CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

True value of the Federal principle.-Historical examples.-Coleridge's prophecy.-Early

Mission of the American Union.-How terminated.-The American system of Gov-

ernment a mixed one.-The Colonial period.-First proposition of a General Con-

gress. Declaration of Independence.-Articles of Confederation.-Their occasion

and origin.-Nature of the compact.-Peace-treaty of 1783.-Analysis of the nature

and value of the Confederation.-How it was terminated.-The Convention of

1787. Character of the men who composed it.-Political idolatry in America.-

Parties in the Convention.-The question of Representation. The novelty of the

American Constitution the result of an accident.-State Rights.-Amendments to

the Constitution.-Nature of the American Union.-Not a Consolidated nation-

ality. The Right of Secession.-The Union not the proclamation of a new civil

polity. Not a political revolution.-A convenience of the States, with no mission

apart from the States.-The two political schools of America.-Consolidation and

State Rights.--How the Slavery question was involved.-A sharp antithesis.—

The Kentucky and Virginia resolutions.-Webster and Calhoun, the anti-types of

Northern and Southern statesmanship.-Mr. Calhoun's doctrines.-"Nullification "

a Union-saving measure.—Its ingenuity and conservatism.-Calhoun's profound

statesmanship.-Injustice to his memory.-How the South has been injured by

false party names...

CHAPTER II.

33

The Federal principle ultimately fatal to the Union.-Other causes of disunion.-The

sectional animosity.-The geographical line in the Union.-How the differences

between North and South produced two distinct communities instead of rival parties

within one body politic.-The theory of a Political North and a Political South.-

Its early recognition in the Convention of 1787.-Declaration of Madison.—Mr.

Pinckney's remarks.-How the same theory was involved in the Constitution-

The "Treaty" clause between North and South.-The Union not the bond of diverse

States, but the rough companionship of two peoples.-Gen. Sullivan's complaint to

Washington.-The Slavery question, an incident of the sectional animosity-

Not an independent controversy, or a moral dispute. Political history of Negro

Slavery in the South.-How it become the subject of dispute.-The Hartford Con-

vention. The Missouri Line, the preliminary trace of disunion.-Declaration of

Thomas Jefferson.-Why the North defamed "the peculiar institution" of the South.

-Great benefits of this institution, and its contributions to the world." Slavery,"

not the proper term for the institutions of labour in the South.-The Slavery ques-

tion significant only of a contest for political power.-Differences between the

Northern and Southern populations.-The anti-revolutionary period.-Traces of

the modern "Yankee."-How Slavery established a peculiar civilization in the South.

-Its bad and good effects summed up.-Coarseness of Northern civilization.-No

landed gentry in the North.-Scanty appearance of the Southern country. The

sentiments and manners of its people.-" American exaggeration," a peculiarity of

the Northern mind.-Sobriety of the South.-How these qualities were displayed in

the Northern and Southern estimations of the Union.-"State Rights" the founda-

tion of the moral dignity of the Union.-Calhoun's picture of the Union.-A noble

vision never realized...

45

Material decline of the South in the Union.-Shifting of the numbers and enterprise of

the country from the Southern to the Northern States.-Virginia's rank among the

States at the time of the Revolution.-Commercial distress of the States after the

Revolution.-How New England suffered.-The South then reckoned the seat of

future empire. The people and strength of America bearing Southwardly.-

Emigration to the South.-Kentucky and the vales of Frankland.-Virginia's pros-

perity. Her early land system.-The Chesapeake.-Alexandria.-George Wash-

ington's great commercial project.-Two pictures of Virginia: 1789 and 1829.-

An example of the decline of the South in material prosperity. This decline not

to be attributed to Slavery.-Its true causes.-Effect of the Louisiana purchase on

the tides of emigration.-Unequal Federal legislation, as a cause of the sectional

lapse of the South in the Union.-The key to, the political history of America.-A

great defect of the American Constitution.-Population as an element of pros-

perity and power.-How this was thrown into the Northern scale.-Two sectional

measures. Comparisons of Southern representation in Congress at the date of the

Constitution and in the year 1860.-Sectional domination of the North.-A pro-

tective Tariff.-"The Bill of abominations."-Senator Benton on the Tariff of 1828.

