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countrymen of every degree, from the most humble citizen and soldier to statesmen, army and navy officers of every rank, governors, and the President and his cabinet ministers, who kindly aided me in my labors in the collection of materials for this work. It would be a pleasant privilege to mention the name of each, but they are legion, and for obvious reasons it may not be done. But I cannot, without a violation of my sense of justice, refrain from expressing my gratitude to Mr. CHILDS, the publisher, for his untiring and zealous aid and encouragement from the inception of the work, early in 1862, and his generous liberality in bringing it out in the beautiful and costly manner in which it is presented.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y., January 1, 1866.

B. J. L.

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Preliminary Observations, page 17.-Democratic Convention at Charleston, 18.-The "Cincinnati Platform," 21.-Conflicting Reports on a Platform of Principles-Secession of Delegates, 22.-Balloting for a Candidate. 23.-Seceders' Convention, 24.-Adjourned Democratic Convention in Baltimore, 25.-Another Secession, 26-Nomination of Stephen A. Douglas for the Presidency, 27.-Nomination of John C. Breckinridge for the Presidency, 28.-National Constitutional Union Convention, 29.- Nomination of John Bell for the Presidency, 80.-Republican Convention, 81.-Nomination of Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency, 32.-The Four Parties, 33.-The Contest, and Election of Lincoln, 34.

CHAPTER II.

PRELIMINARY REBELLIOUS MOVEMENTS.

The Votes at the Election, 36.-Incendiary Work of Politicians, 37.-The Press and the Pulpit, 38.-Designs of the Oligarchy, 39.-Firing "the Southern Heart"-John C. Calhoun, 41.-Virginia Politicians, 42.-Conspirators in Buchanan's Cabinet, 43.-Rebellious Movements in South Carolina, 46.-Resignation of National Officers, 48.-Rejoicings in Charleston and Columbia-Excitement in Slave-labor States, 49.-Secession in the South Carolina Legislature, 50.-Secession Movements in Georgia, 51.-Union Speech of Alexander H. Stephens, 53.-The Political Advantages enjoyed by the Southern States, 57.-Proceedings of the Georgia Legislature, 58.-Secession in Mississippi, 59.-Secession in Alabama and Florida, 60.-Proceedings in Louisiana, 61.-Attitude of Texas and North Carolina, 62.-Disunion long contemplated, 63.

CHAPTER III.

ASSEMBLING OF CONGRESS. THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

Meeting of the Thirty-sixth Congress, 64.-President Buchanan's Message, 65.-The Fugitive Slave Law, 67.Personal Liberty Acts, 68.-Opinion of Attorney-General Black, 70.-Secession impossible, 71.-The President's Indecision and Recommendations-Denunciations of the Message, 78.-Disappointment of the People. 74.-Movements of the Clergy-Warnings of General Scott, 75.-General Wool's Letter to General Cass, 76. -Resignation of Cass-Fast-Day proclaimed, 77.-Clingman's Treasonable Speech in the Senate, 78.-Crittenden's Rebuke-Hale's Defiance, and the Anger of the Conspirators, 79.-Iverson's Treasonable Speech in the Senate, 80.-Speeches of Senators Davis and Wigfall, 81.-Cotton proclaimed King, 82.-The Cotton "Kingdom," 88.-Wigfall's insolent Harangue, 84.

CHAPTER IV.

SEDITIOUS MOVEMENTS IN CONGRESS.-SECESSION IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND ITS EFFECTS. Conduct of Southern Representatives in Congress-Committee of Thirty-three, S6.-Amendments to the Constitution proposed, 87.-The "Crittenden Compromise," 89.-Temper and Wishes of the South Carolina Politicians, 91.-Earlier Secession Movements, 92.-Memminger on a Revolutionary Mission to Virginia-Why Virginians hesitated, 94.-Power of the Politicians in South Carolina, 95.-R. Barnwell Rhett and his Incendiary Speech, 96.-Appeals to the Passions of the People-Officers of the Army and Navy invited to resign, 97.-A Gala Day in Charleston-Secession foreordained, 98.-Assembling of the Sonth Carolina

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ATTITUDE OF THE BORDER SLAVE-LABOR STATES, AND OF THE FREE-LABOR STATES.

Emissaries of the Conspirators at Work, 192.-The Virginia Legislature, 193.-A Peace Convention proposed—
Attitude of Virginia--Virginia Conspirators in Congress-Position of Maryland, 195.--Action of Governor
Hicks, 196.-He is denounced as a Traitor to the South," 197.-Loyal Action of Delaware and North Caro-
lina-The Latter sympathizes with the Slave-labor States, 198.-Disloyal Action of the Governor of Ten-
nessee-The People overwhelmingly for the Union-Position of Kentucky, 199.-Convention of Union
and Douglas Men--Action of the Legislature-Attitude of Missouri, 200.--Treason of Governor Jackson--
Arkansas resists Secession, 201.--Loyal Attitude of Maine and Massachusetts, 202.-Action of Rhode

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SIEGE OF FORT PICKENS.-DECLARATION OF WAR.-THE VIRGINIA CONSPIRATORS, AND

THE PROPOSED CAPTURE OF WASHINGTON CITY.

The Florida Forts, 361.-Affairs at Key West, 362.--The Secessionists watched--Forts Jefferson and Taylor re-

enforced, 363.-Siege of Fort Pickens-Hesitation of the Government, 864.--Orders to re-enforce Fort

Pickens, 365.-Lieutenant Worden sent to Pensacola, 366.-A Loyal Spy, 367.--Fort Pickens re-enforced,

368.-Imprisonment of Worden--Colonel Brown relieves Lieutenant Slemmer, 369.--Honors to the De-

fenders of Fort Pickens, 370.--Jefferson Davis authorizes Piracy, 371.-The President's Proclamation con-
cerning Pirates-Action of the "Confederate" Congress, 372.--The "Confederate" Navy, 378.--Treachery
of Professed Unionists, 374.--Convention of Virginia Secessionists, 375.-Virginia Commissioners in Wash-
ington, 876.-How the Virginia Ordinance of Sécession was passed, 877.--The Richmond Secessionists
jubilant, 878.-Alexander H. Stephens in Richmond--The Seizure of Washington the chief Object of the
Conspirators, 379.-The Offenders wish to "Be let Alone," 881.

A. H. Stephens in the Virginia Convention, 382.--Military League with the Conspirators at Montgomery, 3S3.
-The People at an Election awed by Bayonets-Senator Mason's Letter, 884.-North Carolina ruled by
Usurpers-Ordinance of Secession adopted, 385.-Seizure of the Arsenal at Fayetteville-Mischievous
Work begins in Tennessee, 386.-Tennessee leagued with the "Confederacy,” 887.--Usurpation and Fraud
in Tennessee, 888.-Designs against Harper's Ferry, 890.--Destruction at Harper's Ferry, 891.-The Navy
Yard and Vessels at Gosport, 892.-Effect of Treachery and Weakness, 394.-Admiral Paulding-Stormy

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