HISTORICAL SUMMARY.

with the supplies of food on hand. He has a pass-nary for a settlement. He is not received by the
port from Governor Pickens. A long Cabinet meet- President in any official capacity, but is requested
ing followed.
to state to the War Department, in writing, his pro-
positions.

-A dispatch from Washington says:-" Des -The Majority Reports of the Committees of patches from high sources in Charleston show that Thirty-three and Thirteen are published.

fecting the defences of Fort Pickens from the land and Pensacola side is being pushed forward with great vigor by Lieut. Slemmer who, it would appear, is determined to hold out to the last.

Feb. 9.-A Provisional Constitution is adopted by the Southern Congress at Montgomery, as a basis for a Provisional Government. The United States Constitution is used, with slight variation. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, elected President, and Alex

Jan. 23.—The Georgia delegation withdraws from ander' H. Stephens, of Georgia, Vice-President of Congress.

the "Confederate States of North America."

-Hon. Emerson Etheridge, of Tennessee, makes a Feb. 11.-Mr. Lincoln, President-elect, starts for speech in the United States House of Representatives, declaring secession to be rebellion, which the Washington, via Indianapolis, Cincinnatti, Columbus, government must suppress. Pittsburg, Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany, New York City, Trenton, Philadelphia, Harrisburg and BaltiJan. 24.-The Arsenal at Augusta, Georgia, seized more. He was the guest of all these cities, by action by the State authorities. of the authorities and State Legislatures. His jour

Jan. 25.-The Rhode Island State Legislature re-ney was by special trains, and was one grand ovation peals its Personal Liberty law. at all stopping points.

-The Louisiana State Convention passes an ordinance of secession. Yeas, 113; nays, 17.

Jan. 26.-Alabama State Convention adjourned to March 4th.

Feb. 12.-Reports from Tennessee indicate that the State has voted, by over 20,000 majority, against a State Convention.

Feb. 16.-A dispatch from Washington says but little hope is entertained of any beneficial result from the Peace Convention. The Northern Comsub-missioners are persistent in their refusal to agree to

Jan. 28.-Texas State Convention meets at Austin. Jan. 30.-The Legislature of North Carolina mits the question of holding a Convention to a vote of the people, February 28th.

-Ex Secretary Floyd indicted by the Grand Jury of Washington on two counts; 1st, for malfeasance; 2d, for conspiracy with Bailey and Russell, to defraud the government.

-The two Revenue Cutters, Cass and McClelland betrayed by their commanders-the last named by Capt. Breshwood into the hands of the Louisiana State authorities, the first by Capt. J. J. Morrison,

into the hands of the Alabama authorities. Secretary Dix's Special agent had authority to shoot down the first man who attempted to haul down the American flag, but he did not succeed in gaining possession of either vessel.

Feb. 1.-The United States Mint and Custom house in New Orleans seized by the State authorities.

-Texas Convention passes Ordinance of Secession-yeas 166, nays 7.

Feb. 4.--The Virginia Conference, or, as it is called, the" Peace Convention," assembles in Washington. It is composed of five delegates from each State, appointed by the Governors, to consider some plan of adjustment. Most of the Northern, and all of the Border States, are represented.

-The Congress, or Conference, of Southern seceded States, meets at Montgomery.

1

the Southern demands.

Feb. 19.-Mr. Lincoln receives a magnificent reception in New York city. Two hundred thousand people turn out to swell the throng on the streets. He held a Levee at the City Hall February 20th.

Feb. 22. Mr. Lincoln leaves Harrisburg ab ruptly and secretly, by night, for Washington-hav ing evidences of a plot in Baltimore to create a riot upon his appearance on the 23d, as set down in the published programme of his progress. Arrives at the Capitol early on the morning of the 23d.

Feb. 25. It is ascertained that Brigadier-Gen. Twiggs, commanding in the Department of Texas, has betrayed his command and turned over all the posts, United States property in arms, munitions, horses, and equipments, &c., to the Texan State authorities.

Feb. 26.-March 3.-Extensive preparations for the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln. The Military, under Feb. 5.-Ex-President Tyler, of Virginia, elected command of Generals Scott and Wool, is to be dis President of the Peace Convention.

Feb. 8.-Colonel Hayne departs for Charleston, unable to obtain any recognition from the Federal Government.

tributed throughout the city. Mr. Buchanan lends his influerfce to a happy and peaceful introduction of his successor to office.

DIVISION II.

CHAPTER I.

SECRET REVOLUTIONARY

The Minute Men.

SOCIETIES IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.
THE CHURCHES.

