Twenty Years of Congress, Vol. 1 | Page 4

James Gillespie Blaine
Success at Bull Run.--Rigorous Policy adopted by the Confederate Government.--Law respecting "Alien Enemies."--Law sequestrating their Estates.--Rigidly enforced by Attorney-General Benjamin.--An Injudicious Policy.
CHAPTER XVI.
Second Session of Thirty-seventh Congress.--The Military Situation. --Disaster at Ball's Bluff.--Death of Colonel E. D. Baker.--The President's Message.--Capital and Labor.--Their Relation discussed by the President.--Agitation of the Slavery Question.--The House refuses to re-affirm the Crittenden Resolution.--Secretary Cameron resigns.--Sent on Russian Mission.--Succeeded by Edwin M. Stanton. --His Vigorous War Measures.--Victories in the Field.--Battle of Mill Spring.--General Order of the President for a Forward Movement. --Capture of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson.--Prestige and Popularity of General Grant.--Illinois Troops.--General Burnside's Victory in North Carolina.--Effect of the Victories upon the Country.--Continued Success for the Union in the South-West.--Proposed Celebration.-- The Monitor and the Merrimac.--Ericsson.--Worden.--Capture of New Orleans by Farragut.--The Navy.--Its Sudden and Great Popularity. --Legislation in its Favor.--Battle of Shiloh.--Anxiety in the North.--Death of Albert Sidney Johnston.--General Halleck takes the Field.--Military Situation in the East.--The President and General McClellan.--The Peninsular Campaign.--Stonewall Jackson's Raid.--Its Disastrous Effect.--Fear for Safety of Washington.--Anti- Slavery Legislation.--District of Columbia.--Compensated Emancipation. --Colonization.--Confiscation.--Punishment of Treason.
CHAPTER XVII.
Ball's Bluff Disaster.--Mr. Conkling's Resolution of Inquiry.-- Unsatisfactory Reply of Secretary Cameron.--Second Resolution.-- Second Reply.--Incidental Debate on Slavery.--Arrest of General Charles P. Stone.--His History.--His Response to Criticisms made upon him.--Responsibility of Colonel Baker.--General Stone before the Committee on the Conduct of the War.--His Examination.--Testimony of Officers.--General Stone appears before the Committee a Second Time.--His Arrest by Order of the War Department.--No Cause assigned. --Imprisoned in Fort Lafayette.--Solitary Confinement.--Sees Nobody. --His Wife denied Access to him.--Subject brought into Congress.-- A Search for the Responsibility of the Arrest.--Groundless Assumption of Mr. Sumner's Connection with it.--Mr. Lincoln's Message in Regard to the Case.--General Stone's Final Release by an Act of Congress. --Imprisoned for One Hundred and Eighty-nine Days.--Never told the Cause.--Never allowed a Trial.--Appears a Third Time before the Committee.--The True Responsibility for the Arrest.--His Restoration to Service.--His Resignation.--Joins the Khedive's Service.
CHAPTER XVIII.
The National Finances.--Debt when the Civil War began.--Deadly Blow to Public Credit.--Treasury Notes due in 1861.--$10,000,000 required. --An Empty Treasury.--Recommendation by Secretary Dix.--Secretary Thomas recommends a Pledge of the Public Lands.--Strange Suggestions. --Heavy Burdens upon the Treasury.--Embarrassment of Legislators. --First Receipts in the Treasury in 1861.--Chief Dependence had always been on Customs.--Morrill Tariff goes into Effect.--It meets Financial Exigencies.--Mr. Vallandigham puts our Revenue at $50,000,000, our Expenditures at $500,000,000.--Annual Deficiency under Mr. Buchanan.--Extra Session in July, 1861.--Secretary Chase recommends $80,000,000 by Taxation, and $240,000,000 by Loans.-- Loan Bill of July 17, 1861.--Its Provisions.--Demand Notes.--Seven- thirties.--Secretary Chase's Report, December, 1861.--Situation Serious.--Sales of Public Lands.--Suspension of Specie Payment.-- The Loss of our Coin.--Its Steady Export to Europe.
