The Great Rebellion

THE KANSAS-NEBRASKA BILL.-Douglas's Remarks in New York.-A
Repetition of historical Truths.-Mr. Botts on Slavery.-He declares
himself no Slavery Propagandist.-He refuses to force Slavery upon
the People any where.-He would not establish it in the Territories,
147-153.

THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE AGAIN.-Its Repeal the Origin of the Repub-

lican Party.-Mr. Botts's Letter to the National Intelligencer.-The Con-

sequences of the Repeal predicted.-Mr. Botts's Opposition excites the

Anger of the Democracy.-Governor Wise "pitches in" to him.-Wise

handled without Gloves by Mr. Botts.-Very interesting Extracts.-

Wise's Plagiarism, 154-162.

THE PRESIDENTIAL QUESTIONS OF 1856.-Pierce and Douglas thrown
aside for Buchanan.-Fremont nearly successful.-The Party Cry of
"the Election of a Democrat necessary to save the Union" a good one.
-The Richmond Examiner again.-Preston Brooks makes a few Re-
marks. Governor Wise proposes to take Washington. Mr. Botts
again warns the People.-The last expiring Effort of Democracy,
162-166.

THE ATTEMPT TO MAKE KANSAS A SLAVE STATE.-It is a Part of the

Democratic Programme to exasperate the North.-The Agitators of

both Sections arraigned.—The Southern Democracy the guilty Parties.

-The Iniquity of the Attempt, 166–170.

MR. BOTTS'S SPEECH IN NEW YORK IN 1859.-The Lecompton Swindle.

-The Proceedings of the Kansas Convention.-The Outrages attempt-

ed by the Southern Democracy.-Extract from the Richmond Whig on

the Subject, Page 170-177.

THE JOHN BROWN RAID.-A Godsend for the Democracy.-The Excite-

ment in Richmond.-Wise in his Glory.-The Cost of this "playing

Soldier' to Virginia. —Preparations made for the Rebellion, 177-179.

THE NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT IN 1860.-The Democratic "Pow-

wow" at Charleston.-Breckinridge in command of the Secession De-

mocracy.-Douglas at the Head of the "Moderate Democrats.”—Bell

captains the Unionists. Lincoln musters the Republican Army of

"Wide-awakes.”—He wins the Battle.-The Republican Platform.—

Its conservative Character, 179–181.

THE CONSPIRACY DEVELOPED.-The Treachery of Buchanan's leading

Cabinet Officers.-They rob the North to arm the South.-Virginia

gives a Union Vote in the Election of 1860, 181, 182.

THE ELECTION OF LINCOLN.-His Election the Pretext for Rebellion.-
Bonfires illuminate Charleston. A Secession Convention called in
South Carolina.-Inauguration of Secession.-The firing upon the
Star of the West.-The Action of Governor Letcher in Virginia.—He
succumbs to the Democracy.-The illegitimate Call for the Convention,
183, 184.

THE "SO-CALLED" PEACE (!) CONGRESS. The pretended Efforts of

the Democracy to obtain a peaceful Solution of the great Problem.—

Proofs of their Pretense.-The Resolutions of the Peace Congress, and

the Cheat played off upon the People in regard to them.-Tyler and

Seddon play their "little Game,” 184–189.

THE CRITTENDEN COMPROMISE MEASURES.-Jeff Davis and Bob Toombs

defeat their Passage. -No Compromise desired.-The Amendment to

prohibit Congress from legislating on Slavery refused, 189, 190.

THE RICHMOND Whig ON RECONSTRUCTION.-The Fault not in the Con-

stitution. The South objects to Yankees. They want to be "let

alone."-What Preston Brooks said, 190, 191.

WHAT ANDREW JOHNSON SAID.-His Speech at Nashville in 1862.-Six
Southern Senators refuse to record their Votes in order to defeat the
Crittenden Compromise.-Withdrawal of the Southern States while
in control of both Houses of Congress.-The North refuses to leg-
islate against Slavery, though Secession had given them the Power,
191-193.

THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION OF 1861.-The Character of the Convention.

-How Civil War in Virginia might have been avoided.—Mr. Lincoln

makes an Offer to John B. Baldwin, one of the then Union Leaders of

the Convention. -Mr. Lincoln offers to evacuate Fort Sumter if the

Convention will adjourn sine die without passing an Ordinance of Se-

cession. Baldwin declines the Offer, Page 194.

MR. BOTTS HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. LINCOLN.-The President's

Message to Governor Pickens, of South Carolina.-He does not want

War. He "will make greater Sacrifices for Peace than any Man in

the Country."-Mr. Botts returns to Richmond to consult with the

Union Men of the Convention.—Baldwin keeps Mr. Lincoln's Offer se-

cret. He accepts a military Position in the Confederate Service three

Days after the State secedes, 194–200.

