The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-08-18

lmenta. Inc power TO defend the pub
9 lie p operty, to resist an assallng force
3 which unlawfully attempts to drive ouI
the troops of the United States from one
; of the fortif atione, and to use military
and naval forces fo- the purpose of aid
ing the proper officers of the United
States in the execution of the hws, this,
as far as it goes, is coercion, and may
very we'll be called "Coercing State by
force OF arms to remain in the Union"
The President has always asserted his
right of coercion to that extent. He
merely denies tbs right of Congress to
make offensive war upon State Of the
Union, as such might be made upon q
foreign government,
Fifth-The implied assent of the Pres.
ident to the accusation which the Com.
missioners make of compact with
South Carolina, by which he was bound
not to take whatever measures he saw
fit for the defense Of the forts, ought to
be stricken out and fiat denial OF any
such bargain, pledge or agreement in
serted. The paper signed by the late
member of Congress from South Carroll
ma does not bear such construction, and
this, as l under tand, is the only trans.
action between South CaroliI a and him
which bears upon the subject either di-
reCtly or indirectly. l think it deeply
concerns the Presidents reputation that
he should contradict this statement
since, if it be undenied, it puts him in
the attitude of an executive officer who
voluntarily disarms himself Ct the power
to perform his duty and ties his hands
80 that he cannot, without breaking his
word, preserve, protect and defend the
Constitution and see the laws faithfully
executed. The fact that he pledged
himself in any such way can not be true.
The Commissioners no doubt have been
30 informed. But there must be some
mistake about it. 1t arose doubtless out
OF the Presidents anxious and laudable
desire TO avoid civil war and his often.
expressed determination not even to
furnish an excuse for an outbreak at
Charleston by reinforcing Major Ander.
son unless it was absolutely necessary.
Sixth-The remotest expression of a
doubt about Major Anderson's perfect
propriety Of behavior should be carefully
avoided. He is not merely gallant and
meritorious officer who is entitled to
fair hearing before he is condemned. He
has saved the country, l solsmnly be-
lieve, when it's day was darkest and its
perils most extreme. He has done eV-
erything that mortal man could do TO
repair the fatal error which the Admin
istratiUn has committed in not sending
down troops enough to hold all of the
forts. He has kept the strongest one.-
He still commands the harbor. We may
still execute the laws if we try. Besides,
there is nothing in the orders which
were sent to him by the War Depart.
ment which is in the slightest degree
Contravened by his act or throwing his
command into Fort Sumter. Even if
those orders, sent without your knowl.
edge, did forbid him to leave a place
where his men might have perished and
not shelter them under a stronger posi-.
ton, we ought all of us to rejoice that he
broke such orders.
Seventh-The idea that a wrong was
committed against South Carolina by
moving from Fort Moultlie to Fort Sum.
ter ought to be repelled as firmly as may
be consistent with proper respect for
the high character of the gentlemen who
compose the South Carolina Commission. .
1t is strange assumption of right on the .
part of that State to say that our United
States troops must remain in the weak.
est position they can find in the harbor.
1t is not menace Of South Carolina or
of Charleston or a menace at all 1t is
simple self-defense. If South Carolina
does not attack Major Anderson no hu
man being will be injured. For there
certainly will be no reason to believe
that he will commence hostililies. The
apparent objection to his being in Fort
Sumter is that he will be less likely to
fall an easy prey to his assailants.
These are the points on which would
advise that the paper be amended. lam
aware that they are too radical to per.
NIT much hope Of their adoption. If
they are adopted the whole paper will
need to be reCast. But there is one
thing not to be overlooked in this terri.
BILE Cri-is. l entrest the President to or.
der the Brooklyn and the Macedonian
to Charleston without the least delay,
and in the meantime to send trusty
messenger to Msjor Anderson to let him
know that his Government will not de.
sert him. The reir forcement Of troops
rom New York or Old Point Comfort
should follow Immediately. If this be
lone at once all may yet be not we'll but
safe. II not, l can see
nothing before US but disaster and ruin
% the country.
CONCLUDING TIE CONTROVERSY. ,,
Mr.. Stanton made COPY of this docu. {
nent, sheet by sheet, as it was written,
nd the original was at once sent to the
resident. Mr.. Stanton retained the
opy he made and indorsed "Observa.
ions on Correspondence, President, S. G.
jomp by ]. s. B." This paper, of which !
he above is an exact copy, is in Mr.. {
tanton's own handwriting, and, al.