diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26077-8.txt | 9132 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26077-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 200130 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26077-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 243803 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26077-h/26077-h.htm | 9325 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26077-h/images/imgffl.jpg | bin | 0 -> 32305 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26077-h/images/imgfinger.jpg | bin | 0 -> 9939 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26077.txt | 9132 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 26077.zip | bin | 0 -> 200035 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
11 files changed, 27605 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/26077-8.txt b/26077-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fedf812 --- /dev/null +++ b/26077-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9132 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Continental Monthly, Vol. 3 No 2, +February 1863, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Continental Monthly, Vol. 3 No 2, February 1863 + Devoted To Literature And National Policy + +Author: Various + +Other: Various + +Release Date: July 17, 2008 [EBook #26077] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONTINENTAL MONTHLY *** + + + + +Produced by Joshua Hutchinson and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by Cornell +University Digital Collections) + + + + + + + + + + + +THE + +CONTINENTAL MONTHLY: + +DEVOTED TO + +LITERATURE AND NATIONAL POLICY. + + + + + +VOL. III.--FEBRUARY, 1863.--No. II. + + + + + +OUR NATIONAL FINANCES. + + +Our national finances are involved in extreme peril. Our public debt +exceeds $720,000,000, and is estimated by the Secretary of the Treasury, +on the 1st of July next, at $1,122,297,403, and on the 1st of July, +1864, at $1,744,685,586. When we reflect that this is nearly one half +the debt of England, and bearing almost double the rate of interest, it +is clear that we are approaching a fatal catastrophe. Nor is this the +most alarming symptom. Gold now commands a premium of thirty-two per +cent., as compared with legal tender treasury notes, and, with largely +augmented issues, must rise much higher, with a correspondent increase +of our debt and expenditures. Indeed, should the war continue, and there +be no other alternative than additional treasury notes, they will, +before the close of the next fiscal year, fail to command forty cents on +the dollar in gold, and our debt exceed several billions of dollars. +This would result from an immense redundancy and depreciation of +currency, and from the alarm created here and in Europe, as to the +maintenance of the Union, and the ultimate solvency of the Government. +Indeed, our enemies, at home and abroad, the rebels, and their allies in +the North and in Europe, already announce impending national bankruptcy +and repudiation, and there are many devoted patriots who fear such a +catastrophe. + +That the danger is imminent, is a truth which must not be disguised. +Here lies the great peril of the Government. It is not the rebel armies +that can ever overthrow the Union. It is the alarming increase of the +public debt and expenditures, and the still more appalling depreciation +of the national currency, that most imperil the great Republic. + +And is the Union indeed to fall? Are we to be divided into separate +States or many confederacies, each warring against the other, the sport +of foreign oligarchs, the scorn of humanity, the betrayers of the +liberty of our country and of mankind? Can we yet save the Republic? +This is a fearful and momentous question, but it must be answered, and +answered NOW. Inaction is syncope. Delay is death. The life of the +Republic is ebbing fast, and the approaching Ides of March may toll the +funeral words, _It is too late_! + +What then must be done to avert the dread catastrophe? Action, immediate +and energetic action, in the field and in Congress. Winter is the best +season for a campaign in the South. On--on--on with the banner of the +Republic, by land and sea, and with all the reinforcements, from the +Ohio and Potomac to the Gulf. On, also, with the necessary measures in +Congress to save our finances from ruin, arrest the depreciation of our +national currency, and restore the public credit. We are upon the verge +of ruin. We are hanging over the gulf of an irredeemable paper system, +and its spectral shade, repudiation, is seen dimly in the dark abyss. +The present Congress may save us; but what of the next? Would they, if +they could? Who can answer? Can they, if they would? No! no! It will +then be _too late_. Never did any representative assembly encounter so +fearful a responsibility as the present Congress. Each member must vote +as if the fate of the Union and of humanity depended upon his action. He +must rise above the passing clouds of passion and prejudice, of State, +local, or selfish interests, into the serene and holy atmosphere, +illumined by the light of truth, and warmed by the love of his country +and of mankind. His only inquiry must be, What will save the nation? The +allegiance to the Union is paramount, its maintenance 'the supreme law,' +the _lex legum_, of highest obligation, and he who, abandoning this +principle, follows in preference any real or supposed State policy, is a +secessionist in action, and a traitor to his country and mankind. Should +the catastrophe happen, no such paltry motives will save him from +disgrace and infamy; and, if he be snatched from oblivion, his only +epitaph will be: Here lies a destroyer of the American Union. He did not +destroy it by bullets, but by votes. He did not march against it with +armed battalions; but, a sentinel, he slept on the post of duty, +and--his country fell. + +What, then, can Congress do? They can consider _at once_ this great +financial question, uninterrupted by any other measure, until there +shall have been action complete and decisive. But two months more remain +of the session. Not another day nor hour must be lost. All admit that +something must be done, and done quickly. + +What then is the remedy for our depreciated and depreciating national +currency? The Secretary of the Treasury anticipated the disaster, and +proposed a remedy in 1861. I gave his bank plan then my earnest and +immediate support. Well would it have been for our country if it had +then been adopted, and gold would not now command a premium of +thirty-two per cent. After a year's experience and deliberation, the +Secretary reiterates his former recommendation, with words of solemn +import, and arguments of great force. His is the chief responsibility. +To him is mainly intrusted the custody of the public credit. His is now +the duty of saving us from national bankruptcy. At such a time, I would +differ from him on such a question, only on the clearest convictions, +and then only upon the condition that I had a better plan as a +substitute, and that mine could become a law now, and be carried now +into practical execution. If all this could not be done, I would support +the plan of the Secretary, as all admit that delay or inaction is death. +If my words be too bold or earnest, let them be attributed to my +profound conviction that the American Union is in extreme peril, and +that its downfall involves the final catastrophe of our country and of +our race. Let no man talk of a separation of the Union in any +contingency. Let none speak now of peace or compromise with armed +treason. Let none think of constructing separate nationalities out of +the broken and bleeding fragments of a dismembered Union. No; far better +that our wrecked and blasted earth should swing from its orbit, +disintegrate into its original atoms, and its place remain forever +vacant in the universe, than that we should survive, with such memories +of departed glory, and such a burning sense of unutterable infamy and +degradation. Fallen--fallen--fallen! from the highest pinnacle to the +lowest depth, to rise no more forever! What American would wish to live, +and encounter such a destiny? And why fallen? From a cause more damning +than our fate. Fallen, let the truth be told, as history would record, +because faction was stronger than patriotism, and the degenerate sons of +noble sires extinguished the world's last hope, by basely surrendering +the American Union to the foul coalition of slavery and treason. This +rebellion is the most stupendous crime in the annals of our race, and +its projectors and coadjutors, at home or abroad, individual or +dynastic, are doomed to immortal infamy. With its demoniac passions, its +satanic ambition, desecrating the remains of the slain, making goblets +of their skulls, and trinkets of their bones, this revolt is a +heliograph of Dahomey, and Devildom daguerreotyped more vividly than by +Danté or Milton. + +The plan of the Secretary is clear, simple, comprehensive, practical, +and effective. It is the plan of an uniform circulation, furnished by +the Federal Government to banking associations organized by Congress, +securing prompt redemption by the deposit of the same amount of U.S. six +per cent stock in the Federal custody, the principal and interest of +this stock being payable in gold. This plan, with me, is a necessity, +and not a choice. It is the plan of the Secretary, and not mine, and is +therefore supported by me from no vanity of authorship. Nay, more, it +required me to overcome strong prejudices against any bank circulation, +and especially any connected in any way with the Government. It is, +however, a strong recommendation of the plan of the Secretary, that the +proposed connection of the banks with the Government is not political, +and attended with none of the formidable objections to the late Bank of +the United States. Ever since the bank suspension of 1837, I have been a +bullionist, and sustained that doctrine in the Senate of the United +States, and as Secretary of the Treasury. The act establishing the +independent treasury in 1846, was drawn by me, avowedly as a 'specie +receiving and _specie circulating_' institution, and to restrain +excessive issues by the banks; but it is impossible now to carry that +system into practical execution. The suspension of specie payment by the +banks and the Government, has been forced by the enormous expenditures +of the war, and the sub-treasury, which never was designed for the +custody or disbursement of paper, has been so far virtually superseded. +In acceding now, as in December, 1861, to the Secretary's plan of a bank +circulation, I must be understood as having changed my views in no +respect as to banks, but that I yield to the great emergency, which +renders the support of the war and of the Union paramount to any +question of coin or currency. + +The national disbursements for the present and succeeding fiscal year, +as stated by the Secretary, together with his remarks on that subject, +supersede the necessity of any further argument in proof of the absolute +impossibility of specie payments now by the Government. We are compelled +to resort to paper, and the only question is as to the character and +extent of the issue. It is my opinion that we should limit this paper +currency, as far as practicable, that it may be as little depreciated +now as possible; so that when the rebellion is crushed, the banks and +the Government may resume specie payments at the earliest moment. I +favor the plan of the Secretary mainly because, by arresting +depreciation, it would furnish a currency approaching specie now more +nearly than can be accomplished in any other way, and because, when the +war is over, it provides the best means for a return, in the shortest +possible period, to specie payments. An irredeemable paper currency +dissolves contracts, violates good faith, and its history here and in +Europe is a record of financial ruin, bankruptcy, and repudiation, of +frauds, crimes, and demoralization, which no friend of his country or +race can desire to witness. The issue of treasury notes as a legal +tender was favored by me as a _necessity_ super-induced by the +rebellion, and as a substitute for the present bank issues. Such notes +would be depreciated much less when made a legal tender, and, to that +extent, our expenditures would be diminished, and specie payments could, +therefore, be resumed eventually at a much earlier period. Why, then, it +is asked, not continue and extend that system, rather than adopt the +plan recommended by the Secretary? Because, Congress refusing to +prohibit a bank circulation, such increased issues of treasury notes +would cause a further great depreciation of such notes, to that extent +augment our expenditures, and postpone, perhaps indefinitely, the +resumption of specie payments. Gold now commands a premium of thirty-two +per cent., payable in treasury notes; but, if such issues be increased +one half, they would fall to fifty per cent., and, if doubled, to at +least sixty per cent. below specie. At the last rate, if our yearly +expenditures, paid in paper, reached $700,000,000, this would command +but $280,000,000 in gold, thus subjecting the Government to a loss of +$420,000,000 per annum, and at thirty-two per cent. discount, +$224,000,000 per annum. These notes, it is true, bear no interest, which +at six per cent. on $280,000,000, would save $16,800,000 a year. But as +under the Secretary's plan (hereafter developed) the Government would +only pay an annual interest of four per cent. on this loan, the saving +would only be $11,200,000. Deduct this interest thus saved from the +$420,000,000 of increased annual expenditures, arising from such +depreciation of treasury notes, and the result is a net loss of +$408,800,000 per annum to the Government, from the use of such redundant +and depreciated currency. Surely, such a system would soon terminate in +bankruptcy and repudiation, repeating the history of French assignats +and Continental money. + +Nor is it the Government only that suffers from such a disaster, but the +ruin extends to the people. There is no law more clearly established +than this: that the currency of a country bears a certain fixed +proportion to its wealth and business. If we expand the currency beyond +this proportion, we violate this law, and will surely suffer the +terrible penalties of this disobedience. This law is so certain and +invariable, that, if the expansion beyond this proportion should be even +in specie, the result would still be disastrous. + +This was illustrated during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, when +Spain, having opened the virgin mines of America, brought the precious +metals in countless millions within her limits, and restricted their +exportation by the most stringent penalties. And what was the +consequence? Mr. Prescott, of Boston, tells us in his great history, +that 'the streams of wealth, which flowed in from the silver quarries of +Zacatecas and Potosi were jealously locked up within the limits of the +Peninsula.' 'The golden tide, which, permitted a free vent, would have +fertilized the region through which it poured, now buried the land under +a deluge, which blighted every green and living thing. _Agriculture_, +_commerce_, MANUFACTURES, every branch of national industry and +improvement, languished and fell to decay; and the nation, like the +Phrygian monarch who turned all that he touched into gold, cursed by the +very consummation of its wishes, was poor in the midst of its +treasures.' Such was the effect of violating the law which regulates the +ratio of money to wealth; such the consequence of a superabundant +currency, even in specie. The result was that Spain, which had been the +most prosperous nation of Europe, and whose products and manufactures +had supplied the markets of the world, lost nearly all her exports, and +was forced to resort to the prohibitory system. The cost of living, of +working farms, of manufacturing goods, of making and sailing ships, +became so high in Spain, from her superabundant currency, that she was +unable to compete with any other nation, was reduced to poverty, and +never began to recover until 'Spain changed her system, encouraged the +exportation of the precious metals, and thus brought down her +superabundant currency and inflated prices, and thus enabled Spanish +industry to supply the markets of the Peninsula and of the world.' +_Then_, the distinguished historian tells us, 'the precious metals, +instead of flowing in so abundantly as to palsy the arm of industry, +only served to stimulate it, the foreign intercourse of the country was +every day more widely extended;' 'the flourishing condition of the +nation was seen in the wealth and population of its cities,' etc. It is +a redundant currency, even if gold or convertible into gold, that +produces these evils, although depreciation adds to the disaster. + +What is the effect here of a redundant currency, is ascertained by +reference to our exports. By Treasury Tables 20 and 21, our foreign +imports consumed here in 1836-'7 rose to $168,233,675, being largely +more than double what they were in 1832 ($76,989,793), and nearly double +the consumption, _per capita_, which was $5.61 in 1832, and $10.93 in +1836. This was our great year of a redundant, although still a +convertible currency, when our imports consumed exceeded our exports of +domestic produce, $61,662,733; and so enhanced was the cost of living +and production here, that we actually imported breadstuffs that year of +the value of $5,271,576. (Table 1, Com. and Nav.) Our bank currency that +year was as follows: Circulation, $149,185,890; deposits, $127,397,185; +circulation and deposits, $276,583,075; loans, $525,115,702. (Treasury +Report, 1838, Doc. 79, tables K. K.) The legitimate result of this +expansion of loans and currency was the great bank suspension of May, +1837, and general bankruptcy throughout the country. + +Now our bank circulation in 1860 was $207,102,477; deposits, +$253,802,129; circulation and deposits, $460,904,606; loans, +$691,495,580. (Table 34, Census of 1860.) Yet our population in 1860 was +more than double that of 1837, and our wealth (the true barometer, +marking the proper rise and fall of our currency) had much more than +quadrupled. (Census Table 35.) The proportion of the currency to wealth +in 1837 was more than double the ratio of 1860. It was not the tariff +that produced the suspension of 1837, for it was _much lower_ in 1860, +than at the date of the bank suspension of 1837. + +By Treasury Table 24, our total exports abroad of domestic produce, +exclusive of specie, from the 30th of September, 1821, to 30th June, +1861, were $5,060,929,667; and, in the year ending the 30th June, 1860, +were $316,242,423. At the same rate of increase from 1860 to 1870, as +from 1850 to 1860, our domestic exports exclusive of specie in the +decade ending the 30th June, 1870, would have exceeded five billions of +dollars, had peace continued and the currency been no more redundant in +proportion to our wealth than in 1860. But with a redundant and +depreciated currency our exports must have been reduced at least one +fourth. What would be the effect on every branch of our industry, may be +learned by looking at Treasury Table 40, showing our domestic exports +for the year ending 30th June, 1861. These exports were, of the products +of our fisheries, $4,451,515; of the forest, $10,260,809; of +agriculture, exclusive of cotton, rice, and tobacco, $100,273,655, and +of our manufactures, $35,786,804. This was mainly from the loyal States. +Now if the foreign markets for our products are reduced only one fourth +by the effect of a redundant currency, inflating here the cost of +production and of living, the result would be most disastrous to our +industry. The reduction would be equal, as we have seen, to $125,000,000 +per annum, and $1,250,000,000 in the decade. Our imports would be +reduced in the same proportion, and our revenue from customs in a +corresponding ratio. Supposing the average rate of duties of the present +tariff to be equal to 40 per cent. ad valorem, this would make a +difference in our revenue from customs of $500,000,000 in the decade, +and, including interest not compounded, $635,000,000. And here I deem it +a duty to say to the financial portion of our peace party, especially in +New York, that our redundant and depreciated currency, with our failure +to crush the rebellion, and a consequent dissolution of the Union, would +make repudiation inevitable. We are forced, then, by a due regard to our +material interests, as well as by the higher obligations of honor and +duty, to subdue the revolt and restore the supremacy of the Government +in every State. This we can and must do. It is due to our country and to +the world. It is due to the wounded and mutilated survivors of the +bloody conflict, and to our martyred dead, murdered by the foulest +treason, and in the accursed cause of slavery. No! all this blood and +treasure must not have been poured out in vain. It is a question mainly +of money and persistence. Our armies can and will conquer the rebellion, +if we can and will supply the sinews of war. Our success is much more a +financial than a military question. As regards the result, the Secretary +of the Treasury holds now the most important post in this contest: he is +the generalissimo; and as he is right on this question, and the fate of +the Union is involved, I deem it my duty to give him my earnest and +zealous support. + +Ruinous as must be the effect of a redundant and depreciated currency +upon all industrial pursuits, the injustice to our gallant army and +navy, regulars and volunteers, would be attended with extreme peril. +Upon their courage and endurance we must rely for success. We have +pledged to our brave troops, who are wounded or dying by thousands that +the Union may live, such pay as to enable them while fighting our +battles to make allotments of portions of their money for the support of +their families during their absence. We have promised pensions also. +These are all solemn pledges on the part of our Government, and our +faith is violated if this pay or these pensions are reduced. But there +is no difference between a law directly reducing this pay and these +pensions, and the adoption by Congress of the policy of a redundant and +depreciated currency which will produce the same result. Every vote then +in Congress for such a policy, is a vote to reduce the pay and pensions +for our troops, and to annihilate the allotments made by them for the +support of their families. What effect such a policy must have on our +troops and the maintenance of the Union is but too palpable. It is +disbandment and dissolution. Every such vote is given also to reduce the +value of the wages of labor, and for increased taxation, to the extent, +as we have seen, of $408,800,000 per annum. It is a vote also to reduce +our exports and revenue from customs, to paralyze our industry; and +finally, in its ultimate results, it is a vote against the war, for +repudiation and disunion, and hence every disunionist will oppose the +plan of the Secretary. + +To what extent this redundancy and depreciation will go, by enlarged +issues of legal tender treasury notes, we may learn from the fact that +the banks substitute them for coin for the redemption of their paper. +Now, just in proportion as the issue of treasury notes becomes redundant +and depreciated, will the bank circulation, redeemable in such notes, +augment and depreciate also. This is the law of bank circulation as now +forced upon us by Congress. It is the law of redundancy and +depreciation. If this policy is adopted by Congress, an enlarged issue +made of treasury notes, and the plan of the Secretary discarded, our +bank and treasury note circulation, with the war continued, will very +largely exceed one billion of dollars before the close of the next +fiscal year, and both will be depreciated much more than sixty per cent. +Thus, if we should enlarge our issues of legal demand treasury notes to +$500,000,000, and these be made the basis of bank issues, in the ratio +of three to one, our total paper circulation would be $2,000,000,000, +such treasury notes inflating the bank issues, and both depreciating +together. And yet this is the currency in which it is proposed to +conduct the war and the business of the country. The banks alone, by +excessive loans and issues, would grow rich apparently, on the ruin of +their country. But there would be a terrible retribution. The result +would be general insolvency and repudiation, _the debts due the banks +would become worthless_, and they be involved in the general ruin. It is +then the interest of the banks to sustain the Government and the +Secretary, and to transfer their capital to the new associations. This +is especially the case with the New York banks, which, under a provision +of their State constitution, HAVE NO LEGAL EXISTENCE. When repudiation +and bankruptcy become general, the cry, like that of a routed army in a +panic flight, would be raised, _Sauve qui peut_; we may have again an +old and a new court party, especially under our miserable system of an +elective judiciary; and the banks be crushed by wicked legal devices, as +they were in the West and Southwest in 1824 and 1838. + +Referring to bank issues, the Secretary says, in his last report: 'It +was only when the United States notes, having been made a legal tender, +were diverted from their legitimate use as a currency, and made the +basis of bank circulation, that the great increase of the latter began.' +At the present depreciation of these treasury notes, it is better for +the banks, by one third, to redeem their circulation in these notes, +rather than in specie; and they need keep only one dollar of treasury +notes for three of bank circulation. This is the policy forced upon the +banks by Congress. But the more redundant and depreciated this currency +becomes, the easier will it be for the banks to provide the basis of +redemption, and expand their circulation in the ratio, like that of +specie, of three dollars of bank currency for each dollar of treasury +notes held by them. Thus it is that the enlarged issue of treasury notes +necessarily increases the bank circulation, in the ratio of three to +one, and thus also, that the circulation of bank and treasury notes +becomes redundant and depreciated. Under such a policy, every bank then, +however loyal its stockholders or officers, becomes a citadel, whose +artillery bears with more fearful effect upon the Government than all +the armies of the rebellion. This will soon become obvious, and the +odium will rest upon the banks, their officers and stockholders. But the +real responsibility will be with Congress, who, by such a system will +have arrayed the banks in necessary and inevitable hostility to the +Government. Such, we all know, is not the intention of Congress; but as +this result will necessarily flow from their measures, upon them, in the +end, will fall the terrible responsibility of the disaster. It is this +appalling condition of our finances that gives the rebellion its only +hope of success, and invites foreign intervention. But if Congress will +adopt the policy of the Secretary, they will render certain the triumph +of the Union, and the rebels, from despair and exhaustion, must soon +abandon the contest. + +We have seen how dreadful is the disaster which the banks would bring on +the country by pursuing the present system, and how terrible the odium +to which they would be subjected. But now let us look at the result, if +the plan of the Secretary is adopted. The new banks would become fiscal +agents of the Government. Their circulation would be uniform, furnished +by the Government, and based on U. S. stocks, the principal and interest +of which would be payable in gold. The interest of labor and capital, of +the banks, the Government, and the people, would for the first time +become inseparably united and consolidated. This is a grand result, and +fraught with momentous consequences to the country. Every citizen, +whether a stockholder of the banks or not, would have a direct and +incalculable interest in their success and prosperity. They, the people, +would have this interest, not merely as holding the notes of the banks, +which would become our currency, but because the banks would hold the +stock of the Government, would have loaned it in this way the money to +suppress the rebellion, and thus have saved us from a redundant and +depreciated currency, from inevitable bankruptcy and repudiation, and +have prevented the overthrow of the Union. Each bank would then become a +citadel over which should float the flag of the Union, for each bank +would then become a powerful auxiliary for the support of the Government +and the overthrow of the rebellion. + +The bill divorcing the banks and the Government was drawn by me, as +Secretary of the Treasury, in 1846, to enlarge the circulation of +specie, and restrain excessive issues of bank paper. I go for the +reunion now, as proposed by the Secretary, to enable the Government to +effect loans upon their stock, to prevent a redundant and depreciated +paper currency, with a correspondent increase of expenditures, and to +provide the means, when the war is over, to resume specie payment at the +earliest practicable period. I was for restraining excessive paper +issues then, and so am I now, as far as possible. I carried into full +effect then the divorce of the Government and the banks, against a +terrible opposition from them and the great Whig party. I made the +divorce complete, _a vinculo matrimonii_: so now I would make the union +complete, so far as proposed by the Secretary, for the interest of the +banks and the Government would be united, and just as you strengthened +the banks and increased their capital and profits, would you fund more +and more treasury notes, and save us from the ruin of a redundant and +depreciated currency. + +The Secretary proposes to make these banks depositories of treasury +notes, received by the Government for all dues except customs. This is +well; for to use the sub-treasury to receive and circulate treasury +notes, is against the object for which it was created. Such deposits +should be secured by U. S. stocks with the Government, and thus largely +increase the demand for this stock. During nearly my first two years as +Secretary of the Treasury, the public moneys were deposited by me in the +State banks, secured by United States and State stocks, and there was no +loss. Nor, indeed, was there any loss or default by any officer, agent, +or employé of the Treasury Department during my entire term of four +years, notwithstanding the large loans and war expenditures. + +Disbursing officers should also deposit with the banks, and pay as +formerly by checks on them, with the same guarantee by them of U. S. +stocks. How far, and to what extent, and under what special provisions +the gold received for customs might be deposited with these banks, may +be the subject of discussion hereafter. + +If this system were adopted in its entirety, the process of absorbing +treasury notes would commence at once, and also a correspondent rise in +their market value. The system of loans and funding saved England from +bankruptcy during her long wars with France, and we must resort to +similar expedients. But as loans, in the usual way, except at ruinous +discounts, for any large amounts, are impracticable, we are left to the +alternative of the Secretary's system, or bankruptcy, repudiation, and +disunion. + +I have another suggestion to make as regards these notes furnished by +the Government to the banks, secured by U. S. stocks. These notes are +guaranteed not only by the stock of the Government, but, in addition, by +the whole capital and property, real and personal, of the banks, and a +prior lien on the whole to the Government, to secure the payment of +these notes. These notes are receivable by the Government for all dues +except customs. These notes are a national currency, furnished by the +nation and secured by its stock. + +These notes then, as in England, should be a legal tender in payment of +all debts, except by the banks. As the banks can redeem these issues in +legal tender treasury notes, these issues of the new banks ought to be a +legal tender also, except by the banks. + +There is another reason why this currency should be made a legal tender. +Our two last suspensions of specie payments by the banks, viz., in 1857 +and in 1860, were based upon _panics_, yet they had the same disastrous +effect, for the time, as if arising from short crops, overtrading, or a +currency greatly redundant. Such panic convulsions are caused mainly by +the call for the redemption of bank notes in specie, based on the fear +of suspension and depreciation. But if such notes, as in European +government banks, were a legal tender, except by the banks, such panics +would be far less frequent here, and less injurious. The present system, +as compared with that of Europe, discriminates most unjustly against our +country. As a general rule, the American creditor cannot demand gold +from the foreign debtor, but such foreign or domestic creditor could +always demand gold from the American debtor. This discrimination has +produced here the most disastrous consequences, and, independent of the +present condition of the country, our whole banking system requires +radical reform. We have had eight _general_ bank suspensions under our +present bank system, many of them continuing for years, and producing +ruin and desolation. Under our present system, to talk, as a general +rule, of well-regulated banks, is to talk of a well-regulated famine or +pestilence, or of a well-regulated earthquake or tornado. And even the +few banks that are claimed to be well managed, have no appreciable +effect on the system. It is the system that knows no uniformity or +security, and never can have, as now organized. That a system so +perilous and explosive, should have even partially succeeded is proof +only of the intelligence and integrity, generally, of the bank officers +and directors, but no recommendation of the system itself. + +The want of uniformity as to commercial regulations, led to the adoption +of our Federal Constitution; and yet we have no uniformity as to money, +which represents commerce and effects its interchanges. In this respect, +we are still suffering all the evils of the old confederacy, and have +thereby so weakened the Government as to have invited this rebellion. +Indeed, the State banks in the revolted States were the main auxiliaries +of treason and secession, and supplied, to a vast extent, the sinews of +war. By Census Table 34, there were in 1860, 1,642 banks, incorporated +by thirty-four States, with no uniformity of organization, issues, or +security. Thus is it that the States have usurped the power to regulate +commerce and currency, and to emit bills of credit, in defiance of the +prohibition of the Federal Constitution. The Egyptians abandoned their +folly after seven plagues; but we have had eight bank convulsions, and +yet we adhere to the wretched system. + +I believe it was slavery caused the rebellion, but, in the absence of +powerful aid from the Southern banks, the revolted States could never +have maintained so prolonged a contest. Organized as now proposed, these +new banks, and all who held their notes, must have sustained the +Government. Nations expend millions yearly in erecting forts and +maintaining, even in peace, large armies and navies to preserve the +Government. But necessary as these may be, they would not be more +important than the system now proposed as a security for the +preservation of the Government. + +My last suggestion is, that as regards all such United States loans, as +during the war shall become the basis of this system, the time of +payment shall be made twenty years instead of five, so as, with the +modifications above proposed, to insure the coöperation of the banks, +and the success of the system. As this plan is deemed essential to save +our finances, to suppress the rebellion, and maintain the Union, why +incur any hazard on such a question as this? In all our wars, including +the present, we have issued bonds running twenty years to maturity, and +the bonds, redeemable in 1881, are scarcely at par. Why, then, issue a +stock of less value, which may fail to accomplish the great object, when +a better security would certainly succeed? I fully agree in the opinion +expressed by the Secretary, against 'a fixed interest of six per cent. +on a great debt, for twenty years,' if it can be avoided; but I also +concur in that portion of his report in which he says: 'No very early +day will probably witness the reduction of the public debt to the amount +required as a basis for secured circulation.' To that extent, then, +would I enlarge the time for the maturity of the bonds. Surely, if this +be necessary to secure the coöperation of the banks, and the capital of +the country, there should be no hesitation. Even if the system, based +only on the bonds of short date, should ultimately succeed, the loss, in +the interim, from a redundant and depreciated currency, would far exceed +any benefit derived from the substitution of five-twenties for twenty +year bonds. By Census Table 35, our wealth in 1850, was $7,135,780,228, +and in 1860, $16,159,616,068, the ratio of increase during the decade +being 126.45 per cent.; at which rate, our wealth in 1870 would be +$36,583,450,585, and in 1880, $82,843,222,849. Surely, then, at these +periods, it would be much easier to liquidate this debt than in 1867. +But, were it otherwise, the immediate gain from decreased expenditures, +arising from funding more rapidly our treasury notes, thus rendering our +currency less redundant and depreciated, with the revival of the public +credit, and its immediate happy influence, North and South, here and in +Europe, would far more than compensate for any contingent advantage +arising from short loans. Our twenty years' loan is now barely at par, +and the five-twenties below par. The difficulty of inducing bank and +other capital to invest hundreds of millions of dollars under the new +system is very great. Is it wise to commence the effort, confined to our +weakest securities, now below par? Besides, considering the old and new +debts, and constantly increasing responsibilities, is there any prospect +that we will have liquidated all these before the end of five years, and +the five-twenty loan also? Surely, upon a benefit so doubtful, and a +contingency so improbable, we ought not to risk the fate of a measure on +which depends the safety of the Union. But if we could pay off the +five-twenty loan held by the new banks, is it prudent to assume that so +many hundred millions of capital will be withdrawn from the present +banks and other business for investment in the new banks, which may +cease at the end of five years by payment of the bonds? The change from +the old to the new banks may involve some loss at first, but, if the +system may be arrested at the end of five years, just when profits might +be realizing, the plan could scarcely succeed. When the Secretary first +proposed this system in December, 1861, he probably would have succeeded +with the five-twenties, in the condition at that date of the public +credit. But the disastrous fall of our securities since that date, seems +now to require bonds of a higher value. + +I would then provide a twenty years loan, for all that may be made the +basis of the new bank circulation. But it is not a six, but only a four +per cent. twenty years' loan that is proposed, by deducting one per +cent. semi-annually from the interest of the bonds made the basis of +this bank circulation. This deduction would only be a fair equivalent +for the expenses incurred by the Government in furnishing the +circulation, for the release of taxes, for the deposit of public moneys +with these banks, for making their notes a legal tender, and receiving +them for all dues except customs. The tax on all other bank circulation +should be one and a half per cent. semi-annually, secured by adequate +penalties. + +If, under this system, during this stupendous rebellion, involving the +existence of the Government, with armies and expenditures unexampled in +history, the Secretary (as, with the aid of Congress and the banks, I +believe he can) should secure us a sound and uniform currency, and +negotiate vast loans, running twenty years, at par, the Government +paying only four per cent. interest per annum, he will have accomplished +a financial miracle, and deserved a fame nearest to that of the first +and greatest of his predecessors, the peerless Hamilton. + +The bill organizing the new system, presented in Congress by Mr. Hooper +last summer, is drawn with great ability, and it is much to be deplored, +that (with some amendments) it had not then become a law, when it could +have been much more easily put in operation, and would have saved +hundreds of millions of dollars to the Government. + +But the fifty-fifth section of that bill provides that all the banks +organized under it are to become 'depositaries of the public moneys,' +excepting those in 'the city of Washington.' Why this discrimination? If +there be any place where banks, organized under a national charter, +issuing a national currency, and receiving national deposits, should be +encouraged, it is here. With no discrimination against them, such banks +would be established here with considerable capital. And why not? It +cannot be intended to discourage the establishment of such banks here, +and thus defeat, to that extent, the success of the system. It is here, +if anywhere, that such banks should receive the public deposits, where +they could be constantly secured from day to day under the immediate +supervision of the Government. Besides, the only effect of such a +discrimination would be to drive such banks to Georgetown, Alexandria, +or some other speculative site outside the city or District. This city +has just been consecrated to freedom by Congress, and it is hoped that, +in commencing its new career, no discrimination will be made against it. +Indeed, I think it would be wise, in order to insure the success here of +the new system, to allow the district banks organized under this law to +receive the same rate of interest as is permitted in New York. + +I have contended, during the last fourth of a century, that all State +bank currency is unconstitutional. This rebellion will demonstrate the +truth of that proposition, and the question ultimately be so decided by +the Supreme Court of the United States. This, it is true, might require +some of those Judges, if then living, to change their opinion on some +points; but this has been done before, and even on constitutional +questions; and State banks will fall before judicial action, as well as +nullification, State allegiance, secession, and the whole brood of +kindred heresies. + +A republic which cannot regulate its currency, or which leaves that +power with thirty-four separate States, each legislating at its pleasure +and without uniformity, abandons an essential national authority, and +this abdication has furnished one of the main supports of the rebellion. +With nothing but a national currency, the revolted States never could +have successfully inaugurated this war, and we must deprive them in all +time to come of this terrible ally of treason. To permit the States to +provide the circulating medium, the money of the country, is to enable +them to furnish the sinews of war, and clothe them with a power to +overthrow the Government. + +With only such a national currency as is now proposed, issued by the +Government to these banks, organized by Congress, and based on the +deposit in the Federal treasury of United States stock, the rebellion +would have been impossible. Our Government was so mild and benignant, +that we deemed it exempt from the assault of traitors; but this revolt +has dissipated this delusion, and warned us to provide all the +safeguards indicated by experience as necessary to maintain the Union. +Among the most important is the resumption by the Government of the +great sovereign function of regulating the currency and giving to it +uniformity and nationality. Such was clearly the intention of the +Constitution. The Government has, by the Constitution, the _exclusive_ +power 'to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several +States.' But commerce is _regulated_ mainly by money, and by it all +interstate and international exchanges of products are made. If the +currency is redundant, prices rise, exports are diminished; and the +reverse follows with a contracted circulation. But banks inflate or +restrict the currency at their pleasure, and thus control prices, +commerce, exports, imports, and revenue. But they also destroy or +depreciate the money of the Government, and deprive it of a vital power. +Thus, the nation issues treasury notes, and makes them a legal tender: +the banks immediately make such notes the basis of bank issues, in the +ratio of three to one, and the whole currency necessarily becomes +redundant and depreciated; and thus this essential power of the +Government is controlled by the States, and, for all practical purposes, +annihilated. + +Chief Justice Marshall, in delivering the unanimous opinion of the +Supreme Court of the United States (4 Wheaton 193), said: 'Wherever the +terms in which a power is granted to Congress, or the nature of the +power require that it should be exercised exclusively by Congress, the +subject is as completely taken from the State Legislatures as if they +had been forbidden to act on it.' Now, it has been decided by the +Supreme Court of the United States (9 Wheaton 1) that, this power to +_regulate commerce_ extends to the _land_, as well as to the _water_, +that it includes _intercourse and navigation_, and vessels, as vehicles +of commerce, that it includes an _embargo_ which is prohibitory, that +this power is 'EXCLUSIVELY vested in Congress,' and '_no part of it can +be exercised by a State_.' Now, the question, whether the notes of a +State bank, issued on the authority of a State, and designed to +circulate as money, conflicts with _this clause_ of the Constitution, +has _never been decided by the Supreme Court of the United States_. This +is a new and momentous question, never yet adjudicated by the Supreme +Court; but how they would now decide that point, with the light thrown +upon it by this rebellion, I cannot doubt. + +The Government also has the sole power to lay and collect _duties_, +which 'shall be uniform throughout the United States,' and the States +are prohibited from exercising this authority. But this power also is in +fact controlled by the banks, and the revenue from imports increased or +diminished, according to their action. Indeed, they can modify or repeal +tariffs at their pleasure, for, they have only to inflate the +circulation, and prices rise here to the extent of the duties, and the +tariff becomes inoperative. Of all the branches of our industry, the +manufacturing is injured most by a redundant currency, limiting our +fabrics to a partial supply at home, and driving them from the foreign +market. Give us a sound, stable, uniform currency, sufficient but not +redundant, and our skilled, educated, and intelligent labor will, in +time, defy all competition. But the banks, as now conducted, are the +great enemies of American industry. + +The Government has also the _sole_ power 'to coin money, regulate the +value thereof,' etc. But the banks now regulate its value by controlling +prices, by substituting their money for coin, and by expelling it from +the country at their pleasure. Recollect, these powers over commerce and +money are _exclusive_, not concurrent, so adjudicated, and the +Constitution, in delegating them exclusively to the Government, withheld +them altogether from the States. The conceded fact that these powers are +_exclusive_, proves that the States cannot, by any instrumentality, +directly or indirectly, control their exercise. An exclusive authority +necessarily forbids any control or interference. But there are express +prohibitions in the Constitution as well as grants. That instrument +declares that 'no _State_ shall emit _bills of credit_.' The State +itself cannot emit circulating paper: how then can it authorize this to +be done by a State corporation, which is the mere creature of a State +law? The State cannot authorize its _Governor_ to issue such paper: how +then can it direct a _cashier_, deriving all his power only from a State +law, to do the same thing? _Qui facit per alium, facit per se_, and this +fundamental maxim of law and reason is violated when a State does +through any instrumentality, created by it, what the State cannot do +itself. + +It is true that a majority of the Supreme Court of the United States, in +11 Peters 257, did decide that the Bank of the Commonwealth of Kentucky +did not violate that clause of the Constitution forbidding States to +'emit bills of credit,' but Justice Story, in his dissenting opinion, +said: 'When this cause was formerly argued before this court, a majority +of the judges who then heard it were decidedly of opinion that the act +of Kentucky establishing this bank was unconstitutional and void, as +amounting to an authority to emit bills of credit, for and on behalf of +the State, within the prohibition of the Constitution of the United +States. In principle, it was thought to be decided by the case of Craig +_v._ the State of Missouri (4 Peters 410). Among that majority was the +late Chief Justice Marshall.' This decision, then, in the case of the +Bank of Kentucky, is overthrown, _as an authority_, by the fact that it +was against the decision of the Supreme Court in a former case, and +against the opinion of a majority of the court in that very case before +the death of Chief Justice Marshall. In delivering the opinion of the +court in the Missouri case (4 Peters 410), Chief Justice Marshall +defined what is that _bill of credit_ which a _State cannot emit_. He +says: 'If the prohibition means anything, if the words are not empty +sounds, it must comprehend the emission of _any paper medium_ by a State +Government, for the purpose of _common circulation_.' And he also says: +'Bills of credit signify a _paper medium_, intended to _circulate_ +between individuals, and between Government and individuals, for the +ordinary purposes of society.' That the notes of the Bank of Kentucky +came within this definition and decision, is clearly stated by Justice +Story. In that case also it was expressly decided, that if the issues be +unconstitutional, _the notes given for the loan of them_ ARE VOID. It is +said, however, that the bills are issued by a bank, not by the State; +but the bank is created by the State, and authorized by the State to +issue these notes, to circulate as money. In the language of Chief +Justice Marshall, in this case, 'And can this make any real difference? +Is the proposition to be maintained that the Constitution meant to +prohibit names and not things?' On this subject, Justice Story says: +'That a State may rightfully evade the prohibitions of the Constitution +by acting through the _instrumentality of agents_ in the evasion, +instead of acting in its _own direct name_, is a doctrine to which I can +never subscribe,' etc. I am conscious that Justice Story also said in +the same case, _arguendo_: 'the States may create banks as well as other +corporations, upon _private capital_; and, SO FAR AS THIS PROHIBITION IS +CONCERNED, may rightfully authorize them to issue bank bills or notes as +currency, subject always to the _control of Congress_, whose powers +extend to the _entire regulation of the currency of the country_.' It +will be observed, that Justice Story gives no opinion as to whether the +issues of such banks are constitutional, whether they conflict or not +with the power of Congress to regulate coin or commerce. He only says +(and the limitation is most significant), they do not violate the +prohibition as to bills of credit (from which I dissent); but he does +declare that to Congress belongs '_the entire regulation of the +currency_.' Now this power must rest on the authority of Congress to +regulate coin and commerce. But these powers, we have seen, were not +concurrent, but _exclusive_; and, in the language of Chief Justice +Marshall, in delivering the unanimous opinion of the Supreme Court in +the case before quoted from 4 Wheaton 193, as to any such power that +'should be exercised _exclusively_ by Congress, the subject is as +_completely_ taken from the State Legislature as if they had been +_forbidden to act on it_.' All then who agree that Congress has 'the +entire regulation of the currency,' must admit that all banks of issue +incorporated by States are unconstitutional, not because such issues are +bills of credit, but because they violate the exclusive authority of +Congress to regulate commerce, coin, and its value. I repeat, that while +this question has never been adjudicated by the Supreme Court, yet, if +their decision in fourth and ninth Wheaton is maintained, such bank +issues are clearly unconstitutional. It is clear, also, whatever may be +the case of bank issues, based only 'upon private capital,' or, in the +language of Judge Story, 'if the corporate stock, and that only by the +charter, is made liable for the debts of the bank,' yet, if the bank +issues are based on the 'funds' or 'credit' of the State, such issues do +violate the prohibition against bills of credit. Such bank issues, then, +as are furnished and countersigned by State officers, acting under State +laws, and are secured by the deposit with the State of its own stock, +are most clearly unconstitutional. + +In No. 44 (by Hamilton) of the _Federalist_, the great contemporaneous +exposition of the Constitution (prepared by Hamilton, Madison, and Chief +Justice Jay of the Supreme Court of the United States), it is said: 'The +same reasons which show the necessity of denying to the States the power +of regulating coin, prove with equal force that they ought not to be at +liberty to substitute a paper medium instead of coin.' Such was the +opinion of the two great founders of the Constitution (Hamilton and +Madison), and its first judicial expositor, the eminent Chief Justice +Jay. Justice Story quotes and approves this remarkable passage, and says +'that the prohibition was aimed at a _paper medium_ which was intended +to _circulate as money_, and to that alone.' + +In his message of December 3, 1816, President Madison, referring +expressly to a _bank_ and _paper_ medium, said: 'It is essential that +the nation should possess a currency of equal value, credit, and use, +wherever it may circulate. The Constitution has entrusted Congress +_exclusively_ with the power of _creating_ and _regulating_ a currency +of that description.' + +This rebellion proves the awful danger of State violations of the +Federal Constitution. The rebellion is the child of State usurpation, +State supremacy, State allegiance, and State secession. And now the +Government is paralyzed financially, in its efforts to suppress the +rebellion, by a question as to State banks, depreciating the currency, +and State banks based on State stocks. The Government wishes a currency, +not redundant, and to borrow money to save the Union. But one State +says, we have placed all our surplus money in State banks, and another +State (as in the case of New York) says, we have based the circulation +of these banks, mainly on our own State bonds, and you must do nothing +which will injuriously affect their value. It is true the Union is in +danger, but are not the credit of State banks and State bonds of higher +value than the Union? The State first, the Union afterwards. Our +paramount duty is to our State, and that to the Union is subordinate. +Why, this is the very language of rebellion--the echo of South Carolina +treason. But it is not the language of the Constitution, which declares +that "This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall +be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be +made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law +of the land: and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, +anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary +notwithstanding." + +The _supremacy_ then, is with the Federal Constitution and laws; +otherwise there could be no uniformity or nationality. And does New York +suppose that she can tear down the temple of the Union, and that the +principal pillar which supported the arch will stand firm and erect? No! +if the Union falls, New York will only be the most conspicuous among the +broken columns. + +But New York knows that the path of interest is that of honor and of +duty. It is the Union only that has made her great. It is the +concentration by the Union of interstate and international commerce in +her great city, that was consummating its imperial destiny. Before the +Union of 1778 and 1787, New York city was the village of Manhattan: +destroy the Union, and she will again become little more than the +village of Manhattan. The trident of the ocean, the sceptre of the +world's commerce would fall from her grasp, and London be left without a +rival. Deprive the Government of the power to regulate commerce, and the +fall of New York will be as rapid as her rise. Each State then, as +before the Constitution, would control its own commerce, and the +railroads and canals of New York would cease to be the vehicles of the +trade of the nation and of the world. Each State, as under the old +Confederacy, would force commerce into her own ports by prohibitory or +discriminating statutes. No, when New York takes from the Union the +exclusive control of commerce, she commits suicide. One uniform +regulation of commerce, and one uniform currency, are more essential to +the prosperity of New York than to that of any other State. New York +represents interstate and international commerce. There are concentrated +our imports and exports, and there three fourths of our revenue is +collected. There, if the Union endures, must be the centre of the +commerce of the nation and of the world. If the rebellion succeeds, the +separation of the East and West is just as certain as that of the North +and South. Discord would reign supreme, and States and parts of States +become petty sovereignties, mere pawns, to be moved on the political +chess board by the kings and queens of Europe. + +As New York has derived the greatest benefits from the Union, so would +she suffer most from its fall. It is New York to whom the Union +transferred the command of her own commerce, and ultimately that of the +world. It is New York to which England looks as the future successful +rival of London, and it is New York at whom England chiefly aims the +blow in desiring to overthrow the Union. The interest of New York in the +price of bank or State stock is insignificant compared with her still +greater stake in the success of the Union. Indeed, if the Union should +fall, State and bank stock and all property will be of little value, and +bank debts will generally become worthless. + +But if the war continues, we have seen that a redundant and depreciated +currency would increase our expenditures $408,800,000 per annum. This +would require a like addition to our annual tax, of which the share of +New York would be over $50,000,000, and the share of every other State +in like proportion to its population. + +By Treasury Table 35, the stocks, State and Federal, held by the New +York banks in 1860, was $29,605,318, the circulation $28,239,950, and +the capital $111,821,957. Thus it appears that the increased tax to be +paid _annually_ by New York, as the consequence of a redundant and +depreciated currency, would be nearly double her whole bank circulation, +and that thirteen months of this increased tax to be paid by the nation, +would largely exceed the whole capital of all the banks of the United +States in 1860. (Census Table 35.) These are the frightful results of an +irredeemable, redundant, and depreciated currency. + +Such a course, on the part of a Government, which must make large +purchases, resembles that of an individual who wishes to buy largely on +his own credit and paper, but depreciates it so much as to compel him to +pay quadruple prices, the result being bankruptcy and repudiation. + +There is great hope in the fact that New York takes no contracted view +of this great question. She knows that her imperial destiny is +identified with the fate of the Union. Realizing this great truth, she +has more troops in the field than any other State, she has expended more +money and more blood than any other State to suppress this rebellion, +and she will never array State stocks or State banks in hostility to the +safety of the Union. + +And what of Pennsylvania, that glorious old Commonwealth, so many of +whose noble sons, cut off mostly in the morning of life, now fill graves +prepared by treason? Is she to become a border State, and her southern +boundary the line of blood, marked by frowning forts, by bristling +bayonets, by the tramp of contending armies, engaged in the carnival of +slaughter, and revelry of death? Is New England to be re-colonized, and +the British flag again to float over the chosen domain of freedom? What +of the small States, deprived of the secured equality and protective +guarantees of the Constitution, to be surely crushed by more powerful +communities? What of the West? Is it to be cut off from the seaboard, +and rendered tributary to the maritime power? What of the States of the +Pacific? Are they to lose the great imperial railways destined, under +the Union, to connect them with the valley of the Mississippi and the +Atlantic? But alas! why look at any of the bleeding and mutilated +fragments, when all will be involved in a common ruin? + +May a gracious Providence give us all, the wisdom to discern what is +best for our beloved country, in this her day of fearful trial, and the +courage and patriotism to adopt whatever course is best calculated to +save us from impending ruin! + + + + +A TRIP TO ANTIETAM. + + +The great battle of the Antietam had been fought, and a veteran army was +gathered around Harper's Ferry recruiting for fresh campaigns. Here was +a chance to see a battle field and warriors to be celebrated for all +time. From childhood up we have been taught history; and all history, +except some few dry constitutional treatises, has been accounts of great +commanders, of the marches and retreats of bronzed soldiers, of empires +won by the sword, of dynasties established by conquests. Our hymn book, +our clergymen, and our Bible have exhorted us to be soldiers of the +cross, to buckle on our armor, and to fight the good fight, even when +turning the other cheek when smitten on the one. Now this opportunity to +see actual history, a battle field, and veteran troops, and great +leaders whose names are to be household words, could not be resisted; +so, taking a couple of blankets apiece, and a few clothes, and money +wherewith to pay our way, we started by rail for Baltimore, and thence +for the army. + +Around Baltimore were several regiments. Those that we visited were of +the recent levies, and were improving fast in discipline and drill. They +were placed in strong positions to prevent a rebel attack from the west, +and to command the city. The stars and stripes floated over houses in +all parts of the town. We met a little company of boys seven miles out +playing soldier, with the star-spangled banner, a cheering sign of the +loyalty of the place. + +At Baltimore my friend and I took seats in the car for Harper's Ferry. +The train was crowded with a most miscellaneous set of passengers, +officers of all grades, from general with stars to second lieutenant +with plain bands, common soldiers, sutlers, Jews, and country people. +Some of the Jews, after a time, became the most noisy part of the crowd, +and belied their proverbial reputation for shrewdness by imbibing from +bottles, which they circulated very freely, becoming very talkative, and +most decidedly drunk. The most interesting companion we met was a member +of the Maryland House of Representatives, a very sensible man, and of +course a strong Unionist. He did not approve of the President's +emancipation proclamation; thought it would alienate Union men in the +Border States, and made other objections to it. He informed us that his +negroes were of no profit to him; that the proclamation had made them +believe they would all be free; that they did pretty much what they +chose; and that Maryland would have to accede to the President's advice +to the Union Border States to emancipate their slaves and receive +compensation for so doing. + +The railroad, after leaving the Relay House, runs along the Patapsco +river, amid most beautiful scenery. We passed numerous trains with +Government stores--one of baggage cars fitted up with rough seats and +crowded inside and on the top with a regiment of Uncle Sam's bluecoats, +cheering and singing as new troops only do. There were no signs of the +devastations of war until we approached the Monocacy river. During their +campaign in Maryland, the rebels at one time made this river their line +of defence: it was supposed that they would make here a stand against +McClellan's advance from Washington. They had burnt the woodwork of the +bridge, twisted the long iron rods of the structure to one side, +destroyed all the railroad building, engines, and cars they could lay +hands on, and had done everything to retard our force. A new bridge had +now been recently built, over which we were obliged to pass slowly. +Immediately after leaving the river, the road branched, one track +leading to Frederick, then an immense hospital containing seven thousand +wounded soldiers, the other keeping on and striking the Potomac at the +Point of Rocks. We saw soldiers and sentries at several places, but were +surprised that we did not see more. The road keeps close to the river +for some miles to Harper's Ferry. On the other side the ground was +frequently occupied by the enemy's pickets; the difficulty of +approaching the river being the only impediment to the shelling of +trains on our side. The Potomac was unusually low; there had been a long +season of dry, beautiful weather, rendering it fordable in many places. + +At the Point of Rocks we enter upon the mountains of the Blue Ridge, and +the railroad winds in the deep valley worn by the river, amid the most +picturesque and beautiful scenery. The canal is between the railroad and +river: its locks had been destroyed and the water drained out by the +rebel hordes; for it is a great artery of life to Washington, and +invaluable to an army encamped along its borders, furnishing +economically the transportation of the great supplies necessary for the +soldiers' subsistence. At this time it seemed of no use except as a +depository for the carcasses of dead horses. + +With the exception of this dismal empty canal, there were very few signs +of the ravages of the armies which had lately swept through these +charming valleys. A few miles from Harper's Ferry, by the side of the +railroad, were great hayricks, and the barns were full to overflowing. +As we approached Sandy Hook, a village of a few houses on the north side +of the Potomac, about a mile from Harper's Ferry, we saw on the road, +which ran close to the railroad track, thousands of the blue-bodied, +white-topped army wagons. In the most crowded thoroughfare of London one +would not see so many teams. From this neighborhood the great army of +the Potomac drew the most of its supplies. The ninth army corps was +moving this day to its camp, two or three miles northward; and part of +its cannon, their brazen throats still tarnished by sulphurous smoke, +added to the throng. It is surprising how large a portion of the army is +composed of these baggage trains, and of the camp followers, teamsters, +servants, and sutlers. A regiment of infantry, under the little shelter +tents is crowded, into a small space; but the bulky baggage trains cover +much ground. We spent the best part of a day, in going to and returning +from the army, in the neighborhood of a small wayside tavern in this +little village of Sandy