INTRODUCTION OF SLAVERY.

25

to amend, change, or alter. Those who made the Constitution had no intention that any State should have the right of secession, and for such a procedure the Constitution itself makes no provision. As to the idea of a partnership that might be dissolved at pleasure, the arguments in favor of secession are untenable. They were, however, satisfactory to many, who determined to break up the fair fabric which their fathers had reared rather than forego the desire for State Rights.

The third head of the cruel monster-Rebellion-was the desire to perpetuate human slavery, and this was the immediate cause of the terrible conflict that ensued, and continued to rage during four long years.

Slavery was first introduced by a Dutch trading ship from the coast of Africa, which brought twenty slaves up the James river in Virginia. Fresh importations of negroes took place subsequently, and the nefarious traffic became

common.

At the end of the Revolution, the framers of the Constitution had to take things as they found them, and the subject of slavery was one of the greatest difficulties which sages and statesmen of those and future times were destined to encounter. Slavery grew and increased, and the most trying complications existed on the settlement of new Territories.

When Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama were respectively formed from portions of Virginia, North Carolina, and Mississippi, and as Territories ceded to the Federal Government, it was with the express stipulation that, both as Territories and when the requisite number of inhabitants should entitle them to admission into the Union as States, slavery should be fully recognized and duly protected.

Several severe contests took place in the Congress of the United States respecting slavery in Missouri, both as a Territory, and when she sought admission as a State. The Missouri Compromise, introduced by Henry Clay in 1829, was intended to restrain slavery within certain limits. Texas, upon her admission into the Union in 1845, by a clause in her constitution, recognized the existence of slavery within her limits. During the war with Mexico, the Wilmot Proviso was intended to prohibit slavery within any territory acquired by the United States from Mexico; and also invol untary servitude except in criminal cases after conviction.

26

SLAVERY IN KANSAS.

Henry Clay's resolutions, known as the Compromise of 1850, effected very little, and a wordy war was kept up on the subject of slavery. In 1852, the National Convention of the Whig and Democratic parties accepted the Compromise of 1850, which excluded slavery from the Territory of Nebraska. The bill of Senator Douglas, in 1854, for organizing the Territory of Nebraska, had a clause declaring the Missouri restriction on slavery void, and this bill became a law. In the discussion, however, it had been modified, and on its final adoption contained this provision, that the Act of 1850 did not intend to legislate slavery into any State, nor yet exclude it, but left the people to manage their domestic institutions in their own way, and that such a policy should remain as a fundamental principle of their Constitution.

Subsequently, Kansas Territory was organized and the law promulgated recognizing the liberty of the people to manage their institutions in their own way. A fierce struggle arose between the free state and pro-slavery parties, on the question of slavery. The most atrocious murders were committed, and a state of anarchy prevailed, in which ruffianism was rampant, elections frustrated, the ballot box interfered with, the judiciary corrupt, and a state of things prevalent such as to make the blood run cold. The Kansas imbroglio involved the North and South, and agitations of an alarming character began to threaten civil war. Topeka Convention adopted a free Constitution for Kansas, and after a desperate contest between the advocates and opponents of slavery in Congress, the bill in favor of admitting Kansas as a free State was passed July 3d, 1856.

The

Though Congress took no part in the contests which individual States, north and south, carried on in their legislative capacity, the intenseness of the hatred grew great, and statesmen of the highest abilities were filled with apprehensions the most gloomy.

The rendition of fugitive slaves became so great an expense as rendered the attempt often worse than useless, while abolitionists, on the other hand, were often treated with the greatest barbarism. The breach between North and South was widened by abolition lecturers and the portions of the Northern press that took a deep interest in the slave question. A feeling of intense hatred was increasing in Congress, and new political combinatio is were forming,

SOUTHERN CONSPIRATORS.

27

which, by adopting an anti-slavery platform, brought the North and South into competition for the prize of governmental power.

