The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-05-24


will divide meE, as heretofoTe, into political
parties. The Democratic party finds nothing
in its past career or n its present position, TO
to induce it TO abandon its principles or organ
zation II will therefore adhere to The one
and preserve the other, regardless OF denunci-
alton from any quarter. 1t violates no law,
and inirlnges upon no mans rights, in doing SO
On The contrary, the Constitution expressly
guarantees TO The people, at all tunes, "the
right peaceabty 10 assemble. - Reding Gazette.
Letter from Judge Campbell TO Sec
retazy Seward.
Our readers will remember that when the
Confederate Government was first organized at
Montgomery, three Commissioners were sent
by Mr.. Davis to confer with the Government
of the United States for settlement Of the diff
fculties between the South and the Admins
tration at Washington. These Commissioners
were not received, or recognized, by President
Lincoln, but correspondence was carried on
with them through friendly Intermediary, the
Hon. john A. CAMPBELL, at the time and for
many years, a Judge Of the Supreme Court Of
the United States. The high character and
patriotic motives OF Judge Campbell, are ac-
knoweledged everywhere, and the following
letter from him TO Secretary Seward, is, there
fore, entitled to considerable weight in settling
The question as 10 why Fort Sumrter was fred
upon by the Confedrrates.
WAsHINGToN Cry, Saturday, April l3, '6i,
SIR On The 18th March ult., left with
Judge CraX ford, one of the Commissioners OF
the Confederate States, note in writing 10 the
effect following
g feel entire confidence that Fort Sumter
will be evacuated in the nrx' ten days And
this measure is felt imposing great responsible
itv on the Administration.
! feel eetire confidence that no measure
changing the existing status, rreiudiciously 10
the Southern Confederate States, is al present
contemplated.
feel an entire confidence that an imme-
date. demand Tor an answer tovthe communioa-
ton of the Commissioners will be productive Of
evil and not OF good. do not believe that il
ought atths time TO be pressed"
The substance of This statement ! communi-
Gated to you The same evening by letter. Five
days elapsed, and called with telegram from
Gen Rrauregard, to the effect that Sumter was
HOl th hdGudtF'ls Out tudk 4Ah0VtSOh was
at work making repairs.
The next day, after conversng with you,
communicated to Judge Crawford, in writing,
that the failure 10 evacuate Sumter was not the
result of bad faith, but was attributable 10 caus-
es consistent with the intention to fulfill the en-
gagement and that as regarded Pickens,
should have notice of any design to alter the
existing status there. Mr.. Justice Nelson was
present at these conversations, three IN number,
and | submitted to him each my written COM
municatons to Judge Crawford, and Informed
Judge c. that they had his Judge Nelson'sl
sanction. gave you, on The 22d March, a
substautantial copy OF the statement bad made
or tho 18Th
The Both of March arrived. and at that time
a telegram came from Gov. Pckens inquirIng
concerning Col. Lamon, whose visit to Charles
ton he supposed had a connexion with the pro-
posed evacuation of Fort Sumter.
left that with you and was to have an an-
swer the following Monday list ApriI) On
the Isl of April received from you The state
ment in writing. ~ am satisfied the Govern
ment will not undertake to supply Fort Sumter
without giving notice 10 Gov Pickens." The
words ' I am satisfied" were for me 10 use as
expressive of confidence in the remainder OF
the declaration.
The proposition, a. originally prepared, was,
" The President may desire TO supply Sumter,
hnt vii! not 60 so,'' &c, and your verbal ex-
planatlon was tha; you did not believe that anv
such attempt would be made, and that there was
no design to reinforce Sumter.
There was departure here from the pledges
OF the previous month, but with the verbal ex-
panation did not consider ii matter thec TO
complain of simply stated to you that had
that assurance previously.
On The 7th April, addressed you letter on
the subject of the alarm that the preparations
BY the Government had created, and asked you
if the assurances | had given were well or i'll
founded. In respect to Sumter, your reply was
g Faith as to Sumter, f:lIy kept-wait and see."
In the mornings paper | read, " An authorized
messenger from President Lincoln informed
Gov. Pickens and Gen. Beauregard, that pro-
visions will be sent TO Fort Sumter peaceably,
or otherwise By force"
This was the 9Th of April, at Charleston, the
day following your last assurance, and is the
evidence of the full faith / was invited TO wait
for and see. In the same paper read that in
tercepted dispatches disclose the fact that MIR.
Fox, who had been allowed to visit Major An
derson, on the pledge that his purpose was pa
clfc, employed his opportunity 10 devise plan
for supplying the fort by force, and that this
plan bad been adopted by the Washington Gov
ernment, and was IN process OF execution. My
recollection of the date of Mr.. Fox's visit car
ries it to day IN March. learn he is near
coHnexlon of member of the Gabinet. My
with Commissioners and yourself
was superinduced by conversation with JUS
tice Nelson. He infurmed me of your strong
disposition in favor OF peace, and that you were
with demand of the Commissioners