POSITION OF

ORGANIZATIONs known as (6 Minute Men," "Defense Committees," "Brotherhood" and "Vigilance" and "Southern Rights" Assoriations, &c., &c., are occasionally referred to in the news of the day; but the public generally is not aware of the extent of these organizations, nor of the very important part they have played in carrying out the scheme of secession. Their active formation commenced immediately after the Presidential election, though they had existed for some time previous. That of the "Minute Men," in particular, was instrumental in disseminating extreme views for many months prior to the election. This body was, avowedly, organized for home protection against insurrections, but, in reality, had for its object the arrest and punishment of white “emissaries" who might be regarded as "suspicious characters," which meant, of any person obnoxious to any Southern man. Without ceremony or law, the "Men" proceeded to their work, and the occasional accounts, which would find their way to the press, of outrages and lynch law perpetrated on white persons of Northern birth, proved that they were the self-constituted guardians of Southern society whose bare suspicions it was dangerous to incur. Something of their self-arrogated powers and duties may be inferred from the rules given on pages 47-48, regulating the operations of a "Vigilance Association," from which we may repeat:

"The patrol have power to arrest all suspicious white persons, and bring them before the Executive Committee for trial."

"The Association is pledged to put down all negro preachings, prayer-meetings, and all congregations of negroes that may be considered unlawful by the patrol.”

That the officers "have full power to decide all cases that may be brought before them, and their decisions shall be final and conclusive.”

"That the patrol companies have the power to correct and punish all slaves, free negroes, mulattoes and mestizoes as they may deem proper."

It will scarcely be credited by foreigners that such an organization could exist in any other than a disorganized state of society, where courts were powerless, and where violence was the rule; but, that they did exist throughout all the Gulf States and South Carolina during the fall and winter of 18601861, is attested by the almost innumerable and authenticated accounts of atrocities and outrages perpetrated on Northern men and women, as well as on free negroes. If the story ever is told, of the numbers hung, tarred and feathered, whipped, driven off, it will excite a feeling of incredulity.

Men hanging from
Trees.

When Mr. Iverson stated in the Senate "that a Senator from Texas had told him that a great many of these free debaters were hanging from the trees of that country," he simply stated a well-accredited fact; and, that the speaker was not candid enough to confess, from his own personal knowledge, that, in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, the same sight might be witnessed, proves I him to have been capable of a feeling of shame.

An Authenticated

Case.

In fact, these half secret organizations were one of the most powerful instruments of forcing action and subduing opposition; and, when the whole truth becomes recorded, we think it will be found that the "Minute Men" and "Vigilance Associations" were the left arm of the entire movement-doing what the right arm (the leaders) were unable to effect. Violence toward suspected persons was only one of their prescribed functions. To control elections-to pack conventions-- to order and direct public meetings-to dictate resolutions and project schemes of action, eventually became their primary objects. "Precipitation" owed everything to them. Secession found in them its most certain coadjutor.

We have personal know- | was certain one hundred men had been hung ledge of a well-to-do small in his section of the State, and in Georgia planter in the vicinity of adjoining, during six weeks prior to his es Eufaula, Alabama, who, after actually having cape in December. The story of that hun had to assist in the hanging of six men-five dred men never will be chronicled. This sinmechanics and one preacher, all of Northern gle incident will illustrate one phase of the birth-was compelled to flee from the ven- rebellion which has received only slight atgeance of the very committee on which he tention, but which, nevertheless, has an imserved, and escaped to the North, leaving all portant relation to it; for the "committees " his possessions behind. him. He was a Con- that committed these atrocities ere long benecticut man, but had resided in the South came the inquisition, whose fearful power all for some years; and, having acquired real Union men were made to feel. As a conseestate, became the owner of several slaves. quence, Unionists were soon awed not only When the excitement ran high, during Oc-into silence, but into co-operation as a matter tober, he was "spotted," and joined the of personal safety. Minute Men to avert suspicion and escape outrage. But, the Post-office being carefully watched, and all correspondence to any "suspected" person being read by the Postmaster or a Committee appointed for the service, he was "holed." A letter from a female relative in Connecticut, reminding him of his promise to free his negroes, abjure the curse of slavery and come home at once, in the Committee's eyes convicted him, and only by the aid of a faithful negro woman did he escape. She flew from a neighboring plantation, through the woods, at night, to tell him that arrangements were making before his friend's residence for his execution, and that the Minute Men would be upon him at midnight. To be assured of the entire truth of the story, he returned with the woman to find the rope pendent from a sycamore bough before his friend's porch. On the porch he recognized several of his old confederates, taking refreshments prior to their night's work. Watching his opportunity, he had the nerve to steal up to the tree and to cut the noose from the rope; then passing to the road fence where the horses of the "Committee" were secured, he appropriated the finest one and struck out for the Georgia line. At Macon he sold the horse for money enough to bear him to Connecticut, and, passing through New York, committed his story to us, exhibiting the noose as the only trophy of his Southern services.

