"Truly your friend, "His Excellency, Gov. BLAIR.

Z. CHANDLER..

Judge DOUGLAS said in a speech in the Senate, January 3, 1861:

"I address the inquiry to the Republicans alone, for the reason, that in the committee of thirteen, a few days ago, every member of the South, including those from the cotton states, (Messrs. TooMBS and DAVIS,) expressed their readiness to accept the proposition of my venerable friend from Kentucky, (Mr. CRITTENDEN,) as a final settlement of the controversy, if tendered and sustained by Republican members. Hence, the sole responsibility of our disagreement. The only difficulty in the way of amicable adjustment is with the Republican party.

At one time it was likely the Peace Congress would affect some amicable arrangement to compromise and save the Union. Prior to this several Northern States had refused to send delegates to that Congress, but as some of the Administration States had, and their action was likely to compromise the Administration in a compromise for peace, the politicians who now declare they don't believe in the Constitution, took immediate steps to break up, or defeat the purposes of that Peace Congress.

CARL SCHURZ, then being East, telegraphed to Gov. RANDALL, of Wisconsin, to favor the move and to appoint him as one of the delegates (SCHURZ boasted of his opposition to Peace compromises) as it will strengthen our side.?"

For the same reason Senator CHANDLER wrote to Gov. BLAIR, of Michigan, as follows:

"WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 1861. "MY DEAR GOVERNOR :-Gov. BINHAM and myself telegraphed you on Saturday, at the request of Massachusetts and New York, to send delegates to the Peace or Compromise Congress: They admit that we are right and they are wrong that no Republican State should have sent delegates; but they are here and can't get away. Ohio, Indiana and Rhode Island are coming in, and there is danger of Illinois, and they beg us for God's sake to come to their rescue, and save the Republican party from a rupture! I hope you will send stiff-backed men or none! The whole thing was got up against my judgment and advice, and will end in thick smoke. Still, I hope as a matter of

"P. S. Some of the Manufacturing States think that a fight would be awful. Without a little blood-letting, this Union, in my estimation, will not be worth a rush."

These politicians cared nothing for saving the Union, but to "save the Republican party". was their great desire.

CHAPTER X.

THE MOTIVE FOR PRECIPITATING A CONFLICT. Who Responsible for bringing on a Clish of Arms... The

Administration resort to a "Trick" to Force the Rebels to Commence the Attack...Letter from the Hon. Harlow S. Orton... His charges of a "Trick" proved by Extracts from... The New York Times... Charleston Mercury... New York Tribune, &c,...The United States Armada take no part to Relieve Major Andersoa...New York Post details the Trick...Radicals Prophesying an Easy and Early Victory...Seward's Promise to deliver up Sumter.

It is not of so much moment now to ascertain the cause of the war as it is the motive.The former cannot now be remedied, so as to effect present results, while by duly exposing the latter we may avoid its repetition for some time to come, as the expose of Federal designs prevented a disruption of the Union in 1814–16.

LETTER FROM JUDGE ORTON.

We cannot better illustrate the animus of the party in power to provoke actual hostilities, with a view of throwing the onus of war's inception on the rebels, than by copying entire the letter and "accompanying documents' by the Hon. HARLOW S. ORTON, Judge of the 9th Wisconsin Circuit, to the Wisconsin Patriot, as follows:

"TO THE EDITORS OF THE PATRIOT:

"The Journal, in its generally correct report of what I said in the recent Democratic Convention, says:

"He charged that this war was brought upon the country by the present administration in accordance with an infamous plot-a disgraceful political trick! That the sending of a vessel to Fort Sumter with the avowed object of sending provisions to the men in the Fort. was only

a pretense, gotten up to provoke South Carolina to make an attack! to form an excuse for the administration to de.

clare war! The party in power would not hear to any terms of compromise," &c.

"The general sense of what I said on that point, is perhaps sufficiently conveyed by the above report, yet much of the language used I respectfully disown. I said, in effect, that the inception of the war, (by which I meant the firing on Fort Sumter,) was the result of a trick of the administration. That the fleet.

war.

