Union Uprising in mer-servient, to a contemptible degree, to the sentiments of the slaveholding few was not slow to betray the aristocratic tendency of the revolution proposed.* The Richmond Examiner, early in May, wrote : movements of the chants of Wheeling indicated the gathering storm. These patriotic men resolved to pay no tax "to support the usurped Government at Richmond." The resolutions rang out with the ring of the old spirit which said—“We | pay King George no further tribute!" These meetings were the little beginnings from whose results sprang the new Government of Virginia, which the President recognized as the true and only loyal Government of the State, and whose representatives to the National Congress were admitted to seats. The Last Act of "In the Northern States exists the government of purc Democracy. The lowest, most ignorant, and coarsest part of the whole people, who make the majority of it, control the action of the Government by the immediate exercise of their volition, impress upou it their violence, their instability of opinion and fickleness of feeling, and render it, in all respects, the agent of their crude and unfounded ideas of a moment. "The essence of the Constitution of the United *The communication of Commodore Stewart ("Old Ironsides") to Mr. Childs, of Philadelphia, (under date of May 4th, 1861,) regarding his inter cember, 1812, is so interesting as bearing on this point that we may quote: Virginia was fully adopt-States was representative Democracy. But the coned into the Southern Con- tinual strides of innovation, guided by demagogues, federacy May 6th, by act have destroyed the representative principle in the of the Confederate Congress. Two of her Northern States. Public officers in those countries delegates were then sworn in and took their reflect the popular feeling of the moment, instead seats. As the people were not to vote upon of that National sentiment and opinion that is formthe Ordinance of Secession until May 23d, ed after experience and second thought. In this the this admission demonstrates with what disre- South is wholly different from the North. The lowest gard of the people the Conventions and the Congress acted. Overriding voters was part of the "system" of the Southern Government to which Mr. Stephens, in his celebrated Ex-view with John C. Calhoun in the latter part of Deposition (see pages 63-64) had not adverted; but, the contempt generally entertained, in the South, of their own poor whites-the aristocratic idea upon which the institution of slavery itself was founded-the stigma fixed upon all white working men and mechanics by the "ruling classes" — render it easy to believe that, in the “ new order of things," the democratic principle of a majority rule was not to be accepted. The Slave owners, breeders and traders comprised but a meagre minority of the entire white population of the South; yet, this minority was resolved to rule, and for that dissevered their relations with the Free States. "I observed, with great simplicity, 'You in the South and South-west are decidedly the aristocratic portion of this ery; you are so in every domestic quality; so in every habit Union. You are so in holding persons in perpetuity in slav of your lives, living and actions; so in habits, customs, intercourse and manners; you neither work with your hands, head, nor any machinery, but live and have your living, not in accordance with the will of your Creator, but by the sweat of Slavery; and yet you assume all the attributes, professions and advantages of Democracy.' ” "Mr. Calhoun replied: 'I see you speak through the head of a young statesman, and from the heart of a patriot; but you lose sight of the politician and the sectional policy of the people. I admit your conclusions in respect to us Southrons that we are essentially aristocratic. I cannot deny but we can and do yield much to Democracy; this is our sectional policy. We are from necessity thrown upon and solemnly wedded to that party, however it may occasionally clash with our feelings, for the conservation of our interests. It is through our affiliation with that party in the Middle and Western States, we control, under the Constitution, the governing of the United States; but, when we cease thus to control this Nation through a disjoined Democracy, or any material obstacle in that party which shall tend to throw us out of that rule and control, we shall then resort to the dissolution of the Union. The compromises in the Constitution, under the then circumstances, were sufficient for our fathers, but, under the altered condition of the country from that period, leave to the South no resource but dissolution; for no amendments to the Constitution could be reached through a Convention of the people and their three-fourths rule.'” THE WHEELING CONVENTION. part of the population here are slaves, have nothing to do with the Government, and no influence on its policy. The character and political action of the country originates with the SUPERIOR INTELLIGENCE, and is supported steadily." Western Virginia was Loyal Western loyal. Settled almost enVirginia. tirely by non-slaveholders, its people were not subjected to the tyranny of the “dominant" class. The quite general circulation, through that section, of newspapers, gave the people more enlarged and correct ideas of public affairs than prevailed in the Eastern portion of the State, from which Northern newspapers were studiously excluded. As one consequence, the few Secessionists were powerless to control the people to their behests; and such men as Clemens and Carlisle found hearty response to their Union-loving sentiments. May 9th, the Governor's agent arrived at Grafton, in Western Virginia, to open the rendezvous for troops called out under the Governor's requisition. Informed of his presence, the people waited upon the "agent," ordering him to leave the place within twenty-four hours, which he did, and no troops assembled at the call. On the contrary, however, an active loyalty, from that moment, began to prevail, and eleven companies, sworn into the United States volunteer service, were in camp, at the Fair Grounds, in Wheeling, by May 20th. The two first, on this roll of honor, were the commands of Captains Britt and Stephens. Prior to the Convention Judge Thompson's at Wheeling, (May 13th,) Judge Thompson, of the Circuit Court of Wheeling District, delivered a charge to the Grand Jury, (May 10th,) in Charge. 