National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-07
rnmli,nt ,Ie.son. IN nl.terr.

Familiar Lessons in History.
The Washington Post attempts to make II
appear that the Morrill, tariff Of March, 1861,
was setni-democratic measure, having no
refctehco to the civil war, instead Of q pre-
lininary measure toward tho restoration of
tho union, which had then already been
temporarily dissolved by the erection within
its borders Of tho confederate states Of
America on tho fourth of February, and tho
inauguration of Mr.. Jefferson Davis as its
president on the eighteenth OF that month.
But history will not bulge an inch to give
color to so bold a misstatonient Tho Morrill,
tariff was the first hearty financial step taken
toward providing means to combat the hostile
government which, under Jefferson Davis,
was busy putting itself upon war footing
against tho United States.
The fact that tho wat by powder and can
non ball did not begin until April by no
means alters tho fact that hostilitics had been
going on for months before. Following Is a
document which may enlighten the editor Of
the Post as to how tho war began before tho
| firing:
WASHINGTON, jan. 7, isGi.-My D,u' Sir: on
the other side is a copy oil resolutions adopted at
a consultation OF the scnntors from the seeding
states, in which Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana,
Arkansas Texas, Mississippi, and Florida were
| present The idea of the meeting was that the
states should 20 out at once. and provide for the
| early organization of confederate government
not later tlIan the fifteenth Of February. This time
| is allowed 10 enable Louisiana and Texas to pur-
| ticpatc. II seemed to be the opinion that II ire
et here force, loan, and volunteer bills might be
| passed which would put Mr.. Lincoln in immediate
condition for hostilties; whereas by rcriuintng III
our places until the fifteenth Of March II Is
thought we can keep The hands Of Mr.. Buchdrun
tied and disable the republicans from efecting
any legislation which will strengthen the hands
of the incoming administration. ......
The resolutions will be sent By the delegation to
the president oil the convention. have not been
able to find Mr. Mallory this morning. Hawkins
! the representative from Florda) Is In Connecticut
nave. therefore, thought it best to send You this
copy OF the resolutions. Iii haste, yours truly,
ID. H. NULEE,
j. S. FISNEGAN, Sovereign Convention.
Following are tho resolutions "on. the
other side" of this plain. spoken cpistie
Reso'tci, That in our opinion each o the south
ern states should, soon as may be- secede from
| the union.
| Resolved That provision should be made for
convention to organized eOnfederucy of The seced
ing states, the convention to iree, not later than
the fiteonth of February at the city of Montgoni-
| cry, In the state of Alabama.
Resolrsd That in view OF the hostile legislation
that is threatened against the seeding stntcs and
| which may be Consummated before the fourth OF
| March, we ask instructions whether the delega-
tions to remain in congress unW that date for The
purpose NJ de'ehing such Legislation.
| Resolved, That committee be and are hereby up
| pointed consisting of Ncssrs. Davis, slidell, and
Mallory, to carry out the objects Of this meeting
This meeting, of which Mr.. Yulee gave his
report on the seventh, was held on the fifth,
as appears by a dispatch from Washington
under date of Jan. 6, printed In the Charles
ton papers of Monday, the seventh.
| Three days aftcrward Jefferson Davis, still
retaining his seat as United States senator,
made speech claiming for seeding states
the right to use force for self-preservation,
but denying to the federal government the
same right. The South Carolina senators re-
signed before the commencement of that
session. On tho twenty-frst of January,
sixteen days after tho above-described
meeting 'of senators, Yuleo and NAL
lory, of Florida, Clay and Fitzpatrick,
of Alabama, and Davis. of Mississippi, re-
signed their seats in the senate. Sildell and
Benjamin did not resign until Feb. A. liver.
son, of Georgia, next, tho twenty-cighth Of
January. 1t is unnecessary to follow the de-
tails further. We would not unnecessarily har
row the feelings of our inexact mo rning con-
temporary. He thought tho Morrill, tariff Of
1861 democratic measure. 1t passed by tn,
aid of democratic votes, but the soul had ther
fled from that party in congress, for it haC
lost the senators and members who hat
gone to make the confederate congress
at Montgomery unanimously demo
cratic. In concluding this cor
} rection of our neighbours error, let us as
. sure him that we are fully aware "the war i
over" Our object was merely to show hin
5 when it began. The Morrill, tariff was
preparation for our side of the war whicl
D the south had begun long before. 1t was tina
splendid old democratic patriarch, Daniel s
Dickinson, of New York, who said that :" tn
southern secessionists began to scrape lint (il
. 1860 before the presidential election"