Having had previous relations with him, we knew of his perfect integrity, and, assured of the "representative" nature of his experience, have repeated it. He stated that he

But another organization had an existence in the Southern States, which had an important influence upon public sentiment, particularly in Louisiana, Kentucky, and Virginia. We The K. G. C's. refer to the secret society, the "Knights of the Golden Circle." This order came into existence in 1858, following upon and growing out of the "Order of the Lone Star"--a secret society having for its object the seizure and annexation of Cuba and Nicaragua-thus to spread the area of Slave Territory, and to perpetuate Southern predominance in the National Congress. The descent of Lopez on Cuba was the first step of the settled programme. That having failed, the descent of Walker on Nicaragua was the next step. Its failure, and the death of General Quitman, the recognized leader of the filibusters-though Mr. Soule, Mr. Pierce's

TURBULENCE IN THE SOUTH.

minister to Spain, was understood to be the
acting president of the Order-brought the
organization into a weak condition. Out of
it sprung the "Knights of the Golden Circle,"
whose leader was a ci-devant minister, pro-
fessor, editor, politician, named Geo. W. L.
Bickley—a "smart" but unprincipled person,
well fitted by temperament and ambition for
the direction of perfidious projects.

135

through George Bickley, to the other degrees.
He swears in this degree to obtain all the
neophytes he can to support his colleagues,
the Knights of the Columbian Star, in all
efforts for office, to conquer Mexico and
"Southernize" its institutions, to drive all
free Negroes into Mexico, there to be en-
slaved, and to reduce the peon population of
Mexico to Slavery, dividing them as chattels
among members of the Order, and to recog-
nize for the present monarchical institutions,
as tending to strong government. Moreover,
after the conquest of Mexico, he is to contend
for the exclusion of every Roman Catholic
from office and from the priesthood, and to
support a system of passports, enforced by the
He again swears to a
penalty of death.
scheme of government which, from its utter
want of resemblance to any American idea we
give entire:-

The design of conquering Mexico, and there to create a powerful Slave empire which should eventually absor Nicaragua, was the ostensible features of the organization; but, beneath that were other designs as rank with treason and wickedness as the brain of its audacious and unprincipled leader could conceive. A revelation made by a member of the Order, through the columns of the Louisville Journal, placed the public in possession of as much of the secrets of the organization as members of the lower degree were allowed to know. The substance of that statement, the truth of which is now verified by the acts of the order in Kentucky, was as follows: Every applicant for admission is first sworn to secrecy, under the penalty of death, and then the design of the Order is revealed. If he assents to its propriety, and is an American born and a slaveowner, or can proluce proof that he is imbued with Southern sentiments, and is a Protestant, hewal do all i can to send in recruits for the army,

The Secrets of the
Order.

is admitted as a soldier of the Order, and informed of its signs, passwords and organization. On the recommendation of the chiefs of the Order he is admitted to the second degree; informed that the stores and ammunition for the army are collected at Monterey, and acquainted with the names of the officers to whom he is to look for pay. He is also supposed to be on active service, and the President is at liberty to summons all Kentuckian members to attend a rendezvous, where they will be drilled and organized by regular instructors, and whence they were then expected to control the Kentucky elections in favor of Southern men. If influential enough, he is next admitted to the third degree, the council of the Order, which, under the presidency of Mr. George Bickley, the future monarch, regulates the affairs of the Order without communication, except

"13th. The successor to George Bickley must be over thirty years of age, of Southern birth, liberally educated, Knight of the Columbian Star, sound of

body and mind, and married, and Protestant. He shall swear to carry out this policy, and to extend Slavery over the whole of Central America, if in his power. He shall try to acquire Cuba and control the Gulf of Mexico. No one else will I sustain. But for such a one, who must be proposed by the Cabinet ministers and elected by all Knights of the Star, or a majority of them, I will sustain here, there, or elsewhere. When the Knights cross the Rio Grande

and if I should ever cease to be an active worker for the Star, I will keep secret what I know of the real

character of the organization, and I promise never to confer this degree in any other way than in the way I have here received it, and I will forward to George Bickley, or to the Governor-General of this State, the name and fees of every candidate whom I shall initiate as Governor. In witness, I do voluntarily, here and in these presence, sign my name and address."