The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-09-22
Who is Responsible for this War.

!, responsible for the war, and many hon
est Democrats believe that the rebels ar
only lighting to save their slaves from
Mr.. Lincoln. We have frequently pub
lished the contradiction to these false
hoods, and our readers know better; bu
friend has handed in part of speech o
Governor Morton of Indiana, which tell:
the real truth in answer to the charge, il
such clear language that we feel sure il
will do good to re-publish it:
MY competitor says that Mr.. Lincoln
might have avoided this war if he hat
felt so disposed. lie further says it has
been brought on by the agitation of the
slavery question. Now, one word in re-
gard to that assertion that Lincoln com
menced the war. In October, 1859 more
than one year before Mr.. Lincoln's elec
ton, Mr.. Floyd, the Secretary of War
under Buchanan's administration, issued
an order sending $4,000 muskets to the
Southern Arsenals, and during that ad,
ministration orders were frequently issued
sending guns to Southern forts and arse
nails, and placing them where they could
not be seized. In October Gen. Scott in
formed AIr. Buchanan that preparations
were being made to seize the forts and
dockyards of the South. During the time
of Mr.. Buchanan's administration, before
Mr. Lincoln came into Office, eight States
seeded. During the term of Mr. Bu-
chanan's administration the Montgomery
Constitution was framed, and jeff Davis
was inaugurated President of the South
ern Coniederacy. Mr.. Davis himself had
said before Mr. Lincoln came into Office,
''the time Of compromise is past, and if
they resist secession We will make them
feel Southern steel and Southern gun
powder On the day of Mr.. Lincoln s
Inauguration there were more than 30
600 under arms in the South while we
had less than 5000. On the 9th day of
March the rebel Congress passed a bill to
increase the rebel army to 100000 men.
Four days before Mr.. Lincoln's inaugu.
tion every shipyard, dockyard, mint, and
custom house in the south had been selz-
ed, and every fort except Sumter was
seized All this was done during Bu-
chanan's administration Remember that
eight States had seeded under the Dem
ocratic administration, while you charge
secession as having been caused by Re
publican fanaticism. The rebel CoDsti
tuition was formed while we of the North
had Democratic administration. And
yet. for the purpose of dividing the peo
pie of the North, we are told that Mr..
Lincoln made this war, when it is mat
ter of public history that preparation for
the rebellion had been going on, not only
through Buchanan's administration, but
for thirty years before it. When the Or
dinance of secession was passed in South
Carolina Convention, Mr.. ingalls, in the
South Carolina Convention said at is
the work of years" Mr.. Keitt said 81
have been engaged in this war all my
life" Barnwell Rhett said: ave have
been engaged in this war for more than
thirty years. 1t is no consequence of
Lincolns election, or the failure to en-
force the Fugitive Slave Law; but we
have been engaged in this war for more
than thirty years" That was true, and
the same declaration was made in Geor-
gia, Alabama, and other Southern States.
Yet we are still told that Lincoln made
this war, and that he might have avoided
it if he had been so disposed. If there
ever was time when we were called up
on to deal truly and honestly with the
people it is now. We have no right-as
we are men, and as we love our country,
and our homes, and our amilies--we
have no right to deal unfaithfully or un-
truly to the people. My friend should
uot let his party prejudices lead him SO
far aside from the path of duty and the
truth of history. You have heard him
denounce my administration, and you have
heard him denounce Mr. Lincoln's ad-
ministration. | want to know if any man
in this assembly has heard him say one
word, directly or indirectly. against the
administration of Jeff Davisl Has lie
said one word against those men who
are endeavoring to kill our brothers and
sons on Southern battle fields? Has he
said one word against those men who shed
the blood of the gallant Col Hathaway
of your own county? Not a single syla
bic. Has my friend no indignation ex
cept for the brave men who rally round
the old flag and are true to the cause Of
the Union Has he no sympathy ex
cept for those who are opposing the Gov.
ernment? Is there nothing to be said a
gainst those men who are shedding the
best blood of the land? Ispeak for them
| denounce, in their name, that rebellion
as wicked and infamous against the bes
government in the world-rebels against
liberty, against God and against humani
ty. And | call upon all truly and patri
otic men to unite with me in denouncins
that cause"