Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-02
Tho Uourt-nIartiaI on Capt. Pope.

the Typographical Engineers, lately residen
Of Cincinnati, for expressions disrespectfu
20 the President In lecture on fortiHca
tions, which be delivered before the Literary
Club Of this city, Februnsy o, This lectur,
was not public one but II was afterwart
published in the Gazette and in some East
ern papers. We extract from II the expires
slons that probably make the foundation fo
the charge. After reviewing the numbe,
and positions of the Southern forts, Captain
Pope remarked: a.
Even from this rapid survey of so pro
life q subject hope you will be able salts
factorily to realize the Importance of III,
forts which have been lost to us. and Il
understand how little prospect there is that
the united Cotton States can take either Of the
works still in our possession, if they are
properly supplied and brayely and skillfully
| defended. Fifteen hundred men, placed six
months ago in the fortresses which line the
Southern coast, would have made Secession
| impracticable, and would have shielded us
| from the cruel necessity of civil war, which
now stares us in the face,
ut is impossible TO control the astonish-
ment and indignation which every Ameri-
can must feel when he considers In what a
| position o few months Of the Administra.
| tion Of a bad or a weak man have placed
! this great and prosperous country. If we
| overcome this danger, 1t VIII at least serve
as warning, and most impressive one. to
| the American people, to be careful for the
future in the selection Of Chief Magis-
trate."
The lecture was principally on the science
Of fertilization. In the course of it. Capt.
Pope discussed the claim that these costly
forts were built especially for the protection
of the, in many cases, insignificant places
where they were located, and showed that
they were to protect the nation from inya-
sion and continued:
"These works belong to the nation, they
were built expressly to avoid such q contin-
gency, and the man who would accede to
their surrender to any power whatever,
either knows notwhat he does, OF is traitor
to his country. These forts are ours by every
right, they are necessary to our safety, and
they can never DO taken from us, if they are
properly garrisoned and supplied Tbey
should be REINFORCED at all hazards, and
should be held as long as there is q man to
raise an arm in their defense
He then paid the following tribute TO the
army officers and to Major Anderson, which
probably contains one of the reflections on
the President which have instigated the
court martial
"Phe opinions have expressed will, l be-
Heve, meet cordial Endorsement from every
army officer; and those who retire from the
service, ON account of their connection with
disaffected States, act from feeling and in.
violation of their judgment. There are few
nj nf I half H.
would use their opportunities for the injury
of the Government; and if prejudice or that
sympathy for their States SO natural under
the circumstances shall impel them to re-
sign, they will do so with clean hands and
untarnished honor. Whatever may be said
of the navy, it can not be denied that army
officers, so far, have done their duty. 1t is
not too much to say that to Major in the
army we owe all that is left of the authority
and prestige of the Government. His prompt
and soldierly conduct was the first exhibit
ton of patriotism, the first evidence of any
honorable sense Of duty on the part of the
Executive Department of this country. 1t
reused the President from his lethargy,
opened his eyes to the reasonable conspira-
cies of his associates and advisers, and broke
up his corrupt and infamous Cabinet. To
Major Anderson do we owe the safety of the
Federal Capitol, and our escape from a
good government would have failed to wipe
.out."
These extracts probably contain all the
material for the charge of disrespect to his
superior officer. We give the eloquent per-
Grafton Of the lecture:
"Was there ever great Government thus
easily dissolved before, and is there man
in this country so blind to the experience of
the present, as to believe for one moment
that war will not come, and that soon2 Sir,
war is inevitable, whether we desire it or
| not, unless the States which have seeded
come peacefully back into the Union. This
| and this alone is the peaceful solution of our
| difficulties. We are unsafe from the enemies
| abroad while the harbors and forts of the
evuthern seahoard are in the hands of men
who would not hesitate to pour upon us, for
any triHing misunderstanding, the armies OF
| Europe.
81 say that selfpreservation, both from
domestic violence and foreign war, demsnds
that this Union be preserved, or at the least.
that such effort be made to preserve it, that
it can only be disrupted by successful rev.
olution. Better for our own safety, better
for the preservation Of that respect for law,
which makes government possible, that,
even If we should hereafter recognize the
| independence of any of the States of this
| CoDiederacy, it shall only be after we have
exacted from them the full penalty of revo-
luton. The fear of thisz penalty largely
| contributes to the domestic peace of all ma
tons, and hardly less so to our own. 1
hrmly believe that war is inevitable whether
we resist or yield to secession. can not
understand upon what ground the opposite
opinion is maintained.
surely, then, it is better to fight for the
preservation Of our Government, than for the
command of the Mississippi River, or the
possession of miserable waste of inhospita
bic country. In defending our Constitution
and the institutions which have grown up
under il, we have right, and must have SYM
pathy, on our side. If war, as | believe, be
inevitable, let us fight to maintain a prin-
ciple which addresses itself to the approval
of every honest man.
Sir, this Government must never be
broken up. We can never reconstruct it, or
any thing like it. Under it we have pros
pered beyond the experience of any people
on earth; under it we have had life, liberty
and happiness secured to us; under it we
have become great and mighty nation of
free men. Who shall fail such Govern
ment in its hour of need? Who shall be
willing to see this great structure of civliza-
tion broken to pieces, and stretch forth no
hand to protect it2
Mr.. President, love the Government I
love 1t as a man should love his Maker. It's
honor is as dear to me as my own. | have
seen its benefcent influence make this great
land smile with prosperity, with plenty and
with happiness. 1t has sheltered and cher
ished me in my youth, aud sent me forth to
do battle in its cause. / have followed its
banners TO the wars, and faced death in its
behalf; and may God forsake me and mine
when | shall no LONGER be willing To atrika