Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-08-26
WHO REGAN TIE wAR,

WHO BEGAN THE WAR; VI
1t has become the fayOrite doctrine fol the
Copperheadstochargethe Black Republicans"
with having commenced the war. Every paper
Of theirs that has fallen under our observation
within the past few weeks has contained this
charge. Here is samPle:,ne.s3 9a'ssi
'sYOu Black Republicans began this war
You have carried it ON for three years. You
have sent yeur hell hounds down South to de-
vastate the country-and what have you done?
You have not conquered the South. YoG ley=
er can conquer them. 'e''ei
Probably eight men out of every ten in that
party know this charge to be false. aItis.in the
recollection of all of them, that wheiF the war
commenced nearly the entire population or the
North approved of the determination Of the
Government TO raise an army 10 maintain its
authority. In this county the Democrats WED
with the Republicans in raising men for the''war,
and the, Democratic and Republican Presses,
and the pablicspeakers of both parties, urged
our young men 70 go to the rescue of our coun-
try. Then it was favorite cry Of many Of the
leaders Of the Democratic party that it had fur
nished the men to do the fighting while the Re-
publicans staid at home. These facts are fresh
in the memory Of every one.
Now we propose to examine. into this charge
little, that the '.Black Republicans comirlen-
ced this war. We think the s.boot is on the
other foot In November, 1860 Mr. Lincoln
waslegally and constitutionally elected Presi-
dent Of the United States. He was not ina1-
gurated until March 4th, 1861. Between Mr..
Lincoln's election and his Inauguration, we find
the following record: aal - 81
Dec 20, 1860 Capture of Fort Mo1Itrie and
Castle Pinekney by the South Carolina troops.
January 3, eIS6I.-Capture Of Fort Pulaski
| by the Savannah troops. gus III
| january 3, 1S6l.-The United States arsenal
at Mount Vernon, Ala, with 900, coo stand Of
arms seized by the Alabama troops.
| January 4, I66l.-FOrt Morgan in Mobile
Bay taken by Alabama troops. stf
| January g. I66l.-The United States steamer
Star Of the West was fired into aud driven off
by the rebel batteries on Morris Island when at
tempting to furnish Ft Sumter with supplies
January g. I66l.-Mississippi seeded; vote
of the convention 81 TO 80.
january 10, I66I.-Fort Jacksun, Fort Phil
| ip and Fort Pike, near New Orleans, captured
| by the Louisiana troops fr
January IL, 186l.-AlabaiIla seeded; vote Of
convention 81 TO 49,
January IL, I86l.-Florida seeded
January IA, S6l.-Capture Of Pensacola a.
Wy Yard and Fort McRa by Alabama troOpss
january 1S, I86l.-Surrenderc Of Baton Rouge
arsenal to Louisiana troops 7'
January l9, 166l.-Georgia seeded; vote Of
lconVention, 203 to 81. -Ia
January 26, I86I.-Louisiana seeded vote
Iof Convention, lI3 to 10. New Orleans Mint
and Custom House taken.
| February I, 1S6l-Texas seeded; vote oi
Convention, 166 tO7 Submitted TO a vote Of
the people Feb. %, and took effect I'd of March.
February 2, lo6l.-Seizure Of Little Rock
arsenal by Arkansas troops.
February,4, 186l.-SuITendero of the Revenue
cutter Castle to the Alabama authorities.
February S, lS6I.-The Southern Congress
met at Montgomery, Alabama. ,..
February 8, 186l.-The provisional constitu-
ltion adopted. s-.5 -
February 9, I86I.-Jeff. Davis and Alexan-
der Stephens were elected President and Vice
President Of what they call the Southern Con-
federacy.. = t-s -
February IL, ls6I.4Twigs transferred tn,
United States property in Texas to the rebels.
February l6, .186l.-Jeff. Davis was inaugu
rated President of the conspirators..
March 3, Is6l,-The United States Resenu'
lcutter was seized by the Rebels in Texas.
| All these acts of the traitors transpired unde
La Democratic Administration. The Presiden
was Democrat; the members Of the Cabine
were all Democrats; majority Of both houses
of Congress were Democrats; the Democrat
had command Of the army; the Democrats hae
command Of the Navy. In fact the Democrat
had the entire control of the Goyernment-aDc
Ill Ii G. H.. ,,-a,,;, ,;,,bt ,.o.r.. fr,,,,, az.
President down to the smallest petty officer un.
der the control Of the Administration,
This was the state of affairs when Mr.. Lin.
coin was.sworn into office on the 4th of March
1851 This the legacy left to his administra
Ition by the Democratic administration. Wha
was he to do2 Recognize the Government which
the rebels had set up? This he could not do
and nothing less would be accepted by them
Besides this, nearly the unanimous sentimen
Iof the people of the North was opposed to it
Mr.. Lincoln, anxious to avoid bloodshed, ap
pealedtd the conspirators in his Inaugural Ad
dress, to listen TO reason and yield obedience t
the laws Of the Government, saying among 9th
er things, the following: i'
1
pie of the Southern States that by the access
ion of Republican Administration their pro
Iperty and their peace and personal security ar
to be endangered. There, never has been an,
serious cause for such apprehension. Indeed
the most ample evidence to the contrary has al
the while existed and been open to their in
Ispection. 1t has been found in all the publ
Ispeeches of him who now addresses you. d
but quote from those speeches when declar
, that 81 have no power, directly or indirectly
L to interfere with the institution of slavery IL
the States where it exists. / believe have nj
lawful power to do so, and have no inclination
to do 50. ",s,.,a sssf. assisl-.i is,a
/, This was the position of the entire Republi
can party. The Convention which noIhinatet
Mr. Lincoln bad unanimously adopted It. Tn
! lentire Republican Press and all its speaker
r lheld to the same view But the rebels had de
ltermined ON making war certain, hence we I'm.
that on .--.,lst
5 March 5, l56l.-Beauregard assumed com
mand Of the troops besieging Fort Sumter. p.
: March -, I66l.-Alabama ratified the con
stitutioR of the rebel States; vote of the con
ventiOn 81 to g. - g-{-la.ofl
March I6 1S6l.-Georgia ratified the Con
stitution Of the rebel States, and, previous Il
ldone the same thing. - 'sas-ie2Hi .s
? April IL, lS6I.-FoFt Sumter was attacked
at o. clock, A. NJ, and after thirty four hours
bombardment it surrendered. tzi h.
1t was not until after all this, and until it wa
rendered certain that the rebels were organizing
a large force in Virginia with which 10 attacl
washington, seize the public archieyes, and, i
possible, occupy it as the Rebel Capital, tha
f Mr.. Lincoln asked for troops to enforce the law
i, land preserve the integrity of the nation. 81,
In view of these facts, no honest man can
viii say that the war was commenced by tn
present Administration. To do so would be
proclamation of his own infamy ~
Here we might stop, but win add few word
in regard TO Mr. Lincoln No other man thai
he who now fills the Executive Chair ofthe ma
ton ever had 50 great responsibility resting
l upon him.. Called to his position by the saf
! frages Of the people, he dare not shrink from
III r.. II liz