Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-06-16
BEGINNING OF CIVIL WAR.
How President Lincoln Met the Crisis
Of the Southern Re
bellion.

Days went on. and by the middle OF
April the confederate government
fouud itself forced 90 a fatal choice.
Either it must begin war. or allow the
rebellion to collapse All it's claims TO
independence We're denied. the com
missloners &C. sent to Washington on
The pretonse that they were agents Of
foreign country were politely refused
hearing. yet not one angry word. or
q single harmful act had come from the
Black Republican" president 10 his
inaugural he had promised the people
OF the south peace and protection. bsc
offered them the beenft OF the mails
Even now. AN he proposed 20 do was %
send bread to Anderson and his hun
cry soldiers. His prudent policy
placed them where. as he had told
them. they could have no war unless
they themseivcs chose to begin it.
They did choose t1 tecin &c. The re-
heilon was ODE work ~ ambitions men
who had uo mind to stop at that late
day. ana -ee th-ir labor go FOR nothing
The Officer iu charce of tleir batteries
NFas ordered to open fro ON Fort sum
ter % Anderson ref...l to surrender.
ono in Oh" dian urrf of dawn on April
-. 1861. jrst as the or.liue OF Fort
sumter becnn to show itself against n
oriehtcning Sky the shot that opened
tho civil war rose from rebel battery
and made IT'S slow and graceful curve
upon Sumter. soon an the batteries
Were In action. and the fort was reply
ing with win Anderson held out
Tor day and % hail. until his cart
ridges were all used mp. his hacstsT
had been shot away and the wooden
buildings inside the fort were on fire.
Then. as the ships with supplies had
not yet arrived. and he had neither
fooG nor ammunition, he was forced
90 surrender.
The news of the firing upon Fort
Sumter changed the mood OF the
country AS ~ boy magic BY deliberate
act OF the confederate government IFS
attempt mo peaceable secession had
hccn changed 20 active war The con-
federates gained Fort Sumter. but In
doing SO they reused the patriotism OF
the north 90 a. Grim resolve that this
insult 90 thc har should Doe redressed.
and that the unrlghteous experiment
OF rival government founded upon
slavery as its cornerstone" should
never succeed I'm one OF his speeches
or the journey to Washington Mr.. Lin-
coin had said that devoted as he was
% peace. it mi-ht become necessary
90 put the foot down firmly" Tnat
time had row come. on April Is. the
Gay after the fan OF Fort Sumter. all
the newspapers OF the country printed
the presidents call 90 arms. ordering
out $4,000 militia for three months. and
directing congress 90 meet In special
session on July 4. 1861 The north rail-
lied instantly 20 the support of the
government. and offered him twice the
number Of soldiers he asked for.
Nothing more clearly shows the diff
ference between President Lincoln and
President Buchanan than the way in
which the two men met the acts OF
the southern rebellion says Helen Mic
olay, in ST. Nicholas President Blu
chonan temporized and delayed when
he had plenty of power President
Lincoln. without a moments hesiia-
ton, accepted the great and unusual
responsibility thrust upon him. and
al once issued orders for buying ships.
moving troops. advancing money to
committees or safety. and for other
military and naval measures for which
al the moment he had no express au-
thOrity from congress.