-His retrospect of the prosperity of the South.-History of the American Tariffs.

-Tariff of 1833, a deceitful Compromise.-Other measures of Northern aggrandize-

ment.-Ingenuity of Northern avarice.-Why the South could not use her Demo-

cratic alliance in the South to protect her interests.-This alliance one only for

party purposes.-Its value.-Analysis of the Democratic Party in the North.-The

South under the rule of a numerical majority.-Array of that majority on a sec-

tional line necessarily fatal to the Union.-When and why the South should

attempt disunion....
54

CHAPTER IV.

The sectional equilibrium.-How disturbed in 1820.-Contest on the admission of

Texas.-Compromise measures of 1850.-Declaration of a Finality."-President

Pierce's administration.-The Kansas-Nebraska bill.-Repeal of "The Missouri

Compromise."-Origin of the Republican party in the North.-Composition and

character of this Party.-Amazing progress of the Anti-slavery sentiment in the

North.-New interpretation of the Kansas-Nebraska bill by Senator Douglas.-

Intended to court the Anti-slavery sentiment.-Doctrine of "Non-Intervention

in the Territories.-The "Dred Scott decision."—" The Kansas controversy.”—The

Lecompton Convention.-The Topeka Constitution.-President Buchanan's position

and arguments.-Opposition of Senator Douglas.-His insincerity.-The Northern

Democratic Party demoralized on the Slavery question.-Douglas' doctrine of

"Popular Sovereignty."-" A short cut to all the ends of Black Republicanism."

-Douglas as a demagogue.-The true issues in the Kansas controversy.-Import-

ant passages in the Congressional debate.-Settlement of the Kansas question.—

Douglas' foundation of a new party.-His demagogueical appeals.-The true situa-

tion.-Loss of the sectional equilibrium.-Serious temper of the South.-"The

John Brown raid."—Identity of John Brown's provisional constitution and or-

dinances with the subsequent policy of the Republican Party.-Curious fore-

shadow of Southern subjugation.-The descent on Harper's Ferry.-Capture and

execution of Brown.-His declaration.-Northern sympathy with him.-Alarming

tendency of the Republican Party to the Ultra-Abolition school.-"The Helper

Book."-Sentiments of Sixty-eight Northern congressmen.-The conceit and in-

solence of the North.-Affectation of Republicans that the Union was a concession

to the South.-Hypocrisy of this party.-Indications of the coming catastrophe of

disunion. The presidential canvass of 1860.-Declarations of the Democratic

Party. The Charleston Convention.-Secession of the Southern delegates.-The

different presidential tickets.-Election of Abraham Lincoln.-Analysis of the

vote. How his election was a "sectional" triumph.-Ominous importance of it

in that view.-Arguments for sustaining Lincoln's election.-Seward's argument

in the Senate.-Lincoln's election a geographical one.-How there was no longer

protection for the South in the Union.-The Anti-slavery power compact and in-

vincible. Another apology for Lincoln's election.-Fallacy of regarding it as a

transfer of the Administration in equal circumstances from the South to the North.

-How the South had used its lease of political power.-Senator Hammond's tri-

bute.-Power in the hands of the North equivalent to sectional despotism.-The

North "acting in mass."-The logical necessity of disunion....

CHAPTER V.

64

Preparations of South Carolina to withdraw from the Union.-Passage of her Ordinance

of Secession.-The Federal force in Charleston Harbour evacuates Fort Moultrie,

and occupies Sumter.-Description of Fort Sumter.-How the Secession of South

Carolina was entertained in the North.-The levity and inconsistency of the North

with respect to this event.-Doctrine of Secession, and Northern precedents.-

Record of Massachusetts.-Mr. Quincy's declaration in Congress.-A double justifi-

cation of the withdrawal of the Southern States from the Union.-The right of Self-

government.-Opinion of Mr. Lincoln.-Opinion of the New York "Tribune.”—

Opinion of Mr. Seward.-The Secession question in the Cotton States.-Hesitation

of Georgia.-Project of Alexander H. Stephens.-Secession of all the Cotton States.

