perous beyond comparison with any other people whose career has been recorded in history," the citizens of all sections of the country and of every class felt only its power and influence to protect and prosper. Possessing a continent under one Government and one flag, free from the evils of standing armies and expensive fleets, free from imposts and export duties among themselves, free from export duties to foreign countries and internal revenue taxes, being one people in fact with a substantial community of origin, language, belief and law, (the great ties that hold society together,) having struggled, suffered and triumphed together, with their glories and defeats in common, with a Constitution springing from the free consent of all with ample provisions for its peaceful alteration or modification, with one section a commercial and manufacturing, another grain and stock growing, and a third whose great staple was cotton and tobacco, they of all people on God's earth should have lived in peace and contentment. But the South saw that in wealth and prosperity the North was far outstripping her, and alas, instead of seeking for the cause and trying to remedy the fault, they affected to despise the superior industry and energy of the North, preferring a system of labor that gave wealth and luxuriant ease to the few, at the expense of the prosperity and elevation of the masses, and the degradation of labor.

Fearing that slavery would become isolated they sought to maintain the balance of power in the Senate by the extension of slave territory, and the creation of slave States which their population and resources did not warrant. Nor did they confine themselves to the territorial limits of the United States. Already had the Government purchased for them the territories now forming the slave States of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri and Florida, and already had it engaged in a war with a sister Republic to annex and open to them the vast State. of Texas. And more than this, the Government underhandedly favored the fillibustering expedi

tions of the marauders, Lopez and Walker, for the conquest of Cuba, Lower California and Central America, that they might be annexed to the Union and opened to slavery. With these, Mexico, and the Southern States, the Southern dream of a mighty empire, enabled to secure the good offices and favors of mercenary and monarchical Europe, and to bid defiance to Republican America, arose in golden visions before their eyes, and ambitious men were willing to destroy the Government and constitution of their country, and wade through seas of blood to power and position. Yet they were anxious to remain in the Union and enjoy all the advantages of it, as long as they could continue to control its councils, which they had done from the foundation of the Govern

ment.

As early as 1820, the Missouri Compromise was passed, which was the first and most respected of all. In admitting Missouri as a slave State, it stipulated that slavery should not be introduced north of the line of thirty-six, thirty degrees of latitude, its southern boundary, but that limit so long accepted, the South complained of, and Mr. Douglas introduced a bill annulling the same, and substituting "squatter sovereignty," which drew from Congress the right to interfere in the question of slavery in the territories. The South soon discovered that the superior population and resources of the North enabled them to settle the territories of Kansas and Nebraska with their hardy workmen, who decreed liberty to the land. This unexpected turn of events, which should have been foreseen, caused them to change their theory, and they invoked the power of Congress to interfere in the slave question in the territories against "squatter sovereignty," and demanded that its decision should be trampled under foot. The miserable and imbecile conduct of Presidents Pierce and Buchanan in permitting a civil war to exist in Kansas for so long a period without making any effort to stay it, is alas too well known to need comment.

It is only necessary to say that the Southerners defeated in their trials of popular vote, force of arms and congressional legislation, although assisted by a powerful and obedient Administration, turned their attention in a new direction and obtained a decision from the Supreme Court of the United States-the Dred Scott decree. In the preamble of this celebrated decision of the highest judicial power of the Government, there is proclaimed two principles: first, that there is no difference between a slave and any other kind of property; secondly, that all American citizens may settle every where with their property. With the right of property understood in this wise no State had the power either to abolish slavery, or to forbid the introduction of slaves, and, therefore, there was no legal power to prevent a Southerner from settling in a free State with all his slaves. But this is not all that was demanded. The subservient Administration was given up to the will of the Southerners and the mails ceased to carry letters, journals and books, which excited their suspicion.

In 1832, under the leadership of John C. Calhoun, the long dreamed of vision of empire that had haunted the brain of their ambitious and reckless politicians, first made its appearance in the nullification act of the legis lature of South Carolina, but that stern old patriot Andrew Jackson, who declared that "The Union must and shall be preserved," met it with firm resolution, and his demand for the immediate disbanding of the State troops nipped it in the bud. From that time, however, the spirit of disunion had been assiduously disseminated in the South, and every issue that had arisen between the two sections, had been met by them with the threat of secession. The Hall of the august Senate had witnessed the drawing of firearms, and its sanctity had been violated by brutal assaults upon its members, and threats were freely made by the "fire-eaters" to break up the sessions of Congress in blood. Yet the North submitted to these degradations for the sake of peace, and bowed the

head to the demands of the South for the sake of the Union.

At last, in 1860, the two great political parties met to make their nominations for President and establish their platforms. The disunionists first showed their treason by betraying their party and breaking up its convention, because the true democrats would not bow their heads to their will. The seceders then called a convention and nominated John C. Breckenridge, who is now a leader in this infamous rebellion, and declared that the election of Mr. Lincoln, their opponent, would be followed by the dissolution of the Union. The North heard the threat; if they had submissively yielded to it once more, all dignity, self-respect and mental liberty would have been lost. They knew the consequence; secession was rebellion, rebellion was a commercial crisis, was the political weakening of the country, and the unsettling of many fortunes. It was the loss of all Southern trade, the loss of all capital invested in the South, the loss of all debts owed by the South. But the great spirit of the North that had bowed so often to the dictates of a Southern minority for the sake of the Union and peace, arose in its majestic dignity and proclaimed that the will of the majority should be expressed regardless of threats and consequences.

Prior to the election for President, the Governor of South Carolina had recommended both, Houses of the Legislature to take measures in advance for the secession of the State in case Mr. Lincoln should be elected; and a special commission was nominated, and held permanent session. In Texas, Senator Wigfall, in speaking of Mr. Breckenridge, did not hesitate to say, "If any other candidate is elected, look for stormy weather. There may be a confederation, indeed, but it will not number more than thirty-three States." Senators Jefferson Davis of Mississippi, and Judah P. Benjamin of Louisiana, (Secretary of War of the Confederate States,) held no less explicit language, announcing that at the first elec

toral defeat of the South, it would set about forming a separate confederation, long since demanded by its true interests. It was even freely proclaimed through their papers, "that Mr. Lincoln should not be inaugurated if elected."

▾ The Presidential election took place on the 6th of November, 1860, and resulted in the choice of Abraham Lincoln; Messrs. Bell and Douglas, who were equally exceptionable to the secessionists, receiving a joint vote in almost all the Southern States, larger than that cast for Mr. Breckenridge, who was the embodiment of the secession principles. Yet in the face of this direct refusal of the majority of the southerners to endorse Mr. Breckinridge and the principles he represented, the unprincipled and ambitious leaders set diligently to work to accomplish their long cherished and diabolical design of destroying the Government of their fathers, that they might rise to power and position. By resolutions of their Legislatures, and unauthorized conventions, studious misrepresentations of their press, and inflammatory appeals to the masses they at last succeeded in "firing the Southern heart," and preparing it for the awful crime of fratricide.

On the 20th of December, a few days after the result of the election was known, the Legislature of South Carolina, a State with a white population of two hundred and seventy-six thousand, or about half that of the city of Philadelphia, passed an ordinance of secession, and declared herself a free and sovereign State. She did in fact the same thing in 1832, but the firm and resolute Andrew Jackson, with a stroke of the pen awed into submission and silence all. Would to God for one month's rule of the old patriot and hero in 1860. This action of South Carolina produced a deep sensation throughout all sections of the country, and the people of the North could not realize the earnestness of the atrocious deed.

But in rapid succession followed other acts, that too