The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-02-11

that Mr.. Seward Uas deeply engaged in a
plot TO surrender that fort. which plot be
afterwards brought to head, and by sundry
tricks very nearly made it successful. Stan
ton progressed to agree with us that the fort
ought TO be kept ; but you have shown that
MS professions In the cabinet were not very
reliable, and Governor Brown has proved
that he could be a secessioDist as we'll as
anything else, If occasion required it, Now,
what did they settle upon about Fort Sum,
ter They were engaged in something
which both knew to be disreputable if not
criminal; their secrecy, their empoy meut of
a medium their quick dodge when they met
on the street, the mortal terror Of detection
which they manifested throughout, all show
plainly enough that they had DO honest OBJ
Jecl- Tell Us if they were cUntrIviug a plan
to put the strongest military fortress of the
government into the hands of its enemies
The midnight meeting between Messrs.
Summer AM Stanton is IN all its aspects the
most astounding Of historical revelations. If
you recall Mr. Sumner to the stand, it is
hoped that lie will see the necessity of being
much more explicit than ne has yet been
From what he hus said it appears that Stan
ton described to linn the determination of
the southern leaders, and developed particu-
larry their plan to get possession Of the
national capital aud the national archives,
so that they might substitute themselves for
the existing government" This is 50 ex-
tremely interesting that it would be sin
against the country not to examine ii fur
lher.
Early in the winter somebody started the
sensational Tumor that on or before the 4th
Of March a riot would be got up IN WASH
ington. which might seriously endanger the
peace of the city. 1t was discussed and
talked about, and blown upon in various
ways, bat no tangible evidence of it's reality
could ever De found. The President referred
to 1t in message to Congress, and said that
he did not share in such apPreheasIUns but
he pledged himself ia any event TO preserve
the peace. When the midnight meeting
took place, the Tumor had lived its life out
had paid its breath to time, and mortal
custom Of such things at Washington it
was dead canard which had ceased to
alarm even women. This certainly was not
the subject OF The communication made that
night at one o'clock. Stanton did not sur
round himself with all the aGjuncts Of secrecy
darkness, and terror, to tell an old story
which had been 10 everybUdy's mouth for
weeks before, OF an impossible street riot by
tLe populace of Washington. What he i'm
parted was a secret not only new, but deep
and dangerous, fit for the occasion. and wor-
thy to be whispered conf lentially at mid
night. He disclosed plum OF the southern
leaders to get possession Of the capital and
archives, and to substitute themselves for tie
eristiny goUrnmeut" 1t was a coup u etqt
Of the first maguitgde-a most stupendOus
treason. This plan Mr.. Stanton "developed
particularly" that is to say, gave all ,he de-
tails at length. Mr. Sumner mauilestlv
believed what he heard be received the
revelation into his heart with perfect faith
and he did not underestimate the public
danger; but he did nothin. to defeat the
treason, or even TO eE pose it. He was thor
oughiy and minutely Informed of plan by
southern leaders to revolutionize the govern
ment, and he kept their counsel as faithfully
as if he had been one of themselves lie
took Stantou's frightful communication as
quietly as he took the Presidents message
Nothing could STIR his sluggish loyalty to
any act which might tend to save his i'm
perilled country"
Mr.. Sumner says that when Mr.. Stanton
made these statements to him, he was St,7yci;
by the ERopledgs he showed Of hostile
D10Cenle7ts." Inat Is precisely what strikes
Ine also with wonder aud amazement. Where
III the world did be learn 1.-THE dgterm ina
tiUn Of the southern leaders ?'' Where did
he get an account Of the intended coup d'
etat, so detailed that he was able to dsCeEODe
IL particularly? This knowledge becomes
astounding when we recotlecs that, so far as
now appears, nobody else outside of the
southern leaders" bad the least iukiing Of
it, 1t is possible that his connection with
the secessi0uists, and his professed devotion
to their cause, went so far that they took
him into their confidence, aud told him what
"hosLiIe movements" they intended to make
Cr, he ~ Ia 4.
secrets if not from them ? Or must we be
driven at last to the conclusion that the
whole thing was mere invention, ina posed
on him to delUde him
But Mr.. Sumner owes it to the truth to
make fuller statement. Let Us have the
particulars which Mr.. Stanton Developed to
him, We have a right TO know not only
who were the southern traitors engaged in
this plan, but who were confederated with
them in Washington. l suppose Mr. Snm-
ner, as well as MIR. Stanton, had "had in
stinctive insight into men and things"
enough to know that no government was
ever substituted for another by a sudden
movement, without some cooperation or
conniyance of officers in possession. Who
among Stanton's colleagues did he say were
engaged in this affair2 Did he charge the
President with any concern in it Ii he
utClaIeG an VI duy Vi thCLu 70 Do lhuOC0hO,
does not Mr.. Sumner see the injustice of
keeping back the truth ? Did Stanton tell
him that he had communicated the facts to
the President and cabinet2 2 If not, did he
give a reason for Withholding them2 And
what was the reason2 Was the guilty secret
confined to his own breast. or did any other
member Of the administration share his
knowledge of it If yes, who2 Mr. Sum
ner has struck so rich a vein Of historical
fact (er fction). that he is bound to give 1t
some further exploitation.
The following passage in Mr.. Summers
letter to you excites the liveiest desire for
more information. After describing mis- visit
to the attorney generals Office, and EIf.
Stanton's reception Of him, he goes on thus
"He began an earnest conversation, saying
he must see me alone-th this was impos>
.; Lln q IL. .Hinn--tLnt Ln rrnc .rn tnhn.A h,-