CHAPTER XXIV.

WHO CAUSED THE WAR? (Continued)

Further evidence of the desire of the South for peace is seen in the resolution passed by the Confederate Congress on the 15th day of February, 1861, declaring its sense "that a commission of three be appointed by the President-elect, as early as may be convenient after his inauguration, and sent to the Government of the United States of America, for the purpose of negotiating friendly relations between that Government, and the Confederate States of America, and for the settlement of all questions of disagreement between the two governments upon principles of right, justice, equity, and good faith."

In accordance with this resolution Mr. Davis appointed the following distinguished citizens of national reputation as that commission of three: John Forsyth of Alabama, Martin Ț. Crawford of Georgia, and A. B. Roman of Louisiana-all statesmen of acknowledged ability. They were clothed with full power to open negotiations, to settle all matters of joint property, such as forts, arsenals, arms or property of any kind, whatever within the limits of the Confederate States.

As soon as Mr. Lincoln had organized his cabinet they addressed to Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State, the following communication: "Seven States of the late Federal Union, having in the exercise of the inherent right of every free people to change or reform their political institutions, and through Conventions of their people, having withdrawn from the United States, and resumed the attribute of Sovereign power delegated to it, have formed a Government of their own.

"With a view to a speedy a ljustment of all questions growing out of this political separation, upon such terms of amity and good-will as the respective interests, geographical contiguity and future welfare of the two nations may render necessary, the undersigned are instructed to make to the Government of the United States overtures for the opening of negotiations, assuring the Government of the United States that the President, Congress and people of the Confederate States earnestly desire a peaceful

solution of these great questions; that it is neither their interest nor their wish to make any demand which is not grounded in strict justice, nor do any act to injure their late Confederates."

How was this communication in the interest of peace and good-will received? Two days after its reception by Mr. Seward an indirect and informal answer was made through Justice Nelson of the United States Supreme Court and Justice Campbell of the same Court to the effect that Mr. Seward had a "strong disposition in favor of peace, and that he was greatly oppressed with a demand of the Commissioners of the Confederate States for a reply to their letter; and that he desired to avoid making any reply at that time." This evasive answer was made to Judge Nelson, and by him to Judge Campbell, who on receiving the information, without consulting the commissioners, at once interviewed Mr. Seward with the hope that he might be instrumental in bringing about a peaceful adjustment of all questions at issue. On the evening of the same day Judge Campbell handed to the Commissioners in writing the following:

"I feel entire confidence that Fort Sumter will be evacuated within the next ten days. And this measure is felt as imposing great responsibility on the administration. I feel entire confidence that no measure changing the existing Status, prejudicial to the Southern Confederate States, is at present contemplated. I feel an entire confidenec that an immediate demand for an answer to the communication of the commissioners will be productive of evil, and not of good. I do not believe that it ought at this time to be pressed."

Could an appeal have been stronger? Could it have come through a more trust-worthy and more conciliatory medium? Had not Mr. Seward also said to Judge Campbell that "there was no design to reinforce Fort Sumter?"-that "it would be evacuated in less than ten days?" and that "it would be evacuated before a letter could go from Washington to Montgomery?" He knew Judge Campbell would report this information to the commissioners. He knew it would allay their suspicions. For this reason they did not demand an immediate answer, but re

ported their information to President Davis, and he to Beauregard.

When the specified time had passed Fort Sumter was still not evacuated. Not only this, but Major Anderson was known to be making repairs. The facts were telegraphed to the Commissioners. Judge Campbell again interviewed Seward. Again he was assured "that the failure to evacuate Sumter was not the result of bad faith, but was attributable to causes consistent with the intention to fulfil the engagement, and that as regards Fort Pickens, in Florida, notice would be given of any design to alter the existing status there."

On the 7th day of April 1861, the Relief Squadron left New York, causing general alarm. Judge Campbell then "addressed a letter to Mr. Seward, asking "if the assurance he had given were well or ill founded?” Mr. Seward replied, "Faith as to Fort Sumter fully kept-wait and see." This Relief Squadron was then on its way to Charleston with instructions to provision and reinforce Fort Sumter, "peaceably," if permitted, "otherwise by force."

