Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-04-17
The War Policy of the Administr alton
and the Probable Consequences.

Civil war is close at hand. The new
that it has been inaugurated in bloody
conflict ut Charleston may reach us at any
moment. Lieutenant Talbot. of Fort
sumter, on his return journey to Maj
Anderson, has been detained at Charles.
ton; SO that the instructions which he
carries to that officer are cut Oft. Thus
the gallant Major will be left to his own
discretion, although, from the signal
lights which nightly nov he displays
from his stronghold, it would ape that
he expects relief and is prepared to COS
operate with any relievins force that may
show itself at the entrance of the Earbor.
1t also appears that the effort will surely
be made, under the flag of the United
States to ?un the gauntlet of the hostile
forts and batteries which must be passed
TO reach Fort Sumter, and it is morally
certain that any such attempt will result
in bloody conflict, or in the ignomini>
Gus retreat of our relieving squadron.
We are not disposed to conjecture that
a mere preience OF relief 70 Major Ander>
son is the policy OF Mr.. Lincoln. Our
warlike republican contemporaries of this
city, especially the terrible Horace Gree
ley, assure us that the administration is
in earnest in this matter, and hencefor.
ward abaudons the thankless policy of
torbearance end indulgence with reoels
and traitors. The country has been de-
celved, Wall street has been oYerreached,
the sece.sioniss themselves have beer
led astray, by the late pacific manifesto
tiobs and professions of the government
at Washington, and particularly by it's
] H,Nlafnl fasstnnp nF 1ha aG
evacuating Fort Sumter. With reliey-
ing squadron en- route to that point, we are
admcniShed OF tho necessity OF holding
that position, and OF the duty of relieving
it, even at the hazard Of war; and we are
further advised that this has been the de.
J libernte and inhex;ble purpose of Mr..
Lincoln from beginning.
! Anticipating, then, the speedy inaugu-
ration of civil war at Charleston, at Pen
sacola, OF in Texas, or, perhaps, at all
these places, the inquiry is forced upon
us, what will be the probable conseQuen-
ces' Weapprehend that they will be
/ first the secession of Virginia and the
other border slave States, and their union
with the Confederate States; secondly,
the organization Of an army for the re-
moval of the United States ensign and
authorities from every fortress or public
building within the limits of the Confed,
crate States, including the White House
the Capitol, and other public buildings Al
Washington. After the secession of Vir
from the United States, it IS not likely
that Maryland can be restrained from h,
same decisive act. She will follow til,
fortunes Of Virginia, and will undoubted
ly claim that, in Withdrawing from tn
United States, the District oc Columb
reverts into her possession under the su
preme rights of revolution, Here W,
have verge and scope enough for a ciyi
war OF hive, ten or twenty years duration
Wha, for! To show that we have ;
government-to show that the seeded
States are still in our Union, and are still
subject TO its laws and authorities. Thil
Us the fatal mistake of Mr., Lincoln, anC
his Cabinet and his party. The smrle
truth, ratent to all the world, is. that In,
seeded States are out of our Union, anC
are organized under an independent GOV.
} ernment of their own. The authority OF
the United States within the borders O
this independent confederacy has beer
completely superseded, except in de
tached fort here and there. We desir,
to restore this displaced authority of tn,
United States in its full integrity. How
is this to be done? BY entering into ,
war with the seeded States for The con
tlnued occupation of those detached forts
No: A war will only widen the breach
ard enlarge and consolidate this South
ern Contederacy, on the one hand, while
on the other hand, it will bring ruir
upon the commerce, the manufactures,
the financial and industrial interests O.
OF our Northern cities and States, and
may end in an oppressive military des-
J potism.
How then are we to restore these sece.
ded States tolthe Union? We can do il
only by conciliation and compromise
The border slave States still adhering to