gument, "African slavery in the South-petual conflict—and chronic starvation ern States be the evil their political keeps down the natural increase of popcombinations affirm it to be, the requisi-ulation-and a man is worked out in tions of an inexorable logic must lead eight years and the law ordains that them to emancipation." On such gra- children shall be worked only ten hours tuitous suppositions, in advance of any a day--and the sabre and bayonet are acts of aggression, while the Government the instruments of order-be it so. It is was subservient to their policy and the their affair, not ours. We prefer, howSupreme Court was pronouncing its decis-ever, our system of industry, by which ions in their favor, it was thought fitting to declare "We but imitate the policy of our fathers in dissolving a Union with nonslaveholding confederates, and seeking a confederation with slaveholding States."

labor and capital are identified in interest, and capital, therefore, protects labor, by which our population doubles every twenty years; by which starvation is unknown and abundance crowns the land by which order is preserved by an unpaid police and the most fertile regions of the world, where the Caucasian cannot labor, are brought into usefulness by the labor of the African, and the whole world is blessed by our own productions. All we demand of other people is to be let alone to work out our own high destinies. United together, and we must be the most independent as we are the most important amongst the nations of the world. United together, and we require no other instrument to conquer peace than our beneficent productions. United together, and we must be a great, free, and prosperous people, whose renown must spread throughout the civilized world, and pass down, we trust, to the remotest ages." With a renewal of the appeal thus flippantly and confidently sent forth the address ended :—" We ask you to join us in framing a confed

That there might be no doubt of the principles upon which the secession was organized, the demand for sympathy was enforced with the appeal "to be one of a great slaveholding confederacy stretching its arms over a territory larger than any power in Europe possesses." Nor was this urged as a simple concession to a state of things already existing,-something to be accepted of necessity; but that state was put forward as a ground of glory and rejoicing. Comparing the enforced servitude of the South with the free labor of other countries, preference was given to the former. As a clear indication of an important element in the future struggle, which subsequently engaged the attention of President Lincoln in one of his Messages, we give the very words of the passage in the South Carolina Address :-"We rejoice that other nations should be satisfied with their in-eracy of slaveholding States." The South, stitutions. Self-complacency is a great element of happiness with nations as with individuals. We are satisfied with If they prefer a system of industry in which capital and labor are in per

ours.

subduing all interests to one devouring passion, were acting under the impulse of the "inexorable logic" which they fancied was driving cn to "the inevitable conflict" the people of the North.

CHAPTER III.

PRELIMINARIES TO SUMTER.

SOUTH CAROLINA thus placed herself at | ally in the safe kec ping and at the mercy the head and front of the rebellion. of the South Carolinians.

An agree

ment had been made, under pretence of giving time for adjustment and reconciliation of difficulties, by which the forts were not to be attacked or molested by the one party, nor reinforced by the

Many months afterward, her Governor Pickens in one of his messages proudly asserted the fact. "From the 20th of December last," said he, " until the 9th of February, this State acted alone. She was entirely separate and independent."* other. The effect of this was, that a That interval between the declaration of independence by South Carolina, and the organization of the rebel Confederacy at Montgomery, was by no means lost to the cause of revolt. It was filled with a series of uniform, resolute acts of aggression, and preparation for an impending conflict.

The Convention of South Carolina assumed for the State the powers of the General Government, taking under its control the management of the custom house and collection of the revenue, the judicial authority of the United States, made treason to the new rule punishable with death, regulated the appointment and reception of foreign ambassadors, and in general began to provide for all the acts of independent sovereignty. The military property of the General Government at Charleston, the forts in the harbor and the arsenal were already, by an arrangement or understanding between the Congressional Representatives of the State and the Secretary of War at Washington, and the President, virtu

* Message to the Senate and House of Representatives

handful of United States soldiers, two partly-filled companies of artillerymen, under the command of Major Robert Anderson of Kentucky, an officer who had served with distinction in the Mexi can war, at Vera Cruz, at El Molina del Rey, at Chapultepec, kept feeble guard of Fort Moultrie, while an ever-increasing force of rebels, as the conspiracy gained strength, threatened them on all sides. It was a policy which was far from being understood or appreciated at the North. Constantly was it asked by the people, in view of the impending danger, Why are not the forts fully occupied? Why is not a sufficient naval guard in the harbor? When the subject was discussed in the Cabinet on the 13th of December, and decided against the reinforcement of Fort Moultrie, General Cass, unable longer to endure the postponement of patriotic duty, resigned his office of Secretary of State.