Hook, with no other amusement than watching the +moving of the teamsters, chatting with stray officers and soldiers, and +seeing what may be called the back-stair life of the army. And we wish +here to protest against the abuse which has been so abundantly heaped +upon the teamsters: we found them, as a class, a respectable body of +men, quite skilful in the management of their animals, comparing well +with those in the same occupation in our great cities: there was +certainly not so much swearing, and not so much abuse of their mules and +horses, as one sees in New York. I remember their kind attention to me, +some days afterward, when, in my impatience to get by a long train of +teams filling up a little country road, I had imprudently urged my horse +on to a ledge of rocks, where he, not being an old warhorse, hesitated, +slipped, and fell flat on his side, among the mules of one of the +wagons; and, as the horse, with my leg under him, was rolling to recover +himself, the anxiety of the teamsters as to whether I was hurt, and then +as to my horse, a fine animal, who had cut himself a little on the +rocks. Their proffered assistance was very different from the oaths I +should have met under similar circumstances in some Northern cities. + +The army wagons are large, with great white cotton coverings, and +generally drawn by six mules: the driver, usually a colored man, rides +the first nigh mule, and has _one_ rein, called the 'jerky rein,' +running over the head of the mule before him, through a ring fastened to +his headstall, and dividing on the back of the leader, and fastening to +his bit. The mule is directed to one side or another by the driver +twitching the rein and shouting. There were some few wagons driven from +the box, but in all these cases that we noticed, the animals were +horses, four in number, and their drivers were white. The mules and +horses were generally in good condition, and quite a contrast to those +in the cavalry service, which, even in a crack regiment, like the sixth +regular, presented a most sorry appearance of overwork and terribly hard +usage. The baggage trains and camp followers are a necessary portion of +every army, and its efficiency depends in a great measure upon the +perfect organization of this essential part. In the French army this +organization is carried to a high degree of perfection. A small army of +ten or twenty thousand men can get along with a fewer proportional +number of followers, as it lives more upon the country, than a great +army of one hundred thousand. + +Every regiment has its own baggage wagons to carry its tents, cooking +apparatus, officers' mess chests, and personal baggage. At the beginning +of the war, each of the Massachusetts regiments was fitted out with from +fifteen to twenty-four wagons. A recent United States regulation has +limited the number to six for one regiment. The personal baggage of the +regiments, however, forms a small part of the great transportation of an +army. The spare ammunition is no small matter; every cannon having a +supply of round shot, shell, canister, and grape: all these may be +needed by each piece in a battle, as the shot used depends upon the +distance of the foe. A full regiment of infantry may fire in one battle +sixty thousand rounds of ammunition, weighing nearly three tons. The +pontoon trains, the baggage of the staff, the forage for the horses of +the artillery and of the generals, field officers, and their staffs, the +food of the army, and the food and forage for this further army of camp +followers--all have to be transported. The cavalry are expected to +forage for their horses from off the country; all the rest have to be +provided for. To carry the subsistence of a regiment of nine hundred men +for one day, requires one of the six-mule teams: for a march of twenty +days there must be twenty wagons. One will see from this that, next to +the general, the quartermaster has the great post of responsibility. He +has to see that all the supplies are obtained and forwarded to the right +place. He commands all these countless wagons with their teamsters. It +is also his duty, when on the march, to pick out the camp, unless the +general may take it from out of his hands. The army, as a general thing, +will not fight well unless it is well fed and well cared for. To assist +him, the quartermaster has his necessary clerks, for he carries on a +large business, with Uncle Sam as his principal, and he must account to +him for every pound of coffee, bacon, flour, and hay, barrel of vinegar, +keg of nails, tent or tent pin that he receives, and finally return +them, or tell him satisfactorily where they have gone, and produce his +vouchers; or he and his bondsmen must pay their value. All this is done +by system and rule: there are mounted wagonmasters to look out for every +small string of wagons, and some sort of discipline prevails among these +non-enlisted men. A great army must be a moving city, capable of +subsisting itself in the uncultivated and desert regions through which +it often passes. Every cavalry soldier carries his spare horseshoes and +nails; and every cavalry regiment and every battery of artillery has its +own forge, tools, and materials for shoeing its horses and making +repairs: even the quartermaster's train must have its blacksmiths and +their supplies. + +In travelling down the Rhone during the Crimean war, I was vainly trying +to make out the meaning of the letters on the military button of an +officer sitting before me; when one of his companions, who happened to +be at my side, a well-educated, intelligent man, good-naturedly informed +me that they indicated that the wearer belonged to the bureau of the +post. He and several others on the boat had been educated for this +branch of the service at a military school in Paris, and were en route +for the sole purpose of taking charge of this department. We have not +arrived at this perfection; for ours, after all, in many respects, is an +army of volunteers; but still a messenger had to go every day to +Washington for the letters of the army corps, and the telegraph and its +wires travel with the camp. The officers' servants alone, in an army of +a hundred and fifty thousand men, number more than the thirty-nine +hundred soldiers the city of Boston has to raise for her proportion of +the levy of nine-months men. The number of servants and horses of an +officer depends upon his rank; he draws subsistence for the number +allowed to him. A mere cavalry captain can draw for and usually has two +horses. His horses and trappings, his mess, must be cared for by others; +and hence the thousands of servants that must go with the thousands of +officers. + +But let us pass from this, which is common to every army, and proceed on +our journey. The easily pulverized, light, clayey soil around Sandy Hook +was raised in huge clouds by the countless wagons and the hoofs of the +horses of the squads of cavalry officers, couriers, and wagonmasters. +The little tavern was once, the old woman who kept it assured us, +surrounded by a pretty fence, and a garden with grass and flowers: now +the fence was half gone, and to its pickets were tied the horses of +officers, quartermasters, baggagemasters, and orderlies, and the flowers +were trampled into light dust. The provisions in the house had been +eaten by hungry travellers, who were supplied with very scanty fare, and +were thankful to get that. The old woman, having dealt out to us the +little she had left, for which she demanded most abundant compensation, +amused us with her tales. Her house had been alternately the home of +Unionists and rebels. It was not many days since divisions of rebels had +gone by and encamped there, both before and after the surrender of +Harper's Ferry. The shells fired in that fight had passed over her +tavern. Her description of the hungry, tired troopers, arriving in the +evening, and surrounding the house, the men falling down asleep under +their horses' bellies, horses and men packed in together as thick as a +swarm of bees, was quite graphic. Her accounts of her conversations with +the great rebel leaders were interesting, but I feared were apocryphal, +as she ended by assuring us that General Lee had to sleep supperless on +her woodpile. If it were not for this last tale, kind reader, you would +have been entertained with the conversations of the great chiefs of +rebeldom, as related by a reliable witness. We did hear from her, and +from officers who saw the rebel soldiers at Harper's Ferry, of the +pitiable condition of some of the infantry, of their naked, bleeding +feet, and their gaunt looks. Our landlady affirmed that we could not +find a dog in the neighborhood; for they had gone before the rebel +hordes in the way that such flesh disappears before the Chinese and +Pacific Islanders. It is probably true that at times they were hard +pressed for food, and many badly off for shoes; but we were told by +officers who saw the dead at Antietam that, though not so well shod as +our men, they were shod, and they had provisions in their haversacks. +The rebels have flour dealt out to them as rations on the march, and +they have to cook it. Our troops have hard biscuit, called 'tack;' it is +made in squares, and some which was fresh was very good; but it often +comes to the regiments with maggots. This is not so much objected to; +but when, in addition, it is mouldy, the men grumble. By the side of the +fresh tack were some Sandy Hook veteran biscuit, that had been through +the Peninsular campaign, and had come last from Harrison's Landing; the +outside of the boxes was enough to condemn them, and the commissary was +saying that he must get Uncle Sam's inspector-general to examine and +pass upon them. When we saw this hard, mouldy old tack, we appreciated +the joke of the Western boys, who declared they found the date of the +baking on their biscuit in the letters 'B. C.,' 'Before Christ.' The +luxury of soft bread is prized by the troops. Near Baltimore, where the +38th Massachusetts were stationed for some weeks, nice ovens were built, +after the fashion of the French army, and fresh bread, meats, and the +Yankee Sunday beans cooked. With the army in the field this cannot be +done, but the ovens could have been built during the weeks our soldiers +were resting on the banks of the Potomac. Our troops at this time were +fed on the hard tack and fresh beef; and some of the men in a camp near +Sharpsburg complained of the want of salt provisions. This seemed +unreasonable, until we heard that they had no salt, the long distance it +had to be teamed being the excuse given for the unpardonable want of it. +This hard tack is doing one good thing: it is giving the men white +teeth; you can tell an old soldier by his polished ivory; his teeth +approach the appearance of the Italian and Swiss peasantry, who also +chew hard bread. Reader, did you ever try to work your way through the +hard loaf of the peasant's fare? The army regulations require tooth +brushes for the men; it is supposed that the proper use keeps off ague +and disease; still many regiments were without one to a company. + +But to return to our old woman at the little tavern of Sandy Hook. She +had tales, too, of our officers. That morning she had seen our +handsomest and our most splendid-looking general--in appearance the +ideal of the brigand of the romance--Burnside, riding by, with his +black, tall, army felt hat, without plume or gilt eagle, brim turned +down, his dark blue blouse covered with dust. 'Why,' said she, 'he +looked, in his dusty blue shirt, with two old tin dippers strung by the +handle at his belt, like any farmer; but I suppose he had some better +clothes.' Her lament for the gallant fellows who had fallen by disease, +torn by the cannon shot, or struck by the deadly rifle ball; for the +sufferings of the poor, sick, lame, and mutilated soldiers; and her +solemn asseverations that there was something wrong in the hearts of the +leaders on both sides, to permit this suffering and loss of so many good +men, was truly touching. We could not reason it out with her; logic had +to give place to her pathetic lamentation. I do not, however, intend to +keep my readers so long a time at this little wayside inn as I was; and +will pass on to Harper's Ferry, a mile beyond. + +But before we part, we certainly should not fail to notice a modern +addition to the camp follower that Napoleon did not have in his grand +armies--the newsboy--the omnipresent, the irrepressible gamin of the +press. New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, all had +contributed their quota, and what a glorious harvest they were reaping! +Baltimore _Americans_, at five cents each; New York _Heralds_, +_Tribunes_, and _Times_, at ten cents; and everything sold early. One +little fellow was strutting around with a pair of spurs on, and styled +himself 'colonel;' the others he introduced as his staff. The day's work +was over, and larking had begun. I found the spurs were for use. The +colonel had bought an old condemned brute, which his companions were +trying to buy at the advanced price of ten dollars. The camps were at a +distance, from two miles upward, and a mounted boy could bring his wares +to market first. And so the whole afternoon every rider of a +particularly bad horse was pestered by an offer of five or ten dollars, +from a throng of dirty, noisy, scampish ragamuffins. Later in the +evening, the guard went by with some three or four of the boys, for once +without a grin on their faces, under arrest. We asked the colonel, who +had the reputation of being an honest fellow, what was the matter with +his suite. He only replied that it was hard times for newsboys, if that +was the way things were going; and walked off, clanking his long spurs +over the stones. + +The railroad and road from Sandy Hook to Harper's Ferry run under the +Maryland Heights, the rocks having been blasted away for a passage. The +railroad bridge had been rebuilt, not permanently, but so that trains +could again cross. Lower down the river were the remains of the pontoon +bridge destroyed by the rebels. Higher up on the other side of the +railroad was a new pontoon bridge, built on boats, painted with Uncle +Sam's light blue color. Farther up, the wagons were fording the stream. +As you crossed the pontoon bridge, you came directly to the little stone +engine house, with its belfry, where John Brown held the power of the +great State of Virginia at bay. All else of the Government buildings are +in ruins. The long lines of brick and stone walls blackened by fire, and +the picturesque broken arches of the engine-house windows, were a fit +greeting to one's entrance upon the ruined grandeur of the Old Dominion. +Through the clouds of dust and the noise and confusion of the village +upon the hill rising immediately above the river, we rode, noting the +signs of the recent contest, or looking down on the blue Potomac, +flowing peacefully below. One large brick house had a breach in the +basement story large enough for us to ride in, caused by some bursting +shell. Dead horses still lay in the road; the tailpiece of a broken +cannon was yet there. As we emerged out of the dust at the top of the +hill beyond, toward the afternoon sun, rose Bolivar Heights, and the +innumerable white tents of General Sumner's large army corps. The +soldiers were out for drill or dress parade. The distant sounds of the +bands and bugles and drums, sometimes succeeding each other, then +mingling together, fell softened but constantly on the ear, and +everywhere was the gleam of the declining sun on glistening sword or +bright musket barrel. Behind us to the east, and beyond the Shenandoah, +which flowed at the foot of the village, arose the high Loudon +Mountains; on the north, on the other side of the Potomac, were the +Maryland Heights, with the road to Sharpsburgh and Williamsport winding +along its wooded base. The tops of these mountains were lighted up and +wreathed with the smoke of the fires kindled to destroy the thick woods +that might afford shelter to approaching enemies. It was most charming +mountain scenery. We enjoyed the view long, but had to turn our backs at +last; and as we recrossed the pontoon bridge we wiped off from the soles +of our feet a large portion of the sacred soil of Virginia. Yes, the +sacred soil of Virginia, the mother of presidents, the home of +Washington, Patrick Henry, Jefferson, and Madison, and of how many +others famous in our history. O Virginia, what a contrast is there now! +the blood of thy boasted chivalry struggling manfully stains the ground; +thy soil is ground to powder under the heel of the hated mudsils of the +North; thy fertile plains and beautiful valleys are trodden down by +armed men; the fierce contest, and desolation and want have come to +every household; and the cry arises for thy sons that are not! + +The headquarters of Gen. McClellan were two or three miles north of +Knoxville, a little village on the Potomac, about three miles below +Harper's Ferry. The day that we were there, the General was absent on +his way to meet Mrs. McClellan, and though the telegraph wires ran to +headquarters, nothing was there known of the foray Stuart had begun +early that morning from Hancock, in the rear of our forces; not till +evening, and until his arrival at Chambersburg did the news arrive. If +the telegraph wires had been laid, or the signal corps so stationed as +to have given warning of the inception of this movement, these bold +rebels could not have advanced so far, but would have been compelled to +retreat as they came. Between the General's headquarters and the river +were the famous sixth cavalry of regulars and some batteries of +artillery. He had no guard in the direction of Pennsylvania toward the +northeast, where Stuart's cavalry passed on their way to the Potomac. +The camp itself was not well placed, and was soon changed. In going from +it we rode through a most beautiful country by the side of an officer of +the sixth cavalry, and listened to his enthusiastic account of scouting +in front of our lines, in the footsteps of the retreating enemy, over +the very roads we were travelling safely and without concern; and yet we +were not many miles from the foe, and within reach of the marvellous +flight of the minié ball, which some lurking rifleman might aim from the +other side of the Potomac. These cavalry soldiers and horses have had a +terribly hard time of it. The horses of the sixth were more broken down +and thinner than in the artillery or baggage trains. Two squadrons had +lately been part of the force sent on a reconnoisance to Leesburg; and +upon the return of our troops it had been the duty of our companion, +then in command, to bring up the rear and drive in the infantry +stragglers. Some two hundred had fallen out of the ranks from mere +exhaustion. To leave any of these soldiers behind would be giving them +up as prisoners, and affording the enemy the opportunity of obtaining +information which it was of the utmost importance for the safety of the +expedition to keep back. The troopers had therefore to drive them on +with their swords--not a pleasant duty, when the poor fellows were faint +and used up by fatigue--still it must be done. This service creates +quite a dislike between the two arms. The infantry man hates the +horseman, and the cavalry man despises the foot soldier. At this time +straggling was quite prevalent: we saw on byroads many who had left the +ranks, almost invariably having thrown away their arms, and subsisting +on plunder. The cavalry were scouring the roads for them, and were +bringing them in as prisoners for punishment. This sixth cavalry, like +all the old regiments which had been through the Peninsular campaign and +the disastrous retreat under Pope, was frightfully reduced in numbers: +only three hundred and seventy were around the standards out of the +eleven hundred who first took the field. Many had fallen on picket or +been cut off singly, more by disease, but alike doing their duty, +unmentioned and unnoticed. A larger number were yet suffering from +overwork and sickness; and the regiment would in time recruit to seven +hundred, from men now disabled, if there should be no more casualties. + +A few days in camp, in a good-sized tent--none of the two-feet-high +shelter affairs--in pleasant summer weather, is, on the whole, something +new and exhilarating. The ground, to be sure, is rather hard, +particularly when you have no straw; and a soldier's table is not always +the most luxurious in the world. Now that we are safe, dry, and warm, at +home, we can venture to declare that we were very unfortunate in losing +the sensation of going without food, of sleeping in the mud and in the +rain--our arms girded on--any moment to be aroused by the whistle of +the bullet or the roll of the drum calling us to the deadly strife. + +To us, however, it was all _couleur de rose_. In the early morn, at +break of day, it was not the crow of the cock, or the jarring rattle of +the wheels of the city baker or milkman, but the reveille that waked us +from our martial dreams. The drum of the infantry, the bugles of the +cavalry and artillery would begin; some early riser would rouse up his +regiment; then another would take it up; until the call had gone through +every corps. The old staid rub-a-dub of the English drummer is giving +place to the stirring French rat-a-plan. And there was one band that +generally led off in a splendid style. They did beat their drums lively +and sharply. Not being obliged to be up with the sun and cook our own +breakfast, we generally contrived to get a little more sleep. After +breakfast, the bands were playing for guard-mounting; and we sat gazing +down into the valley from our tent upon the large army corps encamped +below. We were on the western slope of the Blue Ridge, through whose +gaps not many days before, a few miles farther north, Franklin had +successfully fought his way. Still farther up, Burnside, with Reno and +Hooker under him, had at South Mountain driven the enemy in--that battle +which came to us so welcome, the first victory after Pope's disasters, +and the retreat from the Peninsula. The valley below us was Pleasant +Valley. The opposite side to our tent was a short spur of the Blue +Ridge; the southern extremity of which is the Maryland Heights, so well +known in the history of the surrender of Harper's Ferry. The valley +between is fertile and highly cultivated, full of mountain springs and +brooks, emptying into one stream of sufficient size to turn the wheels +of a large mill; the water is delicious; the prevailing limestone does +not reach this valley. In the morning before the army moved there, the +little river was clear as crystal; at night it was changed into an +opaque white color, a stream of soapy water; a pleasing witness to the +cleanliness of our men. There were no clothes lines, however, but many +of the washers were so scantily off for clothing that they put their +garments on to dry. The farmhouses in the valley are mostly of stone. It +is a most charming and beautiful place, and appropriately called +'Pleasant Valley.' The farmers are prosperous; and the land so rich that +it sells for the high price of seventy and eighty dollars an acre. The +mountains rising on the sides of the valley are thickly wooded; and in +the cultivated fields between were crowded the tents of the ninth army +corps. With the exception of one or two new regiments who had wall +tents, the soldiers were under little shelter tents, of which each man +carries a piece. The infantry were encamped in divisions and brigades; +the cavalry generally picketed along a fence; the horses and men, except +the officers, without shelter. The encampments of the artillery and +cavalry with their horses, forges, and wagons, covered much ground; but +the infantry were thickly crowded together; and it was surprising to see +how many men a small encampment would turn out. + +In the afternoon came drills, sometimes of regiments, sometimes of +brigades, and the unfailing dress parade. There were a few regiments of +new levies just arrived, a thousand strong; all provided with overcoats, +and looking finely in their new, clean clothes--quite a contrast to the +old soldiers. In one of the old regiments on brigade drill we saw an +officer, probably a sergeant, in a checked knit undervest, his neck and +part of his arms bare--commanding a company. A sentry on guard before +the quarters of the general in command, had great holes in both elbows +of his dirty jacket, and his shoes were untied. The brigades were +generally of five regiments, a new regiment being one, and composing +fully two fifths of the line. It is not wholly, however, by the +casualties of the battle or the greater losses from exposure, overwork, +and disease, that the regiments are diminished. If a good blacksmith is +found, he is detailed to the forge; others are detached as ambulance +drivers, or as hospital attendants or clerks. This thins the ranks of +the old regiments. It is surprising, however, to see how much better the +veterans will bear exposure than men coming fresh from home. The old +regiments were frightfully diminished by disease on the Peninsula; but I +saw very few that could not rally more men than the 35th Massachusetts, +that had been out of the State only a little over a month. They had but +three hundred men of the original thousand. They left Washington without +their knapsacks; and had marched without even the shelter tents, +officers and men alike bivouacking on the ground, wearing the same +clothes without a change. The long marches, the exposures, the +excitement of battle, and the unaccustomed food had disabled four +hundred men; some of them undoubtedly never strong enough to have +enlisted, and who should have been rejected by the examining surgeons. +The old regiments, who had gradually been hardened to this life, and who +had learned to thrive on the soldier's fare, lost comparatively few in +this way. + +The brigade drills and the manoeuvres in line were not so well +executed as we expected. There was no practice in firing at a mark; +probably from a want of ammunition. From accounts of officers on the +field of battle, it certainly is the case in our army that some of the +fresh soldiers will fire in the air, and even close their eyes. The +Hythe system, as now taught in the English army, and among the rifle +clubs, makes excellent marksmen; and the greater part of the instruction +is without the use of powder. It is a pity it cannot be more extensively +introduced in our army. + +One does not expect to find the same training before the enemy as in the +great French camps of instruction. It was my good fortune to visit the +camp of a portion of the great Crimean army. The privates, besides their +military drill, were exercised in running, leaping, fencing, and boxing; +and some sergeants were teaching dancing. I followed a regiment of the +chasseurs of Vincennes to their field of drill. For an hour or two they +went through different manoeuvres by the bugle, performing many of the +movements at the double quick. Then came a rest; as soon as that was +ordered, the fine band of the regiment came forward and struck up a +lively dance, to the tune of which several of the privates amused and +refreshed themselves by waltzing round the field. + +Returning, however, to our picturesque camp in this charming valley. +There was no more striking scene than when darkness came on and the +thousand camp fires and lights in the tents were all in sight. The rail +fences, bought by the thoughtful quartermaster, and paid for as an army +supply, were used as fuel; a truly considerate act, for a quartermaster +can buy fuel for the army, but he cannot pay damages done to property. +This same ground, now covered by our troops, had been camped over by +Lee's army; who had also used the fences, not even paying for them in +the worthless Confederate scrip. Soon after dark, the bright lights of +the signal corps appeared on the mountain north of the Maryland Heights, +and messages were sent to McClellan's headquarters. Flags are used in +the day, and at night lanterns. The signal officer has two lights; they +are held one above the other, the lower one being stationary; moving the +upper light to the right means number one; moving the light to the left, +number two; moving first to the right and then to the left, number +three; by lowering the upper light in front of the under one, a fourth +signal is given; and so on. There are about five numbers; and by the +different combinations of these five numbers, there is made a great +number of signals, which can be read by the officers who have the key. +The mode is much the same as that used by our mercantile marine with +their signal flags. The signals are given very rapidly, and a few +minutes suffice for the sending of the messages. + +Evening is the time for talk around the camp fires; and the conversation +often turns upon our rebellious brethren. Among our regular officers you +meet the classmates and old companions in arms of the rebels, and hear +of little traits and peculiarities that only intimate acquaintances can +relate. Civilians who had known General Lee at Washington, have spoken +of him as very formal, and rather pompous in his manner, giving the +impression that he was a man of more show and pretence than abilities. +We learned here, however, that, in Texas, or California, where he was +for a long time before he took his high position on Scott's staff, he +was famous for marching his men without the usual encumbrances of +baggage, on the most severe expeditions against the Indians, in the snow +and cold of the winter. Stonewall Jackson has always been famed for his +peculiarities. When a young man, he was possessed with the idea that he +was in danger of having his limbs paralyzed, and he would pump on his +arm for many minutes, counting the strokes, and annoyed beyond measure +by the interruptions of his companions breaking up his count. Our +officers, both regular and volunteer, who have been in actual battle, +have a great respect for the rebel leaders and soldiers; they speak very +highly of their drill, and believe that straggling exists to a less +extent among them, in battle, than with us. From the rebel newspapers I +should doubt whether this is the case. One thing we have not considered, +which has given the rebels a great advantage in this contest. It is the +large number of military colleges in the South; not like our few private +schools at the North, but well-endowed academies. In the summer of 1860, +immediately before the election of Lincoln, I visited the military +academy at Lexington, Virginia. It was supported at the expense of the +State, with two hundred and more pupils, coming from the different +counties in proportion to their population. They were practised in the +actual firing of cannon and mortars; and every afternoon were drilled as +infantry for about two hours, much of the time at the double quick. The +principal was a graduate of West Point; and he was assisted by a +respectable board of instructors. A good civil and military education, +after the mode of instruction at West Point, was afforded to the +students. This institution had been in existence for years; and one can +readily appreciate the advantage that Virginia has in this war from the +graduates of this school. Alabama and several other of the Southern +States have similar colleges; while we at the North have been obliged to +educate all our volunteer officers by actual service. + +The morning Stuart with his cavalry left Chambersburg, we rode forth for +the battle field of the Antietam. We noticed the disappearance of some +of the camps of the infantry brigades. We knew of the patrolling of the +cavalry along the road we were pursuing, and found the picket guards +farther out, and passes and countersigns necessary where before we went +unchallenged. We were several hours in getting to the battle field, and +stopped to get some refreshments at a large brick farmhouse, where the +battle on the left began. The hospital flag was still flying over the +building, though no patients had been there for a day or two. +Twenty-seven died in that one farmhouse from wounds received in that +bloody fight. On the night of the battle, cows, sheep, poultry, and +fences disappeared before our cold and hungry troops. But since then, +though the house was in the neighborhood of several camps, the old lady +and her daughters, who alone were at home, had been undisturbed, except +by the small pilferings of stragglers. + +The great battle has been so well described by the correspondents of the +newspaper press, and by those who were over the field before we were, +that I shall only mention a few incidents to which our attention was +called. The principal contest was on the right, west of the Antietam +river. Here Hooker with his army corps began the battle, and fought so +long and splendidly. Both armies crowded their forces to this part of +the field. Sumner, whose troops had been with their belts on since three +in the morning, brought up his large corps, drawn up in three columns, +forty paces apart, to reënforce Hooker's hard-pressed soldiers, who were +retreating before the fresh and overwhelming reënforcements of the +enemy. In less than an hour, the whole of Sumner's corps was swept back, +broken and entirely routed, and never appeared in the field again; the +column in the rear not being in position to fire a gun, but losing as +many men as those in front. + +The manner in which General Sumner brought his troops into action has +been severely criticized, even by officers of his own corps; whether +justly or not, it is difficult to decide. No commander was more confided +in by his soldiers than Sumner. 'He has risen from the ranks, and been +through all the grades of the service,' 'He knows how to treat his men,' +were expressions constantly heard. General Hooker's reputation as a +fighting general was admitted everywhere; his _coup d'oeil_ of the +battle field was represented as most excellent. + +It was also on the right that the desperate fighting in the woods and +the deadly struggle at close quarters in the cornfield with such fearful +loss of life took place. An officer who was on the battle fields of +Magenta and Solferino, says that the scene here was much more horrible. +Many spoke of the scenes they saw with a shudder. They could not throw +off the impression made by the masses of wounded and dead; the wounded +often lying neglected and helpless under the dead, sometimes crushed to +death by the wheels of our own artillery. + +Our left at Antietam was far off from the right: in these days of guns +of long range the line of battle is longer than it was formerly. At +Waterloo the English occupied a front of less than two miles. In this +battle ours was about four miles. In the battle of Solferino the +engagement extended for eighteen miles. + +The contest on the left was fought by General Burnside with only one +army corps, the ninth. The battle at this place was a most gallant +affair, but has excited less attention than the bloody fight on the +right. In the dusty, tiresome march through Maryland, in the skirmishes +in and around Frederick, during the glorious hearty welcome our troops +received in that old town, the advance, consisting of both Hooker's and +Reno's army corps, had been commanded by Burnside. With them he had +fought the successful and brilliant battle of South Mountain, coming to +us so gratefully after the disastrous repulse and retreat of Pope. Reno +had unfortunately fallen, and General Burnside took command of his +corps: it was his old force from North Carolina, increased by General +Cox's Kanawha troops, and some new regiments, in all a little short of +twenty thousand men. On the morning of the battle, Burnside took his +station on the east side of the Antietam, in a field overlooking the +country on the other side of the river. The gathering of his staff to +their breakfast brought the shells of the enemy in their midst, and +compelled a change of position to the rear of some haystacks. On the +same hill was placed a formidable battery of rifled cannon, throwing +twenty-pound shot, commanded by Lieutenant Benjamin, of the regular +artillery. The guns are so heavy that they each have eight horses to +drag them, and the caissons have six. There was unfortunately a short +supply of ammunition, and the battery was fired slowly during the day. +The guns were well placed and served, and aimed with wonderful accuracy. +Shells were planted in two of the enemy's ammunition carts, blowing them +to pieces; and the fire of cannon was so hot that it compelled a rebel +battery two miles off, coming down a road to get into position, to wheel +round and gallop over the hill. Proud, indeed, were the Lieutenant's men +of their exploits on that day, and wonderful stories they told of their +famous battery. + +The Antietam in front of Burnside was deep, not fordable, flowing in the +bottom of a charming valley, and overshadowed by trees. There was a +solid stone bridge over it, with three arches, rising picturesquely in +the centre, with stone parapets on the sides, the parapets spreading at +both ends of the structure. One would almost imagine that it was an old +Italian bridge transported to our wooden-building land. The side of the +valley held by the rebel troops rises sharply, not densely wooded, but +covered by large trees thickly placed, as in an old English park. Along +the top of this ridge ran a solid stone wall, thicker and of heavier +stones than any we saw in the neighborhood. Where the wall ended rifle +pits had been dug. Behind the massive trunks, and in the branches of the +old trees, behind this wall and in the pits, were crowded the +sharpshooters of the rebels. The ascent from the bridge out of the +valley on the enemy's side, was too steep for a straight road up the +ridge. If ever a bridge could be defended, that should have been; the +only disadvantage the rebels were under was that they could not sweep it +with artillery. + +Our left had vainly attempted to cross the bridge; twice had they been +repulsed. On the right our troops were hard pressed; much of the ground +gained in the morning had been lost; Hooker was wounded, Sumner's corps +routed, Mansfield killed, and his corps beaten back. Then McClellan +ordered Burnside to take the bridge, and hold it at any cost. Burnside +sent some troops farther down the river, where it was fordable. He +called up one of his old brigades that had been with him in North +Carolina, saying, if any brigade could take the bridge, that one would. +It was composed of the 51st New York, 51st Pennsylvania, 21st +Massachusetts, and a Rhode Island regiment; on their colors were +inscribed, 'Roanoke,' 'Newbern,' two of our most glorious victories. +With these veteran troops was the 35th Massachusetts, a new regiment +that had left home only a month before, but who nobly did their part. +Down went the 51st Pennsylvania in column in the advance, at the run, +shouting and crowding and firing as they hurried across the bridge, +bringing down the rebels from the trees, suffering themselves, but never +halting. They crossed and deployed on the other side. Next came the 35th +Massachusetts, over the bridge, up the valley, then forming in line of +battle on the top of the small hill commanding the stream. The enemy +were drawn up before them, quite a distance off, on the top of the next +hill. Every inch of ground between was commanded by the rebel fire; but +our brave fellows charged on up this hill, driving the foe before them: +they did not halt there, for another still higher hill, which could now +for the first time be seen farther on, rose up before them. Nothing +daunted, they followed up their charge, and drove the enemy from this +hill, and took this most commanding position. There they halted, close +to Sharpsburg, almost in the rear of the rebels. Some of our troops even +penetrated to Sharpsburg itself, and were taken prisoners. A short +distance farther would have cut off the enemy's direct retreat to the +Potomac. Rebel troops were seen hurrying on the road to the river. Our +men were now fired upon by artillery, and attacked by fresh bodies of +infantry coming up, as the enemy say in their account, from Harper's +Ferry. Our brave fellows, however, stood their ground, waiting for +reënforcements, which Burnside called for. But McClellan, unfortunately, +dared not throw in his reserves; his object had probably been gained in +making a diversion from the hard contested field on our right. Our +gallant fellows had to stand there unsupported until their ammunition +gave out; they fired their sixty rounds of ammunition, collecting all +they could from their dead and wounded comrades, and then began to +retreat. Benjamin's battery of artillery was also short of ammunition, +and could not support them. Our brave boys only retreated to the next +hill, not to the hill above the Antietam, and then lay on their arms +during the night, and there they stayed during the next day, expecting +the order to advance. + +Little mounds of earth, covering fallen heroes, point out the course of +our soldiers all the way from this side of the Antietam to the top of +the farthest hill. Here our men were so much more exposed than the +rebels that our loss was greater than theirs. On the right the rebel +loss was much the larger. + +In the battle beyond the river, the Hawkins Zouaves, another of the +regiments distinguished in North Carolina, captured a rebel battery at +the point of the bayonet. In the rebel account we are told how the brave +General Toombs, with a whole brigade, retook the battery and defeated +this single regiment, which they magnify into an immense force. + +General McClellan, with all his knowledge and great skill and success in +defensive warfare, as shown in his Peninsular campaign, after our defeat +at Gaines's Mill, is wanting in the rapidity of comprehension and +audacity which are necessary components of the highest military talent. +He waits for too many chances, and fears any risk. + +In the battle of Antietam, he had fifteen thousand fresh men under Fitz +John Porter in the centre. The enemy had probably used their last +soldier, for the correspondent of the Charleston _Courier_, who has +given the best rebel account of the battle, impliedly states that they +had no reserves left. Ignorant of our unused troops, he laments the want +of a few more rebel men, and says, that if only five thousand of their +stragglers, who were on the way to Winchester, had been present, a most +decisive rebel victory would have been obtained. If McClellan had added +Fitz John Porter's reserve to Burnside's soldiers, he would have had +nearly thirty-five thousand men flanking the enemy, already beaten, and +threatening their retreat across the Potomac. Who knows what those fresh +men might not have done? Many think that the doubtful victory would have +ended in the most brilliant decided success, and the stone bridge of +Antietam would have stood in history by the side of Arcola and Lodi. But +let us be thankful for what we did achieve: never should the nation +forget how a retreating, discouraged, defeated, demoralized, and even +mutinous army, that had suffered terribly in killed and wounded, and +lost prisoners and large numbers of cannon and material, was again +reformed, and marched triumphantly against a victorious foe; achieved on +Sunday the brilliant victory of South Mountain, and on Wednesday fought +the bloody fight of Antietam. There we captured cannon, small arms, and +standards, and lost none. Many have forgotten that ever since spring the +rebels have boasted that the war was to be carried within our territory; +that they had begun this programme; and that General Lee in entering +Maryland had issued a boasting proclamation, promising to redeem it from +a hated tyranny. If he had succeeded, and defeated McClellan, as he had +beaten Pope between Manassas and Washington, we had no reinforcements or +forts to prevent his march to Philadelphia. McClellan's presence stirred +the common soldier as Napoleon's did, and it was this unbounded +enthusiasm which he excited, that saved the nation when he took command +at Washington. I know of nothing that made me more indignant than the +folly of some ladies who, among his soldiers on the Potomac, decried and +denounced him as an imbecile. What treachery can be worse than the +attempt to destroy the confidence of the soldiers in their leader, when +their lives depend upon his judgment and skill, and there can be only +dejection and despair when that judgment and skill are doubted. + +Upon our return from the battle field to Pleasant Valley, we heard that +orders to McClellan to advance had come from Washington. The only +answers to inquiries when the advance would take place, were ominous +shakings of the head or shrugs of the shoulders, which were indicative +of anything but belief in a speedy movement. We also heard of the +appointment of General Burnside to the command of three army corps, the +precursor of a greater command yet to come. We have in our new +commander-in-chief a general who has an implicit belief that our cause +is just, and a trust in Providence that he will make the just cause +victorious. In General McClellan we had also a general who believed in +Providence, and who has always shown great reverence in his writings. +General McClellan is reticent. You can, however, tell somewhat of the +opinion of the head of the house from his children; and judging from the +tone of belief among the General's military family, from that long delay +after Antietam, it was pretty evident that in his opinion the South +cannot be subdued, and that the question between us was a matter of +boundary. With General Burnside we have no such belief. His faults, if +they are faults, are those of the bold general, not of the Fabian order. +At Newbern he brought at once into the fight every soldier he had, not +keeping one in reserve; and he gained the battle by his audacious +policy. And it is the wonder to this day of every one who has been over +the battle field, that the enemy should have been beaten. With all this +boldness, he is a modest man; twice before having refused the chief +command: once when it was offered to him at the time Pope was appointed; +again when McClellan took it before Washington. Of a commanding figure, +every inch a soldier, one cannot look upon him and his kindly eye +without instant admiration. His modest way of riding among the men, +alone or attended by a single orderly, will make him beloved by our +republican soldiers. He was so then, and 'Old Burn,' as they familiarly +called him, was everywhere heartily received. By the way, McClellan's +nickname on the Peninsula was 'George,' and not 'Little Mac,' as is +generally supposed. + +General Burnside, we believe, is a good judge of men. The generals he +selected for his North Carolina expedition, though previously unknown, +and but captains in the service, have already distinguished themselves +and justified his choice. General Foster, now commanding the department +of North Carolina, has shown himself an able, active general. All who +have been connected with him, speak highly of him. Though not a +Massachusetts man, he has a peculiar penchant for Massachusetts troops: +he was first at Annapolis, and picked out for the first brigade the +Massachusetts soldiers. Recently, through the Governor, he has obtained +some eight or ten more regiments, and in some way or other he has the +crack ones. + +General Reno, who was Burnside's second brigadier, has made a reputation +that will live forever in his country's history. At the battle of +Roanoke the little general, but a month before a captain of ordnance, +stood up fearlessly in the swamp amid his men, when they were lying down +by his direction, and coolly gave his orders and encouraged them, +entirely regardless of the balls flying round him on every side. In +Pope's retreat, and amid disaster and defeat, he acquired new reputation +by his skill, energy, and daring. A Virginian by birth, he was truly a +loyal man; and, unlike some generals of our army corps, obeyed orders, +and did all that could be done for the country and the general in +command. His testimony that Pope's dispositions were good, if he had +only been obeyed, should weigh much in that general's favor. After the +victory of South Mountain, he was reconnoitring the enemy, when he fell +by a random shot, which came, so those who were in the action say, from +some soldier of our force. Lyon, Kearny, Reno, gone! Have we three such +men left? + +General Park, an accomplished soldier, who particularly distinguished +himself at the battle of Newbern, was General Burnside's third +brigadier. The country will feel renewed confidence from his remaining +with our new commander as chief of staff. + +On the morning we left the camp, a squad from a new regiment just +arrived had been detailed for the guard at headquarters; one of the +sentries was smoking his pipe as he marched up and down; another, who +should have been patrolling his beat, was seated on the ground, cleaning +his musket with a piece of wash leather he pulled from his pocket. The +General was not near to stop these unsoldierly occupations. We came to +the opinion that the boys in that regiment had never been to a country +muster; but they were stout fellows and looked like fight. + +At Sandy Hook, on the day of our return, we had to wait until nine in +the evening for the train to Baltimore. Stuart's cavalry had been over +the road in the morning, making their escape into Virginia. They dared +not stay to do mischief; our forces were at all the important points. +Considering the immense supplies in the rear of the army, Stuart did +very little harm; his eight hundred fresh horses were not worth the risk +he ran. If he could have seized our supplies at Monocacy Station, and +burnt the bridge there, he would have inflicted a serious loss upon the +army. The nature of his raid seemed well understood, and there was no +apprehension then of the enemy's holding the railroad; for the train +from Baltimore had passed over the restored rails a few hours after the +retreating troopers. At every important point we found soldiers, and +near Frederick we were glad to hear that seven of the sick troopers, +used up by their hard service, had fallen behind and been taken. We +learned that General Pleasanton with some of our cavalry was in pursuit, +and there were several stories about an engagement: the firing of cannon +had been heard. General Pleasanton at that time was held in very little +esteem, and seemed to have particularly disgusted those who had served +under him, and was often cited as an example of McClellan's lack of +judgment in men. He appears since to have acquired a newspaper +reputation for ability and energy. I only hope that it is deserved, and +that the opinions we heard so often were not well founded. + +We arrived at the Baltimore depot at four in the morning amid a rain, +and found it occupied by some one or two thousand soldiers, standing and +sitting about in their blue overcoats with their arms stacked. Not a +carriage could be obtained, and so, shouldering our bag in military +fashion, we marched for the Eutaw House. At the door was stationed a +guard, marking it as the headquarters of Major-General Wool. We passed +by unchallenged; in our bag, however, we had rebel ammunition: a loaded +shell fired at our men as they were crossing the stone bridge at +Antietam. Fortunately the fuse had gone out, and it remained a trophy +for one of the despicable Down-East Yankees. We heard the old General +was still the centre of attraction to the pretty secesh ladies who had +friends or relatives in durance vile in Fort McHenry. The veteran hero, +though rich, wears a uniform that shows the marks of service. That, +however, does not prevent the constant presents of delicious fruit and +beautiful flowers, and invitations to drive to the fort, from those +bewitching belles of Baltimore: whereat some strong Union people grumble +loudly. + + + + +AMERICAN DESTINY. + +II. + + +The law under consideration is exemplified in the social, industrial, +and political development of the United States. There is a manifest +difference, however, between the history of our civilization and that of +Europe, though not in the least affecting the integrity of the law. The +people of our nation were not derived directly from a rude and primitive +condition, as were those of the Old World. The history of our +civilization is, in its origin, coördinate with European civilization in +the seventeenth century, after modern intellect had been fairly aroused, +and the national organizations had been quite fully developed. The chaos +and barbarism which the history of European civilization presents, and +the play of antagonizing forces through the long period of centuries, +resulting in some degree of political order and unity, does not belong, +except as an introduction, to the history of American civilization. Ours +is a branch from the European, after it had been growing for several +hundred years. + +During the period which intervened between the Declaration of American +Independence and the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, +there was no formal and permanent bond of union between the several +States; it was provisional,--they were held together by outside pressure +and a common interest in the cause of independence. The settlement of a +general government for all the States was a crisis, not only in the +affairs of this country, but of the whole civilized world, as we believe +the future will most fully reveal. To the responsible statesmen of that +day, this was a period of intense solicitude, such as we can realize +only by an effort of mind to place ourselves in their situation, and +bring before us the magnitude of the objects to be attained, and the +difficulties to be overcome. There was then, as now, a diversity of +interests to be harmonized; but there was one interest, which, in its +political relations, requires to be characterized by a stronger term +than that of 'diversity.' Between chattel slavery and free labor there +is 'irrepressible' antagonism, and there could be no real union--no +blending of the twain; but the gulf was bridged, under the pressure of +necessity, as the wisdom of the times could best devise. It was, indeed, +well done. Union was the great object to be accomplished--it was the +highest, the most comprehensive principle that could enter into the +motives of political action--it was even a necessity of the current +civilization, and must needs subordinate all minor principles and +interests; and we owe a debt of gratitude to those who so nobly wrought +this glorious Union out of colonial chaos and isolation. + +The instrument of this Union has been characterized by well-meaning, +but one-idea minds, as a 'covenant with death, and an agreement with +hell,' simply because it effected the union of free with slave States. +This method of characterizing the Constitution of our country--as noble +a document for its time and place as the world has ever seen--can well +be excused, since it has no doubt been done in utter obliviousness of +the importance of the principle of political unitization. The original +consummation of this Union was a great step in political progress; it +was an achievement of the master principle of political movement; and +God wills that no part of the advantage then gained in the struggle of +Destiny shall ever be given up! + +But while unity is thus exemplified in the history of our Government, +the phenomenon of differentiation is also manifest. The functions of +government have greatly multiplied since its first organization; the +'division of labor' process has been going on, and new departments and +bureaus have been established. While I write, the expediency of another +department, that of agriculture, is being agitated in Congress. The +Department of the Interior has been quite recently created, and new +bureaus in this department, and in others, are being created from time +to time, by act of Congress, to meet new wants in the administration of +our Government. And what is true in this respect of the General +Government is, also, true of the State Governments; for there, too, do +we find the development of new functions, and the creation of new +official organs to execute the same. + +This growth of the country at large, from which these new demands on the +Government arise, is to be seen very distinctly in the industrial and +educational elements of society. While these interests increase in +magnitude and variety, and the people are becoming more concerned +therein, the Government assumes a responsibility in regard thereto, +which can only be discharged by the multiplication of the administrative +appliances. These new governmental activities arise from the popular +will, as moulded and expressed through the more intelligent and +enterprising of its actors. They choose to have it so. It is found +convenient, in the promotion of certain general interests, to appeal to +a power which is presumed to embody the elements of order and authority +in the execution of its will. In the construction of railroads and +telegraphs, capitalists must coöperate with the Government in relation +to questions of right, which, in many cases, can only be settled by a +regularly constituted tribunal. State agricultural societies appeal to +State Governments for coöperation, and when received, the industrial +interests of the country are advanced thereby. We all know what State +Governments have done for the cause of education. Sections of country +which would at this hour have been in a state of almost semi-barbarism +have--thanks to our educational policy--been redeemed from their +prejudices against intelligence and education, and been made to step +into line with the advancing columns of civilization. The same +civilizing influences, precisely, have been brought to bear, by the +active part which Government has taken in the improvement of all the +means of travel, trade, and the transmission of intelligence. The +intelligent and active few have thus advanced the interests of the many. +In districts of country which have been without the channels of commerce +except in a very rude condition, and where the enterprise of the people +was inadequate to their improvement, the Government has reached out its +strong arm and redeemed them from their primitive rudeness, thereby +promoting the physical condition, the enlightenment, and the culture of +the people. There are plenty of instances on record, in which +improvements of this kind--of roads, for example--have been made against +the will and in spite of the opposition of the people most to be +benefited thereby; and had they not been related under the same +government to communities more intelligent and enterprising than +themselves, they would have remained in an isolated and semi-barbarous +condition. + +Now, while we readily discern the increase in the objects and in the +machinery of government, we cannot so readily discern the abatement of +governmental interference with the private affairs of the individual, as +in governments of longer standing. There has not been time for great +changes in this respect; and then, in the earliest legislation of our +country there was comparatively so little that was obnoxious to +individual freedom, that there has been less occasion for the change in +question. The Blue Laws of Connecticut are proverbial for their +intermeddling with private life. There has been no change in this +respect so marked since the organization of our Government as there was +before; but so far as there has been any, it is in favor of the +exemption of the individual, in ordinary times, from legal interference. +The entire atmosphere of American society is becoming more liberal as +general education advances; and this, in turn, acts upon the legislative +and executive functions of the Government, to make the laws and the +execution of the same more acceptable to a cultured people. The 'Maine +Law,' earnest and benevolent as it was in purpose, and to all seeming so +obviously founded in the right of society to protect itself, could not +be sustained against this tendency in government to let the individual +alone in the affairs of his private life. + +We have observed that there is a concentration of different industrial +and commercial functions in different sections of the country, whereby +these sections become dependent upon each other, and the unity of the +whole, to a certain extent, made inevitable. Now, we insist that +political economy and the greatest well-being of all require that the +political jurisdiction should, as far as possible, be commensurate with +that commercial, industrial, and social dependence which works itself +out to a large degree of fulfilment in spite of the obstructions +interposed by the contractedness and isolation of political +organization. + +As we have seen, this dependence of one industrial section upon another, +and of one commercial centre upon another, as the result of commercial +and industrial specialization, is becoming more and more marked as a +development of human progress. All this increases the need for more +extensive political organization, while at the same time it makes it +possible. + +It will readily be perceived that since industrial and commercial +development is necessitating dependence and unity, it is equally true +that the natural varieties of soil and climate are, also, conditions of +like dependence and unity. When these diversities of soil in different +sections are fully developed, and the exchange of products readily made +through improved commercial facilities, and human wants multiplied by +means of civilized culture, agricultural specialization creates the +demand, not for political division and isolation, but for more extensive +organization. That New England manufactures is no reason that she should +separate her government from that of the other States, but just the +reverse. That the Middle States are more distinctively a mining region, +and the great West agricultural, is no reason that their general +government should be distinct, but precisely the reverse. That the South +produces cotton, rice, and sugar, is no reason for her seceding from the +Union, but exactly the reverse. These diversified interests, we repeat, +create interrelation and dependence, unitizing the commercial and +industrial polity; and the political organization should, as far as +possible, be coextensive therewith. There are physical necessities which +prevent the formation and maintenance of a comprehensive political +organization in the earlier stages of civilization, but these never have +obtained in the United States, and every hour's improvement carries us +farther beyond them. + +All the results of a progressive civilization are constantly +complicating the dependence and interrelation of various sections of our +country. Roads, railroads, canals, and lines of telegraph, by their +connections and intersections, are so many bonds of union between the +various districts of our country--so many bonds of union between the +various States of the confederacy--and forbid its dissolution. Even +Nature conspires with civilization to the same end. The great valleys +and rivers running north and south are so many natural ties, which the +most incorrigible perverseness, on the part of man, could alone prevent +from performing the office to which they seem so happily adapted in the +play of the civilized elements. + +As we have seen in our brief view of Europe, greater political +unitization has been the result of growth in civilization. In the United +States, all natural, commercial, and industrial bonds of union are +becoming more fully developed. This evinces the direction of progress. + +What, in the light of this view, are we to think of the doctrine of +'secession'?