"These mysterious movements were the dispatching of eight vessels of war; with twentysix guns and thirteen hundred and eighty men. between the 6th and 8th of April, with sealed orders for the south. On the 8th, information was communicated by the Government to the authorities at Charleston that they desired to send supplies to Fort Sumter by an unarmed vessel. They were informed that the vessel would be fired upon and not permitted to enter the port. On the same day official notification was given by the government that supplies would be sent to Major Anderson, peaceably if possible, otherwise by force. On the 9th the Southern Commissioners were dismissed from Washington, by the Secretary of State declining to receive them officially, but expressing great deference for them personally. On the 10th United States vessels were reported off

"The question of reinforcing Fort Sumter has been under consideration in the Cabinet, and it is understood that the question, whether or no, it is not desirable to withdraw all the troops except two or three men, rather than incur the bloodshed which will probably occur, before troops and supplies are put into it, is now to be decided. The question has been under discussion in high military circles for some days. Gen. Scort advises that reinforcements cannot now be put in without an enormous sacrifice

of life. He is understood to say, that we have neither military or naval force at hand sufficient to supply the Fort against the threatened opposition, which it would require twenty thousand men to overcome. Besides, if it should initiate civil war, in addition to uniting the South, and overwhelming the Union sentiment there, in the waves of passion, it would require two hundred and fifty thous and Government soldiers to carry on the struggle, and a hundred millions of money to begin with.”

"It is a fact of the current history of the time, that this discussion and under the advice of Gen. SCOTT, resulted in the unanimous decision of the Cabinet, that the fort should be evacuated, and the President's order for that purpose was anxiously awaited and expected by the public for several days, and the people had generally acquiesced in the wisdom and conciliation of the measure. It was at this juncture that Mr. SEWARD, or some other person having authority, pledged the Southern Commissioners that the fort would not be reinforced, and this was communicated to the Southern rebel authorities. In consequence of this understanding, the Charleston Mercury proclaimed

"Sumter is to be ours without a fight! All will rejoice that the blood of our people is not to be shed in our harbor either in small or great degree."

“The fact that this pledge was given by Mr. SEWARD or some other member of the Cabinet, is charged in the last communication of the Southern Commissioners to the Secretary of State, and has never been denied officially or otherwise.

"So matters remained until the 5th of April. The New York Tribune of that date says:

"Many rumors are in circulation to-day. They appear to have originated from movements on the part of the United States troops, the reasons for which have not been

harbor.

"On the 11th, preparations were made by the military of Charleston for an attack on the Fort, in anticipation of a forcible attempt on the part of the Federal fleet to supply it. On the 12th, after a demand for its surrender, the Fort is fired into, and the war is commenced! During this infamous and cowardly attack upon the small and starved garrison of Sumter, the United States fleet is in sight, making no attempt to enter the harbor, or cooperate with the Fort, lying idly by, and witnessing the desperate and heroic yet useless struggle of the gallent ANDERSON and his men, to defend his Fort and his flag against an overwhelming force of rebels, unaided and alone. The deed is done, and the bloody struggle of a relentless civil war has commenced! The

Fort has fallen into the hands of the rebel states, and its guns turned against the Govlines are obliterated, and the people of the ernment; and behold the effect. All party Northern States, with one mind, and with the the insult by fierce and bloody war. most patriotic impulses, rush to arms, to avenge Scott predicted would be the consequence of As Gen. initiated, the South is united, and the Union an attempt to reinforce the Fort, 'Civil war is sentiment there is overwhelmed in the waves of passion.'

The Border States, hitherto reluctant, now cession, and join the Southern Confederacy. make haste to rush into the whirlpool of seAll pending efforts and measures for compromise are scouted and contemned; and a peaceful solution of the sectional controversy is now rendered impossible.

Since that time, I have never once questioned the right and the imperative duty of the Administration to use all possible and adequate means to conquer and subdue a rebellion so causeless and wicked-only insisting that all the efforts of the Government to that end should be to restore the Union and maintain the obligations of the Constitution over all the

states, and that when this is accomplished, the war ought to cease, and this, I understand, was the unquestioned and universally conceded policy of the Administration when the war commenced, and by the unanimous action of Congress in the adoption of the CRITTENDEN of the CRITTENDEN resolutions. But while using the highest degree of military force to coerce submission to the Government, and obedience to the Constitution, I have thought it not inconsistent with our high national character and the true dignity of the Government, to propose and constantly tender to the rebel states such just and proper terms of compromise of the sectional controversies out of which this terrible war has arisen, as might result in the speedy restoration of the Union, conscientiously believing that war alone, without mutual conciliation could never restore it. With these views, I still insist that the inception of the war was the result of a trick of the Administration, and with the evident design on the part of those whose policy has since been adopted in the conduct of the war, to sieze upon this terrible national calamity as their long waited opportunity to abolish slavery, regardless of the fate of the Government.

