The Great Conspiracy, Complete

. Crawford, of Georgia), appeared at Washington and served a written request upon the State Department to appoint an early day when they might present to the President of the United Stat

Secretary of State, guided by the principles therein announced, is prevented altogether from admitting or assuming that the States referred to by them have, in law or in fact, withdrawn from the Federal Union, or that they could do so in the manner described by Messrs. Forsyth and Crawford, or in any other manner than with the consent and concert of the People o

ners of the Southern Confederacy"-addressed to Secretary Seward a repl

ssion' of the subject on which their two Governments are so irreconcilably at variance. It i

e authority of the Government of the United States. You are dealing with delusions, too, when you seek to separate our people from our Government, and to characterize the deliberate, Sovereign act of that peop

e Confederate States have declared their independence with a full knowledge of all the responsibilities of that act, and with as firm a determination to ma

with which they are charged, before the President of the United States, because so to do would be to recognize the independ

f the United States to recognize the independence of the Confederate States. They only asked audience to adjust, in a spirit of am

nfederate forces in the harbor of Charleston that the President intends to provision Fort Sumter by forcible means, if necessary, are viewed by the undersigned, and can only be received

pealing to God and the judgment of mankind for the righteousness of their Cause, the people of the Confederate States w

the condition of Fort Sumter, and

hich that officer, under date of the 28th of February, expressed the opinion that "reinforcements could not be thrown into that fort within the time for his relief rendered

ln's first Messa

hausted before any such force could be raised and brought to the ground, evacuation and safe withdrawal of

many it would be construed as a part of a voluntary policy; that at home it would discourage the friends of the Union, embolden its adversaries, and go far to insure to the latter a recognition abroad; that in fact it would be our National destruction consummated. This co

n the 8th of April President Lincoln, by messenger, notified Governor Pickens of South Carolina, "that he might expect an attempt would be made to provision the fort; and

ee of tension and stood tip-toe with intense expectancy. The test of the doctrine of Secession was about to be

r entrance, the Stars and Stripes proudly waving from its lofty central flagstaff, its guns bristling

nt Battery, on Morris Island, on the other-besides a number of other batteries facing seaward along the sea-coast line of Morris Island. Further in, on the same side of the harbor, an

doomed; for, while the swarming Rebels, unmolested by Fort Sumter, had been permitted to surround that Fort with frowning batteries, whose guns outnumbered t

he gallant officer in command, himself a Southerner, would not believe it possible that the thousands of armed Americans by whom he was threatened and encircled, could fire upon the flag of their own native Country. He and hi

rleston, and at Pensacola.-[McPherson's History of the Rebellion, p. 112.]-In consequence of which fai

licy. If something is not done pretty soon, decisive, either evacuation or expulsion, the whole country will become so disgusted with the sham of Southern indepen

ering States outside the Confederacy, like Virginia, that might be dragged into the Confederacy by prompt and bloody work; and wavering States within, like Alabama, that must be kept in by similar means. Their emissaries were busy

barrier, crimsoned with human gore, was raised between the new Confederacy and the old Union-there would surely be an ever-presen

A. Pryor, of Virginia, who, at Charleston, April 10, 1861,

asted and riven by the lightning wrath of an outraged and indignant people. [Loud applause.] Not only is it gone, but gone forever. [Cries of, 'You're right,' and applause.] In the expressiv

ondition of re-annexation to the defunct Union, I would scornfully spurn the overture. * * * I invoke you, and I make it in some sort a personal appeal-personal so far as it tends to our assistance in Virgini

they whisper of reconstruction, and they say Virginia must abide in the Union, with the idea of reconstructing the Union which you have annihilated. I pray you, gentlemen, rob them of that idea. Procla

pplause.] And I will tell you, gentlemen, what will put her in the Southern Confederacy in less than an hour by Shrewsbury clock-STRIKE A BLOW! [Tremendous appla

not only discussed before the Southern people for the purpose of inflaming their rebellious

se of the Rebellion, he told the Alabamians how their State, which, as we have seen, was becoming d

Mr. Memminger (Secretary of the Treasury), Mr. Benjamin (Attorney-General), Mr. Gilchrist, a member of our Legislature from Loundes county, and a number of other prominent gentlemen. They were discussing the propriety of immediately opening fire on Fort Sumter, to which General Walker, the Secret

notified the Confederate Secretary of War (Walker) at Montgomery, Ala., that "An authorized messenger from President Linco

ill at once demand its evacuation, and, if this is refused, proceed, in such manner as you may determine, to reduce it." To this Beauregard at once replied: "The demand will be made to-morrow at 12 o'clock." Thereupon the Confederate Sec

elegraphed: "Major Anderson replies: 'I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication demanding the evacuation of this Fort, and to say in reply thereto that it is a demand with which I regret t

dicated by himself, he will evacuate, and agree that, in the mean time, he will not use his guns against us unless ours should be employed against Fort Sumter, yo

