Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-14

the slaves, "disunion would become inevi-
table, Lincoln and others had ques-
toned the opinion of fancy; such i'm
| pugnin he aseribed to Hths factious tenn
per of the times" The favorite doctrine
of the majority of the Democratic party
on the power of a territorial legislature
over slavery he condemned as an attack
on "the sacred rights Of property" The
State Legislatures, he insisted, must re-
peal what he called "their unconsti-
tutional and obnoxious enactments,"
and which, if such, were "null and
void" or "it would be impossible
for any human power to save the
Union.' Nayl if these unimportant acts
were not repealed, "the injured States
would be justified in revolutionary resis-
tance to the Government of the Union
He maintained that no State might secede
at its sovereign will and pleasure that
the Union was meant for perpetuity; and
that Congress might attempt to preserve,
but only by conciliation that the sword
was not placed in their hands to preserve
it by force;" that "the last desperate
remedy of departing people" would be
AN explanatory amendment recognizing
the decision of the Supreme Court of
the United States" The American
Union he called ga confederacy" of
States, and he thought it duty to make
the appeal for the amendment be-
fore any of these States should separate
themselves from the Union" The views
of the Lieutenant General, containing
some patriotic advice, conceded the right
of secession" pronounced quadruple rup-
-, - T., 4, II.r aryil fhar, fbo
reuniting of the fragments by the sword, i"
and "eschewed the idea of invading Sc
ceded State" After changes in the Cabi-
net, the President informed Congress shat
matters were still worse; that 1.-The South
suffered serious grievances, which should
be redressed in peace" The day after
this message the flag of the Union was
fred upon from Fort Moultrie, and the
insult was not revenged or noticed.
Senators in Congress telegraphed to
their constituents to seize the national
forts, and they were not arrested.
The finances of the country were griev-
ously embarrassed. Its little army was
not within reach-the part of it in Texas,
with all its stores, was made over by its
commander to the seceeding insurgents.
One State after another voted in conYen-
ton to go out of the Union. A Peace
Congress, so-called, met at the request of
Virginia, to concert the terms of a capitu-
lation for the continuance of the Union.
Congress in both branches sought to devise
conciliatory evpedients; the territories of
the country were organized in a manner
not to conflict with any pretensions of the
South, or any decision of the Supreme
Court; and nevertheless the seeding
States formed at Montgomery provisional
government, and pursued their relentless
purpose with such success that the Lieu
tenant General feared the City of Wash
ington might find itself included in a
foreign country" and proposed, among
the options for the consideration of Lin
coin, TO bid the seeding States "depart in
peace" The great republic seemed to have
its emblem in the vast unfinished Capitol,
at that moment surrounded by masses of
stone and PROSTATE columns never yet
lifted into their places; seemingly the
monument thigh but delusive aspirations
the confused wreck of inchoate magniti-
cence, sadder than any ruin of Egyptian
Thebes or Athens.
HIS INAUGURATION.
lQe all Ol hdTCu ChLl6. WIN III
stinctive wisdom the new President,
speaking to the people on taking the oath
Of office, put aside every question that di-
vided the country, and gained right to
universal support, by planting himself on
the single idea of Union. That Union he
declared to be unbruken and perpetual /;
and he announced his determination to
fulfill lthe simple duty of taking care
that the laws be faithfully executed in all
the States" Seven days later the
convention of States unanimously
adopted a constitution of their own /;
and the new Government was au-
thor.tativcly announced to be founded
on the idea that slavery is the natural
and normal condition of the negro race.
The issue was made up whether the great
republic was to maintain its providential
place in the history of mankind, or re-
bellion founded on negro slavery gain a
recognition of its principles throughout
the civilized world. To the disaffected
Lincoln had said " You can have no con-
fict without being yourselves the aggress-
ors" To fire the passions of the southern
portion of the people, the Confederate
Government chose to become the agrees
ors: and on the morning of the 18th of
April began the bombardment of Fort
Sumter, and compelled its evacuation.
UPRISING OF THE PEOPLE.
It is the glory of the late President that
he had perfect faith in the perpetuity of
the Union. Supported in advance by
Douglas, who spoke as with the voice of a
million. he insta Htly called a meeting OF
Congress. and summoned the people to
come up and repossess the forts, places
and property which had been seized from
the Union. The men of the North were
trained in schools; industrious and frugali
many of them delicately bred; their
minds teeming with the ideas and
fertile in plans of enterprise; given
to the culture of the arts; eager
in the pursuit of wealth, yet employ
| ing wealth less for ostentation than for
developing the resources Of their country
seeking happiness in the calm Of domestic
life; and such lovers of peace that for
generations they had been reputed un-
warlike. Now, at theory of their country
in distress, they rose up with unappeasa-
BILE patriotism; not hirelings-the purest
and of the best blood in the land sons OF
a pious ancestry, with clear perception
| of duty. unclouded faith and fixed resolve
to succeed, they thronged round the Pres
ident, to support the wronged, the
beautiful flag of the nation. The
halls of theological seminaries sent forth
their young men, whose lips were
touched with eloquence, whose hearts KIN
died with devotion, to serve in the ranks
and make their way to command onl y a
they learned the art Of war. Striplings o
colleges. as well the most gentle and the
most studious those of sweetest temper
and lovliest character and brightest geniuI
passed from their classes to the camp. Th'
iumbermen sprang forward from the for
ests, the mechanics from their benches
where they had been trained by the exer
else of political rights to share the life anC
hope of the Republic, to feel their respon
sibility to their forefathers, their pos
terity and mankind, went forth resolves
that their dignity as q constituent part 0
this republic should not be impaired
Farmers and sons of farmers left the Liant
half plowed, the grain half planted, and
taking up the musket, learned to fac
without fear the presence of peril, and tn
coming of death in the shocks of wal
while their hearts were still attracted t
the charms of their rural life, and all tn
tender affections of home. Whateve
there was of truth and faith and publ
love in the common heart, broke out wit
one expression. The mighty winds ble'
from every quarter to fan the flame OF tn
sacred and unauenchable fire.
THE WAR A WORLD WIDE WAR