THE PROVISIONAL CONGRESS. 75 jamin of Louisiana, Attorney-General. legislature and in Congress, and, fully Three of these officials, beside the Presi- prepared for the event, had been one of dent,-Toombs, Mallory and Benjamin, the most active members of the recent had just resigned their seats in the Sen- revolutionary convention of Alabama. ate of the United States. Mr. Walker, a member of an influential family in Alabama, was a lawyer residing at Huntsville in the northern part of the State, and was well known as a democratic politician. Mr. Memminger was also known as an accomplished lawyer, and Mr. Reagan had previously served in Congress. The first attempt at financiering was the creation of a loan of fifteen millions of dollars, a portion of which, in the early ardor of the rebellion, was taken by various capitalists and moneyed institutions in the larger cities; but the enthusiasm was hardly sufficient to call forth so considerable an amount from the pockets of the people, and it was found Among the most important measures to be a much readier way of getting of the Provisional Congress were the along to resort to the old expedient in steps taken to open negotiations abroad such cases, namely, to utter extraordinand the acts passed to raise money and ary quantities of paper promissory notes, provide an army, the appointment of a which in the absence of any thing better Judiciary and of Commissioners to ne--for gold and silver speedily disapgotiate at Washington. The first agents peared-supplied the place of a more or commissioners appointed to proceed to Europe to obtain the recognition of the independence of the Confederate States and make such commercial arrangements as might be practicable, were the Hon. William L. Yancey of Alabama, Judge P. A. Rost of Louisiana, and Col. Dudley A. Mann and T. Butler King of Georgia. Col. Mann was thought to have peculiar fitness for his duties as ambassador, having been employed by the United States Government in several special missions abroad, to the German States, to Hungary, in the troubled times of 1849; and to Switzerland, the year after. He had also been employed as Assistant Secretary of State in President Pierce's Administration. Mr. Yancey was a native of South Carolina. He had for many years his home in Alabama. A cotton planter, lawyer, a State Rights politician, and thorough and persistent advocate of Secession, he had served in the State solid currency. By the army act the President was authorized and directed to assume control of all military operations in every State, having reference to a connection with questions between the said States, or any of them, and powers foreign to them, and to receive from the States the arms and munitions of war which they had taken from the forts and arsenals of the United States. This act relieved South Carolina of the military responsibility of the proceedings hitherto under the supervision of Governor Pickens in Charleston Harbor. Provisions were made for the regular military establishment of the Confederate States, and for a Provisional army, by receiving into the service of the Government such forces then in the service of the separate States as might be tendered or who might volunteer by consent of their State, in such numbers as the President might require, for any time not less than twelve months, unless sooner discharged. before them visions of the star-gemmed In this proceeding, followed by speedy with the artist's flame. You will apprepreparations for the field, more than a ciate the difficulties of their task when month before Sumter and the Proclama- you reflect, that amidst all their efforts tion of President Lincoln, the Confeder- at originality, there have ever danced ate Government took a decided step toward "inaugurating" the war for which, when it broke out, the National Government was so inadequately prepared. In consideration of the border and western States, and as an appeal to their sympathy the free navigation of the Mississippi river was granted by a special act. The choice of a flag as a symbol of the new Confederacy was naturally an early subject of the deliberations of the Convention. The matter excited considerable interest in the Southern community, and numerous plans and designs were presented to the congress, in several of which the familiar American eagle figured, while there was a strong disposition to retain the old colors. The discussion of the topic created no little excitement, and seemed in some danger of awakening old associations not altogether in keeping with the business of the Convention. The ladies took the affair in hand, and forwarded various plans, exhibiting more or less fancy and ingenuity. As a characteristic memorial of the times, we present a letter gallantly introduced to the Convention by Mr. Chilton of Alabama. It was from two young ladies, Rebecca C. Ferguson and Mollie A. D. Sinclair, pupils of a seminary in Alabama, and read: "The Undersigned, pupils in the art department of the Tuskegee Female