observation, the General said: "If you will state the time at which you will evacuate Fort Sumter, and agree that in the mean time you will not use your guns against us unless ours shall be employed against Fort

d I not receive prior to that time, controlling instructions from my Government, or additional supplies, and that I will not in the mean time open my fire upon your forces unless compelled to do so by some hostile act against this Fort or the flag of my Government, by th

anding the Provisional Forces of the Confederate States, we have the honor to notify you that he will open the fire of his batteries on Fort Sumter i

ce of the South-outgrown from questions of Tariff, of Slavery, and of Secession-was to be poured out in blood and battle; when the panoplied powers and forces of rebellious confederated Sta

in his bony hands a lanyard, pulls the string, and, with a flash and roar, away speeds the shrieking shell on its mission of destruction; and, while shell after shell, and shot after shot, from battery after battery, screams a savage accompaniment to the boom and flash and bellow of the guns, that

he following, first published in the New York Tribune, July 3, 1862, which, among other letters, was found in t

ONVENTION,

ged to you for your kind invitations, and it would afford me the highest pleasure to interchange in person, sentiments with a friend whose

m the Southern Rights Associations. The condition of things in your State deeply interests me. Her wise foresight and manl

State action at this time? For my part I forbear to form a wish. Were I a Carolinian, it would be very different; but when I consider the serious effects

t would cut off Charleston from the great Western trade, which she is now striking for, and would retard very greatly the progress of your State. I confess that I think differently. I believe thoroughly in our own theories, and that, even if Charleston did n

ast calculated to excite sympathy. I mean a naval blockade. In that event, could you stand the reaction feeling which the suffering commerce of Charleston would

course this Winter. But I do not believe that the course of the Legislature is a fair expression of popular feeling. In the East, at least, the great majority believes in the right of Secession, and feels the deepest sympathy with Carolina in her opposition to measures which they regard as s

tions, or in our legislation-that is, in its general course-for the last fifty years, which was not in the direction of this Democracy? Do not its principles and theories become daily more fixed in our practice? (I had almost said in the opinions of our people, did I not remember with pleasure the great improvement of opinion in regard to the abst

ve made this rather a rambling letter. Do you visit the North in t

o send me Hammond's Eulogy on Calhoun, bu

and friendshi

H. GA

TRESCO

st shot [fired at Fort Sumter] from Stevens's battery was fired by the venerable Edmund Ruffin, of Virginia,

e grand volley, followed by the crashing and crumbling of brick, stone, and mortar aroun

firing from the batteries on Cumming's Point was scattered over the whole of the gorge or rear of the Fort, till it looked like a sieve. The explosion of shells, and the quantity of deadly missiles that were hurled in every direction and at every inst

ming half a dozen at once. There was not a portion of the work which was not taken in reverse from mortars. * * * During Friday, the o

rapidity, and it became evident that it would be impossible to put out the conflagration. The whole garrison was then set to work, or as many as could be spared, to remove the powder from the magazines, which was despe

of the building in every direction. The crash of the beams, the roar of the flames, and the shower of fragments of the Fort

n the right hand and on the left, and endangered the powder which had been taken out of the magazines. The men went through the fire, and covered the

ort tells the whole story bri

BALTIC, OFF

1, 10.30 A.M.,

fects of heat; four barrels and three cartridges of powder only being available, and no provisions remaining but pork, I accepted terms of evacuation offered by General Beauregard-being the same offered by him on the 11th inst.

"Major 1st Artil

ON, "Secretary of

the sword. At Charleston, the people were crazy with exultation and wine-feasting and drinking being the order of the day and night. But for the surrender, Fort Sumter would have been stormed that Sunday night. As it was

"Salvos of artillery were fired, and the whole population seemed to be i

Confederate flag "will, before the first of May, float over the dome of the old

Union men of the South were unheard in

l upon any subject, that is now manifested to take Washington. From the mountain tops and valleys to the shores

Advertiser enthusi

h such arms as they can snatch, get over the border as quickly as they can. Let a division enter every Northern border State, destroy railroad connection to prevent concentration of the enemy

noon and evening that the terms of surrender were agreed to, and on Sunday afternoon that the Federal flag was saluted and hauled down, an

CLAM

oo powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of Judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested in the Marshals by law; now, therefore I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constit

s wrongs already long enough endured. I deem it proper to say that the first service assigned to the forces hereby called forth, will probably be to repossess the forts, places, and property which have been seized from the Union; and in every event the utmost care will be observed, consistently with the objects afore

convene both Houses of Congress. The Senators and Representatives are, therefore, summoned to assemble at their respective chambers at twelve o'clock, noon, on

o set my hand, and caused the seal

n the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one

sident: ABR

EWARD, Secret

roops were prompt and patriotic, in the Border and Slave Sta

of Delaware against violence of any sort to which they may be exposed; the companies not being subject to be ordered by the Executive into the United States service-the law not vesting him

