Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-04-17
The War Policy of the Administr alton
and the Probab BILE Consequences.

Civil war is close at hand. The news
that it has been inaugurated in bloody
conflict ut Charleston may reach US at any
moment. Lieutenant Talbot of Fort
Sumter, on his return journey to Major
Anderson, has been dctaineu at Charles
ton; so that the instructions which he
carries to that officer aye cut oil. Thus
the gallant Major will be left to his own
discretion, although, from the signal
lights which nightly nov he displays
from his stronghold, it would appear that
he expects relief and is prepared to COS
operate with any relieving force that may
show Itself Mt the entrance of the Earbor.
1t also appears that the effort will surely
be made, under the flag of the United
States to Tun the gauntlet of the hostile
forts and batteries which must lee passed
to reach Fort Sumter aud it is morally
certain that any such attempt will result
in bloody conflict, or in the ignomini-
Gus retreat of our relieving squadron.
We are not disposed to conjecture that
mere pretence OF relief to Major Ander>
son is the policy Of Mr.. Lincoln. Oar
warlile republican contemporaries of this
city, especially the terrible Horace Gree
ley, assure Us that the administration is
in earnest ia this matter, and henceiOr.
ward abaudons the thankless policy of
fOIbearanCe and indulgence with geOels
and traitors. Tie country has been de
celved, Wall street has te, n.oyerredched,
the secessioniS!s themselves have beer
led astray, by the late pacific manifesto
tions and professions OF the government
at Washington, and particularly by its
doleful confessions of the necessity OF
eyacuating Fort Sumter. With relicy-
ing squadron en- route to that point, we are
.admcnlshed OF the necessity of holding
that position, and OF the duty of relieving
it, even at the hazard of war; and we are
further advised that this has been the de.
hberate and nileX!ble purpose Of Mr..
Lincoln from beginning.
Anticipating, then, The speedy inaugu-
ration OF civil war at Charleston, at PEN
sacola, OF in Texas, or, perhaps, at all
these places, the inquiry is forced upon
us, what will be the probable consequent
ces! apprehend that they will be ::
first the secession OF Virginia and the
other border slave States and their union
with the Confederate States: secondly.
the organization of an army for the re-
moval Of the United States ensign and
authorities from every fortress or public
building within the Limits Of the Confed-
crate States, including the White House,
the Capitol, and other public buildings at
Washington. After the secession of Nr~
/ from the United States, it IS not likely
that Maryland can be restrained from the
same decisive act. She wil follow the
fortunes Of Virginia, md will undoubted-
! ly claim that, in Withdrawing from the
/ United States, the District OF Columbia
reverts into her possession under the su,
preme rights of revolution. Here we
have verge and scope enough for a civil
war of five, ten or twenty Yeas duration.
What for? TO show that we have q
government'-to show that the seeded
States are still in our Union. apd are still
subject TO its laws and authorities. This
Is the fatal mistake of NJ. Lincoln, and
his Cabinet, and his party. The simple
truth, ratent to all the world, is, that the
seeded States are out of our Union, and
ale organized under an independent gov
eminent of their own. The authority Of
the United States within the borders of
this Independent confederacy has been
completely superseded, except in de-
tached fort here and there. We desire
to restore this displaced authority of the
United States in its full integrity. How
Is this to be done? BY entering into a
war with the seeded States for the con
tinued occupation of those detached forts {?
No. A war will only widen the breach
ard enlarge and consolidate this South.
ern Coniederacy, on the one hand, while,
on the other hand, il will bring ruin
upon the commerce, the manufactures.
the financial and industrial interests of
OF our Northern cities and States, and
may end in an oppressive military des-
potism.
How then are we to restore these sece-
ded States to,the Union? We can do it
only by Cancellation and compromise.
The border slave States still! adhering TO