Hagars Daughter | Page 2

Lincoln
for President and Hannibal Hamlin for Vice-President flung its folds to
the breeze in 1860, there was a panic of apprehension at such bold
manoeuvering; mob-law reigned in Boston, Utica and New York City,
which witnessed the greatest destruction of property in the endeavor to
put down the growing public desire to abolish slavery. Elijah Lovejoy's
innocent blood spoke in trumpet tones to the reformer from his quiet
grave by the rolling river. William Lloyd Garrison's outraged manhood
brought the blush of shame to the cheek of the honest American who
loved his country's honor better than any individual institution. The
memory of Charles Sumner's brutal beating by Preston Brooks stamped
the mad passions of the hour indelibly upon history's page. Debate in
the Senate became fiery and dangerous as the crisis approached in the
absorbing question of the perpetuation of slavery.
At the South laws were enacted abridging the freedom of speech and
press; it was difficult for Northerners to travel in slave states. Rev.
Charles T. Torrey was sentenced to the Maryland penitentiary for

aiding slaves to escape; Jonathan Walker had been branded with a
red-hot iron for the same offense. In the midst of the tumult came the
"Dred Scott Decision," and the smouldering fire broke forth with
renewed vigor. Each side waited impatiently for the result of the
balloting.
In November the Rubicon was passed, and Abraham Lincoln was duly
elected President contrary to the wishes and in defiance of the will of
the haughty South. There was much talk of a conspiracy to prevent by
fraud or violence a declaration of the result of the election by the
Vice-President before the two Houses, as provided by law. As the
eventful day drew near patriotic hearts were sick with fear or filled with
forebodings. Would the certificates fail to appear; would they be
wrested by violence from the hands ordered to bear them across the
rotunda from the Senate Chamber to the hall of the House, or would
they be suppressed by the only official who could open them, John C.
Breckenridge of Kentucky, himself a candidate and in full sympathy
with the rebellion.
A breathless silence, painfully intense, reigned in the crowded chamber
as the Vice-President arose to declare the result of the election. Six feet
in height, lofty in carriage, youthful, dashing, he stood before them pale
and nervous. The galleries were packed with hostile conspirators. It
was the supreme moment in the life of the Republic. With unfaltering
utterance his voice broke the oppressive stillness:
"I therefore declare Abraham Lincoln duly elected President of the
United States for the term of four years from the fourth of March next."
It was the signal for secession, and the South let loose the dogs of war.

Chapter II
During the week preceding the memorable 20th of December, 1860, the
streets of Charleston, S.C., were filled with excited citizens who had
come from all parts of the South to participate in the preparations for

seceding from the Union. The hotels were full; every available space
was occupied in the homes of private citizens. Bands paraded the
streets heading processions of excited politicians who came as
delegates from every section south of Mason and Dixon's line; there
was shouting and singing by the populace, liberally mingled with
barrelhead orations from excited orators with more zeal than worth;
there were cheers for the South and oaths for the government at
Washington.
Scattered through the crowd traders could be seen journeying to the far
South with gangs of slaves chained together like helpless animals
destined for the slaughter-house. These slaves were hurriedly sent off
by their master in obedience to orders from headquarters, which called
for the removal of all human property from the immediate scene of the
invasion so soon to come. The traders paused in their hurried journey to
participate in the festivities which ushered in the birth of the glorious
Confederate States of America. Words cannot describe the scene.
"The wingd heralds by command Of sovereign power, with awful
ceremony And trumpet sound, proclaimed A solemn council forthwith
to be held At Pand¾monium, the high capital Of Satan and his peers."
Among the traders the most conspicuous was a noted man from St.
Louis, by the name of Walker. He was the terror of the whole
Southwest among the Negro population, bond and free; for it often
happened that free persons were kidnapped and sold to the far South.
Uncouth, ill-bred, hardhearted, illiterate, Walker had started in St.
Louis as a dray-driver, and now found himself a rich man. He was a
repulsive-looking person, tall, lean and lank, with high cheekbones and
face pitted with the small-pox, gray eyes, with red eyebrows and sandy
whiskers.
Walker, upon his arrival in Charleston, took up his quarters with