The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government | Page 3

Nominations at Baltimore.--The
"Constitutional-Union" Party and its Nominees.--An Effort in Behalf of
Agreement declined by Mr. Douglas.--The Election of Lincoln and
Hamlin.--Proceedings in the South.--Evidences of Calmness and
Deliberation.--Mr. Buchanan's Conservatism and the weakness of his
Position.--Republican Taunts.--The "New York Tribune," etc.
CHAPTER VIII.
Conference with the Governor of Mississippi.--The Author censured as
"too slow."--Summons to Washington.--Interview with the
President.--His Message.--Movements in Congress.--The Triumphant
Majority.--The Crittenden Proposition.--Speech of the Author on Mr.
Green's Resolution.--The Committee of Thirteen.--Failure to
agree.--The "Republicans" responsible for the Failure.--Proceedings in
the House of Representatives.--Futility of Efforts for an
Adjustment.--The Old Year closes in Clouds.
CHAPTER IX.
Preparations for Withdrawal from the Union.--Northern
Precedents.--New England Secessionists.--Cabot, Pickering, Quincy,
etc.--On the Acquisition of Louisiana.--The Hartford Convention.--The
Massachusetts Legislature on the Annexation of Texas, etc., etc. 70
CHAPTER X.
False Statements of the Grounds for Separation.--Slavery not the Cause,
but an Incident.--The Southern People not "Propagandists" of
Slavery.--Early Accord among the States with regard to African
Servitude.--Statement of the Supreme Court.--Guarantees of the
Constitution.--Disregard of Oaths.--Fugitives from Service and the
"Personal Liberty Laws."--Equality in the Territories the Paramount
Question.--The Dred Scott Case.--Disregard of the Decision of the

Supreme Court.--Culmination of Wrongs.--Despair of their
Redress.--Triumph of Sectionalism.

PART II.
THE CONSTITUTION.
CHAPTER I.
The Original Confederation.--"Articles of Confederation and Perpetual
Union."--Their Inadequacy ascertained.--Commercial Difficulties.--The
Conference at Annapolis.--Recommendation of a General
Convention.-- Resolution of Congress.--Action of the Several
States.--Conclusions drawn therefrom.
CHAPTER II.
The Convention of 1787.--Diversity of Opinion.--Luther Martin's
Account of the Three Parties.--The Question of
Representation.--Compromise effected.--Mr. Randolph's
Resolutions.--The Word "National" condemned.--Plan of Government
framed.--Difficulty with Regard to Ratification, and its
Solution.--Provision for Secession from the Union.--Views of Mr.
Gerry and Mr. Madison.--False Interpretations.-- Close of the
Convention.
CHAPTER III.
Ratification of the Constitution by the States.--Organization of the New
Government.--Accession of North Carolina and Rhode Island.--
Correspondence between General Washington and the Governor of
Rhode Island.
CHAPTER IV.

The Constitution not adopted by one People "in the Aggregate."--A
Great Fallacy exposed.--Mistake of Judge Story.--Colonial
Relations.--The United Colonies of New England.--Other
Associations.--Independence of Communities traced from Germany to
Great Britain, and from Great Britain to America.--Mr. Everett's
"Provincial People."--Origin and Continuance of the Title "United
States."--No such Political Community as the "People of the United
States."
CHAPTER V.
The Preamble to the Constitution.--"We, the People."
CHAPTER VI.
The Preamble to the Constitution--subject continued.--Growth of the
Federal Government and Accretions of Power.--Revival of Old
Errors.--Mistakes and Misstatements.--Webster, Story, and
Everett.--Who "ordained and established" the Constitution?
CHAPTER VII.
Verbal Cavils and Criticisms.--"Compact," "Confederacy,"
"Accession," etc.--The "New Vocabulary."--The Federal Constitution a
Compact, and the States acceded to it.--Evidence of the Constitution
itself and of Contemporary Records.
CHAPTER VIII.
Sovereignty
CHAPTER IX.
The same Subject continued.--The Tenth Amendment.--Fallacies
exposed.--"Constitution," "Government," and "People" distinguished
from each other.--Theories refuted by Facts.--Characteristics of
Sovereignty.--Sovereignty identified.--Never thrown away.

CHAPTER X.
A Recapitulation.--Remarkable Propositions of Mr. Gouverneur Morris
in the Convention of 1787, and their Fate.--Further
Testimony.--Hamilton, Madison, Washington, Marshall, etc.--Later
Theories.--Mr. Webster: his Views at Various Periods.--Speech at
Capon Springs.--State Rights not a Sectional Theory.
CHAPTER XI.
The Right of Secession.--The Law of Unlimited Partnerships.--The
"Perpetual Union" of the Articles of Confederation and the "More
Perfect Union" of the Constitution.--The Important Powers conferred
upon the Federal Government and the Fundamental Principles of the
Compact the same in both Systems.--The Right to resume Grants, when
failing to fulfill their Purposes, expressly and distinctly asserted in the
Adoption of the Constitution.
CHAPTER XII.
Coercion the Alternative to Secession.--Repudiation of it by the
Constitution and the Fathers of the Constitutional Era.--Difference
between Mr. Webster and Mr. Hamilton.
CHAPTER XIII.
Some Objections considered.--The New States.--Acquired
Territory.--Allegiance, false and true.--Difference between
Nullification and Secession.--Secession a Peaceable Remedy.--No
Appeal to Arms.--Two Conditions noted.
CHAPTER XIV.
Early Foreshadowings.--Opinions of Mr. Madison and Mr. Rufus
King.--Safeguards provided.--Their Failure.--State Interposition.--The
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions.--Their Endorsement by the People
in the Presidential Elections of 1800 and Ensuing Terms.--South

Carolina and Mr. Calhoun.--The Compromise of 1833.--Action of
Massachusetts in 1843-'45.--Opinions of John Quincy
Adams.--Necessity for Secession.
CHAPTER XV.
A Bond of Union necessary after the Declaration of
Independence.--Articles of Confederation.--The Constitution of the
United States.--The Same Principle for obtaining Grants of Power in
both.--The Constitution an Instrument enumerating the Powers
delegated.--The Power of Amendment merely a Power to amend the
Delegated Grants.--A Smaller Power was required for Amendment than
for a Grant.--The Power of Amendment is confined to Grants of the
Constitution.--Limitations on the Power of Amendment.

PART III.
SECESSION AND CONFEDERATION.
CHAPTER I.
Opening of the New Year.--The People in Advance of their
Representatives.--Conciliatory Conduct of Southern Members of
Congress.--Sensational Fictions.--Misstatements of the Count of
Paris.--Obligations of a Senator.--The Southern Forts and
Arsenals.--Pensacola Bay and Fort Pickens.--The Alleged "Caucus"
and its Resolutions.--Personal Motives and Feelings.--The Presidency
not a Desirable Office.--Letter from the Hon. C. C. Clay.
CHAPTER II.
Tenure of Public Property ceded by the States.--Sovereignty and
Eminent