CHAPTER XIX.
The Legal-tender Bill.--National Finances at the Opening of the Year 1862.--A Threefold Contest.--The Country thrown upon its own Resources.--A Good Currency demanded.--Government takes Control of the Question.--Authorizes the Issue of $150,000,000 of Legal-tender Notes.--Mr. Spaulding the Author of the Measure.--His Speech.-- Opposed by Mr. Pendleton.--Position of Secretary Chase.--Urges the Measure upon Congress.--Speeches by Thaddeus Stevens, Mr. Vallandigham, Mr. V. B. Horton, Mr. Lovejoy, Mr. Conkling, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Morrill, Mr. Bingham, Mr. Shellabarger, Mr. Pike and Others.--Spirited and Able Debate.--Bill passes the House.--Its Consideration by the Senate.--Speeches by Mr. Fessenden, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Sumner, Mr. Bayard, Mr. Collamer and Others.--Bill passes the Senate.--Its Weighty Provisions.--Secretary Chase on State Banks.--Policy of the Legal-tender Bill.--Its Effect upon the Business and Prosperity of the Country.--Internal Revenue Act.--Necessity of Large Sums from Taxation.--Public Credit dependent on it.--Constitutional Provisions.--Financial Policy of Alexander Hamilton.--Excises Unpopular.--Whiskey Insurrection.--Resistance by Law.--Supreme Court Decision.--Case of Hylton.--Provisions of New Act.--Searching Character.--Great Revenue desired.--Credit due to Secretary Chase.
CHAPTER XX.
Elections of 1862.--Mr. Lincoln advances to Aggressive Position on Slavery.--Second Session of Thirty-seventh Congress adjourns.-- Democratic Hostility to Administration.--Democratic State Conventions. --Platforms in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.--Nomination of Horatio Seymour for Governor of New York.--The President prepares for a Serious Political Contest.--The Issue shall be the Union or Slavery.--Conversation with Mr. Boutwell.--Proclamation of Emancipation.--Meeting of Governors at Altoona.--Compensated Emancipation proposed for Border States.--Declined by their Senators and Representatives.--Anti-slavery Policy apparently Disastrous for a Time.--October Elections Discouraging.--General James S. Wadsworth nominated against Mr. Seymour.--Illinois votes against the President.--Five Leading States against the President.-- Administration saved in Part by Border States.--Last Session of Thirty-seventh Congress.--President urges Compensated Emancipation again.--Emancipation Proclamation, January 1, 1863.--Long Controversy over Question of Compensation for Slaves.--Test Case of Missouri. --Fourteen Million Dollars offered her.--General Pope's Campaign. --Army of the Potomac.--Battle of Antietam.--McClellan removed.-- Burnside succeeds him.--Defeat at Fredericksburg.--Hooker succeeds Burnside.--General Situation.--Arming of Slaves.--Habeas Corpus.-- Conscription Law.--Depressed and Depressing Period.
CHAPTER XXI.
The President's Border-State Policy.--Loyal Government erected in Virginia.--Recognized by Congress and Senators admitted.--Desire for a New State.--The Long Dissatisfaction of the People of Western Virginia.--The Character of the People and of their Section.--Their Opportunity had come.--Organization of the Pierpont Government.-- State Convention and Constitution.--Application to Congress for Admission.--Anti-slavery Amendment.--Senate Debate: Sumner, Wade, Powell, Willey, and Others.--House Debate: Stevens, Conway, Bingham, Segar.--Passage of Bill
Continue reading on your phone by scaning this QR Code

 / 345
Tip: The current page has been bookmarked automatically. If you wish to continue reading later, just open the Dertz Homepage, and click on the 'continue reading' link at the bottom of the page.