Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-11-23
A Chapter Of the Early Days Of
the Rebellion.
Radical DuplIciiy shown up.


lffum tht new uth NuflAsl
If the venerable Swede could come
to life and revisit the glimpse of our
moon he would have now confidence
in the aphorism with which he sent
his son, a grandson, to measure the cx-
tent Of imbccility in the worlds do
ings, Mr. Ex Secretary Welles, imam
essay contributed to the last number
Of the Gdldry, makes strange reve-
lation. lie tells us whathe allirms to
be the truth as to that period of our
history when the fate of Sumpter was
trembling in the balance, and The
anxious yet trustiul community was
huggng the delusion that Lincoln
and his ministers were harmoniously
working for the public safety. Very
far, if Mr.. Wellcs is'to be credited. is
this from the truth 1t would seem
from the narrative now given to us
that Mr.. Lincoln, dazzled by his sud
den elevation from obscurity, kindly
disposed to everybody, tormonted in
his domestic relations, aud blindIy
under the influence Of Mr.. Seward,
really did not know what to do, and
when he did act was sure to make a
grotesque mistake. This is the char.
itablo view Of the case. For at least
thirty days literally nothing was done,
and on the 29th of March, 1861, wrote
II note to the Secretary of the Navy,
saying, 81 desire an expedition TO
move by sea, be ready to sail as early
as the 9th of April next" The
Secretary went TO work, but on April
Fools day, received a communication
from the President virtually super.
ceding him in the administration of
bis dcpartment-taking away from
him his efficient and confidential
friend Captain Slringham, and put.
ting Captain Samuel Barron, after
wards in command of the rebels at
Roanake Island, in charge Of every.
thing. What then happened must be
told by Mr.. Wollos himself:
"Ou reading this extraordinary lot
ter went without a moments delay
to the President with the package in
my hand lie was alone in his office
writing, and raising his head as en-
tered, he inquired, What have done
wrongY ! replied that | had received
with surprise the package containing,
among other things, his instructions
respecting the Navy and the Navy
Department, and had called for an
explanation. then read the follow.
ing document, the body of which was
in the handwriting of Captain Mont.
gomery C. Meigs, Of the army, the
postscript in that of Lieutenant d. d.
Porter, of the navy. The President
expressed as much surprise as i felt
that he had sigred and sent me such
adoeument.
"lIe said Mr.. Seward with two or
three young men had been in there
through the day, on matter which
Mr.. Seward, had much at heart; that
he had yielded to the project Of Mr..
Seward, but as il involved considera-
bic detail and he had his hands full,
and more too, he had left Mr.. Seward
TO prepare the necessary papers
These papers he had signed, some of
them without reading, trusting entire.
ly to Mr.. Seward, for be could not
undertake to read all papers presen.
ted to him and ir he could not trust
the Secretary Of State, whom could
he rely upon in public matter that
concerned us all 7 lie seemed disin.
clined 10 disclose or dwell on the pro.
.iect, but assured me he never would
have signed that paper had he been
aware of its contents, much of which
had no connection with Mr.. Stewards
scheme asked who were associa.
ted with the Secretary of State. No
one, said the President, but he had
these young men here as clerks, to
write down plans and orders Most
of the work was done in the other
room. When inquired If he knew
the young men, be replied, 'one was
Capt. Meigs another was compan.
ion with whom ho seemed intimate,
n naval officer named Porter"
For the next few days all was con.
fusion. THE President continued to
hesitate" lie could not rid himself
of the influence Of Seward and the liz.
lie military and naval cdmdTiHd which
he had evoked. "Thcre was" says
Mr.. Wolles, "at that time clique of
naval officers, as has been on more
than one occasion, anxious to take
possession and control the Navy De.
partment." At the head Of these was
ga young man named Porter, and co,
operating with him another oyounr
man. Of the army named "Mcigs." -
They were Stewards aids in the great
plan to prevent or delay the rescue Of
the Sumpter garrison. They were
busy all the time, for when the re.
newed attempt was made and the
Powhatan was got ready Meigs and
Porter came again on tho stage and
undcr Mr.. Stewards auspices utterly
frustrated the plan. Mr.. Seward as
stratcgist with bis staff is thus dos.
cdbcd: