Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-01-16

/ milcfCd But no Heavens name, let Tie
unl hp made before We plunge into an
armed conflict upon the mere assumption
that thcro isno other alternative.
Tire is great conservative power
Let us palsc at this momcntous moment
and afford tho people Of both the North
and South nm opportunity Tor reflection,
Would that South Carolina had b.ou con.
vinccd Of this truth before her proCipitR-
ted action. therefore appeal, through
you, to the people Of tho country, to pro-
claim in their might that tho "rSioS
MUST AND SHALL nE PRESERVED " by all cen
stitutionsl means.
| most earnestly recommend that you
devote yourselves exclusively to tho ques
ton how this can be accomplished in
lpeacc. All other questions, when COM
pared with this sink INFO insignifCance'
The present is no time for pallia;ion. Ac-
ton, prompt action is required delay
in Congress to prescribe and recommend
a distinct ana practical proposition for
cUncilliaton, may drive us 10 point
.0on which it will 10 almost impossible
to recede. A common ground on which
concillation and harmony may be pro
duced is surely not unattalnable.
J The proposition 10 compromise by let
1 ting the North have exclusive control OF
the territory above certain ne, ought
to receive universal appreciation. In it
self, indeed, it may not be entirely sats-
factory ; but when the alternative is be-
tween reasonable concession on both
sides, and the destruction OF the Union, il
is On imputation on the patriotism Of
, Congress TO assert that its members will
hesitate for a moment.
Even now the danger is upon US. In
several States which have not snceded
/ the forts, arsenals, and magazines have
been seized, This is 10y far the most Sc
rious step which has been taken since
/ the commencement Of the trouLles. =
This public property has long Le,n
! left without garrisOn5 and troops for
It's protection, because no person doubted
its security under the flag of the country
IN all the States OF the Union. Besides
our small army has scarcely been sufficient
to guard our remote frontiers against In.
dian incurljons. The seizure of this proo.
erty from al! appearances, has been pure.
ly aggressive, and not in resistance to anv
attempt to coerce a State or States to re.
main in the Union.
At the beginning Of these unhappy
troubles, determined that no act OF
mine should increase the excitement in
either section Of the country. IF the po>
Itical conflict were to end in civil war, it
was my determination not to commence it.
nor even 10 furnish an excuse for il by !
any act of this Government. Ny opinion
remains unchanged, that justice as well !
rs sound policy requires US still to seek !
n ~ l,aS
between the North and the South. En-. !
tertaining this conviction, I relraincd |
even from sending reinfurcements to Aa |
lor Anderson. who commanded the forts |
IN Charleston harbOr until nm absolute !
necessity Tor doing so should make itself |
apparent least it might unjus;ly be re
garded rs menace of military coercion, |
and thus iurnish if not provooation, at !
east pretext for an outbreak on the !
part of South Carolina. No necessity !
for these ronforcemeuts seemed to exist. !
was assured by distinguished and uD>
right gentlemen of South Carolina lhat !
20 attack on Major Anderson was intend- |
ed, but that on the contrary, it was the |
desire OF the State authorities, as much
as ii was my own, 10 avoid the fatal con, !
sequences which must inevitably follow Il
collision. And here decm it proper t.
submit for your interruption copies of Il
communication dated the 18th Of pecem.
ber, 1860 addressed TO me by r. w. |
Barnwell, J, II. Adams. and James /.
Orr, Com missoners from South Carolina,
with accompanying documents, ard cop
les ofmy answer thereto, dated the 5lst of
Decem' or.
In further expiration oFMaior Ander-
sons removal from Fort Moutrie 10 Fort
Sulnpter, it is proper to state that after
my answer to the South Carolina Comnis.
'oners, the War Department received n
letter from that gallant officer, dated on
the 9th Of December, 1860, (thc day after
this movement,) from which the following
IS an extract:
g will add as my opinion, that many
things convinced me that the authorities
OF the State designed to proceed to a hos
tile act Evidently referring to the or,
der7 dated December llth, of tho late
Secretary Of War Under this impres-
s!Dn could not Hesitate that il was my
SOLEMN duty to move my command from
fort which we could cot possibly have
held longer than forty eight or sixty
hours, TO this one, where my force is in
creased IN very great degree"
1t will be recollected that the conlud /
ing part of these orders were in the fol. /
lowing tercls: " The smallness of Your
force will rot permit you, perhap s, TO oc.
2upy more ,aan one Oft three forts
but an attack on, or an attempt TO take
possession of either Of them, will be re
garded as an act Of hostility, snd you .
may then put your command into either .
of them which you deem most proper 10
increase its power of resistance. You arc
also authrizcd to take similar defensive
steps whenever you have tangible eyi,
dence ofs design to proceed to hostile
act"
1t is said that serious approhcasions
are to some extent entertained that the
peace OF this District may be disturbed
before Mach next. In any event it will
be my duty 10 prevent it, and this duty
shall be performed