Here was deception. Here was treachery. Here was falsehood. Here was scheming by Seward, and Lincoln, the leading instruments in causing the then existing conditions. It was against human nature for them to be impartial actors in the great drama of these exciting times.. The very existence of another Confederacy was a severe and most solemn rebuke to them and their allies. They had gone too far beyond Constitutional limits to retreat. They had said too much to retract. Hence they practiced this most flagrant deception. They used Judge Nelson of New York and Judge Campbell of Alabama, members of the United States Supreme Court, as mediums of intercourse with the commissioners to allay all suspicion. At the same time they were energetically plotting for an advantage in the war they had all the time determined to inaugurate:-yea, in the war they then and there declared by their conduct to be already inaugurated.

Why was this information deferred till the ominous hour when the Relief Squadron was approaching the harbor of Charleston? That was the pregnant hour-the hour of surprise. Upon it all

depended. For the Consummation of this hour falsehood, treachery and deception, disguised in the sacred ermine of the judiciary, personated truth, the peerless gem of virtues. For the consummation of this hour secret counsels were held and secret plans inaugurated. For the consummation of this hour Fort Sumter was not evacuated after many unqualified affirmations, that it would be. For the consummation of this hour emmisaries with false tongues were sent to Charleston and Fort Sumter, and played well their part in the drama of deception.

We have

We have

It was the hour designated by the Washington authorities in which to force the South to fire on the flag of the Union. To this every false promise, every intrigue, every insult, and every threat pointed. It was doubtless desirable to reinforce Fort Sumter, but that was not the paramount desire. We have seen that the accusation of treason, rebellion, meant war. heard the notes of war in Lincoln's inaugural address. seen that Lincoln and Seward had already declared war by their treatment of the Peace Commissioners. We have seen the red flag of war floating from all the facts. It was necessary, therefore, that the Northern heart should be fired, and the Northern people united. What would do this so effectively as the South's Therefore the Relief Squadron was secretly firing on the flag? sent on its mission of war, and its object made known to Governor Pickens and Beauregard at the hour of its approach. The The flag was fired plot was well laid, and faultlessly executed. Fort Sumter surrendered. The Northern heart was fired. But The North was unified. The world was told that the South had fired the first gun and therefore had inaugurated the war. who caused the war?

on.

It is the 9th of April, 1861. The Peace Commissioners have addressed another communication to Mr. Seward. From it we take the following: "Your Government has not chosen to meet the undersigned, in the conciliatory and peaceful spirit in which they are commissioned. Persistently wedded to those fatal theories of construction of the Federal Constitution, always rejected by the Statesmen of the South, and adhered to by those of the administration school, until they have produced their natural and often predicted result of the destruction of the Union, under

which we might have continued to live happily and gloriously together, had the spirit of the ancestry who framed the common. Constitution animated the hearts of all their sons.... Had you met these issues with the frankness and manliness with which the undersigned were instructed to present them to you and treat them, the undersigned had not the melancholy duty to return. home and tell their Government and their countrymen, that their earnest and ceaseless efforts in behalf of peace had been futile, and that the Government of the United States meant to subjugate them by the force of arms. Whatever may be the result, impartial history will record the innocence of the Government of the Confederate States, and place the responsibility of the blood and mourning that may ensue, upon those who have denied. the great fundamental doctrine of American liberty, that 'Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed,' and who have set naval and land armaments in motion, to subject the people of one portion of the land to the will of another portion.

"Your refusal to entertain these overtures for a peaceful solution, the active Naval and Military preparations of this Government, and a formal notice to the commanding General of the Confederate forces in the harbor of Charleston, that the President intends to provision Fort Sumter by forcible means, if necessary, are viewed by the undersigned as a declaration of war against the Confederate States."

"It was indeed more than a mere declaration of war. It was an act of war itself." The departure of the Relief Squadron from New York on the 7th of April, 1861, with provisions and soldiers, under orders, to provision and reinforce Fort Sumter, was the first blow struck in that great war. The whole world knows who struck that blow. It was the beginning of a contest, the magnitude of which is without a parallel in the annals of history. Hannibal, in revenge for the death of his ancestor, razed to the ground the great city, Himera, and offered up to his god an awful holocaust of 3,000 prisoners. Lincoln, in revenge for the refusal of the South to accept his construction of the Constitution, razed to the ground many cities, burned innumerable homes, and devastated the great section of the South,