The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-09-06

ton was prepared on the 18th of March but
a memorandum at the close of it adds: "a
delivery of the same, however, was delayed
to Messrs. Forsythe and Crawford, as was
understood, with their consent" In the in
terval communication between Secretary
Seward and the confederate commissioners
was earned on by Judge Campbell, of the
supreme court of the United States, whose
conversations with the secretary of state were
witnessed by Judge Nelson, also of the su-
preme court, who sanctioned the following
note OF the result given the 18th of March,
1861, to Judge Crawford, for information to
the confederate states:
81 feel entire confidence that Fort Sumpter will
be evacuated in the next FIVE days; and this meas
administration.
ssl feel entire confidence that no measure chang
ing the existing status preudiciay to the southern
confederate states is at present contemplated.
ssI feel an entire confidence that an answer to
the communication OF the confederate commits
sioners will be productive of evil not good. dc
not believe it ought now to be pressed"
Mr.. Seward, it seems. made no direct reply
to letter OF Judge Campbell, referring to
the pledges he communicated from him to
the confederate commissioners, stating to
him that 1.-The pledge to evacuate Fort Stump
ter is less forclble than the words You en-
ployed. These words were, before this let
tOA AooohSo yoa piopOoO0 ACbtoI Wy LAo w
President Davis) Sumpter will have been
evacuated" Mr.. Seward did, however, in
an authorized statement made in the Albany
EUeRiRg Journal, by Mr.. Thurlow Weed ad-
NIT that he. .'Gov. Seward, conversed freely
with Judge Campbell; we do not deny, nor
do We doubt, that in these conversations, ut
one period, he intimated that Fort Sumpter
would be evacuated. He certainly believed
so, founding his opinion on his knowledge of
General SCOTS recommendation"
Now, this mode of escaping the RESPONSE
bility of his assurance TO jeff Davis that
Sumpter would be evacuated is like that of
Teucer skulking from danger by shooting his
arrows under :he cover of the shield of Ajax.
1t is well known that General Scott, before
Buchanan sent MS non-cerciou message to
congress, and as soon a. preparation for re-
volt in the south was seen, urged the presi-
dent by letter TO put all the forts in Charles
ton harbor in a state of defence. la this he
evinced the alacrity that prompted him IN
der General Jackson's orders, when he
brought Charleston and the rebellion into
submission by bringing the guns of the army
and navy 20 bear on that city when it hoisted
the flag of notification against the U nion in
1882. Scott meant to crush the rebellion in
the egg in this instance as in that but Bu-
ehanan foiled 1t as his superior. When Mr.
Lincoln came in, and mis- premier undertook
TO quell the revolt by con cession. Ssott could
only say, in the confidential letter he wrote
when acquIescing under the superiority Of
the civil to the military power. Let our En-
ring sisters depart iR peace" Yet 1 am con
hdent, from the patriotic course of the brave
old man atterwsrd, that nothing could have
induced him to acqulesce in Mr.. Stewards
course but the committals of Mr.. Seward,
W no had ardently supported him for the pres
Mr. ptar.a no
sions that his diplomacy would bring nil
right after surrendering our flag. and with it
the authority OF our government in the sou b
to that ot tue coufederacy. The dalliance OF
Mr.. Seward with the cuntederates aud the
convention committees from Virginia, up to
the fail of Fort Sumpter, was bu, prolonga.
ton of the agreement made with Davis, by
order of Buchanan, under the signatures of
his secretaries Of war and of the navy that
no act OF war would take place on the part of
the United States during his term. This
gave the confederate general Beauregard. an
opportunity to build batteries under the guns
vt Fort Sumpter, which could not have been
done had not it's cannon been muzzled by
treaty stipulation. MIR Stewards acuuies
cence In this state OF things rendered the
preparation Tor the attack more complete,
while the forbearance to furnish provisions
or relnfIrcemeuts TO the garrison, ON our
part, ehectually made good Mr.. Stewards
pledge for Its surrender.
1t Is apparent, from the whole course of
public affairs, that Mr.. Seward acted In con
cert with Buchanan's administration during
the last three months of its term. He was, no
doubt. advised, through Mr. Stanton. who
was in Ar. Buchanan's cabinet, of the policy
1t had adopted III reference - The seizure of
everything that appertaIned To the nation in
the south. 1t was TO the coalition then form
ed between Mr.. Seward add Mr. Stanton
that the latter became secretary of war to Mr..
Lincoln. He apprized Mr.. Seward of this
treaty OF the war and navy departments, un.
der buchanan, to make DO resistance to the
policy Of diss living the UnIon-to offer no
coercion 70 Impede Its march to Independence
and MIR. Sswart's course showed that he
approved and adopted this policy Is it not
strange that Mr.. Seward should have kept
that paralysis on the country from the 4th of
March 10 the 18Th Of April, when the confa-
grafton Of Sumpter aroused ;he people? Did
Mr Seward partake of rhe feeling which
prompted Mr.. Chase. his colleague In the
treasury. 20 exclaim, "Lst the south 90 IL is
not aoorth fighting far ?" Is it possible that
these ambitious aspiraGts, who have shown
such eagerness for the presidency are will |
ling to sacrifice that vast, rich section of our |
Union to the petty object of personal aggran-
dizemeht
Let me illustrate by example how the |
boldest Union men were paralyzed by the |
condition of shipgs | have eudeavored TO Dor |
tray. Judge Campbell, Of Alabama, whom /
i have spoken Of as transform ed into rebel !
had been devoted Union |
man. | knew OF his heroic resistance to null |
He had been the first man to |
breast the storm in Alabama In 1882, which |
threatened to bring on the rebellion then. -