The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-10-21

step (the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln in
March accomplished) after Mr.. Seward
was confirmed as Secretary of State by
the Senate, brought John Forsyth, Martin
J. Crawford and A. B. Roman, "Commis-
sioners from the Confederate States, who,
to use their own language, asked audi
ence to adjust, in spirit of amity and
peace, the new relations springing from a
and accomplished revolution in
the Government of the Union. This
application was not answered until the Sth
Of April, although Mr.. Stewards declina-
ton was prepared on the 18th of March ;
but a memorandum at the close adds: "a
delivery of the same, however was delay
ed to Messrs Forsyth and Crawford, as
was understood, with their consent" In
the interval, communication between Sec
retary Seward and the Confederate Com
missioners was carried on by Judge Camp
bell Of the Supreme Court of the United
States, whose conversations with the See
retary of State were Witnessed by Judge
Nelson, also of the Supreme Court, who
the following note of the result
given, on the 18th of March, 1861, to
Judge Crawford, for information to the
States:
q feel entire confidence that Fort Sumter
will be evacuated in the next FIVE DAYS and
this measure is felt as imposing q great re.
sponsibility on the Administration.
81 feel entire confidence that no measure
changing the existing status rreiudicially Il
tba b,-,, G,p fniarota StafaS is 81 r,rpSNnt
contemplated.
Il feel an entire confidence that an an.
swer to the communication of the Confede,
rate Commissioners will be productive Of
evil, not good. do not believe it ought now
to be pressed. =
Mr. Seward. it seems. made no direct
reply to letter of Judge Campbell refer
ing to the pledges he communicated from
him to the Confederate Commissioners
and stating TO him that the pledge tc
evacrate Fort Sumter is less forcible than
the words you employed These words
were, before this letter reaches "a propos.
ed letter by me to President Davis Sum
ter will have been evacuated" Mr.. Sew
ard did, however, in an authorized state.
ment made in the Albany Evening Jour
journal, by Mr.. Thurlow Weed, admit
that he, Gov Seward, eonversed freely
with Judge Campbell; we do not deny
nor do we doubt that in these converse.
tions, at one period, he intimated that Ft
Sumter would be evacuated. He certain
ly believed so, founding his opinion on
the knowledge of General Scott's recon.
mendation."
Now, this mode of escaping the respon-
sibility of his assurance to JEFF. Davis that
Sumter would be evacuated. is ike thai
of Teucer skulking frcm danger by shoot
ing his arrows under the cover of the
shield of Ajax: 1t is well known that
General Scott, before Buchanan sent his
non-coereion message to Congress, and as
soon as preparation for revolt in the South
was seen, urged the President by letter
to put all the forts in Charleston harbol
in a state of defense In this he eyinced
the alacrity that prompted him under
General jackson 5 orders, when he brought
Charleston and the rebellion into submis-
sion by bringing the guns of the army and
navy to bear upon that city when it hoist
ed the flag of notification against the
Union in 1882. Scott meant to crush the
rebellion in the egg in this instance as il
that; but Buchanan foiled it as his supe
rior. When Mr.. Lincoln came in. ant
his premier undertook to quell the revolt
by concession, Scott could only say in the
confidential letter he wrote when acquies
ing under the superiority of the civil tc
the military power, Let our erring sister;
depart In peace" Yet | am confident
from the patriotic course of the brave old
man afterward, that nothing could have
induced him to acquiese in Mr.. Seward :;
course but the committals of Mr.. Seward
who had ardently supported him for The
Presidency against Mr.. Pierce, and the
persuasions that his diplomacy would
bring all right after surrendering cur flag
and with it the authority of our Govern
ment in the South to that of the Gonfed
eracy The dalliance of Mr. Seward witt
the Confederates and the Convention
committees from Virginia, up to the fal
of Fort Sumter, was but prolongation o
the agreement made with Davis, by ordel
Of Buchanan, under the signatures of hi
Secretaries of WaT and of the Navy, tha
no act of war would take place on the par
Of the United States during his term
This gave the Confederate General Beau
regard on opportunity to build batteries
under the guns of Fort Sumter, which
could not have been done had not its can
non been muzzled by treaty stipulation
Mr. Stewards acquiesenee in this state o
things rendered the preparation for th'
attack more complete, while the forbear
ance to furnish provisions or reinforce
ments to the garrison, on our part, effect
ually made good MF. Stewards pledge fo
It's surrender.
1t is apparent, from the whole cours'
of public affairs, tia Mr.. Seward acted ii
concert with Buchanan's Administrator
during the last three months of his term
He was, no doubt, advised, through Mr.
Stanton, who was in Mr.. Buchanan
Cabinet, of the policy it had adopted IL
reference to the seizure of everything tha
appertained to the nation in the South
1t was to the coalition then formed be
tween Mr.. Seward and Mr.. Stanton tha
the latter became Secretary of War to Mr.
Lincoln, He apprised Mr.. Seward of thi
treaty of the War and Navy Departments
under Buchanan, to make no resistanc,
to the policy Of dissolving the Union-t,
offer no coercion to impede its march t,
independence-and Mr.. Seward's cours,
shows that he approved and adopted thi
policy. Is it not strange that Mr.. Sew
ard should have kept that paralysis on tn,
country from the 4th of March to the l3tl
April, when the confagration of Sumte
aroused the people? Did Mr.. Sewar,
partake of the feeling which prompte,
Mr.. Chase, his colleage in the Treasury
to exclaim, " Let the South go. it is no