The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-02-20
COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR.


that President Lincoln, before the assault
on Fort Sumter, was willing to recognize
the independence of the Southern Con-
federacy, and that he had taken active
steps to that end. The late develop
ments about his proclamation to South
Carolina, announcing that purpose, only
confirms his known previous official acts.
lie received uDofhcially the Commission
ers from the Southern Confederacy for
weeks. For moro than month after he
was inaugurated he did nothing to recov-
er the forts and other Government prop
crty in :he South. He was evidently un-
decided what to do when he journeyed to
Washington in February, 1861, declaring
that nobody had been hurt thus far,"
and suggesting that probably nobody
would be hurt in the future by the South.
secession. Mr. Seward, his Secretary oi
State, was declaring that it was but a
'sixty days business, and that by that
time all would be settled" That also
looked to a peaceful accommodation.
which would recognize secession as an ac-
complshed fact
1t was the meeting Of Northern Re.
publican Governors in the latter part of
March and early 10 April, 1861, which
changed the policy of the administration
from peace to war-from a recognition TO
the denial Of the recognition of the
Southern Copfcderacy. The argument
was used privately by the Governors tina.
a dismemberment of the Union would
destroy the Republican party. Before
this meeting Of the Governors the Fed.
erAl Government had resolved on evacu.
ating Forts Pickens aud Sumter, the on.
ly important foriresscs 10 the South over
which the Federal flag then foated.-
General Scott called every day for some
time TO get his definite orders to that pur.
pose, but with the hope, like 4" "Micaw.
Der" that something would turn up,
they were delayed by the authorities
The Cincinnati Gazette considered 1t a
wise measure to evacuate the forts. The
Commercial was openly for recognizing
Southern independence. The New York
Tribune, edited by Mr.. Greeley, had
strongly advocated it, aud defended it up
on the principles Of 1916. The Indian
apolis Journal, the Columbus Journal
the Chicago Tribune, the Albany On. Y
Journal, and many other Republican pa.
pers had protested against any attempt tc
cocrce the South. Chief Justice Chase
was advocating thig policy in the Cabinet
Of Dir. Lincoln. The Republican ma
Ijority in Congress, after tho South bad
seeded, refused 10 pass any law increas
ing the army aud navy for coercion pur-
poses. These facts, with many others
showing the drift Of Republican party
sentiment at that time, are susceptible oil
the elearest proof Long before these oc
currenees Senator Wade, President Lin
eolu aud many others had either directly
or indirectly, admitted the right of the
South to withdraw from the Union, with
out coercion, if she choose.
But in the twinkliug of an eye oil thi.
was altered The administration aud the
Radical party resolved ON coercion and
var, and from that day to this they have
been assIduous in prosecuting every one
who did not change as soon as they did
aud keep step to tho different kind oi
tune which was chosen for the entertain.
ment of the dancers. There are thou
sauds-yea, tens aud hundreds of thou
sands-who ara not aware Of these facts
and when in due time they are Informed
of them, it will break many popular idols
to which they had formerly bowed in
alteration. The fact that they were for
furnishing all those whom they had inoc.
ulated themselves with the expediency, il
not the right, of recognizing secession
does not speak 10 their favor, ard to the
end Of time will show them to be as ma
licious as they were unjust and upchari.
table. After having brought the apti-co.
ercion sentiment into existence, they en-.
deavored to destroy it by arbitrary vio
lcnce, aud to suppress it by confining its
advocates ip dungeons aud fortreases.-
Cincinnati Enquirer.