--of secession, that political dogma of recent development, +which, if made practical, would destroy all political unity of greater +compass than a State--a State, the idol of Southern political worship. +It would break any confederacy into fragments, and prevent the +consummation of those great unities which an advancing civilization +demands. This doctrine of 'secession' would remand us back to the +condition of affairs in Europe during the twelfth century, before +commerce, the Crusades, and the waking up of intelligence had commenced +the movement of national organization. The Southern States have a +barbarian institution in their midst, but, not satisfied with that, they +would inaugurate the practical operation of a new political doctrine, +which must introduce still another element of barbarism, and interpose +an additional obstacle to the progress of civilization. Shall this be? +It is opposed to the political tendency of the times; and the common +sense of mankind should forbid the acceptance of a political solecism in +the organization of government, which virtually annuls the unity and +integrity of the government itself. + +There are crises, however, in human development, when the movement is +rapidly set forward; and others, when it may be as suddenly arrested or +thrown back, requiring long periods to regain the lost ground, +preparatory to a new advance. Our Union, only a brief while since, +appeared to be upon the point of irreparable rupture; the division of +this great Union into minor geographical districts, like the European +monarchies, seemed to be imminent. The determination of the South to +secede; a large portion of the influential press at the North pleading +their cause; Buchanan favoring secession; many in the North, then, and +for a long time previous, in favor of a 'peaceable separation;' +but--thanks to the blind impetuosity of 'Southern chivalry'--with the +fall of Sumter, and the inauguration of the war, the only hope for this +Union revived! Wicked or foolish people have said that the bombardment +of Sumter was the death-knell of the Union;--we believe it was just the +reverse;--as the turning point of a great crisis, it signalled the birth +of a new era. It threw the trimming and temporizing politicians of the +North off their old tracks, and tore their platforms from under them; +their antipathies were suddenly neutralized; their prejudices vanished; +they were unexpectedly floating anew on the sea of public sentiment; the +opinions of influential men were subject to a new ordeal; and the views +of many an entire clique, faction, and party were revolutionized in a +day. Northern pride was wounded; Anglo-Saxon energy was aroused; there +was a demand for determination and 'pluck,' and the result is known to +all. Secession, in the Free States, was suddenly transformed; there was +a grand uprising for the vindication of a great principle of political +development; and nearly a million of armed men of all parties are now in +the field; and God grant that they may be able to overcome the abettors +of a barbarian policy! + +But if the cause of patriotism and civilization should fail in this +struggle, what will be the consequences? Standing armies, stronger +governments, leagues, and ruptures, internecine wars, European +interference. Let this division of our once happy country be consummated +now, and there can be no reunion for ages. The Southern nation +recognized by European Governments, treaties and alliances formed, and +we are involved in European complications through which the separation +will be perpetuated. And this disunion made permanent, others will +develop themselves, and in time be consummated. It is the interest of +the reigning dynasties in Europe to see our nation dismembered: the +South would be our rival; and we should not have power to enforce union +hereafter. When a politico-geographical weakness is developed along the +Rocky Mountains, the Pacific States will not be without ambitious +demagogues to attempt the establishment of an independent organization +on the Pacific. Another fracture may be developed along the Alleghanies, +and the great agricultural West may set up for itself among the nations. +New England may be seized with a like madness, and unworthily aspire to +a separate national existence. With all these petty nations on this +continent, there must be standing armies, leagues, and complications, as +in Europe. Diplomacy, with its intrigues, and wars to maintain the +'balance of power,' will make up the great body of national history and +absorb those energies which should be employed in advancing the means of +human well-being. + +But we will not speculate upon probabilities so remote. We will presume +the success of rebellion, and one nation south, another north. The evil +would still be very great. There must be armed thousands maintained by +the two Governments to be ready for war at any moment. Two such nations, +even if both were free, and still less with slavery in one of them, +could not exist by the side of each other without frequent broils and +collisions. Standing armies exhaust the resources of nations and retard +the progress of civilization by a double result. They withdraw +able-bodied men from the productive energies of the country, and are at +the same time a tax upon the industrial forces which remain. The +enormous daily expense of the present war must give us some idea of the +cost of maintaining a standing army of two or three hundred thousand men +even in times of peace. This has done a great deal to retard the +progress of Europe; and that we, as a nation, have heretofore been free +from this encumbrance, is doubtless one of the reasons why we have made +such rapid strides in so much that makes a nation great and happy. But +standing armies imply war, and the international wars of Europe have +done much to exhaust her resources and paralyze her prosperity. Guizot +says--and we may see it in history for ourselves--that 'for nearly three +centuries, foreign relations form the most important part of history.' +Foreign relations, wars, treaties, alliances, alone occupy the attention +and fill the page of history. Sad result of the political divisions of a +continent! Unhappy fruits of maintaining the balance of power among +neighboring nations! Let this continent be warned! And now is the +crisis when this warning needs most to be heeded. And even if this +critical juncture should be safely passed, we have need to guard against +others, and these truths should be universally recognized as elements of +our national preservation. We may profit by the shipwreck of others, to +avoid the rock on which they split. There are causes clearly discernible +in the history of Europe, for the divisions of that continent, which do +not now, and never have obtained here. Her political institutions were +developed out of the chaos of barbarism, and she had to unite smaller +jurisdictions into larger ones; and she did this as well as the status +of civilization would permit at the period when national organization +was effected. + +The facilities of intercourse between a people, for the transmission of +intelligence, for travel and transportation--those accompaniments of +civilization which bring remote sections of country near each other and +bind them together; the resemblance or the difference of languages +spoken; the antipathies, prejudices, sympathies of the peoples--all +these are elements which go to determine the geographical extent of a +nation. Original difference of language, local prejudices, the want of +civilization, contributed to limit the European nationalities to the +small extent of territory which, for the most part, they occupy. These +causes have not operated against us. Local distinctions on account of +language do not even obtain here. There are no real causes to contract +the geographical boundaries of our Government; while, on the other hand, +the constant increase of facilities for the commercial and social +intercourse of one section with another, and the specializations of the +agricultural, manufacturing, and commercial interests, in the creation +of dependence between different sections of the country, demand, in the +name of science, common sense, justice, and the good of the people, that +this Government shall remain one and undivided. + +We cannot, therefore, afford to allow the present or any other rupture +to become permanent, and entail upon ourselves and our children all the +disadvantages and calamities incident thereto. It would not be wise to +prepare the political stage of this country for the reënaction of the +tragedies of Europe. Better any sacrifice than this. Even if we should +lose great battles, or if European interference should threaten, it +would be better to rally the people anew even to the raising and +equipment of millions of men, and sustain the war at this enormous cost, +rather than entail division and its necessary calamities on the future +political life of this continent. This war is costing immensely in men +and property; but if, thereby, the integrity of the Union can be +maintained, it will be an economy both in men and means, if only a brief +period of the future be taken into the account. We are often reduced to +a choice of evils. War is a great evil, but it may prevent others still +greater. The indiscriminate arming of slaves and the spread of +incendiary fires would be great calamities, but nevertheless +justifiable, if the only means of selfdefence, or of preventing still +greater and more enduring calamities. But there need be no violation of +the ethics of war, no infringement of the rights of humanity. The North +is strong in its natural resources, strong in the justice of its cause: +it has risen to vindicate the cardinal law of civilization, and by this +shall it conquer. There appeared to Constantine a vision of the cross, +with the motto, 'By this conquer.' Science has descended in these last +days to dwell among mankind. In her hand is a scroll which she unfolds +before the nations, and they read, 'Unity, the consummation of social +and political destiny.' Thereupon, turning to our nation in the hour of +trial, she says: 'The time is approaching when the principle of +unitization must sweep a wider circle, and you are chosen to inaugurate +this new era in the destiny of nations. Thus far you have done well; be +true to the work so happily begun; carry it unflinchingly through this +ordeal, and you will be the greatest Power for good upon the earth. +There must be an extension of political organization--a widening of the +sphere of political unity; and through your example and influence will +the nations be gathered into a larger fold.' And pointing to the scroll, +she adds: 'Let 'Union' be eternally your motto; by this conquer!' + +If we should apply no other than a superficial interpretation to +history, overlooking the great laws by which development proceeds, and +thence conclude that the world is to follow doggedly in the footsteps of +the past, we should anticipate a future far less beautiful in grand +results than Destiny has in store for the generations to come. + +Are we to have the Empire of Rome or of Charlemagne over again? In the +Roman Empire there were no common interests; no representation; no +communication among the people; no intersection of the country by the +networks of roads--only great military roads leading from province to +province; no specialization of industrial and commercial interests; no +civilized dependence of one part on another; no natural ties as yet +developed to their real significance between the several countries of +the Roman Empire: it was held together by the strong and despotic arm of +Rome. The Empire of Charlemagne embraced the territory of Middle and +Western Europe, inhabited by barbarous peoples, isolated, warlike, and +speaking different languages; there were none of the civilized bonds of +union; only the genius of Charlemagne held them together; and upon his +death the huge fabric he had reared naturally fell to pieces. The +Spanish Empire is but another instance showing that geographical and +other elements of disconnection must not overbalance those which relate +remote sections to each other, and bind them together in a common +interest, else dissolution will be the result. In respect to the United +States, all these conditions are reversed. Every interest in the natural +course of development points to union--demands union, and, in the +triumph of justice, shall have union. + +Is there anything in the way of this union? Is there a morbid growth--a +cause of irritation and disease tending to dissolution? Then, it must be +removed. Is ambitious and reckless demagoguism to be apprehended? Then +educate the people and diffuse science. But is there not still a worse +devil to be cast out? Where slavery is, you cannot educate the people, +you cannot diffuse science; and without enlightenment there can be no +political justice, since unprincipled demagogues will sway all political +destiny. Slavery cannot always exist side by side with freedom; it is +the natural enemy of union, the enemy of civilization. Prominent +secession leaders have admitted that slavery is the cause of this war, +boasting at the same time that the confederate constitution is founded +on a scientific distinction of races. Without slavery there could be no +sufficient motive for the independent national existence of the South. +Had there been no slavery, there had been no civil war. This is, at the +present time, the political significance of the institution. There is no +safety but in its extinction--so far at least as the border Slave States +are concerned, in order to overthrow its power in the United States +Senate, to enlarge the sympathies of freedom, and weaken and +circumscribe the chances for revolutionary movements which slavery will +be ready at any critical moment to precipitate against the Union. + +If we have not misinterpreted the law of development, slavery, as it +exists in this country, is a morbid political condition, a social +disease, which stands in the way of the natural course of social +evolution. In this law, therefore, is written the doom of slavery. The +enlightened world will not always permit it to blast the fair field of +civilization by its poisonous presence. + +There is a law of human movement by which predominating conditions +extend and perpetuate themselves, overcoming those which are weaker and +on the wane. We observed this in our brief survey of the feudal system. +Freedom is now in the ascendant, and slavery must go down. And since +secession is the child of slavery, and both at war with the cardinal +principles of progressive civilization, it is meet that both should fall +together. + +This war may not directly extinguish slavery, and it may; we do not see +the end. But if not directly, we believe the war is, nevertheless, +indirectly setting those forces into action which will eventually +extinguish the institution. If the 'confederacy' should be destroyed, +as, if not saved by foreign intervention, it certainly will be, slavery, +if not already dead, will be pent up, and, in that case, will soon die +by its own hands. + +Immediate interests control us more than those which are remote; +interests which affect ourselves, more than those which affect our +descendants. Citizens of the Southern States, to save a petty individual +interest, are nursing in the bosom of society a malignant canker, which, +if let alone, must one day, in the inevitable course of destiny, eat +into its vitals. Heroic treatment will alone meet the demands of the +case. It must be a surgical operation that will penetrate to the very +roots of the invading tumor. + +The salvation of the South itself, as well as of the Union, hangs upon +the extinction of slavery. Indeed, the South has far more interest than +the North in the restoration of political health as the condition of +political union; and she would see it so, if slavery had not made her +blind. The elimination of slavery would, in the end, be clear gain to +her, while she would reap equally with the North the advantages of +union, and escape the disadvantages and calamities which, as we have +seen, must inevitably follow in the wake of confirmed disunion. + +The writer of this article bases his opposition to slavery solely upon +politico-scientific grounds; he urges the recognition of a great law of +human development, that its bearings on human destiny may be fairly +seen, and human endeavor more wisely directed to the achievement of the +end 'so devoutly to be wished.' The discussion of American Destiny in +all its ramifications would involve the discussion of the ultimate fate +of the negro race on this continent; but that is not within the range of +our present purpose. We have aimed only to indicate the law of +development from the simple to the complex, over which a necessary unity +at length prevails; to show that this law obtains in the political as in +all other realms; to insist that political unity should enlarge its area +as facilities for intercommunication permit, and the interrelation of +industrial, commercial, and social interests demand; that the +jurisdiction of the political unity should correspond to the extension +of general interests, so far as may be possible in the face of physical +necessities not yet overcome in the progress of civilization. We would +apply the doctrine more especially to the present crisis in American +affairs, to enable us to realize that all our sacrifices to maintain the +Union are fully warranted by the great principle of human development +which is involved in the contest. + +If we have rightly interpreted history and the law, these sacrifices are +justified by a double consideration. The first, which is negative--to +avoid the entanglements, broils, and conflicts of neighboring nations, +and the consequent exhaustion of the resources of civilization, through +which its progress would necessarily be retarded; the second, which is +positive--to maintain a vast political organization on this continent in +accordance with the demands of a higher civilization, as the only sure +guarantee for the integrity of the 'Monroe doctrine,' and the +accomplishment of a great political mission, by reacting upon Europe, +and leading her isolated and fragmentary nationalities into a higher +unity, involving order, authority, and the economy of power. + +It is the selfish interest of the crowned heads of the little nations of +Europe to maintain things as they are, with a principality and a palace +for each puppet of royalty. Hence their costly machinery for maintaining +the 'balance of power.' There may have been a use for this in the +ignorance of the masses, when the extension of sovereignty was often but +the increase of despotism; but there is no such need in the advanced +culture of the people and the progress of civilization. Formerly there +was no public sentiment; but, with the rise of civilized methods, it +became developed, and it has gradually enlarged its sphere, till, as a +writer on dynamical physiology remarks, 'we now hear of the public +opinion of Europe.' (Draper.) And we believe that, before this public +sentiment, thrones are doomed to topple, and sceptres and diadems to +fall, to make way for the more liberal and comprehensive political +organizations of an advancing and triumphant civilization. And herein +appears a glimpse of the political mission of the American Union, +destined itself to become still more comprehensive in the inevitable +fluctuation and change of the political elements. It is a hackneyed +theme that all the natural features of our country, its mountains, +rivers, valleys, lakes, are on a grand scale; it is, therefore, meet +that we should lead the civilized world in the movement of political +unity. + +When Russia shall have more completely filled up the measure of her +civilization, and general intelligence shall have secured the liberty of +the subject, and laid forever the ghost of political absolutism, it may +become the mission of the younger nation to infuse new life into the +political system of Europe. With such a nation on the East, and a great +continental policy well advanced in the Western World, Middle and +Western Europe could hardly maintain its present divided, discordant, +and consequently feeble condition: there must be union then, if not +before. With Europe thus united, having outgrown the diplomatic +intrigues and exhausting wars of jealous and ambitious rulers, the dream +of 'universal peace' may realize the inauguration of its fulfilment, and +civilization come to have a meaning which, as yet, is folded up in the +bosom of prophecy--the clearer prophecy, we believe, of science and +history. We are confident that the prestige of the past and the earnest +of the future are for us and our cause; that our nation will not be torn +to pieces and sunk to the dead level of political imbecility, but will +victoriously avouch the integrity of American unity, and gradually gain +the advance in the grand march of civilization, and lead the nations for +hundreds of years to come! + +We may well be proud that we are Americans, and that our lot is cast in +these times. Let us never abase our position by the least approach to +ignoble compromise; let us shrink from no responsibility; but acquit +ourselves as becomes an intelligent people conscious of a noble +destiny! + + + + +THE BIRTH OF THE LILY. + + + The Rose had bloomed in Eden. Odors new + Entranced the groves; and iridescent birds, + At this new birth of beauty, sudden rose + In richest chorus, bearing up the balm + Upon their beating wings. The bee had learned + The place of golden sweets, the butterfly + Loved well to dream within those crimson folds, + And Eve had made a garland delicate, + Of feathery sprays and leaves and drooping bells, + And placed the Rose, the queen of bloom, above + The centre of her brow. Thus she bound up + The golden ripples that fell down and broke + O'er her white breast, hiding the bosom buds, + That never yet had yielded up their sweets + To the warm pressure of an infant's lip. + And Eve had bent above the glassy lake, + Smiling upon her picture, pressing close + The soft cheek of the Rose upon her own, + And praising God for beauty and for life. + + But now a morn had come more strangely dear + Than Eden yet had known. The sleeping wind + Woke not to stir the fringes of the lake, + Nor shook the odors from the scented plant. + A silver, misty wreath closed fondly down + Above the waveless tide. The insect world + Lay waiting in the leaves, as though a spell + Had hushed Creation; yet expectant thrills + Ran through the silence, for the loaded air + Grew lighter, purer, and the recent Rose + Drooped her proud head in meekness, and the face + Of heaven flushed with burning brilliancy, + Above some coming wonder. + + One by one + The beasts and birds of Paradise came down, + With noiseless movement, to the water's edge, + And waited on the margin. Creatures huge, + With honest, liquid eyes, and those that stepped + With cushioned feet and feathered footfall, stole + About the brink, with all the tribe that gave + The forest life. The serpent reared its crest, + Not yet polluted with the valley's dust, + And stood like one with royal gems encrowned; + While beast, and bird, and serpent turned to gaze + Upon each other with inquiring eyes, + And half-bewildered glance. + + Then last of all + Came Eve with Adam to the circling rim, + Her fingers grasping roses, and her lip + All beautiful with Love's own witchery. + She stood and noted with admiring look + The strength of Adam's form, the expansive chest, + The sloping muscle, and the sinew knit, + The firm athletic limb, and every grace + Combined and joined in that first, perfect man. + Then Eve, grown humble in her wondrous love + Of Adam's beauty, knelt upon the turf, + While her long hair fell down in shining waves, + And pressed her lip upon his dew-washed feet: + Then with her agitated fingers broke + The foxglove pitcher from the stem, and stooped + To fill it up for him; but quickly drew + Her pearl-white hand away from the still lake, + And held it o'er her heart, with such a look + Of awe and mystery, as if a spell + Was on the water, that she dared not break. + + So all was hushed and waiting; when, behold! + A flash of gold shot from the silver East, + A gush of new perfume spread through the grove, + The Rose drooped lower, and the impatient birds, + Loosed from restraint, sang in a strain refined + Of dulcet clearness, such as those young bowers + Had never heard before. The beast crouched down + Upon the velvet turf, the serpent's crown + Flashed richer splendor, and the angel-guard + Whose fearful sword gleamed by the Tree of Life, + His very plumes were tremulous with joy. + + Then Eve looked o'er the swelling wave, and, lo! + The lake was overspread with blooming stars, + Or snowy golden-centred cups, that rocked + And spilled the choicest incense. Adam cried, + 'The Lily;' but the sweet voice at his side, + Grown tremulous and faint with overjoy, + Could only whisper, 'Purity.' Then quick, + With restless hands, she culled the floral star-- + Queen of the wave--emblem of innocence, + And hung it in the lion's matted mane, + And twined it round the serpent's glittering neck; + Thus humoring her fancy in the play + Till half the morning hours had slipped and gone. + Then, startled by the voice she loved so well, + She left the sport, the creatures, and the flowers, + And hastened back with Adam to the trees + Where God was walking in the solemn shade. + O mother frail, thou hast not known a tear! + Thy spirit, clothed in simple innocence, + Wears the true garb of bliss. Not yet thy hour + Of sorrow and departure; nor the pangs + And mystery of motherhood are thine! + And yet, weak one! some day, because of thee, + God's love shall give a Saviour to the world! + + + + +WAS HE SUCCESSFUL? + + 'Do but grasp into the thick of human life! Every one _lives_ + it--to not many is it _known_; and seize it where you will, it is + interesting.'--GOETHE. + + 'SUCCESSFUL.--Terminating in accomplishing what is wished or + intended.'--WEBSTER's _Dictionary._ + + +_PART SECOND._ + + 'I have been young and now I am old, and I bear my testimony that I + have never found thorough, pervading, enduring morality with any + but such as feared God--not in the modern sense, but in the old + child-like way. And only with such, too, have I found a rejoicing + in life--a hearty, victorious cheerfulness, of so distinguished a + kind that no other is to be compared with it.'--JACOBI. + + +CHAPTER I. + +The first part of this narrative naturally closes with the termination +of our hero's career at Burnsville, and his establishing himself as a +resident of New York. + +Up to this period, he has had no great difficulty in making his conduct +consistent with his religious professions. He certainly has striven with +a species of conscientiousness to do so, and we repeat, he has achieved +his object. + +Now, however, he is embarking on a very different sea from the quiet, +placid waters of his village life. Here, Hiram Meeker, you will +encounter many and frequent temptations to _do_ wrong. For you are soon +to commence on your "own account," and then you must prepare for that +mortal struggle, in which none, without the grace of God to aid them, +can come off victors. + +Hiram understands this: that is, he has been educated to believe it. +Surely he enjoys saving grace. Who more constant at church and evening +meetings; who prays longer and more vigorously than he? + +Let me repeat that Hiram has a strong desire to enter the kingdom of +Heaven, and thinks that all the chances are in favor of his doing so. +But this desire is of the same nature as his wish to become rich. It is +founded on the determination to promote the fortunes of the individual +_me_, here and hereafter. It leads him to treat as a _principle_ the +statement of _fact_, that "honesty is the best policy;" and his policy +is--Self. He can practically master the theory of cause and effect as to +what is going on _here_. And since he believes he will secure a good +position in the world to come by strict observance of the "ordinances," +he considers himself all right _there_. + +It is with entire complacency, then, that Hiram Meeker sets sail in New +York. He is young, and, as the word goes, handsome; with good health, +strong nerves, an enduring frame, and excellent constitution. He is well +educated, and has a remarkable capacity for affairs, with sufficient +experience in business to qualify him for any mercantile career he +chooses to enter on. Moreover, in all the relations of life, he +professes to be governed by the highest possible principle--Christian +principle; and claims to be, indeed really is, at least theoretically, a +believer in the truths of our holy religion. Why is it, then, reader, +you have already taken such a prejudice against Hiram? For I know, as it +were instinctively, that you are prejudiced against him. Indeed, I +confess that in preparing his history for the press, I have +unconsciously permitted certain comments to creep in, indicating my own +feelings toward the young man. But, in fact, I could not help it, +especially when I came to narrate Hiram's course toward Sarah Burns. + +But here in New York, I begin to feel a painful interest for young +Meeker. He is at the "parting of the ways." Up to now, there has been no +great strain on his moral sense, while he has not been altogether +insensible to humanizing influences. He has been thus far in the service +of others, and had wisdom enough to understand it was best for him to +serve with fidelity. Thus, his sense of duty did not conflict with his +interests, and he won golden opinions from all. + +Probably, when he left Burnsville, but one person thoroughly knew +him--that person was Sarah Burns. For it is given to those whose hearts +are honestly _devoted_, in time to learn and fully comprehend the nature +of the hearts brought in contact with theirs. + +The young ladies universally recalled their delightful flirtations with +Hiram with a sort of pleasurable regret, in which no angry feelings +toward him were mingled. Even Mary Jessup looked back with a sentimental +sigh, but not with any feeling of bitterness, to the period when she was +so happy with "young Meeker, boarding at their house." The Hawkins girls +still severally had their secret hopes in the future. [As to the widow +Hawkins, I cannot say.] But nobody understood the young man except Sarah +Burns. _He_ knew that, and when he drove away from her door, he felt he +was _found out_. + +I am getting from my subject, which is Hiram's dangerous situation, now +that he has reached New York. One thing much to be regretted is that he +has resolved, at least for the present, to adjure society, in his entire +devotion to his main purpose. This is an alarming feature. For +notwithstanding, in his intercourse with the sex, he had sought entirely +his own pleasure, still it was not without its qualifying influences. +His mind was diverted from a perpetual thought of how he should get +rich, and nature (I mean the nature common to us all) was permitted to +have a certain sway. + +When Hiram stepped foot in the metropolis, he cut off these diverting +elements. He decided, and he had long and carefully considered it, that +in the strife in which he was soon to enter, he should require all his +time, all his faculties. For this reason, he determined to accept Mr. +Eastman's offer of board and lodging at his house, albeit his wife was +shrewish and generally disagreeable. He no longer permitted the gay +throng in Broadway to move his nerves or excite his senses. And thus all +these secondary impulses and emotions and sentiments yielded to the one +main controlling purpose. + +Yes, Hiram Meeker, I feel a painful interest in your situation. I see +that, once entered on your career, there will be no departure or +deviation or pause in it. As in metal poured into the mould, which, +while it remains in a fluid state, is capable of being converted into +other forms, but which, after a time, fixes and becomes +unchangeable,--so, in the life of every human being, there is a period +when the aims and purposes are fixed and the character is settled +forever. With some, this comes earlier, with others later; but it comes +inevitably to all of us. + +It seems to me Hiram is fast approaching this epoch, and this is why my +interest in him becomes painful. For after this--but I will not +anticipate. + + +CHAPTER II. + +The first thing which Hiram undertook after getting settled at his +boarding place, was to decide what church to attend. This was a matter +which required a great deal of deliberation, and week after week he +visited different churches of his own faith. + +Mr. Bennett, with his family, went to an Episcopal church. He took the +liberty, one day, of flatly advising his cousin to cut Presbyterianism, +and go with him. + +'The fact is, Hiram, I can't stand the blue lights; they make a +hypocrite of you, or a sniveller. Now, I don't profess to be a good +person, but I think, after all, my neighbors know about where to find +me. As to the Episcopalians, they give us good music, good prayers, and +short sermons. They don't come snooping about to find out whether you go +sometimes to the theatre, or if any of your family practise the damnable +sin of dancing at parties. They mind their own business, and leave you +to mind yours.' + +'What _is_ their business?' asked Hiram. + +Mr. Bennett, taken a little aback, hesitated a moment; then he replied, +'Why, to preach and read the service, and perform church duties +generally.' + +'Well,' said Hiram, 'I always thought it was a part of a minister's duty +to look after the spiritual welfare of every one of his church, and to +visit the families, and converse with all the members.' + +'You forget you're not in the country, where everything is got up on an +entirely different basis,' replied Mr. Bennett. 'You won't find much +'pastoral' work here, even among the blue lights. They confine +themselves to preaching brimstone sermons from the pulpit and at evening +lectures, and giving orders about the management of your family and +mine, taking care that nobody shall enjoy anything if they can help it. +If you go to see a play, it is a plunge into Tophet; if you permit your +child to tread a quickstep to a lively tune, both you and your child are +fit subjects for the wrath to come.' + +'I rather think you are mistaken when you say the Episcopalians approve +of the theatre and late parties, and so forth,' retorted Hiram. 'I have +been told by two or three of that persuasion, that the clergy object +decidedly to all these things.' + +'Gammon, Hiram--gammon for the country market. I tell you, I know that +we can do just what we please in the way of 'rational amusement,' as our +clergyman calls it, and your people can't, and I advise you to come over +to the liberal side.' + +Hiram shook his head. + +'Well, if you won't, I recommend Dr. Pratt. He, I understand, permits a +little fun occasionally; then he makes use of our prayers, commits them +to memory, you know; and latterly has put on a gown, and has a little +boy to open the door of his pulpit. I advise you to go there.' + +'Thank you,' said Hiram; 'but I don't think I should relish that kind of +a man. I prefer something decided one way or the other.' + +'Then take Dr. Chellis, he's your chap. Boanerges! a regular son of +thunder. Egad, I believe he _does_ visit every soul of his flock--keeps +them straight. The other evening he was invited to a little gathering at +the house of a new comer in his congregation--he always accepts +invitations, and they say he is very fond of oysters and chicken salad, +though he drinks nothing but cold water;--well, it happened the young +folks wanted to get up a quadrille, began to arrange it innocently +enough before his face and eyes. Thereupon he jumped up in a huff, and +flung himself out of the house, and the next Sunday delivered an extra +blast on the 'immoral tendencies of the dance.' + +'That's the man for me,' said Hiram, firmly. + +Mr. Bennett regarded his protegé with a keen, inquisitive glance, with a +view to fathom him, if possible. It would seem that the result was +unsatisfactory, for after a moment he exclaimed, 'Well, I confess I +don't exactly see through you. It may be one sort of thing; it may be +another; but I can't say which.' + +'It is a very simple matter, Mr. Bennett. I was brought up strictly, and +believe in my bringing up.' + +'All right, if you mean it.' + +'I do mean it. Besides, now that I have come to New York to reside, +where I shall be subjected to the numerous temptations of a city life, I +shall need more than ever to be under the preaching of just such a man +as you describe Dr. Chellis to be.' + +'Oh, don't; that is coming it too strong; now I think I _do_ understand +you. But, Hiram, drop all that sort of thing. If you want to join +Chellis's church, join it; but talk your cant to the marines.' + +Hiram was angry, but he said nothing. + +'You must not be vexed, Hiram. You know I want to do you all the good I +can. Recollect, if you are smart, you have much to learn yet. Let me +have your confidence, and I will advise you according to my experience. +If you really like severe preaching, you can't do better than go in for +the Doctor. He has the richest congregation in New York. Allwise, Tenant +& Co., Starbuck & Briggs, Daniel Story. Those are names for you; +South-street men, too, in your line. They are the pillars of Chellis's +church; good men and true, if they are blue lights. Besides, there are +lots of pretty girls--tight little Presbyterian saints, with plenty of +cash. Their fathers can buy and sell Dr. Pratt's congregation and mine +together. Yes, you are right; I wonder I did not think of it. Go in for +Chellis.' + +Hiram was still silent. His heightened color and severe expression +showed how little he relished Mr. Bennett's conversation. + +Nothing is so disagreeable to a person whose nature is not thoroughly +genuine, but who claims to act from proper motives, as to have another +take it for granted he is not doing so. + +He did not forget a word that Mr. Bennett had said, though. Indeed, he +recovered his equanimity so far as to thank him for his suggestions, +and, wishing him good-day, he started for his place in South street. + +Mr. Bennett watched the young man as he walked up the street (the +conversation occurred in the doorway of H. Bennett & Co.'s +establishment), and until he had turned the corner. 'Deep, very deep,' +he muttered as he stepped inside. 'He'll be 'round one of these days, or +I am mistaken.' + +Meanwhile Hiram continued on his way to the store, his cheeks burning +under the influence of Mr. Bennett's plain talk, but sensibly alive to +the description of Dr. Chellis's church. + +'Allwise, Tenant & Co., eh? and Starbuck & Briggs (Hiram had been but a +few weeks in New York, and already had learned to pay that almost +idolatrous deference to great commercial names which is a leading +characteristic of the town); that will do. Plenty of rich girls,'--his +heart began to beat quick,--'plenty of rich girls. That's the place for +me.' + +Strange, in this soliloquy he said nothing about the spiritual +advantages to be derived under the preaching of so noted a divine as Dr. +Chellis. Yet Hiram really liked strong preaching and severe discipline. +For he never appropriated any of the denunciations. Feeling perfectly +safe himself, it gratified him to hear the awful truths severely +enforced on the outsiders. + +We see, however, from this little conversation with himself, what was +uppermost in Hiram's mind. Subsequent inquiries, carefully made of +various persons, fully confirmed the statement of Mr. Bennett as to +these little particulars in relation to Dr. Chellis's church and +congregation. + +Dr. Chellis himself was a person of extraordinary ability, great purity +of character, and great zeal. At this period he was about sixty years of +age, but he possessed the earnestness and energy of a young man. His +congregation were very much attached to him, and it is true he exercised +over them a remarkable influence. Many people sneered, accusing them of +'being led by the nose by their minister.' They were led, it is true, +but not in that way: rather by their understanding and their affections. +For, strict and stern and severe as the 'old Doctor' appeared to be, it +was the _sin_ he thundered against, not the individual. And those who +were brought in more intimate contact with him, declared that he was, +after all, a kind, tender-hearted man. + +His church were devoted to him. The majority were a severe, toilsome, +self-denying company--too much so, perchance; but of that I dare hazard +no opinion: God knows. Like their minister, sincere, indulging in no +cant; without hypocrisy, practising in the world during the week the +principles they professed on Sunday to be governed by; a church +deserving to be honored for its various charities (it gave twice as much +as any other in the city), for the personal liberality of its members +when called on to join in public or private subscriptions, and for the +exalted influence they exerted in affairs generally. + +Into such a church, and among such a people, Hiram Meeker proposes to +introduce himself. + + * * * * * + +His first move was to call on Dr. Chellis without any introduction, and +present his credentials from the church in Burnsville, as well as an +excellent letter from his minister, certifying particularly as to his +religious character and deportment. He thought by going as an +unsophisticated youth from the country he would make a better impression +and more strongly commend himself to the Doctor's sympathy than in any +other way. + +I think, however, that Hiram's call was rather of a failure. He had no +ordinary man to deal with. Dr. Chellis had not only a profound knowledge +of human nature, but a quick insight into its various peculiarities. He +could classify individuals rapidly; and he read Hiram after fifteen +minutes' conversation. + +The latter, not accustomed to men of the Doctor's calibre, found himself +wanting in his usual equanimity. His familiar rôle did not serve, he +could see that, and for once his resources failed him. + +For the Doctor did not appear to be specially interested when Hiram, +apropos of nothing, except as a last card, undertook, in a meek, +saint-like manner, to give him an account of his early conviction of sin +and subsequent triumphant conversion. Indeed, if the truth must be told, +the worthy divine gave evident symptoms--to speak plainly--of being +bored before Hiram's story was half finished! The latter was not slow to +see this, and he found it difficult to rally. + +At length he gave the Doctor an opportunity to speak, by bringing his +personal narrative to a close. + +'You have no acquaintances in the city?' + +'I think I may say none, except in business; and my object in selecting +such a church as yours is to keep up the same degree of piety which I +humbly trust I maintained in my village home.' + +[Pretty well, Hiram, pretty well--but you have an old head to deal +with, and an honest heart: be careful.] + +'To do that,' replied the Doctor, gravely, 'you must not look back to +what you were, or thought you were. Be sure you are in danger when you +feel complacent about yourself.' + +These were awful words to Hiram, and from such a severe, grave, +dignified old man. + +'In danger!' That was something new. 'Of what?' Why, no thought of a +possibility of danger had crossed young Meeker's mind since the day he +joined the church in Hampton. + +He sat quite still, uncertain what reply to make. + +He was interrupted by the tones of the Doctor's voice--tones which were +modified from their previous severity. + +'I will take your letter,' he said, 'and at the next communion, which +will take place in about six weeks, you will be admitted to membership.' + +'I should like to have a class in the Sunday school,' said Hiram, +breathing more freely. + +'If you will speak next Sunday to Mr. Harris, the superintendent,' +replied the Doctor, 'he will furnish you with one. There is a demand for +teachers just at present, I heard him say.' + +Dr. Chellis rose, as if Hiram had taken up enough of his time. Our hero +could but do the same. He bowed and left the room. + +'A pretty sort of minister that,' exclaimed he between his teeth, as he +quitted the house. 'Pious! no more pious than my boot. Never listened to +a word I said. I know he didn't. Is it possible I must sit under this +man's preaching? I see now what cousin Bennett meant by things being got +up on an entirely different basis here from what they are in the +country. I should think they were. But there is Allwise, Tenant & Co., +Daniel Story. I may trust myself with such names [he did not say with +such _men_]. Ah! h'm--h'm--lots of pretty girls, with plenty of cash. +I'll try it. Anyhow, it stands number one. No mistake about that! + + +CHAPTER III. + +Hiram soon learned a lesson. He discovered there were people in New York +just as quickwitted, as keen, and as shrewd as he was himself. This did +not alarm him. Not a bit. He was only the more ready to appreciate the +truth of Mr. Bennett's remark, that he had yet much to learn. + +'I see it,' quoth Hiram. 'The city gets the best of everything, by the +natural course of supply and demand. Yes, it gets the best beef and +mutton and fowls, and fruits and vegetables, and on the same principle +it commands the best men. Well, I like this all the better. It was dull +business in Burnsville, after all, with nobody to compete with. Give me +New York!' + + * * * * * + +In the store of Hendly, Layton & Gibb, Hiram saw and conversed with +shipmasters who were familiar with every port in the world. The reader +will recollect, at school he had devoted himself to mercantile +geography. Thus he had located in his mind every principal seaport, and +had learned what was the nature of the trade with each. The old sea +captains were amazed at the pertinence of Hiram's questions, and with +the information he possessed on topics connected with their business. +They could scarcely understand it. It gave them a great respect for the +'fellow,' and Hiram speedily became a favorite with them all. He used to +like to go on board their ships, and chat with them there, whenever he +found time. Do not suppose these were mere pleasure excursions. Hiram +Meeker was forming his opinion of each one of these captains. For in his +mind's eye he saw some of them in _his_ employ; but which? that was the +question. So by mingling with them, he learned much of the mechanical +part of commerce, and he discovered, besides their different characters, +who were competent and honest, and who were not altogether so. + +Hiram also spent a good deal of his time conversing with Eastman, with +whom he boarded. He got the latter's ideas of business and about the men +they daily encountered, and Eastman could furnish a fund of valuable +information, based on long experience. + +Hiram all this time was indefatigable. He watched the course of trade. +He endeavored to discover the secret of the success of the great South +street houses. He worked, he pondered, and yet all the time served +Hendly, Layton & Gibb with fidelity. Eastman became attached to him. +Mrs. Eastman said the man did not give her half the trouble she +expected. So you see, in certain quarters, Hiram was as popular as ever. + +Meantime he had secured a seat in and joined Dr. Chellis's church. He +duly presented himself at the Sunday school and obtained a fine class. +From that time he never missed a service on Sunday, nor a lecture, or +prayer meeting, or other weekly gathering. He even attended a funeral +occasionally, in his zeal to 'wait' on all the ordinances. He was, +however, exceedingly modest and unobtrusive. He did not seek to make +acquaintances, but no one could help noticing his punctilious regularity +and decorum. I have remarked that Hiram determined to cut off what had +been a great source of pleasure--society; but he still paid the same +attention to his personal appearance as before. After a while questions +began to be asked: 'Who is this new comer, so constant, so devout, and +so exemplary?' + +'What a fine-looking fellow! I wonder who he is?' whispered Miss Tenant +to Miss Stanley, one morning, as our hero passed their seats (they both +had classes) to take his place with his Sunday school pupils. + +'I don't know, I am sure,' replied her friend. + +'I can't find any one who does. Do you know, _I_ think he is real +handsome?' + +'So do I, if he would only lift his head up and look people in the face; +he is as bashful as a sheep.' + +'My little brother is in his class, and he says they all like him so +much. He takes such an interest in his pupils.' + +'Then I should think you could find out something about him.' + +'No: his name is Meeker; that's all any one seems to know.' + +'Funny name; I don't like it.' + +'Nor I. Still, we won't condemn him for his name. Besides, I like his +face?' + +'Hush!' + +Here the conversation of the two young people was interrupted by the +rapping of the superintendent, and the services of the school commenced. + +If young ladies of the importance of Miss Tenant and Miss Stanley begin +to talk about Hiram, you may be certain it will spread through the +school and into the church. _He_ knew what was going on--of course he +did; but only took still greater pains with his personal appearance, and +became more shy and reserved and assiduously devout. + +The elders of the church could not help noticing him. + +The young ladies noticed him. + +Heads of families observed his exemplary deportment. + +Who could he be? + +Dr. Chellis, meantime, did not lose sight of his new communicant. They +frequently met, and Hiram was always greeted, if not with cordiality, +yet kindly. Strange to say, contrary to his habit, the Doctor neglected +or omitted to enter into conversation with Hiram on religious topics. He +felt a repugance to doing so which he could not explain. Everything +seemed so praiseworthy in Hiram's conduct, that one would suppose the +worthy divine would like to engage him in conversation, as the Rev. Mr. +Chase used to do at Burnsville. But a certain aversion prevented it. + +When applied to for information about Hiram, the Doctor could say +nothing, for he knew nothing; and so the mystery, for a mystery the +young ladies determined to make of it, increased. + +At last a rumor was circulated that Hiram had been disappointed in a +love affair. A mischief-loving girl detailed it to Miss Tenant, whose +interest in the young Sunday school teacher gradually grew stronger, and +it soon became a well-authenticated piece of history. + + * * * * * + +During this time a species of intimacy was growing up between Hiram +Meeker and Hill. An odd companionship, you will say; but they seemed to +get along very well together. The latter, as you may remember, was a +wild, reckless fellow. He had his good traits, though. There was nothing +mean in his composition, but much that was impulsive and generous. He +never laid up a penny, and was always in debt. It was this unfortunate +habit which had kept him so long at Joslin's. He had got in advance of +his salary, and he would not quit till it was made up. When he left +there, he succeeded in getting a place in a large wine and liquor house; +for Hill's acquaintance was extensive, and in those days of +extraordinary 'drumming,' in which he was a great proficient, his +services were valuable. It was through Hill, as I have said, that Hiram +got his place at Hendly's, and after that he was in the habit of looking +in nearly every day on him toward the close of business hours. + +I cannot precisely explain by what species of fascination this poor +fellow was attracted to Meeker. Doubtless it originated in the +triumphant resistance which the latter opposed to Hill's attempt on him +at their first acquaintance, and his complete victory over and +discomfiture of Benjamin Joslin, for whom Hill entertained a supreme +contempt. There was a mystery about the sources of Hiram's power which +completed the charm, and made Hill his willing subject, and afterward +slave. + +But what did Hiram want of Hill? That would appear more difficult to +answer. He certainly did want something of him. For he encouraged his +coming often to see him, and talked with him a great deal. He even lent +him occasionally small sums of money. I repeat, what a droll +companionship! Hill, a swearing, drinking, godless scapegrace. Meeker, a +quiet, exemplary, religious, laborious young man. + +Perhaps it was the rule by which opposites are attracted to each other. + +Perhaps it was something else. + +On the whole, I am inclined to think it was something else, on Hiram's +part at least. I believe he acted, with respect to Hill, as he did with +respect to everybody--from carefully considered motives. We shall see, +perhaps, by and by, how this was. + +Eastman used to wonder that Hiram should tolerate Hill's society. To be +sure, he himself had a sort of family regard for him. But his presence +always annoyed him. He even expressed his surprise to Hiram, who replied +by making use of the moral argument. He was sorry for the poor fellow. +He hoped to do him some good. Possibly he might be able to bring him +under better influences. Certainly Hill would not harm _him_, while, on +the contrary, he (Hill) might be benefited. + +Hiram did not tell the truth. + +Really, if he had dared to stop and inquire of himself, he would be +forced to acknowledge that he did _not_ want Hill to be different from +what he was. Then he would not serve his purpose. To be sure, sometimes, +when Hill permitted an extra strong oath to escape his lips, Hiram would +fidget and look uneasy, and beg his visitor to break himself of such a +wicked habit. But the secret of Hiram's power did not lie in his _moral_ +influence certainly, for Hill's habit of swearing did not improve, +indeed it grew worse. + +In this way passed our hero's first year in New York. + + + + +NULLIFICATION AND SECESSION. + + +We publish the principal part of the speech of Hon. R. J. Walker, +against nullification and secession, made at the great Union meeting at +Natchez, Mississippi, on the first Monday of January, 1833. We republish +this speech from the Natchez _Mississippi Journal_ of that date. Upon +that speech, Mr. Walker became the Union candidate for Senator of the +United States from Mississippi against Mr. Poindexter, a Calhoun +nullifier and secessionist. After a three years' contest of unexampled +violence, Mr. Walker was elected on the 8th of January, 1836. So +distinct was the issue, that the Legislature of Mississippi declared +nullification and secession to be treason. The contest was conducted by +Mr. Walker by speeches in every county, with the banner of the Union +waving over him, and to the music of our national airs. + +We republish this speech now because it preceded Mr. Webster's great +reply to Calhoun, and because its arguments are applicable to the +present contest. This speech drew out Gen. Jackson's celebrated letter, +heretofore published, in favor of Mr. Walker; and the speech received +the cordial approval of ex-President Madison. By reference to the +Washington city _Globe_ of the 12th August, 1836, it will be found that, +in conversation with Mr. Ingersoll, 'Mr. Madison spoke very freely of +nullification, which he altogether condemned, remarking that Mr. Walker, +of the Senate, in a speech he had made on some occasion, was the _first +person_ who had given to the public what he (Mr. Madison) considers the +true view of Mr. Jefferson's language on that subject.' Mr. Webster gave +the Whig arguments against nullification and secession, Mr. Walker the +democratic; but they both arrived at the same conclusions: + +Never, fellow citizens, did I rise to address you with such deep and +abiding impressions of the awful character of that crisis which involves +the existence of the American Union. No mortal eye can pierce the veil +which covers the events of the next few months, but we do know that the +scales are now balancing in fearful equipoise, liberty and union in the +one hand, anarchy or despotism in the other. Which shall preponderate, +is the startling question to which we must all now answer. Already one +bright, one kindred star is sinking from the banner of the American +Union, the very fabric of our government is rocking on its foundations, +one of its proudest pillars is now moving from beneath the glorious +arch, and soon may we all stand amid the broken columns and upon the +scattered fragments of the Constitution of our once united and happy +country. Whilst then we may yet recede from the brink of that precipice +on which we now stand, whilst we are once more convened as citizens of +the American Union, and have still a common country, whilst we are yet +fondly gazing, perhaps for the last time, upon that banner which floated +over the army of Washington, and living beneath that Constitution which +bears his sacred name, let us at least endeavor to transmit to +posterity, unimpaired, that Union, cemented by the blood of our +forefathers. The honorable gentleman who has preceded me, in opposition +to the resolutions submitted for your consideration, tells us that he +was nursed in the principles of '76 and '98--that these are the +principles of Carolina, and that they ought to be maintained. Let me +briefly answer, that the humble individual who now addresses you is the +son of a soldier of the Revolution, and that from the dawning of +manhood, from his first vote to his last, at all times, and upon all +occasions, he has supported and will support the principles of +democracy, and the doctrines of '76 and '98. But it was under the banner +of the Union that the whigs of '76 and '98 achieved their glorious +triumphs; and is that the standard now unfurled by the advocates of +nullification? It is true, we find nullification declared in the +Kentucky resolutions to be a rightful remedy--but nullification by whom? +by a single State? no--by those sovereignties the several States, in the +mode prescribed by the Constitution, by a declaratory amendment +annulling the power under which the law was passed. This would be a +remedy in fact; for it would operate equally on all the States; but can +the same act of Congress be constitutional in one State, and +unconstitutional in another? South Carolina declares the Tariff +unconstitutional--Kentucky declares it valid; is it nullified or not? is +it void or valid? The South Carolina theory gives to each State, of +itself, the unlimited power to pronounce ultimate judgment against the +validity of any act of Congress. If so, the Tariff must be valid in +Kentucky, and void in South Carolina. Yet if the Carolina ordinance, +nullifying the Tariff, be valid in that State, it is valid in every +other State, and Carolina may introduce foreign imports, once landed in +her own State, into every other State, free of all duty; for, by the +Constitution, 'no tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from +any State.' What then becomes of the ultimate judgment of Kentucky? +Nullified by a single State; and that is the nullification of South +Carolina, by which she can constitutionally, and as a member of the +Union, repeal any act of Congress she may deem invalid, and prescribe +her will for law throughout the limits of every other State. The +Constitution of the Union would then be this: _Be it enacted_, that the +American Congress shall possess such powers only as South Carolina +believes they may lawfully exercise; and the whole American people be +thus subjected to the government of the ordinances of a single State. Is +this democracy? The truth is, every act of Congress is intrinsically +void or valid, from its repugnance to or consonance with the provisions +of the American Constitution; nor can the judgment of a State render +void an act of Congress which is constitutional, or render valid an act +of Congress which is unconstitutional. Would the judgment of a single +State have rendered the alien and sedition law constitutional, or the +last war unconstitutional, or would the Supreme Court of the Union have +been compelled to render opposite judgment in a case brought before +them, declaring the citizen of Massachusetts bound to oppose, and of +Virginia to support either of these laws, as their respective States had +pronounced contradictory judgments upon them? Suppose Massachusetts had +not only declared the last war unconstitutional, but had passed an +ordinance requiring her citizens to resist the war, to prostrate and +oppose the armies of the Republic, and to aid a tyrant's myrmidons in +driving the steel deeper into the bosoms of our bleeding countrymen; +would the ordinance be constitutional, or would not the acts it required +to be performed be treason against the Government of the Union? + +It is said a State cannot commit treason; no, but its citizens may; nor +would they be rightfully acquitted because sustained by the judgment of +a single State. If each State possesses an equal right to pass ultimate +judgment upon any act of Congress, and two States enact ordinances +directly contradictory to the same law, do they not, like the meeting of +equal forces in mechanics, nullify each other? or must the same law be +enforced in one State and disregarded in the other? Not without +violating the Constitution; for if New York pronounces the Tariff valid, +and South Carolina declares it void, and suits are instituted in each +State on bonds given for the payment of duties on imports introduced +into each, must the duties be collected in one State, but not in the +other? This would be to set at open defiance those clauses of the +Constitution which declare that all imposts 'shall be uniform throughout +the United States,' and that 'no preference shall exist in the +collection of revenue in the ports of one State over those of another.' +Upon an appeal from the decisions by the Federal district courts of New +York and Carolina, in the suits on the bonds for these duties, how would +the Supreme Court of the Union decide the question? by enforcing the +payment of the bonds given in Carolina? No; for that State had exercised +the right of ultimate judgment, and pronounced the law invalid; would +the court decide against the validity of the bond given in New York? No; +for that State, in exercising its equal right of pronouncing ultimate +judgment, had declared that the law was valid. Or would they enforce the +payments of the duties in New York and not in South Carolina? This, we +have seen, would violate both the clauses of the Constitution last +quoted. The only remaining judgment would be, to disregard the edict of +a single State, and to enforce the payment of the duties in both States, +or in neither, as the act of Congress might or might not be repugnant to +the provisions of the Constitution. If Kentucky and Virginia thought +they possessed the power in regard to the alien and sedition laws now +claimed by Carolina in regard to the Tariff, where is the ordinance +nullifying those laws? Or would they be nullified by resolutions +expressing only the judgment and opinion of the Legislature in regard to +the constitutionality of the law, as if the Legislature, one department +only of the Government of a single State, could annul all the laws of +the Union? Even South Carolina does not urge a doctrine so monstrous, +for she declares this can be done solely by the 'delegates' of the State +in 'solemn convention.' South Carolina finds, then, in the practice of +Virginia and Kentucky, no warrant for the doctrine of nullification. She +finds neither ordinance, nor test oaths, nor standing armies, nor packed +juries, nor secession, or threats of secession, from the Union. They +find Mr. Jefferson in that great emergency protesting against 'a +scission of the Union,' in any event; and the ordinance of South +Carolina would have received his unqualified abhorrence. But, if we are +asked to surrender the principles which alone can preserve the Union, on +the assumed authority of Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison, of Kentucky and +of Virginia--why do not the advocates of nullification tell us that Mr. +Jefferson, in 1821, as appears by his printed memoirs, emphatically +denied the right of a State to _veto_ an act of Congress; and Mr. +Madison, a surviving founder of the Constitution, and framer of the +Virginia resolutions, unequivocally denounces the doctrine of +nullification? And are they not safer guides than Messrs. McDuffie, +Calhoun, and Hamilton, the former of whom wrote and published in 1821, +and the latter deliberately sanctioned, in a laudatory preface, a series +of essays, denouncing this very doctrine of nullification as the +'_climax_ of political heresies'? Why do not those who would look to +Kentucky and Virginia as the only safe expositors of the Constitution +inform us also, that the great and patriotic commonwealth of Kentucky is +indignantly repelling the charge that nullification ever was sustained +by her authority? Why do they not point to the unanimous resolution of +the Virginia Legislature in 1810, declaring in the very case of a +nullification, by a law of Pennsylvania, of a power of the General +Government, that the Supreme Court of the Union is the tribunal, +'already provided by the Constitution of the United States, to decide +disputes between the State and Federal' authorities?' (See 'Sup. Rev. +Code of Virginia,' page 150.) These resolutions, directly affirming the +supremacy of the judgment of the Supreme Court of the Union over the +laws and judgment of a State, were adopted by Virginia within a few +months after the promulgation by that tribunal of its decree enforcing +the authority of the Union against the nullifying edict of a sovereign +State. Virginia did more: she not only affirmed the power of this +tribunal, and sanctioned its decree, but spoke of it in terms of the +highest eulogy, and scouted indignantly the proposition of Pennsylvania +to vest the right of deciding questions of disputed power and +sovereignty in some other tribunal than the Supreme Court of the Union. +The same proposition was treated with the open or silent contempt of +every State in the Union, South Carolina among the number; and +Pennsylvania receded, though she had passed a law commanding the +Governor of the State to prevent by an armed force the execution of the +process emanating under the authority of the Constitution of the +Union--though she placed her act upon the same ground as Carolina, that +the power exercised in that case had never been granted by the +Constitution to any department of the General Government. Thus ended +nullification in the keystone of the arch of the Union. That State, +which has ever sustained the Democracy of the South, in the election of +Jefferson, of Madison, and Monroe, and the cheering voice of whose +public meetings first called out as a candidate for the presidency the +patriot Chief Magistrate who now upholds the banner of the Union, +submitted to the law of the Union. And is nullification constitutional +in Carolina, but unconstitutional in Pennsylvania? Is the one a +_sovereign_ and the other a _subject_ State? Shall the one submit to the +laws of the Union, and not the other? Why, sir, if the people of +Pennsylvania could sustain a distinction so odious, the very shades of +their ancestors would rise from the battlefields of the Revolution, from +Paoli and Germantown, and call their children bondmen of Carolina, +vassals and recreant slaves! I speak not now of the whiskey +insurrection, when, at the order of Washington, the militia of Virginia +and of other States moved against the people of Western Pennsylvania, +under the command of the Governor of Virginia and Carolina, and the +nation approved the deed; but I speak of the period, during the +presidency of Mr. Jefferson, when the State of Pennsylvania passed a law +nullifying the powers of the General Government, under her reserved +right to construe the Constitution at her pleasure, when she was +compelled to yield to the laws of the Union, and her armed force, +assembled by her Governor under an edict of the State, was ineffectual. +Nullification was condemned by Jefferson and Madison, by Virginia and +Carolina, and the people of the Union; and must one State nullify and +not another? No, sir; all or none of the States must submit to the +supremacy of the Government of the Union; and if Carolina can +successfully resist that Government, will any other State submit to a +power which is thus insulted, disgraced, defied, and overthrown by the +edict of a single State, and which acts and exists only by its +permission? No, sir; one successful example of practical nullification +by a State destroys the Union; for it demonstrates that the Government +of the Union has no power to execute its laws, or preserve its +existence--_that it is not a government_, or that its powers are written +in sand, to be swept away by the first angry surge of passion that beats +over them. Such was the prediction of the despots of Europe, too soon to +be fulfilled if the fatal ordinance of Carolina is sustained, and the +flag of the Union struck down by the imperious mandate of a single +State. Let us, then, now teach those despots, who, pointing with +exultation to our dissensions, and anticipating our downfall, proclaim +that man is incapable of self-government, that the Union can and shall +be preserved, that we know that 'Union and Liberty are inseparable,' +that the name and privileges of American citizens are entwined with the +very ligaments of our hearts, that they are our birthright, the glorious +inheritance purchased by the blood of our forefathers, and never to be +surrendered by their sons; that we will all rally round the banner of +our country and sustain it, upon the ocean, on the land, in war and in +peace, against foreign or domestic enemies; or, if it must fall, it will +be upon the graves of Americans preferring death in its defence to life +without it, when the iron chains of despotism would bind them as slaves +to that soil which they would tread only as freemen. + +It is said that the Government of the Union is but a league formed by +sovereign States. Did the States form it as governments? if so, which or +all of the departments of any State subscribed or ratified the compact? +or could the government of any State change the organic law, unless by a +power given them by the Constitution, or surrender the sovereign +attributes of power, and unite the people in a new government with other +confederates? No; the government cannot abolish or change its form or +transfer its powers to another government: this highest act of +sovereignty can only be performed by the people of a State; and it was +by the people of every State, acting in convention as separate and +distinct communities, that the Constitution was ratified and rendered +binding upon the people of all the States; and, in the language of Mr. +Jefferson, the Government thus formed was 'authorized to act immediately +on the people and by its own officers.' Was it then a league only? No, +it was what its framers, the people, as we have seen, and not the +governments of all the States, called it, a 'Constitution'--a +'Government;' and it is an overthrow of fundamental principles to say +that a 'constitution,' a 'government,' which is made 'the supreme law' +in all the States, could be created by any power less than the people of +the several States, but as the people of the States, and not in their +aggregate capacity. Whatever may be the theories of the advocates of +consolidation on the one hand, or nullification on the other, this is +certainly a true history of the manner in which the Government of the +Union was formed. The Constitution itself expressly declares that it +could be created only by 'the ratifications of the conventions of the +States;' and this Constitution was expressly rendered 'the supreme law +of the land,' 'anything in the constitution or laws of any State to the +contrary notwithstanding,'--as if the government of a State could render +their own constitution subordinate to another constitution. A return +then having taken place, in forming the Constitution, to the people of +all the States, as the primary fountain of power, they might have vested +all their sovereignty, or but a part of it, in one government; and they +might have given, in either event, the same power which exists in +ordinary governments of enforcing its laws when sustained as +constitutional by all its departments, subject only to the natural +rights of the people to revolutionize the government in case of +intolerable oppression. Certain important powers and attributes of +sovereignty the people of the States gave to this new government. They +made this government 'supreme' in the exercise of its powers in all the +States. They gave this government