The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-02
THE PLOTS OF THE SECESSIONIST5 TO
BREAK UP THE GOVERNMENT.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 1851

WASHINGTON, Feb. l. 1861.
lis in evidence before the House Select Committee
Treason that variety Of plans have actually been dis
cussed by those in the South who have been determined
for years break up the Union First it believed
that convention of the houses could be prevented
on the 18th ust when the votes for President
counted thereby avoiding constitutional count of the
electoral votes. Second, to prevent Mr. Lincoln from
coming here by assassination some other Third,
take the Capitol by violence and prevent his inaug
ration.
It is the testimony of several witnesses that these
plans all seriously discussed and abandoned upon
the theory that 1t would be within the category Of crimes
punishable with death In the Unon and would not in the
end accomplish the object the dissolutonsts have in
view. After full canvass Of the whole subject 1t
finally decided TO resort 10 the plan Of secession which
was immediately initiated by South Carolina.
Efforts making TO induce every State south of
Mason and Dixons line to seoede and the extra
ordinary Influences being brought bear upon the
delegates TO assemble in Virginia on the 4th inst.
to carry that convention in favor of secession.
II s believed by some that majority will
vote This is the great point the secessonsts hope
gain because IL Virginia votes against secession there is
hope OF carrying Maryland, aud without the latter
States there will be such thing enecting organi-
zation TO take the Capitol
One OF the principal actors in perfecting the secret
III
the state Of the he said there intention
OF making any attempt TO take this capital unless Virginia
and Maryland secedes but he acknowledged that if those
States go out his organization would join Maryland and
do their utmost To take Washington.
In view of the supposition that Virginia will in
Convention the 4th inst 10 60 out Of the Unon which
would precpitate action In Maryland, General Scott
backed by several members Of the Cabinet IN favor Of
making formidable demonstration to protect this
this city from attack thinks the President ought to
call upon the States for volunteers The President Is
opposed to this policy, unless he has changed his mind
this afternoon. The fact that ho opposed 70 calling
upon the States for troops, creates good deal Of
alarm in many quarters for the safety Of the
city It may be asked how the President call
for volunteers when there is Law authorizing
him TO do sor The answer is that there bill in the
House giving him the power to call upon the States,
which viii pass the moment II is known the President
will not veto IT, II Is charged that the
doing their utmost prevent the President from signing
such bill.
Gen. SCOTS IDEA Of preserving the public peace here,
and securing the inauguration Of Mr. Lincoln is the
as that first suggested in the HERALD weeks ago, call
upon the States procure sixty thousand troops
II remains 70 be whether the President will bear
Gen Scott and the members Of his Cabinet the
sionsts who doing their utmost TO break up the 60
vernment
The difficulty in regard to the reports about taking
this city by the sccessionists is divided into distinct
classes, They are both misleading the people, one in.
creduously gnorantly, the other Intentionally The
former class mised by the ingenuity Of tho latter
and the press Of the country sought and employed
the most powerful engine 10 deceive the people All tho
leading presses of the country to-day contain
ments that there h cause for experimenting attack
upon Washington and men have asserted within twenty.
four hours, to my knowledge, that there is no, a
particle OF evidence before the select committee
Of the House to warrant the belief that any
conspiracy exists, or that any organization has
been formed TO aid IN destroying the unity
Of the States In the face OF this extraordinary state.
ment ia well known that the man Of all others who
has accumulated information about the conspiracy
against the capital when called witness and asked by
the committee 10 tell what he knew replied like true
and soldier as he is, "Gentiemen cannot answer
your questions without violating private confidence and
doing great injustice TO the public service" The com
mittee then withdrew their question.
This witness stands Ks near to General Scott in this
crisis and has much Of his confidence, any other
gentleman in the army. whatever he knows General
Scott OF and upon but could not swear to
himself
Tho subordinate officer was then called witness,
aud privae confidence" and ustce 10 the public
vice. forbid him opening bis mouth. Hence nothing
finds its way to the committees record and II Is forth
with proclaimed the country that no evidence exists TO
show the existence Of conspiracy. The injustice OF
such a conclusion V evident. The very fact tina,
General Scott remarked, after leaving the committed
room, that the people Of the District knew half Al
much as he about the attempt TO take the capital they