The southern aegis. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1857-1862, 1861-12-14

Union lift up their approaching hands to them
and say, "Why, why did ye seek, oh foolish, to
compel your brethren? was that written in the
compact by ticir fathers and yours?'
But It's said the crimes of the South against US
have been so many that we must chastise her,
What are these great crimes? "South Carolina
broke up the Unon' Why what mighty thing
is this South Carolina that she could break up
our Union? South Carolina did nothing of the
sort she withdrew from the Union--that was all.
" But Georgia went too Yes, and the fas-
ter, because we said she could not and should
not. And Mississippi, and Florida, and Ala
bama, and Texas, and Louisiana all went despite
our pro ibition And at last when we said f.
nally we would bring them back with the sword,
Virginia, the great and liberal mother of States,
and North Carolina, the conse1 vative and virtu-
Gus that gave an overwhelming majority for the
Union, notwithstanding the action of her nearest
neighbor and sister-and Tennessee that wonld
not hear OF Il convention, and Arkansas, the wild
young brother, of whom nobody expected such
soberncss that would stay quietly at homc-all
went; driven on; by what seemed TO them our
injustice, But they seized the forts they took
the common property of the Union! They did
they deemed it necessary to their safety, since we
threatened, but they offered to give the equiva-
lent of value, and to fairly adjust all matters of
money and property. And surely if it is about
that we are fighting, it would have been time
enough when the States had met, and could make
no equitable adjustment. g But the flag, they
threw aside the flag" And if they had presumed
to take to themselves that banner of many stars
what should we have thought of their arrogance?
They did not do that, but the child does not easily
forget the things he saw in the home of his ia
Their They made one rs near like it as they
could come, they kept the broad stripes, and they
set on it seven stars, the modest number which
they thought rightfnl!y belonged to them
:" Bnt they tried to subvert our govcrnmentY'-
Men OF the North, how long will you be drluded
with fables; let children be frightened with shad-
oWs, but you are grown and bearded men and
ready to confront realities. How could the South
subvert your government? You, yourselves,
only could do that The South had no such
power, nor could she he foolish enough to think
she had. And IN what manner did she try to
subvert it? by going away from it as fast as she
could. We might as well say a man tries to set
ire to house by running off in another drec-
ton. She said what she meant and wanted was
to separate herself from u.s. ard we have good rea-
son to believe her. But they fired on the hag!'
No, not on the flag, it was Fort Sumter at which
they Tired, and for what reason? This was no
child s play with the South, she was not acting
farce of secession, she earnestly meant to CO.
She sent her commissioners to Washington asking
peace, that she might 60 in peace; they waited
long and could get no frank answer. Mr.. Lin
coin said and says still that he meant peace,
but he was for enforcing the laws. This was
the reply to the Commissioners, and this the
President declared in person to the delegates of
the Virginia Convention, few days before the
taking o. Sumter, expressly stating that he had
never swerved from the language of his inaugu-
raj Let us not be deceived the same has been
said by every arbitrary government since the
world began, when they meant to compel, with
sword and dcsolation, their unwilling subjects
Ii is very different thing from enforcing law on
individuals; it is o convenient name for war of
subjugatlon, and how can it be anything else?-
Is 1T to be expected when q mass or community of
men have determined to throw off government,
or States have withdrawn from Union, they
will quietly submit to the laws of tina! govern
ment or that Union. 1t was in this way that |
England enforced the law on your fathers and no
doubt she said her policy was peace. But Fort
Sumter, after great talk of evacuation, was to be
replenshed, and this with an imposing force of
Bhlps and men, Fort Sumter commanded the |
harbor OF Charleston; it was of small account to
US it we intended peace; it was a matter of life |
and death to the Caronians if we meant war; |
for with 1t in our hands we could have bonn
barded their city, and controlled their harbor.-
Therefore, they took it while they could "They |
made threat of taking Washington" Let rs
look into this threat and see to what it amounts |
1t claimed they had fixed design to march at
once on Washington, and if the President had
not called out volunteers this would have been !
done, the city taken, and the whole government
overthrown, though how anybody can suppose
the Government could be overhrown by the
mere possession Of Washington, it passes ali rea-
son or comprehension. But there is no proof of
such plan. If they had such, General Beaure-
gard must at once have marched his forces from
all points and fastened fast as railways could
carry them to the Federal city. What does facts
prove? That at the very time the North sup
posed this thing, and for weeks AFTER General
Bsauregard was quietly experimenting the repair