College, conscious of weakness, but ardently desirous to do something for their country, have employed their pencils to produce various designs for a flag for the Southern Republic. They have found a pleasure in trying to mix the patriot's No. 5. An After due consideration, Mr. Miles of South Carolina submitted an elaborate report of the Committee on the nationa flag which was adopted. An immense. number of designs had been brought before them, some preserving the prin CHOICE OF A FLAG. cipal features of the United States flag with slight modifications; others "very elaborate, complicated or fantastical." The objection to the first was obvious; a flag, too, like the old was like to be confounded with it. As for any attachment to "the stars and stripes," the Committee confessed that they did not all share in the sentiment. There was no propriety, they thought, in retaining the ensign of a government which had become so oppressive and injurious to their interests as to require their separation from it. It is idle, they said, "to talk of 'keeping' the flag of the United States when we had voluntarily seceded from them." Their Their revolutionary forefathers had not retained the flag of Great Britain, though the youthful Washington had won his spurs under it, and it was "good to imitate them in this comparatively little matter, as well as to emulate them in greater and more important ones." Besides Liberia and the Sandwich Islands were found to have flags very similar to that of the United States, a circumstance which afforded special and peculiar reasons for a new choice: 'They felt no inclination to borrow at second hand what had been pilfered and appropriated by a free negro community and a race of savages." Notwithstanding this embarrassment, however, the Committee thought that something might be conceded "to what seemed so strong and earnest a desire to retain at least a suggestion of the old 'stars and stripes.' Accordingly, passing over a great variety of contrivances foreign to the purpose, 77 "A flag," they considered, "should be simple, readily made, and, above all, capable of being made up in bunting; it should be different from the flag of any other country, place or people; it should be significant; it should be readily distinguishable at a distance; the colors should be well contrasted and durable; and, lastly, and not the least important point, it should be effective and handsome. The committee," the report proceeded, "humbly think that the flag which they submit combines these requisitions. It is very easy to make. It is entirely different from any national flag. The three colors of which it is composed-red, white and blue-are the true republican colors. In heraldry they are emblematic of the three great virtues-of valor, purity and truth. Naval men assure us that it can be recognized at a great distance. The colors contrast admirably and are lasting. effect and appearance it must speak for itself. Your Committee therefore recommend that the flag of the Confederate States of America shall consist of a red field, with a white space extending horizontally through the centre, and equal in width to one third the width of the flag; the red space above and below to be of the same width as the white; the union, blue, extending down through the white space and stopping at the lower red space; in the centre of the union a circle of white stars, corresponding in number with the States of the Confederacy." The report was adopted and the new flag of Secessia given to the breeze. In On the 11th of March, a permanent Constitution for the Confederate States was adopted. There were several new provisions engrafted upon the Constitu tion of the United States in addition to and Vice President were to hold office those which we have noticed in the Pro- for six years and the former was not visional instrument on the importation to be eligible for reëlection. Provision of negroes. The principle of State sov- was made for governing new territories ereignty was distinctly recognized in the which might be acquired, in all of which preamble which read-" We, the people slavery was to be recognized and proof the Confederate States, each State tected. No law, it was provided, "deacting in its sovereign and independent nying or impairing the right of property character, in order to form a permanent in negro slaves" should be passed. The Federal Government, establish justice, opportunity for amendment of the Coninsure domestic tranquillity and secure stitution was given at the demand of any the blessings of liberty to ourselves and three States legally assembled in their our posterity-invoking the favor and several conventions. At their request guidance of Almighty God-do ordain Congress was to summon a Convention and establish this Constitution for the of all the States to take the suggested Confederate States of America." In amendment into consideration and if it recollection, perhaps, of the old New was there agreed upon it was, upon ratiEngland Fishery grievance it