The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-02-06
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WHAT is.

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN-WHAT IS.
This war might have been prevented-the
lcadrls secessionists of the Cotton States might
have loeen conquered without the firing of gun,
haf our Abolition rulers been wise and patriot
ic. The adoption by Congress, of the Critten-
df ia Compromise, would have saved the Union,
a.rd prevented the vast and boot,ess sacrifices OF
blood and treasure which are being poured out
/ on tie black altar of Abolitionism. But, even
! after the defeat Of the Crittenden plan, by the
A.Aslitionists, the war might have been prevent
ed and the Secessionists conquered by peaceful
means.
Had lfr. Lincoln been prompted by wisdom
and true patriotism, secession might have been
stipngled in the house of its friends, and thus
putput of the way forevel. This is acknowl-
edG'd by eminent Southern men and Secession
leaders themselves. Our soldiers recently at
OsRsri, Mississippi, seized, at the residence oil
!, Hon. Jacob Thompson, Mr. Buchanan's Secre-
tart of the Interior, copies of letters written
by aim to other individuals, among which was
ona containing the following significant para
gtaph:
'sIn all did, acted on lifelong convictions,
and after reached home became desirous that
the severance which had begun should then be
pe?petual-a new desire for me. L feared that
that blunderer Lincoln, would turn and adept
my ideas Of State rights. Had he done 50, Sc
ceSsoa ,coaiB haze deea killed c9' .torerer. Had
Lincoln, in his inaugural, boldly taken the
groand that he would evacuate the forts OF Sum
ter and pckens, and leave the seeded States
to setarmiae for themselves their own destiny,
the Border States would have been secured to
The old Union beyond peralventure. and in all the
seeded States there would have been Union
/ partFy se5tck ,couM hare asserted rs asceDdGacy
a. q anr .Staias. This ieeling W.r7 yirrp s'ad
sEfong when came home. But the very mo-
men. Lincoln suspended the Constitution and
the laws, and undertook to raise armies and
support navies without the aid of Congress, the
feeling for separation became universal. Now,
nothing but humiliation will bring these States
into the old Union"
| It is well known that, one time shortly before
| the attack on Fort Sumter, the Lincoln admin
| istration had resolved to evacuatc the Southern
| forts and pursue the course which Mr.. Ihomp-
son feared Mr.. Lincoln might take. About
this time, Mr.. Seward, speaking for Mr.. Lin
coin wrote to Mr.. Adams an official letter, III
which he argued against the theory OF coercion.
lie said that ''only an imperial or despotic gov
mcns could have the right to subjugate dlsaifect-
ed and insurrectionary States. This Federal
Republican system of ours" he said, ''is the
very one which is most untitled for such q Ia
bor" No one will doubt that this, al that time,
! was the sentiment of the Administration, and
no man can successfully deny that this argument
of Mr. Stewards was sound.
But MIR. Lincoln was, at length, induced to
try coercion. After his organs had given out
that the policy we have indicated was TO be a.
doptcd by him, and after Mr.. Seward through
an Intermediary, had conferred with the South
ern commissioners, whom he led to believe that
Sumter was to be evacuated, contemplate
Yankee trick was resolved upon, by which the
rebels were provoked to open fire on that fort,
and thus the war policy of the Administration
was proclaimed to the world. Then came a
proclamation from the President calling for -,
900 men for three months, with which number
of men and within which time the rebellion was
to be queled. :,
The rest Is known TO our readers--it is writ
ten in blood and proclaimed to the world III
the anguished cries OF widows and orphans
and here we are, the South united and deternl'
ined, the North divided, disgusted, discouraged
while the world is deriding our insane attempts
to save q Union by first destroying it.--Deao
cut'c Leader,