It is now nearly five months since treason first showed itself in South Carolina. What has it gained? The Gulf States have made common cause with South Carolina. They have voted themselves out of the Union. They have formed a Confederacy. They have lavishly expended money in raising and equiping a large army. They have stolen some millions of Federal property. They have at last, with many thousand men and the most formidable preparation of a three month’s siege, reduced Fort Sumter, garrisoned with less than a hundred soldiers. They have, in fact, declared war on the Flag of the Union, and are now prosecuting that war with all their vigor and resources.
Until recently they met very little resistance to their headlong course. Men high in power in the Government they were assailing, sympathized in their movement, shared in their counsels, and aided their treason. A large proportion of those at the North, who voted against Lincoln, talked continually of Southern wrongs, and half justified their rebellion. The current so strong in favor of concession to Slavery, of giving them nearly everything they asked in the way of amendments to the Constitution, it seemed at one time that the revolution would, without actual war, be so far successful as to entirely change the structure of the Government, and make it irrevocably a slave-holding confederation. The firmness of a few men alone saved it from that disgrace. Congress was so far either under the influence of the South, or so far led by its fears, that it did nothing for the defense of the country. It adjourned as Lincoln was inaugurated. The new President took the Government, weakened by the traitors that had been sucking its life-blood, demoralised by its cowardice in the face of an enemy, and tottering to its fall, he had no Congress to aid him in arresting the disintegration and decay so rapidly taking place. He had to meet at the outset the coldness and criticism of the Northern presses that had opposed his election. There were distractions and divisions among his friends. The bitter rancor of personal quarrels and bickerings forced itself upon him in the selection of his Cabinet. The importunate cry of a hungry crowd of office seekers, was in his ears day and night. Treason still lurked about the Capital and fed upon the public treasure. The United States’ Government seemed at its last gasp, and just ready to fall a prey to the spoilers.
During all this time, Treason was lifting its hideous front, girding on its sword, strengthening itself with all the sinews of war, and every day advancing its cause. It grew haughty, arrogant, confident, audacious. It spurned the counsels of moderation. It threw out to the heavens the flag of a separate Nationality. It bore itself aloft on the wings of an excited and fiery imagination, and saw the kingdoms of the earth bowing down and worshipping at its Cotton King. It dared, at last, to open its batteries on the Flag that was once so proudly defended in the harbor of Charleston, against a foreign foe.
What next? Aye, what next? The news of the capture of Fort Sumter, only an outpost of Freedom, a little spot surrounded by the turbulent waves of revolution, was flashed along the ten thousand wires that reach like nerves over the Continent. The North was, for an instant, appalled at the daring treason. The blood flew for a moment to the heart – but it was only a momentary shock. The next instant the current poured full and strong through every vein. At the lightning’s touch, the slumbering patriotism of the North sprang to its feet. The halt, the blind, the lame, the paralytic, were at once made sound and whole.
Fort Sumter, the outpost, is indeed lost, but the citadel of Freedom is saved. A hundred thousand men are ready to-day to march to Washington, and follow wherever the glorious old Flag leads the way. This Country never saw such an uprising before. The Southern storm that first burst over Sumter will soon be met by a Northern blast that will sweep it from the face of the sky.
Thus far Treason has had its way unrebuked save by the earnest expostulation of a bleeding patriotism. Now the Giant has arisen and shaken himself, and is going forth to battle. The day of reckoning has come. The next page in the account is opened. Who doubts how the balance will there stand?
The Daily Green Mountain Freeman, Montpelier, VT, April 18, 1861