was pro- fication by the legislatures of two thirds vided that no bounties shall be granted of the several States, or by Conventions from the Treasury, nor were any duties in two-thirds thereof, to become a part to be laid on foreign importations to fos- of the Constitution. ter any branch of industry. The Postoffice Department was required to pay its expenses out of its own revenue. There were several regulations looking to economy and responsibility in the appropriation of money. To give directness to legislation and check a dangerous practice, it was ordained that every law On the 16th of March the Provisional shall relate to but one subject that shall Congress adjourned to meet again in be expressed in the title. The President | Montgomery the second Monday of May. Several of these provisions, particularly that enlarging the Presidential term, that in reference to the greater simplicity of legal enactments, and those of an economical character, on their promulgation, were commented upon with favor at the North. CHAPTER VI. INAUGURATION OF LINCOLN. WHILST these proceedings of the rebel | panying him on his journey, it may not Confederacy were going on at Montgom- be amiss to pause for a moment and ery, Abraham Lincoln, President elect glance at the previous circumstances of of the United States, was travelling from a career which was now to be crowned his home at Springfield, Illinois, toward by the highest honor in the gift of the the National Capital. Before accom- people. The success, it will be found, ABRAHAM LINCOLN was far more due to native intelligence, integrity of character and resolute perseverance, than to what is usually called education or the gifts of fortune. 79 popular designation of "the rail-splitter" in the canvass for the Presidency, the first time, probably, this vehicle of popular vengeance ever rode its victim to Abraham Lincoln was now just closing any honorable political exaltation. Anhis fifty-second year, having first seen the other turn on the Mississippi in the tradlight in Hardin County, Kentucky, in ing flat-boat voyaging followed by emFebruary, 1809. His grandfather was ployment in charge of a mill at New one of the early settlers of the country, Salem, Indiana, brings the young man to and like many worthy men who in those a new stage in his career, as Captain of days made their home in that frontier a volunteer company in the Black Hawk territory, had laid down his life, a vic- war of 1832, where Jefferson Davis and tim to the warfare with the Indians. It other celebrities on both sides of the presis as good a title in the West to the grat- ent struggle were taking their first lesitude of posterity as if he had fallen at sons in military life. He was three Bunker Hill, or Monmouth. The ill-fat- months in the service, which he left at ed frontiersman left a family of three the close of the campaign with a stock sons, the youngest of whom, Thomas, the of popularity which encouraged him to father of the future President, growing try his fortune in politics. He ran for up without education in a life of rugged the Legislature as a Whig candidate; but labor, emigrated to Indiana. He carried the county being democratic he was beathis son, Abraham, with him, then in his en, while the people of his vicinity were eighth year, and the youth well grown for him almost to a man. This, it is said, and strong, was of much assistance in is the only time he was ever defeated in clearing the forest for the farm. The a direct vote of the people. He was next axe was oftener in his hands than the engaged in a country store, which did not spelling-book, his school discipline alto- prove profitable; when he turned his atgether not exceeding a years' instruction tention to the study of the law, borrowand that of the most elementary charac- ing the requisite books from a neighbor in the evening to return them in the morning. Something was thrown in his way at this time by the surveyor of the county, who gave him a snare of his employment, for which Lincoln rapidly qualified himself. In 1834, he was sent to the Illinois Legislature, where his success is proved by the fact of his reëlection for three successive terms. He was admitted to the bar in 1836, and in the following year removed to Springfield, where he formed a legal partnership with Major John F. Stuart. His acuteness and shrewd sense soon made him known in the profession as a master of forensic ar ter. What he learned from books he afterwards acquired by himself; but his education was for a long time in a rough, practical school undecorated by the Muses. At nineteen he laid the foundation for his knowledge of the strategic importance of the Mississippi, by a trip down that river to New Orleans in the capacity of a hired hand upon a flat-boat. At the age of twenty-one, he accompanied his father's family in a new emigration to Illinois, where his axe was again brought into requisition in building a log cabin and splitting rails to fence the new farm-the rails which gave him his |