[from Washington letter to New York Sun.]
In the dark and uncertain days preceding the outbreak of the rebellion there was much doubt in the mind of
Mr. Lincoln regarding the disposition of the people
North of the recognized dividing line between freedom and slavery to sustain aggressive measures for the preservation of the
Union.
State after State had seceded, and no demonstration had been made at the
North to counteract the force of such movements at the
South.
On the contrary, there were public men who openly advocated a division of the
Union into such parts as would suit geographical lines and their own interests and ambition.
Notably,
Mr. Hendricks favored a northwestern confederacy; some New Yorkers saw in the confusion of the times an opportunity to make their city the Venice of
America; and some Californians thought a republic on the
Pacific, with
San Francisco for its commercial and political capital, would develop into mighty proportions before the end of the century.
Horace Greeley had advocated in the
Tribune peaceable separation and boldly proclaimed: “Let the erring sisters go in peace.”
The Indianapolis
Journal, in the
West, inspired by an ambition to “take a position,” occupied the same ground.
The Northern States sent peace commissioners to
Washington to plead with the
South for a peaceable solution of the difficulties and a maintenance of the
Union.
The Government, under
Mr. Buchanan, did nothing to repress the military preparations making in the
South, and when
Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated there were nine States defying his authority and ready for war. His administration had a most formidable opposition in the two remaining States that seceded, and in those also that attempted to do so. His support at the
North, in the event of war, he regarded as uncertain, and anarchy appeared inevitable.
In this condition of affairs commissioners appointed by
Governor Pickens, of
South Carolina, appeared on the scene, and through
Judge Campbell, then late of the Supreme Court, who had resigned on the secession of
Louisiana, commenced a negotiation for the surrender to that State of the
Government forts and property within its limits.
The commissioners were also aided by
Dr. Todd,
[
96]
of
Kentucky, a brother of
Mrs. Lincoln, who was in harmony with the views and actions of the South Carolinians.
He was a temporary habitant at the
White House, and acquired information in a private way that no one could have obtained in an official capacity, and which was made use of as time and circumstances required.
The negotiations of
South Carolina with the
Government failed — not because of an indisposition to entertain the proposition submitted, but on account of the precipitate action of
South Carolina troops in bombarding
Fort Sumter.
This made a peaceable dissolution of the
Union a matter of impossibility and war an inevitable necessity.
While these negotiations were pending, however, a proclamation had been prepared recognizing the fact of the secession of certain States, and virtually acknowledging their independence, surrendering to them stated powers of the
General Government over property and places within their limits, and guaranteeing them peaceable possession of the same on conditions specified.
This proclamation had the sanction of
Mr. Wade, of
Ohio, and was in accordance with
Mr. Greeley's frequently expressed views.
With the appearance of the proclamation was to be an editorial in the
Washington and New York papers sustaining the action of the administration.
This was also prepared and held ready for use when the occasion demanded it. But the action at
Fort Sumter changed all this, and a proclamation was issued instead for 75,000 men for three months to suppress rebellion; and war was thus accepted by an unwilling Government and people.
The proclamation calling for troops is a matter of history; that previously prepared looking to peace is not, and its existence must be proved from other sources than official records.
The evidence on which it rests is the following statement:
Mr. A. T. Cavis, a proof-reader at the
Government printing office, is a gentleman of intelligence and culture, and of undoubted veracity.
He is a native of
Pennsylvania, but went to
South Carolina in 1847, and remained until after the war. Previous to and during the war he was editor of the
South Carolina Guardian, published at
Columbia.
His position gave him acquaintance and association with the
State authorities, and he speaks from personal knowledge regarding the matters herein stated.
The proclamation looking to a peaceful separation of the States was obtained by
Dr. Todd while at the
White House, and by him given to
Governor Pickens.
It is not known how he came in possession of it, and it is not necessary to inquire into that now. But that he had the original draft of the proclamation, that it and the editorial designed to accompany its publication were written on official paper bearing the impress “Executive mansion,” is undoubtedly true.
The proclamation and editorial were shown by
Governor Pickens to
Mr. Cavis, and by the latter published in his paper, the
South Carolina Guardian. In the burning of
Columbia by
Sherman's troops the office and files of the
Guardian were destroyed,
[
97]
and there is no copy of the paper extant containing these documents.
The original papers, however, are in the possession of
Mrs. Pickens, at
Edgefield, South Carolina, who has carefully preserved all the books and manuscripts collected by her late husband.
This is a most important and interesting fact connected with the unwritten history of the rebellion.
It shows how difficult it was even for the most sagacious men to “read the signs of the times,” and the events following proved that the people knew more than their rulers and assumed leaders.
Letter from Judge Campbell.
My Dear Sir — Your letter of the 4th instant, inclosing a printed copy of a letter addressed to the New York
Sun and published as containing “unwritten war history,” and requesting some explanation on the subject, has been received.
The letter represents that after the inauguration of
President Lincoln Governor
Pickens, of
South Carolina, appointed commissioners to visit
Washington city, and who opened negotiations with the
President, through me, for the surrender of the forts and property of the
United States within that State; that there was a fair prospect of success and of a peaceable dissolution of the
Union as the result of the negotiations, but the precipitate action of
South Carolina troops in bombarding
Fort Sumter made such a dissolution impossible and a war inevitable.
The letter says I had previously resigned the office of judge of the Supreme Court of the
United States because of the secession of
Louisiana.
I have no information that will support any portion of this statement as matter of fact.
I had no connection with commissioners appointed by
Governor Pickens, and do not remember that he appointed any to visit
President Lincoln.
I conducted no negotiations with
President Lincoln to effect a dissolution of the
Union at that time, and have no reason to believe that he would have entertained such a proposition at any time.
I remained a member of the Supreme Court of the
United States until after the surrender of
Fort Sumter.
My only intercourse with the Executive Department of the
United States having reference to the surrender of forts and property was that which
Justice Nelson and myself had with
Secretary Seward in March, 1861, and which continued on my part until the bombardment of
Sumter.
The facts in respect to this intercourse I have communicated to the Society, and were published in one of the earliest of its numbers.
The determination of
President Lincoln to abandon
Fort Sumter voluntarily had been changed prior to the bombardment, and the bombardment
[
98]
was superinduced by his attempt to supply it with provisions, thereby to overcome the necessity for yielding it.
The bombardment was ordered by the Confederate Government, at
Montgomery, and was not the result of any precipitancy on the part of the
South Carolina troops.
Very respectfully yours,
