Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-05-30
The Patriotic Dead.

The attitude of the North toward the
South while the secessonists were threat
ening and making preparations for the dis
ruption of the Union, will be conspicuous in
history for its moderation, efforts at concli-
alton, and hopefulness that there would be
an amicable settlement of the difficulties
between the two sections. 1t was felt by
the republicans that there was no cause
for war on the part of the South, and they
generally believed there would be none
Mr.. Lincoln had been fairly elected.
There was no dispute upon that point, and
it seemed absurd to his followers that his
election fairly made and indisputable
could or would be taken as IA pretext for
an armed uprising against the govern
ment. With majority of the House,
Senate and Supreme Court, still under the
control of the democrats. there was no
danger that the rights of the South would
be interfered with by Mr. Lincoln's adj
ministration, even had there been such an
intention on his part. which there was
not Mr.. Lincoln was powerless against
the South SO long as the members of Con
gress from that section kept their seats in
that body. 1t was not until Southern Sen
ators and members of the House resigned
their places and went home to take up
arms against their country that the repub-
licans had majority in Congress.
Necessarily, therefore, the republi-
cans were disposed to be concliatory
and amicabe toward the South This dis
position appeared in the proceedings of
Congress. Even Benjamin F. Wade of
Ohio, the radical abolitonist, uttered the fol-
lowing language in the Senate 81 say to
''you, there is no republican, or convention
''of republicans, or republican paper, that
''pretends to have any right in your States
Ito interfere with your peculiar and local
institutions. On the other hand, our
platform repudiates the idea that we have
ANY right, or harbor any ultimate inten-
''tion, to invade or interfere with your in
''stitution in your own States.
''have disowned any intention, on the part
''of the republican party, to harm hair
''of your heads We hold to no doctrine
THAT can possibly work you any inconven-
'ience-any wrong-any disaster. We
have been and shall remain, faithful to
''all the laws-studiously So" This from
Mr.. Wade ought to have been and doubt
less was conclusive evidence to the seces
sionists that they had nothing to fear from
Mr.. Lincoln's administration. but they had
then determined upon breaking up the
Union and establishing Southern Confed-
eracy, and no pledges or conciliatery words
or acts could deter them from their pur-
pose.
A short time afterwards Mr. Seward in
troduced the following proposition in the
Senate mo amendment shall be made
Ito the Constitution which will authorize
"or give to Congress any power TO abolish
"or interfere, in any State, with the do
'mesuc institutions thereof, including
THAT of persons held to service or labor
''by the laws of such State This prop
osition was adopted by vote of eleven
10 two, the two votes against it being
those OF Jefferson Davis and Robert
Toombs. No friendly fair, or even any
pledges could turn the conspirators from
the course they had adopted. They meant
to rule the government or ruin it, Their
wicked purpose was plainly declared to
them by Ben Wade. 1T is not said he.
"by your own confessions, that Mr.. Lin
''eoln is expected to commit any overt act