The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-28
JEFFERSON DAVIS WAS IN THE CONSPIRACY.


As to the denial of the Charleston
News and Courier that Jefferson Davis
was one of the chief instruments in
bringing on the civil war, We remark
there is abundant reason for believing
there was n conspiracy to that end and
that Mr.. Davis was leading spirit in it.
The records of Congress and the history
of the times furnish ample evidence
that for some time before the secession
movement took open form there was
common understanding and concert of
action in that direction among Southern
leaders. Apploton's Annual Cyclopedia
for 1851 says: 1.-The secession of the
Southern States was preconceived
and arranged purpose on the part of
many prominent public men, cherished
until the favorable hour should come
for its execution. The hour thus select
ed was that upon which the election of
Mr.. Lincoln took place." Prof. John
w. Draper. In his admirable History
of the Civil War in America" says,
1.-THE entire secession movement pre-
sents two phases; first, a conspiracy OF
individuals against the Republic; Sec
ond, the action of an organized govern
ment." Of Buchanan's Cabinet he says,
History furnishes no parallel to the
midnight treachery of that Cabinet ex-
cept in the dark and bloody mysteries of
the palaces of Oriental mOnarchs." AS
to the scope of their plans he says:
They intended to seize Washington TO
prevent the Inauguration or TO depose,
perhaps to dispose Of the new President. TO
secure the government, 10 McXlcaniZe the
Nation. They concerted for the capture of
all the national works in the slave States
and prepared garrisons for them; they en-
trapped the army and dispersed the navy
of the Nation. which they insIdlously dis
armed. Taking advantage OF the offices
which they controlled. thew threw into
confusion its finances, robbed it's treasury
and broke into It's minis. They stripped
its arsenals OF rifles aud cannons its dock
yards of ships. They rendered nugBtory
its courts of law. and seduced from their
allegiance the Offic of It's army and navy.
From the day of Lincoln's election the
atmosphere at Washington was charged
with conspiI acy. AS to the result of the
efforts OF the c0nspirators to destroy the
military power of the government in the
South in anticipation of war We quote
Gen. Winfield Scott. In a paper writ
ten by HIM, Oct. 80. 1860, he said:
From q knowledge of our Southern popu-
iation IL Is my solemn conviction that
there 10 some. danger of an early act of
rashness preliminary To secession. VIZ: the
seizure OF some or all of the followiD posts:
Forts jackson and st. Philip. in the Missis-
sippi. below New Orleans. both without gar
risons; Fort Morgan, below Mobile. without
garrison; Forts PickeDs and Mckee. Pensa-
cola harbOr, with an insufficient garrison for
one; Fort Pulaski, below savannah. with
out q garrison; Forts Moultrle and Sumter,
Charleston harb1r tho former with an in
sufficient garrison. the latter without any,
and Fort Monroe. Hampton Roads. without
sufficient garrison.
There could be no better or stronger
evidence than this of the operations of
the conspirators whose object was TO
render the government as pOwerless as
possible TO arrest the movement which
they intended soon to precipitate.
jefferson Davis was in the Senate all
this time, in daily and nightly communi-
cation with the conspirators. Does any
body doubt that he was in it? To do SD
would be to assume that the foremost
champion or State sovereignty and the
right of secession was not in the conf
dence of those who were conspiring to
give practical effect to views which he
had been maintaining and promul-
eating all his life. Without doubt
Davis was in the full confidence of the
conspirators and an active and Jealous
cOworker in all their plans.