Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-04-04
GBe Uermont 4Benit.
BRATTLE BORO;
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1861.
WHO Is REsPoNs1BLEp

1t is not a little singular that the democratic
press should so universally taunt Mr. Lncolns
administration with imbecity because Fort
Sumter is not reinforced and secession ended !;
and then in the same breath denounce "coer-
cion" and justify the right of secession But
their inconsistencies, glorious as they appear,
are no worse than their logic is unsound.-
Their course exhibits an amount of "cheek," of
brazen impudence, that can scarcely be paral-
leled Everybody in the least conversant with
public affairs during the past year knows full
well, whether or not he will admit the fact, that
the administration of James Buchanan is who'll
ly responsible for the loss of property to the
general government occasioned by the seizures
and stealings of the seeessonsts. 1t is Mr.
Buchanan and his Cabinet advisers who not on
ly left this property without adequate protec-
ton, but put the very tools used by the seces-
sionists into their hands. They aided and abet-
ted the treason and reasonable designs of those
whose openly avowed purpose was to destroy
the government of the United States.
So long ago as last October Gen. Scott, the
highest military authority in the country, as in
duty bound by virtue of his official position, adj
vised the President OF the designs of the seces-
sionists, pointed out the weakness of our south
ern forts and the necessity of Immediately
strengthening them with re-inforcements. His
advice was unhecded Whyp During the
past year beginning as early as February, 1860,
Secretary Floyd commenced sending arms and
ammunition from northern arsenals to those in
the seeded states; he also sent the troops, or
so many of them as could be moved, to the
most distant frontiers. Secretary Toucey also
dispatched all the best and most effective of our
war fleets to foreign seas, leaving our home
squadron weak an inefficient. Between FLOYD
and Cobb the national treasury was depleted
and even trust funds we're stolen to carry into
operation their reasonable designs Such are
the leading facts tending to show where the re-
sponsblity for the present humliOting posture
of our nation should be fastened.
The democrats opened the stable door, UNI
fastened the horse, gave every facility to the
robber by making his ingress easy and pursuit
unavaing, and now they come forward with
the most gross efirontery and complain because
the Republicans do not find the stolen animal
and restore him TO his old quarters. They can
not by raising the cry of "stop theft divert
not the suspicion but the proof which is indeli-
bly, fastened upon them.
Mr. Lincoln assumes the charge of govern
ment under circumstances more untoward than
those that have ever before surrounded new
administration. The country is rent in twain
and nearly every department of the government
is demoraized by the political debluchees who
have just departed from Office. 1t will neccs-
sarily be the work of time to get the machinery
of government into proper motion. All that
honesty, capacity and an enlarged patriotism
will do Mr. Lincoln will be sure to accomplish.