The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-02-02
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM HARTFORD COUNTY.
Causes of the Late Civil War and Other
Items of Interest.

Causes of the Late Civil War and Other
Items of Interest.
BELAIR, Nd, Jan. 2Sth, 1884.
Editors Union When / come to bring my
mind to the task of retrospectively viewing our
great civil war; it makes me feel like saying very
strong "cuss" words. A nation so blessed as we
were to be compelled to undergo the great troubles
that she passed through from 1861 to 1865, all of
which was the outgrowth ola preconcerted arrange
ment made by few political rascals, is a subject
for pity. Mr.. Lincoln was elected in November,
1861 He constitutionally elected, in the
manner and form that all his predecessors had
been. He was inaugurated on the 18th of March,
1861, and ON taking the oath of Office he entered
upon the discharge of duty to which his coun-
trymen had called him. At that time a majority
of the Senators were of the Democratic party
Mr.. Lincoln could not have made single appoint
ment to Office without their consent. He could
certainly never have interferred with any State
right made any innovation upon any of the con-
stitutiOnal privileges of individuals or communi
ties, even if he so desired, while the Senate stood
as barrier in his way. This is known of all men
who are familiar with this state of facts at that
time.
What was the cause of the civil war that was
inaugurated in the early part of the first year
of Mr.. Lincolns administration, and who COM
this subject. l answer without hesitation, after
careful survey Of the whole premises and without
fear of successful contradiction, that the direct
cause of the war was the defeat of the Democratic
party and their loss of power in the administra-
ton of the general government, an event which
was partly manipulated by their own party lead
ers, and which they had looked for and even hoped
for, that they might make of it as pretext to
divide the Union and set up for themselves in the
South an aristocratic oligarchy in which their
Davis, and Toombs, and Rhetts, and Masons, and
such traitors could have full sway. "The sceptre
had flown from Judea," and they were dethroned
Their opportunities for plundering the National
treasury, for continuing their notification acts
and the many other traitorous schemes that
have referred to in my previous review had passed
away, and they lay PROSTATE at the feet of an Of
Tended nation, as political party, harmless to do
further wrong and yet potent shield in the ad-
minstration of the government, in the body of the
Senate, to prevent any usurpation that might be
attempted by the Executive of the Nation in the
person of Abraham Lincoln. But Mr.. Lincoln
had no desire or inclination to do anything short
of administering his Office according to his oath of
office, under the Constitution, and so informed
them in his inaugural.
Finding that the end had come and their Brookses
had no longer the free privilege of using their
canes on the Summers in the halls of the National
Legislature, they determined to make bold at
The first gun of the civil war was fired by these
Democratic traitors on the flag of our country that
waved over the gallant band of the Nations de-
tenders at Fort Sumpter. 1 call them, l think,
by their right name Democratic traitors. Look
at the head and front of the secession movements
of 1861 in every seeding State, and you find the
names of all the leading, prominent men of this
party. Look at every rebel sympathizer through
out the loyal States during the civil war; and you
find among all the prominent ones the names of
leading Democrats I say emphatically that the
leaders Of the rebettouS secession increment 1851
Of the Democratic party, that they received all
their aid and encouragement from the Democratic
party, and that the Democratic party Of today as
still their apologist This is Haunting the "bloody
shirt" says "copPer-head." Pray, sir, don't
you and your party faunt the "bloody shirt" in
my face on all and every occasion you can by call
ing me "Yankee," "Black Republican" a
"Negro Lover" &c. Callit "faunting the bloody
shirt or whatever you please, you know it is the
truth, and I intend to spread it from "Dan to
Beersheba" while L have the privilege, that the
Democratic party of 1861 was the legitimate
author of the rebellion, and that the Democratic
party of 1884 is the only apologist left of it.
Now in conclusion would say that you can call
me "Yankee," "BIack Republican" or whatever
else you please, so that you don't call me "Nulli-
fer" "Blue- Light Federalist, "Repudator," and
worst of all "Rebel" and "Traitor." l am q Re-
publican, and National one at that 1 believe
in just and equitable laws for all people. l
don't believe in class legislation. am an Amer
lean citizen, and as such am in favor of protect
ing everything belonging to my country. 1 be-
lieve in protecting every branch of American in
dustry. If to secure fair and just compensation
to the mechanic and laborer who manufacture the
clothes I wear have to pay few cents yard
more for the goods than L could buy foreign
article under free duty, would willingly pay the
extra price to secure this end and could willing
ly id the man who calls himself lover of his
country and his country's welfare who would not
do the same I am in favor of elevating the
workingman, and not TO depress him. have no
sympathy with any measure that would depress
the American mechanic and laborcr to a level
with like class in the European countries, and
think the anathemas of large and potent ele-
ment of our country's citizens will be heard when
ever such an act is attempted. Free tradeis what
the European capitalist wants, but neither the
American capitalist or American mechanic have
any sympathy in that direction. Let our Con-
gress consider the needs and wants of the one and
turn deaf ear to the prayers of the other.
RAMBLER.