Year: 1863

free States. Such was the state Of the
case when the bill came to q vote in Con
gress. 1t is scarcely necessary to ask
who defeated this bill The Republicans
went against it in a solid phalanx, and
it was killed. They had it in their power
to pass the bill, but would not; they de
feat it, and by so doing took on them.
selves the consequences which follow such
defeat. Some of them may have hesi.
tated in the course the ywere taking on that
occasion-but pressed on by the ultras
who required "blood letting" the "peace
measures" were thrown overheard, and
our country swept along toward the brink
OF ruin.


But there was yet another chance to
save the Union. Let US see how that
was thrown away. The next chance for
saving the Union and preventing blood
shed, was at the Peace Conference OF
March, 1861. That body came together
some time early in March; it was CON-
posed Of representatives from the Middle,
Western and Northern States. The pro-
ceedings OF the Conference were highly
honorable to the ability and patriotism Of
the border States delegates. They did
what they could to save the Union. The
part that Virginia took in those proceed
ings was purely a national one, as every
body could see. Though suffering from
the effect of the j obn brown raid, she new
theless showed herself anxious to keep
the peace, whatever might be said of 9th .
ers. But in vain. The Conference broke
up without having accomplised anything;
it was failure.


And who let me ask is responsible for
that failure? Who prevented the Confer.
ence from adopting the measures which
were needed to prevent fratricidal war?
The same class of men which defeated the
Crittenden Bill! They defeated the peace
proposition of the Conference. Unfortu-
nately for our country, the delegates from
the free States appear to have been seec-
ted by Republican Governors, on account
of the known hatred of these men to COM
promise of all kinds. ShOse who were
sent from this State voted, with one ex.
ception, against the peace measures of the
Conference. That assembly, which for a
brief period had given US some hopes OF
preserving the Union, broke up in dispair
and the brink of destruction seemed reach
cd at last. Another failure to restore
harmony, and the ruin would be complete
1t seemed to be pre- determined that there
should be another failure anyway, and
the gulf Of perdition reached at last. Dut
before | come to speak of the las. anc
worst phase of this question, a single
word as to certain conservative opinions
which began to prevail after the Admin
tration went into power.


+ Shortly after Mr.. Lincoln was sworn
into Office, the question began to be seri
ously debated as to whether sovereign
Saates could rightfully be coerced by
force of arms. | am not going into the
discussion of it at the present time. /
only wish to remind you that such ques.
tion was vaised, and that the negative OF
it was ably sustained by men of great
worth and ability, and by no one more
ably than our worthy fellow citizen, Mr.
Eeton. 1t was proved beyond controver-
sy, that the founders of the Constitution
never provided, ,.or intended to provide, for
any such military schemes as are now on
foot for the conqest of the Southern States.
Never! On the contrary, it was shown
that the founders of that instrument vo-
ted down every proposition of the sort.
All this was proved, and more than | need
trouble You with at this time. Now what
l mean to say is this, before | come to
another matter-that these undeniable
proofs of the true intent and meaning OF
the Constitution on the subject of coer.
cion, or force, ought to have impress ed
the men in power, at Washington, with
the absolute necessity for using great for
bearance in their dealings with the sece.
ding States. For while these consid.
erations may have had some weight with
them, but they were soon to give way fol
others


This brings me to speak of one chance
more, which, If it had been rightfully i'm
proved, might have averted the horrors
of civil war. We shall see how that was
thrown away also; and the Union dashed
on the rocks. 1t SO happened that the
whole questian of peace or war was des
tined 10 turn on a single point--and thai
tort in Charleston harbor. By con
currence in circumstances, Fort Sumte
became the point upon which the very
existence OF the Union hanged. But, in
comparison-witE the worth of the Union
and the direfui evils which might follow
a seri us collision in that quarter, the
fort was OF little consequence to any body
A collision between the State and FEEDER.
al troops should, il possible, be avoide ed
All that was wanted was to gain time
for Ieason to have its turn. The Govern
ment might go on with its blockade, but
should do nothing to provoke the shed
ding of blood. Now it was seen, anc
plainly seen. that any attempt to reinforce
Sumter would provoke the very crisis
which some of the best men in our coun,
try wished to avoid. And this was moi
only seen, but the Federal authorities a,
the capital gave their pledge to Justice
Campell. of the Supreme Court of the
United States, that no such attempt
should be made to reinforce Fort Sumter
in proof of this, l refer you to the Judges
letter on the subject "a letter which was
published in the Journal of Commerce, and
other papers, some two months after the
war broke ont. "Put not your faith in
Princes" The pledge have Just refer
red to, had scarcely been made when
measures were actually taken by the Fed
-.