Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-22

"a fratricidal war-a war between people
speaking the same language. | shall pre-
I sent the case of great government, through
| its actual personal representatives,. or Off.
cial agents, for the time being, encourae-
ing the war, spreading the tolls, and actually
seeming to lie in wait for their prey. there
by increasing the criminality Of the felo-
NOUS duplicity they were practicing until
the war they sought, was actually begun.
In addition to the above statement Of the
part taken by certain leading presses North
and East, and Of the eminent men in the
same parts ofthe United States, and the ex-
IRENE grounds or principles avowed by
them, ! proceed to notice the more promi-
nent individuals, including those in
high official positions, as well as others
whose ayowed doctrines and views are
identical with and corroborative of these
held and acted upon by Southern statesmen
and politicians, who advocated and sue
ceeded finally in bringing about the seces-
sion Of eleven of the Southern and slavehold-
ing States from the Union, and brought on
the war.
First in rank was James Buchanan, Presi-
dent of the United States, whose term ex-
pired on the 4th of March, 1S61-a favorite
son and statesman of the great State of
Pennsylvania-the most inveterate, vindic-
tive, fanatical and Indifferent of opposition
to It's views of all the free States out of New
England who, in his last message to Congress,
declared that the Constitution gave no
power to the Government Of which he was
the Executive chief, to wage war against a
State or to coerce State, if it thought proper
to secede from the Union. This declara-
ton, deliberately made, and coming as it
did from the highest official authority under
the Government, and, as there was no
reason to suppose that ii was not a candid
avowal of his well considered and settled
opinion, had more efiect-gave greater en-
Notwithstanding in effect, positive
proof in support of the arguments of the
leading seeessionists to induce the people
TO secede from the Union, declaring that
there would be no war, no blood shed-than
Jefferson DsWis and all his Confederate
Cabinet.
Next in rank, Edwin NJ. Stanton, Attor-
ney General under Mr.. Buchanan, another
favorite son of the great State of Pennsyl
vania-afterwards Secretary of War under
Mr.. Lincoln, who, feel warranted in say
ing, was an early and efficient fomentor of
the war, upon the authority of Montgomery
Blair late Postmaster General, and by the
statement Of Senator A. G. Brown, of Mis-
sissippi.
Next in rank and influence, place Judge
Joseph Holt, Secretary of War, | believe, for
a time under Mr.. Buchanan, and Judge Adj
vocate General under Mr.. Lincoln. A
letter written by him, vouched by the late
Postmaster General, is conclusive evidence
of his participation in-I was about to say,
the plot to incite to- or bring on war with
the South-but have no sufficient evidence
of an actual conspiracy to foment a war,
though there are some pregnant circum-
stances, well known, that cannot be ex-
planned easily upon any other hypothesis.
General b. f. Butler, a prominent poll
tician of Massachusetts, has commonly been
reputed a fomenter of the war, upon the
ground that he adhered so perSistently to
the fortunes of Jefferson Davis, whose State
rights and secession views were well known
in the long struggle for the nomination for
President in the Convention of the Demo-
cratic party in 1860. | know of no other
reason except the rank and distinction to
which he was promoted during the war.
Upon my own personal knowledge | will
merly Senator in Congress from the great
State of New York, as an early promoter
and fornenter of the war heard that gen
tleman declare in his place in the Senate,
what was at the time considered, by
the Southern leaders, bold and manly
declaration, dictated by high and patri
otto motives. in a speech upon ques-
ton connected in some way with the sub
ject of slavery, which then excited and filled
the whole country with some anxiety. He
distinctly, that if ever the ques-
tons connected with that subject should
come to the issue of war-if he should ever
be called upon to draw his sword-it would
be drawn on the side of the South. Yet
Daniel S. Dickinson is now looked to with
much reason, for his extraordinary services,
after this bold speech in the Senate of the
United States, in sustaining, without scru-
pie, the war in the North, as entitled to a
high place, in due time, on the calendar of
abolition saints. There are many others,
ranking high in talents and influence in the
North, who held, or protested to hold
opinions and sentiments which gave en-
to the Southern leaders who
we're most active in promoting a war be-
.ween the two sections, divided by a slave
line but | abstain from any further notice
If them except the two gentlemen who dis
inguished themselves by the extreme doc
rines of constitutional Interpretation
1t the Cleveland Republican Con-
rention, held in 1858, whose speeches
lpon that occasion had escaped my
attention until 4 recent period. | refer
o the opinions and doctrines of Salmon
P. Chase, Chief Justice of the Supreme
court OF the United States, and B. f. Wade,
senator in Congress from the great State of
ohio. had some time ago heard that the
thief Justice was strongly tainted with'sen-
iments and opinions disloyal to the Con-
titution and the Union, but it was nothing
,ut rumor of the cause which it was con-
ectured had led him to decline officially |
o bring Jefferson Davis to trial but still it
hooks and jars upon my lifelong venera-
ion for the head-the chief of the judiciary
department. of the Governmept-to one of !
he three into which the wisest of statesmen /
AVE distributed all the powers belonging to
free government-one of the long cher !
shed feelings, or preiudices, perhaps, in !
titled into my mind by the fine character
# Chief Justice Marshall, that | can scarce |
y yield full credit to the versions | have |
cen of his speech at Cleveland
The reported speeches of the Chief JUS /
ice and Senator Wade represent them as
having explicitly and unequivocally ex-
pressed the opinion that the Constitution of |
he United States had provided no common
.rbiter for the decision of questions arising |
,etween the Federal and State governments
INVOLVING the infraCtion or violation of the
Constitution; that, in any dispute or dis
greement between the States, or any of /
hem, and the Federal Government, each
# the parties to the Constitution-viz the
federal Government-whichw was the crea-
ure of the States, or of the people of
he States acting by their delegates in the
convention which formed the COnstitu-
ion on the one hand, and a State, or all
f them, on the other, had an equal right TO
ecide for itself or themselves all such
uestions. If this be the true version of the
peeches Of those gentlemen, then | affirm,
Tithout hesitation, that the question they
ave so unhesitatingly pronounced upon as
understand it, is the very pivot upon
Thich this question or theory of the right |
f secession turned before the war. The
lore l think of it the more am amazed.
The Chief Justice | know is Ino fanatic
his intimate association,
n private and pnblic, as declared by him
elf, with Fred. Douglas Nor is Senator
Wade fanatic Both of those gentlemen
re able politicians and know we'll how to
urn to account the fanatic feelings, or weak
esses of others in any affair orSquestion Of
mpo nee, to secure the triumph of their
arty, or their personal success or aggran-
iZement The Chief Justice Is as cold as !