West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-02-17

war; but It might have defeated The cleo
ton Of Mr., lincoln. The resolution was
as follows
Resolved, That no amendment shall Le
made 10 the Constitution which will au-
thorize or give TO Congress any power TO
abolish or interfere, ia any State. with
the domestic Institutions thereof, incl-dinv
That OF persons held 10 service or laJur by
the laws of such State.
How far insincerity deception in
politics can be justified or tolerated are
questions for the moialist aud patriotic
statesman 20 settle.
Dir. Liscoln had no opportunity IT SET
ting himself right before the whole peo-
pie prior TO his inaugural on the 4h of
March following, and in the meantime the
Southern 'tlre.vaters, as they were call.
ed, went ahead to meet the threatened
"Irrepressible conflict. The supporters of
Douglass and Bell called meetings iuvi-
ting conservative men of all parties 10
hold meetings and called conventions all
over the country with a view of restoring
peace and harmony 10 a distracted people
before the "Bubicon was passed The
largest and most remaI kable one was
held IN the City Of Albany, called by the
Democrats and Old Line Wings, where
everything was said and done 20 restore
harmony which talent or patriotism could
suggest. Virginia, who always had a
high regard for and confidence in the
people Of the great State and City of New
York, sent a numerous delegation of her
best men who, upon their return, spoke
hopefully of the result. Even the CITY
Of Charleston aud State OF South Carolina
staggered under the appeal made by her
sisters of the North.
The f urth Of March called Dir. Lin
coin to Washington. He left Springfield
and with the usual demonstrations Of re
sPect shown 20 en incoming President at
all points until he reached Harrisburg, Pa.
IL had been announced that the next day
ne was to reach Washington at the usual
hour TO meet the crowd and greet his
friends rs was the custom on such acca-
sions. 1t is said a guilty conscience
needs no accuser, The guilty flee and no
mar pursueth," and Falstar said that
discretion is the better part OF %yalor."
From these or other causes the programme
was changed and Mr.. Lincoln took the
night train ind arrived at Washington
where he me; Congress in session and
thousands Of friends and Office hunters to
do him honor, and Virginia, the largest of
the slave-holding States, in full view sit
ting in Convention with more than two-
thirds of the number opposed to seces-
sion.
Lincoln was sworn IL and there was
nothing exce2,io IA. in his inaugural and
the political atmosphere frightened up
temporarily. South Carolina. like Ban.
qu's ghost, "wouidn't down" and & f.ht.
however small il might be. vas bound 10
come. AT Washington, Richmond. and
no doubt all over the Union, North and
South, men were ''courting war; The
census Of 1860, then just published. DIS.
closed that the two Slstes OF New York
and Pennsylvania contained G30 IA
white Inhabitants. whilst the eleven Stat, p
most likely 10 sccedc, and which die &C..
cede, contained only 5 447,ISO. or 1888
1870 less Than the two former States. This
strengthened the "backbOBer cf the war
men Of the North, but the Southern fire
)eaters ike d n Quixota, was determined
TO take a tilt not exactly into the
"windmills," but against odds far more
formidable.
Mr.. Lincoln was not ignorant of the
fact, whilst the Wings and ,mocrats of
the North did everything in their power
to arrest q civil war; but If the las, alter
nstlve was war then their motto was that
Of the patriotic hero Of the Hermitage.
by the eternal the Union must and shall
be preserved
Although Mr.. Lincoln was not elected
by this conservative element it is due to
him iS cay that he did. by the exercise Of
patience and delay and every ether way
~ his power, try 10 postpone and prevent
the impending conflict. Ga the contrary.
the worst Rebel element Of the South
pushed the capture OF Fort Sumpter and
organized the reasonable Government AT
u 'n'gomery.
The Gov. rnment at Washington now
having no other alternative, called for
volunteers, which CAL was readily re-
Fponded TO. The troops were hastily
drilled aDG reported for service a. Wash
ington. Unfortunately the cagerncss with
which the admirers Of John Brown and
fara icsl Ab-litiouis's fcll into line gave
the Union army many men better dred
for a barroom political Discussion than for
tue battlefield.
General Scott with his headquarters st
Washington sent his forces south Of the
Potomac, and soon thereafter the ccleb-a
ted battle Of Bull Run was fought. tho
shameful result of which lie known to all.
The second csll for troops brought into
the field the brave, patriotic, Union low
ing men Of tte country, which meant Tie
overthrow of the bogus Government of
jeff Davis and the restoration Of the
Union. FrErmp Arose
PUBLIC OPINION.
Tho Star Route Cases.