The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-07-14

SUuth which MIR, Buchanan had steadily re-
fused to make, and if he had made them,
you would no doubt have pronounced them
reasonable. But the Lincoln administration
did not stop there. That cabinet voted six
to one in taror Of Surrenderins Fort Sump-
ter-Mr. Blair being the only dissentient.
The President, if he did not yield to the ma
lority. must have wavered considerable
time. The Secretary of State was so sure
of him that he caused the South Carolina
authorities to be informed that the fort ,coslld
be giOen up. You will not deny these facts,
but will continue, as heretofore, to say that
the Buchanan administration weakly and
wickedly favored secession. while that of
Lincoln was firmly and faithfully opposed.
The man who involves himself in such incon-
sistencies, whether from want of ofinformatiop
want of judgment, or want of veracity. is
not qualified to write on an historical sub lect.
! have given more time and space than |
Intended to this part of your paper, but
am addressing man of peculiar character.
To a person whose moral perceptions are
healthy and natural, 1 could make my de-
fence in breath; but being required to
apologize for rot violating a sworn duty,
some circumlocution IS necessary.
Your mere railing accusations against Mr..
Buchanan are hardly worth reply. The
place he is destined to occupy in history does
not depend on anything you can say or for
bear to say. You have no knowledge, what
ever, of his character. Morally, intellectu-
ally and politically, be was altogether too
much of man for you to comprehend. The
world will look for Its information concern-
ing him to the acts of his life. aud to the
testimony of men who knew him and had
minds large enough to take in his dimen
sions. ! would not offer you the word of
a Democrat; but among those who were
with him continually during the last weeks
of his administration, are some who have
since supported Radical measures with zeal
warm enough to make them good witnesses.
Let General Dix speak bis knowledge and
say whether he saw anything of the treason,
the weakness, or the wickedness which you
impute SO boldly and SO recklessly Mr..
King, the Post Master General. cannot be
ignorant of any important fact which bears
on this question. Mr.. Holt has already, on
several occasions. delivered his testimony.
1t is fervert tribute to the ''wise statesman
ship and unsullied patriotism" of Mr.. Ba-
chauan, as well as to ''the firm and generous
support" which he constantly gave to men
aud measures approved by his conscience.
The proofs of his great ability aud his emf
nent public services are found on every page
of his country's history, from 1920 to 1861.
During all that long period he steadily.
faithfully aud powerfully sustained the prin-
clples of free constitutional government
This nation never had truer friend, nor its
laws defender, who would more cheerfuly
have given his life to save them from viola
ton. No man was ever slandered 30 brutal
y. His lifc'u life was literally lied away.
IN fba last ,kfn e bic oil, h.,
devoted ali the energies of his mind apd
body TO the great duty of saving the Union,
if possible, from dissolution and civil war.
He knew all the dangers to which it was
exposed, and it would, therefore. be vain to
say that he was not alarmed for his country;
but he showed no sign of unmanly fear on
his own account. He met all his vast re-
spOnsibiiities as fairly as any Chief Magis-
trate we ever had. In no case did he shrink
from or attempt to evade them. The accu-
sation Of timidity and indecision is most
preposterous. His faults were all of another
kind his resolutions, once formed, were gen.
orally immovabe to degree that bordered
on obstinacy. On every matter of great I'M
portance be deiberated cautiously, and
sometimes tried the patience of his friends
by refusing to act until be had made up an
opinion which he could live and die by
These characteristics explain the fact that
his whole political life, from the time he en-
tered Congress until be retired from the
Presidency--all his acts, speeches and papers
have a consistency which belongs to those
of no other American statesman. He never
found it necessary to cross his own path or
go back upon his pledges. His Judgment
was of course not infallible; and in 1861 he
announced determination with reference to
the South Carolina Commissioners which
and others thought erroneous but unchapge-
able. Most unexpectedly, aud altogether
contrary to bis usual habit of steadfast self
reliance, he consented to reconsider and
materially alter his decision This change
and all the circumstances which brought il
about, We're alike honorable 20 his under
standing and his heart. / admit that you
were not the first inventor of these ISLANDERS
but you ought 10 know that it does not be
come a man in your station to take up ar
evil report and repeat 1t, like parrot
without stopping to consider whether it hai
any foundation or not.
You are not content with traducing Mr.
Buchanan himself; you take up the head
of the departments who served under him
and deal out your denunciations upon near
! ly all In succession.
The Secretary of the Treasury, you say
was derarging the finances and sinking tn
national credit. Upon whom does this fall
Was it Cobb, or Thomas. or Dix that com
mitted that crime2 The charge is equal,
untrue, whether made against one or anoth
er. You never saw a scintilla of evideLc
to Justify it.
You tell your readers that the Secretar
| of War scattered the army and sent guns an
| munitions to the secessiOniStS, WhateVe
Mr.. Floyd may have done in his lifetime,
is we'll established that be never did this
Numerous charges have been, and other
might be, made against that officer with som
show of truth. 1t is curious that your ap
petite for scandal could be satisfied only b
selecting one which is well krown to be III
founded.
You inform the country that the Secrets
ry of the Navy rendered that arm Po,oeTtesc
This is not new charge. 1t has heen mad
several times before, and solemnly investigi
ted more than once. Not only has it neve
been supported, but it has uniformly bee