"DONT DO THAT UNTIL I AM DEAD" -- On the day of the meeting of the secessionists at Kingston, Georgia, a Rev. War Soldier returned to his residence in Cobb County, on the railroad, though his eyes were so dim he could not see well. He was told they were trying to dissolve,or secede from the Union. Whereupon he dropped his withered face,and seemed to be in deep distress for one or two minutes, after which he raised his head, and, with a faltering voice, said, "Oh don't do that till I am dead!" while he uttered these words the large tears chased each other down his worn cheeks. He was told a great number of men would try to prevent them; to which he replied, "Don't let them do that till I am dead!"
The Troubles of Secession
Men in a passion cannot reason, says the Pittsburg Journal, hence the wild conclusions of the leaders of the south.--Their appeals to the followers were not the dictates of reason and common sense, but the wildest rhapsodies of passion--
But now so many palpable facts are meeting them in the face that they are beginning to open their eyes. Even in South Carolina, where we have been exultingly told that for thirty years the people had been educated for secession, this is so. But in this wretched world of ours men cannot have all the pomp and parade of civic and military displays without money. These are expensive luxuries to be paid for by somebody. To enable them to subsist from day to day a forced loan has been levied upon the Charleston merchants.
A committee of minute men in (South Carolina) wait upon the proprietors, and inform them that $1,000, $2,000, $5,000 or $10,000 has been assessed upon the establishment, payable in five days--if not paid then, the store is put in charge of a committee until the money is forthcoming. The Legislature has a bill before it to tax slaves $16 per head. This on the 400,000 slaves in the state, would raise over $6,000,000. The owners heretofore paid to the State only seventy-five cents per head. This proposed increase of more than twenty times of tax on negroes, will be sugar plums to the slave owners, especially now,
too, when their ports are all shut and they cannot sell a pound of cotton. As might be expected, a budget of ten millions of annual expense has frightened the moneyed men of that fiery State (South Carolina), and they are beginning to inquire if secession will pay.
New York Tribune reporter found out disguised as a soldier at Fort Moultrie.
THE ARMS TRAFFIC STOPPED--The Southern secessionists have for some time been receiving supplies of arms from Northern factories. The charge of Judge Smalley, of New York, in relation to treason, has however, awakened public attention to the subject, and the shipping of arms South is likely to be suspended....
HOW THE CASE STANDS IN TEXAS -- Sam Houston is making a gallant fight for the Union...
Gen. Wool is sound to the core for the Union. It is reported that some one asked him, the other day, if the army would be likely to divide in case of secession, and fail to obey orders from the new President (Lincoln)....."I allow that no officer or man under any command to admit the possibility of disunion, and if I hear that any one has spoken in favor of it. I will court martial him with all the possible expeditions; and Gen. Scott feels as I do, sir."
Modern Note: When the Civil War began in April 1861, Wool was 77 years old and had been a brigadier general for 20 years. He commanded the Department of the East, the oldest general officer on either side.
Concession - It is not exactly the time to talk about Concession and Compromise when six States are in open rebellion against the General Government, our forts and arsenals seized, our flag insulted, and armies in the field to back the traitors. Besides, what has the North done that she should Compromise? Is she to roll in the mud because her People saw fit to vote for Abraham Lincoln? That is what the South says she must do -- but she won't, of that we are confident.
Kentucky passes by a vote of 25 to 12, resolutions appealing to Southerners to stop the revolution; protesting against Federal coercion;resolving that when the Legislature adjourn, to hear the responses of her sister States....
Kansas admitted into the Union (January 29th).
(Buchanan is still in office with just a few more weeks left of his term).
No dependance can be placed upon the President. Gen. Scott is crippled in his powers and his resources.
MODERN NOTE: Winfield Scott (1786–1866) was the Commanding General of the U.S. Army from 1841 to 1861, making him the most senior military officer in the country at the outbreak of the Civil War.
Congress must move decidedly and at once. The patriotism of the people must be on the alert, and their power ready for any emergency. Events thicken. While we hesitate, a bloody revolution may be upon us. Let the voice go up from all the North and West, backed by 10,000 arms, WASHINGTON SHALL BE DEFENDED.
Mr. Lincoln's Sentiments.
"I will suffer death before I will consent, or advise my friends to consent, to and concession or compromise which looks like buying the privilege of taking possession of the Government to which we have a Constitutional right; because, whatever I might think of the merit of the various propositions before Congress, I should regard and concession in the face of menace as the destruction of Government itself, and a consent on all hands that our system shall be brought down to a level with the existing disorganized state of affairs in"
"Mexico. But this thing will hereafter be, as it is now, in the hands of the people; and if they desire to call a Convention to remove any grievances complained of, or to give new guaranties for the performance of vested rights, it is not mine to oppose."
Lincoln kicks off a tour of Northern States on his way to Washington and his inauguration coming up in March.
Jefferson Davis elected President of the Confederated States of North America.
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