's quota of the troops, but stated that her four regiments would be detailed to

to subjugate the Southern States, and a requisition made upon me for such an object-an object, in my judgment, not within the purview of the Constitution or the Act of 1795 -will

the levy of troops made by the Administration, for the purpose of subjugating the States of the South, as in violation of the Constitution and a usurpation of power. I can be no party to this wicked

ved. In answer I say emphatically, Kentucky will furnish no troo

ish a single man for Coercion, but fifty thousand, if necessary,

isition is illegal, unconstitutional, revolutionar

d: "None will be furnished. The dema

full of the ring of true martial Patriotism evoked by the fall of Sumter and the President's first call for troops. Twenty millions of Nor

ds of thousands. New York, the Empire State, by her Governor and her Legislature placed all her tremendous resources at the servic

workshops-sprang to arms at the Call, and begged to be enrolled. The merchants and capitalists throughout the North proffered to the Government their wealth and influence and best services. The press and the people responded as only the press and people of a Free land can respond-with all

songs, and compelling those of doubtful loyalty to throw out to the breeze from their homes the glorified Stars and Stripes-by the great majority of newspapers-by the pulpit, by the rostrum, by the bench, by all of whate

both ways at once, by the beckoning hands of kindred on the one side, and Country on the other! Thus they long waited and hesitated, praying that something might yet happen to save the Union of their fathers,

s preceding history-together with his conclusions-states the whole matter in such authentic and convincing manner that it may be said to have settled the point beyond further controversy. After stating that it "was resolved to notify the Governor of South Carolina that he might expect an attempt would be made to provision the Fort; and that if

ing of bread to the few brave and hungry men of the garrison was all which would on that occasion be attempted, unless themselves, by resisting so much, should provoke more. They knew that this Government desired to keep the garrison in the Fort -not to assail them-but merely to maintain visible possession, and thus to p

have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors,' he took pains not only to keep this declaration good, but also

without a gun in sight or in expectancy to return their fire, save only the few in the Fort sent to that harbor years before for their own protection, and still ready

ic foes. It presents the question whether discontented individuals, too few in numbers to control administration according to organic law in any case, can always, upon the pretences made in this case, or on any other pretences, or arbitrarily without any pretence, break up their Gove

he War power of the Government; and so to resist force, emp

he following day several companies of a Pennsylvania Regiment reported for duty in Washingto

f the National Capital, by a howling mob of Maryland Secessionists-worked up to a pitch of States-rights frenzy by Confederate emissaries and influential Baltimore Secession-sympathizers, by news of th

'Coercion,' and ardently exhorted his hearers to organize, arm and drill, for the Conflict now inevitable. Carr (Wilson C. N. Carr) said: 'I do not care how many Federal troops are sent to Washington; they will soon find themselves surrounded by such an army from Virginia and Maryland, that escape to their h

time, unarmed, were also violently assailed by the crazy mob, and, af

ires were cut down and the railroad bridges burned. A mere handful of regulars, the few volunteers that had got through before the outbreak in Baltimore, and a small number of Union

ies, of the weakness of the Federal metropolis, it seems abs

se of making their work sure, they have determined to hold Washington City as the point whence to carry on their brutal warfare. Our people can take it-they will take it-and Scott, the arch-traitor, and Lincoln, the Beast, combined, cannot prevent it. The just indignation of an outraged and deeply injured people will teach the Illinois Ape to repeat his race and retrace his journey across t

ked somewhat threatening, and this complete isolation for more than a week from th

y the destruction of the bridge across the Susquehanna, etc., he at once seized a large ferry steamer, embarked his men on her, steamed down the river and Chesapeake Bay to Annapolis, the capital of Maryland, took possession of the frigate Constitution, the Naval Academy, and the city itself, gathered supplies, and being reinforced by the arrival by water of the famous New York Seventh, and other

effort to destroy the public property and stores it held. Another expedition was started to seize the Federal Navy Yard at Norfolk-a rich prize, containing as it did, between 2,000 and 3,000 pieces of heavy ordnance (300 of them Dahlgrens), three old line-of-battle ships and a number of frigates, including the Cumberland and the fine forty-gun steam frigate Merrimac, toge

his Legislature authorized him to tender to Virginia-which had already joined the Confederacy-or to the Government of the Confederate States itself, the volunteer forces of North Carolina. And, although at the end of Jan

instead of seven States, and the Confederate troops were concentrating on

al volunteers had been called out by President Lincoln; and the blockade of the Southern ports (including those of Virgi

he young and gallant Colonel Ellsworth had been killed by a Virginia Rebel while pulling down a Rebel flag in Alexandria; and General Benjamin F. Butler, in command at Fortress Monroe, had by an inspiration, solved one of the knottiest points confronting our armies, by declaring of three Neg

groes, with the exception of two or three drummer boys. General Butler, in command, is a native of Liberia. Our readers may recollect old Ben, the barber, who kept a shop in Poydras street, and

or resting on their arms, preliminary to the approaching fray of battle, let us