The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-07-18


tended to be ultimately used or not, according
TO circumstances. The strongest anticipated
case for using it was now presented, and 1t
was resolved to send it forward, as had been
intended in this contingency. 1t was also re-
solved TO notify the Government OF South
Carolina that if the attempt should not be,
resisted, there would be no effort TO throw in
men, arms or ammunition without further
tiee, or in case OF an attack upon the fort.
This notice accordingly given, whereupcn
the fort was attacked and bombarded to its
fall without even awaiting the arrival Of the
provisioning expedition. Il is thus seen that
the assault upon and the reduction of Fort
Sumpter, was in no sense. matter OF self
defence CT the part of the assallants. They
we'll knew that the garrison i'll the fort could
by 10 possibility commit aggression upon
them. They knew-they were expressly no.
tifed-that the giving Of bread to the few
brave and hunFgy men of the garrison WAS all
which could, on that occasion be attempted
unless themselves. by resisting so much, should
provoke more. They knew that this Govern
ment desired to keep this garrison
in the fort. not to assaii them but
merely TO maintain visible possession, trus-
ting, as hereinbefore stated, TO time, discus
son and the baliot-box, for final adjustment.
And they assailed and reduced the fort for
precisely the reverse object-to drive cut the
visible authority Of the Federal Union, and
thus force it to immediate dissolution.
That this was their object, the Executive
well understood, and having said to them III
the Inaugural address you can nave no
conflict without being yourselves the aggres-
sors,'' he took pains not only TO keep tins dec
laration good. but also to keep the case so
free from the power Of ingenious sophistry
as that the world should not be able to mis-
understand it. By the Effair at Fort Sumter
with its surrounding circumstances, that
point was reached. Then and thereby the
assaiiants of the Government began the con-
fict of arms without Il gun in sight or IN ex-
pectancy to return their fire, ssye only the
few III the fort, sent to the harbor years be-
fore for their protection. and still ready
to give that protection in whatever was lawful.
In this act, dIscarding ali else. they have for
ced upon the country the distinct issue-im-
mediate dissolution or blood. And this issue
embraces more than the fate of these United
States. 1t presents to the whole family of
man, the question whether Constitutional
Republic or Democracy government of the
people by the same people-can or cannot
MAINTAIN its territorial integrity against its
domestic foes. 1t presents the question
whether discontented individuals, too few in
numbers to control the Administration ac-
cOrding to the organic law in any case, can
always, upon the preteGces made in this
case or any other preterce, break mp their
government, and thus practically put an end
to the freest government upon the earth
1t forces US to ask Is there in all Republics
this inherent and fatal weakness? Must a
government of necessity be too strong tor
the liberties of its own people, or too weak
MAINTAIN its own existence
SO viewing the issue, no choice was leftbut
to call out the war power of the Government
and so to resist the force employed for its de-
structionby force for its preservation.
The call was made and the response of
the country was most gratifying, surprising
in unanimity and spirit the most sanguine
expectations. Yet none of the States COM
monty called slave States, except Delaware
gave regiment through regular State organ
izations. \ few regiments have been organ
lied within some others of those States by
individual enterprise, and received into the
Government service. OF course the seeded
States so called, and to which Texas had
been joined about the time of the inaugura-
tion, gave no troops to the cause of the
cause of the Union, The border States so
called, were not uniform in their action,
some of them being almost unananimous
for the Union, while in others, as Virginia
and North Carolina. Tennessee and Arkan-
sas, the Union sentiment was nearly repres-
sed and silenced. The course taken in Nir-
gina was the most remarkable, perhaps the
most important. \ convention elected by
the people of that State to consider this
very question of disrupting the Federal Union
was in session at the capital of Virginia
when Fort Sumter fell. To this body the
people had chosen a large body of professed
Union men. Almost immediately after the
fall of Sumter, many members of that
majority went over TO the original disunion
minority and with them adopted am ordi-
nance for Withdrawing the State from the
Union. Whether this change wrought
by their great approval of the assault upon
Sumpter or the great resentment at the
Governments resistance to that assault, is
not definitely known. Although they sub
mitted the ordinance for ratification to a
vote of the people, to be taken on a day
then somewhat more than month distant.
the Convention and the Legislature, which
was also in session at the time aud
place with leading members Of the State
not members Of either, Immediately conf
menced acting as if the State were already
out Of the Union. They pushed their mill
tary preparations vigorously forward all
ove- the State They seized the United States
arnory at Harper's Ferry, and the navy
yard at Gosport. near Norfolk. They receiv-
ed perhaps invited into their State large
bodies of troops. with their warlike appoint
mepts from the so-called confederate States.
They formally entered into treaty of
temporary alliance and corporation with
the so called seeded States, and sent men,
bers to their Congress at Montgomery, and
finally, they permitted the insurrectionary
Government to be transferred to their capi-
tai at Richmond.
The people of Virginia have thus allowed
this giant iusurrection to make its nest within
her borders and this Government has no choice