Smyrna times., 1866-09-05


and teach the leaders of a counterfeit Democ-
racy that, though the love of country might be |
dead In their hearts, is still burned pure and |
bright upon alters not desecrated by the shib- |
boleth of party.
Within few days another message was sent
10 ooth Houses, announcing that the Union
loving States of Mississippi and Alabama,
aware OF the benlghted condition of our people
IN the new gospel of Secession, but well know
ing the desire of the Democratic leaders, had
sent commissioners to confer with our rulers
In TINS message was also the recommendation
Ior calling Convention, the first step in those
days towards involving the State in the mael-
Strom OF treason. As the States of Mississippi
and Alabama passed ordinances of secession
within week OF the time of the visit of their
commissioners, the object of their coming was
no secret. 1t was not to calm the troubled wa
ters. The South had prepared a feast as dew
ilish as that cOncocted in the boiling cauldron
by the witches of Macbeth. Delaware was to
be an invited guest. Those who brought the
invitation were received with all the honOrS-
The courteSies and civilities OfDover only PROV
ed how treason could be loved without hating
the traitors
On the 9th Of January, resolutions were in
trOduced in the Senate by member from New
Castle County, pedging the influence and pow
er OF the State against secession and in favor of
the Union. They were buried by vote of
pOstpOnement until some future day. which
day has not yet arrived. On the 18th of Feb
ruary, when seven States had passed ordinan-
ces Of Secession, four days after Jefferson Da-
Wis was elected Provisional President of the
COntcderacy, and while the traitors were plot
| ting their work of destruction ut Montgomery,
Il Commissioner from the State of Georgia APP
peared at our State Capitol, and the then Demo
cratic Governor sent still another message to
the Legislature, the language of which could
not be mistaken. The credentials of rebel
Commissioner from a rebel State were laid be-
fore our General Assembly, and the message
charged ." the representatives of the people to
receive and acknowledge with becoming respect
the courtesy extended to us by the State of
Georgia; and they We're invoked to timely
and suitable action. What that action will
be, are the words of this document Twill,
of course, depend upon future developments,
and should be referred entirely to the people. ="
And then, we have reiterated the recOmmen-
dation for calling Convention, that the
State may be prepared to take proper and
timely action" unless there should be an early
adjustment Of our difficulties" In other
words, if the South insisted upon dissolution
of the Union, preparation should be made for
, the secession OF Delaware. Resolutions were
Immediately presented to the Senate, tender
:
sembly to the (scccded) State of Georgia for
, the COURTESY extended to the State of Della
ware in sending (rebel) Commissioner KIND.
LY inviting our corporation III the formation
Of Southern Contederacy," and expressing
the opinion, " that whatever may be the future
action of the State of Delaware, the time ha
not yet arrived for any definite action" These
, resolutions were adopted in the Senate, bu
failed to receive the concurrence of the House
where, however, six democrats we're bold enough
to display their colors by voting in the athrma
tive.
v On the Goth ofFebruary, resolutions approx
y ing the conduct Of Major Anderson at For
. Sumpter, were read in the Senate, and ten day
i thereafter were consigned to the tomb by
motion for indefinite postpOnement. On th
l4th of the same month, the Senate showed it
! contempt for the flag of the Republic by retus
II ing to place it over the Capitol during the ses
e sions Of the General Assembly.
u The same Legislature, at a special session
1t after the South had placed her armies in tn
! field, after bloody battles had been fought, an
III when the Union was to be maintained, if at all
by the force of arms, refused to support resC
* lutiOns pledging the State for the Governmeu
ly against the rebel hOrdes in arms for its subvel
&c sion.
ut The message to this special session is a yer
u different document from any of those of TIL
ra previous winter. In it, we have no rounde
de sentences about the action which is to d.
or pend upon future developments" Tt
he guardianship of the General Government ha
he been kindly extended to Delaware, and althoug
ng the embryo secessiOnists raised the howl of ty
on amy, we may never know from what horror
.es our people were spared. If we read the anna
he of Kentucky and Missouri, we may faint
re- imagine what would have been our fate III
la Democratic party had made no secret of i
he, sympathies with the South The expressiC
We of them is written all over the public records
by and it is natural to suppose that, under tavO
able auspices, men intend to act out what the
for feel and mean. There had been some fall
OF shuffiing of the arms of the State, so that Il
he trumps might be in the right hands when Il
ag play should commence but before the " tin
mt for action" arrived, we were made aware tn
ter over and above our State Government was
IS protective power, whose advent was welcome
We by those who would preserve the Union, al
en- was terrible only to its enemies.
IN A careful examination of the JOurnnls oft
for Legislatures of 1861 81 cannot fail to impre
lis the most unprejudiced mind with true kno
CHI ledge of the position of the leaders of the Den
ers cratic party at that time. THEY WEI
ley SECESSIONISTS, POWERLESS TO AC
our The geographical position ofDelaware betwe
OBJ the great North and the Capital and not t
th- sentiment of her rulers, was our Safeguard.
The parental arm of the National Governmt
at was our protector. Under more favorable cC
the ditions for overt acts of treason, the demon
lew secession would have received an invitation
raey dwell within our borders, and its foul sp
at would have breathed ruin and devastation Ov
rat our smiling fields and within our happy HON
cite In 1862, the Union party elected Cover
re- devoted to its principles. He now sleeps
lern his grave. | will not stop to pronounce
our elegy When the ISLANDERS, the enmlties, a
adu- the heartburnings of his day slumber in
eral buried Past, Delaware will do full justice
ates his memory. He made noble effort to S,
IS ef- her honored name, but the power of the St
SEN is to very limited extent cOnfded to its FIX
utye fPe Seons S and WITH uUtOg nc
tives p pv and devotion pressed on the good VIC
mary 6opeiul in the result, and undismayed by
itical threats of enemies, and the untoward circl
IS of stances which surrounded him.
have When the Legislature Of 1868 assembled