7

"I have already briefly stated the facts connected with the event-facts of history which none will deny, and it only remains to prove what were the real motives and designs, or what was the strategy or plan of the administration in sending a fleet to Charleston under the pretence or feint of reinforcing Fort Sumter. To prove that it was a mere feint or pretence, and that the designs were such as I have stated, I shall, for the present, adduce only the cotemporaneous statements of the then most prominent and credible witnesses, then and now in the secrets, confidence and interest of the administration, and leave the controversy upon these points between them and my

accusers.

The New York Times, of the 15th of April, said:

"The curtain has fallen upon the first act of the great tragedy of the age. Fort Sumter has been surrendered, and the Stars and Stripes of the American Republic give place to the felon flag of the Southern Confederates.

"The defence of the fort did honor to the gallant commander by whom it was held, and vindicated the government under which he served. Judging from the result, it does not seem to have been the purpose of the government to do anything more. The armed ships which accompanied the supplies took no part in the contest. Whatever may have been the reason for it, their silence was probably fortunate."

"The New York Tribune of the same date, said:

"The announcement that Fort Sumter was on fire, sounded like a knell as well as an impossibility. It caused forebodings. 'Where is the fleet?' was on all lips. That there had been some unlucky miscarriage as the public mind had conceived its objects, was quite plain. Finally came the report that the Stars and Stripes would soon come down, and later, that they had actually given place to the flag of rebellion, in spite of doubts, and the strong inclination to disbelief, particularly of the statement that, notwithstanding the bombardment had continued nearly thirty-six hours, 'nobody was hurt' on either side, the feeling reached its climax. No compromise now with rebellion, is the universal sentiment. If there were differences before, there cannot be said to be any now.”

"It is evident that Gen. SCOTT has once more beaten the enemies of his country, by the mere force of his admirable strategetical genius. To do so, he has, as was necessary suffered not only traitors, but loyal men to rest under a misapprehension. He who reads and compares carefully the dispatches from Charleston, Montgomery, and Washington in this morning journals cannot avoid the gratifying conclusion, that that which looks at first blush like a disaster to the Government, is in reality, but the successful carrying out of an admirable military plan. Before this, the traitors see themselves caught in the iron toils. In fact it seems to have sickened the Chief Traitor, DAVIS, already. For Montgomery dispatches relate, that when the news from Charleston came, and the mob serenaded DAVIS and WALKER, "the former was not well aud did not appear."

The facts which tend to the conclusion we have pointed

out may be summed up as follows:

"Gen. SCOTT has been averse to the attempt to reinforce Fort Sumter. He saw that it would cost men and vessels which the Government could not spare just now. As an able General, he saw that Charleston and Sumter were points of no military importance, and would only need valuable men to hold if we took them-with no adequate advantage gained. He saw that the two keys of the position were Fort Pickens, in the Gulf, and Washington, the Capital. His plans, based on these facts, were at once laid. By every means in his power he concentrated the attention of traitors and loyal men on Sumter. He must have seen with infinite stisfaction the daily increasing force gathered at Charleston, while the Government lost no time in strengthening the capital. Every hour the traitors spent before Sumter gave them more surely into the hands of their master To make assurance doubly sure, he pretended to leave Fort Pickens in the lurch. It was said to be in danger, when ScoTT knew that a formidable force was investing it. dable force was investing it. At last Washington was reasonably safe. Forces now gathered. Once more our brave old General saw himself with means in his hands. "Then came the armament popularly believed to be destined for Sumter.

"The Government said not a word-only asked of the supply of food. They refused, fearing the arrival of the traitors the opportunity to send its own garrison a needed Federal fleet-drunk and besotted with treason, and impatack. Scarce had they begun, when they saw with evitient to shed the blood of loyal soldiers, they made the atdent terror, ships hovering about the harbor's mouth; they plied their cannon in desperate haste; but no ship came in to ANDERSON's help, What was the matter?

He

"Made bold by the furious thirst for blood, they dared the ships to come in, but no ship offered its assistance to Anderson. More, the guns of Sumter were only directed. to the works of the traitors, and Major Anderson evidently tried to fire in such a manner as not to kill men. did not even try a few bombs on the city, though it is certain, from a letter from one of his own officers, that his guns would reach beyond the centre of Charleston. What was the matter? Beauregard must have thought the Government officers both fools and cowards. When his own boats were sailing unharmed about the harbor between Sumter and Moultrie, bearing his orders, was it possible that the forces outside could stand apathetic while a brave garrison was being done to death? When the battle was to the death, would a shrewd officer neglect to divert his enemies' attention by firing his city?-If it seems mysterious to us, waiting on Saturday with breathless suspense, it must have seemed incomprehensible. to any cool head in the traitor camp.

