The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-12-13
SAVING THE NATION.
the New York Tribune, who had done what he
could to elect Abraham Lincoln President.
[Oontinued from Ist paae.l
WHAT THE SOUTHERN PEOPLE RELIEVED.

could to elect Abraham Lincoln President.
WHAT THE SOUTHERN PEOPLE BELIEVED.
1t was very natural conclusion that the
shareholders arrived at, that the Northern peo-
pie were so divided in sentiment they would
not go to war; or, that if they did, it would be
an easy matter for the Southern States to con-
quer the Northern.
Jefferson Davis and the cotton planters
thought that England must have cotton to sup
ply the manufactures Of that country, to keep
millions of people from becoming paupers;
that if the Northern States attempted to block
ade the Southern seaports, England would
send her ships 20 break the blockade: that the
spinners and wcavers of Lowell, Manchester
Fall River and all the cotton manufacturing
towns of New England, not having any more
cotton, would become nTObs parading the
streets and crying for bread The Southern
newspapers informed their readers that the
North would soon be starved into submission.
" The Northern people, said the Charleston
Courier, in December 1850, have long, dark
winter Of cold and hunger impending over
their heads. Before il is over they will have
millions of operatives without work and with
out bread. When cold and hunger do their
work, this deluded rabble viii ask aims at the
door Of the rich, with pixies and firebrands in
their hands"
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
On February IL. Abraham Lincoln, born in
a Kentucky log-cabin, who had learned TO read
by the pitch-knot Ere blazing on the stone
hearth of his humble home; who had split
rails for a living: who had pulled at an oar on
4 Mississippi fat-boat; who had made his way
up TO be an able lawyer, the poor mans friend,
member of Congress; who had been elected
President, started from his home in Spring
= Al ~,
chosen representative of labor, of true democ-
racy, OF the civilization which comes from free
dom. When the white man" he said +" gov
erns himself, that is self-government; but
when he also governs another man. that is des-
potism. It is the right of every man to eat the
bread which he has earned without asking
leave OF any one"
AT every railroad station great crowds gath
cred to look upon his honest face. lie loved
his country. This was what he said TO the
people of Indianapolis:
When the people rise in mass in behalf of
the Union and the liberties of their country,
truly may it be said the gates Of he'll cannot
prevail against them"
On March 4 he became President.
/" have no intention of interfering with
slavery in the States where it exists" he said
and he went on to say that the Union is per-
petual; that acts OF violence against the all
thority of the United States are insurrection-
airy, and that the Union would defend itself
and hold its property; that beyond that there
would be no invasion, no using Of force against
the people, TO bloodshed unless forced upon
the national authority.
In your hands" he said to the people OF the
South, and not mine, is the momentous issue
of civil war. The Government VIII not assail
you; you can have no conflict without being
yourselves the sggressors."
What should be done about Fort Sumter?
That was the one great question.
" have but one months provisions" wrote
Major Anderson. If provisions were not sent,
he would be compelled to evacuate.
jefferson Davis sent commissioners to Wash
ingtcn to negotiate for the surrender of the
fort but instead Of surrendering It President
Lincoln and majority of his cabinet decided
that provisions should be sent to the garrison.
a You viii not be permitted TO purchase pro-
visions IL Charleston said the authorities of
South Carolina TO Major Anderson, thus stop
ping the conmissary, who had purchased vege-
tables in the market. The garrison had nothing
left bat salt pork and one barrel of -four.
a feet sailed from New York with supplies.
WHO BEGUN THE WAR
My batteries are ready. ] await instruc-
/ tons, was the message of General Beauregard,
commanding the troops On Norris Island, TO
Jefferson Davis. For three months the slaves
had been at work with shovels throwing up
intrenchments. For three months the Pal
metto Guard, the Columbia Artillery and other
comprehensive thousand troops in all-had
been placing cannon and mortars in position.
A floating battery had been constructed,
which was towed by a steam tug into a chosen
position and anchored where it would rain its
shot and shells upon the weakest wall of the
/ fort Major Anderson had seen il all, but yet
/ he did not attempt TO prevent it. for President
/ Lincoln had determined that if there was TO be
rr1 her fire. he Y.rf
/ gun.
Demand the immediate surrender of Fort
Sumter" was Jefferson Davis order to Beaure-
gard, and on the afternoon Of April 18th two
officers went out 10 the fort from Morris Island
g cannot surrender the fort. / shall await
pieces shall be starved out IN three days"
Soath Carolina and the Confederate govern
nent cannot wait.
Every morning through the winter the peo-
4 pie Of Charleston had seen with the rising Of
! the sun. the stars and stripes 90 up the flag
staff Of Sumter, and us crimson folds and fade
! less stars float srTeneiy in the breeze through
the dag at nightfall they had seen the fash
/ and heard the thunder Of the sunset salute to
the hateful banner. The colonies, majors, cap
tains, iientenants the soldiers in the batteries
ionged TO humIiate the emblem Of national
authority. The Governor Of the State, Francis
". Pickens. Jefferson Davis, all who. had
iaDored with hot aud hery zeal TO overthrow
the Union, with blood az feger heat, were
eager for war. The flag Of the United States
must be trailed In the dust. The Inudsills,D
as Senator Hammond, Of South Carolina, had
called the workingnen Of the Northern States,
must understand that the cavaliers of the
S0utI were their masters. Ii was the spirit OF
slavery TO be aggressive The shareholders
wanted 70 build a government and society
which should be aFistoc;atic and exclusive.
q 1t is a gross mistake" wrote George Fitz-
hugh, Of Virginia, !" to suppose that Abolition
is the cause Of dissolution between the North
and the South. The Cavaliers, Jacobites and
Huguea0ts Of the South naturally hate, con-
tenn and despise the PnriiaBs who settled the
North. The former are master races the lat
ter a slave race, the descendants Of the Saxon
serfs.p
UNION MEN ~ THE SOUTH.
The slaveholdiDg aristocracy, being deter
miaed TO build up . Canfedefacy based on
slavery, had no regard FOR the protest of the
men IN the Southern States who still loved the
Union. There were many Union men in Vir.
ginia. but that State must IN some way be
secured TO the Co8le3eraey.
viii tell you what wiz put Virginia in
the Southern Confedcracy in less than an
hour" said Roger a. Pryor, red-ho seces
sionist Of Virginia TO the people OF Charleston
sprinkle blood in their faces"
April 18th came. Before sunrise all Charles
ton was astir: from up town Fastening TO til,
wharvcs or climbing into the church steeples
p II. 4