Thoughtfully curated historical journalism
Baton Rogue, Jan. 26, 1861
The delay ordinance, moved to be substituted for the secession ordinance reported by the Committee of Fifteen, was voted down yesterday by an immense majority.
Commissioners Manning, of South Carolina, and Winston, of Alabama, made eloquent addresses in favor of immediate secession.
There was an animated debate last night on the resolution for submitting the secession ordinance for ratification to the people. The advocates of immediate secession abstained from all debate. There was no extreme opposition to the ordinance.
By the arrival, on Monday last, of the clipper ship Fair Wind, Capt. Crowell, in 8 days 17 hours from San Francisco, we have received that city’s journal to the 12th inst., containing telegraphed news from the East, to December 23 from St. Louis, and December 16 from Queenstown, Ireland, and Australian papers to October 12th.
The passage of the Fair Winds the quickest ever put on record between this place and San Francisco. By it we are in receipt of European news only 30 days old, and 24 days from the Eastern States.
The Daily Exchange, Baltimore, MD
Popular interest in warlike movements now centres nearer at home than when Charleston was the only point from which radiated the war excitements of the day. The immediate interest of at least three States—Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, is now becoming alive to the importance of occupying the forts within the borders of the latter Commonwealth. We see repeated at Pensacola, the manoeuvre of Anderson at Moultrie. There are three forts at Pensacola, a Navy Yard and a redoubt. Commandant Armstrong has abandoned the Navy Yard and Fort Barancas, removing munitions and spiking guns, and transferring his forces, amounting in the aggregate to between two and three hundred men, from the main land to Santa Rosa Island, has prepared to make good his position within the-immensely strong fortifications of Fort Pickens. Whether he has abandoned Fort McCree, also, we are not advised, but we doubt if he has. This fortress is a powerful and castle-like masonry erection, built on a low sand-spit of the main land, and appearing to rise out of the water. It is further seaward than Fort Pickens, of which it is the vis-a vis across the channel, and a vessel entering must needs run the gauntlet of its guns before approaching the latter, which, however, of itself, effectually closes the harbor against the admission of an enemy of even very heavy force.
Wm. H. Seward is now about sixty-two years of age. He is a man of clear and comprehensive intellect; a learned and able lawyer; an erudite scholar, and thoroughly versed in all the arts of political chicanery and management. In private life, his conduct is, so far as we know, irreproachable; in connection with the schemes and movements of party politics, he has ever been looked upon as selfish and contriving; subtle in design, unscrupulous in action; prepared to do and to dare all things necessary to the gratification of his criminal and lawless ambition.
When, immediately upon the announcement of the election of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency of the United States, South Carolina raised a cry for secession from the Union, it was quietly assumed both by the free States and by the great majority of well-informed politicians in Europe that it had been resorted to only as a threat, and that no serious intention could be entertained of carrying the threat into execution. The advantages of the Union to the Slaveholding States had been so great, so palpable, and so uninterruptedly enjoyed for above half a century—the perils to be faced as the certain consequences of disruption seemed so numerous and obvious—and the occasion seized upon as the ground of justification for so extreme a course appeared to the rest of the world so utterly inadequate, that no sober-minded man could regard the avowed purpose of the Southern States with any other feeling than incredulity. Nevertheless, as we have seen, South Carolina has seceded. Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas, have either followed her example or are on the eve of doing so. The border States will probably be drawn into the vortex of the revolution; and before Mr. Lincoln takes his place in the Presidential chair the Republic seems likely to be rent in twain, and two or more powerful and rival Confederacies to be substituted for it.
From the Paris Constitutional
Mr. Buchanan has sought out the means of preserving the Union from the catastrophe which threatens it; he has drawn up a plan of reconciliation between the Northern and Southern States. It cannot, however, be said that this project is a compromise, inviting the two adverse parties to mutual concessions and equal sacrifices; it is rather a summons addressed to one to yield to the exigencies of the other; it is more like a decision come to with partiality than an equitable arbitration. To the North, which has gained Its cause before the people, the President signifies that it must abandon the benefit of the decision for the profit of the South, which has been the losing party. Under pretext of conciliation, the Message calls on the conqueror to place himself under the feet of the conquered. Such is the ground-work of Mr. Buchanan’s propositions.