-Seizure of Federal forts and arsenals.-Fort Pickens.-Senator Yulee's letter.-

The scenes of Secession transferred to Washington.-Resignation of Southern Sena-

tors.-Jefferson Davis' farewell speech to the Federal Senate.-Senator Clay's bill

of indictment against the Republican party.-The Convention at Montgomery.—

Constitution of the Confederate States. Jeff
Jefferson Davis chosen President.-His per-

sonal history. His character.-Why the public opinion about him was so divided

and contradictory. Measures looking to pacification. Three avenues through

which it was expected.-Early prospects of pacification in Congress.-The Republi-

can "ultimatum."-"The Crittenden compromise."-Measures of compromise and

peace in Congress exclusively proposed by the South, and deliberately defeated by

the North.-The Peace Conference.-Its failure.-Disposition of the Border Slave

States. How mistaken by the North.-The Virginia Convention.-How the Secession

party gained in it. The record of Virginia on the subject of State Rights.-Presi-

dent Buchanan on the Secession question.-His weak character and undecided

viii

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policy. How over-censured by the North.-Gen. Scott's intermeddling.-His im-

practicable advice.-President Buchanan's perfidy in the Moultrie-Sumter affair.—

His interview with the South Carolina delegation.-A second deception.-The "Star

of the West" affair.-The situation at the close of Buchanan's administration.-

The country waiting for the Signal of Combat...

CHAPTER VI.

82

Character of Abraham Lincoln in history.-Absurd panegyric.-The personal and

political life of the new President.-His journey to Washington.-His speech at

Philadelphia. The flight from Harrisburg.-Alarm in Washington.-Military dis-

play in the capital.-Ceremony of inauguration.-Criticism of Lincoln's address.-

What the Republican party thought of it.-Serious pause at Washington.-State-

ment of Horace Greeley.-How the Inaugural Address was received in the Seceded

States. Visit of Confederate Commissioners to Washington.-Seward's pledge to

Judge Campbell.-The Commissioners deceived.-Military and Naval expeditions

from New York.-Consultation of the Cabinet on the Sumter question.-Capt.

Fox's visit to Charleston.-His project.-Objections of Gen. Scott.-Singular article

in a New York journal.-Lincoln's hesitation.-His final device.-Seward's game

with the Commissioners.-The reduction of Fort Sumter.-Description of the Con-

federate works for the reduction of Sumter. -Beauregard demands the surrender

of the Fort.-The bombardment.-The fort on fire.-The Federal fleet takes no

part in the fight.-The surrender.-Great excitement in the North.-Its true

meaning. The crusade against the South.-Dr. Tyng's exhortation.-Conduct of

Northern Democrats.-Dickinson, Everett, and Cochrane.-President Lincoln's

Proclamation.-His pacific protests to the Virginia Commissioners.-Secession of

Virginia. Discontent in the Western counties.-Second secessionary movement of

the Southern States.-Violent acts of the Washington Administration.-Prepara-

tions of the Confederate Government for War.-Rush of volunteers to arms.-Pre-

sident Davis' estimate of the military necessity.-Removal of the seat of govern-

ment to Richmond.—Activity of Virginia.-Robert E. Lee.-His attachment to the

Union. Why he joined the Confederate cause.-His speech in the State House at

Richmond. His organization of the military force of Virginia.-Military council

in Richmond. The early reputation of Lee....

CHAPTER VII.

100

In what sense Virginia seceded from the Union. A

the Confederates.-Influence of Virginia on the other Border States.-Replies of

new interpretation of the war of

these States to Lincoln's requisition for troops.-Secession of Tennessee, Arkansas,

