Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-06-21

der OF the 1Oft naQ declared 10 them
that in two days capitulation from star
vation must take place. 4 peaceful sur
render, however, would not have sub
served their aims. They sought The
clash of arms, and the effusion of blood
as an instrumentality for impressing the
Dor er States, and they sought the hu
initiation of the Government and the
dishouor Of its flag as Il means of Civ
ing prestige 10 their own cause. The re-
suit is known Without the slightest
provocation, heavy canronade was
opened upon the fort, and borne by its
helpless garrison for hours Without re-
fply, and when, in the progress of bonn
bardment, the fertilization became wrap
ped in flames, the besieging batteries, in
violation OF the usages of civilized war
| fare. instead Of relaxing or suspending,
redoublcd their fires \ more wanton
or wicked war was never commenced on
any Government whose history has
been written. Contemporary with, and
following the fall of Sumter, the siege
OF Fort Pickens was, and still! is, actively
pressed; the property of the United
States Government continued to be seiz-
eli wherever found and its troops, by
fraud or force, captured in the State Of
| Texas in violation Of Il solemn compact
with its authorities that they should be
permitted TO embark without motesta-
ton. This was the requital which the
lone-star State made to brave men who,
through long years Of peril and priva
ton, had guarded its frontiers against
the incursions Of the savages. In the
midst of the most active and extended
warlkc preparations in the South, the
announcement was made by the Secre-
tary OF War of the Seeded States, and
echoed with t&unts and insolent braya-
dos by the Southern press, that Wash
ington City Was to be invaded and cap
tured, and that the dag Of the Confeder-
ate States would soon float over the
dome of its capitol Soon thereafter
! there followed an invitation to all the
word-em bracing necessarily the out
casts and desperadoes of every sea--to
accept letters OF marquc and reprisal, to
prey upon the rich ami unprote tied com
merce Of the United States.
! In view Of these events anl threaten
ings, what was the duty OF the Chic!
Magistrate of the Republic? lie might
have taken counsel Of the reyo}utionsts
and trcmuled under their menaces; he
might upon the fall. of Sumter, have
directed that Fort Pickens should be
surrendered without firing gun in its
defense, and, proceeding yet further,
and meeting fully the requirements OF
the "let-usalone' policy insisted Oh in
the Sonsh, he might have ordered that
the stars and stripes should lie laid in
;hs d2st in he presence of every bit q
rebel bunting that Alright appear. But
he did none OF these things, nor would
he have done them without forgetting
his oath and betravirg the most Sublime
trust that has ever been coniiel u the
hands Of man. With heroic fidelity
to his constitutional obligations, feeling
Justly hat these obligations charge
him with the protection Of the repub-
lie and its capita! against the assaults
alike Of foreign and domestic enemies
he threw himself on the loyalty o. the
country Tor support in the struggle
upon which he was about to enter, and
nobiy has that appeal been responded
to. MATES containing an aggregate pop
uagion Of nineteen millions h4ye an
swered to the appeal as with the voice OF
one man, offering soldiers without num
ber, and treasure without limitation, foE
the service ot' the government. In these
States, fifteen hundred thousand free
men cast their votes in favor Of candi-
dates supporting the rights Of the South
at the last Pres :jential election, and
yet everywhere, alike in popular assem-
bies and upon the tented field, this mil
lion and Il half OF voters are found
yielding TO none in the zeal with which
they rally 10 their country Aag. They
are not less the friends OF the South
than before; but they realize that The
question now presented is not one o.
administrative policy, or of the claims
OF. the North, the South, the East ol
the West; but it Is, simply, whethe!
nineteen millions CT people shall tamely
and ignobiy permit five or six million:
to overthrow and destroy institution:
which are the common property, ans
have been the common blessing anl
glory Of ali. Tie great thoroughG:ire
Of the North, the East and the West
are luminous with the banners anG
giistening with the bavoncts Of either
[ soldiers marching to the capital, or tt
other points OF rendezvous; but they
come in no hos .iIe spirit to the South
If called to press her soil they vii
{ not rnttie 4 fewer Of her gardens, nor :
blade % grass CT her fields in unkind
: ness. No eivcsses will mark the foot
: steps ot the armies Of the Republic; ut
i institutions OF the States Will be invaded
OF taInrerci with; no rights Of person
: or property will be violated Tb
, known purpose Of the Administration
t ana the high character OF the troop
emplnyct, alike guarantee ;he truthful
! ness OF this statement. When an insur
/ rcction WAS apprehU@ded a few week
siGce in Maryland, the Aassachusett
: regiment al once offered its services t
; suppress it. These volunteers hav
Z been announced by the press Of til
= South as ''knayes and yagrauts," " :,th
: drc@s oi the populace,' who woul,
: rather fitch handkerchief than fgh
t an enemy in manly combat yet W
= know, here, that their discipline an
= bearing are most admirable, and. [ pre-
: sume, i, may be safely affirmed that
+ larger amount OF tsocial position, culture
e fortune, and elevation Of character, ha
= never been found in so large an army i
; any age or country. If they go to III
e south, ii Will be as friends and protect
Il ors, to relieve the Union sentiment c
/ the seeded States from the cruel domi
e nation by which it is oppressed and 81
d lencel; to uuturl the stars and stripe
in the midst eff those who lnnr 10 loo