The danger seemed passed when Mr. Buchanan was elected President, and but for a few Southern conspirators, bent on destroying the Government which they had been plotting against many years, better and wiser counsels might yet have prevailed. This was not the intention of those who insidiously poisoned the public mind, while excitement during a political canvass masked their hidden attempts. They studied how the very triumph of the Republican party might yet favor their aims, and while the North was all unconscious of their diabolical intents, to destroy one of the noblest fabrics ever erected by mankind.

The imbecility of Buchanan's administration, and his want of appreciation of the important responsibility of his high office, were favorable to the Southern conspirators, while, the Kansas difficulty being adjusted, public feeling at the North settled into a fatal security. Nothing but an independent government would now suffice the conspirators, who left the campaign of 1860 to work out its own results and made preparations for rebellion.

Every thing was favorable. Yancey and Davis matured their plans, and Floyd and Thompson, members of the cabinet, coöperated. Floyd made such disposition of the troops at the forts, and so distributed the forces of the army and navy, as might impede the new President, and arms were sent to the South in large quantities, to have all in readiness. Mr. Lincoln was elected in November, 1860, and reports were circulated that the Republicans designed to free the slaves and raise an insurrection. The nation stood on the summit of a volcano, and Northern fanatics talked and laughed with unbecoming levity. The crisis was at hand; but, when the blow was to be given, the boldest of the conspirators trembled. The people feared, but they were told that there would be no war; that the North would not fight, and that secession would be aided by Northern sympathizers, who were inflamed against the Republican party. The words of the leaders fired the Southern heart. Now was the time for action. If the present passed, so good an opportunity would not again occur. Some wanted to call a convention of the Southern States, but

28

POPULAR PRESENTIMENTS.

others thought that such a delay would make their attempts too late, and tend to strengthen Northern power. An uneasy feeling, therefore, arose in all parts of the country; public confidence, amid the mutterings of discontent, was lost, a state of fevered excitement prevailed, and each day added to the apprehensions which already, like a gloomy pall, overspread the nation. The North could not believe that war was imminent, and made not the slightest preparation. The South was on the alert, and well concerted schemes were on foot to secede and establish an independent nation, in which Cotton would rule and the slave power prevail.

CHAPTER 1.

ELECTION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN-SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA SECEDE ANDERSON AT FORT SUMTER-STAR OF THE WEST-SOUTHERN MEMBERS IN CONGRESS-INAUGURATION OF LINCOLN-HIS CABINET-BOMBARD

MENT AND FALL OF FORT SUMTER-HEROISM OF ANDERSON AND THE GARRISON-CALL FOR SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND TROOPS FOR THREE MONTHS -THE SLAVE STATES REFUSE TO SEND THEIR QUOTAS-PATRIOTIC SPIRIT IN THE NORTH-PROCLAMATION OF JEFFERSON DAVIS-VIRGINIA SECEDES -SURRENDER OF NORFOLK-SURRENDER OF HARPER'S FERRY—THE PEOPLE ROUSED TO WAR.

THE election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States by the vote of seventeen States, or one hundred and eighty electors out of three hundred and three, was made known in South Carolina and Georgia, and provoked great indignation. The Legislature of South Carolina, the day following the general election, adopted resolutions to call a convention of the people to consider the question of secession, call out the militia, and prepare for war. The prominent citizens of Georgia met at Savannah on the 8th of November, and adopted resolutions in favor of secession. Rebellion spread rapidly, and the old colonial flag of Georgia was planted at Savannah. South Carolina adopted the Palmetto flag, and many of the leading officers of the Federal Government resigned their positions. In the latter part of December, 1860, South Carolina declared herself an independent State, and the joyful news met with a salute of a hundred guns at Mobile, while the Pelican flag was planted at New Orleans, and secession banners waved in triumph throughout the South.

Major Anderson, who commanded the forts in Charleston harbor, deeming Fort Moultrie untenable, withdrew his small garrison to Fort Sumter on the night of the 28th of December. This fort was built on an island, and almost impregnable. The act created a profound sensation. It seemed as if actual hostilities were begun, and while John B. Floyd resigned his post as Secretary of War, the South Carolina troops seized the city arsenal, with its large quantity of military stores and arms, and erected strong fortifica. tions around Fort Sumter. While deep gloom pervaded