Wichita eagle., 1889-12-08
celebration Of the birthday OF Daniel web

celebration Of the birthday OF Daniel web
ster, in January, 1853, he wrote:
81 send you my cordial greetings to the
friends Of tho constitution, and ask to be en-
rolled among those whose mission is, by fra
ternity and good faith to every constitu-
tional obligation, to insure that, from the
Aroostook to San Diego, from Key West to
Puget sound, the grand arch of our political
temple shall stand mistaken"
DID WAR BEGIN IN 1851
An event was at hand, however, which was
to precipitate the condict-namely, the en-
terprise of John Brown. A million southern
men and women, who had laughed at the idea
of danger from northern aggression" were
suddenly converted, saying. as one Of them
expressed it, "We can no longer live in peace
with the north; our allies have become our
enemies, and we must seek release from the
connection while we can do so with safety"
The feelings Of Jefferson Davis for the next
fifteen months may be gathered from the fol-
lowing letter, written at the close of the dis
cussion to his long time friend, e1-President
Pierce:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 90, 1851.
NY DEAR FRIkND-I have often and sadly turned
my thoughts to you during the troublous times
through which We have been passing, and now
come to the hard task Of announcing to you that
tho hour Is at hand which closes my connection
with the United States, for the independence and
union Of which my father toiled and In tho service
Of which have sought to emulate the example
he set for my guidance. Mississippi, not as
matter Of choice but of necessity, has resolved to
enter on the trial Of secession. Those who have
driven her to this alternative threaten to deprive
her Of the right TO require that her government
shall rest on tho consent Of the governed, to sub
stitute foreign force for domestic support, to re-
duce state to the condition from which the col
ony rose In the attempt to avoid the issue which
had been Joined by the country, the present ad-
ministration has complicated and precipitated
the question. Even now, If the duty Ito preserve
the public property was nationally regarded, 1.-The
probable collision at Charleston would be avoided
Security far better than any which the Federal
troops can give might be obtained in considera-
ton Of the little garrison Of Fort Sumter. II the
disavowA Of any purpose TO coerce South Caro-
lima be sincere, the possession Of a work to COM
mand the harbor is worse than useless.
When Lincoln comes in he viii have but to con-
tnue in the path Of his predecessor to inaugurate
a civil war, and leave a soi-disant Democratic adj
ministration responsible for the fact Gen. Cush-
ing was here last week, and when he parted 1t
seemed like taking last .eaye Of a brother.
Ileave immediately for Mississippi, and know
not what may devolve upon me after nay return.
Civil war has only horror for me, but whatever
circumstances may demand shall be met as q
duty, and trust be so discharged that you will
not be ashamed of our former connection or cease
to be my friend.
Mrs Davis joins me in kind remembrance to
Mrs Pierce, and the expression Of the hope that
we may yet have you both at our country home
Do me the favor to write to me often. Address
Hurricane P. O. Warren county, Miss.
May God bless you. is ever the prayer Of your
friend, JEFFN DAVIS.
President F. Pierce.
I'm that fifteen months events had moved
rapidly towards the dread elimination. In
the first Democratic convention Of 1861 Mr.
Davis received some votes, Benjamin F.
Butler voting for him 81 times. In the
subsequent election the 1.-TWO northern candi-
dates" as MIR Blaine styles them, received all
the votes of the northern states save mere
handful, less than 100000, while Breckin-
ridge and Bell received the almost solid vote
Of the southern states SIN truth as well as
in appearance" adds Mr.. Blaine, sit was
sectional contest, in which the north support
ed northern candidates and the south south
ern candidates" ''Disunion was already
completed in the hearts Of the people," says
Tourgee, ''the sections simply fell apart be-
cause there was no cohesion" These opinions
OF philosophic observers long after the strug-
gle, have their value.