Twenty Years of Congress, Vol. 1 | Page 3

of the
Message in the North and in the South.--General Cass resigns from
State Department.--Judge Black succeeds him.--Character of Judge
Black.--Secretaries Cobb, Floyd, and Thompson.--Their Censurable
Conduct in the Cabinet.--Their Resignation.--Re-organization of
Cabinet.--Dix, Holt, Stanton.--Close of Mr. Buchanan's Administration.
--Change in the President's Course.--The New Influences.--Analysis of
the President's Course.--There were two Mr. Buchanans.--Personal and
Public Character of Mr. Buchanan.
CHAPTER XI.
Congress during the Winter of 1860-61.--Leave-taking of Senators and
Representatives.--South Carolina the First to secede.--Her Delegation
in the House publish a Card withdrawing.--Other States follow.--Mr.
Lamar of Mississippi.--Speeches of Seceding Senators. --Mr. Yulee and
Mr. Mallory of Florida.--Mr. Clay and Mr. Fitzpatrick of
Alabama.--Jefferson Davis.--His Distinction between Secession and
Nullification.--Important Speech by Mr. Toombs.--He defines
Conditions on which the Union might be allowed to survive.--Mr.
Iverson's Speech.--Georgia Senators withdraw.--Insolent Speech of Mr.
Slidell of Louisiana.--Mr. Judah P. Benjamin's Special Plea for his
State.--His Doctrine of "A Sovereignty held in Trust."-- Same
Argument of Mr. Yulee for his State.--Principle of State
Sovereignty.--Disproved by the Treaty of 1783.--Notable Omission by
Secession Senators.--Grievances not stated.--Secession Conventions in
States.--Failure to state Justifying Grounds of Action.-- Confederate
Government fail likewise to do it.--Contrast with the Course of the
Colonies.--Congress had given no Cause.--Had not disturbed Slavery
by Adverse Legislation.--List of Measures Favorable to
Slavery.--Policy of Federal Government steadily in that Direction. --Mr.

Davis quoted Menaces, not Acts.--Governing Class in the South.
--Division of Society there.--Republic ruled by an Oligarchy.--
Overthrown by Election of Lincoln.--South refuses to acquiesce.
CHAPTER XII.
Congress in the Winter of 1860-61.--The North offers Many
Concessions to the South.--Spirit of Conciliation.--Committee of
Thirteen in the Senate.--Committee of Thirty-three in the
House.--Disagreement of Senate Committee.--Propositions submitted
to House Committee.-- Thomas Corwin's Measure.--Henry Winter
Davis.--Justin S. Morrill-- Mr. Houston of Alabama.--Constitutional
Amendment proposed by Charles Francis Adams.--Report of the
Committee of Thirty-three.-- Objectionable Measures
proposed.--Minority Report by Southern Members.--The Crittenden
Compromise proposed.--Details of that Compromise.--Mr. Adams's
Double Change of Ground.--An Old Resolution of the Massachusetts
Legislature.--Mr. Webster's Criticism Pertinent. --Various Minority
Reports.--The California Members.--Washburn and
Tappan.--Amendment to the Constitution passed by the House.--By the
Senate also.--New Mexico.--The Fugitive-slave Law.--Mr. Clark of
New Hampshire.--Peace Congress.--Invited by Virginia.--Assembles in
Washington.--Peace Measures proposed.--They meet no Favor in
Congress.--Territories of Colorado, Dakota, and Nevada originated.
--Prohibition of Slavery abandoned.--Republicans in Congress do not
ask it.--Explanation required.--James S. Green of Missouri.-- His
Character as a Debater.--Northern Republicans frightened at their own
Success.--Anxious for a Compromise.--Dread of Disunion. --Northern
Democrats.--Dangerous Course pursued by them.--General
Demoralization of Northern Sentiment.
CHAPTER XIII.
Mr. Lincoln's Journey from Springfield to Washington.--Speeches on
the Way.--Reaches Washington.--His Secret Journey.--Afterwards
regretted.--Precautions for his Safety.--President Buchanan.-- Secretary
Holt.--Troops for the Protection of Washington.--Inauguration of Mr.

Lincoln.--Relief to the Public Anxiety.--Inaugural Address.
--Hopefulness and Security in the North.--Mr. Lincoln's Appeal to the
South.--Fails to appease Southern Wrath.--Dilemma of the South. --The
New Cabinet.--The "Easy Accession" of Former Times.--Seward
Secretary of State.--Chase at the Head of the Treasury.--Radical
Republicans dissatisfied.--Influence of the Blairs.--Comment of
Thaddeus Stevens.--The National Flag in the Confederacy.--Flying at
only Three Points.--Defenseless Condition of the Government.--
Confidence of Disunion Leaders.--Extra Session of the Senate.--
Douglas and Breckinridge.--Their Notable Debate.--Douglas's Reply to
Wigfall.--His Answer to Mason.--Condition of the Territories.--
Slavery not excluded by Law.--Public Opinion in Maine, 1861.--Mr.
Lincoln's Difficult Task.--His Wise Policy.--His Careful Preparation.
--Statesmanship of his Administration.
CHAPTER XIV.
President Lincoln and the Confederate Commissioners.--Misleading
Assurance given by Judge Campbell.--Mr. Seward's Answer to Messrs.
Forsythe and Crawford.--An Interview with the President is desired by
the Commissioners.--Rage in the South.--Condition of the Montgomery
Government.--Roger A. Pryor's Speech.--President determines to send
Provisions to Fort Sumter.--Advises Governor Pickens.--Conflict
precipitated.--The Fort surrenders.--Effect of the Conflict on the
North.--President's Proclamation and Call for Troops.--Responses of
Loyal States.--Popular Uprising.--Democratic Party.--Patriotism of
Senator Douglas.--His Relations with Mr. Lincoln.--His Death.-- Public
Service and Character.--Effect of the President's Call on Southern
States.--North Carolina.--Tennessee.--Virginia.--Senator Mason's
Letter.--Responses of Southern Governors to the President's Call for
Troops.--All decline to comply.--Some of them with Insolent
Defiance.--Governors of the Free States.--John A. Andrew, E. D.
Morgan, Andrew G. Curtin, Oliver P. Morton.--Energetic and Patriotic
Action of all Northern Governors.--Exceptional Preparation in
Pennsylvania for the Conflict.--Governors of Free States all
Republicans except in California and Oregon.--Critical Situation on
Pacific Coast.--Loyalty of its People.--President's Reasons for

postponing Session of Congress.--Election in Kentucky.--Union
Victory.--John J. Crittenden and Garrett Davis.--John Bell.--
Disappoints Expectation of Union Men.--Responsibility of Southern
Whigs.--Their Power to arrest the Madness.--Audacity overcomes
Numbers.--Whig Party of the South.--Its Brilliant Array of Leaders.
--Its Destruction.
CHAPTER XV.
Thirty-Seventh Congress assembles.--Military Situation.--List of
Senators: Fessenden, Sumner, Collamer, Wade, Chandler, Hale,
Trumbull, Breckinridge, Baker of Oregon.--List of Members of the
House of Representatives: Thaddeus Stevens, Crittenden, Lovejoy,
Washburne, Bingham, Conkling, Shellabarger.--Mr. Grow elected
Speaker.--Message of President Lincoln.--Its Leading
Recommendations. --His Account of the Outbreak of the
Rebellion.--Effect of the Message on the Northern People.--Battle of
Bull Run.--Its Effect on Congress and the Country.--The Crittenden
Resolution adopted.--