The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1861-09-07
The Wor..Past, Present and Fu-
tmRP.

Daniel Webster introduced his great
speech in reply to Mr.. HaiHe on Fooss res
olution by saying: where the marine,
"has been tossed for many days in thick
weather and on an unbroken sea, be nat.
"urally avails himself of the first pause in
''the storm. the earliest glance Of the sun
"to take his latitude, and ascertain how
''far the elements have driven him from his
"true course" And now, when the great
War Congress has SO well done its work and
adjourned-when the smoke from the bat
tls-6eld Of Bull Run has rolled away--when
Mcclellan is in command of the army Of
the Potomac, and Fremont is at the head of
the hosts of the Mississippi Valley--when
the Bankers have poured out their treasure,
and the people the armies. and when Lin
coin holds the helm. we propose to initiate
the prudence Of the mariner by ,eview
Of tho past. a glance at the present. and
glimpse into the future.
Let us 60 back to the morning Of Lin
coins election. The Democratic party had
been broken up; Breckinr idge had been
nominated and fusion attempted. all to dis
tract the country and prevent An election
BY the people. The object was openly
svowed. The conflict was sharp and des.
perate. but the first flashes over the tele-
graph from Pennsylvania, Indiana aud Hi.
nois-the battle feid-toM the tale of Joy
to an exultant people. "Honest old Abe"
was elected-trsitors were foiled--the peo-
pie were true--the country was safe!
What then was the situation os the Gov
eminent? Buchanan was President. Cobb,
Floyd. Thompson and Toucey were in his
Cabinet and his confidential advisers
The army and navy had been sent to the
had been sent to the soush. .i.- s--a. ILL.,.
Of the rebellion had been matured in the
Presidents Cabinet and partly executed =
anan's power were fast running out. There
was no time to be lost All at once the
Internal ball opened! State after State. in
spite Of the people. seeded. Senators pro-
claimed their treason in high places. and ex-
ultantly. tauntiugly left their seats. Army
officers, educated and honored by the
country. trampled her flag under their feet.
forgot duty. laughed At honor. flung their
Heaven. recorded oaths, which they had
taken upon their souls. back into the face
of Almighty God. and, clad in the uni
forms Of their country. with her epaulelts
on their shoulders and her swords in their
hands, surrendered her forts, arsenals and
armies to ''mes IN buckram," threw down
their commissions and took command of her
enemies.
What said Buchanan to all sthiss He
said: "Gentlemen accept your honorable
commissions; l respect your feelings; l am
sorry to part: are we not brethren? And
behold how good and pleasant thing it is
for brethren to dwell together in unity
Come brethren let US make treaty! Let
Us religiously maintain -intercention and
the seatH quo oste belans.'' Meantime
Floyd was stealing bonds, money, guns.
ordering columbiads from Pittsburg to New
Orleans. while Mr.. Buchanan's brethren
were seizing forts aud arserals, raising
armies. threatening Washington. Philadel-
phia, New York and Bunker Hill: swearing
Lincoln should never be inaugurated alre
and plotting his assassination at Baltimore.
Then il was that Gen. Cass resigned. Then
il was that Gen. Scott demonstrated and, at |
last. With the voice Of lion said, "Sir, III |
Myoss doscS my epaslsttesi and head the
Buchanan became alarmed, Cobb,
Floyd and Thompson fell and Holt and
Stanton rose. From that hour. though
Buchanan obstinateiy refused to do good,
hs ceased comparatively to do harm.
Time few; the 4th of March came:
Lincoln had made 9 triumphal advance
from his home in Illinois, through Indianap-
bis. Cincinnati. Columbus. Pittsburg.
Cleveland. Albany. New York. Trenton.
Philadelphia and Harrisburg. He had elu-
led his assassins at Baltimore, and, BY the
prscsusion of Seward and the courage Of
ten. Scott. was quietly inaugurated At the
Capitol IS his predecessors had been.
He found the cotton States in arms. Vir-
g;nia fsigning loyalty. The treasury bank
rupt: the army broken up; the navy scat
|ered abroad; Piekens and Sumter besieged
BY formidable armies. What was worse,
be found the country not yet edscated up to
! sense Of its danger and duty. Loyal men
we're ~ fault. Even Mr.. Douglas was
making long speeches against eorresos. say
ng Lincoln had no power to call out the
militia; no power to collect the revenue;"
hat his inaugural meant peace and nothing
lss. Nor wss N. Douglas alone. Many