151 which he discussed the question of a separation from the Eastern section of the State, and adverted to the supremacy of the General Government. His views unquestionably represented those of the most influential class. He favored a separation if it were done with the power of law and legislative procedure; and, though he denied the right of the United States Government to invade the State, he conceded the right of resistance to treason, and therefore the necessity for the presence of Government forces where treason existed. The Wheeling Convention. At the important Convention held in Wheeling, May 13th, the preliminary proceedings were taken for a regularly elected Convention. The fourth day of June was named as the day of election, and the eleventh of June the day of the assemblage of the elected delegates to take action concerning a reorganization of the State Government. The spirit betrayed by the leading men in that primary gathering—where about twenty counties were represented—left no doubt of the entire loyalty of the movement. While the hosts of Jefferson Davis were gathering at all good strategic positions to meet the threatened Union advance, the people west of the Blue Ridge mountains were not left to the mercy of rebel bayonets, for the General Government had, by the advice of the Governors of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, arranged to throw forward General McClellan's column, at once, to afford the people and the Convention proper protection, and to threaten the rebel occupation of Harper's Ferry by a flank and rear move ment. CHAPTER XL THE CRISIS IN TENNESSEE. A DARK PAGE IN HISTORY. THE SECESSION OF NORTH CAROLINA AND ARKANSAS. Tennessee Going. The Bill of Sale. other slaveholding States as The said Commissioners met Hon. Henry W. Hilliard, the accredited representative of the Confederate States, at Nashville on this day, and have the State of Tennessee and the Confederate States of America, subject, however, to the ratification of the two Governments, one of the duplicate originals of which I herewith transmit for your ratification or rejection. For many cogent and obvious reasons, unnecessary to be rehearsed to you, I respectfully recommend the ratification of this League at the earliest practicable moment. TENNESSEE'S vote, February 9th, on the question "Convention" or "No Convention," resulted in an overwhelming Union triumph (see Vol. II, page 24). This announcement for the time being reassured the country of that State's loyalty; but, the extraordinary revulsion of feeling created by the attack on Sum- agreed upon and executed a Military League between ter and the President's proclamation for troops, swept away, at a dash, the " conservatism" of Tennessee, and soon arrayed her on the side of treason. The Governor's answer to the requisition, already quoted (see page 99), was the key-note of the miserere to follow. The Unionists staggered before the storm which the demons of discord evoked; and, though their influence was predominant enough, for the moment, to place the State in a position of "Neutrality," even that cloak for treason was soon cast aside. May 8th, the publication, by the Nashville papers, of the secret proceedings of the Legislature then in session, announced to the people that their liberties were gone, and that, thenceforward, they were under the iron despotism of the Confederate "authorities." The story of this sale of a State is fully told in the documents attesting it. The Bill of Sale. May 7th, Governor Harris sent to the Legislature the following communication and document: "EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, NASHVILLE, May 7th, 1861. "Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives: "By virtue of the authority of your joint resolution, adopted on the 1st day of May inst., I appointed Gustavus A. Henry, of the county of Montgomery, Archibald O. W. Totten, of the county of Madison, and Washington Barrow, of the county of Davidson, • Commissioners, on the part of Tennessee, to enter into a Military League with the authorities of the Confederate States, and with the authorities of such デ Very respectfully, ISHAM G. HARRIS." CONVENTION BETWEEN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE AND THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA. "The State of Tennessee, looking to a speedy admission into the Confederacy established by the Confederate States of America, in accordance with the Constitution for the Provisional Government of said States, enters into the following temporary convention, agreement and military league with the Confederate States, for the purpose of meeting pressing exigencies affecting the common rights, interests and safety of said States and said Confede eracy. "First. Until the said State shall become a mem ber of said Confederacy, according to the Constitutions of both powers, the whole military force and military operations, offensive and defensive, of said State, in the impending conflict with the United States, shall be under the chief control and direction of the President of the Confederate States upon the same basis, principles and footing as if said State were now and during the interval, a member of said Confederacy. Said forces, together with that of the Confederate States, to be employed for the common defense. "Second. The State of Tennessee will, upon becoming a member of said Confederacy, under tho Arkansas Secedes. Arkansas, like Tennessee, | under the name of the United States of America, is hastened to recant her late hereby forever dissolved. conservative action (see page 31). The call of Mr. Lincoln for troops was succeeded by a rapid regathering of the State Convention. Without much delay her citizens are absolved from all allegiance to said the Ordinance of Secession was passed by a vote of sixty-nine to one, viz. "And we do further hereby declare and ordain, that the State of Arkansas hereby resumes to herself all rights and powers heretofore delegated to the Government of the United States of America-that Government of the United States, and that she is in full possession and exercise of all the rights and sovereignty which appertain to a free and independent State. "We do further ordain and declare, that all rights acquired and vested under the Constitution of the United States of America, or of any act or acts of Congress, or treaty, or under any law of this State, and not incompatible with this ordinance, shall remain in full force and effect, and in no wise altered or impaired, and have the same effect as if this ordi [Here follow the names of the delegates.] 66 Adopted and passed in open Convention on the sixth day of May, A. D. 1861. "6 Attest, "An Ordinance to Dissolve the Union now existing between tober, A. D. 1836, whereby it was, by said General of the State of Arkansas into the Union, and to pro vide for the due execution of the laws of the United States with in the same, and for other purposes, were freely accepted, ratified and irrevocably confirmed articles of compact and union between the State of Arkansas and the United States,' and all other laws, and every other law and ordinance, whereby the State ELIAS C. BOUDINOT, Secretary of the Arkansas State Convention." The injustice and absurd Special Point against ity of the "State Rights" of Arkansas became a member of the Federal Union, be, and the same are hereby in all respects and for every purpose here with consistent, repealed, abroga-ple to dissolve, at will, their relations and ted and fully set aside; and the union now subsisting obligations to the parent Government! By between the State of Arkansas and the other States all rights of common law, guaranteeing the |