the sole power 'to declare war.' Did +the State then remain an absolute sovereign in that respect, and with +absolute power to judge if the object of the war was constitutional, and +annul the declaration? This new government had the sole power to lay and +_collect_ 'duties on imports;' did each State remain an absolute +sovereignty in this respect, and with absolute powers to judge if the +object of the duties was constitutional, and annul the law? The General +Government was the only sovereign as regards these powers; but a single +State, having none of these powers, is made the absolute judge whether +they can or cannot be exercised: then no powers have yet been granted to +the General Government by any State, if each possesses the right to +interdict the exercise of any of these powers. But, could this General +Government exist without the authority to give one uniform effect to the +execution of its powers in all the States? Created with all the organs +of a government, legislative, judicial, and executive, may it enact, but +not expound, or enact and expound, but not execute? Must it stop at the +boundary of each State, and ask what power it possesses, and act upon +the contradictory responses of each State? Must it possess one set of +powers in one State, and another and wholly opposite set of powers in +another State? May it lay a tariff in one State, and not in another, and +yet this tariff required to be uniform in every State? Is it one +constitution, and susceptible of one only true construction, or +twenty-four constitutions, with twenty-four various and contradictory +constructions, and all right, because all pronounced by absolute +sovereigns exercising the uncontrolled power of ultimate judgment? Has +it any powers, and what are they? Will Mississippi submit this question +to Massachusetts or Carolina, or is a government created whose powers +cannot be ascertained? Must anarchy govern? Can there be no decision, or +is that of a single State, or of a small minority of the States, to +sweep away the legislation of a majority, or two thirds of the States? +According to the new theory, each State has the constitutional power in +the first instance, and one fourth in the last resort, to judge what +powers each State may exercise, and the other States must submit. Now, +this is impossible, where the legislation of the two States is +contradictory; and, if possible, is not a mere negative, but a positive +power. It is a government without limitation of power, in a single +State, aided by one fourth of the States--a government by which the +minority may control the majority in all cases whatsoever. Thus, +Carolina frames any law or ordinance she thinks she may lawfully do in +the exercise of her reserved rights. She gives clearances for vessels, +for instance, to introduce all imports free of all duties. When once +introduced into Carolina, she has, or claims and exercises the right +under the Constitution of introducing these imports free of all duties +into every other State in the Union. Two thirds of the States have +passed an act of Congress imposing certain duties on foreign imports: as +separate States they can pass no such laws, having surrendered that +power in the Constitution of the Union. Can Carolina compel them to +receive all foreign imports free of all duties? Yet she says this is one +of her reserved rights, and she may forever constitutionally exercise +it, in defiance of an act of Congress passed by two thirds of the +States. Such a government would be an oligarchy of the most odious and +detestable character. The right of the people of any State, or of any +portion of them, to meet intolerable oppression by revolution is +certain; but, in Mr. Jefferson's rough draught of the Kentucky +resolutions (now attempted to be substituted for his deliberate +conclusions as contained in the resolutions themselves), does he +advocate nullification by a single State as a _constitutional_ remedy, +by a State remaining in the Union and submitting only to such laws as it +deemed valid. No; it was not as a _constitutional_, but as a 'NATURAL +right,' that Mr. Jefferson spoke of nullification by the people of a +State. I say the people, for Mr. Jefferson well knew that the '_natural_ +right' of a State to nullify, as an artificial body politic, would be a +contradiction in terms. This '_natural_ right' is a _personal_, as +contradistinguished from a _State_ right; it is inalienable--it is +neither given nor reserved by constitutional compacts--it exists in +citizens of every State, the minority as well as the majority, and not +in the government of any one State. But the exercise of this right is +_revolution_--it is a declaration of independence--it is _war_, and +appeals to the sword as its umpire. Let no State, then, claim to stand +on the basis of the Constitution of the Union, while stripping it of its +vital powers, or setting up its will for law. No, the ordinance of +Carolina is not a peaceful, constitutional remedy: it is a nullification +of the Government itself, sweeping away its revenues, its courts, and +its officers; it is a repeal of the Union; it is despotic; it is +revolutionary; it is belligerent; it is a declaration of war or separate +independence. It looks beyond a repeal of the Tariff; for, whether the +Tariff be repealed or not, it asks to engraft the doctrine of +nullification as a permanent feature of the Constitution, applicable in +every case in which any State may deem any act of Congress +unconstitutional. Then each one of the States may take up the volumes +containing all the acts of Congress, and repeal them all by one sweeping +edict of nullification; for there is no limitation to the exercise of +the power but her own will. It is said no State will abuse the power; +but if a majority of the States, by their representatives in Congress, +may abuse delegated powers, is there no danger that one of these same +States, by their representatives at home, may mistake the nature of +their powers, and endanger the Union by a usurpation of power? Or do the +same people, and voting at the same period in any State, elect men to +Congress who will violate, and to the councils of the State, who will +uniformly preserve the Constitution? A State declared the last war +unconstitutional: must the war be nullified, or, by the new theory, +suspended, till, by a slow and tedious process, its constitutionality be +affirmed by three fourths of the States? But, in the mean time, all +hostile operations must cease, our army be disbanded, our navy recalled, +and no further supplies decreed of money, ammunition, or men. And when +one State thus nullifies any act of Congress, she is not required to be +sustained by the vote of any other State: the one fourth are only +required to refuse to act--to remain neutral--if they consider the act +of Congress inexpedient, although they believe it constitutional. +Suppose the New-England States, after the war was pronounced +unconstitutional by a single State, had refused to call a convention to +amend the Constitution, or, if called, to grant the disputed power; then +the war must have been abandoned, the minority must govern, and our +country be disgraced, our seamen permitted to be pressed from the very +decks of our vessels into foreign service, and the maritime despotism of +Britain established without even a struggle in defence of our liberties. +Shall opposition to the Tariff betray us into the support of doctrines +so utterly subversive of the Constitution, and inconsistent with the +existence of any government of the Union? + +Once this power was threatened to be assumed by Massachusetts, now by +South Carolina, and how and by what State it will next be exercised, or +what vital power it may next strike from the Constitution, it is +impossible to predict; but, if permitted in one State, it will be +exercised by all, till not a vestige remains of the Constitution of the +Union. Suppose the Tariff repealed by Congress, nullification may annul +the repealing law. Louisiana may, in the exercise of her right of +ultimate judgment, declare that the repealing law is unconstitutional, +upon the pretext that it destroys rights vested by the first law and +violates the plighted faith of the Government, insist on the collection +of duties under the first law, pass her ordinance, array her State +officers against those of the Union, and thus destroy the commerce of +Mississippi, and of all the Western States, or compel the collection of +the present duties. Or she may say that, if Congress possesses no power +to lay duties which will operate an incidental protection, Louisiana +possesses the reserved right of imposing duties for that purpose; that +each State possessed it before it became a member of the Union; that +duties for revenue only can be collected by the General Government, and +that the residuary power to lay duties for protection is one of the +powers of a sovereign State; that she will exercise it, and impose +protecting duties on imports, and thus we shall have various and +conflicting State tariffs from Maine to Louisiana (the very object which +the Constitution was designed to prevent); but if Louisiana alone adopt +the measure, the commerce of the West is prostrate at her feet. + +It is in the name of liberty and to protect minorities, that +nullification professes to act; while in its first ordinance it sweeps +away the dearest rights of a large minority of the people of Carolina, +and binds the freedom of conscience in adamantine chains. It deprives +American citizens of that last and hitherto sacred refuge from +oppression, a trial by an impartial jury, and requires the very judges +upon the bench and jurors within the box to be sworn to condemn the +unhappy man whose only crime was this: that he claimed the Government of +the Union as his birthright, and acknowledged the duty of obedience to +its laws. Such are the opening scenes of nullification; and, if not +arrested, where or how will the drama close? In all the horrors of civil +war. Turn your eyes upon the scenes of the French Revolution, and behold +them about to be reacted within the limits of a sister State. Already +nullification calls upon its twelve thousand bayonets; friend is rising +against friend, and brother against brother, under the banner of +Carolina on the one side, of the Union on the other; the inflammable +materials are ready, the spark approaches, the explosion may soon take +place, and the genius of liberty, rising in anguish from the +bloodstained fields of Carolina, spread her pinions, and wing her way +forever from a world, on one side of whose waters despotism reigns +triumphant, and, upon the other, anarchy, with one foot upon the scroll +of the Declaration of American Independence, and with the other upon the +broken tablet of the Constitution of the Union, shall wave that sceptre, +whereon shall be inscribed the motto, never to be effaced: 'Man is +incapable of self-government.' Yes, this is the best, the brightest, the +last experiment of self-government: universal _freedom_ or universal +_bondage_ is staked on the result of the success or failure of the +American Union; and as it shall be maintained and perpetuated, or broken +and dissolved, the light of liberty shall beam upon the hopes of +mankind, or be forever extinguished, amid the scoffs of exulting tyrants +and the groans of a world in bondage. Rising, then, above all minor +considerations, and lifting our souls to the contemplation of that lofty +eminence on which Heaven itself has vouchsafed to place the American +people, as the only guardians of the hopes and liberties of mankind, let +us act as becomes the depositaries of that sacred fire which burns on +the altars of the American Union, and resolve that this Union shall be +preserved, all whole and inviolate, as we received it from the hands of +our forefathers. + +But, if nullification is not a constitutional remedy, we are told that +_secession_ is; and a few, who deny the one, admit the other; and our +venerable chief magistrate (Jackson) has been proclaimed as a +Federalist, because he denies the right of secession; and many of his +supporters, although some may not concur in every argument by which he +arrives at his conclusions, but concur in the conclusions themselves, +are visited with a similar denunciation. Sir, the President is one of +the fathers and founders of the Democratic party--one of its earliest +and most steadfast supporters, in defeat and triumph, in war and in +peace, in sunshine and in storm. In the Senate of the United States he +voted against the alien law, and was a zealous advocate of the +principles which resulted in the election of Mr. Jefferson, and the +great political revolution of 1800; and if any one man has done more to +support all the just rights of the States than General Jackson, that man +is not known to me. It is now nearly ten years since I had the honor to +propose the name of this illustrious patriot to the first meeting of a +portion of the Democracy of Pennsylvania as a candidate for the +presidency, and I will not hear him denounced as a Federalist without, +at least, an effort in his defence. Who made the right of secession as a +constitutional right of every State an article in the creed of the +Democratic party, and by what authority? By what reasoning is +nullification denounced, and secession supported, as a constitutional +remedy? If there be any real difference, the former is check, and the +latter a check-mate, to the movements of the Government of the Union. +The same reasoning demonstrates the fallacy of nullification or +secession, with equal clearness and certainty. A State cannot nullify a +law of the Union, because the _Constitution_ and _laws_ of the State are +made _subordinate_ to the Constitution and laws of the Union, by a +compact to which the people of each State were one party, and bound +themselves to the people of all the other States, as the other party. +One State cannot change the compact, or any of its terms or provisions, +yet it may rescind the compact at pleasure! It would be abuse of +language to call such an instrument a _compact_, because it would be +obligatory upon none. Without the constitutional right to nullify a law +of Congress by the ultimate judgment of the State against it, how could +the constitutional power of secession arise? It is said, from a +violation of the Constitution of the Union by the General Government; +but if a State has not, as the opponents of nullification admit, any +right to pass ultimate judgment on the constitutionality of an act of +Congress, how can it make the supposed violation of the Constitution by +the General Government the basis of the act of secession? The preamble +of the ordinance on which the State would rest its act of secession, by +asserting the unconstitutionality of an act of Congress, would be swept +away by the non-existence of a power in a single State to pronounce +ultimate judgment upon the acts of the Government of the Union; and the +preamble and ordinance of secession would fall together. Thus, when +Carolina, in her ordinance, first declares certain acts of Congress +unconstitutional, and proceeds, with the same ordinance, to +nullification first, and then to secession, we deny her constitutional +right to nullify or secede for the same reason; because the right +declared by her ordinance to render an act of Congress unconstitutional +by the judgment of a single State is a usurpation of power. Governor +Hayne, of Carolina, in his late proclamation, inquires if that State was +linked to the Union 'in the iron bonds of a perpetual Union.' These +bonds were not of iron, or Carolina would have never worn them, but they +are the enduring chain of peace and Union. One link could not be severed +from this chain, united in all its parts, without an entire dissolution +of all the bonds of union; and one State cannot dissolve the union among +all the States. Yet Carolina admits this to be the inevitable +consequence of the separation of that State; for, in the address of her +convention, she declares that 'the separation of South Carolina would +inevitably produce a _general dissolution of the Union_.' Has the +Government of the Union no power to _preserve itself from destruction_, +or must we submit to a 'general dissolution of the Union' whenever any +one State thinks proper to issue the despotic mandate? It was the +declared object of our ancestors, the hope of their children, that they +had formed 'a PERPETUAL Union.' The original compact of Carolina with +her sister States, by which the confederacy was erected, is called +'Articles of Confederation and _perpetual_ Union.' In the thirteenth +article of this confederacy, it is expressly declared that 'the Union +shall be _perpetual_;' and in the ratification of this compact, South +Carolina united with her sister States in declaring: 'And we do further +solemnly plight and engage the faith of our respective constituents' +that 'the Union _shall be perpetual_;' and may she now withdraw this +pledge without a violation of the compact? By the old confederacy, then, +the Union was _perpetual_; and the declared object of the Constitution +was to form 'a more perfect Union' than that existing under the former +confederacy. Now, would this Union be more perfect under the new than +the old confederacy, if by the latter the Union was perpetual, but, +under the former, limited in its duration at the will of a single State? + +The advocates of secession claim the constitutional power for each State +to annul, not only any law which the State may deem unconstitutional, +but to abolish the Constitution itself as the law of the State. Now, by +this Constitution, Carolina granted certain powers to the General +Government: may she constitutionally alter or revoke the grant, in a +manner repugnant to the provisions of that Constitution? That instrument +points out the mode in which it may be changed or abrogated, and by +which the several States may assume all or any of the powers granted to +the General Government, namely, by the conjoint action of three fourths +of the States. What, then, are the powers reserved to the State? The +ninth article of the Constitution of the Union declares that 'the powers +not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited +by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the +people.' Then the powers delegated to the United States were not +reserved to the States or to the people. What is the meaning of the +clause 'or to the people,' as contradistinguished from 'the States'? +Does it mean that any of this mass of undefined powers, but embracing +all not granted to the General Government, was reserved to the people of +the United States in the aggregate? Then there would exist, and does now +exist, a consolidated despotism. No, it was to the _people_ of each +State the reservation was made. Then it follows, as a necessary +consequence, that none of the powers granted to the General Government +were reserved either to the States or the people of any State. That is, +so far as the people of any one State had granted, by their own separate +constitution, to the State government any powers not delegated to the +General Government, the government of the State might exercise these +powers, and so far as any of these undelegated powers were not granted +to the State government, by the people of the State, they were reserved +to the people of each State. Now, one of the powers reserved to the +people of each State is to change their form of State government, and +resume the powers granted by it. But we have seen that neither the +government or people of a State could resume 'the powers delegated to +the United States,' because it was not one of the rights reserved to +either. What! I am asked, cannot the people of a State abolish their +form of government? Yes, in two modes: one in accordance with the +Constitution, and the other by a revolution. Could the people of +Carolina or Mississippi change or abolish their State constitution, +except in the mode prescribed by that instrument, unless by a +revolution? And the same power, the people of Carolina, that formed for +them their State constitution, ratified and rendered obligatory upon +them the Constitution of the Union; and can the one and not the other be +abolished, except by a revolution, in any other mode than that +prescribed by the Constitution? No; the people of Carolina, and of all +the States, as distinct communities, in ratifying the Constitution of +the Union, rendered it binding upon the people of every State, by the +declaration that 'this Constitution shall be the supreme law of the +land, and that the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, +anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary +notwithstanding.' Here we see the distinction between the State and the +people of the State again recognized and confirmed, and the 'State,' by +its 'laws,' and the people of the State, by the formation of a +constitution, expressly prohibited from arresting the operation of the +Constitution of the United States, as 'the supreme law of the land,' 'in +every State.' If Carolina secede, she must form a constitution, by which +she will assume the powers granted to the General Government, and vest +them in the government of the State. Here she would be met by the former +act of the people of Carolina, declaring that they had abandoned the +power to form for themselves a constitution by which the Constitution of +the Union would cease within their limits to be 'the supreme law of the +land.' Nor did the framers of the Constitution mean to say only that the +then existing Constitutions of the States ratifying the compact should +be subordinate to the Constitution of the Union; for then, also, only +the existing laws of any State were required to be subordinate to the +Constitution of the Union; but both are placed on the same basis. The +power of a State to nullify by its laws, or secede by forming a new +constitution, are both denied in the same clause and sentence of the +American Constitution. The language is clear, that the Constitution of +the Union shall be 'the supreme law of the land,' and 'binding in every +State,' 'anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the +contrary notwithstanding.' The terms are '_shall be_;' it is the +language of command, it is prospective, it was binding when subscribed, +now, and forever. Or, was Carolina never bound by this compact, and +might she, the very day after it was ratified by her people, disregard +it altogether, secede, and establish a constitution directly repugnant +to the Constitution of the Union? If so, written constitutions are worse +than useless; they are not obligatory, there is no penalty for their +violation; obedience to them cannot be enforced; there is no government +but that of opinion, fluctuating and uncertain, undefined and +undefinable, which is paramount to the fundamental law. This is what the +_despots of Europe_ call our government, and why they _predict_ its +downfall--a prediction now in the course of fulfilment, if these +anarchical principles can be recognized as the doctrines of the +Constitution. + +There is no difference between the doctrines or acts of Jefferson and +Jackson on this subject. Both admit nullification or secession as a +revolutionary measure; and the new doctrine of suspending a law by a +nullifying edict finds not the remotest support from Mr. Jefferson. In +his celebrated draught of the Kentucky resolutions, so much relied on by +Carolina, we have seen, he speaks of these powers of the people of any +State as 'a _natural_ right,' and so is revolution; and the cases to +which he refers are such as render a revolution unavoidable, namely, if +Congress pass an act 'so palpably against the Constitution as to amount +to an undisguised declaration that the compact is not meant to be the +measure of the powers of the General Government.' Is there now such a +case? if there is, revolution is justifiable. Why then ask any other +remedy than revolution for a case where revolution would be unavoidable? +And SECESSION IS REVOLUTION. But did Mr. Jefferson mean to say that +whenever any State should place its laws or Constitution, by +nullification or secession, in opposition to the laws of the General +Government, that the power of the General Government must not be +exerted? The very reverse. The act of Congress of the 3d of March, +1807, signed and approved by Mr. Jefferson as President, expressly +authorizes the President of the United States to 'employ such part of +the land and naval force of the United States as may be necessary' to +execute 'the laws of the United States.' Does this mean, as General +Hayne tells us in his proclamation, to execute the laws against +insurgents not sustained by any law of the State? No; this act was +passed at the very time when Pennsylvania was proceeding, by virtue of a +law of the State, to execute, by an armed force, the mandate of the +State in opposition to the mandate of the Federal authorities; and the +officer of Pennsylvania, acting under the mandate of the Governor and a +positive law of the State, was condemned for executing a law of the +State opposed to the mandate of the General Government, and only escaped +punishment by the pardon of President Madison: and thus falls the very +basis of the doctrine of nullification. Here is a commentary by Messrs. +Jefferson and Madison, demonstrating their entire concurrence with our +present Chief Magistrate. And, if any further evidence of Mr. +Jefferson's views were wanting, it is to be found in his letters, +already referred to, protesting against a separation of the Union, and +denying the right of a State to '_veto_' an act of Congress; and in many +other letters to be found in his memoirs, insisting upon the power even +of the old confederacy to exercise 'COERCION over its delinquent +members,' the States. 'Compulsion,' he says, 'was never so easy as in +our case, where a single frigate would levy on the commerce of a State +the deficiency of its contributions; nor more safe than in the hands of +_Congress_, which has _always_ shown that it would wait, as it ought to +do, to the last extremities, before it would exercise any of its powers +which are disagreeable.' Here, then, we find Mr. Jefferson most +distinctly admitting the power of Congress under the old, as in 1807 he +admitted under the present confederacy, to _compel a State_ by FORCE to +obey the laws of the Union. Why, then, is General Jackson denounced as a +tyrant, for doing that which his oath and the Constitution compel him to +do? Suppose any State, by its ordinance, should arrest the passage of +the mail through their limits, upon the pretext that the law was +unconstitutional; the acts of Congress place at the disposal of the +President the militia of any one or all of the States, or 'the land or +naval force of the United States', to _execute the law of the Union in +every State, by whomsoever resisted or opposed_. The Constitution and +his oath command him to execute the laws; he must execute them, and the +mail must pass on, though the edict of a single State should attempt to +arrest it by nullification or secession. Such, too, was the opinion of +Mr. Jefferson; and that illustrious patriot would have laid his head on +the block, and blessed the hand that severed it from his body, rather +than sever the Union by the promulgation of the doctrines now ascribed +to him. What are the consequences of this right of a State to secede +from the Union?--this right of revolution, without the power of the +General Government to _preserve the Union_? Any one State may arrest, +to-morrow, the mail of the Union, and its passage from State to State, +and refuse it a passage forever. Pennsylvania, a central State, may +separate the North from the South, prevent all intercommunication, +render our country a republic divided and indefensible. Louisiana, +purchased by taxes imposed upon the people of all the States, may secede +and establish a separate and independent government, lay protective or +prohibitory imposts on the imports and exports of this State and of the +West, carried through her ports and the outlets of the Mississippi. She +might say, I will protect my own cotton planters, by prohibitory duties +on the cotton of Mississippi or the West, or the imports designed to be +exchanged for it, shipped through my ports or through the outlet of the +Mississippi: it is my interest to do so; for thus I can deprive the +cotton planters of Mississippi and the West of a market; thus compel +them to abandon the culture of that staple, and sell my own cotton at a +higher price. Louisiana asserts no such doctrines; but, if she did, +could Mississippi, could the West admit them? and, in the last resort, +would not the Government _force_ a passage for our imports and exports +by the _sword_? Yes; for as well might you take the heart from the human +body and bid it live, as sever Louisiana from the States that border on +the Mississippi, and bid these States to prosper. No; Louisiana holds +the outlet of that stream through which the life blood of their commerce +and industry must forever flow; and we never could admit her right to +secede from the Union, and dictate the terms on which we should use the +outlet of that stream, whose banks were destined by heaven itself as the +residence of a united people. Not only Louisiana, but State by State +that borders on the Atlantic or the Gulf, might secede, seclude the West +from the ocean, and render them the tributaries of the seaboard States, +by laying prohibitory duties on their imports and exports. Could we +submit to this? _Not while the West contained a gun to use, or a man to +shoulder it._ + +And may Carolina secede and establish an independent government? Did she +establish her own independence? No, it was achieved by the arms and +purchased by the blood of Americans, with the banner of the Union +floating over them. I know the valor of Carolina, that, man to man, she +is invincible; but, unaided and alone, she would have fallen in the +Revolution. She would have fallen gloriously, her soil would have drunk +the blood of her children; but still she must have fallen in the unequal +contest. When Carolina was made the battlefield of the Revolution, from +the very rock of Plymouth and the heights of Bunker Hill, from +Pennsylvania, from Virginia, American citizens flew to her rescue. Side +by side with Carolina's sons they marched beneath the banner of the +Union; they fought, they conquered; Carolina was redeemed from bondage, +but upon her many and well-fought fields was mingled the blood and +repose the ashes of our common ancestors, the pledges of our Union in +victory and in death. + +Shades of these departed patriots! arise, and say to the sons of +Carolina, it was the Union that made you free. Without it, you would yet +be subjects, colonial vassals, and slaves; without it, the chains are +now forging that will bind you to the thrones of despots. And could we +stand with folded arms, and behold the Union dissolved? Could we see the +seventeen thousand freemen of Carolina, who cling with the grasp of +death to the banner of the Union, deprived of their privileges as +American citizens, proscribed, disfranchised, expelled from all offices, +civil and military, driven by glittering bayonets from the bench and the +jury box, tried and convicted by judges and jurors sworn to condemn, +attainted as traitors, torn from the last embraces of wives and +children, consigned to the scaffold or the block, or immured within the +walls of a dungeon, where the light of heaven or liberty should never +visit them, with no consolation but their patriotism, and no companions +but their chains? And, gracious Heaven, for what? Oh! Liberty, when was +thy sacred temple profaned by deeds like this? Thy martyrs suffered only +for clinging to the banner of the American Union. And could we see them +torn from around that sacred banner, and move not to their rescue? No; +the glow that beams on every countenance, the patriot's answer that +speaks from every throbbing breast, proclaims that, as in '76 our +fathers marched to free their sires from tyrants' power, so would their +children go, to save from death or bondage Carolina's friends of +union--with them, beneath the standard of our common country, to die or +conquer. + +Citizens of Mississippi, to you the address of the nullifying convention +of Carolina makes a special appeal. It asks, if Carolina secedes from +the Union, 'Can it be believed that Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and +even Kentucky would continue to pay a tribute of fifty per cent. upon +their consumption to the Northern States for the privilege of being +united to them, when they could receive all their supplies through the +ports of South Carolina, without paying a single cent for tribute?' To +this question, Georgia has already answered, by expressing her +'abhorrence' of the doctrine of nullification, her firm resolve to +adhere to the Union. Tennessee has made the same response. Kentucky, in +a voice of thunder, answers, _No_, we will preserve the Union as it is. +And will Mississippi receive the bribe thus offered to dissolve the +Union? What is it? The privilege of exchanging our exports for imports +free of duty, in the ports of Carolina; and then would Carolina pay the +taxes to raise and maintain an army, or a navy, and protect our +commerce? But if she could, nature pronounces the project impracticable. +Our commerce must flow through the outlet of the Mississippi; and how +would our exports reach the ports of Carolina--how would our imports +thence be received? Through the outlet of the Mississippi? No, that +outlet and its ports would then be in the hands of Louisiana--in that +event, to us a hostile foreign government, from which we had severed +ourselves. For let it not be forgotten that Louisiana is not even +invited to join this new confederacy; and if she were, is announcing her +unalterable determination to adhere to the Union as it is. Then, through +the outlet of the Mississippi our commerce could not be carried on with +the ports of Carolina; for Louisiana, as we have seen before, would meet +and stop our exports and imports with prohibitory duties. Would we move +up the Mississippi or Ohio to reach the ports of Carolina, or any other +market? There we would find the confederates from whom we had severed; +we would find a foreign government, and prohibitory duties would exclude +our access to Carolina's ports in that direction. How would we reach +them? The only other route, if Georgia and Alabama would grant the boon +for Carolina's benefit, would be to pass through those States by land to +Charleston, with our cotton, and return by land with the imports +received in exchange. A trip of one thousand miles by wagon road with +cotton! The entire value of the crop would not pay for its +transportation. Is this the proposition of Carolina? What is the only +commerce we could carry on with her? By abandoning the culture of cotton +upon our fertile lands, for the benefit of Carolina, and our planters +all becoming drovers of horses, mules, and cattle, to exchange for her +imports, and return with them, packed on the number unsold of our mules +and horses. And are these the benefits for which we are asked to +dissolve the Union, and place the channel of the Mississippi above and +below, and its outlet, in the hands of a foreign government, denying a +passage ascending or descending, to our imports or exports, and +excluding us from the ocean altogether? If Carolina's scheme were +practicable, Mississippi would not sell the Union for dollars and cents; +but though the scheme might be beneficial to Carolina, by stopping the +culture of cotton on our fertile soil, to the people of this State it is +ruin immediate and inevitable. The remedy Carolina proposes to us for +the Tariff, is worse than the disease. The disease is not mortal--it is +now in a course of cure; but Carolina's remedy is death--it is suicide; +for the _dissolution of the Union is political suicide_. + +A Southern convention is proposed, of the States of North and South +Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. If +the object be a confederacy of these States, without Louisiana and the +Western, Middle, and Northern States, if patriotism, or love for the +Union were insufficient to restrain us from attempting this fatal +measure, we have seen that it would blast forever the fortunes of the +planters of Mississippi. But what States will unite in this convention? +Georgia has disavowed the act of the self-constituted, self-elected +minority convention that acted in her name. The history of Virginia +speaks in the voice of indignant rebuke to all those States that +assemble sectional conventions. North Carolina, unassuming, but +steadfast in support of the Union, will enter into no such convention. +Alabama, if her public meetings and journals and her chief magistrate +speak the voice of the State, will send no delegates. Tennessee, brave +and patriotic, devoted to the Union, and sustaining its banner in war +and in peace, meets the proposition with a decided refusal. I imagine, +then, our delegates would return without finding this Southern +convention. I am opposed to all sectional conventions. We have had one +such convention, and, whatever the secret motives of its members may +have been, the very fact that it was a sectional convention, that it was +believed to be convened to calculate the value of the Union, that it was +supposed to have in view an Eastern confederacy, has sealed the doom of +its members and projectors. And when the calm shall follow the storm, a +similar fate awaits all who will go into this Southern convention. I +trust there never will be another partial convention, Northern, +Southern, Eastern, or Western; for, whether assembled at Hartford or +Columbia, they are equally dangerous to the Union of the States. They +create and inflame geographical parties. Could the North, assembled in +convention, have that full knowledge of the situation and wants of the +people of the South, as to legislate for them, and propose ultimatums to +which the South must submit, or leave the Union? Could the South possess +that full knowledge of the situation and wants and interests of the +people of all the other States, as to enable them to dictate the terms +on which the Union should be governed or dissolved? No; it is only in a +meeting of all the States, in Congress or convention, that that +knowledge of the wants and interests of all, and that fusion of +sentiment and opinion, and spirit of concession, can exist, in which the +Constitution was framed, and all its powers should be exercised. + +If we hold Southern conventions, then will there be Northern, Eastern, +and Western conventions, and they will overthrow the Union. Partial +confederacies will first be formed, and then, as Mr. Jefferson most +truly tells us, would speedily follow the formation of a separate and +independent government by each State. What is it we are asked to +abandon, and for what? That Union which ushered in the morn of American +Liberty, and gave birth to the Declaration of Independence; which +carried our armies victoriously through the storms of the Revolution and +the last war, and now waves triumphantly in every sea, the kindred +emblem of our country's glory. It gave us Washington--it gave us +liberty, and bears our name aloft among the nations of the earth. It is +our only rampart in war--our only safeguard in peace, and under its +auspices we declared, achieved, maintained, and can alone preserve our +liberties. It is the only basis of our solid and substantial interests, +and the last star of hope to the oppressed of every clime. Shall we +calculate its value? No! for we will not estimate the value of +liberty--and 'liberty and union are inseparable.' Dissolve this Union, +and let each State become, as Mr. Jefferson truly tells us it would, a +separate government, could we preserve our liberties? Where would be the +army and navy and seamen of the State of Mississippi? how to be +procured, and how to be maintained and paid? Where would be her +ambassadors and treaties, her commerce--and through what ports and by +whose permission would she ship her exports or introduce her imports? +Who would respect her flag, who recognize her as a nation--and how would +she punish aggressions upon her rights, on the ocean or the land? No, +fellow citizens; the President truly tells us that 'separate +independence' is a 'dream'--a dream from which we would wake in bondage +or in death. But, if disgraced abroad, what would be our situation at +home, as separate bordering and hostile States--and how long could we +remain in peace and concord? The voice of history tells us--the +bloodstained fields of our sister republics of America proclaim, that +disunion would be the signal for WAR--a war of conquest, in which the +weak would fall before the power of the strong; and upon the ruins of +this now happy Union might arise the darkest despotism that ever crushed +the liberties of mankind, for it would be established and could only be +maintained by the bayonet. Perhaps, while yet the civil war should rage +with doubtful issue, while exhausted and bleeding at every pore, that +sanguinary alliance of despots, combined to crush the liberties of man, +would send its armies to our shores. Under what standard would we rally +to preserve our liberty? There would be no Union--without it there would +be no strength; and those who, united, could defy the world in arms, +divided would be weak and powerless. Such are the ultimate results of +disunion. Let us take the first step, and all may be lost forever. That +step is nullification by Carolina, then her secession--then, as she +truly tells us in her address, 'the separation of South Carolina would +inevitably produce a general dissolution of the Union.' And shall +Carolina dissolve the Union? No; the liberties of all the States are +embarked together, and if one State withdraw her single plank, the +national vessel must go down to rise no more, and shipwreck the hopes of +mankind. Let us then adjure the people of Carolina, by the ties of our +common country and common kindred--by the ruin and disgrace which civil +war will bring upon the victors and vanquished--by the untried horrors +of those scenes to which disunion must conduct, to repeal her ordinance, +and not to force upon us that dread alternative, in which we must +support the flag of our country, or surrender our Union and liberty +without a struggle: that we cannot, we will not, we dare not, surrender +them; and, if forced to draw the sword to defend our liberties, the +motto will gleam on every blade: 'The Union shall be preserved.' For +were it abandoned, life would not be a blessing, but a curse; and +happiest would those be whose eyes were closed in death ere they beheld +the horrors of those scenes to which with viewless and rapid strides we +seem to hasten. Well, fellow citizens, may our hearts be wrung with +sorrow on this occasion, in looking back to what we were, and forward to +what we may soon be. Well may the tears unbidden start, for they are the +tears that patriots shed over the departing greatness of our once +united, but now distracted and unhappy country. + + + + +THE SIOUX WAR. + + +Compared with the great storm of rebellion which has darkened and +overspread our whole national sky, the Indian war on our northwestern +frontier has been a little cloud "no bigger than a man's hand;" and yet, +compared with similar events in our history, it has scarcely a parallel. +From the days of King Philip to the time of Black Hawk, there has hardly +been an outbreak so treacherous, so sudden, so bitter, and so bloody, +as that which filled the State of Minnesota with sorrow and lamentation, +during the past summer and autumn, and the closing scenes of which are +even now transpiring. We were beginning to regard the poetry of the +palisades as a thing of the past, when, suddenly, our ears were startled +by the echo of the warwhoop, and the crack of the rifle, and our hearts +appalled by the gleam of the tomahawk and the scalping knife, as they +descended in indiscriminate and remorseless slaughter, on defenceless +women and children on our border. + +In the year 1851, the Sisseton, Wahpeton, M'dewakanton and Wahpekuta +bands of Dacotah or Sioux Indians by treaty ceded to the United States, +in consideration of certain annuities to be paid them, all their lands +within the present limits of the States of Iowa and Minnesota, excepting +a reservation set apart for their habitation and use, embracing a narrow +strip along the southern side of the Minnesota River, of about ten miles +in width and one hundred and fifty in length. To this reservation these +four bands removed their people, numbering some seven thousand souls, of +whom, perhaps, twelve hundred were warriors. During the eleven years +which have elapsed since this treaty was made, they have lived there, +the State of Minnesota being meanwhile peopled by the whites with +unparalleled rapidity, and the Indians seeing flourishing and populous +settlements springing up all about them. With but a single interruption, +peace and amity has existed between the two races; missions, schools, +and to some extent, agriculture, have been established among them; and a +large number of halfbreeds, springing from marriages between white +traders and Sioux women, have formed, apparently, a link of +consanguinity and interest, which, aided by the influence and laws of +civilization, would hereafter prevent any trouble or bloodshed on the +part of the savages. + +One single and very grave interruption to these peaceful relations has, +however, occurred. In March, 1857, Inkpadutah, a Wahpekuta Dacotah, with +a small band of followers, committed a terrible massacre near Spirit +Lake, in the northwestern corner of Iowa, slaying fifty persons, and +carrying away four women into captivity, two of whom were, after some +months, ransomed and restored to their friends, the other two having +been previously murdered by their captors. But Inkpadutah and his band +were outlaws, driven away by their own people for creating internal +dissensions; and although the perpetrators were never properly pursued +and punished, it was not thought that the outrage had been countenanced +by the rest of the nation, or that any danger existed of similar acts on +their part. + +The cause of the recent outbreak cannot, perhaps, be absolutely +determined; the manner of its beginning is more easily traced. It must +be understood that, for the purpose of receiving their annuities, the +Indians, at a certain period every summer, come down from their hunting +grounds to the two Agencies, one at Redwood, near Fort Ridgely, and the +other at Yellow Medicine. It is the custom to keep a certain quantity of +provisions at these Agencies to feed them during these visits, and also +to sometimes send them supplies during times of great want and scarcity +of game in winter. Unfortunately, they came last year much earlier than +common, and before they had received their usual notification from the +Agent, that the annuities were awaiting them. In addition, as if all the +accidents were destined to be adverse, the session of Congress was very +long, the Appropriation Bill, which included the Indian appropriations, +did not pass until the day before the adjournment, and the immense +pressure of business on the Departments, and the great difficulty of +obtaining coin, all occasioned long and unusual delays. The coin, +$71,000 in silver (Indians understand silver coin, and will scarcely +take any other), was finally shipped by express from the sub-treasury in +New York city, on the 12th of August, reached St. Paul on the 16th, and +was immediately despatched by private conveyance to Yellow Medicine, via +Fort Ridgely, at which latter place it arrived on the 18th. + +The Indians came down to the Agency at Yellow Medicine about the middle +of July, to the number of four thousand, men, women, and children. Here +they remained in waiting some three weeks. Provisions, in small +quantities, were given to them, but for so large a number of mouths the +rations were scanty. This supply, with the few wild ducks and pigeons +which they could shoot from time to time, the little flour they were +able to buy on credit from the trading houses, and the half-grown +potatoes they stole from the fields, enabled them to eke out a scanty +subsistence. + +As might be readily imagined, this state of things bred great +discontent. On the morning of the 4th of August, a large number of +Indians came over from their encampment, and some on horseback, and some +on foot, with guns and hatchets, rushed to the door of the warehouse, +cut it down, and commenced carrying out bags of flour. The few soldiers +who were stationed at the Agency, were, as well as the Agent and +employés, taken completely off their guard by this movement; but in a +short time they recovered themselves; got a field piece loaded and +turned upon the crowd, and sent a squad of soldiers to the warehouse. At +these preparations, the Indians desisted; but the military force was too +small to make more than a formal demonstration. The pile of flour taken +out of the warehouse had not been carried away, and while the soldiers +prevented this being done, the Indians placed a guard to hinder its +being recovered by the whites. Thus they stood during the remainder of +the day, in an attitude of mutual defiance, yet neither party was +willing to inaugurate hostilities. The next morning, when the Indians +again as usual flocked down to the Agency, a couple of arrests were +promptly made by the guard. This had the effect of driving them all back +to their camps. Almost immediately afterward they struck their tents, +and removed to a distance of from two to four miles. This was looked +upon at the Agency as a war movement, and all possible defensive +preparations were at once made. Some of the women were sent away, guns +and pistols were loaded, field pieces and troops were placed in +position, and pickets were thrown out. Everything looked like war. Still +there had been no actual bloodshed. Through the mediation of Rev. Mr. +Riggs, who had long resided among them as a missionary, peaceful +counsels finally prevailed with the Indians. Thirty-six of the chiefs +met the Agent in council, smoked the pipe of peace, acknowledged their +offence, and expressed their sorrow and shame at its occurrence. Three +days afterward another council was held, in which they agreed to receive +certain rations, and promised to induce their people to move away until +the annuity money should arrive. The Agent, on his part, forgave their +trespass, and promised to send for them as soon as he should be prepared +to make their payment. So confident was he that the arrangement was +amicable and satisfactory, that he went soon afterward to St. Paul on +business, leaving his family at the Agency. + +Things remained in this condition until Sunday, the 17th of August, +1862. On that day, four young Indians, belonging to Little Six's band, +went to the house of Mr. Jones, at Acton, Meeker county, Minnesota. As +they evinced an unfriendly disposition, Mr. Jones locked his house, and +with his wife, went to the house of Mr. Howard Baker, a near neighbor, +where he was followed by the Indians. They proposed to go out and shoot +at a mark, but after leaving the house, suddenly turned and fired upon +the party, mortally wounding Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Mr. Baker, and a Mr. +Webster. Mrs. Baker, with a young child, concealed herself in the cellar +and escaped. The Indians then returned to Jones' house, which they broke +into, killing a young woman who had been left there. This was the first +bloodshed of the war. + +Up to this time there seems to have been no deliberate preparation, no +concerted arrangement for the outbreak against the whites. There was +excitement and discontent among the Indians on account of hunger, the +delay of their payment, and the real or supposed wrongs and frauds +committed by white traders and officials; but no organized hostile +movement had been agreed on. They knew that a great war was in progress +between the whites; that armies were being raised, and the country was +being drained of men. All this was known and discussed among them. There +are also grave suspicions, and not without considerable show of +evidence, that rebel emissaries, Indians or half breeds from the +Missouri border, had been among them fomenting the discord and urging +war. + +When these four young men returned on the 18th to their band, which was +then with others at the Sioux Agency at Redwood, the recital of their +murders created the most intense excitement among the Indians. They +became infuriated at the idea of bloodshed. Before the whites were aware +that trouble was brewing, Little Six's, Little Crow's, Grey Iron's, and +Good Road's bands of M'dewakantons, and a part of the Lake Calhoun band, +gathered around the buildings, and, with a general rush and yell, +massacred the whites, some twenty-five in number, robbed and plundered +the stores, and laid the whole place in ashes. + +The party who were conveying the annuity money to the Agency, reached +Fort Ridgely on the afternoon of the same day, and there learned that +the outbreak had taken place. A garrison of about seventy-five men was +in the fort at the time the news of the massacre reached it, and Captain +Marsh, taking fifty of them, proceeded toward the Agency, fifteen miles +up the river. In the evening twenty-one of the men returned, to tell +that the detachment had fallen into an ambush, and that all the others, +including the captain, were either killed or drowned. + +The Indians seem to have at once despatched messengers with the news of +these hostilities to the bands at the Upper Sioux Agency, at Yellow +Medicine. The chiefs there immediately called their followers into +council. About one hundred Sissetons, Wahpetons, and thirty young +Yanktons, were present. The council was stormy, and divided in +sentiment; the Sissetons urging the killing and robbing of the whites, +saying the M'dewakantons had already gone so far that they could not +make matters worse, and that, as the whites would inflict punishment +upon all alike, the best thing to be done was to kill them and take +their goods. The Wahpeton chiefs, though willing to rob the whites, +insisted on sparing their lives, and sending them off with their horses +and wagons across the prairies. + +About one fourth of the Sioux, previous to these events, had, through +the efforts of the Government and missionaries, renounced their savage +life, and adopted the customs of civilization. They had cut off +the hair, discarded the blanket, adopted the civilized costume, +and undertaken to live by the cultivation of the earth, instead +of the chase. One of the chiefs who joined in this reform was +An-pe-tu-to-ke-ca, or Other-Day, an Indian of more than ordinary +intelligence and ability. He had been much among the whites, and was a +convert to Christianity. Some years previous, while he was at Washington +city with a delegation of his tribe, a rather good-looking white woman, +who had lost caste in society, fell in love with him, married him, and +followed him to his Indian home in Minnesota. + +Other-Day took part in this deliberation. He arose and addressed the +council, warning them against the consequences of the attack they were +meditating. They might succeed in killing a few whites, he told them, +but extermination or expulsion would be their fate if they did. But his +pacific arguments produced no effect. Toward evening, the Yanktons, +Sissetons, and a few of the Wahpetons rose from the council, and moved +toward the houses of the whites, to prepare for the attack. All the +afternoon the Indians had been busy taking their guns to the blacksmith +shop to have them repaired, which the unsuspecting smith, being told +they were going on a buffalo hunt, had done. + +Other-Day now left the council, took his wife and his gun, and went to +warn the whites of the impending danger. They had, up to this time, +known nothing whatever of the council. At his suggestion, sixty-two +persons assembled in one of the Agency buildings, gathered their arms, +and prepared to defend themselves. Part of the farmer Indians assisted +Other-Day in standing guard round the house that night, part of them +guarded the house of Rev. Mr. Riggs, their old missionary, to whom they +were very much attached, and another part joined the insurgents. + +Small bands of hostile Indians were seen prowling around the house +during the night, and by the next morning it was nearly surrounded. At +daybreak, several shots were fired near the warehouses, some distance +away, and then a triumphant yell was heard from the Indians as they +broke into the stores and killed the inmates. At this, the savages who +had prowled around the house during the night ran off to the scene of +the riot to share in the booty; and even the farmer Indians who had +stood guard for the whites, excepting only Other-Day, followed them. + +Other-Day now advised the whites to make their escape, and offered to +pilot them out of danger. They were at first inclined to doubt his +faithfulness; but in their extremity, finally consented to follow him. +While the hostile Indians were occupied in the work of plundering the +stores and warehouses, the whites managed to collect three two-horse +wagons, and two buggies, and placing as many of the women and children +as they could in these, the party, sixty-two persons in all, started off +in a direction opposite to the usually travelled route. They reached and +forded the Minnesota River, eluded pursuit, and after a three days' +march of great severity and privation, under the faithful and successful +guidance of Other-Day, they arrived at a place of safety. True among the +treacherous, he should be gratefully remembered, and liberally rewarded +and protected for the remainder of his life, by the people of Minnesota +and the Government of the United States. When he reached St. Paul, after +the escape, he wrote the following, in answer to the many questions +asked him: + + "I am a Dakota Indian, born and reared in the midst of evil. I grew + up without the knowledge of any good thing. I have been instructed + by Americans, and taught to read and write. This I found to be + good. I became acquainted with the Sacred Writings, and there + learned my vileness. At the present time, I have fallen into great + evil and affliction, but have escaped from it; and with fifty-four + men, women, and children, without moccasins, without food, and + without a blanket, I have arrived in the midst of a great people, + and now my heart is glad. I attribute it to the mercy of the Great + Spirit. + + An-pe-tu-to-ke-ca. + (Other-Day.)" + + + +Another party of about forty persons escaped from the vicinity of Yellow +Medicine, under the guidance of the missionary, Rev. Mr. Riggs, who was +also warned and aided by a few of the farmer Indians. + +Having thus successfully attacked and destroyed the Lower Agency, at +Redwood, and the Upper Agency, at Yellow Medicine, and having obtained +large supplies of arms and ammunition from the stores and warehouses +they sacked at these points, part of the Indians divided into small +marauding bands, and scoured the country, attacking and murdering +isolated settlers, burning houses, and stealing horses and cattle; but +the larger portion remained together, and, under the leadership of +Little Crow, planned further attacks. + +Fifteen miles below the Lower Agency, on the north bank of the +Minnesota, is Fort Ridgely; and twenty miles below the fort, on the +southern bank of the river, is the town of New Ulm, which, as its name +indicates, is mainly populated by German settlers. Early in the +afternoon of Tuesday, August 19th, a party of citizens from New Ulm, +returning from a neighboring village, where they had gone to aid in +recruiting volunteers for the Union army, were fired upon from an ambush +by a number of mounted Indians, and several of them killed. Those who +escaped had barely time to get back to New Ulm and give the alarm before +the Indians advanced upon the town, and began firing at long range upon +the distressed and panic-stricken inhabitants, who were huddled +together, in helpless confusion, in a few of the more protected houses. +Fortunately, a squad of eighteen armed men from one of the lower +counties had arrived there an hour or two previous. Only six of the +number had good guns; but they immediately organized themselves, and +went forward to meet the savages. By dint of determined coolness and +bravery, they held the Indians at bay, killing several of them, until, +seeing the town reënforced by another small party of mounted whites, the +savages retreated. The fight lasted two or three hours, and a number of +the Germans were killed. + +Beaten back from New Ulm, the Indians retraced their course up the +river, and being joined by other bands, a concerted and deliberate +attack was next made on Fort Ridgely. Like too many of our frontier +forts, it is a fort only in name. Situated on a projecting spur of the +river bluff, it is almost completely encircled by deep and wooded +ravines, the edges of which are within a stone's throw of the buildings. +A long, two story stone building with an ell, standing in the centre, +and a number of log and frame houses ranged around it in an irregular +circle, with several barns and outhouses beyond them, constitute what is +called the fort, but what is really only barracks for a small number of +troops. + +When on Monday Captain Marsh left the fort to quell the disturbances at +the Agency, only about twenty-five soldiers remained to protect it. +After his party was cut up in ambush, only twenty-one, wounded and all, +returned. Luckily, however, on Tuesday, two detachments of +reënforcements, of about fifty men each, reached the garrison in safety. +On the other hand, from the beginning of the outbreak, the women and +children of the surrounding country who had escaped massacre, sometimes +a whole family, sometimes only a single member--now a mother, and then a +child--fresh from the scenes of savage violence and blood, had been +fleeing to the fort for safety, until the number had been swelled to +some three hundred. Six cannon, a few old condemned muskets, and +considerable supplies of provisions were fortunately in the fort. Such +hurried preparations for defence as could be, were soon made. Small +squads of Indians were seen prowling about during Monday and Tuesday, +but they were promptly scattered by a shell from the howitzer, +accurately planted by the veteran artillery sergeant who was in charge +of the guns. + +At a quarter past three o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, about three or +four hundred Indians, led by Little Crow, advanced under cover of the +woods and ravines to the attack of the garrison. It was a complete +surprise, the first announcement being a deadly volley through one of +the north entrances into the parade ground of the fort. For a moment +there was uncontrollable confusion and alarm among the whites, and had a +storming assault immediately followed, the fort must have fallen. The +garrison, however, quickly rallied, manned the guns, and poured a steady +fire on their assailants. The Indians, as usual, took shelter behind +every available cover--trees, ravines, outhouses, high grass and +logs--the whites directing their return shots as best they could. In +this way, a brisk fusilade was kept up until half-past six o'clock in +the evening. A number of the outbuildings were fired by the enemy, but +the flames did not reach the fort. The houses that remained nearer the +fort were destroyed by the garrison after the enemy withdrew. The +garrison lost twelve or fifteen men killed and wounded in this +engagement. + +A night of terrible anxiety and suspense succeeded, but there was no +further disturbance. On the next day, Thursday, two more attacks, each +lasting about half an hour, were made, one at nine o'clock in the +morning, and the other at six in the evening, but they were much feebler +than the previous one, and easily repulsed. + +The final and most desperate attack occurred on Friday, the +twenty-second. The garrison was engaged in strengthening its defences, +when, at one o'clock in the afternoon, the sentinel saw at two miles +distance great numbers of Indians approaching on horseback. As they +neared the fort they dismounted, and advancing from three different +points under cover of the ravines, where the shells from the field +pieces could do them but little damage, they opened a terrible fire on +the garrison. But the previous two days' siege had steadied the nerves +of the whites, and they received the onslaught coolly, reserving their +fire until they could obtain a fair view of the enemy, and do effective +execution. The "big guns," of which Indians stand in so great dread, +were also well served. The fight raged all the afternoon, from two until +half past six o'clock. Once the savages pressed up so near that the +halfbreeds in the fort could distinguish the shout of the chiefs +ordering a charge for the purpose of capturing the guns. It was a +concerted movement; a feint to draw the fire of the field pieces, and an +immediate rush was made to secure them before they could be reloaded. +But the old artillery sergeant was not to be trapped; he reserved the +fire of his own gun, and when the storming party emerged into open view, +he planted a shell among them which sent them howling back to their +shelter. At nightfall the savages reluctantly gave up the siege and +retired, carrying away a considerable number of killed and wounded. +Those in the fort escaped miraculously; only one man being killed, and +three or four slightly wounded. + +The next morning, Saturday, the Indians were seen again approaching the +fort, apparently to renew the attack; but it was soon discovered they +were withdrawing, to wreak their thwarted vengeance on the devoted town +of New Ulm. In the interim since the first attack, the town had been +reënforced by about one hundred volunteers, and had also been put in a +partial state of defence. Fire, murder, and pillage marked the way of +the savages toward it; the garrison noted their approach by the clouds +of smoke which the burning dwellings of the settlers sent up to heaven. + +The Indians reached and again attacked New Ulm, on Sunday morning at +about eleven o'clock. The commanding officer of the whites had placed +pickets, and a considerable part of his force to support them, along the +outer edge of the town toward the foe; but so fierce and impetuous was +the attack, that the whites were forced back into the town at the first +onset of the enemy, giving them possession of several of the outer +buildings, from which they pushed their further operations. But the +garrison soon rallied, and obstinately held their ground. Finding +themselves so unexpectedly held at bay, the Indians, who were to the +windward, set fire one after another to the buildings they held, thus +literally burning their way into the town. All day long this continued. +Toward evening, the whites found they had been forced back, inch by +inch, by the fire and smoke and the swift leaden messengers of death, +until nearly one half of the town was lost; but they rallied once more, +made a vigorous charge on the foe, and drove them out. At this the +Indians withdrew, forming themselves into three parties, and camped a +short distance off, making the night hideous with fiendish yells and the +horrid music of their war dances. During the night the garrison +retreated into a still smaller and more defensible part of the town, +committing the rest to flames. A brief demonstration was made by the +enemy on the following morning, but finding the whites so well posted, +they finally abandoned the contest and withdrew. The whites, exhausted +and cut up, joyfully welcomed a cessation of hostilities. During the day +they evacuated the town, bringing off what remained of the garrison in +safety. In this battle they lost ten killed, and about fifty wounded, +while the Indians lost about forty. They were seen to haul off four +wagon loads of dead. + +The events thus far narrated cover a period of nine days, and, though +forming the principal ones, were by no means the only events of that +brief time. The contagion of murder, arson, and rapine spread over the +whole area of country on which the Indians lived and roved, embracing a +district one hundred miles in width by two hundred in length. Fort +Abercrombie, situated at the upper end of this vast tract, was +surrounded and besieged, as Fort Ridgely at the lower end had been. +Throughout the intermediate region, scattering parties of the savages +appeared in the isolated villages and settlements, spreading death and +desolation. Local conditions exaggerated and heightened the horrors of +the insurrection. The population of Minnesota, and particularly of these +exposed regions, unlike that of the lower Western States, whose +settlers, trained in border warfare, were familiar with savage craft and +cruelty, and inherited the prowess and spirit of daring adventure which +possessed Daniel Boone, was largely made up of foreign emigrants, +Germans, French, Norwegians, and Swedes. They were unaccustomed to +danger, and unused to arms. They had lived for years in confidence and +daily intercourse with the Indians. Engaged in the absorbing labor of +building and providing their new homes, they were without guns or other +weapons of defence. Still worse, the war for the Union had called into +its ranks a large proportion of their young, active, and able-bodied +men, and left only the women and children to gather the harvest and +guard the hearthstone. Upon their heads this storm burst suddenly, and +with a terror which deprived them of all courage and resource to resist +it. Emboldened by the feeble opposition they met, and maddened by the +carnival of blood in which they rioted, the savages indulged in +cruelties and barbarities too horrible to recount in detail. The +Governor of Minnesota, in a special message to the Legislature of the +State, thus paints them: + + 'Infants hewn into bloody chips of flesh, or nailed alive to door + posts to linger out their little life in mortal agony, or torn + untimely from the womb of the murdered mother, and in cruel mockery + cast in fragments on her pulseless and bleeding breast; rape + joined to murder in one awful tragedy; young girls, even children + of tender years, outraged by their brutal ravishers, till death + ended their shame and suffering; women held in captivity to undergo + the horrors of a living death; whole families burned alive; and as + if their devilish fury could not glut itself with outrages on the + living, its last efforts exhausted in mutilating the bodies of the + dead; such are the spectacles, and a thousand nameless horrors + besides, which their first experience of Indian war has burned into + the brains and hearts of our frontier people.'