"Still no ships came in--and, in fact, the reports state that only three or four small vessels remained in the offing. "After forty hours,' cannonade, in which not one man is killed, Major Anderson, an officer of undoubted courage and honor, runs up a white flag, surrendered the fort, and becomes the guest of Gen. Beauregard. Let no man hastily cry traitor! He only obeyed orders. He made an honorable defence. He took care to shed no blood. "He gave orders not to sight men, but to silence batteries."

"Mean,time, while the rebels are ignorantly glorifying the victory of five thousand men over eighty, what rews comes from Montgomery? The telegraph in the hands of the rebels says, Fort Pickens was reinforced last night. 'It is understood that Charleston harbor is blockaded.' No wonder the rebel chief was sick and went to bed.

"The position of affairs is this-Charleston is blockaded -Fort Pickens is reinforced by troops, which the traitors Washingfoolishly believed were destined for Sumter: ton is secure beyond peradventure. The traitors have, without the slightest cause, opened the war they have so long threatened. The country is roused to defend its assailed liberties, and gathers enthusiastically about the Government, and treason has been checkmated at the first blow it has struck. Let them keep Sumter a few weeks." "The above article is copied into the "Rebellion Record," as a part of the reliable history of the war.

"It will be seen that this article more than bears out the statement I made, and I trust those who have charged my statement with being false, will be fair and candid enough to read and republish the above article, that both parties may see some of the evidence upon which it was based. I regret the necessity of taking so much of your valuable space to present the evidence of a fact that I did not suppose would be questioned by any one. fact itself is only important in throwing light upon the designs of the party in power, which at first were disguised, but now openly avowed, viz: the ultimate destruction of the Union, hostility to all compromises, the violation of the constitution, a war of conquest, and the abolition of slavery, regardless of consequences. "H. S. ORTON."

The

Meanwhile, the radical press were belittling the magnitude of the Southern discontent, and under the Syren song of a "nine days bubble," assured the people that this treason could be "crushed out in thirty days." The New York Tribune said:

"The nations of Europe may rest assured that JEFF. DAVIS & Co. will be swinging from the battlements at Washington at least by the 4th of July. We spit upon a later and longer deferred justice."

The New York Times said:

"Let us make quick work. The rebellion,' as some people designate it, is an unborn tadpole. Let us not fall into the delusion, noted by HALLAM, of instituting a, local commotion,' for a revolution. A strong active 'pull together,' will close our work in thirty days."

The Philadelphia Press said, that:

"No man of sense could, for a moment, doubt that this 'much-ado-about-nothing' would end in a revolt."

The Radicals conspire to overthrow the Government long before the Rebellion of 1861...DOUGLAS' testimony on this point...JOHN BROWN Raid originated in Kansas.. Col. Jamison's testimony... Col. F. P. Blair on the cause of the war... Abolitionists and Secessionists united...Mr. Seward's testimony...Parson Brownlow on the designs of the Abolitionists... Thurlow Weed on the "Chief Architects" of the Rebellion... Aboliiionists of New York Invite Southern Secessionists to join them...Massachusetts for Dissolution in 1851...Also in 1856...Ben. Wade Declares there was no Union... Garrison's "Covenant with Hell"...Republicans of Green County, Wis., Pledged to "Revolutionize the Government"... Anson Burlingame for a New Deal all Round...David Wilmot on Dissolution ...Wendell Phillips again... Lowell Republicans for Dissolution...Massachusetts Petitions for Dissolution... James Watson Webb for using "Fire and Sword"...Boston Free Soilers, 1854... Charles Sumner bound to Disobey law...The True American pronounees a Negro "Worth all the Unions on God's Earth"-Another Massachusetts Petition for Dissolution...Dissolution Resolution by Anti-Slavery Society... Another from same source...Disunion again in Massachusetts...From Redmund's Speech... Wendell Phillips labors nineteen years to Break up the Union... Parker Pillsbury labored twenty years to destroy the Union... Stephen Foster dissuading young men from enlisting in this Unholy War, &c.

STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS understood the secret designs of the leading Republicans, as well as any other living man, and he thus gave utterence to his honest convictions, in the U. S. Senate, Dec. 25, 1860:

"The fact can no longer be disguised that many of the Republican Senators desire war and disunion, under pretext of saving the Union. They wish to get rid of the Southern states, in order to have a majority in the Senate to confirm the appointments, and many of them think they can hold a permanent Republican majority in the Northern States, but not in the whole Union; for partisan reasons they are anxious to

holding them responsible before the people." "DATES BACK OF SUMTER. Gen. JAMISON, one of the Abolition marplots of Kansas, made a speech to his soldiers