Winds of War - 1860 (Part 1)

The Result

Chenango American, November 8, 1860

Abraham Lincoln is elected President.  Let us hope that his reign will be conservative, temperate, and for the good of the country.  The Republican party have now an opportunity of demonstrating their capacity of attending to the affairs of the nation. A fearful responsibility is upon them.  The whole country will await with anxiety the result of this untried experiment.

To All Whom it May Concern

Chenango American, December 20, 1860

Whereas certain vile slanders have been circulated concerning me derogatory to my honor as a citizen, and character as a man;--that inasmuch as I voted for one Abraham Lincoln and Hanibal Hamlin, for President and Vice President, I was influenced in casting my vote by designing men and mercenary motives.

Now this is to certify that although I did so vote, yet I do now most sincerely regret it, and as an evidence of my sincerity and repentance I do publicly and solemnly declare that forever hereafter I will vote the Democratic ticket, or any other whose object it shall be to oppose the Republicans.--Date Oxford, Dec. 1, 1860   H.S. Fraser

Col. Jefferson Davis' Position

Chenango American, December 20, 1860

In his speech at Vicksburg, the other day, Senator Davis is reported to have given utterance to the following sentiment:  "If Mississippi, in her sovereign capacity, decides to submit to the rule of an arrogant and sectional North, then I will sit down as one upon whose brow the brand of infamy and degradation had been written, and bear my portion of the bitter trial.  But if, on the other hand, Mississippi decides to resist the hands that would tarnish the bright star which represents her on the National Flag, then I will come at your bidding, whether by day or by night, and pluck that star from the galazy, and place it upon a banner of its own.  I will plant it upon the crest of battle, and gathering around me a nucleus of Mississippi's best and bravest, will welcome the invader to the harvest of death; and future generations will point to a small hillock upon our border which will tell the reception with which the invader met upon our soil."

The Secession Movement

Chenango American, December 20, 1860

Events at the South are rapidly crowding themselves into a very limited space.  It is more than probable that a few days will determine--if in fact it is not already settled--what is to be the policy of South Carolina, and perhaps all the Cotton States. The South Carolina convention, called for the purpose of seceding from the Union, commenced its session on Monday last.  We write without a knowledge of the result of its action, except indeed, that much of it which is so clearly foreshadowed. There is no doubt that they will pass an ordinance seceding from the Union, but how, or in what manner is not of course apparent, as yet.  In the meanwhile, troubles seem to be accumulating around the chair of the President. The Secretary of the Treasurey, Mr. Conn, of Georgia, has resigned, upon the plea that he owes more allegiance to his own state than he does to the Union, and that the popular feeling there is against remaining in the Union.

Scarcely has this resignation become known to the public before they are startled by the intelligence that Gen. Cass has resigned his position as Secretary of State, and that Attorney General Black fills his station.  The reasons alleged for this resignation are numerous, but that which receives the most credit is that he does not agree with the policy of the President in withholding troops from the forts in Charleston Harbor.  It is reasonably supposed that if South Carolina should conclude to fight her way out of the union that the first onslaught would be upon these forts. They are plentifully supplied with arms and ammunition, but are manned by only about seventy men. The policy of the President seems to be that of masterly inactivity.  He does not believe in coercing the Southern States.  He seems inclined to take no steps which shall precipitate the dreaded catastrophe, and hence will not irritate their already heated blood by sending additional troops into their midst. Geo. Cass holds that this inaction will prove fatal to the interests of the country, and that they will awaken some fine morning and find all the Southern Forts and means of public defense in the hands of the crazy secessionists, only to be regained at the expense of blood and treasure.

While secession meetings are being held all over the South, other meetings are being held in the North.  In several states Union meetings have been held in which Union men unite in urging the South to stay their hands, and try other measures, before launching upon us all the horrors of a civil war. A meeting of this character was held in new York City, recently, which was attended by Union men from all parts of the State. Speeches were made by Daniel S. Dickinson, Charles O'Conner, and others, and the meeting finally resolved to send Millard Fillmore, Green C. Bronson, and Richard Lathers, as commissioners of peace to South Carolina. These gentlemen are doubtless in attendance at their secession convention.

Meanwhile Congress is trying to subdue the agitated elements.  A committee of one from each State is at work, with poor prospect of success, in devising some plan which shall stop disunion.  Hundreds of plans have been suggested,but we fear none will prove availalbe.  The question of the capacity of a people for self government is undergoing a fearful ordeal.  Let us all pray fervently that we may come out of the fire unscathed and still be the most prosperous nation on the face of the globe.