The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-10-23

1ulC uS -
be3 WHY. them Secesshes. they can MT
all out O; doors. Ould Anderson VIII pe
knockin' them clean over In Georgy a1ore
The utterances of the leading Journals
were SURPRISINGLY moderate. On Monday
morning after Sumpter's fall the New YORK
Herald. discussing the financial outlook,
argued that if the border States remained
loyal the war would consist mainly OF olo9A1
AIDES, and non-intercourse with the seceIou
States. 1T is not understood, sald tnat
journal, THAT an invasion OF the UulI ctateS
= by Northern troops is contemplated IN any
quarter. and there is no reason to sppre-
bend that the culture of cotton Will III any
lease be impeded or disturbed"
Similar unconcern was reported from
Washington. The Presidents Friday even
ING leyee was rot RENTED, nor was Its Gus
tomarvs stupidity much enlivened by the It'd
incs Of the hour. Mr.. Lincoln casually IN
ouired of a Western Senator whether his
State would support my policy but gave
no other sign of interest in the theme OF al
mems thoughts.
That this appearance OF calmnes was as
sumed may be questioned. The Intelligence
which startled the country was far from un-
expected bv him. Nightly, for weeks, he
had been engaged with Scott, Seward, Blair,
Fox, and the rest in planning the scheme to
force upon the South the Overt act, the
apparent aggression, the pretended first
shot which should seemingly begin the
war: and by 'wantonly dishonoring the
glorious old flag" should stir that predicted
.'terer of Indignation throughout the North
'.that uouH IN strty days en1onctpote eray
STARE on the continent, and drlce Their mas
tiers into the sea"
He knew, almost to the hour, when the
explosion must come for he had planted the
mine, and laid its train. Hence doubtless
his uneasiness was greatest on Thursday,
while awaiting the effect of the dual affront
he had given the confederates in dismissing
their peace~seeking ambassadors, and at the
same time officially notifying them, through
Talbot, that not only should he refuse to re-
cognise their confederacy, but had actually
started a fleet to reinforce fortresses COM
manding their chief harbors. Not aware of
the storm which delayed it, he expected the
feet to arrive at Charleston on Thursday
night if not sooner, SO that the confederate
would receive the warning about the same
moment the blow fell. 1t would be strange
indeed if they did not respond by instantly
opening their long patient batteries.
To corroborate this view, | quote from
the Associate Press dispatches from Wash
ington, dated at one O clock a. ~, on Satur-
day, April 18th The President evidently
feels greatly relieved by the news from
Charleston, as it relieves him in a measure
Of responsibility for beginning the strife"
Another press despatch dated three days
before the first shot was fired, tells plainly
enough, in the light Of after events, how
maturely the Lincolnites had laid their plans
to force an outbreak. It reads thus
WASHINGTON, April 9, 1S61.-s'The most
startling evidence Of the sudden %rousing of
- SU-aanInr yCarl1Eo cnr1@
by mail and telegraph. Leading men of
AL parties declare their readiness to stand
''by the government in its present trial of
strength. The first shot fired by the revo-
"lutlonists upon the fleet now CARRYING re-
lief to Maj. Anderson will so7id7y rniie all
'.sstr5ends Of the union, and k1nde a blaze of
"Nn1rersol Indignation that will cause all past
divisions Of party to be forgotten. Gov.
benson started for his capital this after
moon. He thinks Ohio will hare so, 900
men reodu for the field at short notice.
.!he gorernors OF all the free States waU
':.torthocsM .toNow their coHeugues of Ohio
and Pennsylvania. In Neap York and
"Hossochusetts, the militia are abe1du ~
tran, and sufficient to meet the drafts for
men Ihelyto be made upon Menw
Is 1t not incredible that such Ianpuaoo
should be used tro days before the deuanI
,npo" Sunote1:, unless inspired bv secret
knowledge that the war was about to beoin9
The tact IS that then, as now, most Of the
press dispatches from Washington were
inspired directly from the War Denart-
ment. rs
Another key to Lincoln's apparent calm
ness was the desire not to alarm tho Pordn.
States. The Union newspapers in Sorth
Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. had been
almost as violent in their denunciat;on nf
secession as the Republicans, and MANY in
telllgent persons believed those States Would
eaAe no decided action and perhaps send
Hence when the Virginia comm;ss;oners
1MesSrs. Preston, Stewart, and Randolnh1
who had been sent to ask of him Some DC
tlnct u~tteranee with respect to his intended
aEtlo n f Wan the South, happened to ar
s SURF NJ @adnl tpeo onthe very day sumpter
cordiality; and had a very pleasant SAINT m ;nterl
VIEW Lincoln handed them a wr;tt lheer-