Replies

The Southern Rebellion: The Condition of Affairs in and About Washington – 2-3
Editorial: The Message of Jefferson Davis – 3-4
Editorial: Europe and the Union – 4
The Great Eastern Needed – 4
Editorial: All Right Now – 4-5
Editorial: The Stars and Stripes – 5
Western Virginia Moving – 5
Editorial: Protection of the Troops from Sun-Stroke – 5-6
Slavery and the Rebellion: Conservative Attitude of the Government – 6
An Error Corrected – 6
General City News – 6

"Editorial: The Message of Jefferson Davis – 3-4"

Commenting on Jefferson Davis' recent speech to the Confederate Congress:

"...Mr. Davis enumerates various acts on the part of the National Government which justify the rebellion of the South -- and among them, of course, are the enactment of fishing bounties and tariff laws.
But the chief source of injury and danger is the hostility manifested by the people in the Northern States to the institution of Slavery as it exists in the Southern States.
Mr. Davis dwells at length on this subject, talks much of the non-rendition of fugitive slaves, and makes the usual false charge that the Northern states intend to interfere with and overthrow the domestic institutions of the South.
He forgets that the States that have engaged in this rebellion are States that never lost fugitive slaves at all; and that the very first leaders in the revolt have openly declared that the matter of Slavery was only a pretext through which to accomplish a movement fully determined on thirty years ago..."

Here our editors point to the importance of slavery to Jefferson Davis as a reason for secession, but then notices that other secessionists (i.e., Fire Eaters) declared slavery was only the pretext used to accomplish purposes first set 30 years before.
That would be the Nullification Crisis of 1830 to which President Andrew Jackson responded by threatening South Carolina's leaders with hangings for treason.

The 1830 Nullification Crisis was caused by the Tariff of Abominations and so some of our Lost Causers claim that tariffs were the "real reason" for secession, even though none of the earliest "Reasons for Secession" documents mention tariffs, much less DiogenesLamp's so-called "money flows from Europe".

Here's the truth -- even in 1830 the "Tariff of Abominations" was not a powerful enough political issue to drive Southern voters to declare secession.
So Southern leadership (i.e., Fire Eaters) shifted their attention to slavery and Southern fears of abolitionism.
And that was a powerful enough reason to move Cotton South voters to secession.

Therefore, slavery the Southern voters' "real reason", regardless of whatever ulterior motives some of their Democrat leaders may have held.

It's the same today with Democrats endlessly decrying alleged "white supremacy" or "global warming" or "income inequality" -- such slogans motivate voters and get Democrats elected.
And that's all Democrats truly care about.
They will do literally anything to prevent Republicans from acquiring effective control in Washington, DC.

"Editorial: Europe and the Union – 4"

Quoting Secretary of State Seward instructions to a US ambassador in Europe:

"There is not now, nor has there been, nor will there be any -- the least idea existing in this Government, of suffering a dissolution of this Union to take place in any way whatever...
Tell M. Thouvenel that the thought of a dissolution of this Union, peaceably or by force, has never entered into the mind of any candid statesman here, and it is high time it be dismissed by statesmen in Europe."

To which our editors respond: "This is language to which the American people will most heartily and energetically respond.
The purpose it expresses is theirs, and they will see that it is carried out."

At least as of this date in history, Northerners seem united in defense of the Union.

"Slavery and the Rebellion: Conservative Attitude of the Government – 6"

Here our Washington correspondent discusses the fate of slavery in the Civil War.
First he notices that Gen. Butler (of all people!) has been returning runaway slaves to their "owners".
Presumably this was in Maryland which specifically voted against secession and therefore still enjoyed the governments protection of their "property".

Next he reports that Confederates are using black men -- both freed & slaves -- not only for building fortifications, etc., but also to bear arms.
At this he chortles: it means Confederates are already short of white manpower.
The reality is, there may have been some black troops early-on in some Confederate regiments.
But it didn't last long and as the war progressed only those who could pass for "white" remained.

In this report there is, as yet, no mention of colored Union troops.