Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-01-11
The Tim e >.
BELLOWS FALLS, JAN. IL, 1860
Patriotic Letter from Gen. Wool.

ment Of the United Staies army, will be
read with great interest. The letter was
addressed to friend IN Washington, with
reference to the treason in Charleston, and
in the cabinet. Gen. Wool isa democrat,
and has sometimes been talked of as can
dida'e for the presidency, by the democracy.
His views vii be responded to by at least
the great mass of the Douglas democracy.
But TO the letter;
Troy, Sunday, Dec. 80, 1860.
My DEAR SIR South Carolina, after
twenty-seven years, Mr.. Rhett says thirty
years, of constant and increasing efforts by
her leaders TO induce her to secede, has de-
clared herself out of the Union; and this,
too, without the slightest wrong or injustice
done her people on the part Of the govern
ment of the United States, Although she
may have seized the the revenue cutter, and
her reasonable Palmetto flag flies over the
United States arsenal, the custom house,
post office, Castle Pinckney and Fort Moul-
trie, she Is not out Of the Union, nor beyond
the pale of the United States. Before she
can ge, ont of their Jurisdiction or control,
a reconstruction cf the constitution must be
had or civil war ensue. In the latter case,
it would require no prophet to foretell the
result.
1t is reported that Mr. Buchanan has re-
ceiyed informally the commissioners ap-
pointed by the rebels of South Carolina 10
negotiate for the public property in the
harbor of Charleston, and for other purpos-
es. 1t is also reported that the president
disapproved of the conduct of Major An
derson, who, being satisfied that he would
not be able to defend Fort Moultrie with
the few men under his command, wisely
took possession of Fort Sumter, where he
could protect himself and the country from
the disgrace which might have occurred, if
he had remained in Fort Moultrie. Being
the commander in the harbor, he had the
right to occupy Fort Sumter, an act which
the safety of the Union, as well as his own
honor, demanded. 1t is likewise stated that
apprehensions are entertained that Major
Anderson will be required to abandon Fort
Sumter and reoccupy Fort Moultrie. There
can be no foundation for such apprehensions,
for surely the president would not surrender
the citadel of the harbor OF Charleston to
rebels Fort Sumter commands the en-
trance, and in few hours could demolish
Fort Moultrie. So long as the United
States has possession Of this fort, the iude-
pendence Of South Carolina will only be in
name, and not in fact. If, however, it should
be surrendered to South Carolina, which |
do not apprehend, the snsotiered Indignation
of the free states icouLd be reused beyond
control. 1t would not be in the power of
any one to restrain it. In taoenty days tuo
hundred thousand men ioouid be in readi-
ness to take vengeance on all scho acould be-
tray the Union into the hands Of its enemies.
Be assured that do not exaggerate the
feelings of the people. They are already
sufficiently excited at the attempt TO dissolve
the Union for no other reason than that
they constitutionally exercised the most
precious right conferred on them---of voting
for the person whom they considered the
most worthy and best qualified to fill the
office of president. Fort Sumter, therefore,
ought not, and | presume viii not, be deliy-
cred over to South Carolina.
am not, however, pleading for the free
states, for they are not in danger, but for
the Union and the preservation of the cot
ton states. Those who SOW the wind must
expect to reap the whirlwind. The leaders
of South Carolina could not have noticed
that we live in an age of progress, and that
all Christendom is making rapid strides in
the march of civilization and freedom. If
they had, they would have discovered that
the announcement of every victory by the
Hero of the nineteenth century, Garibaldi,
in favor of the oppressed of Italy, do not
fail TO electrify every American heart with
Joy and gladness. "Where liberty dwells
there is my country" was the declaration
of the illusirious Franklin. This principle
is too strongly implanted in the heart and
mind of every man in the free states TO be
surrendered because South Carolina desires
it in order TO extend the area of Slavery
With all Christianized Europe and nearly
all the civilized world opposed to slavery
are the southern states prepared TO set aside
the barriers which shield and protect their
\ institutions under the United States govern
ment? Would the separation of the South
from the North give greater security to sla-
very than it has now under the constitution
of the Union? What security would they
have for the return of runaway slaves p
/ apprehend none, whilst tie number of
runaways would be greatly augmented, and
the difficulties of which Shareholders cssn-
plain would be increased ten-fold. How
ever much individuals might condemn ala
very, the free states are prepared to sustain
/ ,-J defend u ur e-ra~.rtecJ he Tho ~onsrs