.... + +A wild panic ensued. Those who escaped the tomahawk and scalping knife +fled in consternation and dismay, abandoning their little earthly all, +leaving their cattle astray on the prairies, and their crops uncut and +ungathered in the fields; some fleeing with such precipitation as to +leave their food untouched on the table, where but a moment before it +had been spread for the daily repast. Women and children wandered for +days in the woods, subsisting on nuts and berries. Every road was lined +with fugitives, and all the villages were crowded with their surrounding +population. The refugees poured by hundreds into the city of St. Paul, +situated from eighty to one hundred and fifty miles from the scenes of +the outbreak; and many, who were able to do so, embarked on the first +departing steamers, and hurried away from the State. It is estimated +that ten large and flourishing counties were almost completely +depopulated. + +It so happened that a portion of the volunteers recruited for the Union +army had not yet been ordered out of the State. Though poorly equipped +and supplied, they were at once sent into the field against the Indians, +and they served as a nucleus around which the irregular organizations +could rally. Every old gun, pistol, knife, or other weapon was cleaned +up; every pound of powder and lead was bought and distributed; and +horses were impressed by military authority, with which to extemporize +cavalry companies. The surrounding States promptly sent what aid they +could in men, guns, and cartridges. The Governor by proclamation +authorized the formation of companies of scouts and rangers in the +threatened neighborhoods. Very soon after the outbreak, Colonel H. H. +Sibley, an experienced frontiersman, having a thorough knowledge of +Indian habits and character, was on the march against them, with about +one thousand men. The General Government augmented these forces as +rapidly as possible, and sent Major-General Pope to assume command of +the Indian Department. + +Hearing of Colonel Sibley's approach, Little Crow retreated to Yellow +Medicine, taking with him a large baggage train of plunder, and about +one hundred white prisoners, chiefly women and children, whom he had +captured at different places, and whom, with a few exceptions, they did +not specially maltreat, but compelled to labor at camp drudgery. + +Colonel Sibley pushed on with his forces, sending in advance a cavalry +detachment, which reached and relieved Fort Ridgely on the 27th of +August, after it had been besieged for nine days. He himself arrived at +that post with the remainder of his troops on the following day. On the +31st, he sent out a detachment of two companies, one mounted, a fatigue +party of twenty men, and seventeen teams and teamsters, to reconnoitre +the neighboring settlements and to bury the dead. They proceeded to the +Minnesota river opposite the Lower Agency, and found and buried sixteen +corpses the first day. The next day they continued their search, finding +and burying fifty-four. That night they encamped on the open prairie, +near the upper timber of the Birch Coolie creek, three miles from the +Lower Agency. At about four o'clock of the next morning, September 2, +one of their sentinels shouted, "Indians!" and almost immediately, a +shower of balls rained upon the camp. From this first fire, and during +the confusion attending it, the detachment suffered severely. They soon, +however, gained the shelter of their wagons, and from behind them and +the piles of dead horses which literally covered the ground, they +returned a vigorous fire upon their assailants, meanwhile digging a +rifle pit as they fought. It was a fierce morning's battle, and the foe, +in largely superior numbers, had nearly surrounded and captured them +when reënforcements arrived. So hot was the attack, that one of the +tents was found to have one hundred and forty bullet holes through it. + +The boldness and severity of this attack, demonstrated to Colonel Sibley +the necessity for an increase of force and very cautious movements, and +accordingly he fell back to the neighborhood of Fort Ridgely. Anxious +also to obtain the release of the white prisoners in Little Crow's camp, +and fearing that if he won a decided success in battle they would be +murdered, he determined to resort to negotiation. He therefore wrote the +following note and left it fastened to a stake, on the ground where the +last battle had taken place: + + 'If Little Crow has any propositions to make to me, let him send a + halfbreed to me, and he shall be protected in and out of my camp. + + H. H. SIBLEY, + Col. Com. Military Expedition.' + + + +A day or two afterward, two halfbreeds came into his camp under a flag +of truce, bringing a note signed 'Little Crow, his mark,' excusing and +justifying his attack on the whites. Colonel Sibley replied, 'Little +Crow, you have murdered many of our people without cause. Return me the +prisoners under a flag of truce, and I will talk with you like a man.' +After the lapse of a few days, another message came from Little Crow, +stating that he had one hundred and fifty-five prisoners, and asking +what he could do to make peace. Colonel Sibley replied that his young +men had been committing more murders, and that was not the way to make +peace. + +Having learned from several sources that serious dissensions had broken +out in the Indian camp, and having also received the needed +reënforcements, Colonel Sibley left Fort Ridgely on the 12th of +September, and marched up the Minnesota river to Wood Lake, near Yellow +Medicine, arriving there on the 22d following. Little Crow was encamped +in the vicinity with his braves. The savages, however, had become +demoralized, and he could no longer control them. Little Crow desired to +make an attack that night, but his opponents told him in council that if +he was a brave Indian he would fight the white man by daylight. +Accordingly, next morning he attacked Colonel Sibley's forces with three +hundred of his warriors, the others refusing to join in the fight. After +a sharp two-hours' battle the Indians were completely routed, losing +thirty killed, and a proportionate number of wounded. The whites lost +four killed, and forty wounded. + +This battle substantially ended the war. The Indians retreated, and the +whites pursued them to Lac Qui Parle. Four days afterward, a camp of +about one hundred and fifty lodges of Indians and halfbreeds separated +from Little Crow's party, met Colonel Sibley in council, surrendered +themselves, and formally delivered up to him ninety-one white prisoners, +and over one hundred halfbreeds, whom they had obtained. Other parties +came in afterward, surrendering themselves unconditionally, until +between two and three thousand Indians, of all sexes and ages, were in +the hands of the troops as prisoners of war. A military commission was +appointed to try the ringleaders and worst offenders, and over three +hundred of them were convicted and sentenced to death. Before this paper +is printed, some, at least, of these, will have expiated their crimes on +the gallows. Little Crow, with a small but desperate band of followers, +succeeded in making his escape to Devil's Lake in Dakota Territory. + +The future disposition of the Indians of the State of Minnesota is one +of the most perplexing minor questions of the day. In their present +location, the feud of race engendered by the insurrection will only die +with the generation that witnessed its beginning. Humanitarian impulses +and humanitarian duties are forgotten in the fierce thirst for private +vengeance. With one voice, the people of that State demand the removal +or threaten the extermination of their dangerous neighbors. But whither +shall they go? The swallowing tides of civilization encompass them on +the east, the north, and the south; and the only other avenue, the west, +is guarded by the gaunt wolf starvation. + +It is proposed by some to colonize them on the island of Isle Royale, in +Lake Superior; by others, to purchase some small West India island, and +transport them there, where tropical nature will feed them without +expense to the Government. Perhaps the more practical measure would be +to gather all that remains of the red race within the United States into +one Territory, to establish a more thorough guardianship over them, and +to subject them to a stricter and more absolute government, which should +compel them to assume gradually the duties and customs of civilized +life. + + + + +'DEAD!' + + + With chilling breath it comes: + Again--and yet again! on every gale, + America! from thy great battle field! + Our hearts are hushed, and desolate our homes-- + Our lids are heavy, and our cheeks are pale-- + While thus we yield + Our loved ones up to thee! + + Dead! dying at their posts! + The young, the noble, and the loving ones! + The widow's all! the gray-haired father's hope-- + All thine, my country! take the treasured hosts: + Hold in thy faithful keeping all thy sons! + We give them up-- + To thee and liberty! + + Oh, keep our honored dead + Within the folds of thy great-pulsing heart! + Entwine their memory with thy polished lore: + Cherish the sacred dust above _their_ bed + Who sprang to shield thee from the traitor's dart! + Bless evermore + The dead who died for thee! + + Silent the teardrops fall + Down the pale mother's cheek at close of day; + For sorrow sitteth at the widow's gate: + Dark are the shadows gathered on the wall, + And where the mourner bendeth low to pray-- + No more to wait + The coming of her free! + + For thee--'dear native land!' + What precious hopes are severed one by one! + What hearts lie crushed and sick by 'hope deferred!' + How many dear ones, stretched along the sand, + Bleed out their lives beneath a blighting sun-- + With but a word-- + 'Mother!' for plaint or prayer! + + Shall they be vainly shed-- + The blood and tears that wash our stricken soil? + Bringing no healing with their torrent streams? + Vain the long requiem for the noble dead-- + Vain all the agony and all the toil-- + The soldier's dreams-- + The patriot's thought and care? + + No! float upon the winds! + Flag of my country! let thy stars give light + To nations of the earth! proclaim afar + The end of tyrant rule that madly binds + Our millions down beneath a fearful blight! + Float--_every star_! + We have not one to spare! + + + + +A MERCHANT'S STORY. + + 'ALL of which I saw, and part of which I was.' + + +CHAPTER IX. + +After dinner, we rode over my friend's plantation. It contained about +twelve hundred acres, mainly covered with forest trees, but with here +and there an isolated patch of cleared land devoted to corn and cotton. +A small tributary of the Trent formed its northern boundary, and +bordering the little stream was a tract of three hundred acres of low, +swampy ground, heavily timbered with cypress and juniper. Tall old +pines, denuded of bark for one third of their height, and their white +faces bearded with long, shining flakes of 'scrape turpentine,' crowned +the uplands; and scattered among them, about a hundred well-clad, +'well-kept' negro men and women were shouting pleasantly to one another, +or singing merrily some simple song of 'Ole Car'lina,' as with the long +scrapers they peeled the glistening scales from the scarified trees, or, +gathering them in their aprons, 'dumped' them into the rude barrels +prepared for their reception. Preston had a kind word for each one that +we passed--a pleasant inquiry about an infirm mother or a sick child, or +some encouraging comment on their cheerful work; and many were the +hearty blessings they showered upon 'good massa,' and many their +good-natured exclamations over 'de strange gemman dat sells massa's +truck.' + +'He'm de kine, 'ou gals,' shouted an old darky, bent nearly double with +age, who, leaning against one of the barrels, was 'packing down' the +flakes as they were emptied from the aprons of the women: 'He'm de kine, +I tell by him eye; de rocks doan't grow fass ter dat gemman's pocket!' + +'Well, they don't, uncle,' I replied, tossing him a half-dollar piece, +and throwing a handful of smaller coin among the women. A general +scramble followed, in which the old fellow nimbly joined, shouting out +between his boisterous explosions of merriment: + +'Dis am de sort, massa; dis am manna rainin' in de wilderness--de Lord's +chil'ren lub dis kine--it'm good ter take, massa, good ter take.' + +'Good as black jack, eh, uncle?' I inquired, laughing, for I saw certain +lines about his shrunken mouth, and underneath his sunken eyes, which +told plainly he was rather too familiar with that delicious compound of +strychnine and whiskey. + +'Yas, massa, good as black Jack; dat's my name, massa, dat's my +name--yah, yah,' and he turned his face, wet with merry tears, and +distended in an uncommonly broad grin, up to mine. In a moment, however, +his eye caught Preston's. His broad visage collapsed, his distended +mouth shrank to a very diminutive opening, and his twinkling eyes +assumed a peculiarly stolid expression, as he added, in a deprecatory +tone: + +'No, massa Robert, not so good as black jack; not so good as dat--'ou +knows I doan't keer fur him; you knows I doan't knows him no more, massa +Robert.' + +'I know you never knew him,' replied Preston, playing on his name. 'He's +a hardened old sinner. He has sinned away the day of grace, I'm sure. +But you know better than to ask presents of strangers. Give it back to +the gentleman at once.' + +An indescribable expression stole over the old negro's visage as he +thrust his hand through his thin, frosty wool, looked pleadingly up at +his master's face, and, seeing no signs of relenting there, slowly and +reluctantly opened his palm and offered me the money. + +'No, no, Preston, let him keep it; it won't do him any harm,' I said. + +'No more'n it woan't, good massa, not a morsel ob harm,' exclaimed the +darky, his small eyes twinkling again with pleasurable anticipation, and +his broad face widening into its accustomed grin: 'I woan't take nary a +drop, massa Robert, nary a drop!' + +'Well,' said his master, 'you can keep it if you'll promise not to drink +it all to-morrow. So much whiskey would spoil your prayer at the +meeting.' + +'So it 'ould, massa Robert; so much as dat; but Jack allers prays de +stronger fur a little, massa Robert, jess a little--it sort o' 'pears +ter warm up a ole man's sperrets, and ter fotch all de 'votion right +inter him froat.' + +'I suppose it does; all the devotion you ever feel. You're an old +sinner, Jack, past praying for, I fear,' replied Preston, +good-naturedly, turning his horse to go. + +'Not pass prayin' fur 'ou, massa Robert, not pass dat, an' ole Jack +neber will be, nudder--not so long as he kin holler loud 'nuff fur de +Lord ter yere. 'Ou may 'pend on dat, massa Robert, 'ou may 'pend on +dat.' + +As we rode away, I asked Preston if the old black led the services at +the negro meetings. + +'Yes, I am obliged to let him. He was formerly the plantation preacher, +and, with all his faults, the blacks are much attached to him. A small +rebellion broke out among them, five years ago, when I displaced him, +and put Joe into the pulpit. I compromised the difficulty by agreeing +that Jack should lead in prayer every Sunday morning. They think he has +a gift that way, and _you_ would conclude the day of Pentecost had come, +if you should hear him when he is about half-seas-over.' + +'Then he does pray better for a little whiskey?' + +'Yes, a mug of 'black jack' helps him amazingly--it gives him the real +power.' + +After a two hours' circuit of the plantation, we halted in the vicinity +of the distilleries, which stood huddled together on the bank of the +little stream of which I have spoken. There were three of them, each of +thirty barrels' capacity--an enormous size--and they were neatly set in +brick, and enclosed in a substantial framed structure, which was +weatherboarded and coated with paint of a dark brown color. Near the +only one then in operation were several large heaps of flake turpentine, +three or four hundred barrels of rosin, and a vast quantity of the same +material scattered loosely about and mixed with broken staves, worn-out +strainers, and the _debris_ of the rosin bins. Pointing to the confused +mass, I said to my host: + +'I've half a mind to turn missionary. I feel a sort of call to preach to +you Southern heathen.' + +'I wish you would,' he rejoined, laughing; 'you'd give me a chance to +laugh at your sermons, as you have laughed at mine.' + +'No, you wouldn't laugh. I'd make you _feel_ way down in your pocket. +I'd have but one sermon and one text, and that would be: 'Gather up the +fragments, that nothing be lost.' You Southern nabobs do nothing but +waste--you waste enough in one day to feed the whole North for a week. +It's a sin--the unpardonable sin--for you know better.' + +'Well, it _is_ wrong, but how can we help it? We can't make the negroes +anything but what they are--shiftless and careless of everything but +their own ease.' + +'I don't know about that. I think such a man as Joe ought to be able to +manage them.' + +'Joe! Well, he can't. He's all drive, and negroes are human beings; they +should be treated kindly.' + +We had approached the front of the still, and were fastening our horses +to the trunk of a tree, when we heard loud voices issuing from the other +side of the enclosure. + +'Her'm what I owes you--now pack off ter onst, and don't neber show your +face on dis plantation no more,' said a voice, which I at once +recognized as that of 'boss Joe.' + +'I shan't pack off till I'm ready, you d--d black nigger, I've been +bossed 'bout by ye long 'nuff. Clar out, and 'tend ter yer own 'fairs,' +rejoined another voice, which had the tone of a white man's. + +'I reckon _dis_ am my 'fair, and I shan't leff you git drunk and burn up +no more white rosum yere; so take yerseff off. Ef you don't, I'll make +you blacker nor I is.' + +'Put your hand on me, and I'll take the law on ye, _shore_,' returned +the white man. + +'Pshaw, you drunken fool, do you s'pose dese darkies would tell on _me_? +Ef dey would, dar word ain't 'lowed in de law; so you trabble. I don't +keer ter handle you, but I shill ef you don't leab widin five minutes.' + +What might have followed will not go down in history, for just then +Preston and I, emerging from around the corner of the building, appeared +in view of the belligerents. The native--a respectable specimen of the +class of poor whites--stood in a defiant attitude before the still-fire, +while Joe was seated on a turpentine barrel near, quietly noting the +time by a large silver watch which he held in his hand. He kept on +counting the minutes, and gave no heed to his master's approach, till +Preston said: + +'Joe, what's to pay?' + +'Nuffin, master Robert, 'cept I'se 'scharged dis man, and he say he +won't gwo.' + +'Do as Joseph bids you,' said Preston, turning to the white man, 'take +your pay and go at once.' + +The man stammered out a few words with a cringing air, but the planter +cut him short with: + +'I want no explanations. If you can't satisfy Joseph, you can't satisfy +me.' + +The native then leisurely took down a ragged coat that hung from one of +the timbers, counted over a small roll of bank notes which Joe gave him, +and meekly left the still-house. + +Joe and his master devoted the next half hour to piloting me over the +distilleries. I commented rather freely on the sad waste of valuable +produce which was scattered about, and on the bad economy of keeping +three 'stills' to do the work of one. + +'It might have done years ago,' I remarked, 'before your trees ran to +'scrape,' and when they yielded enough 'dip' to keep all the stills +busy; but now they are eating you up. You have fully four thousand +dollars idle here. Sell them, Preston--that amount would help you out of +debt.' + +'Dat's what I tells master Robert, Mr. Kirke, but he sort o' clings to +ole tings, _sar_,' said Joe, in the free, familiar tone usual with him. + +'But _you_ do just as badly, Joe,' I replied. 'You let these darkies +waste more than they eat, and you keep four here to do the work of +three. You are no better than your master.' + +'Only half so good, Mr. Kirke,' rejoined the black, showing a set of +teeth which a dentist might have used for a door plate; 'only _half_ so +good, 'case I'se only half white. But, if master Robert 'ould leff me +handle de whip, I'd show him suffin'! I reckon de int'rest 'ouldn't be +ahind den.' + +'Why? don't you let Joe whip the negroes?' I asked Preston. + +'No, not now; I did, till some years ago, when he almost killed one of +them, and came near getting me into serious trouble. He could manage +them well enough without whipping, if he'd curb his impetuous temper a +little.' + +'But I does curb it, master Robert, and it tain't ob no use. Dey knows I +_can't_ whip 'em, an' dey don't keer fur de starvin', or de tyin' up, or +de talkin' to in de meetin'. Dey don't mind fur nuffin' but de whip, an' +a little ex'cise wid dat does a nigger good when he'm right down +'fractory. And you has 'lowed, master Robert, dat I warn't so much ter +blame in dat 'fair ob Black Cale.' + +'Well, perhaps you weren't. It's a good story, Kirke; did I ever tell it +to you?' + +'No; I'd be glad to hear it.' + +'Come, Joe,' said his master, good-naturedly, 'you can tell it better +than I. You know it by heart.' + +'Well, master, if you says so,' replied Joe; and as we seated ourselves +in a semicircle on some rosin barrels, the black proceeded to give the +following illustration of the working of free and slave institutions: + +'Well, you see, Mr. Kirke, de darky's name wus Black Cale, an' he wus a +raised up 'long wid me by de ole gemman--dat am master Robert's +gran'fer. He wus allers a hard-bitted, 'fractory darky, but he wus +smart, awful smart, and could do a heap ob work when a minded to; but he +wusn't a minded to bery of'en, an' ole master used to hab ter flog +him--flog him bery hard. Well, finarly, de ole gemman grow'd tired ob +doin' so much ob dat, an' he call Cale ter him one day, an' he say: + +''Cale, you'se a likely nigger, an' I _don't_ like ter flog you so much. +Now, I'll leff you hire you' time, an' gwo down ter Newbern, an' shirk +fur you'seff.' + +'Ole master knowed Cale wus habin' a bad 'fect on de oder darkies, an' +he 'lowed 'twould be cheap leffin' him gwo ef he didn't get a picayune +fur him. Well, Cale, he took ter dat ter onst, an' he 'greed to gib ole +master one fifty a year fur his time; an' so he put off ter Newbern. +Well, ebery ting gwo on right smart till de ole gemman die. Cale, he +work hard, pay master ebery year, and sabe up quite a heap. Well, ole +master die widout a will, an' all de property gwo ter de two sons; dat +am master James an' master Thomas--he war master Robert's fader. Now +master James he neber lib'd on de plantation, so he sold all his half ob +de nigs to master Thomas, an' put all de 'vails inter his bisness down +dar ter Mobile, whar he am now, doin' a heap in de cotton way. But he +didn't sell his half ob Cale, 'case master Thomas wouldn't buy him, +nohow. Well, dey owned Cale tugedder fur a spell, an' Cale he work on +right smart, till one day master James come home, and he tells master +Thomas dat on de way he'd a stopped at Newbern, and sole his half ob +Cale ter Cale heseff, fur five hundred dollar, and giben him de free +papers. Well, den Cale he want to buy de oder half ob heseff ob master +Thomas, an' master Thomas he offer to take de same money; but Cale say +de oder half not wuth so much as de fust, an' dat he wouldn't gib only +two fifty.' + +'Not worth so much--why not?' I asked. + +'Why, Cale say 'case he could do what he like wid de free half, and he +reckoned he shouldn't be quite so 'sponsible _den_ fur de slave half,' +and here Joe broke into a merry fit of laughter, in which Preston +joined. + +'Well, master Thomas an' Cale couldn't 'gree 'bout de buyin', but Cale +promise to gib seventy-five dollar a year fur de use ob master's half, +an' he gwo off agin ter Newbern. Den de time gwo by fur a yar or two, +but master neber git nary dime out ob Cale fur his half. Cale would say +dat only half ob him wus free, an' de oder half wasn't 'sponsible, and +couldn't pay its debts, nohow. Finarly, master, seein' he couldn't git +nuffin out ob Cale, only offers ob two fifty fur de oder half--and _dat_ +he wouldn't take, nohow--sent me down to Newbern to sort o' mediate +'tween Cale an' he. Well, I coaxed Cale to 'gree to wuck one monfh for +heseff and de oder monfh fur massa, and I come home; but it warn't ob no +use; Cale would wuck, but massa neber seed a fip ob de pay. Finarly, +af'er he'd a gone on dat way 'bout ten yar, stowin' 'way what he arned +whar nobody could fine it, an' allers off'rin' two fifty fur de oder +half ob heseff, master Thomas he die, and master Robert he come ter lib +on de plantation. Den master Robert axed me what he should do wid Cale, +and I tole him to take de two fifty, and leff him gwo. But he say, 'no,' +dat he wouldn't sell him fur dat, nohow.' And here the black looked +slyly at his master, and a merry twinkle came into his eyes. 'Well, den, +I tole master Robert dat I tought I could fix Cale ef he'd leff me +manage him jess as I like. He 'greed to dat, an' I gwoes down to +Newbern, an' makes Cale come home, an' den I say to him: + +''Now, Cale, you stay yere, an' gwo to wuck. Ebery monfh you wuck fur +me, an' ebery oder monfh you wuck fur you'seff, an' when you wuck fur +you'seff I pay you so much fur ebery barr'l ob dip, an' so much fur +ebery barr'l ob scrape, an' so much fur ebery day when you wuck roun'; +an' I makes you pay so much fur what you lib on. Well, Cale, he 'gree to +dat. He wuck de fust monfh fur heseff, an' he _did_ wuck--he done twice +so much as any hand on de plantation; but de next monfh, when he wuck +fur _me_, he don't do nuffin but lay 'bout, an' git drunk. I stood dat +till de monfh wus up--fur I neber did take ter whippin' de nigs, an' +master Robert know dat--an' den w'en Cale wus clean sober, I tied him up +to gib him a floggin'. Well, w'en he wus a stripped, an' I was jess +gwine to lay on de lashes, Cale say to me, says he: + +''Look a yere, 'ou Joe, 'ou may whip massa's half ob dis nig jess so +long as 'ou likes, but ef 'ou put de lash onter _my_ half, I'll take de +law on 'ou. I will, shore.' + +'Dat sot me a tinkin'; fur de fac wus, I'd nary right to flog _his_ +half; but den it 'curred ter me dat none but darkies wus roun', an' so I +tought I had him, _shore_. Well, I puts on de lashes, an' he keeps a +tellin' me he'd hab de law on me, which make me sort o' 'zasparated, +till I put 'em on right smart, an' at lass he gib in. Well, w'en I'd a +got him a feelin' 'bout right, an' wus only jess puttin' de lass blows +on to finish up makin' a decent nigger ob him, master Robert he come up, +and when he seed de blood a runnin' down his back, he say Cale had been +whipped 'bout 'nough, and I must stop. Cale turned up missin' dat night, +an' got off to Newbern; an' shore 'nuff, de next evenin', long 'bout +dark, de sherrif he rode up to de house wid a writ fur master Robert fur +habin' made 'salt an' batt'ry on one collud man, called Caleb Preston, +an' he pulled out a suspeny dat make massa Robert witness agin heseff! +ha! ha! You see Cale wus smart; he know'd master Robert b'longed to de +Baptist meeting, an' wouldn't lie fur all de niggers in Jones county; so +he had him dar, ha! ha!' + +Here Joe for some minutes was unable to continue the narrative. His +merriment was contagious. I laughed till my sides were sore, and Preston +enjoyed the story quite as much as I did. + +'Well, what was the end of it?' I asked. + +'Only, master Robert hed to be toted off to Newbern dat night, git bail +or sleep in de jail, and de next mornin', af'er de nig hed a hed ten +yars' use ob heseff fur nuffin, master Robert hed to do what _he'd_ a +said, an' his fader afore him hed said, dey neber would do--dat is, take +two fifty fur de oder half ob Cale! Ha! ha! De next time I gwoes to +Newbern I hunt Cale up, an' I tell him he must study fur de law, shore; +an' dat ef he done it, I know'd master Robert would pay de 'spences, out +ob lub to de country.' + +The negroes who were attending the still had dropped their work to +listen to Joe's story, and at its close guffawed in a chorus that made +the woods ring. Hearing it, Joe sprang to his feet, shouting out: +'Yere--'bout you' wuck dar; leff me kotch you eavesdroppin' on gemmen +agin, an' I'll gib you what I gabe Cale. 'Bout you' wuck, I say.' They +turned nimbly to their tasks, and Joe resumed his seat. + +'I see the moral of that story, Preston,' I said, when the negro had +concluded. + +'What is it?' + +'That a darky may be as smart as a white man. Cale outwitted you.' + +'Well, he did,' he replied, laughing; 'but that isn't the moral: it is +that flogging never accomplishes its object.' + +'I'm not so sure of that. Joe had brought Cale to terms, 'made a decent +nigger on him,' when you, unluckily, interfered.' + +'It ain't so much de floggin' on 'em, Mr. Kirke,' said Joe, 'as dar +knowin' dat you _will_ do it ef dey desarve it. Dar ain't a darky on de +plantation dat don't know master Robert an' de good missus 'ould rader +be flogged demselves dan flog dem; an' dat wucks bad, Mr. Kirke, sorry +bad;' and the negro shook his head with a grave, thoughtful air. + +'Tell me, Preston,' I said, after a slight pause, 'how is it that your +neighbor Dawsey, with only seventy-five negroes, sends us more produce +than you do with a hundred and fifty?' + +'Simply because he treats his hands like brutes, while I treat mine like +men.' + +'I hope you'll take no offence,' I replied, 'but it appears to me there +must be some other reason. He has only _half_ your number.' + +'Well, I will tell you how he and I manage, and you can judge for +yourself. Dawsey has seventy-five slaves; forty child-bearing women, +twenty men, and fifteen children under five years. The sixty adults are +all prime hands. They are given daily tasks, which they cannot possibly +do in less than fifteen hours, leaving them only nine hours out of the +twenty-four for eating, sleeping, feeding their children, and the waking +rest necessary to working people. He never whips them on a week day, +because it wastes working time, but makes Sunday a general flogging +season. He has two women where he has one man, and each woman is +expected to bear a child a year. If she doesn't, she is sold. They are +made to work in the field till the labor pains are on them; and they are +allowed only two weeks' rest after confinement. Three of them have borne +children in the woods this season. He keeps only one nurse for the +fifteen children, and as soon as each child is five years old--the age +at which it can be legally sold away from its mother--it is disposed of +to the traders. In addition, three of these women are his own mistresses +and they are expected to have children as fast as the others. He serves +their children like the rest; that is, rears them to the age of five, +and then sells them as he would so many hogs.' + +'My God!' I exclaimed, 'he's a monster.' + +'There are different opinions about that. Dawsey passes for a jovial +good fellow; keeps open house for his friends; spends money freely at +the elections, and two years ago 'got religion' at a camp meeting. He +merely regards his slaves as chattels, and manages his plantation in +perhaps the only way that is profitable in an old section of country +like this.' + +'And how is it with you? How do you manage?' I asked. + +'Leff _me_ tell, master Robert,' said the black, smiling. 'I knows all +de 'ticulars 'bout dat.' + +'Well, go on,' said Preston, laughing, 'but don't be too hard on _me_.' + +'We hab,' continued the black, 'countin' me in, a hundred an' fifty-one +darkies, all in fam'lies--faders, mudders, children, and some on 'em +gran'faders and gran'mudders,'most all born on de plantation, an' some +on 'em livin' on it fur forty, fifty, sixty, an' seventy yar. Out ob +dese, we hab only forty-two full hands, 'case some ob de wimmin dat come +in de ages fur full wuck am sickly, puny tings, only fit fur house wuck +or nussin'. From de whole I gits equal to fifty-four full hands. +'Cordin' to master Robert's direction, I gib 'em easy ten-hour tasks; +but suffin' or anoder turn up 'most ebery day, so dat 'bout half on 'em +don't do full wuck, an' I reckon dey don't make, on de whole, more'n +'bout nine hour a day. So you see, Cunnel Dawsey, he hab sixty, an' he +wuck em fifteen hour a day; we hab only fifty-four, an' we wuck 'em nine +hour a day; an' 'cordin' to my 'rithmetic, dat would make de Cunnel turn +out 'bout twice as much truck as we does.' + +'And you have twice as many mouths to feed as he,' I remarked; 'and the +result is he makes money, while you--' + +'Lose nigh onter two thousand a year, Mr. Kirke, an' hab done it ebery +yar fur five yar, eber since master Robert come on to de plantation, an' +gwo to workin' on human principles, as he calls 'em.' + +This was said in so sad and regretful a tone, that, in spite of the +serious manner of both the black and his master, I laughed heartily. +When my merriment had somewhat subsided, I said: + +'Joe, what would you do to mend this state of affairs?' + +'It can't be mended if we stay in dis ole country, an' wuck 'cordin' to +master Robert's notion.' + +'Then you mean to say you can't apply humane principles to slave labor, +in an old district of country, and make money?' + +'Yes,' said Preston, rising and pacing up and down in the small +semi-circle formed by the rosin barrels, 'that is what he means to say, +and it is true.' + +'Then how do the majority of turpentine planters in this section make +money? They _do_ make it, that is certain.' + +'By overworking their hands, as Dawsey does. All may not be as severe +with them as he is, but all overwork them, more or less,' replied +Preston. + +'I don't know 'bout dat, master Robert, twelve and eben firteen hour a +day neber hurt a prime hand, if he hab good feed. + +'Well, it is six o'clock, and supper must be in waiting,' said Preston, +drawing out his watch; 'we'll talk more on this subject to-night. Joe, +bring the books up to the house this evening. Mr. Kirke has promised to +look into our affairs, and I shall need you.' + +'Yas, master Robert,' replied the black; and, mounting the horses, +Preston and I rode off to the mansion. + + +CHAPTER X. + +Mrs. Preston and master Joe were on the piazza awaiting us, and in the +doorway we were met by the younger children. Preston lifted one of them +upon his shoulder, and taking another in his arms, led the way to the +supper room. However disturbed might be my friend's relations with the +outer world, all was peace by his cheerful fireside. No man was ever +more blessed in his home. His children were intelligent, loving, and +obedient; his wife was one of those rare women--seen nowhere more often +than in the South--who, to a cultivated mind and polished manners, add +the more homely accomplishments of a good housewife. It is years since +she laid aside the weary cares of her plantation home, and entered on +the higher duties of another life; but her gentle words are still as +fresh in my memory, her kindly image as warm in my heart, as on that +autumn day, when she placed her hand in mine for the last time, and +spoke the last 'God bless you' which was to fall on my ears from her +lips on this side of the grave. She was a perfect woman--a faithful +mistress, a loving wife, a devoted mother. Anticipating every want of +her husband, cheerfully instructing her children, overseeing every +detail of her household, meting out the weekly allowance of the negroes, +visiting daily the cabins of the sick and the infirm, and with her own +hand dispensing the soothing cordial or the healing medicine,--or, when +all medicine failed, bending over the lowly bed of the dying, and +pointing him to the 'better home on high,'--she was a ministering +angel--a joy and a blessing to all about her. She wore no costly silks, +no diamonds on her fingers, or jewels in her hair; but she was arrayed +in garments all rich and beautiful with human love. She knew +nothing--cared nothing--about the right or the wrong of slavery; but +cheerfully and prayerfully, never wearying and never doubting, she went +on in the lowly round of duties allotted her, leaning lovingly on the +arm of the GOOD ALL-FATHER, and looking steadfastly to HIM for guidance +and support. And, truly, she had her reward. 'Her children rose up and +called her blessed; her husband, also, and he praised her.' + +Supper was soon over, when my hostess rose and conducted me to the +library. That apartment was in an L, detached from the mansion, and +communicating with it by a covered passage way. It was plainly +furnished, but had a cosy, homelike appearance. Its four walls were +lined with books, some standing on end, some resting on their sides, and +some leaning negligently against each other; and over the massive centre +table were scattered open volumes, old newspapers, and unfinished +manuscripts, in most delightful confusion. A half dozen old-fashioned +chairs straggled about the floor, as if they did not know exactly what +to do with themselves, and a score of old worthies--their faces white as +chalk, and their long hair and beards powdered with a whole generation +of dust, looked complacently down from the top of the bookshelves. Dust +was on the table, on the chairs, on the floor, on the ceiling, and on +the musty old volumes ranged along the walls, and dust everywhere told +unmistakably that no profane hand ever disturbed the dusty repose which +reigned in the apartment. + +Two or three oaken logs, supported on bright brass andirons--the only +bright things in the room--were blazing cheerfully on the broad +hearthstone; and drawing our chairs near, we sat down before them. + +'May I come in?' said master Joe, thrusting his head in at the +half-closed doorway. + +'No, my son,' answered his father; 'Mr. Kirke and I are to talk over +business matters.' + +'Do let him come, Robert,' said Mrs. Preston; 'he is old enough to learn +something of such affairs.' + +The lad entered, and seating himself on a low stool by the side of his +mother, and burying his head in her lap, was soon fast asleep. + +'This room, Mr. Kirke,' said the lady, 'is sacred to Robert and the +dust. I beg you will not think I have the care of it.' + +'Oh no, madam; it is plain that a _man_ has exclusive dominion here; but +your husband has been away from it for some time.' + +'That does not account for the dust; it hasn't been stirred for a +twelve-month;' and after a pause, she added, a thin moisture glistening +in her eyes, 'I have not yet thanked you, sir, for saving Phyllis and +the children from the clutches of that wretched trader.' + +'No thanks are requisite, madam. It was a mere matter of business; we +are in the practice of making advances to our consignors.' + +'Nevertheless we thank you, sir; Robert and I will ever be grateful for +it.' + +'Do not speak of it, madam; I would be glad to serve you to a much +greater extent.' + +The lady made no reply, and a rather embarrassing silence followed for +some minutes, when I said: + +'Preston, Joe is a remarkable negro; I think I never met one so +intelligent and well informed.' + +'He _is_ very intelligent,' he replied; 'he has fine natural abilities.' + +'It is a pity Nature gave him so dark a skin, and made him a--slave.' + +'Not a _pity_, Mr. Kirke,' rejoined Mrs. Preston; 'Nature, or rather +God, always puts us in our right places. Joseph is more useful where he +is than he would be anywhere else.' + +'I understood him that he was raised on the plantation,' I added. + +'Yes,' replied my host; 'my grandfather bought his mother, who is a +native African, when she was a girl; she was a favorite house-servant, +and Joe was born in a room over where we are sitting. This building was +then all there was of the mansion.' + +'And how did he pick up so much information?' + +'The old gentleman, who gave little heed to either law or gospel, taught +them both to read and write.' (Years after the date of this conversation +I learned that Joe was the son of that lawless, graceless old +gentleman.) 'And Joe, when a boy, read everything he could lay his hands +on. Since I brought my library here, he has devoured about half of the +books in it. He devotes every night, from eight o'clock to twelve, to +reading.' + +'I am surprised that with so much reading he uses so entirely the negro +dialect.' + +'But he does not. In common conversation he expresses himself in it, for +it is the dialect in which a black does his ordinary thinking; but let +him get upon an elevated subject, as he does frequently in his sermons, +and you will hear words as strong, pure, and simple as any found in the +Bible, flow from him like a stream.' + +'Does he preach every Sunday?' + +'Yes; I usually catechize the people in the morning, and he preaches in +the evening.' + +'But do you learn all your negroes to read?' + +'No, the law does not allow it. I teach them to repeat the catechism, +texts of Scripture, and passages from good books, and I explain these to +them.' + +'And Joe is your overseer?' + +'Not exactly that. My father made him overseer about thirty years ago, +but the law requires a white man in that situation; and when I took +charge of the plantation, the neighbors made a clamor about my having a +black. The result was, I 'whipped the devil round the stump,' by hiring +a white distiller, and _calling_ him 'overseer.' I let Joe, however, +'oversee' him, as you have seen to-day.' + +A rap came then at the door, and master Joe, springing up, ushered the +subject of our conversation into the room. He held his hat in his hand, +and had under his arm a couple of account books. + +'This is Joseph the First,' said the lad, taking the black by the +coat-tail, and bowing gravely to me. + +'And you are Joseph the Second, eh?' I said, laughing. + +'Yas, sar, he'm dat 'stinguished gemman,' replied the negro, stroking +affectionately the lad's head; 'and he don't dishonor de name, sar. He'm +de true blue, dyed in de wool.' + +'He was named for Joseph,' said the lady, smiling kindly on the black. +'Bring up a chair, Joseph.' + +'Tank you, missus,' and the negro seated himself by the fire, between +Preston and me. + +'You have brought the documents, I see, Joe; let me look at them,' I +said, reaching out my hand for the books. + +'Yas, sar, and dey'm all written up till a week back. I reckon _you_ kin +pick 'em out, Mr. Kirke, dough master Robert he say he don't understand +my way ob keepin' 'em.' + +I opened the books, and any man of business will appreciate my surprise +to find them kept by 'double entry.' Cotton, corn, and turpentine had +each its separate account, and at a glance I could see how much had been +made or lost by the production of each staple. The handwriting was plain +and bold, and the general appearance of the ledger compared favorably +with that of a much larger one I knew of, which was the pride of an +experienced bookkeeper. + +'Why, Joe, I'm astonished,' I exclaimed with unaffected gratification; +'you write like a schoolmaster.' + +A flush, which would have been a blush on a lighter skin, overspread the +negro's face, as he replied: + +'I don't hab practice 'nuff, Mr. Kirke, to write bery well.' + +'Practice!' said Preston, 'he has constant practice; he writes the love +letters of all the darkies in the district.' + +'It am so, dat's a fac, sar', said Joe, a quiet humor twinkling in his +eye. 'One ob Cunnel Dawsey's folk came to me tother day--his wife had +been sold down Souf, an' he wanted to say to har, dat dough ribers rose, +and mountins run atween 'em, he'd neber hab nuffin to do wid no oder +'ooman--so he come to me, and I wrote de letter; an' when I'd a put in +all de ribers, an' de mountins, an' eber so many runs, an' thought I'd +done it right smart, I read it ober to him, but he say he sort o' +reckoned it warnt quite done up 'pletely, not 'xactly 'cluded; an' he +'sisted dat I muss 'sert a pose scrip, axin' her to ''scuse de bad +writin'.'' + +'And you did it?' + +'Yes, sar, I done it.' + +'Well, Joe, the important thing just now, is how much you owe. Give me a +slip of paper, and let me put these balances together.' + +'I'se done dat, Mr. Kirke; here dey am,' and he handed me a correctly +drawn-up statement, showing Preston's exact liabilities. I glanced over +it, compared it with the footings in the ledger, and said: + +'I see by this, Preston, that you owe seventeen hundred dollars, +floating debt; twelve hundred dollars, interest on your mortgage, and +are overdrawn five hundred dollars on our house.' + +'Yes, so Joe makes it, and I reckon he's correct.' + +'But dar'm de six hunderd you 'cepted fur master Robert, de oder day, in +Newbern--dat ain't counted in,' said Joe. + +'Well, all told, it's four thousand, besides the note I have given for +Phyllis. What do you calculate on to pay it, Preston?' + +'I don't know. How can we pay it, Joe?' + +'We moight sell de two stills, and some ob de hosses; I reckon dey'd be +'nuff,' replied the black; 'but de raal trubble, master Robert, am +what's cummin'; we'm gwine ahind ebery day, 'case we lose money on ebery +crop ob turpentine. Nuffin pay now but de corn and de cotton, and we +don't raise 'nuff ob dem to do no good.' + +I turned to the ledger, and found that it showed what the black said to +be true--corn and cotton had made a handsome profit, but turpentine had +'paid a loss.' + +'That is because your trees are old, and now yield scarcely anything but +scrape,'[1] I said. + +'Yas, sar, and 'case dey am so thin like, sense we cleaned out de pore +ones, dat it take a hand long time to git 'round 'mong 'em.' + +'Why not drop turpentine, and cut shingles from the swamp? You've a +fortune in those cypress trees.' + +'My negroes are not accustomed to swamp work--it would kill them,' +replied Preston. + +'Mr. Kirke,' said Joe,--'you'll take no 'fence, master Robert, if I says +dis?' + +'No, go on,' said his master. + +'De ting am right in a nutshell, an' jess so clar as apple jack: we owes +a heap; we'se gittin' inter debt deeper an' deeper ebery yar; we lose +money workin' de ole trees; we hain't got no new ones; an', dar's no use +to talk,--master Robert _won't_ put de hands inter de swamp. What, den, +shill we do?' + +Avoiding the darky's question, I said: 'I never before understood why +slavery is so clamorous for new fields. I see now--it can draw support +only from the virgin soil. It exhausts an old country: like the locusts +of Egypt, it blasts the very face of the earth!' + +'That is true,' replied Preston; 'but Joe has stated the case correctly, +_What shall we do?_' + +'One of two things. Sell your plantation and negroes, or take your hands +to a new section, where you can raise virgin turpentine.'[2] + +'I cannot sell my negroes--they were all raised with me; and the +plantation--it was my ancestors', over a hundred years ago. I would move +the hands to a new section, but I have not the means to buy land.' + +'Ay, dar's de rub, as Shakspeare say,' said Joe, with a pleasant humor, +intended, I thought, to cheer his master, whose face was clouding over +with grave thought; 'dat's de ting dat spile de 'gestion ob de king; and +in him sleep, such dreams do come ob suffin' better'n dis, some +undiscobered country, whar de virgin trees weep tears so white as +crystal, and turn to gole de moment dey'm barrled up, dat--' + +'Come, Joe, that'll do,' said his master, laughing; 'don't give us any +more, or you'll murder _us_, as well as Shakspeare.' + +'You don't 'preciate dat great man, master Robert,' rejoined Joe, also +laughing. + +'No, I don't--not just now.' + +'If you could satisfy your outside creditors that things were likely to +go better with you in future, could you put off the payment of the three +thousand dollars for a time?' I asked. + +'I reckon I could--nearly all of it,' replied Preston. + +'Well, then, I'll make you a proposition. Buy ten thousand acres on the +line of the Manchester railroad. It is finished to Whitesville, and you +can buy land within twenty miles of that station, at seventy-five cents +an acre. We'll advance the twenty per cent. you'll have to pay down, and +five hundred dollars more to start you there, and hold the deed of the +land to secure us. Ship your produce to us, and agree to forfeit the +land, if, at the end of three years, you have not paid all the original +advance. Move your stills, and your able-bodied men and women there, +leaving the old and the young negroes here to raise corn and cotton. +_Hire_ fifty more prime hands, and put Joe over the whole, with +unlimited power to work them to death if he pleases.' + +Preston leaned his head on his hand, as if bewildered. He seemed not to +understand me, but Joe's face lighted as if a stream of electricity were +playing under his dark skin. Mrs. Preston was the first to speak. Rising +and taking my hand, she said: 'Robert will do it, Mr. Kirke; and how can +we ever thank you enough for your generous--your _noble_ conduct toward +us? You have taken a weary load off our hearts.' + +'It is a simple business transaction, madam; I expect to make money by +it. I insist on your husband's consigning his produce to us, and I shall +require the forfeit of the land and the improvements, if he does not pay +our advances within three years.' + +'We kin pay 'em in _one_ year, an' you knows it, sar!' exclaimed Joe, +springing to his feet, and almost dancing around the room. 'Come, master +Robert, look up, an' tell 'im we'll do it, for ole Joe'll make de chips +fly as you neber seed 'em fly afore.' + +Preston looked up, and a tear rolled down his face, as he said, 'I thank +you, my friend. I need not say more.' + +'You need not say _that_; only buy the land, and make Joe autocrat of +the new plantation, and your bacon is cured.' + +'Joe'll show you how bacon am cured, Mr. Kirke, an' he'll name his fuss +boy af'er you--_shore_!' shouted the black, grinning all over. + +'He can safely promise that,' said the lady, laughing through her tears; +'for Aggy is fifty, and never had a child.' + +A half-hour's conversation over the details of the proposed arrangement +followed; then Joe rose, and taking the account books under his arm, +bade us 'good evenin'.' As he was leaving the room, I asked, 'Do you +preach to-morrow?' + +'Yas, sar, an' I'se gwine home to study ober de sermon. You'll come dar, +sar? You won't har no raal preachin', 'less master Robert feel de +sperrit move, fur de Lord don't gib de black man de tongue he gib de +white.' + +'I'm not sure of that; but I'll be there. Good night.' + +'Good night, sar, an' de Lord bless you.' + +When he had gone, I said to Preston: 'You have admitted me to your +confidence, my friend, and asked my advice; therefore, I think you will +pardon me, if I make you a few business suggestions.' + +'Most certainly, and I shall be guided by what you say.' + +'With a hundred hands in those thick woods, Joe will turn out a vast +amount of produce. His ambition is excited with the idea of being his +own master, and he will coin money for you; but you need to be prudent. +You owe a mortgage of twenty thousand dollars--and mortgage debts are +the worst in the world. Your plantation and negroes may be worth three +times the amount, but they are in jeopardy so long as it exists. If it +were called in on you suddenly, you couldn't pay it--your property would +be sacrificed--everything might be lost. Now, I would suggest that you +sell, at once, your three hundred acres of swamp land, all your surplus +live stock and materials, and appropriate the proceeds to paying your +floating debt, and reducing the mortgage.' + +'And we might reduce our family expenses, Robert,' said his wife; 'we +have too many house-servants. We could hire out five or six of them in +Newbern. And Joseph's schooling costs us five hundred dollars a year; he +might come home--_I_ could teach him.' + +'You would take too much on yourself, Lucy,' replied her husband. 'You +are not strong, and you can't spare a single servant.' + +'How many have you?' I asked. + +'Nine,' said Preston. + +'For a family of two adults and three children?' + +'It strikes you as too many, Mr. Kirke,' said the lady, 'and it _is_. It +is our Southern way; but every additional servant makes additional work +for the mistress.' + +'I think you are right, madam,' I replied; 'a Northern lady that you +know of, takes care of me, Frank, the two young children, and a large +house, with only two servants and an errand boy; and she never has +anything to do after two o'clock in the day.' + +'But you have the Irish; they are better house-servants than our blacks; +and you can discharge them if they won't work,' said Preston. + +'I would rather have Phyllis than any servant I ever saw at the North. +With her, the cook, and one more, I will promise to get on beautifully,' +remarked his wife. + +Preston gave her a look of indescribable tenderness and affection. What +the negro trader had said to me, gave me a key to the thoughts that were +passing in his mind. His wife's trust in him was so great, that she was +willing to again admit into her family the woman who had made him +forget, through long years, the promises he made her in their youth! +Truly, the angel of perfect love and forgiveness makes its earthly home +in the breast of woman. + +Preston's voice quivered as he replied: 'I--I appreciate what you +say--Lucy. Do as you think best.' + +'But, madam,' I said, 'I think you are really taking too much on +yourself--the care of the children will be a great tax on your +strength. Would it not be better to employ a governess to instruct them? +What is now expended on Joe would pay a competent person.' + +'What do you say to that, Joe?' asked his father; 'would you like to +come home, and have a woman teacher?' + +'I'd like to do what mother wants me to,' said the lad, putting his arms +about her neck, and kissing her. + +'You're a good boy, Joseph,' said his mother. + +'But, you'll let me keep the pony, won't you, father?' said the lad. + +'Yes, my son, and if you learn well, you shall go with uncle James when +you're fifteen.' + +Shortly afterward we separated for the night. + + +CHAPTER XI. + +On a gentle knoll, a few hundred yards from the negro quarters, and in +the midst of a grove of pines, whose soft brown tassels covered the +ground all around it, stood the negro meetinghouse. It was built of +unhewn logs, its crevices chinked with clay, and was large enough to +seat about two hundred persons. Though its exterior resembled a +backwoods barn, its interior had a neat and tasteful appearance. +Evergreen boughs hid its rough beams and bare shingled roof, and long +wreaths of pine leaves hung in graceful festoons from its naked walls +and narrow windows. On the two sides of a wide aisle, which served to +separate the sheep on the right hand from the goats on the left, were +long rows of benches, with hard board bottoms, and rough open backs, and +beyond them, divided from the rest of the interior by a rustic railing, +was the 'family pew,' an enclosure about twelve feet square, neatly +carpeted, and furnished with half a dozen arm chairs. Opposite to this +was a platform elevated three steps from the floor, and on it stood a +rustic settee, a large easy chair, and a modest desk covered with green +baize, and decorated with small sprigs of evergreen. On this desk rested +a large Bible. + +The enormous seashell which served as a bell to this 'house of prayer,' +was sending its last blast in long echoes through the old trees, when, +with Mrs. Preston and the children, I elbowed an opening through the +thick group of grinning Africans that blocked the doorway, and 'worked a +passage' down the crowded aisle to the family enclosure. Seating myself +in one of its cane-bottomed seats, I glanced around on the assemblage. +Such a gathering of woolly heads I had never seen. Every plantation +within a circuit of five miles had sent in a representation, till the +benches, the aisle, the small area around the pulpit, and the open space +near the doorway, were all densely packed. On the left, the men, in +gaudy cravats and many-colored waistcoats, were chatting merrily +together, and enjoying themselves as heartily as a parcel of Yankees at +a clambake; and on the right, the women, in red and yellow turbans, and +flaming shawls and neckerchiefs, were bobbing about and flaunting their +colors, like so many dolphins sporting in the sunshine. Preston was +seated in the lone chair at the back of the pulpit, and Boss Joe and +Black Jack occupied the settee near him. The latter shortly rose to open +the services, and, in a moment, a deep silence fell on the noisy +multitude. The old preacher had carefully combed his thin wool into a +pyramid on the top of his head, and he looked, dressed in glossy black +pants, longtailed blue coat, ruffled shirt, and high shirt collar, like +a stuffed specimen at an exhibition of wax figures. Stepping rather +unsteadily to the front of the platform, he flourished his red cotton +bandanna, and spreading his huge claws over the large Bible, said: + +'Dear bred'rin, leff us begin de worship ob de Lord by singin': + + 'From all dat dwell below de skies + Leff de Creator's praise arise.'' + +A half dozen darky fiddlers at the left of the pulpit tuned their +strings, and then the whole assemblage rose and burst into that grand +old hymn. As its last echoes were dying away, Joe got up, and opening +the large Bible, read, in a clear, mellow voice, a portion of the one +hundred and nineteenth Psalm. When he had concluded, the old darky again +came forward. + +Gazing complacently around on the audience for a moment, he drawled out: +'My bred'rin, leff us raise our hearts to de Lord.' The whole +congregation then kneeled, and Jack, closing his eyes, clenching his +hands together, and throwing his head back, until his nose came nearly +on a line with the roof of the building, 'lifted up his voice' and +prayed. + +After the fashion of very many white preachers, he began by telling the +Lord all about Himself; all He had ever done, and all He is going to do; +how long He had lived, and how long He is going to live; how great He +is--'taller dan de mountin's, and bigger dan de seas.' How He made the +world in six days, and then, 'gittin' tired, rested on de sevenfh;' How +He formed man out of the dust of the ground, and then out of his rib +formed woman; how the woman tempted the man, and he fell, and how woman +has 'raised Cain' on the earth ever since. How He sent the flood, and +how Noah builded the ark; how Noah axed all the wild 'critters' into it, +and how they all came in two by two, and how Noah and the wild beasts +lay down lovingly together, till the 'wet spell' was over. How He chose +the Jews--a meaner race than the 'pore whites'--to be his peculiar +people; and how that proves His boundless love and unlimited goodness; +'fur no oder man in all creashun would hab taken _dem_ folks up, no +how.' How Moses, when he came down from the Mount, 'stumbled and broke +de law; and how 'ebery one of us dat hab come inter de worle sense, hab +stumbled and broke de law, 'case he did,' How Noah, though he was a +white man, and had a white wife, begat a black son; and how that black +son was a great sinner, and how all his descendants have taken after +him, and been mighty big sinners ever since. + +Then he described the sinners, particularly the black sinners present; +and if half of what he said was true, every one of them deserved to be +sold 'down Soufh,' and kept on cold hominy and hoecake all the rest of +his days. + +The prayer was a strange mixture of absurdity, presumption, and +profanity, and I felt relieved to hear his long 'amen,' and to see Joe +rise and again approach the pulpit. + +Requesting some one present to raise a few of the windows (I took +occasion, afterward, to thank him for that very considerate thought), +Joe opened the Bible, and said: 'My friends, I am gwine to talk ter you +from de tex, 'An' dey drew an' lifted up Joseph out ob de pit, an' sold +Joseph to the Ishmaelites fur twenty pieces ob silver, an' dey brought +Joseph inter Egypt.' + +'You all knows,' he continued, 'de story ob Joseph an' his bred'rin; how +dey wus raised up by dar fader Jacob in a wile country, whar dar warn't +no schools, an' no 'telligence, an' no larnin'; and how his fader lub'd +Joseph more dan all ob his bred'rin, an' make fur him a coat ob many +colors. But p'raps you don't know dat de Lord lub Joseph a great sight +better'n his fader did, an' 'case He lub him so, dat He hardened de +hearts ob his bred'rin agin him, till dey sole him to de Ishmaelites--de +slavetraders ob dem days, to be taken down inter Egypt. An' p'raps you +don't know dat Egypt wus a great country, whar dar wus schools, an' +churches, an' great libraries ob books, an' all manner ob sciences; an' +dat Joseph wus made de lord ob all dat country, an' dat finarly he got +his fader, an' his bred'rin, an' dar wifes, an' all dar little ones, to +come down dar, an' stay; whar, dough de tasks war sometimes hard, an' +dey hed to 'arn dar bred by de sweat ob dar brow, dey could git +knowledge an' larnin'. An' p'raps, too, you don't know dat de chil'ren +ob Israel, who war de chil'ren ob Joseph an' his bred'rin, when dey'd +staid down dar in Egypt de 'pointed time, war taken by de Lord inter de +lan' ob Canaan, which was a lan' 'flowin' wid milk and honey;' and dat +dey war gib'n dat lan' far dar possession. Now, my friends,' and he +paused and looked around on the congregation, 'de story ob Joseph am de +story ob de brack man; _he_ hab been taken out ob de pit; _he_ hab been +sole fur twenty pieces ob silver; _he_ hab been brought inter Egypt, +an', bless de Lord, _he_ am bound fur de lan' ob Canaan. + +'He hab been taken out ob de pit. A pit, my friends, am a dark place, +whar de sun neber shine, an' de light neber come; an' Africa, de country +whar our faders an' our gran'faders come from--am a pit; fur de darkness +cobers dat lan', an' gross darkness de people dareof. Dey hab no +cloes--dey lib in cabins made ob clay, an' in holes in de groun'--dey +kill an' eat one anoder, an' dey'm allers at war wid one anoder. But de +white man he gwoe dar, an' he buy 'em fur twenty pieces ob +silver--dat's' zactly de price--twenty silver dollars--dey pay dat fur +'em up ter dis day--dem pore, ign'rant folks won't take nuffin' but +silver. Well, de white man buy 'em, and he fotch 'em to dis country, +which am like de lan' ob Egypt, full ob schools, ob churches, ob +larnin,' an' ob all manner ob good tings. Shore, we hab to wuck hard +har; some ob us hab to bear heaby burdens, an' to make bricks w'en dey +gib us no straw to make 'em wid; but we am in de lan' ob Egypt, whar we +hab knowledge ob de Lord; whar de gospil am preach to us, an' whar we +kin fine out de rode to de lan' ob Canaan. (To be shore, we karn't all +larn out ob de books; but book larnin' neber make a man, no how.) Yas, +my friends, yere we kin fine out de road to de lan' ob Canaan; an' do ye +know what dat lan' ob Canaan, dat'm waitin' fur de brack man, am? Do ye +'spose it am a lan' whar de days am hot, an' de nights am cole; whar +we'll hoe de cotton, an' gader de turpentine, an' cut de shingles in de +swamp? whar we'll wuck till we drop down; whar we'll hunger an' furst? +whar de fever will burn in our veins, an' de nager will rattle our bones +as de corn am rattled in de hopper? No, my friends, 'tain't no lan' like +dat! It am de habitation on high, de city builded ob de Lord, de +eberlasting kingdom founded by de Eternal God, who made heaben an' +'arth, de sea, an' all dat in dem is! Oh, tink ob dat, my friends, an' +hab courage! Tink ob dat when you'm a faint an' a weary, an' leff you' +hearts be glad, an' you' souls rejoice in hope. Fur dat lan' ain't +'spressly fur de white man--it am fur de brack man, too; an' ebery one +ob us, eben de brackest, kin git to it ef we'll jess foller der road--ef +we'll jess do our duty, bear meekly our burdens, an' lean humbly on de +arm ob de Lord. I knows it am so, my friends. I _knows_ it am so, fur de +oder night, when de deep sleep fell upon me, I dreamed a dream. I fought +dar come to my cabin, an' stood aside ob my bed, a great white angel, +wid feet dat touch de 'arth, but wid head dat reach unto de heabens. He +wore raiment shinin' like silver, an' on his head wus a girdle ob stars. +His face wus dazzlin' as de sun, an' his eyes war like flamin' fire. He +look at me, an' he say: 'Joseph, come up hither!' He reach out his hand +an' he lift me up--above de 'arth--above de clouds--above de stars--'way +up to de high heabens, whar am de sperrits ob just men made perfect, who +hab been redeemed from among men, who hab gone fru great tribulation, +whose garments hab been washed clean in de blood ob de Lamb! 