The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1911-06-02


oo1Ied a border state policy,
-, II did not take the country long
= discover that the policy was wise.
!. tbe classification of that day, the
harder states were Delaware, Mary,
land Kentucky, Tennessee and Mis-"
.ouri Lincoln wanted to keep as
many of these states in the Union
40 he could, and for at least two
roasons-to narrow the area of the
rebellion as far as possible and to
keen the road to Washington open
for troops rallying to its defense.
For the latter reason the retention
Of Delaware and Maryland was es-
pecially important.
Virginia was sometimes classed
among the border states, and at the
outset Lincoln believed that the
state would remain loyal, but that
hope was quickly ended. Although
the Virginia Convention rejected a
secession proposition on April 4 by
a vote Of 80 to As, sentiment was
changed in it Immediately after the
fall Of Fort Sumpter and it then cast
its fortunes with the Confederacy.
From the beginning, however,
there was small but progressive
element of secessionists in Virginia
Edward Ruffin OF that state went to
Charleston, joined the Palmetto
Guards, asked for the privilege of
firing the first shot at Sumpter, and
he was permitted by Beauregard,
the commander of the confederate
forces there, to do this, but the du.
bious honor was denied him after
ALL Before Rufin's gun spoke
from Cummings Point, Capt. Geo.
s. James, from Fort Johnson, fired.
This Is tho testimony of General
Samuel w Crawford, who, as a
surgeon, was on the parapet of Fort
Sumpter at the time. Shortly after
Appamatox Rufin, unwilling to live
under the Stars and Stripes, commit
ted suicide at his estate in Virginia.
Driving Virginia.
An active young Virginia fire eater
Roger A. Pryor, an ex-congressman
from the Petersburg district, who
has resided in New York since the
close of the rebellion, and who has
held several posts there, including a
Jlsticeship of the state supreme court
and who is still alive, aged SO, went
10 Charleston early in April, 1861,
10 urge that state to attack Sumpter.
10 not distrust Virginia" said he.
Srlke a blow. The very minute
mat blood is shed Old Virginia will
make common cause with her sister
states of the south"
The plan of the secession chiefs
was to drive Virginia into the con-
ieueracy at the earliest possible mo-
ment, and then to either force Mary.
ianu to secede, or to constrain her
70 oostruct the movement of troops
Sumclently to permit the confeder-
a'eS TO make dash on Washington,
u capture 1t, and then to dishearten
'ne loyal states and to compel Eu-
iope to recognize the confederacy.
'oV' Burton of Delaware, a Demo-
Vta'' was loyal to the Union, as was
'ne mass of the people OF that state,
Uu' ne was at first opposed o coer-
'ioh' believing that he had no legal
'isht to offer militia to the govern
"ent, urged the legislature to raise
regiment of volunteers, her quota
unuer tho first call. This was done
ana they entered the national SER
vice.
IN Maryland the situation was
practically tho same as In Delaware,
'"o majority OF tho people we're OPP
poS'd to secession, but the leading
e ~ politicians favored It,
Wv Ticks was n unIonlst, but he
was opposed at first to coercion and
"0'a'ored to induce Lincoln to get
'no troops to Washington by some
:, route than through his state,
resisted the efforts OF the anti
y, ua''nlsta' however. and that state,
!, r"o Delaware, decided to sustain the
national government.
Importance of Kentucky.
ror sentimental as we'll as stra-
''s'o reasons, that being the state