Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-07-15

nstrpc,ion Of future generations who may end il dH
cult to credit without proof the general dcpravy thai
tOerates and appauds official basenees and personl
turpitude.
Il has often been asserted in the South, and it
was plainly deducble from the circumstances, that
the attack on Fort Sumter by the Confederate batteries
in April, 81, was brought about designedly by the
trcksers at Washington-the object being to have the
garrison there sacrificed and the flg disgaced, with
the hope of firing the excabe pOpu alton of the North
into a war fever The charge was always denied until
my when the author OF the atrocous arti6ce, no
nger able to deuy himself tho glory OF its conception
and execution comes forward with the avoWal OF 1t,
and reaps his reward in the huzzahs OF the mob sur
roundu him, and the gratitude of the delighted ma
ton to whom the newspapers convey IT. lnls COMICS
SIGN WAS made the other night in Washington by
Seward when be haranguing the ero"d OIL
loagers who were carousing about the streets VI 'u'
fall OF yicksburE. The language employed was sucn
. ,i,b, b,y. been expected from so apt disciple oil
tho .rcb one who knew how TO "quote scripture snd
,.c, virtue when it suited his purpose Referring to
~ o,in of the war said Seward 81 though 1t con
,nt with the duty Of patriot and christian TO take
care that the war should be begun not BY the friends
o the Union bu. BY its enemies so that in maintaining
the Union, We should not only maintain the cause of
the country but should be maintaining IN righteous
81 defence"
To bring this about, Seward lied to the South
era Commissioners, lied to Judge Campbell, lied
10 Governor Poken', AMI We know not how many
others He seut at least two agents to Charleston to
lie for him. He gave the assurance first that Fort Sum
ter should be evacuated and secondly, that DO attempt
YOU'D be made to reinforce it without notice to Gov.
Pickles. or the Confederate ap:hO tiles. Without no.
,ce he caused feet to be secretly got ready in
York and dispatched to he mouth OF Charleston barOor
When it had had full time to arrive there and be was
sure it had arrived then he pretended 10 keep his word
by giving notice of the intention 20 reinforce. Bu'
tbis notice was, ITSELF he-fOr the conduct Of the
ss.t after il arrived (havng been detained by Storm
.bo~ed that it had no instructions and no intention
to attempt to enter the harbor 1t was sent th'r'
only TO menace and provoke assault on Fort Sumter
Seward meant to have war; but he was doubt vi OF the
temper Of the Northern people. Something must be
done to arouse them to wound their PRIDE and maame
their resentment The ba.tsrng down o. fort the
disgrace of the flag the sacrifice OF the garrison, these
we're The urovocatives he relied The cold hearted
villain would have liked it all the better if the silly An
derson and all his men had lost their lives lie though;
tie taste Of blood s'Ary TO usher in aud make
certain the bloody sa.urnaa which he had determined
to insugurats. But he was mistaken What was done,
like the wound of Merou.iO, was enough What
70 loved, tbs world si iorset. l. is right slso,
thu. it should never be forgotten hCw IL all began, Ud
therefore we have rescued this precious sentence OF
So rard rom the rubbish tina: suuou ldel it in his
Washington speech.