Year: 1873

Differences existed in the Cabinet
and the country in 1861 on some OF
the measures and the course ofpolicy
which the Government should pur-
sue toward the seccssionists. The
questions presented were in some re-
spects novel and without precedent,
as was the insurrection itself. Hos
tilities were precipitated within forty
days of the Inauguration, before the
Administration was fully established
in place, or had time to develop its
policy. The assault on the flag at
Charleston compelled immediate ac-
tion. The proclamation promptly is
sued for seyenty-fye thousand volun-
teers also declared blockade Of the
Southern ports There was entire
unanimity in the Cabinet on all points
in the proclamation except that of a
blockade, which was questioned as a
doubtful and irregular proceeding; for
the conflict, whether an insurrection
or rebellion, was pusely domestic-s
civil war and not foreign war and
it was thought the internal dissen-
siOns in our own territory should be
confined within our own borders. A
majority Of the Cabinet, therefore,
preferred an embargo or suspension
of intercourse With that part of the
country to blockade, and maintain
ed it to be the true policy of the Gov
ernment to close the ports and inter-
diet commerce with the insurgents
until the rebellion was suppressed. 1t
was claimed that blockade was not
domestic but an international aues-
tion-legitimate and proper as be-
tween two distinct nations, but that
we could not properly blockade our
own ports, though we might shut
them UP, prohibit traffic from abroad
by law, and make its violation GRIM
iEal offence; that the very fact of a
blockade of the whole rebel territory
would raise them TO the level of bel
ligerents--a concession to the Confed-
crate organization virtually admitting
it to be quasi government-giving
that organization position among
nations that We would not and could
not recognize or sanction, and which
would inevitably lead to embarrass-
ments. But the subject was in some
Of its aspects novel, and the Secre-
tary of State, though sometimes rash.
had not the bold and vigorous mind
to assert and maintain right princi-
pal if fraught with doubt and difficult
~, provided there was an easier path.
The blockade, he thought, opened up
way The questions of blockade
were well settled and clearly defined.
the authority and precedents explicit,
and be therefore preferred to adopt
that course, shelter himself under
those precedents, and apply interna-
tional law to strictly national and
domestic controversy, rather than as
sert a measure and vindicate an i'm
portant principal affecting national
rights. Less was said in the confu-
sion and proceedings which came like
an avalanche at that critical moment
upon the ADMINISTRATION, than ct a
later period Two members of the
Cabinet said they had bestowed very
slight examination upon the subject,
and as it related to foreign intercourse
they deferredto to the Secretary of State,
who had given it special attention,
and also cited authorities justifying
an exclusion of commerce from ma
tiOnal ports in the equitable form of
blockade. President Lincoln inclined
to that view, and when Mr.. Seward
asserted that one great object Of the
blockade, instead of a closure of the
ports was to avoid complications
which would be likely to involve us
in foreign war, the question was de-
cided. The President said we could
not afford to have two wars on our
hands at once, and blockade was or
dered.-Hon. Gideon Weies an The
GALAXY for December.