'Dis,' he +say, 'am de city ob de livin' God, de heabenly Jerusalem, whose +foundations am saffomires, whose walls am silver, whose streets am gold, +whose houses am jewels an' all precious stones! Here de sun neber sets. +Here de storm an' de hurricane neber come, an' here, Joseph, am a +dwellin' prepared fur you--'here, ef you'm faithful an' 'bedient, you +shill come when you' wuck on de 'arth am ober!' + +The speaker had been gradually warming with his subject till he uttered +this last sentence, when his voice trembled, his face glowed, and his +upturned eye seemed gazing on the ineffable glories of the land he was +describing. A stillness like that of death fell on the assemblage, and +the simple blacks, hanging breathlessly on his words, looked up to where +Joe's hand was pointing, as if they too had caught the vision on which +his eyes were feasting. In a moment, he continued: + +'I looked round, an' I saw dat beautiful city; I breafed its air; I +walked its streets; I hard its music--de neber endin' song which its +countless people send up to de throne ob de Great Father; an' I say to +de angel: 'Do brack folks lib yere? Kin _dey_ come to dis beautiful +country?' an' he say: You shill see.' Den he lead me fru dose shinin' +streets, out inter de open fiel's whar war pleasant pastures, greener +dan any on de 'arth, an' still waters, dat sparkle in de sun, jess like +missus' diamonds in de light ob de fire.' (I did not know that Mrs. +Preston wore diamonds--she certainly had not worn them in my presence.) +'He lead me out till we come to a great woods, whar fount'ins war +playin', an' birds war singin', an' flowers war growin', an' de air wus +full of fragrance; an' dar I seed a great crowd ob people gadered +togeder, a listenin' to one dat wus a talkin' to 'em. Dar wus Ab'ram, +an' Isaac, an' Jacob,--dar wus Moses, an' Joseph, au' Samuel--dar wus +David, an' Solomon, an' de prophets--dar wus Paul, an' John, an' +Peter,--dar wus 'most all de great an' good men who hab libed in de +worle; an' dar too, right aside ob de one dat wus speakin', wus de +blessed Saviour, wid de woun' in his side, an' de print ob de nails in +his hands. An' who do you tink wus a talkin' dar, to all dem great +people? Who do you tink wus fought good 'nuff to stan' by de side ob de +blessed Saviour? It wus a brack man! It wus a brack man, who, down yere +had been ole, an' lame, an' blind, an' ob no account--so no account he +wouldn't sell fur nuffin'. He wus tellin' dem great folks ob de great +lub ob de Lord to him, an' dar tears rolled down as dey hard him. He +tole 'em how he use to lib in Car'lina--how he wus a slave; how he'd +'most nuffin' to eat; how he wus wucked in de swamp; how, 'fore de sun +rose, an' 'way inter de night, he use to stan' in de mud an' de water, +till his bones war sore, his heart wus weary, his soul wus faint. How +his massa flog him, 'cause he couldn't wuck no more, till de blood run +down his back, an' it wus a ridged like de ploughed groun'. How his wife +wus whipped to death afore his bery eyes; how his chil'ren--all 'cept +one--war sole 'way from him; how dat one 'bused him, an' flogged him, +an' tormented him, till he wus jess ready to die. How, when his hair wus +white, his body wus bent, his strength wus gone, an' he was ole, an' +lame, an' blind, his massa drove him 'way, and make him shirk fur +himseff. How he beg in de roads; how he sleep in de woods; in de cole +an' de rain, till a good gemman take him in, gib him a bed, tend to his +wants, an' pray ober him when he die. He tole 'em all dat; but he say +dat fru it all, he hab peace; fru it all, de Lord wus good to him; fru +it all, he felt His lub in his heart; fru it all, de blessed Redeemer +wus wid him; fru it all, he knowed dat mercy an' salvation am in de +heabens! An' DEY AM DAR! Dey took him 'way, 'way from de 'arth; 'way +from his suffrin's an' his sorrers down yere, to joy, an' peace, an' +rest up dar. Up dar, whar all great an' good men call him brudder--whar +de Lord Jehobah call him son, an' whar de blessed Saviour will leff him +stan' at his right hand, foreber and eber. An' he, my friends, wus a +BRACK MAN! An' who do you 'spose he wus? Who do you 'spose he wus?' + +He paused for a moment as he repeated the question, and then, in a slow, +impressive manner, continued: + +'It wus ole Cale--Cunnel Dawsey's Cale; an' dat good gemman dat take him +in and pray ober him when he die--wus _my_ master--yas, bless de Lord, +he wus MY master!' + +As Joe uttered these last words, Preston bowed his head, his wife sobbed +aloud, and the black people gave out a low cry, as sad as the wail which +their own mourners breathe over the dead. Fixing his eyes on a tall, +stalwart negro in the audience, the preacher continued: + +'An' he wus _you_' fader, Jake! You fader, who, when he wus down yere, +you 'bused, an' persecuted, an' treated like a dog, but who up dar am +fought worthy to stand at de Saviour's right hand! I _knows_ it wus him, +fur I seed him, I talked wid him, an' he gabe me suffin' to tell you. +Stand up now, an' yere what he hab to say.' + +The black man's face assumed a dogged expression; he moved uneasily on +his seat, but showed no inclination to rise. In a firm, imperious tone, +Joe again called out to him: + +'Stand up, I say! Folks like you' fader am now, don't talk to sech as +you when dey'm sittin' down: stand up, or I'll gib you what Cunnel +Dawsey neber gabe you in all you' life.' + +The negro reluctantly rose. Every eye was fixed upon him as Joe +continued: + +'He ax me to say to you, Jake, dat he lubs you--lubs you bery much--dat +he fully an' freely furgibs you fur all de wrong you eber done him; fur +all de tears an' de sorrer you eber cause him. And he say to me: 'Tell +Jake dat I'se been down dar an' seed him. I'se seed how he shirk his +wuck; how he 'buse his wife an' chil'ren; how he hate his massa, an' +mean to kill him--(dough his massa am hard on him, 'tain't no 'scuse fur +dat). How he swar, an' lie, an' steal, an' teach all de oder brack folks +to do de same. How he'm no fought ob his soul; no fought ob dyin'; no +fought ob whar he'm gwine when de Lord's patience am clean worn out wid +him. Tell him dat ef he gwo on dis way, he'll neber see his ole fader no +more; neber see his ole mudder, an' his little brudders, who am up yere, +too, no more; neber come to dis fine country, but be shet out inter +outer darkness, whar am weepin' an' wailin' an' knashin' ob teeth. Oh! +tell him dis, an 'treat him, by all his fader's keer fur him when he wus +a chile; by all his lub fur him now; by all de goodness ob de Lord, who +hab borne wid him fru all dese long years, to turn round--to turn round, +NOW, an' sot his face towards dis blessed country, whar he kin hab joy +foreber! Tell him, too, dat ef he'll do dis, dat his ole fader'll leab +his happy home an' come down dar an' holp him; holp him at his wuck; +holp him to bar ebery load; gib him strength when he'm weak; hole up his +feet when he'm weary; watch ober him day and night, all de time, till +he'm ready to come up yere, an' lib wid de Saviour foreber! Tell him--' + +Joe paused, for a wild cry echoed through the building, and the negro +fell in strong convulsions to the floor. + +A scene of indescribable excitement and confusion followed, during which +the black was carried out, and, more dead than alive, laid upon the +ground. When quiet was somewhat restored, Preston made a short and +feeling prayer, and then, after giving out a hymn, he dismissed the +congregation with the usual benediction. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: 'Scrape' is the turpentine gathered from the face of the +pine. On old trees, the yearly incision is made high above the boxes, +and the sap, in flowing down, passes over and adheres to the previously +scarified surface. It is thus exposed to the sun, which evaporates the +more volatile and valuable portion, and leaves only the hard, which, +when manufactured, is mostly rosin. 'Scrape' turpentine is only about +half as valuable as 'dip.'] + +[Footnote 2: "Virgin" Turpentine is twice as valuable as "Dip."] + + + + +THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE REBELLION. + +II. + + +The sturdy oak which is not prostrated by the storm that assails it is +made thereby to take deeper hold, and to draw the sustenance for a +larger growth from the torn and loosened soil into which it has +opportunity to thrust new roots and tendrils. Reinvigorated by the +resisted violence, its branches shoot upward to the skies and extend +themselves laterally with majestic breadth. It gradually gains strength +and becomes so firmly rooted in its place that it bids defiance to the +repeated tempests vainly striving to overthrow it, and stands for +centuries, sublime in its unconquerable might and proud endurance. Our +noble Union, fiercely assailed in its early maturity, before its +strength has been fully developed, now bends before the hurricane of +civil war, swaying to and fro with fearful and threatening movements at +every paroxysm of the tremendous blast. We look on with intense agony of +suspense, to see whether it will stand the terrible ordeal, and outlive +the unexampled convulsion of social elements in which its strength and +endurance have been so sorely tested. Instinctively we know that if it +survive the present momentous crisis, successfully resisting the attack +of the enemy which assails it so furiously, its foundations will be +immensely strengthened, and its power of resistance in future dangers +will be indefinitely augmented. Prolonged and permanent existence, with +assured security and repose, will be the best and most indisputable +result of its triumph. Though shaken and torn by the deadly assault, and +to a certain extent deprived of its usual resources, in the very effort +of resistance it will have put forth new connections, which returning +peace will multiply and strengthen. The immense demand on its energy and +enterprise will have aroused all its slumbering capacities and +stimulated them to the highest point of exertion. Under the necessity of +self-preservation, the nation will have been fully awakened to a sense +of its gigantic power, which, when employed in the benign pursuits of +peace, will be sufficient speedily to restore its prosperity to even +more than former splendor. The resources of our broad domain are so +unbounded, and the courage and persistence of our people so indomitable, +that even the sacrifices and losses of so great a war will make no +serious impression on the destined career of this youthful and growing +nation. So long as the vigor and elasticity of the popular force is not +absolutely overpowered and suppressed, the reaction will only be so much +the stronger for all the mighty pressure which has been placed upon it. +Returning strength, so invigorated and redoubled by repose, will enable +the people to bear the burden patiently, and within a comparatively +brief period to throw it off entirely; and then they will bound forward +with renewed energy in that race of unexampled progress which has been +sadly interrupted, but not by any means wholly arrested. + +If peace had continued, and especially if no civil war had occurred to +desolate our country, the labors of the population would have been +directed chiefly to the increase of wealth, and to the improvement which +always accompanies material prosperity. It would be a monstrous error to +say that the interruption of these occupations has not been a calamity +of the most serious character. Yet is it not altogether unmixed with +good. Indeed, it is by no means certain that, in the circumstances +which gave rise to the war, there was not an actual necessity, of a +moral nature, which made it on the whole advantageous to arouse the +nation to this gigantic strife, and thus to exchange its ordinary +struggle for wealth into a combat for a momentous principle. Is it +questionable whether, in every case, the establishment of such a +principle is not the most important of all objects, and whether every +other pursuit and occupation ought not to be made secondary to it? In +the sacrifices and sufferings which a nation undergoes for the sake of +asserting an important moral or political truth, there is always a +wholesome virtue that in some measure redeems the brutality and violence +which are the inseparable accompaniments of all wars, and which +peculiarly characterize the history of civil wars, in every age and +country. It is not merely the elevated and unselfish sentiment of +patriotism, as known in former ages, and expressed in the noble +sentiment, _dulce et decorum est pro patria mori_, which, engenders +lofty impulses and nourishes the rugged virtues of the soldier in the +heart; but the still higher sentiment of love for humanity and universal +freedom--a sentiment wholly unknown in what are called the heroic +ages--sanctifies the labors, the wounds, and the glorious death of the +martyrs who struggle and fall in such a contest. Men have often fought +and willingly died in the cause of their country, regardless of the +merits of the controversy between the opposing parties. There is a +certain manliness and devotion to others in this species of patriotism, +which commands respect and admiration; and this feeling of approbation +rises still higher when the cause of the nation is undeniably just, and +the self-sacrificing patriot is giving his life for the purchase of +liberty to his country. But the highest and noblest of all exhibitions +is that in which the sacrifice is made for the good of the race--for +principles in which all men are alike interested, and in which the +martyr can claim no peculiar advantage to himself or to his own branch +of the human family. The nation which accepts war for such a cause, and +wages it with all her means and energies, exhibits a moral grandeur +which, in spite of misfortune, has a saving power, capable of overcoming +and compensating all calamities, of whatever nature and extent. That +nation cannot be overthrown--not unless the laws of the Most High +himself can be subverted, and the right be made permanently to succumb +to the wrong. Let it be understood, however, that this assertion is made +only with reference to wars which are essentially defensive; for no +nation has the right to propagate even the best and noblest principles +by the power of the sword. In our case, it is true, other motives concur +in moving the nation to this tremendous struggle. Not merely the rights +and interests of an inferior, degraded, and suffering race appeal to our +humanity; but the unity and greatness of our country, its influence +abroad, and its success and prosperity at home, are all involved. It is +one of many instances in which the best and highest impulses of our +nature are reënforced by the dictates of the noblest and most elevated +of human interests--the interests of a nation, of a continent, yea, of +the world itself; for our gates are still open to the ingress of our +brothers from abroad, and our immense and fertile domain, as well as our +priceless institutions, are freely offered to their participation. + +But, aside from the principles involved in the war, there are results of +an interesting character springing from it, which are well worthy the +attention of the statesman and the patriot. Two very opposite effects +are produced on the minds of the men engaged in such a contest as this, +or, indeed, in any contest of arms whatever, when it assumes the +proportions of a regular war. The volunteering of our young men of all +classes, in numbers so immense, is an extraordinary phenomenon. These +soldiers by choice, many of them educated and intelligent, and impelled +by deliberate considerations of principle, willingly undergo the hard +labor of military training, of marches and campaigns, and the still more +trying inactivity of life in camps and fortresses, in new and unfriendly +regions and climates. They fearlessly face death in every ghastly form, +on the battle field, by exposure in all seasons, by physical exhaustion, +and by the most dreadful contagious diseases. They devote themselves +unreservedly to the great cause, and in doing so exhibit the noblest +spirit of self-sacrifice, and that on the grandest scale presented in +history. Fortitude and courage, contempt of the most appalling dangers, +disregard of suffering and privation, wounds, mutilation, and lingering +death--these are the habits of soul which our citizen soldiers +cultivate, and which tend to strengthen and harden the character, and to +give it great moral force. The great qualities thus nurtured in the +bosom of the multitudes destined soon to return to peaceful life will +assuredly make a powerful impression on the whole society, which must be +thoroughly pervaded with the manly virtues thence destined to be infused +into it. Every man who has been conspicuous for his soldierly conduct +and for the faithful performance of duty will be an object of general +respect, though he may have passed unscathed through the fiery ordeal; +while every maimed and wounded citizen will be regarded as bearing on +his person, in his honorable scars and deficient limbs, the decorations +which exalt and ennoble him in the eyes of his countrymen. Many a +chivalrous deed will be recounted with pride and satisfaction, and +handed down to immortality by the pen of history and poetry, and by the +pencil and chisel of art. Even the undistinguished services of those who +have fought in the war for the Union, and who have passed unchallenged +through the fiery ordeal, will be cherished by their children, and +transmitted to their remoter posterity with patriotic pride and +pardonable self-satisfaction. Thus the glory of noble deeds in this +memorable war will everywhere shed its lustre on the national character, +and will tend to stimulate the loftiest virtues in the present and +succeeding generations. + +But, on the other hand, the unavoidable dissipation of military life, +the vices of the camp, the brutality and want of moral sensibility +engendered by the necessity of slaughter and the horrible ravages of +war, will tend largely to counteract the good results already noted. +Those who may be nobly disdainful of their own sufferings, will +sometimes be even more regardless of the sufferings of others; and +perhaps sometimes, with the natural perversion of human passion effected +by civil war, will seek to avenge their own misfortunes by ungenerous +rigor and cruelty toward all within their power, suspected of favoring +the enemy only in thought or sentiment. Even this imperfect +discrimination is too often altogether omitted, and innocent loyalty is +made to suffer losses and severities which ought never to be visited on +non-combatants, even though they be of the enemy. The fearful disregard +of human life, and of the accumulations of human labor in the shape of +property, which marks the movements of our armies in almost all +quarters, and even distinguishes the conduct of some of our high +officials, constitutes one of the most serious evils which attend the +contest, and which will leave their natural consequences as a permanent +injury to the nation. The record of these misdeeds, now disregarded in +the hurry and excitement of the conflict, will hereafter confront us +with terrible effect. The bad acts themselves will long continue to bear +fruit after their kind, and to scatter the seeds of vice over the land. +Such drawbacks, however, accompany more or less all great military +operations, no matter how sacred the cause in which armies are engaged. +Yet, we fear, no such example of generous and unselfish devotion to a +holy cause can be found in our present experience as was exhibited by +the French people in their violent and bloody revolution of 1789. The +mercenary spirit has largely infected the military as well as the civil +agencies of our Government. But a people struggling for great principles +are compelled to use such instruments as may be at its command; and if +the material of armies and their connections in civil life be often of a +character to be degraded rather than elevated by the employments and +experiences of war, it is nevertheless certain that these bad effects do +not always, perhaps not generally, outweigh and overpower the good. + +History does not present another example of large armies made up of such +men as those who now constitute the defenders of the Union. For +intelligence and moral worth, they are unsurpassed by the masses of any +population in the civilized world, and certainly they are far superior +in all respects to those usually constituting the armies of other +nations. To our shame and regret, there are certainly some exceptions to +this statement; but these are comparatively few, and mostly confined to +those who have not enjoyed the full advantage of our noble system of +universal education. In many instances, the best young men in the land +have gone into the army as privates; while in the rural districts and +from the Western States, the very bone and sinew of the population--the +sober, steady, intelligent, industrious, and prosperous part of the +people--have taken up arms in the cause of the Union, from a deliberate +approval of the policy of the war on our part, and from the noblest and +most unselfish motives of patriotism. The preponderance of such men in +our armies evidently makes them, on the whole, susceptible to the good, +rather than to the bad influences of war. Reflection, self-respect, +rational views of the causes and objects of the war, and elevated +motives of action, cannot fail to bring those who possess these +qualities all the benefits of self-denial, of patriotic labor willingly +expended, and of sacrifices made and sufferings endured in a good and +noble cause. The mental cultivation and moral training of the American +citizen constitute a shield, from whose solid and polished surface the +missiles of temptation, which easily penetrate other defences, usually +glance or rebound with harmless effect. The carnage of the battle field, +the bombardment and capture of cities, and the ravages of armies, +marching or in camp, which too often harden the hearts and blunt the +sensibilities of the ordinary soldier, have no such effect, or, at +least, a much less effect, in this particular, on the minds of humane +and educated men. Hence we may fairly anticipate that the influence of +this war on the men who compose the army, and who must sooner or later +return to the occupations they have temporarily left, will be of a far +better character than that of any war ever hitherto waged in any part of +the world. No such conditions have ever heretofore existed in reference +to any great national contest. Our immense volunteer army, so largely +composed of intelligent and respectable men--men who are fully capable, +and entitled by their votes, to influence the great measures of war or +peace--presents a spectacle new and wholly unexampled in history; and +the consequences of our contest to the moral and social condition of the +people will be correspondingly unusual and important. We may safely +assume from these considerations that the good will preponderate over +the bad. + +There is, however, another species of influence of a more questionable +character, which is worthy of consideration in any attempt to anticipate +the consequences of this extraordinary rebellion. The nature of our +institutions renders them accessible to popular impulses at very brief +intervals of time; and it may well be expected, that, after the +conclusion of the war, especially if it be successful, a sentiment +nearly universal will prevail in favor of the elevation of the men who +have been conspicuous in the military service. There will be a +disposition to reward the successful soldier with civic honors, and to +place the conduct of the Government in the hands of men who have +exhibited only a capacity to lead and handle armies. The power of the +military men will in this way be prolonged. Doubtless, a great soldier +may be expected to show large executive abilities, and with proper +experience may well be intrusted with the management of the highest +offices in our country. There are times and occasions, of which the +present is a most memorable instance, when the peculiar capacities of a +great military leader would be of infinite service to the cause of +freedom and humanity, provided, at the same time, he should possess +undoubted integrity and patriotism, without any mixture of bad ambition. +A Washington, or a Jackson, in the Presidential chair at the +commencement of this rebellion, would have been of inestimable value to +our country, outweighing the importance of mighty armies and countless +treasure; for the value both of men and money, in such emergencies, +depends wholly on the skill and wisdom with which they are used and +directed. If God had vouchsafed us one grand will to control the human +tempest now raging around us, our noble country would have been saved +from many calamities and much disgrace, such as will require hard labor +and heavy sacrifices to overcome. + +It is not, therefore, the probability that military men may frequently +be elevated to high office that need give any apprehension to the lover +of his country. But it is the almost certain prevalence of a blind and +undistinguishing sentiment of caste, which will seek to control the +elections in favor of the soldier under all circumstances, whether fit +or unfit for the position sought. We are likely to have soldiers in all +the executive offices, soldiers in the diplomatic service, in the +legislative halls, and even on the bench. The danger is that the popular +enthusiasm in favor of those who have served in the war will go to the +extent of substituting gallantry and good conduct in the field for those +very different qualifications demanded in responsible civil stations. A +wound received, or a limb lost, will, in many instances, constitute a +stronger recommendation for political preferment than long experience, +coupled with ability and high character. This disposition to reward +those who have faithfully served the country in time of war is an +amiable characteristic of the American people, and proves that, in this +particular at least, republics are not ungrateful. But it is clear, at +the same time, that the public gratitude, thus turned into political +channels, may be productive of great evil, by lowering the character of +the men employed in performing public functions of importance. Already +the results of our elective system have become the subject of intense +anxiety in the minds of reflecting men. Notwithstanding the extensive +provision made for the education of our people, of the universality and +efficiency of which we justly boast, an almost equal extension of the +elective franchise has not tended to improve the wisdom of the popular +choice, or the character and qualifications of the men selected in +latter times to fill high public offices. So seriously is this truth +felt, that it is now a political problem of the first importance to +devise some means by which the frequent elections in our country may be +made to work more certainly and uniformly to the elevation of good and +able men, who now too often shun rather than seek employment in the +national service. If this indispensable improvement cannot be +accomplished, our institutions are in danger of falling into contempt, +as exhibiting no very great advance on the old modes of hereditary +designation of political functionaries. The party machinery of the +present day, adapted chiefly to the purpose of availability and the +means of securing success at all hazards, is mostly responsible for the +degeneracy which unquestionably characterizes the public men of this +day, in comparison with those who in former times filled the same high +stations. In view of these facts, it may be that the military regime +about to be ushered in as a consequence of the great existing war, will +of itself be an improvement, since it must be acknowledged there is some +merit in the devotion and sacrifices of those who fight the battles of +the Union, while it is notorious that corrupt political parties too +frequently select and reward their leaders without regard to merit at +all. + +It may be said that there is inconsistency and contradiction in the +views presented, inasmuch as the claim for remarkable intelligence and +superiority in the rank and file of the army would imply too much +patriotism and self-sacrifice to admit of the consequences suggested. +But we must remember the immense numbers of our army, its large +proportion to the whole population, the _esprit de corps_ so naturally +engendered in such a body, and the powerful influence it may wield by +turning the scale in our inveterate and often nicely balanced partisan +contests. We must also take into consideration that well known principle +of human nature, as old as government itself, which seems to impel all +men possessing irresponsible power to abuse it, and employ it for their +own selfish advantage. This is peculiarly the case with _classes_ which +gain ascendency, as such, over the other parts of the community. +Political parties in our country will surely not fail to seek alliance +with the citizen soldiers at the close of the war, and to secure success +by all the arts and devices which can be made available to that end. But +let us hope the good sense and patriotism of our young men, their +moderation and self-control, will be as conspicuous in future political +campaigns, as in those more glorious ones which are yet destined to +overthrow our enemies and restore our inestimable Union to its former +greatness. + +But it is not our purpose to confine these remarks to the loyal States +and the Union armies; nor is it at all paradoxical to extend them to the +region and the population controlled by the rebel government. Every good +citizen, having confidence in the supremacy of right and the destiny of +our country, anticipates the reunion of the States at the conclusion of +the war. The bulk of the Southern army must likewise return to society, +and carry with it such influence as it may derive from the peculiar +character of its cause, the motives by which it is animated, and the +acts, good or bad, noble or mean, which it may perform. It cannot be +denied that the soldiers of the rebel army have exhibited the highest +personal qualities, of daring courage, skilful enterprise, patient +endurance, and the most indomitable perseverance, under difficulties +apparently insuperable. Their cause is bad. The impartial judgment of +mankind will pronounce it so, when the passions of the hour shall have +completely subsided. But the masses of the Southern people evidently do +not take this view of the war they are waging against the Government +which has so long protected them, and under which they have acquired all +the strength they are now ungratefully using to overthrow it. They have +been artfully misled into the belief that they are engaged in a war +altogether defensive--that they are fighting _pro aris et focis_--in +short, that they have given themselves up to the holiest work which any +people can ever be called on to undertake. Doubtless, in frequent +instances, and sometimes among considerable populations, different +sentiments prevail and have been entertained from the beginning. A +glimmering of the truth may occasionally dawn on the minds of those who +went into the contest with entire confidence in the justice of their +cause. But on the whole it is vain to deny the sincerity and the deep +convictions of the Southern people. Nothing less than these could have +sustained them in the appalling difficulties of their position. No +people ever conducted a more brilliant and successful defensive war +against the vast odds, on land and sea, with which they have had to +contend. Let us be sufficiently magnanimous to confess the truth, +unpleasant though it be, and acknowledge that they have hitherto +outmanaged us in the general conduct of the war. They have exhibited an +earnestness and determination, a gallantry and devotion, worthy of the +highest purposes that ever call forth the energy of struggling nations. +It is vain to say they are compelled by a military despotism; for, +however strong and arbitrary their government may be, it evidently rests +upon the support of the people, and it could never continue the present +contest against popular disaffection at home joined with the mighty +invading armies of the Union. + +What then are to be the results of great efforts and sacrifices in a +cause which, though we believe it to be bad, they consider holy? Are +their chivalrous deeds to be less ennobling to the character of Southern +men, than similar ones, springing from like motives, on the part of our +armies? It is the motive which gives character to all actions, and +mistake or error of the most perverse kind, when arising from honest +conviction, cannot alter the merit of what is done or suffered. If it be +said that the assumed convictions of the Southern people are incredible, +it is only necessary to look back a few centuries, in order to see the +whole Christian world entertaining sentiments equally abhorrent to the +enlightened conscience of the present day. The universal participation +in the slave trade, and the horrible persecutions for religious heresy, +which everywhere prevailed, are sad evidences of the possibility of +indulging the most disastrous errors with perfect sincerity. Besides, if +we consider how great a diversity of opinion prevails among the people +of the loyal States, on the subject of the rebellion and its causes, it +will require no great degree of credulity to induce the belief that the +Southern people are impelled by deep convictions in their present +struggle. + +Failure and defeat on their part will cast the usual discredit on the +cause which is overthrown; and in this case we do not entertain a doubt +that ultimately the right will prevail, and that the discomfiture and +disgrace will fall where justice would require. Men will be deeply +mortified to find themselves utterly overcome, and all their brave deeds +and their magnanimous sacrifices and sufferings expended in a failing +and a bad cause. It will be their great misfortune that serious +reflection and conviction should come to them only after these great +events, and when it is too late to recall them. But it is the peculiar +characteristic of contests like this, that they do eventually make clear +the subjects of dispute in which they originate. All the wranglings of +politicians, and all the learning and logic of contending theologians in +divided churches, could never accomplish the speedy and thorough +decision of contested questions which will follow this tremendous war. +Bold and extra-constitutional expedients necessarily grow out of the +prevailing violence. They will soon test the possibility of measures +which are too great for ordinary times, and will push the existing +tendencies toward fundamental change into sudden and premature +development. + +Physical strength and success in war are by no means fair tests of truth +and principle; but in the present contest, such is the condition of our +country and the character of its relations with the civilized world +that, if the Union shall be restored to its former integrity, the result +will give strong evidence of the righteousness of our cause. Such are +the temptations to foreign interference, and such the evident +disposition of the ruling dynasties in some powerful nations to destroy +the influence and example of this great republic, as well as to break +down her rivalry in commerce and manufactures, that nothing but a holy +cause, appealing to the moral sense of mankind, could prevent the +natural alliance between despotism abroad and the kindred system in the +South which seeks to establish its tyranny on the ruins of our +Government. Besides, the diverging systems of policy in the two sections +have carried on their struggle for more than a quarter of a century, +under conditions which make it demonstrable that their present +inequality of strength and means is the direct consequence of these +divergencies. Their long-continued emulation, passing through all the +stages of envy, hatred, and political contention, has finally culminated +in bloody civil war; and from the peculiar circumstances of the case, +the termination of the contest, if the parties be left to themselves, +will fully and fairly test the physical strength and moral force of the +contending principles. The better principle, by virtue of its superior +growth, will overthrow the worse and weaker one, which has relatively +declined in power throughout all the long contest between the two. +Enlightened convictions will grow up as the mighty conflict subsides; +and institutions will be modified in conformity with the truths which +are destined to appear through the blaze and smoke of battle. + +Heaven forbid that we should confound moral distinctions, and place +treason and rebellion on the same footing with patriotic devotion to the +cause of Union and liberty. Political and moral errors, however innocent +in intention, stand on the same footing, as to their consequences, with +all other violations of natural law. They bring retribution inevitable; +nor can the blind and ignorant partisan of wrong entirely escape the +shame of his misconduct, on the ground of erroneous judgment. But let us +not arrogate to ourselves a superiority of virtue, which in reality we +have no just right to claim. Are we sure that, even on our side, which +we consider that of truth and humanity, all our individual motives are +up to the level of the great principles involved? Are we not rather, to +some extent, the blind instruments of social causes, stronger than our +own will, and while seeming to follow the inclination of our own +enlightened minds, are we not impelled by passion and ambition in the +inevitable direction indicated, and even necessitated, by the +circumstances surrounding us? Are not similar influences operating on +the Southern mind, and forcing it, with a compulsion equally inexorable, +into the fatal current of civil war? With the masses on both sides, this +is undoubtedly true. Whole communities do not engage in such disastrous +strife in mere wantonness and wicked advocacy of a bad cause. Either +their judgment is distorted, or their passions aroused to such an extent +as to render them utterly blind to the true nature of the principles +involved, and to make them believe they are acting, under the strongest +provocation, for the defence of their honor, their interests, and their +acknowledged rights. Every liberal mind will readily concede the +existence of these sentiments and motives. + +But suppose the war ended by the overthrow of the rebellion and the +restoration of the Federal authority: what is to be the effect in those +States which have been the theatre of the great conspiracy, whence have +issued all the mighty armies which have assailed so fiercely the +Constitution and Government of our fathers? Will the men who have shed +their blood freely to destroy the Union ever again be brought to sustain +it with sincerity and zeal? Can they be expected to acknowledge their +profound error, and receive again heartily to their affections and +willing obedience the authority which they have so haughtily spurned and +sought to smite with utter destruction? This is a momentous question. It +is the most important which can be presented to the country at the +moment of its anticipated triumph, when the fearful clash of arms is +about to subside and give place to the serious labor of conciliation and +reconstruction. To conquer the rebellion will be, at least, to make all +its aims utterly hopeless. Failure and disaster will be forever stamped +upon the ideas on which the revolution has been founded, and they, with +their inspiration, good or bad, will be permanently overthrown, together +with the men who have used them so efficiently for the inauguration and +continuance of this tremendous strife. There is wonderful power in the +success of an idea, as there is a corresponding influence in the utter +overthrow of its physical manifestations and efforts. A cause rendered +hopeless by defeat ceases to sustain the passions which it has excited, +under the influence of which it has made itself respectable and +powerful. If it be founded in truth and right, it will have within +itself the elements of resuscitation, and it can never become altogether +hopeless. But if it have no such basis of substantial truth, its failure +once is for all time. The hearts of men cannot long cling to such a +cause. Its traditions even become odious, and the effort will be to +ignore and forget its incidents, and to escape the discredit of having +participated in its ambitious struggles. + +But to conquer the rebellion is not to subjugate the South. This is a +distinction of the utmost importance in attempting to estimate the +consequences of the great struggle. So far from the subjugation of the +Southern people resulting, in any contingency, the success of the Union +arms must be their regeneration and redemption. To overthrow the +confederate government will be only to relieve the people from its +grasp, and to reinstate them in the rights and liberties which they have +hitherto enjoyed. A combination of force, fraud, and self-delusion has +sustained the power of the rebel dynasty, and enabled it to wield the +influence and authority of the whole people of the seceding States, with +some few remarkable exceptions. To break up this combination will do +more than merely defeat a hostile power: it will, in effect, annihilate +the whole vicious organization, and leave its elements free to engage in +other combinations, more in accordance with right, and better calculated +to secure success and prosperity. It is not unreasonable to anticipate +that they will eventually resume their former relations with the Federal +Government, as most conducive to these ends. There are some men, perhaps +one whole class, who can never escape the responsibility of all the +overwhelming evils and calamities which the war has brought upon the +South. The cordial acquiescence of these can hardly be anticipated; but +their power will be completely destroyed, and the people may well be +expected to disregard their murmurs and complaints. Indeed, it is not +altogether unlikely that an injured and exasperated people may turn on +the authors of their ruin, and wreak upon them a fearful vengeance, so +far, at least, as to ostracize and banish them forever from the land +they have blighted and destroyed. The masses of the people, holding few +or no slaves, though involved in the war by force of the general +delusion into which they have been artfully inveigled, will not consider +themselves responsible for its consequences; they will rather look on +themselves as the victims of designing men, who, for selfish purposes, +have partly seduced and partly impelled them into the perils and +disasters of a gigantic but fruitless rebellion. This state of feeling +will leave the minds of the Southern people in a condition to estimate +fairly their own relations to the rebellion, and their obligations to +the Union, which again calls them, with paternal tenderness, to its +generous confidence and magnanimous protection. They will have no cause +for apprehension that their restoration to good fellowship and perfect +equality will not be complete and free from all unfriendly reservations. + +But this influence will not operate on those alone who have few or no +slaves, comprehending the great mass of whites: it will exert itself +more notably on the large body of slaves themselves. This is an element +in the calculation which, humble though it be, cannot be overlooked +without great error in the results. A fundamental change will take place +in the condition of the blacks. They will be emancipated, either +gradually and safely, or with violent precipitation, with all its evils +and disasters. Yet, however the decree may come, whether by the sudden +blow of military power, or by the free and cheerful coöperation of the +States and their people, the measure itself will be plainly the result +of the rebellion, as met by the firm and noble stand assumed by the +Federal Government, and maintained at so great a cost of treasure and of +precious lives. The Government which, out of civil war and chaotic +strife, brings such advantages--out of calamity and danger educes such +blessings of security and progress will be entitled to the unbounded +gratitude of those who will be the chief gainers by its policy. But +experience will soon teach the whites that they will be equal gainers in +the end; and, in time, we may justly expect not only their cheerful +acquiescence, but their renewed allegiance and ardent support to the +Federal authorities. + + + + +MOTTOES FOR CONTRACTORS. + + + When you contract for boots and shoes, + Be not contracted in your views. + + When you agree to clothe the body, + Expand your soul and flee from shoddy. + + No soul the difference can see + 'Twixt chico-rye and chicoree. + + 'Tis wise to feed the soldier well: + For reason _why_--see Dante's 'Hell.' + + + + +SUNSHINE IN THOUGHT.[3] + + +The genial pen of Mr. Leland has found an attractive theme in the title +of this curious and suggestive volume. Without the formality of an +inexorable system, it is written from the impulses of a large and +sympathetic nature, more accustomed to the acute observation of details +than to exact and rigid generalizations, but sending free and +penetrating glances beneath the surface of social life, and presenting a +variety of sagacious hints and comments, often admirable for their +quaint, original illustrations, and seldom destitute of an important +ethical bearing and significance. + +In the composition of this work, Mr. Leland has aimed at the defence of +that view of life which combines a cheerful earnestness of purpose with +manly energy of action, as opposed to the melancholic, whining, +lachrymose spirit, which has been affected by certain popular modern +poets, and, through their vicious example, has been cherished as one of +the essential qualities of genius. Of this style of character Mr. Leland +has not the slightest degree of tolerance. Its manifestations are all +abominable in his eyes, and unsavory in his nostrils. He cannot endure +its presence; he regards its exercise as a nuisance: its permission in +the plan of a kindly Providence is a mystery. + +The influence of a morbid melancholy, whether affected or genuine, in +the literature of the United States, is justly a matter of surprise and +lamentation with the author. The American mind, as he remarks, has +doubtless a strong tendency to humor. It delights in the expression of a +mischievous irony or good-natured sarcasm. The querulous wailings which +are the stock in trade of a certain class of writers are unnatural and +discordant sounds. We should expect rather a serene and cheerful melody +from a young and brave-hearted race, which is in intimate relations with +the external world. Instead of this, we have sucked in with the milk of +our Puritan mothers a forlorn and sorrowful spirit. We celebrate our +festivals with a sad countenance. We attempt to make merry by singing +dismal psalms. We weave our woes into poetry, and expand our +wretchedness in plaintive declamations. + +This is a wide departure from the genius of Christianity, as well as +from the healthy instincts of humanity. In the first ages after Christ, +the newborn element of thought was a pure and beautiful spring, bubbling +up from the moss-grown ruins of the temple of heathendom. A hopeful, +joyous tone is indicated in the symbols of the early faith preserved in +the Vatican. It contained the germ of republican freedom and of a benign +and beneficent civilization. But it was driven by political convulsions +toward the East, and returned in the melancholy robes of the dreamy and +morbid oriental. It learned from Indian fakirs that laughter was a sin, +that misery was meritorious, that the hatred of beauty and joy was a +virtue in the sight of Heaven. The early Christians were imbued with the +sentiment of moral grandeur and loveliness; they represented Christ our +Lord as the fair ideal of humanity; but a darker age decreed that his +form should be meagre and homely--misled by those pagan Syrian pictures, +which still disfigure the churches in Russia, and whose original may be +found in the avatars of violence, modified by old Persian influence. +From the seventh to the twelfth century, the tendency to asceticism was +rampant. Beauty was proscribed as a temptation of the devil; deformed +and crooked limbs were ranked among the beatitudes; even dirt was +apotheosized, and, as a consequence, millions of men were mowed down by +unheard-of forms of disease. Humanity did not submit to this rule of +austerity and torture without a struggle. There was often a brave, +vigorous resistance. A lively protest was uttered in the joyous strains +of the troubadours and minnesingers. The glad spirit of nature could not +be wholly suppressed, and from amid the social oppressions of the times +sweet voices fell upon the ear, celebrating the praises of woman, the +love of beauty, and the joyousness of life. + +But, according to our author, none of the great names in literature have +ever proclaimed the evangel of cheerfulness in all its health and +purity. The world as yet has never been fit to receive it. Years may +pass before it will be fully unfolded. Society is still in its earliest +March spring. The fresh winds which blow are still wild and chill; the +nights are long and dreary; and during these gloomy hours, the ancient +crone still relates horrible legends to believing ears. If the elder or +wiser ones only half believe them, most of the listeners still shiver at +their weird, grotesque poetry, and when they make new songs for +themselves, the old demoniac strains still linger on the air, showing +the origin of their earliest lays. + +In order to illustrate the lack of true joyousness in the literature of +the world, Mr. Leland takes a rapid survey of some of the most +distinguished writers in ancient and modern times. Aristophanes, he +maintains, did not possess the genuine element in question. Allowing the +claims of the great satirist to genius, he had not reached the perennial +springs of cheerfulness in the depths of the human soul. In his gayest +arabesques, we trace the eternal line of life, but the deep, monotonous +echo of death is always nigh. He still had the sorrows which grieve the +strong humorist of every age. He could not escape the deep woe of seeing +social right and human happiness trodden under foot by tyranny; and +folly and ignorance, pain and sorrow were the great foundation stones on +which the gay temple of Grecian beauty was built. For every free citizen +who wandered through the groves of the Academy, holding high converse +with Plato, and revelling in the enjoyment of the divinest beauty in +nature and art, there was an untold multitude of slaves and barbarians, +into whose lives was crowded every element of bitterness. + +But surely, the great sage of humor, glorious Father Rabelais, of later +days, was an exception to the prevailing rule of joyousness in +literature? Not at all, contends our author. To the young mind which +hungers for truth and joy, there is something irresistibly fascinating +and persuasive in the jolly philosophy and reckless worldly wisdom of +Rabelais. But after all, it will not do. It is anything but attainable +by most of the world. It demands good cheer and jovial company. But it +dies out in the desert, and is stifled among simple, vulgar associates. +Rabelais believed that he sacrificed to freedom, when he only worshipped +fortune. He went through the world, familiar with the ways of princes +and peers, priests and peasants, travelling in many lands, exhausting +the resources of art and learning, seeing through the sins and shams and +sorrows of life, and laughing at everything, like a good-natured, +large-hearted Mephistopheles. But he had never learned the true +philosophy of joyousness in the sincere love of nature, the deep phases +of humanity, and the affluence and purity of strong affection. + +Nor do we find a better specimen in the renowned English humorists, +Sterne and Swift. The former closely follows his French prototype in +grotesque fancies: he abounds in tender and delicate pathos, though in +the highest degree artificial and forced; but do we ever arise from +reading him, like a giant refreshed by wine? Sterne, in fact, has even +less of the true philosophy of life than Rabelais. He affords no +stimulant to joyous, healthy action, awakens no impulse to gladden life, +or to make sorrow less and hope greater. It may be all very touching, +very comic, very ingenious, but it is not healthy or joyous. And Swift? +An immense fund of laughter, doubtless, had the witty Irish dean; but as +little claim to be a joyous writer as the prophet Jeremiah, or the +author of 'Groans from the Bottomless Pit.' The men who have been spoken +of dealt largely in satire and humor; but joyousness deals in infinitely +more. Mirth and laughter are all very well, but they are not all in all. +Cheerfulness requires something more than a well-balanced Rabelaisian +nonchalance in adversity and a keen relish for all pleasure. + +The relation of Christianity to the theme of the volume presents a +delicate, and, it may be thought, a dangerous topic of discussion, for a +so decidedly secular pen as Mr. Leland's; but he touches upon it with +freedom and boldness, though with frankest sympathy and reverence for +the great Spirit, whose religion is the most significant fact in the +history of the world. 'I must confess,' says he, 'that even regarded +from a material and historical point alone, that is a poor, cowardly +soul, which does not feel the deepest earnestness of truth in +acknowledging the Wonderful One, Jesus Christ, as the Lord and Saviour +of the whole world.' His sublime soul, profound, universal, loving +beyond all power of human conception, introduced a new era for humanity. +Under his teaching, philosophy became indeed truly divine, for it became +infinite, and was thrown open to all. He first of all opened the +consolations of free thought, of freedom from old superstition, of love, +and strength, and inward joy, to the whole race of mankind. No narrow +limits of sect or caste or nationality cramped him, the first great +Cosmopolite. We cannot sufficiently admire the infinite adaptability, +the universal knowledge of humanity, the boundless sympathy with man, +which are everywhere manifest in the original Christian philosophy of +life. What a depth of meaning in the symbolic bread and wine, typical of +the life which flows through eternity and all its changes, of human love +and birth and death, of bounteous, beautiful nature, with its +continually renewed strength--the whole given, not in funereal guise, +not with sombre fasting, but as a joyous feast. + +The New Testament abounds in symbols, parables, and proverbs, taken from +ancient tradition, but beautifully woven into a purer faith, which +taught that the healthy joys of life, and all knowledge of divine truth, +should be given not to a few kings or priests, a few favored with +initiation into divine mysteries, as of old, but to the whole world; for +the spirit of Christianity was identical with the genius of +republicanism. As taught by our Lord Jesus Christ, it was eminently +healthy, brave-hearted, and joyous. It did not commend celibacy, nor +excess of fasting, nor too long prayers, nor righteousness overmuch. It +did not approve of a plethora of outward goods, while the culture of our +highest faculties was neglected. It condemned all excess of care, even +in our daily duties, at the expense of that 'better part' which +distinguishes us from mere ants or bees. It gave no warrant for the +dismal dirges and melancholy groans which are raised in its name, by men +whom Jesus would have been the first to reprove. 'It was a religion of +life and of beauty, of friendship and temperate mirth, of love, truth, +and manliness; one which opposed neither feasting at weddings nor "going +a fishing."' + +The temptation to find a refuge from the evils of life in active +exertion, instead of cultivating the sources of joy in our own nature, +is the subject of an ingenious and striking chapter. In a land, where +enjoyment in many minds is connected with a sense of sin, it is +doubtless better that the overflowing energy of character, which is a +trait of the population, should seek vent in the excitements of labor, +than in poisonous liquors, horse races, politics, and the gaming table. +Where the natural support of life is wanting, partial methods of relief +may be employed. He who can no longer swallow, may gain an imperfect +nourishment by means of baths, or artificial transmission. So, the grim +and hardened soul, which has lost the support of inward cheerfulness, +may find strength in work, merely for the sake of work. But it is a +fraud upon humanity to educate men solely as industrious animals. Hives +are beautiful, honey is sweet, and wonderful is the cunning structure of +the cell; but society is not a hive, nor the people bees. The day is +dawning when it will be understood that cheerful songs are as essential +to genuine manhood as work; that labor is not to be borne as a curse, +with sighs and groans; but combined with mental culture, will become +capable of self-support, and will supply its own enthusiasm. + +The great problem of the age is the union of beauty with practical uses. +In their highest forms, art and science blend and become identical, just +as the Beautiful and the Good assimilate, as we trace them to their +source in Truth. While art becomes more practical, it loses none of its +beauty. In the infancy of science, it was mainly devoted to the +illustration of the fanciful and ornamental. Even architecture, in the +early ages, looked less to permanent comfort than to artistic effect. +But everything now tends to realization. Poetry and art fall in with +this influence of the age. Science is every day taking man away from the +purely ideal, the morbid and visionary; from the fond fancies of old +eras, and leading him to facts and to nature. + +Mr. Leland never becomes formal or spiritless in the treatment of his +favorite topics, and often rises to a high degree of enthusiastic +eloquence. Witness the following noble appeal in behalf of a cheerful +earnestness in the cultivation of literature and art: + + Young writer, young artist, whoever you be, I pray you go to work + in this roaring, toiling, machine-clanking, sunny, stormy, + terrible, joyful, commonplace, vulgar, tremendous world in + _downright earnest_. By all the altars of Greek beauty themselves, + I swear it to you; yes, by all that Raphael painted and Shakspeare + taught; by all the glory and dignity of all art and of all Thought! + you will find your most splendid successes not in cultivating the + worn-out romantic, but in _loving_ the growing Actual of life. + Master the past if you will, but only that you may the more + completely forget it in the present. He or she is best and bravest + among you who gives us the freshest draughts of reality and of + Nature. It lies all around you--in the foul smoke and smell of the + factory, amid the crash and slip of heavy wheels on muddy stones, + in the blank-gilt glare of the steamboat saloon, by the rattling + chips of the faro table, in the quiet, gentle family circle, in the + opera, in the six-penny concert, the hotel, the watering-place, on + the prairie, in the prison. Not as the poor playwright and little + sensation-story grinder see them, not as the manufacturers of + Magdalen elegies and mock-moral and mock-philanthropical tales skim + them, but in their truth and freshness as facts, around and through + which sweep incessantly the infinite joys and agonies, the dreams + and loves and despair of _humanity_. Heavens! is not LIFE as + earnest and as mysterious and as well worth the fierce grapple of + GENIUS, here and _now_, in this American nineteenth century, as it + ever was under the cedars of Italy, the olives of Greece, or the + palms of Morning Land? Are there not as much, or more vigor and + raciness in the practical souls of the multitude and in their + never-ending strife with Nature, as among the spoiled and dainty + darlings of fortune and among the nerveless, mind-emasculated + Victims of Society who sing us their endless Miserere from the + Sistine chapels of fashionable novels? You know there is, and if + you watch the time, you may see that it is the warm truth from real + life, which is most eagerly read and which goes most directly to + the hearts of all. Never yet in history was there an age or a + country so rich in great ideas, in great developments, or which + offered such copious material to the writer as these of ours. Be + bold and seize it with a strong hand. Those who are to live after + us will wonder as we now do of the great eras of the past, that + there were so few on the spot to picture them. Yet, why speak of + _great_ scenes, when humanity and Nature are always great--great in + small things even, far beyond our utmost power of apprehension? + Forget the spirit of the past, live in the present, and thus--and + thus only--you will secure a glorious and undying reward in the + future. + +The fault of this volume, in the eyes of many readers, will be a certain +confusion in the arrangement of the matter, and the want of sufficient +expansion in the development of some of its leading suggestions. But it +must be judged as the earnest utterances of a poet, rather than a grave +didactic treatise. With the purpose which the author had in view, a +spice of rhapsody is no defect. He presents a beautiful example of the +smiling wisdom of which he is such an eloquent advocate. He has an +intuitive sense of the genial and joyous aspects of life, and has no +sympathies to waste on the victims of 'carking care' or morbid +melancholy. A more complete exposition of the conditions of cheerfulness +in the nature of man, would furnish materials for an interesting volume; +but it belongs more properly to an ethical or philosophical discourse. +We will not complain of the author for not doing what he has not +attempted--for what he had no inward call or outward occasion; what he +could not have accomplished but at the sacrifice of much which +constitutes the charm and grace of the present work; while we cordially +thank him for this endeavor to speak a cheering word in behalf of the +joyousness of life, and to spread 'sunshine in the shady place.' + + R. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 3: SUNSHINE IN THOUGHT. By CHARLES GODFREY LELAND. 12mo, pp. +197. New York: Geo. P. Putnam.] + + + + +HOW THEY JESTED IN THE GOOD OLD TIME. + + +There is nothing which contributes so much to ease social intercourse as +the jest. In comparison with it, the proverb is only a humble +subordinate, and song itself, with all its power, but a weak influence. +Yet the song and the proverb boast a critical literature, while the +brief compendiums of merriment which never die, which, once written, +live through every age, and force their way through every penetrable +language, are undoubtedly less studied than any other popular medium of +feeling. + +What is a jest? It is as little worth the while to try to define its +nature, as it is to analyze wit. We all know that the world laughs, and +what it laughs at, and what the droll saws, anecdotes, rhymes, quips, +and facetiæ are, which give fame to a Bebel, or a Frischlin, a Tom +Brown, and a Joseph Miller. Leave labored analysis to the philosophers, +contenting ourselves with remarking that a jest is a laugh candied or +frozen in words, and thawed and relished in the reading or utterance. +And laughter? When a man is too lazy to think out an idea, and yet too +active to dreamily _feel_ it, he laughs. When he catches its leading +points, and yet realizes that behind them remains the incomprehensible +or incongruous, he settles it for the nonce with a smile. Hence it comes +that we laugh so seldom with all our heart, a second time over a jest. +It has been _comprehended_; the mystery, the sense of contradiction and +incongruity, has vanished--we may revive it in others, and laugh +electrically with them; but the first piquant gusto of _its_ spice is +gone forever. + +Yet the jest, like the proverb, acquires a value by becoming current. +It often illustrates an opinion or an experience, and when it is much +worn, it may still gain a new point, by being brought into illustrative +relation with some event or idea. Esop's fables, or any fables, are, +after all, only good jokes in a narrative form, which owe their fame +simply to their boundless capacity for application. Sidney Smith's story +of Mrs. Partington, who tried to mop out the Atlantic, was a jest, and +so too was Lady Macbeth's 'cat i' the adage,' who wanted fish, yet would +not wet her paws, and let 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would.' _Something_ +of our old enjoyment of a joke for the first time, always lingers around +it, and we gladly laugh again--for, 'old love never quite rusts out.' +And there are many jests, which, owing to their boundless variety of +application, always come before us in a new light. Such are those which +illustrate character. Woe to the man among the vulgar, who once becomes +the scape-goat of a story on the subject of a joke-anecdote which 'shows +him up.' Woe in truth, if it grow to a nickname--for then he, of all +persons, learns that there are jests which never lose their sting. + +Some jests have been progressive--they have been re-made to suit the +times. Diogenes, when asked which wine he preferred, replied, 'That of +other people.' An Englishman answered to the same question, 'The O. P. +brand,' referring the initials not only to Other People, but also to the +far-famed Old Particular stamp which marked certain rare varieties--or, +as others explain it, to 'Old Port.' The Scholastikos of Hierocles, +having a house for sale, carried a brick around as a sample--a modern +story says that a commander when asked of what material his +fortifications were built, called up his troops, and said: +'There!--every man's a brick.' Here we have the 'living walls' of the +Romans--two old stories blended into one, and the whole greatly +strengthened by a modern slang expression. When thus changed to suit the +times, jests, instead of growing old, rather grow new again. Not +unfrequently, a single joke becomes, in this manner, the parent of +scores of others. I think that it is Mr. Wendell Phillips, who, in a +lecture on Lost Arts, declares that there were never yet more than +twenty-five original 'good stories,' and that all of those now current +may be traced back to them. In a certain sense, the assertion is true; +but it is a mistake to confound the result of a cause with the cause +itself, and an error to declare the descendant to be one and the same +with the ancestor. Max Muller has proved that hundreds of words of the +most different meanings descend from the same root, and, in like manner, +we might show, if the traditional links were supplied, that the last +'good one' current at Washington, originated at the court of King +Pharaoh. Let no one laugh, for Chaucer's Clerke of Oxforde's Tale was +for years told, with Daniel Webster and Henry Clay as the heroes, and we +have even met with a bold Southron who '_knew_ that it was true of +them!' + +In this connection it is worth while to observe that even the slang +phrases of the day, which are popular, partly because they _save trouble +in thinking_, and partly because the vulgar mind, like the vulgar ear, +finds a relief or pleasure in monotony--are not unfrequently of ancient +origin. The current expression, 'a high old time,' occurs in a Latin +jest, given in an old German-Latin jest-book, which, as its preface +asserts, consists entirely of a reprint from still older works. +'Henricus,' it says, 'was begged to make at a wedding (_Hoch +zeit_--literally, 'high time') a wedding song, and complied with the +following: + + 'Iste vetus Juvenis Socius prius ad stationem arripit + Atque _altum tempus_ habere cupit.'[4] + +The expression is better in its old form, since _altum_ means both high +and old. Those who have laughed at the instance in 'Ferdinand Count +Fathom,' of the Dutchman, who boasted that his brother had written a +great book of poetry as thick as a cheese, may find its original +'motive' in an anecdote given in the same work. + + 'A peasant going to a lawyer, begged him to undertake a case for + him, to which the man of law assenting, began to refer to and read + in a very small book. But the peasant, who saw many large folios in + the study, touched the advocate on the arm and said: + + 'Sir--please read some in a _great_ book also, for this is + certainly a big case which I have brought to you.' + +Everybody knows the story of the fortune hunter who commanded his +servant to duplicate in the affirmative, when he should be in +conversation, all his assertions. 'I have a fine farm,' said he. 'Faith, +ye mane ye have two on thim,' interpolated his Irishman; and so it went +on, until the master admitted that he had a cork leg. '_Two_ false ligs, +_an' ye know it_,' cried out the man. This is somewhat varied and +enlarged from the old story as given in the _Facetiæ_ of Bebel, in which +the nobleman, remarking to his lady-love that he was 'a little out of +sorts,'--'_dixit ille, se pallidulum parumque infirmum_,' was +interrupted by his servant with: 'And no wonder, since you suffer with +such a terrible and incurable quotidian disease!'