Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-04-07
A Chapter of secesh History.

The chapter from the early history of
the Rebellion which was printed in the
Tribune of Monday morning is signiti-
cant comment upon the present attitude
of the Democratic majority in the House.
From this chapter it appears that, as far
back as 1851, ten years before the out
break of the Rebellion, Jefferson Davis
and other conspirators were plotting to
destroy the Union. The chapter, as will
be remembered, contained letter indorsed
by Davis from A. p. Butler United States
Senator from South Carolina, canvassing
the possibility that South Carolina might
make trial of separate secession, and
inquiring how it would affect Mississippi
and other States. In 1856 another letter
from J. NJ. Mason, of Virginia, to Jeffer-
son Davis, shows that an agreement had
been made by the Governors of Louisiana,
North Carolina and South Carolina to
meet at Raleigh and make arrangements
for secession, and that Jefferson Davis
himself, then Secretary of War, was
of the United States for Virginia
flintlocks. Still later, in the same year,
appears letter advocating making the
election of Buchanan available to the
South Says the writer: I" Let us so
constitute Mr.. Buchanan's Cabinet that
the sinews of power will be available in
the event of the election of a Black Re-
publican in 1860. See to it, you Southern
men about Washington, that the Depart
ments of the Treasury and War, and even
of the Navy, are retained in Southern
hands, for if Black Republican is elect
ed in 1860 the Government should not be
permitted to pass into their power. A
Napoleonic demonstration would in this
event be called for. Grab-gam is the
policy. Therefore, repeat, let certain
Departments be given to true Southern
men," Here was the theory of State
Sovereignty clearly enunciated, and steps
taken to carry the theory into practice.
Meanwhile, a Republican President was
elected. These men tested their theory upon
the battle field and lost. The South was
subjugated. Its peculiar institution" was
crushed, but its theory of State Sow
ereignty and the right of any State to
leave the Union of States at its own option
was not lost. For ten years it was held
in allegiance, because there was no Oppor-
tunity TO enunciate it. Now, however
the Democratic party has majority in
the House aud all the Southern States are
represented, and once mere the infamous
dsctine is reaffirmed upon the floor of
the House by the Southern Democrats in
the very form in which it was once as.
serted for the destruction of the Union,
and finds ready response and sympathy
from Northern dOughface Democrats now
as il did before the war, Fifteen years
ago it led to war, and although in that
fearful struggle the body of the Rebellion
was crushed, events now clearly enough
show that the spirit still lives, and only
awaits its opportunity to reassert itself
and appeal once more to the issue of the
battlefield. The Napoleonic demonstra-
tion and the grab-galne may yet occur,
and at no distant day. unless the patriotic
people Of this country arise and crush out
at the ballot-boX the abominable and
wicked heresy of State Sovereignty, with
| its implied right of secession. Its re-
cent reatfirmation upon the floor of the
| House ought to be warning that the Gov
eminent is only safe in Republican hands
in the hands of the men who have saved
| it from the assaults of those who are now
seeking to gain power, and have already
boldly proclaimed again the very doctrine
which they sought TO carry out by an ap-
peal to arms. This doctrine will not die
out until the present generation of Union
and ConsttutiOn-haters has passed away,
and, until that time, the patriotic and law
abiding people, both South and North,
must retain control Of the Government.
There is no safety in any other course.
The present situation is full of danger,
and deserves the earnest consideration of
every patriotic citizen and lover of his
country, lest in this Centennial year, in
which we observe the celebration of Ma.
tiOnal unity and freedom, the Government
pass into the hands of those who claim the
right of any State to withdraw from the
Union, and have already unblushingly
proclaimed it upon the floor of Congress
-ChieG9O Tribune.