Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-08-10


Senator and Representative voted, never,
on any occasion, received one solitary vote
from the Republican party in either House.
The Adams or Corwin amendment, So
called, reported from the committee of
thirty three, and the only substantive
amendment proposed from the Republican
side, was but bare promise that Congress
should never be authorized to do what no
sane man ever believed Congress would
attempt to do-abolish slavery in the
States where it exists; and yet even this
proposition, moderate as it was, and for
which every southern member present vo-
ted, except one, was carried through this
House by but one majority, after long and
tedious delay, and with the utmost difficult
ty--sixty Republican members, with
the resolute and determined gentleman
from Pennsylvania [Mr. HIcKMAN1 at
their head, having voted against it and
fought against it to the very last
And not this only, but, as part of the
history of the last session, let me remind
you that bills were introduced into this
House proposing to abolish and close up
certain southern ports of entry; to author.
ize the President to blockade the southern
coast and to call out the militia and ac-
cept the services of volunteers, not for
three years merely, but without any limit
as to either numbers or time, for the very
purpose of enforcing the laws, collecting
the revenue, and protecting the public
property and were pressed vehemently
and earnestly in this House prior 10 the
aryivuL Of tie President IN this city, and
were then, though seven States had sece-
ded and set up government of their own
voted down, postponed, thrust aside, or in
some other way disposed of, sometimes by
large majorities in this House, till at last
Congress adjourned without any action al
all. Peace then seemed to be the policy OIL
all parties.
Thus, sir, the case stood at twelve O
clock on the 4th of March last, when
from the eastern portico Of this Capitol
and in the presence of twenty thousand o
his countrymen, but enveloped in clout
of soldiary which no other American Pres
ident ever saw, Abraham Lincoln took th'
oath of Office to support the Constitution
and delivered his inaugural-a message,
regret to say, not written in the direct ant
straightforward language which become
an American President and an American
statesman, and which was expected from
the plain, blunt, honest man of the North
west, but with the forked tongue ant
: crooked counsel of New York politician
leaving thirty millions of people in doub
whether it meant peace or war. Blu
: whatever may have been the secret purpos
and meaning of the inaugural, PRACTICAL
for six weeks the policy of peace prevailed
and they were weeks of happiness to tn
patriot, and prosperity of the country -
Business revived; trade returned com
merce fourished. Never was there
faircr prospect before any people. Seces
sion in the past languished, and was spir
itless and harmless secession in the futur,
was arrested, and perished. By over
whclming majorities, Virginia, Kentucky
North Carolina, Tennessee, and Missouri
all declared for the old Union, and ever,
heart beat high with hope that in du
course of time, and through faith and pa
tence and peace, and by ultimate AM
adequate compromise, every State woul'
be restored to it. 1t is true, indeed, sir
that the Republican party, with grea
unamity and great carnestness and deter
minalion, had resolved against all concili
alton and compromise. But, on the otho
hand, the whole Democratic party, an,
the whole Constitutional Union party
were equally resolved that there should b
: no civil war upon any pretext; and bot
sides prepared for an appeal to that grea
and final arbiter of all disputes in fire.
countryside people.
Sir, l do not propose to inquire nov
whether the President and his Cabine
were sincere and in earnest, and mean
} really to pcrsevere TO the end in the polio
of peace or whether from the first the
meant civil war, and only waited to gai
time till they were fairly seated in power
, and had disposed, too, of that prodigiou
horde of spoilsmen and Office seekers
which came down at the first like an avail
anche upon them Bnt l do know that th
) people believe them sincere, and cordial
ratified and approved of the policy {