The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-06-18

For many years 1t was lnSlgnlncaDt IN
numbers and influence, and was confined,
mainly if not entirely, to secret conclave
Of South Carolina and Virginia politicians.
Mistaking its strength, it prematurely
manifested itself during Jackson's admin
istration, but was summarily put down,
for, the time being, by that fearless and
patriotic Democrat. Foiled, but not
crushed, this clique (for at that time it
was nothing more) still nursed its traitor
Gus intent, and bided its opportunity
Acting with the Democratic party, it
entertained no conviction or sentiment
that genuine Democrat would not abhor.
It identified itself nominally with Democ-
racy, merely to avail itself of the power
of that party, and of the prestige of the
name, in working out its secret and mis-
chievous ends. My purpose is not to
trace the history and operations Of this
clique. That it existed, and that it grad
ually grew into power and daring until,
by organized effort, it achieved the dis
ruption of the Democratic party in the
Charleston Convention, and secured the
election of a Republican President-that
is now perfectly plain to all. The growth
of this class was exceedingly rapid during
Mr.. Buchanan's administration, early In
which it had adherents in all the cotton
States; but not even all of its adherents
were fully possessed of the views and
purposes of its guiding spirits. There
were degrees in this secret order of Seces-
sionists, and it was comparatively but a
chosen few who were initiated into It's
ulterior designs. Yet every member sup
posed that he knew the whole scheme,
and all the signs and passwords Of the
order.
The first class of Secessionists, those,
namely, who we're looking forward to
reconstruction of the Union, and the
restoration Of the Democratic party to
power, were induced to believe, and actu-
ally did believe, that theirs was the entire
programme OF all the Secessionists. And
not only so !; but many Democratic politi-
clans of the North and West were let
thus far into the plan, and upon the faith
that this was the whole purpose in view,
lent it their countenance, and promised
their co-operationn in It's execution.
That I may not seem to be yenturing
this last assertion upon mere conjecture,
| may as well say that a Democratic
politician of New York stated to me, in
the fall of 1860, Che was then on Il visit
to the Gulf State in which [ resided,)
that he and others of his party in the
North, were at an understanding with the
leading Southern politicians in regard to
Secession and that he had just had,
while on his way South, interviews with
several Southern Senators (wh ON he
named) in Washington city, and that they
did not contemplate a permanent dissolu-
ton of the Union. One of these Senators
has since become the President of the
Southern Confederacy, and another is
general officer in the Southern Cornfeder-
ate army My informant was confident
shat the Southern leaders were earnestly
aiming at reconstruction of the Union,
and seemed to rely on the part the Border
States were to play, as the means by which
that reconstruction would be Effected
This will serve to show what expectations
were held out to some of the Northern
Democrats by the arch secessionists of
the South. Similar expectations were
held out to many politicians of the Border
States, who were induced to believe that
those States, without themselves seeding,
could act as mediators between the North
and South, call convention of all the
States, and thus bring about reunion.
A similar programme, though somewhat
varied in its details, was laid before GER
tain leading Democratic politicians of the
West, That programme was substantially
as follows, viz /: Secession OF the Southern
States establishment of Southern Con-
of the Western States,
one by one, with that confederacy-sub
accession of the Middle States,
and either the exclusion of New England
or its admission as single State.
/ need not say that there are those in
the West who, if put on their uoir dire,
could be made to prove the accuracy of
this statement; Cor is it not verified by
many significant speeches and resolutions
of the last few months
The "Secessionists per se' (to use a
phrase in vogue in the South at one timc)
deemed the cooperation Of the Southern
essential to the success
of the first step in their plan-the secos-
sion of the Southern States-as that CO.
operation was needed to make the move |
ment popular and effective at home; and |
the aid Of the reconstrucIionists in the |
Northern, Western, and border States was |
required to prevent the suppression of the |
in its inception, by the Fed
eral Government. &
Though greatly disappointed in some