[5] + +If all stories and jests are to be traced to a few originals, perhaps +the many eccentric tales of Jack on horseback may be found in a very old +anecdote of a certain _Venetus insuetus ac nescius equitare_--a Venetian +unaccustomed to and ignorant of riding, who, when mounted on horseback, +having inadvertently spurred the animal, exclaimed, as it reared and +plunged: + +'Lord! the waves of the sea are nothing to those on land,'--thinking +that the leaping of his steed was caused by a sudden storm! The +anecdotes of absent-mindedness may find a prototype in a very old +monk-Latin anecdote of a certain doctor who went riding '_cum Palatino +Rheni_,' with the Prince Palatine, and who, on being told that he had no +breeches on, replied: '_Credebam, ô princeps, mihi famulum ea +induisse._' 'I thought, oh prince, that my valet had put them on!' +Domine Sampson and the magistrate who appeared un-breeched before +General Washington, are both anticipated in these absent small-clothes. + +Many of the capital extravagances contained in 'Baron Munchausen' are +borrowed literally from the old Latin jest-books. The incident of the +wild pig which led about by its tail a blind wild boar, so that when the +former was slain the latter was taken home by simply giving it the tail +to hold, is of very respectable antiquity--as is also the story of the +horse cut in two--attributed by Bebel to a locksmith. The locksmiths, he +tells us in the parenthesis, are the boldest of Major Longbows. + +There are many jests current in all languages, quizzing the vanity of +humble persons suddenly raised to some small dignity. 'Neebors, I am +still but a mon,' remarked the Scotchman, who became mayor.[6] Perhaps +their type is latent in the '_De rustica præfecti uxore_--the village +magistrate's wife,--which runs as follows: + + 'When a certain man had been made a prefect of a small village, he + bought his wife a new fur garment (_melotam_). She, proud of her + finery and full of her new honor, entered church, _capite elato et + superbo_, with her head raised, just as all the congregation rose + to their feet, when the Gospel was to be read. When she, thinking + it to be in her honor, and recollecting her former condition, said: + Sit still! I have not forgotten that I was once poor!' + +A very great proportion of the shrewd retorts and witty replies +attributed to great men are very old. 'What do you think of soldiers +who can endure such wounds?' remarked Napoleon, when, showing a +frightfully scarred grenadier to an Englishman. 'What does your majesty +think of the men who gave the wounds?' was the reply. It is essentially +the remark of Louis the Bavarian, who, on enlisting four soldiers famed +for incredible bravery, and observing that they were scarred from head +to foot, said to them: 'Ye are brave fellows; but I had rather see the +men _a quibus tot vulnera accepistis_--from whom ye received so many +wounds.' The number of witty retorts and droll stories associated with +the names of Talleyrand, Piron, Voltaire--in fact, to a certain degree, +of almost all great men--is so great as to almost persuade the reader +who wanders in the neglected field of ancient humor, that no man of the +later centuries was ever capable of a single witty and original thought. +It is not long since I met with an anecdote, stating that Alexandre +Dumas, who had a very unattractive wife, one day surprised a gentleman +in the act of tenderly embracing her. In a compassionate and astonished +tone the novelist exclaimed: 'Poor man! why do you act so? I am sure +that nobody could have compelled you to it against your will.' '_Eh! +monsieur, qui est-ce qui vous y obligeait?_' The jest is 'old as the +hills'--it was old before Dumas was born. So, too, with the amusing bit +of naïveté attributed to an English duchess, who, to express her +deeply-seated religious prejudices, declared that she would sooner have +a dozen Protestant husbands than one Catholic. The same point is +expressed as follows, in a very witty but extremely wicked collection of +facetiæ of the seventeenth century:[7] + + Displicet, insignis, mihi Clericus ordo puella + Inquit et est valde gens odiosa mihi. + Malo decem certè me consociare colonis, + Unicum Clero quam coiisse velim. + +Sir Isaac Newton, and I know not how many other philosophers, have been +made to learn by a current story how to bear coals--literally. A learned +man, it is said, being asked by a little girl for a live coal, offered +to bring her a fire shovel. 'It is not necessary,' replied the child, +and having laid cold ashes on her palm, she placed a glowing ember on +them and bore it away safely. 'With all my wisdom,' said the sage, 'I +should never have thought of that!' The jest is of mediæval +antiquity--possibly pre-Latin--it was in later days, however, versified +by Schurrias--an extremely aged and dying woman being substituted for +the learned man. + + 'Nam nudâ poteris ignea ferre manu? + Parva puella refert: mater, perizomate prunas + Portabo flammæ ne nocuisse queant. + Quid facies igitur, Anus inquit? Serviet hicce + Mi cinis, illa refert; quo super hasce feram. + Mox exclamat Anus: disco, moriorque profecto. + En disco moriens quæ latuere senem: + _O, ich lern und stirb_!' + +A very great number of the 'good stories' current at the present day +with new names and faces, are to be found in the works of Rabelais, and +in the _Moyen Parvenir_, now generally attributed to him. It is almost +needless to say that few of these were however original with the great +French humorist. We find them in the Macaronics of Merlin Coccaius, and +in scores of older authorities. Still it must be borne in mind that a +similarity does not always establish an identity. There are few persons +who cannot cite some droll instance of a sharper or greedy fellow, who, +expecting an undeserved reward for some sham service, has found himself +drolly overreached. So Rabelais dresses up for us anew the fable of the +woodman, who, having lost his hatchet, and wearied Jupiter with prayers +for its recovery, was tempted by Mercury with a golden hatchet, and +asked if it were the missing article. He answering 'No,' received the +precious one for reward. Which being made known, excited great hopes +among his neighbors of becoming rich by the same means: + + 'Ha, ha! said they--was there no more to do but to lose a hatchet + to make us rich? Now for that; it is as easy as ----, and will + cost us but little. Are then at this time of the year the + revolutions of the heavens, the constellations of the firmament and + aspects of the planets such that whosoever shall lose a hatchet, + shall immediately grow rich? Ha, ha, ha! by Jove you shall even be + lost and it please you, my dear hatchet! With this they all fairly + lost their hatchets out of hand. The devil of a one that had a + hatchet left; he was not his mother's son that did not lose his + hatchet. No more was wood felled or cleared in that country, + through want of hatchets. Nay, the Aesopian apologue even saith, + that certain petty country gents of the lower class who had sold + the Woodman their little mill and little field to have wherewithal + to make a figure at the next muster, having been told that his + treasure was come to him by this only means, sold the only badge of + their gentility, their swords, to purchase hatchets to go lose + them, as the silly clodpates did, in hopes to gain store of chink + by that loss. + + 'You would have truly sworn they had been a parcel of your petty + spiritual usurers, Rome-bound, selling their all, and borrowing of + others to buy store of mandates,--a penny-worth of a new-made pope. + + 'Now they cried out and brayed, and prayed and bawled, and invoked + Jupiter: 'My hatchet! my hatchet! Jupiter, my hatchet! on this + side, my hatchet! on that side, my hatchet! ho, ho, ho, ho, + Jupiter, my hatchet!' The air round about rung with the cries and + howlings of these rascally losers of hatchets. + + 'Mercury was nimble in bringing them hatchets; to each offering + that which he had lost, as also another of gold, and a third of + silver. + + 'Every _he_ was still for that of gold, giving thanks in abundance + to the great giver Jupiter; but in the very nick of time, that they + bowed and stooped to take it from the ground, whip, in a trice, + Mercury chopped off their heads, as Jupiter had commanded; and of + heads thus cut off the number was just equal to that of the lost + hatchets.' + +This is but a small portion of the fable as amplified by Rabelais; but +what is cited illustrates the _accretive_ power of a jest when it +involves a principle of general application. The same idea--that of +roguery rewarded according to the letter--is involved in an anecdote, +which tells us that a certain alchemist having dedicated to Pope Leo the +Tenth a book containing the whole art of making gold, received as +recompense a great empty purse, with the words: 'If thou canst make +gold, thou art far richer than I; but herein is a purse wherein thou +mayest put thy gold.' + +In the German _Lallenbuch_, as well as other works, we find the story of +the stupid fellow who, coming to the banks of a river, waited long and +in vain until the water should all have rolled by. It is given in the +following form in a very droll collection of jests:[8] + + 'Rustici cujusdam filius à patre in proximam urbem missus, quum ad + flumen aliquod pervenisset, diu dum integrum deflueret, sicque + transitum præberet, expectans, tandem ubi continuo aquam fluere + vidit, domum reversus est, de eo quod sibi accidisset, parentibus + conquestus.' + +But the story was old, centuries before the monks--for even Horace sums +it up in two verses as one quotes a well-known popular proverb: + + 'Rusticus exspectat dum defluat amnis: at ille + Labitur et labetur in omne volubilis ævum.' + + 'The clown awaits until the flood be gone: + It glides and whirls for ages ever on.' + +The reader has probably heard of the apocryphal twelfth commandment, +'Mind your own business.' Possibly its existence was suggested by the +discovery of the _first_, told as follows in the _Democritus Ridens_. + + 'A certain soldier being asked by his pastor what was the first + commandment given by GOD, replied, 'Thou shalt not eat!' At which + answer the priest inquiring what he meant, received for reply that + this was the first command to our first parents relative to the + apple. _Quo audito, Pastor conticuit!_ Which having heard, the + priest was silent.' + +Of the same family or parentage is the modern story of the clergyman +who, wishing to preach against the extravagant head-dresses worn by the +women of his congregation, took for a text, 'Top knot come down!' +referring for his authority to Matthew xxiv. 17. In like manner a not +over-learned brother is said to have expounded Genesis, chap. xxii. v. +23, as follows: 'These eight Milcah bear.' This shows us, my brethren, +what hard times they had of old, when it took eight on 'em to milk a bar +(and I 'spose get mighty little at that), when nowadays my darter kin +milk a cow with nary help, as easy as look at her.' + +Every one has heard of the Irishman crossing the brook. 'Sure, Paddy, if +ye carry me, don't I carry the barrel of whiskey, an' isn't that fair +and aiquil?' It is differently told in one of the old Latin jest books, +where a certain Piero, pitying his weary jackass, which bore a heavy +plough, took the latter on his own shoulders, and mounting the donkey, +said: '_Nune procedere poteris, non enim tu sed ego aratrum +fero_,'--'Now you may go along, for not you but I now bear the plough.' +Not a few of the jokes given to modern Irishmen originated centuries ago +in other countries than theirs. The reader may recall the advice given +by an Emeralder to another at a tavern, when the latter found that his +boiled egg was ready to hatch. 'Down wid it, Murphy, ye divil, before +the landlord comes in and charges ye for a _chicken breakfast_!' The +same occurs as an old Latin joke, with this difference, that, in the +latter, the companion, when the breakfast was over, required that the +chicken eater should pay the reckoning for both. '_Ni facis, dicam +cauponi de pullo quem pro ovo absumpsisti, et solves largius._' 'Unless +you do, I will tell the landlord of the chicken which you ate for an +egg, and _then_ see what a bill you'll have to pay.' + +The Germans of the present day have a story of a certain Englishman who, +on being told that his coat was burning, politely replied: 'What the +devil business is that of yours? I have seen your coat burning this half +hour, and never bothered myself about it.' Tom Brown tells us of a +roguish boy who said to a traveller, warming his feet at a fire: 'Take +care, sir, or you'll burn your spurs!' 'My boots! you mean,' quoth the +traveller. 'No, sir, I mean your spurs; your boots be burned already.' +But the best form of the joke is given by Erasmus in his Adages, as +follows: + + 'A certain traveller in Holland lay so near the fire that his cloak + was scorched. Which being observed by a guest, he said to the + sleeper, 'Here--I want to tell you something!' To which the other + replied: 'If it is bad news, put it off, for I don't wish to hear + any in company where all should be jolly. _Post convivium, inquit, + seria_--'save up the sorrow until after supper.' And when they had + merrily supped, 'Now,' said he, 'I am ready to hear it.' Then the + other showed him and immense hole in his cloak, and he began to + rage that he had not been warned of it in time. 'I wished to do + so,' replied the guest meekly, 'but you forbade me.' + +The witty sayings of men about to be executed are numerous, but are in +many cases far from being original or authentic. During the horrors of +the French Revolution, when men 'became so accustomed to death that they +lost all respect for it,' it became the fashion to make a jest with the +last breath, and it is said that a volume of these sayings was collected +and published. In the _Democritus Ridens_, already referred to, under +the head of _Jocus sub necem_, the author gives several anecdotes, more +than one of which has been attributed in modern times to some noted +criminal: + + 'Those condemned to death are not infrequently so excited and + confused as to lose their wits and joke most improperly. As an + example, take that man who, when standing on the scaffold, said + with a smile to the judge who was present: 'I wonder, old fellow, + that you with such a turned-up nose can see anything!' + + 'Another when about to die asked for a parting cup. A goblet of + beer was brought, from which he carefully blew away the froth, + saying that it was 'unhealthy and conducive to the gravel.' + + 'Another on the way to the gallows, seeing a crowd hastening + forward, said to them: 'There is no need of hurrying, children; + even though you go as slowly as I, for depend upon it, the thing + will not come off till I get there.' + + 'Another on quitting the prison, turning to his jailor, said + privately: 'You needn't keep the house open beyond the usual time + this evening on my account, for I shall not return.'' + + 'Another is said, when about to be shipwrecked, to have called for + salt meat. And being asked why? replied: 'Because I shall soon have + to drink more than I ever did in all my life.' _O ridiculos et o + insanos homunculos!_ adds the old writer: 'O foolish and mad worms + of men who could thus joke at the very opening instant of + eternity!'' + +This last instance of dying recklessness has been used by Rabelais as +one of the jests of Panurge. Much like it is the anecdote to the effect +that in a storm at sea, when the sailors were all at prayers, expecting +every moment to go to the bottom, a passenger appeared quite +unconcerned. The captain asked him how he could be so much at his ease +in this awful situation. 'Sir,' said the passenger, 'my life is +insured.' + +Somewhat allied to this spirit of blindness was the remark of the Greek +to his slave during a terrible storm at sea. Seeing the latter weeping, +he exclaimed, 'Why are you so troubled--I give you your freedom?' And +allied to it is the well-known epigram: + + 'It blew a hard storm and in utmost confusion + The sailors all hurried to get absolution; + Which done, and the weight of the sins they confessed + Was conveyed, as they thought, from themselves to the priest: + To lighten the ship and conclude their devotion, + They tossed the poor parson souse into the ocean.' + +One of the coarse jokes current with the last generation was that of a +sailor who, when a duke with his lady was on board ship, and all +expected soon to be lost, asked the mate if he had ever lain with a +duchess? The other answering in fear and trembling, 'no,' was told by +the reckless fellow: 'Well, we shall all have that pleasure soon.' The +ship, however, was saved, and the sailor being asked by the duke what he +meant by his insulting remark, replied: 'At the bottom of the sea, your +grace, we all lie low in death together.' And he was pardoned. It is +remarkable that in all ages wit has been suffered to save men when +better qualities would perhaps be of no avail. + +We may class with these jests of men _in articulo mortis_ the droll +story told by Bebelius, to the effect that a certain duke having caught +a miller in the act of stealing, asked his victim as he stood beneath +the gallows, to swear by his faith if he believed that there was on +earth a single man of his calling who was honest. To which the miller +stoutly swore that to his knowledge there was not one who was not a +greater thief than himself. 'If that be the case,' replied his judge, +'go in peace and live while you may, for I had rather be robbed by you +than by some more rapacious rascal of your trade.' + +An excellent illustration of the fact that old stories are frequently +revamped to suit new times and men, may be found in the following +'original,' also given by Bebelius, as _Pulchrum factum cujusdam militis +Tubigentis_--a fine deed of a certain soldier of Tübingen: + + 'Conrad Buhel of Tübingen, distinguished by his bravery among the + captains of Cæsar Maximilian in the Hungarian campaign, was, once + in camp, lying on the straw and expecting no evil, when there + entered another soldier to whom Conrad had done an injury. Who, + when he found him thus lying on his back, said with that noble + magnanimity characteristic of the German mind: 'Wert thou not lying + helpless, I would stab thee with my sword!' To which Conrad + replied: 'Wilt thou do me no injury until I stand up and am ready + for fight?' 'Not I,' replied his foe, 'for I hold it base to strike + an unarmed man.' 'Then,' replied Conrad, 'I shall lie still all + night.' But on the next day he transfixed the other with his + spear.' + +The same story is told of an eminent Irish lawyer, who had offended the +client of a rival pleader. 'Will ye get up till I bate yees?' 'An' would +ye strike a man lying down?' 'Divil a bit!' 'Then I'll jist go to slape +again.' In the modern stories the foes are reconciled--in the old camp +incident all is fierce and characteristic of the bloody feuds of the +middle ages, and the final murder of the great-hearted enemy strikes us +with a pang. The _sed postri die alterum cuspide transfixit_ seems +brutal and ungenerous; but the event, whether literally true or feigned, +had no such discord to the readers of those days. It was more essential +to establish the thorough bravery of Conrad, than to reward the +magnanimity of his foe. Truly, the history of jests is the history of +civilization. + +In relation to this transmission of the renown of stories of the olden +times to lawyers of the later day, we may cite the well-known incident +of the honest criminal who, travelling alone on foot, was met by Sir +Matthew Hale, and in answer to the questions of the latter, admitted +that he was going to a distant court to be tried for his life. The same +noble truthfulness is beautifully set forth in the following, _Pulchra +historia simplicis prætoris et furis_, or 'Fine Story of a +Simple-hearted Superintendent and Thief.' + + 'My lord of Stoeffel, of that free and excellent nobility which + are called barons, had a superintendent of his serfs. And he, when + a certain man was accused of theft, and condemned by him to the + torture of the cross (_ad crucis tormentum damnasset_), with rustic + simplicity sent the criminal to the church that he might confess + his sins, first taking his word that he would return after + confession. So he entered the shrine, confessed, and not heeding + the privilege of ecclesiastical immunity (i. e., the right of + sanctuary), 'whereby he might have escaped, kept his faith with the + superintendent (_fidem prætori servavit_), and again returning + underwent extreme punishment. And this I knew from my boyhood, that + he went up to the place of punishment with such alacrity, that it + would seem as if he truly desired death. But many curses were + lavished on the priest to whom he confessed, because he did not + warn the imprudent man not to quit the bounds of ecclesiastical + freedom!' + +There is a whole ballad--nay, a whole history of the middle ages in this +story; for among thousands I can recall none as perfectly characteristic +of the times. The absolute aristocratic control of the life of a white +slave; its abuse by transferring it to the arbitrary will of an upper +servant; the blind devotion to feudal service shown in the fidelity of +the poor serf, the horrible cruelty of his punishment; and finally, the +cowardly supple fawning of the local priesthood, who were always either +worms or dragons in their relations to the nobility, are all set forth +here in a few lines. + +I have said that the eminent lawyers of modern times are greatly favored +in the inheritance of old jokes. Judge Jeffries, we are told, in +examining an old fellow with a long beard, told him he supposed he had a +conscience quite as long as that natural ornament of his visage. 'Does +your lordship measure consciences by beards?' said the man; 'that is +strange, seeing you yourself are shaven.' Among the monk-Latin tales +there is one to the effect that a certain _pater_, priding himself on +his beard, was informed that in a convent of he-goats he certainly +deserved to be abbot. The same story, re-made into a gross form, is +current in this country, and attributed to an eminent Virginia +politician. In the _Antidotum Melancholiæ_ (Frankfort, 1667), it is +given in the form of an evidently very old Latin rhyme: + + 'Si bene barbatum faceret sua barba beatum, + Nullus in hoc circo fuerit felicior hireo.' + +There is a modern story current in America, which is often +circumstantially narrated, of some individual wearing a fine beard or +'whiskers,' and who is said to have sold them to a vulgar practical +joker, who had one shaved off, but suffered the other to remain for a +long time on the face of his victim, annoying him meantime with +inquiries as to 'my whisker.' It is the true type of a great number of +stories which originated in the Southern and South-Western United +States, the point of which almost invariably turns on vexing, grieving, +or maltreating some victim, who is an inferior as regards wit, fortune, +or physique. It is worth remarking that the only really original and +characteristic class of jokes which the slave States originated are +strongly marked with that cruelty and vulgarity which naturally attend +the morbidly vain and semi-civilized man, who is so unfortunate as to +have inferiors by fortune entirely in his power. I would ask the reader +in confirmation of this to simply turn over the large collection of +'Georgia Major' and 'Simon Suggs' tales, which, emanating from the +South, have contributed so much to brutalize and vulgarize the humorous +tendencies of that portion of the more Northern public which reads them. + +But to return to the story of the half shaven beard. It also is a very +old one, being told in its original form as _Barba deceptus +Judæus_--'The Jew deceived by a beard,' and is as follows: + + 'A nobleman of Frankfort, while being shaved in a barber's shop, + was summoned by a Jew to whom he owed money. But at the request of + his debtor the Jew consented to forego the arrest until the + nobleman's beard should be shaved. Upon which the latter departed + unshorn, and ever remained so.' + +The old story--Jews, Cogots, serfs, negroes--the outwitting, +persecuting, and swindling some outlawed class of poor helpless victims, +who have been made worse than they should be by oppression. This +anecdote--like that of the free lance Conrad--is a sad epitome of the +middle ages, and to us of the present day, it rings like a curse on the +olden time, in the form of a diabolical jest. It is, however, bitterest +of all, to find the oppressed--as in the stories illustrating mere +_feudal_ fidelity,--so utterly degraded as to actually take part with +their oppressors and with the foes of humanity, against their own +rights. So, in this present struggle with that incarnation of evil, and +of the old devilish feudal oppression, the Confederate South, we are +still pained to find among its adherents men, who, having been socially +trampled on in Europe, seek, by sheer force of slavish habit, masters to +lord it over them here. There is but one type of man who is more +pitiable--it is he who is recreant to the great cause of freedom for the +sake of--money! + +A brutal and disgraceful jest-story, which stands in close relation to +this last, is that of _Detrimentum barbæ propter Sanctos_;' or, 'losing +a beard for the saints,' which runs as follows: + + 'A Hebrew contending with a Catholic, affirmed there were more + Jewish saints in Heaven than Christian. It was thereupon agreed + that each should name his saints in turn, and as he named, pluck a + hair from the beard of his adversary. + + 'Abraham,' said the Jew, and plucked a hair. + + 'Saint Peter,' said the Christian. + + 'Isaac.' + + 'Saint Paul.' + + And so they kept up their litanies, until the 'Christian,' + exclaiming: 'Saint Ursula and the Eleven Thousand Virgins!' tore + out the whole beard of the Jew by the roots, to the great laughter + of all standing around.' + +It would matter but little, that a fanatical and brutal crowd of the +middle ages had laughed at seeing 'only a Jew' disgraced and dripping +with blood, to point a scurvy jest. But, I confess that it struck me as +singular, when I once found this story in a memoir, set down as having +been narrated by an eminent Christian philosopher (now not long dead), +as a capital thing. Granting its humor, is it worth while to inquire if +he would have enjoyed it as much, had the Jew torn out the beard of the +Christian in the name of the thousands who had been martyred for the +faith of Israel? + +The jokes of the middle ages on the subject of the beard, were +numerous--it was a favorite ornament, as we may judge from the fact that +Eberhard, the far-famed old warlike duke, sung in more than one poem by +Uhland, is always spoken of in the old stories, as _noster princeps +barbatus_, 'our bearded prince,' or, more familiarly, simply as 'our +bearded one.' One of the table problems of the day was, '_Potestnè +probari mulierem quandam habuisse barbam?_'--'Can it be proved that any +woman ever had a beard?' The answer to which, was, 'Yes--when Judith +bore the head of Holofernes.' It was singular that such a question could +have been agitated, when the legends of the saints contained the story +of the bearded saintess of the Tyrol--a converted ballet-dancer, who was +thus rendered hideous in accordance with her prayer, that she might be +made so repulsive as to frighten away all lovers. And yet Mr. Barnum's +Bearded Lady had a husband! + +Jokes ridiculing red beards and heads were common in the old time; +probably because a popular tradition declared that Judas, 'the arch +rascal,' was so marked by nature. The anecdote of the good clergyman who +never laughed but once in church, and that was, when he saw a youth +trying to light a cigar, or warm his hands at a certain ruddy poll, +finds its prototype in one of the old Latin stories: + + 'Our country people are wont to say, when they see a red-headed + man; 'he would make a bad chimney-sweeper.' And when the reason is + asked, they say: 'when his head came out of the chimney the country + folks would think it was fire, and would ring the bells, assemble + from every direction, and cause all the riot and trouble incident + to a conflagration.' + +It is worth noting in this connection, that the prejudice against red +hair is rapidly being forgotten among cultivated persons, and is far +from being what it was within the memory of man. The vulgar, who are the +last to abandon an absurdity, still retain a few jokes on the subject; +but these will probably be as unintelligible in time, as would be the +jests of the middle ages on the _rufa tunica_, or red frock. The +boorishness and cruelty of 'the good old times,' are strongly reflected +in the following, which a scholar of the fifteenth and sixteenth +centuries was not ashamed to record of himself: + + 'When lately during Lent, in the year 1506, we had several guests, + among them a rustic from Weilsberg, who wore a long red beard. I + asked him why he did so? and he replied, 'out of grief for the + death of his father-in-law.' To which I replied: 'All wrong, for + red is a color suited to rejoicing'--at which remark all the guests + present began to laugh immoderately. But he with his rustic + simplicity, being made ashamed, answered: 'Yes, sir--that is very + true, and yet I assure you that I feel as sorrowful in this red + beard as any other man does in his black one.' + +The man who does not--though three and a half centuries lie +between--sympathize with the sad, honest simplicity of the poor +red-bearded mourner, must be as gross and heartless as was the narrator +of the incident. It gives one, indeed, strange subject for reflection, +to pause among these old trifles of a by-gone day; jotted down for +passing time in a rude age, and yet preserved so clearly, cut and +freshly colored in the modern time! Conrad Bühel, the free lance, and +his enemy--the red-bearded mourner, the Baron von Stoeffel and his +prætor, with the simple minded thief, and timid priests, and the genial +but coarse scholar, Bebelius himself, were all real men in their day, +who might have passed away without the slightest link to bind their +names or natures to an after age--and now they live in a jest! Still +they live--and it may be that when the page which you now peruse, O +reader, shall be as old as the yellow leaves of the sixteenth century +volume now before me, some one may revive them again. It is something to +be near a scholar now and then, for no one knows who once crosses his +path, but that he too may be noted down, to be borne by an anecdote +across stormy centuries, into ages all unlike our own. No man ever yet +died out of a printed book. + +Many a happy thought dashed off by a modern writer, is only the adroit +plagiarism of an old joke, 'But oh, the Latin!' says Heinrich Heine, in +describing his boyish sorrows to a lady--'Madame, you can really have no +idea of what a mess it is. The Romans would never have found time to +conquer the world, if they had been first obliged to learn Latin. Lucky +dogs! they already knew in their cradles the nouns ending in _im_.' This +is a very adroit theft from the _Epistolarum Obscurorum Virorum_, +attributed to Von Hütten and others, in which a stupid monk, having +argued with Erasmus, writes as follows to his master: + + 'Then our host, who is a good scholar, began to talk of poetry, and + greatly praised JULIUS CAESAR in his writings and deeds. Now when I + heard this I was specially delighted that I had read so much, and + that I had heard you lecture on poetry in Cologne, and I said: + 'Since you speak of poetry, I can no longer keep quiet, and I tell + you plainly that I do not believe that CAESAR wrote those + commentaries; and I strengthened my assertion with this argument: + 'He who has his business in war and in constant labors, cannot + learn Latin. Now, CAESAR was always in wars or in great toils, + therefore he could not be erudite, or learn Latin.' I think, + however, that SUETONIUS wrote those Commentaries, for I never saw + any writer whose style so much resembles that of CAESAR, as does + that of SUETONIUS.' + +Who has not heard the story of the hackney coachman, who, at the end of +the day, was wont to divide his gains into 'half for master and half for +me,' when the whole should have been given to the proprietor? Or of the +American public functionary, who said that his annual gains were 'one +thousand dollars salary, besides the cheatage and stealage?' Both seem +to me to be foreshadowed in the following '_Sacerdotis jocus non +illepidus_'; + + 'A certain priest named FYSILINUS who begged for a convent of Saint + Sebastian, being asked what his annual salary was, replied: 'Twenty + gold crowns!' 'Little enough!' answered the other. To which + FYSILINUS replied: 'Various, however, are the emoluments of + mortals; for I have also what is given to me, and what I steal. And + very good is Saint Sebastian, who, whatever division I make with + him, is always silent and contented.' + +It is worth noting that this story and thousands which bore much more +severely on the priests, were current for centuries before the +Reformation. There were many anecdotes of this priest, all to his +discredit, many of which were attributed, at a later day, to other +unworthy monks. Among these, a very dull one is interesting, as +connecting him with Eberhard, 'our bearded prince,' already referred to. +Having begged of this truly noble man a benefice, Eberhard, who was +aware of his character, replied: 'If I had a thousand vacant, you should +not have the least of them.'--'_Si mille, inquit, mihi beneficia, ego +minimum tibi non conferrem._' To which Fysilinus impudently replied: +'And if I should hold divine service a thousand times, I would never +bear you in mind, nor pray once for your salvation.' + +I have attempted in the foregoing remarks to set forth, or rather +illustrate, the manner in which modern jests have flown directly or +indirectly, from those of earlier generations; and have, in so doing, +called attention to a rare and curious class of humorous books, which +have been but little cited for more than two centuries. The principal +point which I would most gladly make clear, is the fact that in +literature and the history of culture, there are two classes of critics: +the ultra-modern and the ultra-conservative, both of whom are in the +wrong. The one cries that every flash of genius is new, and that an old +jest is an old abomination--the other vows that there is nothing new +under the sun, and that every good story is hidden away, in all its +excellence, somewhere in the storehouse of the past. Examination is, +however, like Pietro D'Abano, always a _Conciliator_. We find the +original _thema_ in the past, often reduced to the careless illustration +of some principle or characteristic common to all humanity; but when we +follow it down to the present, it becomes varied, improved, and enlarged +into whole groups and families of new anecdotes, poems, jests, or +proverbs; any single member of which is, perhaps, better than the +original. + +The history of jests can, in turn, be made to furnish an extremely vivid +and curious history of the social conditions of men, and their changes +from the earliest ages--not to be surpassed in value by that of any +other peculiarities. In nothing is a man so much himself as in his +humor. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 4: Erneuerte und vermehrte Lustige Gesellschaft (_Comes +facundus in via pro vehiculo_), von JOHANN PETRO DE MEMEL, Zippelzerbst +im Drömbling. Im Jahr, 1657.] + +[Footnote 5: _Facetiarum_ HENRICI BEBELII, Poetæ. Tübingen, A.D., 1542. +Date of Preface, 1506.] + +[Footnote 6: Peter Cunningham's last Book, p. 45.] + +[Footnote 7: _Hortuli amoeni, viridis et elegantis floribus Historicis +et Poeticis_, &c. BALTHASARI SCHNURII. Rotenburg. 1637.] + +[Footnote 8: _Democritus Ridens: sive Narrationum Ridicularum Centuria._ +_Selecta_ JOHANNI PETRO LANGIO. _Ulmæ, anno 1667._] + + + + +LITERARY NOTICES. + + + An historical research, respecting the Opinions of the Founders of + the Republic on Negroes as Slaves, as Citizens, and as Soldiers. + Read before the Massachusetts Historical Society, August 14, 1862. + By GEORGE LIVERMORE. Boston: John Wilson & Son. 1862. + + +Within the past two years we have met with two pamphlets referring to +the negro question during the days of the Revolution--the one being a +reprint with comments of the celebrated Laurens letter,[9] the other +containing information as to the part taken by blacks in the +struggle.[10] We inferred from these works that much remained to be +told, and find our surmise verified by an examination of the neatly +printed octavo of 215 pages, now before us, in which is given a mass of +information, fully establishing the fact that the negro played no mean +part in the army of the Revolution, and, we may add, suggesting the +reflection that he may only need proper encouragement to do as much, +again, unless he should have strangely deteriorated from the original +stock of his ancestry. Such a work as this, thorough and full of plain +facts, telling their own story, was greatly needed, and we congratulate +all who are interested in the future of this country on its appearance. +Published under the auspices of the Massachusetts Historical Society, +and warmly approved by EDWARD EVERETT and the venerable JOSIAH QUINCY, +the work in question possesses, of course, the highest claim to +consideration as a well written and perfectly digested _resumé_ of its +subject. It is curious to observe, from its documentary proofs, how +fully the slave-holding arguments of the present day were once negatived +by the experience of the past; and it is almost bitterly amusing that +men can learn so little from experience, and that in one generation the +dense clouds of ignorance should gather so thickly over a subject of the +most vital importance to the country. + +From this work we may learn that 'no language of radical reformers in +recent times surpasses in severity the honest utterances' of the first +men of the Revolution on the subject of slavery. It is worth knowing +what Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, Laurens, Pinckney, Randolph, Sherman, +and a host of others said--to realize that slavery was regarded by them +as a curse; and it is grievous to learn that 'circumstances,' local +feuds, and bewildering side-issues should have interfered to prevent +'abolition' at a time when it might have been safely carried out. The +vast amount of historical research on this subject, and its results, are +well set forth by Mr. Livermore; and had his work been limited to these +chapters alone, it should have won him a distinguished place among those +who have cast a light as of life upon the obscure difficulties which now +beset the great question. More encouraging and extremely interesting is +that second portion of the work which gives the opinions of the founders +of the republic respecting negroes as soldiers, and facts establishing +their military ability. That the first fight of the Revolution should +have been led by a negro, who was its first martyr, is of itself deeply +significant: so is the fact that the most remarkable incident at Bunker +Hill--the death of Pitcairn--was due to the bullet of a brave black +soldier. With the exception of the two Tory States, Georgia and South +Carolina, blacks, _slave_ blacks, were enlisted from all the States in +great numbers, and fought well. It is remarkable that in the beginning +the same absurd objections to employing them were raised as those which +still abound in our 'Democratic' press; and it was not, indeed, until +forced by stern experience and dire need, that 'the States' found out +the folly of their prejudice. + +All of these data in the history of slavery, and with them several of +minor importance, are remarkably well set forth in the present volume, +which may fairly claim to be the first work on the subject ever +published--the 'Historical Notes' already referred to having been +suggested, as we are told, by Mr. Livermore himself, and forming an +_avant courier_ to the 'Historical Research.' It is needless to say that +we commend it with our whole heart to all who would study the question +of negro slavery from the beginning in this republic, and know, what few +do, the extent and importance of the early troubles on the subject, or +settle for themselves the greatly vexed question whether negroes, when +treated as men, will or will not fight. It is all there. + + + LIKE AND UNLIKE. By A. S. ROE. New York: Carleton. Boston: A. K. + Loring. + +Mr. Roe's novels are of the manufactured kind. Like those of many others +who are in the business, they give the impression that they are easily +written, and might possibly be turned out by a machine, had invention +progressed a little farther than it has. Still his _piéces de +manufacture_ are very good of their kind, and sell very well--like the +moral romances in China, which are disposed of by weight and in +fragments, in such vast quantities, and which are so entirely a matter +of mere pastime that the authors never think it worth while to affix +their names to them. _Like and Unlike_ may be safely intrusted by the +most fastidious aunt to the most unsophisticated of nieces--and it is +not unlikely that the niece would greatly enjoy its perusal. It is by no +means devoid of interest, and indicates in many particulars that +familiarity with the press which preserves any work of its nature--so +far as style is concerned--from harsh judgment. There are better +books--but certainly there are thousands which are much worse. + + + TITAN. From the German of JEAN PAUL FRIEDRICH RICHTER, by CHARLES + T. BROOKS. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1863. + +To many men JEAN PAUL has always been the greatest of German writers, +however they might protest their preference for some other idol. CARLYLE +knows and names GOETHE as the intellectual culmination of the past +age--and yet shows in every sentence the influence of The Only One, with +very barren traces indeed of The Old Heathen; reminding us of those +devotees who profess a faith in GOD, but manifest it in the worship of +some congenial saint. At the present day, Richter, instead of being +overrated, is neglected. Already thirty years ago HAUFF bewailed that +his works were not taken from public libraries; and yet it is as true as +ever that he is, if not the greatest of German writers, at least the +most German among the great ones of his fatherland. And it is here that +the drawback lies--he carried to such excess all the peculiarities of +his very peculiar country, and was a giant of grotesqueness. No one can +really know German literature who knows not Jean Paul. + +The work before us is Richter's masterpiece, which cost him ten years of +labor. We could sum up of his other writings some thousand or two of +pages which we read with more pleasure; yet still commend 'Titan' as the +best beginning and ending for those who intend to go through all of +Richter's writings. It is a romance _sui generis_--in the world, and yet +most unworldly--full of unusual characters set forth in more unusual +language--refreshing and delightful to the initiate, and most wearisome +to commonplace minds. As regards the merit of the translation, we can +only say that, having compared the first hundred pages with the +original, we find them admirably and accurately rendered, and presume, +of course, that the remainder is equally excellent. Will not Mr. Brooks +at some future time give us a translation of Richter's _Vorschule der +Æsthetik_, a work sadly needed by some of our art-critics? + + + LINES LEFT OUT; or, Some of the Histories left out in 'Line upon + Line.' New York: Harper & Brothers. 1863. + +A juvenile work with an extremely awkward title; 'Line upon Line' having +been a collection of Bible stories, adapted to the capacity of children, +of which book the present volume is a continuation. While we credit the +author for the best intentions, we must, however, suggest that it would +have been better in every instance had the original text been given as +well as the paraphrase, unless, indeed, it be assumed that the Bible is +unfit for children to read, or above their comprehension. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 9: A South Carolina Protest againt Slavery. New York: G.P. +Putnam. 1861.] + +[Footnote 10: Historical Notes on the Employment of Negroes in the +American Army of the Revolution. By GEORGE H. MOORE. New York: Charles +T. Evans. _Vide_ also THE CONTINENTAL MONTHLY, May, p. 324, vol. i.] + + + + +EDITOR'S TABLE. + + +Another month of these most eventful times has passed by with mingled +good and evil fortune, and we still find 'that great mystery, the +American Republic,' strong and in good hope, careering in headlong +speed, with accelerated motion, adown the great torrent of history. It +is natural enough--yet it is still most unreasonable--that there should +be so many who believe that every eddy and whirl should be its +death-struggle or its final dart into the deep calm sea of safety. With +every battle lost or won there are thousands who despair or +exult--forgetting that, come what may, the cause of human progress is +_never backward_, and that we might as soon hope to recall the middle +ages as build up into prosperity the 'patriarchal' old slave South. + +Every rebel's slave is free. Free on paper, if you will--theoretically +free; but is _that_ nothing? How many years will slavery, or the +Southern system in its integrity, exist side by side with a rapidly +growing free country no longer recognizing the existence of 'the +institution?' How many months, in fact, _when_ we shall have and +hold--as we are absolutely determined to do--the whole west bank of the +Mississippi and the confederate ports; which, by the way, _should_ have +all been secured at the outset at _any cost_? Let us win or lose in the +field, we shall still, thanks to our fleet, hem them in. And will not +_that_, with mere waiting, prove a complete victory? Whatever financial +crises may be before the North, it will ever possess, in spite of the +most terrible sufferings, its enormous recuperative power, and its old +ability for hard work. But how is the exhausted, ruined South to arise, +save through Northern aid? Will its poor whites labor in factories? They +are expected to form a permanent standing army. The negroes? The day of +slavery is passing away rapidly. Let the South gain battles, if it +will--they are only defeats in disguise; and in the long run it will be +found that God willed this war to be long and bitter, that by it the +last stronghold of the wrongs of man might be the more thoroughly +exhausted. + + * * * * * + +THE GOLDEN ROD. + + Upon the waves that rise and die + Along the banks of Severn's river, + Amidst the blue of broken sky, + I saw thy half-drawn image quiver + In changing gleams of golden light, + Now broadly spread, now vanished quite. + + Late Golden Rod! in thought I deem + I still shall find thee swaying there, + As if some naiad of the stream + Gave to the wind her yellow hair, + Or, leaning o'er the margin, sought + The restless shape the waters wrought. + + Though swaying, yet in quietude, + Thy beauty touched my very soul, + Like the calm eye of womanhood, + In stillness keeping all control. + And lo! as under sudden spell, + Thy presence shadowed all the dell. + + The valley took October's crown, + I found thy glory still the same; + The sumach flung his red leaves down, + And lit his winter crest of flame; + The early elm and maple gave + Their burden to the patient wave. + + I sought thee in the later year, + I sought, but found thee there no more; + Only a rigid stalk and sere + A withered head in silence bore, + Or swung, responsive to the sigh + Of the stray wind that passed it by. + + Now Severn's banks in snow are still, + And Severn's stream is hushed and pale; + The sun shines on the whitened hill, + And glows like summer in the dale; + And yet I come, and half in gloom + And half in joy recall thy bloom. + + * * * * * + +Reader--do you want + +SOMETHING NEW FOR DINNER? + +It is not necessary to refer to a cook book to know what an excellent +fish is the sheep's-head; you may find it in Noah Webster's large +dictionary, where it is described as "the Sargus Ovis of Mitchell; +esteemed delicious food"; or, you can find it in market. + +Mr. Withers was married to a lovely young lady who once worked an entire +piano cover with worsted. They had commenced housekeeping but a few +months, when one morning the husband informed his wife that he should +invite a friend to dine with him that day. + +Mrs. Withers was in despair at this announcement, but she smiled and hid +her grief; or at least her grief, in the shape of a Celtic cook, was at +that time not to be seen, being employed in the kitchen, where she had +invited two of her friends to "come in and ate." + +Mr. Withers went down town; his wife then gave directions to the cook, +Biddy O'Shaughshenny by name, to buy a sheep's-head, beef, game, and so +forth. + +'By the way, Bridget, have you ever cooked a sheep's-head before?' + +'A shape's hid is it? Then I'm thinking, ma'am, I've cooked the likes of +them minny a time and oft in the owld counthry when I bided with Mister +Maginnis the grate counsillor in Dublin. I did.' + +This was sufficient: Mrs. Withers was relieved of all care, and soon +wended her way out shopping and making calls, until nearly the dinner +hour. Home came Mr. Withers and friend, an Englishman by the name of +Molesworth, with keen appetites. The dinner was served; oysters and soup +finished, the waiter brought on a large dish covered. + +'Ha, what have we here?' asked Withers, the husband. + +'Something new, my dear,' answered Withers, the wife. 'I knew they were +in season, and I ordered it for a surprise.' + +Withers lifted the cover! + +There WAS a sheep's head--with horns on. + +However a Sheep's Head is like a turbot--for a turbot--according to +Albert Smith's account of the Frenchman learning English--is not unlike +a _tire-botte_ (or a boot-jack) which _has_ horns. Is'nt _that_ a +frantic conciliation of differences, and one which might have done honor +to Petrus d'Abano, the Conciliator, himself? + + * * * * * + +There are many conscientious men whose consciences tear at the first +pull--as is shown 'in the subsequent:' + +CONSCIENTIOUS. + +DEAR CONTINENTAL: Perhaps the following incident will cause a smile to +ripple the good-natured features of some of your readers:--In the county +of M----, the Draft Commissioner held an extra appeal for the +'conscientious men.' Now, in said county, there dwelt one Barney Mullen, +who, not being exempted at the first appeal, on 'non-citizenship' +grounds, was in 'great tribulation' in regard to the approaching draft. +Some wag persuaded him to attend the second 'hearing,' telling him to +swear that he was conscientious, and he would get his exemption papers. +So Barney was at hand at the 'appointed time and place,' At last, 'it +came to pass' that he got a hearing, and the Commissioner asked him what +he had to say for himself. + +'Shure, it's consyintious I am, an' exempted I want to be.' + +The Commissioner had not forgotten Barney, so, to humor his whim, asked +him if he would take the affidavit, having first read that paper to him. + +'Afther David, the divil! It's me exemption papers I'm afther,' he +replied. + +'Have you conscientious scruples against fighting?' asked the +Commissioner. + +'Och, it's the schrupils an' dhrams both I have. I get 'em bad, too, yer +honor.' + +'Well, Barney,' said 'his honor'--putting the same question to him that +he asked all others who offered the conscientious plea (and who always +gave an affirmative answer)--'if your wife was being murdered, would you +stand by a silent spectator?' + +'Divil a silent spectator! D'yees take me fer a haythen? Be the howly! +show me the scallywag that would harrum a hair o' the ole 'oman's hid, +an' I'd give him sich a pelt on the gob, that he would think he'd got +forninst a horse's hoof!' + +'Then we can't exempt you, Mr. Mullen.' + +'Mither ov Moses!' exclaimed Barney, as he left the room, 'not exempt a +man because he wouldn't shtand by an' see the 'ole 'oman murdered!' + + * * * * * + +We are indebted to a friend--who is requested to call again--for the +following from + + PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1862. + + DEAR CONTINENTAL: + +Did you ever study the language of signs? + +I have--and a queer language it is. It is divided into two great +families. + +The first is of street signs. + +The second of signs manual, optical, and otherwise by gesture +sign-ificant. + +An excellent illustration of this latter class was witnessed lately in a +police court of this city. I give it as narrated to me by a friend. + +A deaf mute, whose banged and battered face spoke for itself, lately +appeared before a local magistrate to complain of the sufferings +inflicted upon him by certain iniquitarians to ye court unknown. + +'He's deaf and dumb as a nadder, your honor,' remarked the solemn +policeman who introduced the silent man. 'But he kin tell his story +bully.' + +And he did. + +Striking an attitude the dumb one pointed to his bruises, and then +struck out one, two and three _à la_ Heenan, to signify that his sorrows +had been caused by a pugilistic attack. + +The court nodded its perfect comprehension of the business thus far. + +Raising the two fingers of his left hand, the mute bowed them up and +down, so that they seemed to be human beings with solidified legs, +making salaams to the court. + +The court nodded. + +Then the two fingers precipitated themselves fiercely against the +forefinger of the right hand, which at once fell down, and was danced +upon and bumped in a variety of ways by the inhuman digits of the +sinister party. + +The court nodded. It understood that the dumb man had been attacked by +two persons. + +But who were the two? + +Elevating the forefinger of the left hand, the plaintiff first pointed +to its face--or the place most suggestive of one, and then pressed his +own nose flat. + +The court nodded. One of the assaulters had been flat-nosed. + +'A nigger, your honor!' exclaimed the constable in breathless +admiration. + +Raising the second finger the dumb man after a second crossed his two +forefingers, and made upon his breast the sign of the cross. It was +catholically done. + +The court nodded. + +'An Irishman, your honor!' exclaimed the constable, who like the +complainant argued very promptly from religion to nationality. An +Irishman and a nigger--and I'll find out in ten minutes all about it.' + +And he did--a warrant was issued, and the guilty men punished. + +"Thus he by gestes made knowne hys sufferance." + + Yours devoted, + JOT. + + * * * * * + +IN THE BATTLE. + + The drums are beat, the trumpets blow, + The black-mouthed cannon bay the foe, + Dark bristling o'er each murky height, + And all the field is whirled in fight. + + The long life in the drowsy tent + Fades from me like a vision spent;-- + I stand upon the battle's marge, + And watch the smoking squadron's charge. + + Behold one starry banner reel + With that wild shock of steel on steel; + And ringing up by rock and tree + At last the cry that summons me. + + I hear it in my vibrant soul, + Deep thundering back its counter roll; + And all life's ore seems newly wrought + In the white furnace of my thought. + + No dream that made my days divine + But flashes back some mystic sign; + And every shape that erst was bright + Sweeps by me garmented in light. + + High legends of immortal praise, + Brows of world heroes bound with bays, + The crownéd majesties of Time + Rise visioned on my soul sublime. + + Dear living lips of love and prayer + Come chanting through the blackened air; + And eyes look out of marble tombs, + And hands are waved from churchyard glooms. + + "Charge! charge!" at last the captain's cry! + We pant, we speed, we leap, we fly; + I feel my lifting feet aspire, + As I were born of wind and fire! + + On! on! where wild the battle swims, + On! on! no shade my vision dims; + Transcendent o'er yon smoky wreath, + I see the glory of great Death! + + Come flashing blade, and hissing ball! + I give my blood, my breath, my all, + So that on yonder rocking height + The stars and stripes may wave to-night! + + * * * * * + +Our Art writer is awakened. Listen to him. + +DEAR CONTINENTAL: You were kind enough to inform me that you would be +much obliged if I would let you know if there was anything stirring in +the world of Art. + +The last thing which stirred in my world--I mean in my workshop in the +Studio Building--was a German of the carpenter persuasion. At least he +had a side pocket, and folding two-feet rule, with a shaving on his left +curl. + +'Bees you a poor-trait bainter?' he inquired. + +'Truly I am!' I replied. + +'I wants you to baint de likeness to my fader.' + +'With pleasure. Bring him here.' + +'Yas--see now, dat is not bossiple. He lies geburied in the purying +crount in Stuttgart in Shermany.' + +'Well, have you a photograph of him?' + +'_Nichtss_ photograb.' + +'Or a bust?' + +_Nichts_ pust.' + +'Or a drawing?' + +'_Nichts_ trawing.' + +'Or an engraving?' + +'_Nichts_ craving.' + +'Well, then--what have you got?' + +'I got _dis_ dings.' + +Saying this, he brought forth a small book, greatly worn, which he +slowly opened, and unfolded from it a broad leaf, adorned with German +emblems, and cragged pot-hook inscriptions which looked like lager-bier +signs. + +'What is that?' + +'Dis is mein fader's passport. Look ant readt! Plue eyes, proun hair, +round _kinn_, pig mouf--und all dat, so fort. He hafe a goot deal of +exbression like mine.' + +(Where this latter could have been I could not imagine.) + +'Yas--und he wear a plue gote.' + +'Oh--a _goatee_, I suppose, on his chin?' + +'No. It was a plue gote on his pack. He hafe a peard like mein, und look +like mein. Put mein fader was a more older man dan me.' + +'Ah, indeed!' + +'Yas. Baint him mit a piple on a taple, und mit a girl on his hands.' + +'_What!!_' + +'Yas--mine leetle daughter. I prings her here to be colored.' + +It was a bold thing to do; but on this small capital I went to work, and +succeeded. At least, Jacobus Kirchelheimer said so--and _he_ ought to +know, for he was a first-rate fellow, and sent me over and above the +price agreed upon, a dozen bottles of Rudesheimer. A suspicion seemed +indeed to haunt his mind that the portrait resembled himself much more +than it did the late Herr Kirchelheimer, _pére_,--but he speedily found +comfort in the following reflection: + +'Ven I kits to be more older it will do shoost as goot for mine bicture +as for de old one.' + +It wasn't very self-flattering--that of hoping to resemble the Old One; +but I said nothing. And no more at present from + + Yours truly, + POPPY OYLE. + + * * * * * + +JAMES BUCHANAN--not satisfied with hoping for the parings of a +nomination to the Senate after having eaten the Presidential apple, has +pushed his impudence so far as to attempt to vindicate FLOYD from the +charge of stealing, although the theft was by FLOYD self-confessed and +gloried in. This is proving more than the record. What will FLOYD say +for BUCHANAN? + + The Raven said: 'Of birds I know, + The very whitest is the Crow.' + + The Crow declared: 'While birds endure, + The Raven will be whitest, sure!' + + The Raven said: 'I do believe + The Crow knows not what 'tis to thieve.' + + The Crow inquired: 'Who ever heard + The Raven was a stealing bird? + + 'He calls himself a thief, I know, + But I can prove it is not so.' + + The Raven swore by wet and dry, + The Crow was never known to lie. + + The Crow swore out by hot and cold, + The Raven's word was good as gold. + + The Crow flew o'er an old oak tree; + 'Caw me,' he croaked, '_and I'll caw thee_.' + +It is an old story, and one which will last while rogues endure--be they +broken-down politicians, craving, like Buchanan, a little more paltry +notoriety, or any other variety of the great family of the Dishonest. +And they will go their way adown the road of time and into history, +properly brandmarked. The truth ever comes to light. + +'And that isn't all--either.' For even as we write, the following is +handed us by a friend: + + Take, oh, take his pen away, + That so feebly runs on paper; + Keep him quiet, or he'll play + Other trait'rous prank and caper. + Why apologize for treason, + Or for stealing give a reason? + + Hide, oh, hide his pens and ink; + Try to keep him silent: do! + Would you let him lower sink, + He'd defend the Devil too. + Keep him silent, let him be: + He has _not_ escaped Scott-free. + +Not he--nor the opinion of the whole world, either. There--let him +go--_his_ place in the future is at any rate decided on. And yet the +vindicator of Floyd intends, we are told, to vindicate himself! + + * * * * * + +A late 'horrible and agonizing execution' of two murderers in cultivated +and Christian England was witnessed by one hundred thousand +people!