and North Carolina.-Seizure of Federal forts in North Carolina.-Movements in

Virginia to secure the Gosport navy-yard and Harper's Ferry.-Their success.-

Burning of Federal ships.-Attitude of Maryland.-The Baltimore riot.-Chase of

Massachusetts soldiers.-Excitement in Baltimore.-Timid action of the Maryland

Legislature.-Military despotism in Maryland.-Arrests in Baltimore.-A Reign of

Terrour.-Light estimation of the war in the North.-Why the Federal Government

sought to belittle the contest.-Lincoln's view of the war as

Letter to the European Governments.-Early action of England and France with

a riot.-Seward's

respect to the war.-Mr. Gregory's letter to the London Times.-Northern conceit

about the war.-Prophecies of Northern journals.-A "Three months' war."-Ells-

worth and Billy Wilson.-Martial rage in the North.-Imperfect appreciation of the

Crisis in the South.-Early ideas of the war at Montgomery.-Secret history of the

Confederate Constitution.-Southern opinion of Yankee soldiers. What was

thought of "King Cotton."-Absurd theories about European recognition.-Lost

Opportunities of the Confederate Government.-Blindness and littleness of mind

North and South-Reflection on public men in America.—Comparison of the re-

sources of the Northern and Southern States.-The Census of 1860.-Material ad-

vantages of the North in the war.-The question of subsistence.-Poverty of the

South in the material and means of war.-How the Confederacy was supplied with

small arms.-Peculiar advantages of the South in the war.-The military value

of space.-Lessons of history. The success of the Southern Confederacy, a question

only of resolution and endurance.-Only two possible causes of failure.

CHAPTER VIII.

re.... .120

Mr. Lincoln's remark about the wolf.-His designs upon Virginia.-Federal occupation

of Alexandria.-Tragedy at the Marshall House.-Jackson, the martyr.-The affair

of Great Bethel.-Easy victory of the Confederates.-Exaggerations of Southern

newspapers.-Apparent lull of hostilities.-New demonstrations of public opinion

in the North.-Financial difficulties at Washington.-Popular clamour against

President Lincoln and Gen. Scott.-Early indications of the real objects of the war.

-The rights of humanity.-Virginia the great theatre of the war.-The Grand

Army of the North.-Consultation of President Davis and Beauregard and Lee.—

Beauregard's line of defence in Northern Virginia.-Sketch of General Beauregard.

-His person and manners.-His opinion of the Yankee.-The Army of the Potomac

and the Army of the Shenandoah.-Gen. Johnson's evacuation of Harper's Ferry.—

"Stonewall" Jackson's first affair with the enemy.-Johnston amusing the

enemy.-Affair of Rich Mountain.-McClellan's march into Northwestern Virginia

-Rosecrans' capture of the Confederate force on Rich Mountain.-Retreat of the

Confederates from Laurel Hill.-Death of Gen. Garnett.-Extent of the disaster to

the Confederates.-The "Grand Army" advancing on Manassas.-Johnston's move-

ment to Beauregard's line.-The Battle of Manassas.-The affair of 18th July.—-

Longstreet's gallant defence.-Theatre of the great battle.-Beauregard's change

of purpose, and his plan of battle.-The Stone Bridge.-The "Big Forest."-The

Confederates flanked.-The day apparently lost for them.-The scene at the

Henry House.-Timely arrival of Jackson.-Gen. Beauregard disconcerted.-Ride

from the Hill to the Henry House.-The battle restored.-The bloody plateau.—

Three stages in the battle.-The last effort of the enemy.-The strange flag.-

Arrival of Kirby Smith.-The grand and final Charge.-Rout and panic of the

enemy. The fearful race to the Potomac.-Scenes of the retreat.-Failure of the

Confederates to pursue, or to advance upon Washington.-A lost opportunity...134

CHAPTER IX.

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The victory of Manassas, a misfortune for the Confederates.-Relaxation in Rich-

mond.-Plotting among Confederate leaders for the Presidential succession.—

Beauregard's political letter.-Active and elastic spirit of the North.-Resolution

of the Federal Congress.-Energy of the Washington Administration.-Its immense

preparations for the prosecution of the war.-The Missouri campaign. The politics

of Missouri.-Sterling Price and his party.-Imprudence and violence of the Federal

authorities in Missouri.-Correspondence between Gens. Price and Harney.-Gov.

Jackson's proclamation.-Military condition of Missouri.-Her heroic choice.-

Affair at Booneville.-Composition of the patriot army of Missouri.-Engagement

at Carthage.-Confederate reinforcements under McCulloch.-Disagreement be-

tween Price and McCulloch.-Noble conduct of Price.-The Battle of Oak Hill.-

McCulloch surprised.-A fierce fight.-Death of Gen. Lyon.-The Federals de-