Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-02-16
From tie wasbineton Chronicle. Jan. 2Tth.
RESIGNATION OF MR.. BAYARD


While Mr. Bsyard was pronouncing his fare
vol speech in the United States Senate yestsr-
day altern9on, We were fOrcbly reminded Of the
scenes which took place in the same chamber In
january and February preceding the inaugnra-
'lnn oil Mr. Lineoln, in 1861. Senator after Sen
ator rose 'iu his seat aud gave his reasons for
| Withdrawing from body and from 8 Govern
ment, to bpth OF which he had pledged fidelity
and fealty in the most solemn and impressive
manner We think it may be said of these pio-
neers Of treason that not one Of them felt that
the Federal Government was either strong
enough to resist rebellion, or to defend itself
and we have always believed that il the curtain
that concerted the black aud bloody future could
then have been unrOlled before their eyes the
smooth sylIbles that fell from their lips and the
noisy threateniugs with which the Senate re-
sounded would have frozen upon their tongues
or dwindled into cowRrdly whispers. These bold
bad men had used such wicked precautions to
ietter and to weaken the Government Of their
fathers that they felt as they stepped into their
carriages, and rolled down Pennsylvania avenue,
as il they were only about to take a pleasant
aunt to their plantations, to be recalled in a few
short weeks 10 the places which they had so iR-
ANONYMOUSLY deserted But what a reckoning
and harvest Between January and February,
1861, and January aud February, 1864, lies
spread the most terrible record OF human crime
and human insratitude on the page Of history
There is not line Of it that does not stand forth
in terrible accusation and proof that the men
who LEFT the Senate left it without pretext, and
that those who now complain Of war and coercion
we're themselves alone the authors of the war,
aud the men who rendered coercion necessary
No man should know this record more thorough
ly than he who is now ex-senator Bayard, Of
Delaware for he was q party to some of the
early and the innermost counsels Of the Southern
conspirators-nOt probably a oonsenting party to
A. III.
undoubtedly Que familiar with their dark designs
and their exirayagaut demands of separation and
Of empire. And yet with these truths before
tim, which, Notwithstanding his own political
preiudlces, must more or less have made some
impression upon his mind, that Senator yesterday
IN an elaborate speech failed to array those who
arc chiefly aud alone guilty of this rebellion, and
with cool dehherauon charged the public calam-
tiles upon the Federal Administration, and pre-
icted the overthrow OF the Republic because OF
the efforts OF that Administration to save il from
the rebels IN arms. We do not care to take up
IA detail the several moustrous allegations Of Mr..
Bayar1, but what candid man will not be shock
Ped at bis assumption that the course OF the Ad-
ministratiOn was not justified by events, and that
The true policy would have been to permit the
Southern States to secede, in the hope that they
might be brought back 10 their allegiance, ae
North Cerolina was induced TO subscribe to the
Federal Constitution 90 the 2lst Of November,
1888. This indeed, was what the traitors them
selves demanded Of the Federal Government
not that tbOy would return. but that they desired
to go. Suon, also, would have been the oonse-
quence Of the fatal heresy Of James Buohenan's
last message, had that heresy not been attacked
and beaten down. And yet it was only when the
fact Of carrying into effect by force OF arms the
purposes eVowed Ia the speeches of Senators who
seeded in the winter of 1861, became appsrent
that those who came fresh into the AdministrA-
Al. Il.
to save what was then supposed to be mere
remnant OF Government Did not Mr.. Bayard
know what the whole world knows, that in the
succeeding April the Baltimore mob disputed the
paasags Of toops to the defence OF the Federal
capital! That Maryland was u secret render.
Sous Of traitors, and that even his own State Of
Delaware warmed with men who were impudent
enough to threaten the seizure Of the fort in The
adjacent Waterss So that if his plan now the
plan ot Mr.. Davis three years ago, had been
adopted, there would possibly have been peace
able uesson, but there would have been such
bloody restoration, even Of the two States to
wlioi we have referred, as we shudder to con-
template The great mistake of Mr. Bayard aud
men OF his school in attempting to compare the
Southern slavehoders ia their revolt against a
free aud Christisu Government, with the good
meu oil other ages who have risen for the pur-
pose OF putting down oppression, TO vindicate hu-
map rights, and to extend the area OF oivilisa-
tion. The revolution foI which he pleads and
in the name Of which he attempts to marshall
before him the illustrous principles and prece-
dents growing out Of former struggles against
tyranny, is d sheer revolution in favor Of crime,
in favor of slavery, in favor Of tyranny. Here
there eau he no eaVil; and we are surprised that
one wbO is perhaps little overproud Of that ar
cestor. who in the time that triad mems souls did
not hesitate to array himself against foreign
despof, should now uneOnsciously reproach that
uoble ancestor, by making Of his great example
an apology for tho present rebellion against the
| he Government he assisted to establish. No,
| Mr. Bsyard. you have left the Senate of the
United States not only after having attempted to
nisrepresent aud malign your country, but after
having confessed that the very oath from which
you recoiled was not 30 odous but thai you could
take IL, thus showing that you can be as iuoOn-
sistent as you are unjust.