my views and opinions expressed frankly
and without reserve tho present unhappy and dis
traced condition of country, and the which
believed the happiness and welfare Of the PEOPLE Of
the United States required should be adopted by the
General Adnnis ration. The views and opinions then
expressed the result Of grave consideration and
positive conviction, and subsequent events have not
changed but confirmed that conviction. / preferred
peaceful separation Of q part OF the States hom the
Union, leaving that Union unbroken to the far
greater number and the Federal Government as the
Government of powerful aud great nation, to the
alternative Of civil war. Time and the progress of
events will confidently believe yindicate the isdom
Of my counsel II the arguments and views presented
in that speech and past course cannot convince you
Of attachment " the Union, h would be hopeless
10 urge others now.
On the Slh Il April last, I left home on short witt
TO Newt rleans solely for social ard business pur
poses-a visit / had contemple'e cd and promised to
make more ,h al year before but which my profess
rional and public duties had compelled me to postpone
Rad no Iolacal purpose or object in ysw in making
that visit nor dad |, during NY absence, engage u
any political arrangement or eonrulaiion intended
calculated 10 affect the action OF the people OF Della
ware III relation 10 their allegiance ana fidelity 10 the
Urion. l trust you lave known me long enough,
aud Am you ought to have known well
enough TO be certain that, whatever poh'ica! action
contemplated, would openly aud boldly svow and
adyo, ate before You. II err in this then il VIII be
a vain hoPe for any public man to expect, however
candid aud open may have been his pact coure, that
bis fellow will insily estimate HE character.
When left home, though the political horizon
clouded, 40 excitement existed beyond the ordinary
conflict Of party warfare, and nell lor oid 1ouh
anticipate the events Which occurred after nv de-
parture or my writ certainly would not have been
made. | took the Southern route, and reached Mont
gomery Friday afternoon, the 18th of April, re-
NAMED there ill Sunday following, and left that day
ON the steamer for New Orleans. saw many persons
in Montgomery whom l had known well aud inti-
maely in Washington, but had 10 political asmlge-
ments TO make with tten nor were any proposed TO
me- After reaching New'Orleans, III consequence Of
the rapid progress OF events, | remained but three
days cut short my WRIT, and returned home speedily
AS practicable up the river though had originally IN
tended TO return by sea to New-iork.
make this statement because have been told that
anu nave atiFiU-
ued my visit to the South political Objects aud il is
only 10 such il s INTENDED 10 be addrefsed
rearhed home on saturday, the ith OF May and
was met by telegram, purporting 10 DO from MIDDLE
town 10 Phlladclp,, in which il WA stated that bad
been two weeks at Montgomery in consultation with
the leaders OF the Confederate States Ay answer is,
that the telegram tery and unquslifedy false, and
whether it came from Middleton or elsewhere, it was
the mere coinage of reckless political partisan or
personal enemy. This was followed by in announce
ment placarded in Wilmington snd published in the
papers that Prince OF the Golden Circle Lad returned
home or some such absurd stui On principle, never
had the slightest connection with any seere' sssoc
ton in my lie and, in my connection with me Demo
cratic party, have Dever been even member u
club was told also, that r,moIs had been sPfeaa ~
my absence such rs that had gone TO Mon,gyne,s "
sell my State aud others Of like kind: pi1 hl'ie az
tenion to these things believed could i've mem
down. for was NOT aware Of the extent OF pas !o.e
excitement to which the public mind had oeeh strung,
and st less did / dream that there was denoelSle
intenton by such means TO induce personal VIOLENCE
against NE here in my native town. orin fnlladeshia
was mistaken in this, and have become sa'istdIoa'
there was deliberate conspiracy to make me the We
Tim Of mob ON the first occasion on which went 10
Philadelphia. have no knowledge Of the parties en-
rsged IN this conspiracy either here or In Philadelphia
nor do fear the ruiaps who would ins,igate such &C.