CONTENTS. IMINARY CHAPTER.-History of former Conspiracies..... CORICAL SUMMARY OF EVENTS, from November 6th, 1860, to December 27th, 1860...... DIVISION I. PAGE. APTER I. The True Cause of the Rebellion 25 CHAPTER XIII.-Continued, II. The Objects of Secession........ 29 ... 49 133 137 II. Examination of the Charges Pre- ers against the North, the Dom- inant Party and the President- III. The South Carolina Commission- respondence with the President on their Return to Charleston 143 IV. The Proceedings of Congress Speeches of Senators Benjamin, V. Attitude of the Northern and Bor- First Bugle Notes of Alarm... 161 VI. Progress of the Revolution in of the Convention........... 166 VII. Affairs in Washington early in Their Cost, etc. The Morale of VIII. Proceedings in Congress Con- derson and Sustaining the Presi- IX. Progress of tbe Revolution. Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Conventions. Seizures of Forts, Arsenals, Revenue-Cutters, Cus- XIII. Secretary of the Interior Resigns. XIV. Our Foreign Relations during XV. Proceedings of Congress. Sev- Others. The Ohio State Reso- ferson Davis, Yulee, Clay, etc. son, Rust, Gilmer, and Others. 257 XX. Proceedings of Congress contin- Farewell, Virginia's Position. logg's Resolutions, etc., etc... 295 XXI. February 1st. Northern and Relative Position of the Repub- XXXIII. Proceedings of Congress Contin- unteer Bill. Exciting Debates. The Seven Steam Sloops of War. Offensive Attitude of the Vir- ness of the Republicans. Mails States. Singular Opposition. XXXIV. Report of the Special Committee on the Navy. List of the United States Naval Force, and its Dis- Adoption of Buchanan's Message XL. State of Feeling in Eur INTRODUCTION. THE unexampled prosperity of the United States of America has been pronounced one of the wonders of modern civilization. As the "Great Republic," it has stood apart and above all other Governments of Christendom. The vastness of its territory, the freedom of its laws, the extent of its intelligence, and the spirit of progress which animated its people, all have contributed to arrest a world's attention--to command a world's respect. Guaranteeing to every citizen liberty of conscience and speech-to every press the utmost freedom of expression--to every individual perfect protection of property and immunity from oppression of person or possessions-the Constitution of the United States had so grown in the esteem of Christian men, of all lands, as to be regarded in the light of a Gospel of Government. Animated by its spirit, guided by its system, secure under its allpervading powers, the country had so perfected in material greatness as to astonish economists, and to challenge the admiration even of Monarchs. Here. Liberty had its perfect embodiment. Here Humanity stood forth in its dignity and truth. Here Intelligence became the birthright of each and all. Here Peace reigned supreme; while, over boundless leagues of hills, vallies, plains, rivers, and lakes, the jubilate of a happy people went up ́ ceaselessly. To be an American was an honor above titles of nobility or stars of an Emperor's approbation. Circumstances, potent enough to change all this to dissever the bonds of union among the States-to repudiate a Constitution which embodied so much wisdom, and liberty, and happiness—to arrest the progress and paralyze the energy of the country-to banish peace, and sound the alarums of war throughout the land-to marshal twice five hundred thousand Americans on the field in fratricidal strife, might well excite astonishment in the dullest brain, and alarm the friends of liberal ideas throughout the world. Never, since the revolt of Lucifer, has there been a more causeless rebellion against a justly-constituted and beneficent Government. Never has civilization known a more reckless abuse of its prerogatives to demoralize and cripple its own development. In the height of its prosperity, the "Great Democratic Experiment" is arrested by a mere faction of unscrupulous men, through whose efforts, aided by the weakness of a Chief Magistrate, the country is humiliated in its pride, abased in its glory, and made to feel a weight of woe which it will take generations to forget. The circumstances of this gigantic conspiracy it will not take generations to fathom. Great revolutions, like those recorded of Europe during the fifteenth, and sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries, had their origin in causes so remote, and their results were so ramified to society and Governments, that, even to this day, their story is not wholly told. But, in the American Pro-Slavery Rebellion, there are no long trains of circumstances, no widely diffused and deeply-seated causes of discontent, growing and developing through a series of years, until the final open resort to arms. Were it thus, its History could not now be written. It sprung up almost in a day, against the wishes, the demands, the hopes, of those |