THE VIRGINIA "STATE-RIGHTS" CONVENTION.-The Secession Conven-
tion at Metropolitan Hall, Richmond.-Its Object to coerce the regular
State Convention.-The Governor to be deposed and Revolution inau-
gurated if the Ordinance of Secession was not passed before April 20,
201-203.

THE REBELLION INAUGURATED. - The Richmond Secessionists send a

Delegate to Charleston to start the Ball of Rebellion. - Speech of

Roger A. Pryor at Charleston.-The Attack on Fort Sumter com-

menced.―The Capture of Washington the next Thing on the Pro-

gramme, 203, 204.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S PROCLAMATION IN 1861.-The Proclamation an

unfortunate Document.-The Reason why it was.-It was not proper-

ly worded, and called for too few Men.-The Union Party of the South

paralyzed by it.-Mr. Botts alone raises his Voice against Secession at

this critical Time, 205–208.

THE ORDINANCE OF SECESSION PASSED IN VIRGINIA.-The Vote on its

Passage.-Rebellion inaugurated in Virginia.-Post-office and Cus-

tom-house seized in Richmond.-Attack on the Gosport Navy-yard

and Harper's Ferry Buildings, 208, 209.

THE ILLEGAL STATE ACTION OF THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION.-They adopt

the Constitution of the Southern Confederacy.-The State transferred

to that Government.-The Ratification of the Secession Ordinance.-

The Vote a complete Farce.-The limited Powers of the Convention.

-The Annexation of Virginia to the Southern Confederacy neither

ratified by the People nor submitted to them for Approval, 209–211.

THE RATIFICATION OF THE ORDINANCE OF SECESSION.-Mr. Botts refuses

to ratify the Action of the Convention.-The Vote on the Question

kept secret. The Character of the Outrage committed, Page 211–213.

MR. BOTTS'S EFFORTS TO PREVENT CIVIL WAR. His Letter to Mr.

Bates. His Propositions repudiated.-The Excitement against him in

Richmond.-Article from the Richmond Whig.-An Editorial from

the Richmond Dispatch.-"Tories and Traitors," 213-216.

MR. BOTTS RETIRES FROM THE CONTEST IN DESPAIR.-He might have

had a high Position in the Confederacy.-He prefers a Prison in the

Cause of the Union, 216, 217.

"HONEST JOHN BELL" AGAIN.-John Bell's Selfishness.-He holds to

the Union as long as he thinks it profitable.—The Defection of South-

ern Unionists in general.-The Temptation of Offices under Jeff Davis

too great to be resisted, 217, 218.

THE SOUTH NO CAUSE OF COMPLAINT.-The law-making Power of the

United States Government in the Hands of the South from 1801 to

1861.-They control Congress for fifty Years.-What the Southern

Democracy did in that Period.—Their last Act an Effort to destroy

the United States Government in order to regain lost Power.-The

Task of the Democracy finished, and their Mission ended, 218-222.

THE RESULT OF THE REBELLION.-The futile Effort of five Millions of

People to overthrow twenty-two Millions.-Mr. Botts, in 1861, predicts

the disastrous Failure of the Rebellion.-What Democracy has done.—

They turn Southern Fields into Grave-yards, cover the Land with

Mourning, fill the South with Widows and Orphans, and impoverish

the entire South.-All this done to perpetuate the Power of the Dem-

ocratic Party, 222–224.

CONCLUSION.-Reflections on the State of the Country.-Mr. Botts de-

clares the Union to be "the God of my Idolatry on Earth."—The Re-

bellion the greatest Crime since the Crucifixion of the Savior, 224–226.

CONTENTS OF THE APPENDIX.

THE GREAT STRIKE FOR HIGHER WAGES.-More of its History.-The
Vallandigham Conspiracy.-The Knights of the Golden Circle.-Gen-
eral Gantt's Testimony. - General McClellan escapes the "Potter's
Hands."-The Character of the "Strike."-Mr. Botts is advised by a
"Friend" to take up the Southern Cross.-He resists the Temptation,
and goes in for "the old Flag or none."-He is requested to explain

his Views of the Question.-His Letter to the Alexandria Gazette in

1860, Page 227–248.

MR. BOTTS'S NOMINATION FOR THE STATE CONVENTION.-His Letter of

Acceptance. He prophesies the Consequences of Secession. - He

makes an Effort to prevent Civil War, 248-257.

THE BATES LETTERS.-Mr. Botts writes to Attorney General Bates.-He

proposes to let the Cotton States have constitutional Leave to with-

draw. He thinks a short Time would satisfy them of the Folly of the

Experiment.—His Object only to avoid Civil War, not to legalize Se-

cession.-Editorial Comments of the Richmond Dispatch on his first

Letter.-Mr. Bates's Reply.-The suppressed Letters of this Corre-

spondence.—The last Letters of Mr. Botts. He fully explains his Po-