April 3, 1861 (Wednesday)

The New York Times has an article, "Wanted A Policy," April 3, 1861. 

"The fact is, our Government has done absolute nothing, towards carrying the country through the tremendous crisis which is so rapidly and so steadily settling down upon us.  It allows everything to drift...the President must adopt some clear and distinct policy in regard to secession, or the Union will not only be severed, but the country will be disgraced. 

One of the highest and noblest functions of a Government in a free country is to lead the nation...to summon the people to rally to the standard set up in their defense.  The people look to their Government for guidance in every great emergency. 

The Union is weaker now than it was a month ago.  Its foes have gained courage, and its friends have lost heart.  Step by step the new Confederacy marches forward towards solid and secure foundations -- and day by day the bright hopes of the lovers of the Union fade and die away.

The President has to decide whether he will enforce the law at the hazard of civil war or whether he will waive the execution of the law and appeal to the people of the seceded States on behalf of the Union.  We trust this period of indecision, of inaction, of fatal indifference, will have a speedy end.  Unless it does, we may bid farewell to all hope of saving the Union from destruction and the country from anarchy. 

The country looks eagerly to President Lincoln for the dispersion of the dark mystery that hangs over our public affairs.  The people want something to be decided on -- some standard raised -- some policy put forward, which shall serve as a rallying point for the abundant but discouraged loyalty of the American heart.  In a great crisis like this, there is no policy so fatal as that of having no policy at all."



Several diary entries for the day: Hat tip Daily Observations from The Civil War, April 3, 1861.

William Howard Russell
"Washington is full of rumors of desperate descents on the capital, and an attack on the President and his Cabinet."

Life in Kansas and Death as a Spy


A Diary from Dixie
"And so we fool on into the black cloud ahead of us."