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take back their "property." But there were many thorough friends of freedom, who, preferring God's laws to any constitutional enactments, were always ready to protect the fugitive, or convey him safely to Canada. The Southerners complained of the inadequacy of the existing laws to secure their property; and on their demand, the odious "Fugitive Slave Law" was passed, by which the local authorities were enjoined to aid in the capture and rendition of run-away slaves. The terror caused by this law swept like a hurricane through the North. effect on the best examples of the Negro race. colored church, 130 members at once fled to Canada. In another, of 114 members, only two remained. The law had not passed without angry controversy, and vehement protests. From many a pulpit the congregation were exhorted to obey God rather than man. Furious riots were caused by attempts to carry back into slavery negroes who for years had been respected for their industry, virtue, and godliness. This still further increased the alienation between North and South.

In one

In 1856, Mr. Sumner, an eloquent opponent of slavery, was sitting in his place in the House of Representatives, when a pro-slavery member named Brooks, incensed by a recent speech of Mr. Sumner, came behind him, and with a heavy stick, beat him on the neck and back of his head, so that he fell stunned and did not recover for several months. We cannot even conceive of such an outrage in our own House of Commons. Any man acting in such a

way would be scouted by the whole nation, and if he professed our particular opinions, we should regard him as the greatest scandal and foe to our party. But what took place in the Southern States? Brooks was extolled as a hero! While the only penalty awarded by the law was a trumpery fine, the ladies of South Carolina presented him with a richly mounted cane; from several cities he received presentation sticks inscribed-" Hit him again;" and after his death, a speaker in Congress publicly compared him to Brutus! Such an outrage, so rewarded, was a still further aggravation of the social feud.

The "Dred Scott decision" added fresh combustibles to the smouldering heap. Dread Scott, a slave, taken by his master into free Illinois, and then beyond the line of 36° 30′, and then back into Missouri, sued for and obtained his freedom on the ground that having been taken where by the constitution slavery was illegal, his master had lost all claim. But the Supreme Court on. appeal reversed the judgment, and Dred Scott with his wife and children was taken back into slavery. By this decision in the highest court of American law it was affirmed that no free negro could claim to be a citizen of the United States, but was only under the jurisdiction. of the separate State in which he resided; that the prohibition of slavery in any territory of the Union was unconstitutional; and that the slave-owner might go where he pleased with his property, throughout the United States, and retain his right. The progress of

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the trial was attended with great excitement, and the final decision convulsed society throughout the North.

Kansas was long a cause of disquiet. Was it to be received as a Free State, or was it to be claimed by Slavery? Companies of Free-soilers settled there. But organized bands of ruffians from the South entered it, and by numberless acts of violence endeavored to expel the friends of freedom. In these encounters much blood was shed. You remember that, in 1859, John Brown, who, with his sons, had been very active in these struggles, seized the arsenal at Harper's Ferry for the purpose of facilitating the escape of slaves in the neighborhood. His well-intended and heroic, but ill-advised and illegal enterprise failed. He was tried and sentenced to be hung. No northern statesman nor party was proved to have had any connection with the affair. But the excitement produced was very great. A vast array of soldiery was drawn up to prevent a rescue. The South was determined to secure its victim. woman was among the competitors for the executioner's office, and several States vied with one another for the privilege of providing the hemp for the halter.

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The crisis was now at hand. In order to understand it we must bear in mind that in the North there are three parties. The Republicans, or Federals, uphold the constitution as it is; and whatever reforms are required, they would accomplish only by the working out of its established principles; they would not interfere with

the affairs of individual States; but they are opposed to the extension of slavery into the Territories. This renders them antagonistic to the Southerners. Moreover, they are protectionists in commerce. The Democrats are the opposition party, and are in favor of Free-trade. This formed the first link of sympathy between them and the Southerners. "Evil communications corrupt good manners;" and so it came to pass that the Northern Liberal, contradicting his own principles of freedom, became an ally of the Southern Slave-owner, not only in commerce but in slavery too. The Republican party is Anti-slavery, but this term in America implies only opposition to the extension of slavery into new soil. The Abolition party advocate its entire overthrow. Some of them would accomplish this gradually: but others have earnestly contended that it is a first duty to get rid of so great a wickedness, even at the cost of national existence, and that it would be better that the Union be at once dissolved than that slavery should any longer defile the land. Owing to the weakening of the North by this opposition between the Abolitionists and Republicans, the South has succeeded, by its alliance with the Democrats, in carrying nearly all elections for the office of President. But when Buchanan was elected, the Anti-slavery Fremont so nearly won the day that the South began to take measures in expectation of a reverse at the election of 1860.

The agreement of Abolitionists and Republicans in

the nomination of Abraham Lincoln secured his election.

His history is remarkable. His father died when he was a child. He had only six months' schooling. When a little boy he earned his own living by wielding an axe, driving a cart, shepherding flocks, and afterwards working on a river-steamer. Then he took to rail-splitting, and then was clerk in a store, all the while educating himself. He was chosen a member of the parliament of his State; then became a barrister; then was sent to Congress. An avowed opponent of slavery, he was adopted by the Abolitionists. Pledging himself to abide by constitutional law, and under that law to prevent the extension of slavery into the Territories, he was adopted by the Republicans.

The election of 1860 placed him by a large majority at the head of the poll. The news no sooner reached Charleston than the Federal flag was hauled down, and that of the State run up in its place. At a great meeting it was resolved that as the North had elected a president whose opinions and purposes were hostile to Slavery, South Carolina seceded from the Union. A Federal fort was seized, and the Federal Major Anderson retired to Fort Sumter. Other States soon followed the example of South Carolina, and preparations were made for war.

But before Mr. Lincoln came into office, treason in the cabinet had been promoting the secession. Mr. Toucey, in the navy department, had dispersed the fleets, and