Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-06-04

supposed that one who was born aud bred
in the South, who resided in the Gull
States for fifteen years. Including the period
Of Mr.. Buchannn's Administration, aud the
first few months OF Mr. Lincoln's. and who
Was more or hess intimately acquainted with
many prominent and influential men in the
South, especially oil the Democratic party,
to which he himself belonged. has had OPP
portunilie5 for obtaining information, and
forming opinions, respecting the origin and
objects Of Secession, such az have not been
afforded to perhaps any Northern man,
whatever may have been his personal or
party relations to Southern politiciaas.--I
Such opportunities bave been mine; and
the impressions which, more deeply than
any other, have been made upon my mind
partly by clear and candid statements OF
acduainanccs aud frend,-partly by guard |
ed or unguarded intimations from various
sources-and partly by facts falling under
my own observation, connected with others
Of general notoriety-I will venture to give
to the public, for what they may be worth;
fully pursuaded, as ! am, that tho view
here presented is, in all respects, substan
tally correct, and is OF especial concernmeDt
to the Democratic pariy-more particularly,
to the Democratic politicians the North
and West.
Among the public men of the South who
planned and set on foot the Secession move
ment, were, first, those who looked upon it
as means to an early construction Of the
Union upon new basis, Il. e., with addi
tional guarantees to the Slave Power,
and to the restoration OF the Democratic
party TO the control Of the General Govern
inent; and, secondly, those who were in ia
vor Of Secession per Sc, aud meant that there
should be no reconstruction in any event.
being resolved up m Contederacy of Slave
States, the acl ilsltion OF Mexico, and
change from democratic to au aristocratc
form of government. These two classes
were entirely distinct, and the members Of
the former were not acquainted with the
plans and purposes Of the latter.
The former class, embracing many of the
leading politicians OF the South-all those
who we're deemed not quito fit to be taken
into the deeper plot of the latter--was, as
class, Of mparatively recent origin. Look
ing to the perpetuation and extension of
Slavery, in and by means Of the Union, and
TO the triumph of the Democratic party, its
birth dates no farther back than the time
when the territorial growth Of Slavery, and
the Democratic power began to be checked
by the rapid rise of the Republican party.
With this class, Secession was merelysa Sec
tional and party man@uvre by which the
Republicans were to he bluffed off from the
fruits of their victory and intimidated into
concessions to the Slave Power and the De-
mocracy.
THE second class has much older history.
II began, as oil now know, with the adop.
tion Of the Federal Constitution, though its
aims were not, at that day, 50 ambitious as
they have since become. For many years
it was insignificant in numbers aud inhu
ence, and was confined, mainly il not on
tirely, to u secret conclave OF South Carroll
ma and Virginia politicians. Mistaking its
strength, it prematuIely manifested itself
during Jackson's administration, but was
summary put down, for the time being,
BY that fearless and patriotic Democrat =
Foilcd, but not crushed, this clique (for at
that time it was nothing more) still nursod
its traitorous intent, and bded its oppOrtu
nifty. Acting with the Democratic party, il
entertained no conviction or sentiment that
agenuine Democrat would not abhor. 1t
identified itself nominnlly with Democracy
merely to avail itself OF the power Of that
party, and OF the prestige OF the name,
in working out its secret and hischiev0us
ends. My purpose is not to trace the his
tory and operations Of this clique. That it
existed, and that it gradually grew in power
ane daring until, by organized effort, it
achieved the disruption OF tho Democratic
party in tho Charleston Convention, and sc
cured the election Of a Republican Presi.
dent-this is now perfectly plain to all, -
The growth ofths class was exceedingly
rapid during Mr.. Buchanans administra
ton, early in which it had adherents in all
the cotton States; but not even all Of its ad.
herents were fully possessed Of the views
and purposes OF its guiding spirits. There
were degrees in this secret order OF So
cess sionists, and it was comparatively but
chosen lew who were initiated into its ul
trior designs. Yet every member suppos
cd that he knew the whole scheme, and
all the signs anl passwords of the order.
The first class OF Seeessionists, those,
namely, who were looking forward to re.
construction OF the Union, and the restora
ton Of the Democratic party to power, were
induced to believe, and actually did believe,
that theirs was the entire programme of all
the Secessionsts. And not only so; but
many Democratic politicians of the North
and West were lot thus far into tho plan,
and upon the faith that this was the whole
purpose in view, lent it their countenance,
aud promised their corporation in its exc
cutou.
That may not seem TO be venturing this
last assertion upon mere conjecture, may
as well say that q Democratic politician Of
New York stated 10 mo, in the fall OF 1860,
(he was then on visit to tho Gulf State in
which resided, that he and others Of his
party In the North, were at an understand
with the leading Southern politicians in re
gard to Secession; and that he had Just had
while on his way South. interviews with
several Southern Senators (whom he nam
edl 10 Washington City, aud that they did
not contemplate q permanent dissolution o..
the Union. One OF these Senators has
since become the President Of the Southern
Confederacy, and another Ia general officer
in the Confederate army. My informant
was confident that the Southern leaders
wers earnestly aiming at q reconstruction Of
the Union, and seemed to rely on the part
tho 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 secession
lists Of the Ssith, Similar expectations
were held out to many politicians OF the
Border States, who we're induced to believe
that those States, without themselves SO.
ceding, could act as mediators between the