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LAST MEETING BETWEEN GENERAL SCOTT, THE CABINET, AND PRESIDENT.

The order was drawn and signed. One month later an expedition under General Butler was on its way to New Orleans to take possession of that city.

The Union men of Maryland informed the Government that the secession members of the Legislature intended to vote the State out of the Union at an adjourned session. Attorney-general Bates had given an elaborate opinion as to the power of the President to make arbitrary arrests of persons contemplating treason, and also to suspend the writ of habeas corpus. It was the duty of the President to prevent

the contemplated action. General McClellan was directed to arrest the members.

"When they meet," read McClellan's order to General Banks, “you will please have everything prepared to arrest the whole party, and be sure that none escape."

The order was enforced, the members arrested, their plans overturned. "I believe," said Governor Hicks, "that it saved the State from destruction."

NOTES TO CHAPTER XIV.

(1) James Murray Mason was born in Fairfax County, Va., 1798. He was educated at the University of Pennsylvania. Studied law; was member of Congress, 1837-39; elected United States Senator, 1847. He remained in the Senate till 1861. When Virginia seceded he did not resign, but used his position to aid the Confederates, for which he was expelled the following July. He was appointed diplomatic agent of the Confederacy to England. Sailed with Mr. Slidell from Charleston to Nassau; took passage on the steamer Trent, from which he was taken by Commodore Wilkes, commanding the San Jacinto, and confined in Fort Warren, in Boston Harbor. He was released by President Lincoln, and delivered to an English vessel. He presented his credentials to Lord John Russell, Secretary of English Foreign Affairs, but could only be recognized as a private gentleman. After the war he returned to the United States, and died at Alexandria, Va., 1874.-Author.

(2) Reverdy Johnson was born at Annapolis, Md., 1796. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar of Maryland at the age of 19. He served in the Senate of the United States 1845-49. He was a Whig in politics, and upon the accession of Zachary Taylor to the Presidency was appointed Attorney-general. Mr. Johnson was regarded as one of the foremost lawyers of the country. He was Senator during President Lincoln's term in Congress. They were opposing counsel in the celebrated McCormick reaper case, in which Mr. Lincoln expected to take conspicuous part, but from which he was excluded by Edwin M. Stanton. Mr. Johnson was delegate to the Peace Conference. He was again in the Senate from 1863 to 1868.-Author.

(3) Thomas Holliday Hicks, born 1798, in Dorchester County, Md., was a farmer. He served many terms in the Legislature, and was Governor of the State from 1858 to 1862, and served in the United States Senate from 1862 to 1867. He was loyal to the Union, but had a difficult part to perform. By his prudence the Secessionists were thwarted, and the State saved to the Union.-Author.

(4) Lieutenant William T. Nelson was born in Maysville, Ky., 1825. Entered the navy 1840, was at the siege of Vera Cruz during the war with Mexico. His outspoken loyalty led the President to appoint him a brigadier-general in the army. He commanded a division under General Buell. He reached the battle-field of Shiloh at a critical hour and rendered efficient service. In an unfortunate quarrel with General Jefferson C. Davis he received a wound from which he died, September 29, 1862.-Author. (5) Joshua F. Speed was born near Louisville. He emigrated to Springfield, Ill., and opened a store. He early became a friend to Abraham Lincoln. He was successful in business, and returned to Louisville and became a prominent citizen. His great friendship for Mr. Lincoln and his intense patriotism made him a central figure among the Union men of Kentucky. Several years after the death of the President he gave a

lecture which is replete with information relative to the early manhood of Mr. Lincolu. -Author.

(*) Edward Bates, Attorney-general, was born in Virginia, 1793. He was of Quaker descent. He was educated at Charlotte Hall, Md. In 1814 he emigrated to Missouri, and began the practice of law in St. Louis. He was elected Attorney-general of the State, 1820. He became member of Congress, 1826-serving one term. President Fillmore appointed him Attorney-general of the United States, 1850, but the appointment was respectfully declined. He was outspoken in his denunciation of the attempt to force slavery upon Kansas. The Republicans of Missouri presented his name as a candidate for the Presidency at the Chicago Convention.-Author.

(7) Francis P. Blair, second son of Francis Blair, was one of the founders of the Republican Party in Missouri. He comprehended the plans of the Secessionists, and took radical and energetic measures to thwart them. He was appointed major-general by the President, and was selected by General Sherman to command an army corps in the March to the Sea. He was elected to Congress; although serving in that body, he retained his commission in the military service, which subjected him to much criticism. He was patriotic and brave, and efficiently aided the cause of the Union.-Author.

(8) L. E. Chittenden, "Recollections of Abraham Lincoln," p. 213.

(*) Ibid., p. 216.

(10) Titian J. Coffey, "Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln," p. 337. (11) Ibid., p. 338.

(12) John W. Forney, "Anecdotes of Public Men," vol. i., p. 265.

(13) "War Records," vol. xi., p. 3.

(14) Ibid.

(15) General Scott's Letters to Secretary of War, "Records," vol. xi., p. 3. (16) B. F. Butler, "Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln," p. 140.

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CHAPTER XV.

AUTUMN OF 1861.

URING the summer of 1861 Congress was in session, called by
President Lincoln. In his message he said:

"It might seem, at first thought, to be of little difference whether the present movement at the South be called 'secession' or 'rebellion.' The movers, however, will understand the difference. They knew that they never could make their treason respectable by any name which implies a violation of law. They knew their people possessed as much of moral sense, as much of devotion to law and order, and as much pride in and reverence for the history and government of their common country as any other civilized and patriotic people."

President Lincoln used plain words, which everybody could understand, as is seen in the following sentences:

"They knew they could make no advancement directly in the teeth of these strong and noble sentiments. Accordingly, they commenced by an insidious debauching of the public mind. They invented an ingenious sophism, which, if conceded, was followed by perfectly logical steps through all the incidents to the complete destruction of the Union. The sophism is that any State may, consistently with the national Constitution, therefore lawfully and peacefully withdraw from the Union, without the consent of the Union or any other State. The little disguise that the supposed right is to be exercised only for just cause, themselves to be the sole judges of its justice, is too thin to merit any notice. With rebellion thus sugar-coated, they have been drugging the public mind of their section for more than thirty years."

In these brief sentences we have the history of Secession.

"Would it not be better, Mr. President," said Mr. Defrees, the public printer, "to use some other word a little more dignified than 'sugarcoated' in an important State paper which is to go down to all time?"

"Well, Defrees, if you think the time will ever come when the people will not understand what 'sugar-coated' means, I'll alter it; otherwise I think I'll let it go," said Mr. Lincoln, with good-humor in every wrinkle of his face. (')

Ulysses S. Grant presided at a public meeting in Galena, Ill. A

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