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PREFACE.

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Time has borne us so far from the men and events of the period which ushered in the fratricidal war of 1861-'5 that it is well for a new generation to be taught the truth of Southern History. It is not amiss to review the causes which produced the late war, and by examining the more humble and minute incidents of local discussion and action, to arrive at a correct conclusion as to the motives of those who engaged in the formation of the Southern Confederacy.

It will be seen from the following imperfect sketch that a majority of the people of the South were opposed to secession in 1850, and even in 1860; that the Unionists of the South were driven from their position after a protracted struggle, not so much by the advocates of disunion at the South as by the advocates of disunion at the North; and that the great mass of Southern people were led into acceptance of the Ordinance of Secession under the belief that the remedy they thus sought against grievances, would be acquiesced in by the people of the Northern States and by the Federal Government.

The author will not have had his labor in vain, if he succeeds in saving from the wreck of time, and in preserving in the more durable form of a book, many facts which throw light upon our local history, and which, after a few years, might otherwise be lost to memory. And if the facts here presented should aid in convincing the people of this Republic that the South-Western States were driven by Northern enemies, rather than by Southern leaders, into the act of secession, the author will rest satisfied that he has contributed one important aid towards an obliteration of sectional misunderstanding, and towards a return of that fraternal feeling which should exist between peoples bound together by common language, laws, kindred, and commerce.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.-The City of Montgomery, Alabama-The Birthplace of

the Confederacy-Extent and Situation of the Original Confederacy-

Her Resources and Population-Independent Spirit of the Slave-

Owner-Testimony of Edmund Burke-The Non-Slave-Owners--

Traditions Inherited from Patrick Henry-Jealousy of States-Rights-

The Immigration from Virginia-Displacement of the Muscogees-

Growth in Population and Wealth-The Study of Oratory-Political

Customs, Social Habits-General Quitman's Description of a South-

ern Home-Etc., Etc.,

CH APTER II.-Discovery and Settlement of the Southwest-Her-

nando DeSoto-Marquette, Joliet, and DeSalle-Iberville, Bienville,

and Sauvolle-The French in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana-

The English Successors in Alabama and Mississippi-The Spaniards

in the Gulf States-Oglethorpe and his Settlement of Georgia—Condi-

tion of the Gulf Country at the Outbreak of the Revolution-Strength

and Position of the Indian Tribes-Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER III-Growth of the Idea of Secession-Jealousy of the

Commercial Against the Agricultural States-Navigation of the Mis-

sissippi-The Whiskey Rebellion-The Jay Treaty-Views of Distin-

guished men-Frequent Threats and Hopes of Disunion-The Louisi-

ana Purchase-The East Fears the South and West-The Hartford

Convention-The Resolutions of '98-Randolph's Reply to Patrick

Henry-Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER IV.-Jurisdiction of the United States Over Indian Tribes

-The Fee Simple of Lands Occupied by the Tribes-The Yazoo

Frauds-The Decision in the Case of Fletcher vs. Peck-Indignation of

the People of Georgia-Constitutional Questions Growing Out of that
Decision-Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER V.-Relation of the Union to the Indian Tribes-Relation

of the State to the Tribes Within its Limits-The Georgia Act of

Cession-Non-Observance of the Contract on the Part of the United

States-The Treaty-Making and Commerce-Regulating Power-Con-

flicting Views as to Indian Rights-Practice of the Northern and

Eastern States-The New Theory of Equality of Races-Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER VI.-The Treaty of Indian Springs-Murder of McIntosh-

General Gaines and Governor Troup-Threatened Collision of State

and Federal Forces-The State Sustains Her Position-The Cherokee

Nation-An Appeal to the Supreme Court-Its Writ of Error Disre-

garded-The Question of Coercion-Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER VII.-South Carolina and the Tariff-Continued Contest

Between the Agricultural and Commercial States-Calhoun and Nul-

lification-The Force Bill and the Right of Coercion-Inconsistency

of President Jackson-Calhoun's Victory-Webster Retires from the

Battle-Real Causes for the Proclamation-Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER VIII.-Controversy Between Alabama and the United

States-Intrusion on the Creek Lands-Killing of Owens-Message of

Governor Gayle-Threats of Resistance to the Military-Resolutions

of a Legislative Committee-Mission of Key to the State-Adjustment

of the Difficulty-The Federal Government Compromises the Ques-
tion-Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER IX.-The Federal Party Reorganize upon the Slavery

Question-Continued War upon the Agricultural States-Opinions of *

the Southern People as to Slavery-The Missouri Compromise-The

Slade Agitation-The Abolitionist, George Thompson-Views of

England-Opinions of Jackson, Marcy, Clay, Everett and others-

Drawing of the Geographical Line-Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER X.-Position of the South During the Van Buren and Har-

rison Administration-Relation and Tenets of Parties from 1840 to

1850-More Territory for the South-New Threats of Division at the

North-The Mexican War-Quitman and the Palmettoes-Offer of the

Mexican Crown to General Scott-Condition of a Mongrel Popula-

tion-Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER XI.-Wm. L. Yancey and the Montgomery District-The

Alabama Democratic Resolutions of 1848-General Cass and the

States-Rights Party-The Nashville Convention and Defeat of Seces-

sionists-The Compromise Measures of Clay-Triumph of the Union

Party all Over the South-Defeat of Governors Seabrook and Quit-

man-The Georgia Resolutions-Union Leaders and Sentiment in

Alabama-Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER XII.-The Montgomery District-Contest of States-Rights

and Union Men over Yancey-The Georgia Platform-Yancey Retires

and Cochran Takes His Place-Report of the Southern Rights Associ-

ation-Defeat of the Yancey Party-Scheme to Acquire Cuba-Lopez

and Quitman-Federal Arrest of a Governor-Reorganization of Par-

ties-The Southern Whigs-The Whig Convention at Baltimore-

Reply of Scott and Pierce to the States-Rights Associations-Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER XIII.—The Kansas-Nebraska Bill-Preparing for Battle

over the Outpost-Sharpe Rifles-Emigrant Societies-Rise of the

American Party-Fillmore and Buchanan in the Southwest-Political

Elements of the Elections of 1856--Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER XIV.-The Dred Scott Decision-Condition of Parties in

1858-The Irrepressible Conflict-The John Brown Raid-Leagues of

United Southerners-The Southern Commercial Convention-Debate

Between Yancey and Pryor-Precipitating the Cotton States into

Revolution--Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER XV.-Instructions to Alabama Delegates-Action of the

Alabama Legislature-Views of Forsyth, White and others-Meeting

of the Charleston Convention-Yancey's Great Address-Withdrawal

of Southern Delegates-Position of Political Parties-Yancey at Balti-

more-He is offered the Vice-Presidency-Nomination of Breckin-

ridge-Etc., Etc.

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