Meanwhile the work of disorganization was proceeding in the cotton States with rapidity. The familiarity of the people with the machinery of conventions, and

of South Carolina. Charleston Courier, November 6, 1861. all the subsidiary forms of political ac

tion, assisted them greatly in the enter- the rebels. It was not to be expected, prise. At short notice they were every- however, that they could long remain in where ready to meet and resolve, assume that position. The South Carolina Conto themselves all the prerogatives of leg-vention, shortly after its assembling, had islation, pronounce their decrees, and sent commissioners to Washington to extemporise a new form of government. treat for their delivery or surrender,Accustomed to their separate State jur- an unparalleled act of effrontery in face isdiction, there was little to shock the of the obligations of the State to the habitual feelings of the people, in setting Union, and the express declaration of the up a parliamentary authority arrogating President in his Message, that he would to itself the powers belonging only to the discharge the duty imposed upon him by United States. The very simplicity and his oath of office in the protection of the perfection of the government was thus public property. turned to its destruction. At the instiga- The exact terms of this extraordition of the Governors and State legisla-nary commission of the sovereign State, tures, conventions were called to take are worthy of remembrance as a curioswhat action they thought necessary. Elections were held and delegates appointed. Their deliberations in all cases ended in the resolve of separation. Before the close of January five States, in addition to South Carolina, had thus formally seceded from the Union in the following order: Mississippi on the 9th of January, Florida and Alabama on the 11th, Georgia on the 19th, Louisiana on the 26th. On the 1st of February, Texas was added to the number. The laws and ordinances binding these several States to the General Government were repealed; the obligations of the people to observe the same were withdrawn; the State was pronounced henceforth free, sovereign, and independent.

ity in diplomacy. They authorized and empowered the embassadors, "to treat with the government of the United States for the delivery of the forts, magazines light-houses, and other real estate with their appurtenances, in the limits of South Carolina; and also for an apportionment of the public debt, and for a division of all other property held by the Government of the United States, as agent of the Confederated States, of which South Carolina was recently a member, and generally to negotiate as to all other measures and arrangements proper to be made and adopted in the existing relation of the parties, and for the continuance of peace and amity between this Commonwealth and the As a sequence of these pronunciamen- Government at Washington." The tos, the public property of the United Commissioners to carry this decree into States was taken possession of. Forts effect, Messrs. R. W. Barnwell, J. H. and arsenals, with their supplies of am- Adams, and James L. Orr arrived in munition, were seized in all quarters. By Washington on the 26th of December. concert with Floyd of Virginia, the Sec- On the night of that very day, before retary of War at Washington, and they had opportunity to open communicathrough the inaction of the President, tion with the President, an act took place the forts in Charleston harbor, as we at Charleston which materially affected have stated, were left at the command of the conditions of their embassy.

FROM MOULTRIE TO SUMTER.

39

from so many sources that we cannot doubt it-that the Charlestonians are erecting two batteries, one just opposite us, at a little village--Mount Pleasantand another on this end of the island and they dare the commander to interfere while they are getting ready to fight

Major Anderson, at Fort Moultrie, restive under the threats of the people of Charleston, in his comparatively defenceless position, which he had in vain endeavored to make tenable, and which he felt assured, from the menacing preparations for assault around him, could not probably be held for more than forty-sixty men. In this weak little fort, I

eight or sixty hours longer, resolved to remove his command to the more secure protection of Fort Sumter, in the harbor. Accordingly, under cover of the night, having spiked his larger guns and burnt the carriages, by the aid of the boats of the garrison, he transported his little force, with the exception of a nominal guard left behind, to the new position. He also carried with him the stores of provision and ammunition.

suppose President Buchanan and Secretary Floyd intend the Southern Confederation to be cemented with the blood of this brave little garrison. Their names shall be handed down to the end of time. When the last man is shot down, I presume they will think of sending troops. The soldiers here deserve great credit, though they know not but that an unequal number is coming to massacre them, yet they are in good spirits, and will fight desperately. Our commander says he never saw such a brave little band. I feel desperately myself. Our only hope is in God."

A letter written from Fort Moultrie a fortnight before, by the wife of one of the officers of the garrison, which was published in the Northern papers, with no little effect upon public opinion at the Such was the character of the neglecttime, will exhibit the perils to which the ed handful of men at Fort Moultrie and post was exposed, the spirit of its de- their gallant officer, who, with a full confenders, and a woman's just appreciation sciousness of their imperiled position, of the shortcomings of the government. stealthily removed themselves to Fort “I feel too indignant," was its language, Sumter, in the hope that the government -"I can hardly stand the way in which yet would be roused to aid them. The this weak little garrison is treated by the spirit in which this was done, the sober head of the government. Troops and sense of duty, the religious conscientiousproper accommodation are positively re-ness which bound the commanding offifused, and yet the commander has orders cer, Major Anderson, to his country, may to hold and defend the fort. Was ever be gathered from many incidental exsuch a sacrifice—an intentional one-pressions in his correspondence in known? The Secretary has sent several which, at the same time, he showed himofficers, at different times, to inspect here, self sensibly touched by all proper conas if that helped. It is a mere sham to siderations of friendship and humanity make believe he will do something. In--but especially from a solemn act of the mean time, a crisis is very near. I am to go to Charleston the first of the week. I will not go further if I can help it. Within a few days, we hear and

devotion at the raising of the flag in Fort Sumter. It was the national standard which he had brought with him from Moultrie. At noon, on the day fol-*