--according to the London _Times_. In the first-class English +journals a large space is always devoted to police reports, in which the +vilest and most vulgar criminal cases are always given in full detail, +to gratify the almost universal British craving for filth and cruelty. A +drunken vagabond cannot maim his wife but all England must know all +about it. Let it be borne in mind that while English writers are never +weary of speaking of the blackguardism of the American press, nine +tenths of our journals abandoned many years ago the abominable practice +of regularly publishing police cases; and that, making every allowance, +English newspapers at present publish on an average ten times as much +demoralizing matter as the American. + + * * * * * + +We clip the following from the Boston _Post_: + + 'Speaking of the heathen names reminds the London Athenæum of what + M. Salverte says with respect to that fairest of the heroines in + that poem for all spring time, "Lalla Rookh." Everybody, in his + happy turn, has been in love with that lady of the peerless + enchantments: perhaps they will be taken a little aback when they + hear that before the lord of the East gave her the name of + Nourmahal, 'Light of the Harem,' or, in the later excess of his + love, Nourdjihan, 'Light of the World,' she was known to her family + and friends as Mher-ul-Nica, or, in equivalent Saxon, the + 'Strapping Wench;' and that this 'tallest of women,' of whom it is + said her lover, Djihanguyr, + + ----preferred in his heart the least ringlet that curl'd + Down her exquisite neck, to the throne of the world, + + only became the light of his harem by the process of cutting the + throat of her first husband. If this annotation, to be made in all + copies of the poem, do not wring all charm out of the names by + which the poet's lady is known to fame, then fiction again will + prove stronger than fact.' + +'And _that_ isn't all, either.' For _Noor-Mahal_, albeit conventionally +used as Light of the Harem, _does_ mean Light of the Workshop in Arabic. +We shouldn't in the least wonder if the lady in question, in her earlier +and better-behaved days, had been chief engineer of a sewing machine at +two shillings a day. However, we set that down to her credit side. + + * * * * * + +READER--you have travelled? If so, did you ever suffer from too much +landlord? + +The last time we were at Mackinaw, we had our boots blackened, our +clothes 'swept,' and our cigars diminished by a very funny halfbreed +named Pierre, and noticed that when more cigars than usual were taken, +we were always sure of receiving an extra amount of attention from him +in the way of sweeping, brushing, and small talk. + +'Mossu, how you lak Detroit?' + +'I like it very well.' + +'Zat fust-rate 'otel, ze Fiddle House; ze landlord he maks var' big fuss +over ze grand persons as come zére--var' big fuss. Mamselle GRANDROSE +she var splendid danseuse, she 'ave ze grande attentions: Madame COLSON +she grande _chanteuse_ 'ave ze grand care. Ah, bote zére comes zére +oncet ze MARQUIS DE CHOUXFLEURS, zen you should see zat landlord; he +bows and he smiles, and he rons round all ze time, viz, 'Musshoe ze +Markiss, vat you lak for to eat, for to drink, for to sleeps? can I do +somesings fore you. At lass ze Marquis he call for his bill, and he goes +for to leave ze hotel. Zen ze landlord he comes to ze door, and he bows, +and he smiles, and he robs his hands togezzer, and says he: + +'Musshoe ze Markiss, _bone voyyaidge_;' (you see he spiks ze French var' +bad;) 'I hope you have been satisfy wiz my ho-tel?' + +Zen ze Marquis smiles var' moch pleasaunt, and viz ze air off grand +seigneur he lokes down on ze landlord and spiks slowlee: + +'Ze eat is var' good, ze sleep is not so var' bad, bote I 'ave notice +one sing--zére is entairely TOO MOCHE LANDLORD!' + +In American hotels, as strangers declare, unless one be acquainted, the +complaint is apt to be of too _little_ landlord. Then--oh, _then_, 'all +goes as it does with a divinity in France,' as the European proverb hath +it--that is to say, very Paradisiacally indeed. Which reminds us of a +letter on the coming of the Millennium, from a friend who declares it to +be his conviction that those who are afraid of the immediate realization +of this consummation devoutly to be wished for, may lay aside their +apprehensions, since it is evident that nothing of the kind is to come +off _this_ year at least. + +'Of which, dear CONTINENTAL friend, there can be no doubt, albeit there +may be somewhat pity. For I have lang syne awaited a millennium and a +golden age, and, when FERNANDO WOOD was kicked out of the mayoralty into +Coventry, hailed it as the beginning. Now, however, the old serpent +lifts his head--Fernando has gone to Congress, and the devil is let +loose again for a little season--to give seasoning by his sin to the +great sea of gruel of excessive virtue with which the world is +inundated. Oh for the wings of a dove, to be 'out of this'--cut loose +from all such 'carryin's on,' and fairly calm in some silent Lubberland +or Atlantis fairy realm of peace! + + 'Where, with glasses ever clinking, + The gentles, ever drinking + To their lady loves in winking, + Cry aloud _in jubilo_; + And the jolly plump old president + Calls out to every resident, + And, when they answer, says he meant + To pledge _in gaudio_: + + 'Where the bells all day are ringing, + Where the world is ever singing, + And the roasted ducks fly winging + Their way into your mouth: + Where doors are never banging, + Where tongues are never clanging, + Where the peach and grape while hanging + Turn _all_ sides toward the south: + + 'Where you find no foolish fussing, + Where you hear no oaths or cussing, + Where the babies need no nussing, + But in smiles or sleep are found: + Where they all own herds and flockses, + Where we get in no 'bad boxes,' + And where all the paradoxes + Are made straight, or else come round. + + 'O land so sweet and sunny! + O land of milk and money! + O land of peach and honey! + O land withouten peer! + O land of good society! + O land of great variety! + And genial sobriety, + Oh, would that thou wert here! + + 'Or that I were 'over yonder!' + Free to rest and free to ponder, + Free to print, and free to wander + 'Mid the maidens short and tall! + On 'the other side of Jordan,' + Where all is tuned accordin' + 'To your leastest wish, my lord,' in + Every matter, great and small! + +'Knowest thou, O Editor LELAND, of aught such, _where the board is +cheap_? Answer, I pray ye, forthwith. _Sono stancato._' + +Not we. When we hear of it, O friend, we will take passage for two--by +the first boat. + + * * * * * + +A FRIEND communicates to us the following: + +'PLATO, I think, PYTHAGORAS, I guess, and FO-HI, as I suppose--to judge +from his eight KUA--believed that all knowledge was capable of +mathematical representation. + +'I don't know Miss Brown,' quoth a lady lately, in my hearing, 'she +isn't in my Circle.' + +'And I don't know her,' added Miss Black, 'for she doesn't live in my +Square--and I never visit out of it.' + +Dr. HOLMES has, however, declared that a person may be known by +Triangulating the descent from the grandfather down. + +From all of which I should judge that to mathematically set forth the +knowledge of any person, it would be necessary to draw that slightly +paradoxical figure popularly described as a triangular square with round +corners! + + Q.E.D. + + * * * * * + +Yes--we think we see it. Square--corner--tri--Here, Thomas--carry it off +and have it set up. It's all right, we suppose. Somebody will find it +out, at any rate. Let us continue by singing the following genial +'Soldier's Song,' which hath the good ring of the good old time, and +which has just come to hand: + + * * * * * + +SOLDATENLIED. + + The wide world is the soldier's home, + His comrades are his kin; + His palace-roof the welkin dome, + The drum his mandolin. + He gives to air + All thought of care, + And trolls his serenade + To fiery Mars, + The king of stars, + That never love betrayed. + + The banner is the soldier's bride, + The love of bold and brave; + His wedding feast, the battle tide; + His marriage bed, the grave. + Where bullets sing, + Death's leaden wing, + Light as a dancing feather, + When hero falls, + To glory's halls, + Wafts life and love together. + + * * * * * + +A teacher of the truly 'genial' stamp--that is to say one who takes +delight, in exercising his or her genius, and in awakening that of the +pupil is, we fear, a rarity; as much even in Art, as in any other branch +of education. We believe, however, that we may claim as an exception +Mrs. ELIZA GREATORIX of this city, whom we believe to be honestly and +earnestly interested in her calling as an instructor in drawing, and one +who endeavors to make Art 'a living language by educating the eye +through the intelligence.' The method which she pursues is that of +drawing from objects, beginning with Harding's series of blocks, and +thereby accustoming both eye and hand to greater accuracy than can be +acquired from copying the usual plane surface pictures, which in most +cases makes of the pupil a mere facsimilist. Mrs. GREATORIX may be found +at Studio 12, No. 204, Fifth Avenue. + + * * * * * + +A WORD FOR THE TIMES. + + There ne'er was harm in anything, + But it came by misgoverning: + For one word of evil guiding + May lose a kingdom or a king! + A sound truth this which all can feel + From the romance of Sir Greye Stele. + Ye rulers all who bear the bell, + Weigh it, I pray you, wisely, well. + + * * * * * + +In this world nothing is constant save inconstancy. Nature changes all +things, night and morn, and when she puts on again her former semblance, +still it is only a semblance, and never the very same. Young +ladies--when your lovers vow to be true forever to love--you may believe +them; but whether they will be eternally true to you, admits of +reflection. Such at least seems to have been the life-philosophy of him +who penned the following poem: + +BY THE STREAM. + + Oh water that ever art roving! + O fountain that never canst move! + Oh fancy--some new flame still loving! + O heart, ever constant to love! + + The waterfall rustled and glistened, + Till it seemed like a musical flame, + And I lay and I looked and I listened + Till the nymph of the waterfall came. + + It was no Undine or Lurley + (Though I thought her as beautiful still) + That came in the evening early-- + But a bare-footed maid from the mill. + + The pitcher too frequently laden + Must break and be lost at the worst, + But the young heart, when full of a maiden, + Of the twain will be broken the first. + + But the pitcher, when cracked by a tumble, + Must be laid, till repaired, on the shelf, + While the heart, although shattered and humble, + Will be mended in time by itself. + + And we vowed that we loved--but with laughter, + And we kissed with our feet in the brook; + She left me--my whistle rung after, + To win from the maid a last look. + + And months have flown by since I missed her, + For afar with another she's flown; + And now I wait here for her sister, + To vow that I've loved her alone. + + Oh water that ever art roaming! + Oh fountain that never canst move! + Oh fancy--some new flame still loving! + Oh heart ever constant to--love! + +Sing it, reader, 'if thou canst sing.' A lady friend assures us that it +goeth well unto voice and pianoforte. + + * * * * * + +YE JOLLIE POACHER. + + 'Twas I that kept a shoddy mill + In starving Lancashire; + And shaved the Yankees shamefully + For many and many a year. + + The mill is stopped, I'm raving mad, + As from the _Times_ you hear; + Oh it's my delight to bark and bite + At all times of the year. + + * * * * * + + The + Continental Monthly. + +The readers of the CONTINENTAL are aware of the important +position it has assumed, of the influence which it exerts, and of the +brilliant array of political and literary talent of the highest order +which supports it. No publication of the kind has, in this country, so +successfully combined the energy and freedom of the daily newspaper with +the higher literary tone of the first-class monthly; and it is very +certain that no magazine has given wider range to its contributors, or +preserved itself so completely from the narrow influences of party or of +faction. In times like the present, such a journal is either a power in +the land or it is nothing. That the CONTINENTAL is not the +latter is abundantly evidenced _by what it has done_--by the reflection +of its counsels in many important public events, and in the character +and power of those who are its staunchest supporters. + +Though but little more than a year has elapsed since the +CONTINENTAL was first established, it has during that time +acquired a strength and a political significance elevating it to a +position far above that previously occupied by any publication of the +kind in America. In proof of which assertion we call attention to the +following facts: + +1. Of its POLITICAL articles republished in pamphlet form, a +single one has had, thus far, a circulation of _one hundred and six +thousand_ copies. + +2. From its LITERARY department, a single serial novel, "Among +the Pines," has, within a very few months, sold nearly _thirty-five +thousand_ copies. Two other series of its literary articles have also +been republished in book form, while the first portion of a third is +already in press. + +No more conclusive facts need be alleged to prove the excellence of the +contributions to the CONTINENTAL, or their _extraordinary +popularity;_ and its conductors are determined that it shall not fall +behind. Preserving all "the boldness, vigor, and ability" which a +thousand journals have attributed to it, it will greatly enlarge its +circle of action, and discuss, fearlessly and frankly, every principle +involved in the great questions of the day. The first minds of the +country, embracing the men most familiar with its diplomacy and most +distinguished for ability, are among its contributors; and it is no mere +"flattering promise of a prospectus" to say that this "magazine for the +times" will employ the first intellect in America, under auspices which +no publication ever enjoyed before in this country. + +While the CONTINENTAL will express decided opinions on the +great questions of the day, it will not be a mere political journal: +much the larger portion of its columns will be enlivened, as heretofore, +by tales, poetry, and humor. In a word, the CONTINENTAL will be +found, under its new staff of Editors, occupying a position and +presenting attractions never before found in a magazine. + + +TERMS TO CLUBS. + + Two copies for one year, Five dollars. + Three copies for one year, Six dollars. + Six copies for one year, Eleven dollars. + Eleven copies for one year, Twenty dollars. + Twenty copies for one year, Thirty-six dollars. + + PAID IN ADVANCE + +_Postage, Thirty-six cents a year_, to be paid BY THE +SUBSCRIBER. + +SINGLE COPIES. + +Three dollars a year, IN ADVANCE. _Postage paid by the +Publisher_. + + JOHN F. TROW, 50 Greene St., N. Y., + PUBLISHER FOR THE PROPRIETORS. + +[Illustration: pointing finger] As an Inducement to new subscribers, the +Publisher offers the following liberal premiums: + +[Illustration: pointing finger] Any person remitting $3, in advance, +will receive the magazine from July, 1862, to January, 1864, thus +securing the whole of Mr. KIMBALL'S and Mr. KIRKE'S new serials, which +are alone worth the price of subscription. Or, if preferred, a +subscriber can take the magazine for 1863 and a copy of "Among the +Pines," or of "Undercurrents of Wall Street," by R. B. KIMBALL, bound in +cloth, or of "Sunshine in Thought," by CHARLES GODFREY LELAND (retail +price, $1. 25.) The book to be sent postage paid. + +[Illustration: pointing finger] Any person remitting $4.50, will receive +the magazine from its commencement, January, 1862, to January, 1864, +thus securing Mr. KIMBALL'S "Was He Successful? "and Mr. KIRKE'S "Among +the Pines," and "Merchant's Story," and nearly 3,000 octavo pages of the +best literature in the world. Premium subscribers to pay their own +postage. + + + * * * * * + + +[Illustration: THE FINEST FARMING LANDS WHEAT CORN COTTON FRUITS & +VEGETABLES] + +EQUAL TO ANY IN THE WORLD!!! + +MAY BE PROCURED + +At FROM $8 to $12 PER ACRE, + +Near Markets, Schools, Railroads, Churches, and all the blessings of +Civilization. + +1,200,000 Acres, in Farms of 40, 80, 120, 160 Acres and upwards, in +ILLINOIS, the Garden State of America. + + * * * * * + +The Illinois Central Railroad Company offer, ON LONG CREDIT, the +beautiful and fertile PRAIRIE LANDS lying along the whole line of their +Railroad. 700 MILES IN LENGTH, upon the most Favorable Terms for +enabling Farmers, Manufacturers, Mechanics and Workingmen to make for +themselves and their families a competency, and a HOME they can call +THEIR OWN, as will appear from the following statements: + +ILLINOIS. + +Is about equal in extent to England, with a population of 1,722,666, and +a soil capable of supporting 20,000,000. No State in the Valley of the +Mississippi offers so great an inducement to the settler as the State of +Illinois. There is no part of the world where all the conditions of +climate and soil so admirably combine to produce those two great +staples, CORN and WHEAT. + +CLIMATE. + +Nowhere can the Industrious farmer secure such immediate results from +his labor as on these deep, rich, loamy soils, cultivated with so much +ease. The climate from the extreme southern part of the State to the +Terre Haute, Alton and St. Louis Railroad, a distance of nearly 200 +miles, is well adapted to Winter. + +WHEAT, CORN, COTTON, TOBACCO. + +Peaches, Pears, Tomatoes, and every variety of fruit and vegetables is +grown in great abundance, from which Chicago and other Northern markets +are furnished from four to six weeks earlier than their immediate +vicinity. Between the Terre Haute, Alton & St. Louis Railway and the +Kankakee and Illinois Rivers, (a distance of 115 miles on the Branch, +and 136 miles on the Main Trunk,) lies the great Corn and Stock raising +portion of the State. + +THE ORDINARY YIELD + +of Corn is from 60 to 80 bushels per acre. Cattle, Horses, Mules, Sheep +and Hogs are raised here at a small cost, and yield large profits. It is +believed that no section of country presents greater inducements for +Dairy Farming than the Prairies of Illinois, a branch of farming to +which but little attention has been paid, and which must yield sure +profitable results. Between the Kankakee and Illinois Rivers, and +Chicago and Dunleith, (a distance of 56 miles on the Branch and 147 +miles by the Main Trunk,) Timothy Hay, Spring Wheat, Corn, &c., are +produced in great abundance. + +AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. + +The Agricultural products of Illinois are greater than those of any +other State. The Wheat crop of 1861 was estimated at 35,000,000 bushels, +while the Corn crop yields not less than 140,000,000 bushels besides the +crop of Oats, Barley, Rye, Buckwheat, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, +Pumpkins, Squashes, Flax, Hemp, Peas, Clover, Cabbage, Beets, Tobacco, +Sorgheim, Grapes, Peaches, Apples, &c., which go to swell the vast +aggregate of production in this fertile region. Over Four Million tons +of produce were sent out the State of Illinois during the past year. + +STOCK RAISING. + +In Central and Southern Illinois uncommon advantages are presented for +the extension of Stock raising. All kinds of Cattle, Horses, Mules, +Sheep, Hogs, &c., of the best breeds, yield handsome profits; large +fortunes have already been made, and the field is open for others to +enter with the fairest prospects of like results. Dairy Farming also +presents its inducements to many. + +CULTIVATION OF COTTON. + +The experiments in Cotton culture are of very great promise. Commencing +in latitude 39 deg. 30 min. (see Mattoon on the Branch, and Assumption +on the Main Line), the Company owns thousands of acres well adapted to +the perfection of this fibre. A settler having a family of young +children, can turn their youthful labor to a most profitable account in +the growth and perfection of this plant. + +THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD + +Traverses the whole length of the State, from the banks of the +Mississippi and Lake Michigan to the Ohio. As its name imports, the +Railroad runs through the centre of the State, and on either side of the +road along its whole length lie the lands offered for sale. + +CITIES, TOWNS, MARKETS, DEPOTS. + +There are Ninety-eight Depots on the Company's Railway, giving about one +every seven miles. Cities, Towns and Villages are situated at convenient +distances throughout the whole route, where every desirable commodity +may be found as readily as in the oldest cities of the Union, and where +buyers are to be met for all kinds of farm produce. + +EDUCATION. + +Mechanics and working-men will find the free school system encouraged by +the State, and endowed with a large revenue for the support of the +schools. Children can live in sight of the school, the college, the +church, and grow up with the prosperity of the leading State in the +Great Western Empire. + + * * * * * + +PRICES AND TERMS OF PAYMENT--ON LONG CREDIT. + + 80 acres at $10 per acre, with interest at 6 per ct. annually + on the following terms: + + Cash payment $48 00 + + Payment in one year 48 00 + " in two years 48 00 + " in three years 48 00 + " in four years 236 00 + " in five years 224 00 + " in six years 212 00 + + + 40 acres, at $10 00 per acre: + + Cash payment $24 00 + + Payment in one year 24 00 + " in two years 24 00 + " in three years 24 00 + " in four years 118 00 + " in five years 112 00 + " in six years 106 00 + + * * * * * + + Number 15. 25 Cents. + + + THE + + CONTINENTAL + + MONTHLY. + + + DEVOTED TO + + Literature and National Policy. + + + MARCH, 1863. + + + NEW YORK: + + JOHN F. TROW 50 GREENE STREET + + (FOR THE PROPRIETORS). + + HENRY DEXTER AND SINCLAIR TOUSEY. + + WASHINGTON, D.C.: FRANCK TAYLOR. + + + + +CONTENTS.--NO. XV. + + + Turkey. A. Comté, Jr., 257 + + False Estimations, 274 + + The Blue Handkerchief, 276 + + Gold, 279 + + Last Words. Ingoldsby North, 282 + + Parting. Edward S. Rand, Jr., 288 + + A Merchant's Story. By the author of 'Among the Pines,' 289 + + The Captain of '63 to his Men. Mary E. Nealy, 315 + + The Vision of the Monk Gabriel. Eleanor C. Donnelly, 316 + + The Century of Inventions. Charles G. Leland, 318 + + The Lady and her Slave, 330 + + For and Against, 334 + + European Opinion. Hon. F.P. Stanton, 340 + + The Huguenots. Hon. G.P. Disosway, 348 + + Montgomery in Secession Time, 354 + + The Union. By Hon. Robert J. Walker, 366 + + The Soldier's Burial, 373 + + Literary Notices, 374 + + Editor's Table, 379 + + +'SUNSHINE IN THOUGHT,' by Charles Godfrey Leland, one of the editors of +this magazine, has just been issued by Charles T. Evans. + + +'MY SOUTHERN FRIENDS,' by the author of 'Among the Pines,' will be +published in book form, by Carlton, 448 Broadway, about March 1st. + + * * * * * + +ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by JAMES R. +GILMORE, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United +States for the Southern District of New York. + + +JOHN F. TROW, PRINTER. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Continental Monthly, Vol. 3 No 2, +February 1863, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONTINENTAL MONTHLY *** + +***** This file should be named 26077-8.txt or 26077-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/0/7/26077/ + +Produced by Joshua Hutchinson and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by Cornell +University Digital Collections) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/26077-8.zip b/26077-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3233527 --- /dev/null +++ b/26077-8.zip diff --git a/26077-h.zip b/26077-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0038a0a --- /dev/null +++ b/26077-h.zip diff --git a/26077-h/26077-h.htm b/26077-h/26077-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eef2458 --- /dev/null +++ b/26077-h/26077-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9325 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Continental Monthly, Vol III, No II, by Various Authors. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + div.centered {text-align: center;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 1 */ + div.centered table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 2 */ + + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .author {text-align: right; margin-right: 5%;} + .cpoem {width: 20em; margin: 0 auto;} /* centers text and maintains left justified margin */ + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Continental Monthly, Vol. 3 No 2, +February 1863, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Continental Monthly, Vol. 3 No 2, February 1863 + Devoted To Literature And National Policy + +Author: Various + +Other: Various + +Release Date: July 17, 2008 [EBook #26077] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONTINENTAL MONTHLY *** + + + + +Produced by Joshua Hutchinson and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by Cornell +University Digital Collections) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + + + + + + +<h2>THE</h2> + +<h1>CONTINENTAL MONTHLY:</h1> + +<h4>DEVOTED TO</h4> + +<h2>Literature and NationaL Policy.</h2> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<h3>VOL. III.—AUGUST, 1863.—No. II.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<div class='centered'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" width="50%" cellspacing="0" summary="CONTENTS"> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#OUR_NATIONAL_FINANCES">OUR NATIONAL FINANCES.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#A_TRIP_TO_ANTIETAM">A TRIP TO ANTIETAM.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#AMERICAN_DESTINY">AMERICAN DESTINY.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_BIRTH_OF_THE_LILY">THE BIRTH OF THE LILY.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#WAS_HE_SUCCESSFUL">WAS HE SUCCESSFUL?—<i>PART SECOND</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#NULLIFICATION_AND_SECESSION">NULLIFICATION AND SECESSION.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_SIOUX_WAR">THE SIOUX WAR.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#DEAD">'DEAD!'</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#A_MERCHANTS_STORY">A MERCHANT'S STORY.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_CONSEQUENCES_OF_THE_REBELLION">THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE REBELLION.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#MOTTOES_FOR_CONTRACTORS">MOTTOES FOR CONTRACTORS.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#SUNSHINE_IN_THOUGHT3">SUNSHINE IN THOUGHT.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#HOW_THEY_JESTED_IN_THE_GOOD_OLD_TIME">HOW THEY JESTED IN THE GOOD OLD TIME.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#LITERARY_NOTICES">LITERARY NOTICES.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#EDITORS_TABLE">EDITOR'S TABLE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CONTENTS_NO_XV">CONTENTS.—NO. XV.</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="OUR_NATIONAL_FINANCES" id="OUR_NATIONAL_FINANCES"></a>OUR NATIONAL FINANCES.</h2> + + +<p>Our national finances are involved in extreme peril. Our public debt +exceeds $720,000,000, and is estimated by the Secretary of the Treasury, +on the 1st of July next, at $1,122,297,403, and on the 1st of July, +1864, at $1,744,685,586. When we reflect that this is nearly one half +the debt of England, and bearing almost double the rate of interest, it +is clear that we are approaching a fatal catastrophe. Nor is this the +most alarming symptom. Gold now commands a premium of thirty-two per +cent., as compared with legal tender treasury notes, and, with largely +augmented issues, must rise much higher, with a correspondent increase +of our debt and expenditures. Indeed, should the war continue, and there +be no other alternative than additional treasury notes, they will, +before the close of the next fiscal year, fail to command forty cents on +the dollar in gold, and our debt exceed several billions of dollars. +This would result from an immense redundancy and depreciation of +currency, and from the alarm created here and in Europe, as to the +maintenance of the Union, and the ultimate solvency of the Government. +Indeed, our enemies, at home and abroad, the rebels, and their allies in +the North and in Europe, already announce impending national bankruptcy +and repudiation, and there are many devoted patriots who fear such a +catastrophe.</p> + +<p>That the danger is imminent, is a truth which must not be disguised. +Here lies the great peril of the Government. It is not the rebel armies +that can ever overthrow the Union. It is the alarming increase of the +public debt and expenditures, and the still more appalling depreciation +of the national currency, that most imperil the great Republic.</p> + +<p>And is the Union indeed to fall? Are we to be divided into separate +States or many confederacies, each warring against the other, the sport +of foreign oligarchs, the scorn of humanity, the betrayers of the +liberty of our country and of mankind? Can we yet save the Republic? +This is a fearful and momentous question, but it must be answered, and +answered <span class="smcap">NOW</span>. Inaction is syncope. Delay is death. The life of the +Republic is ebbing fast, and the approaching Ides of March may toll the +funeral words, <i>It is too late</i>!</p> + +<p>What then must be done to avert the dread catastrophe? Action, immediate +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>and energetic action, in the field and in Congress. Winter is the best +season for a campaign in the South. On—on—on with the banner of the +Republic, by land and sea, and with all the reinforcements, from the +Ohio and Potomac to the Gulf. On, also, with the necessary measures in +Congress to save our finances from ruin, arrest the depreciation of our +national currency, and restore the public credit. We are upon the verge +of ruin. We are hanging over the gulf of an irredeemable paper system, +and its spectral shade, repudiation, is seen dimly in the dark abyss. +The present Congress may save us; but what of the next? Would they, if +they could? Who can answer? Can they, if they would? No! no! It will +then be <i>too late</i>. Never did any representative assembly encounter so +fearful a responsibility as the present Congress. Each member must vote +as if the fate of the Union and of humanity depended upon his action. He +must rise above the passing clouds of passion and prejudice, of State, +local, or selfish interests, into the serene and holy atmosphere, +illumined by the light of truth, and warmed by the love of his country +and of mankind. His only inquiry must be, What will save the nation? The +allegiance to the Union is paramount, its maintenance 'the supreme law,' +the <i>lex legum</i>, of highest obligation, and he who, abandoning this +principle, follows in preference any real or supposed State policy, is a +secessionist in action, and a traitor to his country and mankind. Should +the catastrophe happen, no such paltry motives will save him from +disgrace and infamy; and, if he be snatched from oblivion, his only +epitaph will be: Here lies a destroyer of the American Union. He did not +destroy it by bullets, but by votes. He did not march against it with +armed battalions; but, a sentinel, he slept on the post of duty, +and—his country fell.</p> + +<p>What, then, can Congress do? They can consider <i>at once</i> this great +financial question, uninterrupted by any other measure, until there +shall have been action complete and decisive. But two months more remain +of the session. Not another day nor hour must be lost. All admit that +something must be done, and done quickly.</p> + +<p>What then is the remedy for our depreciated and depreciating national +currency? The Secretary of the Treasury anticipated the disaster, and +proposed a remedy in 1861. I gave his bank plan then my earnest and +immediate support. Well would it have been for our country if it had +then been adopted, and gold would not now command a premium of +thirty-two per cent. After a year's experience and deliberation, the +Secretary reiterates his former recommendation, with words of solemn +import, and arguments of great force. His is the chief responsibility. +To him is mainly intrusted the custody of the public credit. His is now +the duty of saving us from national bankruptcy. At such a time, I would +differ from him on such a question, only on the clearest convictions, +and then only upon the condition that I had a better plan as a +substitute, and that mine could become a law now, and be carried now +into practical execution. If all this could not be done, I would support +the plan of the Secretary, as all admit that delay or inaction is death. +If my words be too bold or earnest, let them be attributed to my +profound conviction that the American Union is in extreme peril, and +that its downfall involves the final catastrophe of our country and of +our race. Let no man talk of a separation of the Union in any +contingency. Let none speak now of peace or compromise with armed +treason. Let none think of constructing separate nationalities out of +the broken and bleeding fragments of a dismembered Union. No; far better +that our wrecked and blasted earth should swing from its orbit, +disintegrate into its original atoms, and its place remain forever +vacant in the universe, than that we should survive,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> with such memories +of departed glory, and such a burning sense of unutterable infamy and +degradation. Fallen—fallen—fallen! from the highest pinnacle to the +lowest depth, to rise no more forever! What American would wish to live, +and encounter such a destiny? And why fallen? From a cause more damning +than our fate. Fallen, let the truth be told, as history would record, +because faction was stronger than patriotism, and the degenerate sons of +noble sires extinguished the world's last hope, by basely surrendering +the American Union to the foul coalition of slavery and treason. This +rebellion is the most stupendous crime in the annals of our race, and +its projectors and coadjutors, at home or abroad, individual or +dynastic, are doomed to immortal infamy. With its demoniac passions, its +satanic ambition, desecrating the remains of the slain, making goblets +of their skulls, and trinkets of their bones, this revolt is a +heliograph of Dahomey, and Devildom daguerreotyped more vividly than by +Danté or Milton.</p> + +<p>The plan of the Secretary is clear, simple, comprehensive, practical, +and effective. It is the plan of an uniform circulation, furnished by +the Federal Government to banking associations organized by Congress, +securing prompt redemption by the deposit of the same amount of U.S. six +per cent stock in the Federal custody, the principal and interest of +this stock being payable in gold. This plan, with me, is a necessity, +and not a choice. It is the plan of the Secretary, and not mine, and is +therefore supported by me from no vanity of authorship. Nay, more, it +required me to overcome strong prejudices against any bank circulation, +and especially any connected in any way with the Government. It is, +however, a strong recommendation of the plan of the Secretary, that the +proposed connection of the banks with the Government is not political, +and attended with none of the formidable objections to the late Bank of +the United States. Ever since the bank suspension of 1837, I have been a +bullionist, and sustained that doctrine in the Senate of the United +States, and as Secretary of the Treasury. The act establishing the +independent treasury in 1846, was drawn by me, avowedly as a 'specie +receiving and <i>specie circulating</i>' institution, and to restrain +excessive issues by the banks; but it is impossible now to carry that +system into practical execution. The suspension of specie payment by the +banks and the Government, has been forced by the enormous expenditures +of the war, and the sub-treasury, which never was designed for the +custody or disbursement of paper, has been so far virtually superseded. +In acceding now, as in December, 1861, to the Secretary's plan of a bank +circulation, I must be understood as having changed my views in no +respect as to banks, but that I yield to the great emergency, which +renders the support of the war and of the Union paramount to any +question of coin or currency.</p> + +<p>The national disbursements for the present and succeeding fiscal year, +as stated by the Secretary, together with his remarks on that subject, +supersede the necessity of any further argument in proof of the absolute +impossibility of specie payments now by the Government. We are compelled +to resort to paper, and the only question is as to the character and +extent of the issue. It is my opinion that we should limit this paper +currency, as far as practicable, that it may be as little depreciated +now as possible; so that when the rebellion is crushed, the banks and +the Government may resume specie payments at the earliest moment. I +favor the plan of the Secretary mainly because, by arresting +depreciation, it would furnish a currency approaching specie now more +nearly than can be accomplished in any other way, and because, when the +war is over, it provides the best means for a return, in the shortest +possible period, to specie payments. An irredeemable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> paper currency +dissolves contracts, violates good faith, and its history here and in +Europe is a record of financial ruin, bankruptcy, and repudiation, of +frauds, crimes, and demoralization, which no friend of his country or +race can desire to witness. The issue of treasury notes as a legal +tender was favored by me as a <i>necessity</i> super-induced by the +rebellion, and as a substitute for the present bank issues. Such notes +would be depreciated much less when made a legal tender, and, to that +extent, our expenditures would be diminished, and specie payments could, +therefore, be resumed eventually at a much earlier period. Why, then, it +is asked, not continue and extend that system, rather than adopt the +plan recommended by the Secretary? Because, Congress refusing to +prohibit a bank circulation, such increased issues of treasury notes +would cause a further great depreciation of such notes, to that extent +augment our expenditures, and postpone, perhaps indefinitely, the +resumption of specie payments. Gold now commands a premium of thirty-two +per cent., payable in treasury notes; but, if such issues be increased +one half, they would fall to fifty per cent., and, if doubled, to at +least sixty per cent. below specie. At the last rate, if our yearly +expenditures, paid in paper, reached $700,000,000, this would command +but $280,000,000 in gold, thus subjecting the Government to a loss of +$420,000,000 per annum, and at thirty-two per cent. discount, +$224,000,000 per annum. These notes, it is true, bear no interest, which +at six per cent. on $280,000,000, would save $16,800,000 a year. But as +under the Secretary's plan (hereafter developed) the Government would +only pay an annual interest of four per cent. on this loan, the saving +would only be $11,200,000. Deduct this interest thus saved from the +$420,000,000 of increased annual expenditures, arising from such +depreciation of treasury notes, and the result is a net loss of +$408,800,000 per annum to the Government, from the use of such redundant +and depreciated currency. Surely, such a system would soon terminate in +bankruptcy and repudiation, repeating the history of French assignats +and Continental money.</p> + +<p>Nor is it the Government only that suffers from such a disaster, but the +ruin extends to the people. There is no law more clearly established +than this: that the currency of a country bears a certain fixed +proportion to its wealth and business. If we expand the currency beyond +this proportion, we violate this law, and will surely suffer the +terrible penalties of this disobedience. This law is so certain and +invariable, that, if the expansion beyond this proportion should be even +in specie, the result would still be disastrous.</p> + +<p>This was illustrated during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, when +Spain, having opened the virgin mines of America, brought the precious +metals in countless millions within her limits, and restricted their +exportation by the most stringent penalties. And what was the +consequence? Mr. Prescott, of Boston, tells us in his great history, +that 'the streams of wealth, which flowed in from the silver quarries of +Zacatecas and Potosi were jealously locked up within the limits of the +Peninsula.' 'The golden tide, which, permitted a free vent, would have +fertilized the region through which it poured, now buried the land under +a deluge, which blighted every green and living thing. <i>Agriculture</i>, +<i>commerce</i>, <span class="smcap">MANUFACTURES</span>, every branch of national industry and +improvement, languished and fell to decay; and the nation, like the +Phrygian monarch who turned all that he touched into gold, cursed by the +very consummation of its wishes, was poor in the midst of its +treasures.' Such was the effect of violating the law which regulates the +ratio of money to wealth; such the consequence of a superabundant +currency, even in specie. The result was that Spain, which had been the +most prosperous nation of Eu<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>rope, and whose products and manufactures +had supplied the markets of the world, lost nearly all her exports, and +was forced to resort to the prohibitory system. The cost of living, of +working farms, of manufacturing goods, of making and sailing ships, +became so high in Spain, from her superabundant currency, that she was +unable to compete with any other nation, was reduced to poverty, and +never began to recover until 'Spain changed her system, encouraged the +exportation of the precious metals, and thus brought down her +superabundant currency and inflated prices, and thus enabled Spanish +industry to supply the markets of the Peninsula and of the world.' +<i>Then</i>, the distinguished historian tells us, 'the precious metals, +instead of flowing in so abundantly as to palsy the arm of industry, +only served to stimulate it, the foreign intercourse of the country was +every day more widely extended;' 'the flourishing condition of the +nation was seen in the wealth and population of its cities,' etc. It is +a redundant currency, even if gold or convertible into gold, that +produces these evils, although depreciation adds to the disaster.</p> + +<p>What is the effect here of a redundant currency, is ascertained by +reference to our exports. By Treasury Tables 20 and 21, our foreign +imports consumed here in 1836-'7 rose to $168,233,675, being largely +more than double what they were in 1832 ($76,989,793), and nearly double +the consumption, <i>per capita</i>, which was $5.61 in 1832, and $10.93 in +1836. This was our great year of a redundant, although still a +convertible currency, when our imports consumed exceeded our exports of +domestic produce, $61,662,733; and so enhanced was the cost of living +and production here, that we actually imported breadstuffs that year of +the value of $5,271,576. (Table 1, Com. and Nav.) Our bank currency that +year was as follows: Circulation, $149,185,890; deposits, $127,397,185; +circulation and deposits, $276,583,075; loans, $525,115,702. (Treasury +Report, 1838, Doc. 79, tables K. K.) The legitimate result of this +expansion of loans and currency was the great bank suspension of May, +1837, and general bankruptcy throughout the country.</p> + +<p>Now our bank circulation in 1860 was $207,102,477; deposits, +$253,802,129; circulation and deposits, $460,904,606; loans, +$691,495,580. (Table 34, Census of 1860.) Yet our population in 1860 was +more than double that of 1837, and our wealth (the true barometer, +marking the proper rise and fall of our currency) had much more than +quadrupled. (Census Table 35.) The proportion of the currency to wealth +in 1837 was more than double the ratio of 1860. It was not the tariff +that produced the suspension of 1837, for it was <i>much lower</i> in 1860, +than at the date of the bank suspension of 1837.</p> + +<p>By Treasury Table 24, our total exports abroad of domestic produce, +exclusive of specie, from the 30th of September, 1821, to 30th June, +1861, were $5,060,929,667; and, in the year ending the 30th June, 1860, +were $316,242,423. At the same rate of increase from 1860 to 1870, as +from 1850 to 1860, our domestic exports exclusive of specie in the +decade ending the 30th June, 1870, would have exceeded five billions of +dollars, had peace continued and the currency been no more redundant in +proportion to our wealth than in 1860. But with a redundant and +depreciated currency our exports must have been reduced at least one +fourth. What would be the effect on every branch of our industry, may be +learned by looking at Treasury Table 40, showing our domestic exports +for the year ending 30th June, 1861. These exports were, of the products +of our fisheries, $4,451,515; of the forest, $10,260,809; of +agriculture, exclusive of cotton, rice, and tobacco, $100,273,655, and +of our manufactures, $35,786,804. This was mainly from the loyal States. +Now if the foreign markets for our products are re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>duced only one fourth +by the effect of a redundant currency, inflating here the cost of +production and of living, the result would be most disastrous to our +industry. The reduction would be equal, as we have seen, to $125,000,000 +per annum, and $1,250,000,000 in the decade. Our imports would be +reduced in the same proportion, and our revenue from customs in a +corresponding ratio. Supposing the average rate of duties of the present +tariff to be equal to 40 per cent. ad valorem, this would make a +difference in our revenue from customs of $500,000,000 in the decade, +and, including interest not compounded, $635,000,000. And here I deem it +a duty to say to the financial portion of our peace party, especially in +New York, that our redundant and depreciated currency, with our failure +to crush the rebellion, and a consequent dissolution of the Union, would +make repudiation inevitable. We are forced, then, by a due regard to our +material interests, as well as by the higher obligations of honor and +duty, to subdue the revolt and restore the supremacy of the Government +in every State. This we can and must do. It is due to our country and to +the world. It is due to the wounded and mutilated survivors of the +bloody conflict, and to our martyred dead, murdered by the foulest +treason, and in the accursed cause of slavery. No! all this blood and +treasure must not have been poured out in vain. It is a question mainly +of money and persistence. Our armies can and will conquer the rebellion, +if we can and will supply the sinews of war. Our success is much more a +financial than a military question. As regards the result, the Secretary +of the Treasury holds now the most important post in this contest: he is +the generalissimo; and as he is right on this question, and the fate of +the Union is involved, I deem it my duty to give him my earnest and +zealous support.</p> + +<p>Ruinous as must be the effect of a redundant and depreciated currency +upon all industrial pursuits, the injustice to our gallant army and +navy, regulars and volunteers, would be attended with extreme peril. +Upon their courage and endurance we must rely for success. We have +pledged to our brave troops, who are wounded or dying by thousands that +the Union may live, such pay as to enable them while fighting our +battles to make allotments of portions of their money for the support of +their families during their absence. We have promised pensions also. +These are all solemn pledges on the part of our Government, and our +faith is violated if this pay or these pensions are reduced. But there +is no difference between a law directly reducing this pay and these +pensions, and the adoption by Congress of the policy of a redundant and +depreciated currency which will produce the same result. Every vote then +in Congress for such a policy, is a vote to reduce the pay and pensions +for our troops, and to annihilate the allotments made by them for the +support of their families. What effect such a policy must have on our +troops and the maintenance of the Union is but too palpable. It is +disbandment and dissolution. Every such vote is given also to reduce the +value of the wages of labor, and for increased taxation, to the extent, +as we have seen, of $408,800,000 per annum. It is a vote also to reduce +our exports and revenue from customs, to paralyze our industry; and +finally, in its ultimate results, it is a vote against the war, for +repudiation and disunion, and hence every disunionist will oppose the +plan of the Secretary.</p> + +<p>To what extent this redundancy and depreciation will go, by enlarged +issues of legal tender treasury notes, we may learn from the fact that +the banks substitute them for coin for the redemption of their paper. +Now, just in proportion as the issue of treasury notes becomes redundant +and depreciated, will the bank circulation, redeemable in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> such notes, +augment and depreciate also. This is the law of bank circulation as now +forced upon us by Congress. It is the law of redundancy and +depreciation. If this policy is adopted by Congress, an enlarged issue +made of treasury notes, and the plan of the Secretary discarded, our +bank and treasury note circulation, with the war continued, will very +largely exceed one billion of dollars before the close of the next +fiscal year, and both will be depreciated much more than sixty per cent. +Thus, if we should enlarge our issues of legal demand treasury notes to +$500,000,000, and these be made the basis of bank issues, in the ratio +of three to one, our total paper circulation would be $2,000,000,000, +such treasury notes inflating the bank issues, and both depreciating +together. And yet this is the currency in which it is proposed to +conduct the war and the business of the country. The banks alone, by +excessive loans and issues, would grow rich apparently, on the ruin of +their country. But there would be a terrible retribution. The result +would be general insolvency and repudiation, <i>the debts due the banks +would become worthless</i>, and they be involved in the general ruin. It is +then the interest of the banks to sustain the Government and the +Secretary, and to transfer their capital to the new associations. This +is especially the case with the New York banks, which, under a provision +of their State constitution, <span class="smcap">HAVE NO LEGAL EXISTENCE</span>. When repudiation +and bankruptcy become general, the cry, like that of a routed army in a +panic flight, would be raised, <i>Sauve qui peut</i>; we may have again an +old and a new court party, especially under our miserable system of an +elective judiciary; and the banks be crushed by wicked legal devices, as +they were in the West and Southwest in 1824 and 1838.</p> + +<p>Referring to bank issues, the Secretary says, in his last report: 'It +was only when the United States notes, having been made a legal tender, +were diverted from their legitimate use as a currency, and made the +basis of bank circulation, that the great increase of the latter began.' +At the present depreciation of these treasury notes, it is better for +the banks, by one third, to redeem their circulation in these notes, +rather than in specie; and they need keep only one dollar of treasury +notes for three of bank circulation. This is the policy forced upon the +banks by Congress. But the more redundant and depreciated this currency +becomes, the easier will it be for the banks to provide the basis of +redemption, and expand their circulation in the ratio, like that of +specie, of three dollars of bank currency for each dollar of treasury +notes held by them. Thus it is that the enlarged issue of treasury notes +necessarily increases the bank circulation, in the ratio of three to +one, and thus also, that the circulation of bank and treasury notes +becomes redundant and depreciated. Under such a policy, every bank then, +however loyal its stockholders or officers, becomes a citadel, whose +artillery bears with more fearful effect upon the Government than all +the armies of the rebellion. This will soon become obvious, and the +odium will rest upon the banks, their officers and stockholders. But the +real responsibility will be with Congress, who, by such a system will +have arrayed the banks in necessary and inevitable hostility to the +Government. Such, we all know, is not the intention of Congress; but as +this result will necessarily flow from their measures, upon them, in the +end, will fall the terrible responsibility of the disaster. It is this +appalling condition of our finances that gives the rebellion its only +hope of success, and invites foreign intervention. But if Congress will +adopt the policy of the Secretary, they will render certain the triumph +of the Union, and the rebels, from despair and exhaustion, must soon +abandon the contest.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p> + +<p>We have seen how dreadful is the disaster which the banks would bring on +the country by pursuing the present system, and how terrible the odium +to which they would be subjected. But now let us look at the result, if +the plan of the Secretary is adopted. The new banks would become fiscal +agents of the Government. Their circulation would be uniform, furnished +by the Government, and based on U. S. stocks, the principal and interest +of which would be payable in gold. The interest of labor and capital, of +the banks, the Government, and the people, would for the first time +become inseparably united and consolidated. This is a grand result, and +fraught with momentous consequences to the country. Every citizen, +whether a stockholder of the banks or not, would have a direct and +incalculable interest in their success and prosperity. They, the people, +would have this interest, not merely as holding the notes of the banks, +which would become our currency, but because the banks would hold the +stock of the Government, would have loaned it in this way the money to +suppress the rebellion, and thus have saved us from a redundant and +depreciated currency, from inevitable bankruptcy and repudiation, and +have prevented the overthrow of the Union. Each bank would then become a +citadel over which should float the flag of the Union, for each bank +would then become a powerful auxiliary for the support of the Government +and the overthrow of the rebellion.</p> + +<p>The bill divorcing the banks and the Government was drawn by me, as +Secretary of the Treasury, in 1846, to enlarge the circulation of +specie, and restrain excessive issues of bank paper. I go for the +reunion now, as proposed by the Secretary, to enable the Government to +effect loans upon their stock, to prevent a redundant and depreciated +paper currency, with a correspondent increase of expenditures, and to +provide the means, when the war is over, to resume specie payment at the +earliest practicable period. I was for restraining excessive paper +issues then, and so am I now, as far as possible. I carried into full +effect then the divorce of the Government and the banks, against a +terrible opposition from them and the great Whig party. I made the +divorce complete, <i>a vinculo matrimonii</i>: so now I would make the union +complete, so far as proposed by the Secretary, for the interest of the +banks and the Government would be united, and just as you strengthened +the banks and increased their capital and profits, would you fund more +and more treasury notes, and save us from the ruin of a redundant and +depreciated currency.</p> + +<p>The Secretary proposes to make these banks depositories of treasury +notes, received by the Government for all dues except customs. This is +well; for to use the sub-treasury to receive and circulate treasury +notes, is against the object for which it was created. Such deposits +should be secured by U. S. stocks with the Government, and thus largely +increase the demand for this stock. During nearly my first two years as +Secretary of the Treasury, the public moneys were deposited by me in the +State banks, secured by United States and State stocks, and there was no +loss. Nor, indeed, was there any loss or default by any officer, agent, +or employé of the Treasury Department during my entire term of four +years, notwithstanding the large loans and war expenditures.</p> + +<p>Disbursing officers should also deposit with the banks, and pay as +formerly by checks on them, with the same guarantee by them of U. S. +stocks. How far, and to what extent, and under what special provisions +the gold received for customs might be deposited with these banks, may +be the subject of discussion hereafter.</p> + +<p>If this system were adopted in its entirety, the process of absorbing +treasury notes would commence at once, and also a correspondent rise in +their mar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>ket value. The system of loans and funding saved England from +bankruptcy during her long wars with France, and we must resort to +similar expedients. But as loans, in the usual way, except at ruinous +discounts, for any large amounts, are impracticable, we are left to the +alternative of the Secretary's system, or bankruptcy, repudiation, and +disunion.</p> + +<p>I have another suggestion to make as regards these notes furnished by +the Government to the banks, secured by U. S. stocks. These notes are +guaranteed not only by the stock of the Government, but, in addition, by +the whole capital and property, real and personal, of the banks, and a +prior lien on the whole to the Government, to secure the payment of +these notes. These notes are receivable by the Government for all dues +except customs. These notes are a national currency, furnished by the +nation and secured by its stock.</p> + +<p>These notes then, as in England, should be a legal tender in payment of +all debts, except by the banks. As the banks can redeem these issues in +legal tender treasury notes, these issues of the new banks ought to be a +legal tender also, except by the banks.</p> + +<p>There is another reason why this currency should be made a legal tender. +Our two last suspensions of specie payments by the banks, viz., in 1857 +and in 1860, were based upon <i>panics</i>, yet they had the same disastrous +effect, for the time, as if arising from short crops, overtrading, or a +currency greatly redundant. Such panic convulsions are caused mainly by +the call for the redemption of bank notes in specie, based on the fear +of suspension and depreciation. But if such notes, as in European +government banks, were a legal tender, except by the banks, such panics +would be far less frequent here, and less injurious. The present system, +as compared with that of Europe, discriminates most unjustly against our +country. As a general rule, the American creditor cannot demand gold +from the foreign debtor, but such foreign or domestic creditor could +always demand gold from the American debtor. This discrimination has +produced here the most disastrous consequences, and, independent of the +present condition of the country, our whole banking system requires +radical reform. We have had eight <i>general</i> bank suspensions under our +present bank system, many of them continuing for years, and producing +ruin and desolation. Under our present system, to talk, as a general +rule, of well-regulated banks, is to talk of a well-regulated famine or +pestilence, or of a well-regulated earthquake or tornado. And even the +few banks that are claimed to be well managed, have no appreciable +effect on the system. It is the system that knows no uniformity or +security, and never can have, as now organized. That a system so +perilous and explosive, should have even partially succeeded is proof +only of the intelligence and integrity, generally, of the bank officers +and directors, but no recommendation of the system itself.</p> + +<p>The want of uniformity as to commercial regulations, led to the adoption +of our Federal Constitution; and yet we have no uniformity as to money, +which represents commerce and effects its interchanges. In this respect, +we are still suffering all the evils of the old confederacy, and have +thereby so weakened the Government as to have invited this rebellion. +Indeed, the State banks in the revolted States were the main auxiliaries +of treason and secession, and supplied, to a vast extent, the sinews of +war. By Census Table 34, there were in 1860, 1,642 banks, incorporated +by thirty-four States, with no uniformity of organization, issues, or +security. Thus is it that the States have usurped the power to regulate +commerce and currency, and to emit bills of credit, in defiance of the +prohibition of the Federal Constitution. The Egyptians abandoned their +folly after seven plagues; but we have had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> eight bank convulsions, and +yet we adhere to the wretched system.</p> + +<p>I believe it was slavery caused the rebellion, but, in the absence of +powerful aid from the Southern banks, the revolted States could never +have maintained so prolonged a contest. Organized as now proposed, these +new banks, and all who held their notes, must have sustained the +Government. Nations expend millions yearly in erecting forts and +maintaining, even in peace, large armies and navies to preserve the +Government. But necessary as these may be, they would not be more +important than the system now proposed as a security for the +preservation of the Government.</p> + +<p>My last suggestion is, that as regards all such United States loans, as +during the war shall become the basis of this system, the time of +payment shall be made twenty years instead of five, so as, with the +modifications above proposed, to insure the coöperation of the banks, +and the success of the system. As this plan is deemed essential to save +our finances, to suppress the rebellion, and maintain the Union, why +incur any hazard on such a question as this? In all our wars, including +the present, we have issued bonds running twenty years to maturity, and +the bonds, redeemable in 1881, are scarcely at par. Why, then, issue a +stock of less value, which may fail to accomplish the great object, when +a better security would certainly succeed? I fully agree in the opinion +expressed by the Secretary, against 'a fixed interest of six per cent. +on a great debt, for twenty years,' if it can be avoided; but I also +concur in that portion of his report in which he says: 'No very early +day will probably witness the reduction of the public debt to the amount +required as a basis for secured circulation.' To that extent, then, +would I enlarge the time for the maturity of the bonds. Surely, if this +be necessary to secure the coöperation of the banks, and the capital of +the country, there should be no hesitation. Even if the system, based +only on the bonds of short date, should ultimately succeed, the loss, in +the interim, from a redundant and depreciated currency, would far exceed +any benefit derived from the substitution of five-twenties for twenty +year bonds. By Census Table 35, our wealth in 1850, was $7,135,780,228, +and in 1860, $16,159,616,068, the ratio of increase during the decade +being 126.45 per cent.; at which rate, our wealth in 1870 would be +$36,583,450,585, and in 1880, $82,843,222,849. Surely, then, at these +periods, it would be much easier to liquidate this debt than in 1867. +But, were it otherwise, the immediate gain from decreased expenditures, +arising from funding more rapidly our treasury notes, thus rendering our +currency less redundant and depreciated, with the revival of the public +credit, and its immediate happy influence, North and South, here and in +Europe, would far more than compensate for any contingent advantage +arising from short loans. Our twenty years' loan is now barely at par, +and the five-twenties below par. The difficulty of inducing bank and +other capital to invest hundreds of millions of dollars under the new +system is very great. Is it wise to commence the effort, confined to our +weakest securities, now below par? Besides, considering the old and new +debts, and constantly increasing responsibilities, is there any prospect +that we will have liquidated all these before the end of five years, and +the five-twenty loan also? Surely, upon a benefit so doubtful, and a +contingency so improbable, we ought not to risk the fate of a measure on +which depends the safety of the Union. But if we could pay off the +five-twenty loan held by the new banks, is it prudent to assume that so +many hundred millions of capital will be withdrawn from the present +banks and other business for investment in the new banks, which may +cease at the end of five years by payment of the bonds? The change from +the old to the new banks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> may involve some loss at first, but, if the +system may be arrested at the end of five years, just when profits might +be realizing, the plan could scarcely succeed. When the Secretary first +proposed this system in December, 1861, he probably would have succeeded +with the five-twenties, in the condition at that date of the public +credit. But the disastrous fall of our securities since that date, seems +now to require bonds of a higher value.</p> + +<p>I would then provide a twenty years loan, for all that may be made the +basis of the new bank circulation. But it is not a six, but only a four +per cent. twenty years' loan that is proposed, by deducting one per +cent. semi-annually from the interest of the bonds made the basis of +this bank circulation. This deduction would only be a fair equivalent +for the expenses incurred by the Government in furnishing the +circulation, for the release of taxes, for the deposit of public moneys +with these banks, for making their notes a legal tender, and receiving +them for all dues except customs. The tax on all other bank circulation +should be one and a half per cent. semi-annually, secured by adequate +penalties.</p> + +<p>If, under this system, during this stupendous rebellion, involving the +existence of the Government, with armies and expenditures unexampled in +history, the Secretary (as, with the aid of Congress and the banks, I +believe he can) should secure us a sound and uniform currency, and +negotiate vast loans, running twenty years, at par, the Government +paying only four per cent. interest per annum, he will have accomplished +a financial miracle, and deserved a fame nearest to that of the first +and greatest of his predecessors, the peerless Hamilton.</p> + +<p>The bill organizing the new system, presented in Congress by Mr. Hooper +last summer, is drawn with great ability, and it is much to be deplored, +that (with some amendments) it had not then become a law, when it could +have been much more easily put in operation, and would have saved +hundreds of millions of dollars to the Government.</p> + +<p>But the fifty-fifth section of that bill provides that all the banks +organized under it are to become 'depositaries of the public moneys,' +excepting those in 'the city of Washington.' Why this discrimination? If +there be any place where banks, organized under a national charter, +issuing a national currency, and receiving national deposits, should be +encouraged, it is here. With no discrimination against them, such banks +would be established here with considerable capital. And why not? It +cannot be intended to discourage the establishment of such banks here, +and thus defeat, to that extent, the success of the system. It is here, +if anywhere, that such banks should receive the public deposits, where +they could be constantly secured from day to day under the immediate +supervision of the Government. Besides, the only effect of such a +discrimination would be to drive such banks to Georgetown, Alexandria, +or some other speculative site outside the city or District. This city +has just been consecrated to freedom by Congress, and it is hoped that, +in commencing its new career, no discrimination will be made against it. +Indeed, I think it would be wise, in order to insure the success here of +the new system, to allow the district banks organized under this law to +receive the same rate of interest as is permitted in New York.</p> + +<p>I have contended, during the last fourth of a century, that all State +bank currency is unconstitutional. This rebellion will demonstrate the +truth of that proposition, and the question ultimately be so decided by +the Supreme Court of the United States. This, it is true, might require +some of those Judges, if then living, to change their opinion on some +points; but this has been done before, and even on constitutional +questions; and State banks will fall before judicial action, as well<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> as +nullification, State allegiance, secession, and the whole brood of +kindred heresies.</p> + +<p>A republic which cannot regulate its currency, or which leaves that +power with thirty-four separate States, each legislating at its pleasure +and without uniformity, abandons an essential national authority, and +this abdication has furnished one of the main supports of the rebellion. +With nothing but a national currency, the revolted States never could +have successfully inaugurated this war, and we must deprive them in all +time to come of this terrible ally of treason. To permit the States to +provide the circulating medium, the money of the country, is to enable +them to furnish the sinews of war, and clothe them with a power to +overthrow the Government.</p> + +<p>With only such a national currency as is now proposed, issued by the +Government to these banks, organized by Congress, and based on the +deposit in the Federal treasury of United States stock, the rebellion +would have been impossible. Our Government was so mild and benignant, +that we deemed it exempt from the assault of traitors; but this revolt +has dissipated this delusion, and warned us to provide all the +safeguards indicated by experience as necessary to maintain the Union. +Among the most important is the resumption by the Government of the +great sovereign function of regulating the currency and giving to it +uniformity and nationality. Such was clearly the intention of the +Constitution. The Government has, by the Constitution, the <i>exclusive</i> +power 'to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several +States.' But commerce is <i>regulated</i> mainly by money, and by it all +interstate and international exchanges of products are made. If the +currency is redundant, prices rise, exports are diminished; and the +reverse follows with a contracted circulation. But banks inflate or +restrict the currency at their pleasure, and thus control prices, +commerce, exports, imports, and revenue. But they also destroy or +depreciate the money of the Government, and deprive it of a vital power. +Thus, the nation issues treasury notes, and makes them a legal tender: +the banks immediately make such notes the basis of bank issues, in the +ratio of three to one, and the whole currency necessarily becomes +redundant and depreciated; and thus this essential power of the +Government is controlled by the States, and, for all practical purposes, +annihilated.</p> + +<p>Chief Justice Marshall, in delivering the unanimous opinion of the +Supreme Court of the United States (4 Wheaton 193), said: 'Wherever the +terms in which a power is granted to Congress, or the nature of the +power require that it should be exercised exclusively by Congress, the +subject is as completely taken from the State Legislatures as if they +had been forbidden to act on it.' Now, it has been decided by the +Supreme Court of the United States (9 Wheaton 1) that, this power to +<i>regulate commerce</i> extends to the <i>land</i>, as well as to the <i>water</i>, +that it includes <i>intercourse and navigation</i>, and vessels, as vehicles +of commerce, that it includes an <i>embargo</i> which is prohibitory, that +this power is '<span class="smcap">EXCLUSIVELY</span> vested in Congress,' and '<i>no part of it can +be exercised by a State</i>.' Now, the question, whether the notes of a +State bank, issued on the authority of a State, and designed to +circulate as money, conflicts with <i>this clause</i> of the Constitution, +has <i>never been decided by the Supreme Court of the United States</i>. This +is a new and momentous question, never yet adjudicated by the Supreme +Court; but how they would now decide that point, with the light thrown +upon it by this rebellion, I cannot doubt.</p> + +<p>The Government also has the sole power to lay and collect <i>duties</i>, +which 'shall be uniform throughout the United States,' and the States +are prohibited from exercising this authority. But this power also is in +fact controlled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> by the banks, and the revenue from imports increased or +diminished, according to their action. Indeed, they can modify or repeal +tariffs at their pleasure, for, they have only to inflate the +circulation, and prices rise here to the extent of the duties, and the +tariff becomes inoperative. Of all the branches of our industry, the +manufacturing is injured most by a redundant currency, limiting our +fabrics to a partial supply at home, and driving them from the foreign +market. Give us a sound, stable, uniform currency, sufficient but not +redundant, and our skilled, educated, and intelligent labor will, in +time, defy all competition. But the banks, as now conducted, are the +great enemies of American industry.</p> + +<p>The Government has also the <i>sole</i> power 'to coin money, regulate the +value thereof,' etc. But the banks now regulate its value by controlling +prices, by substituting their money for coin, and by expelling it from +the country at their pleasure. Recollect, these powers over commerce and +money are <i>exclusive</i>, not concurrent, so adjudicated, and the +Constitution, in delegating them exclusively to the Government, withheld +them altogether from the States. The conceded fact that these powers are +<i>exclusive</i>, proves that the States cannot, by any instrumentality, +directly or indirectly, control their exercise. An exclusive authority +necessarily forbids any control or interference. But there are express +prohibitions in the Constitution as well as grants. That instrument +declares that 'no <i>State</i> shall emit <i>bills of credit</i>.' The State +itself cannot emit circulating paper: how then can it authorize this to +be done by a State corporation, which is the mere creature of a State +law? The State cannot authorize its <i>Governor</i> to issue such paper: how +then can it direct a <i>cashier</i>, deriving all his power only from a State +law, to do the same thing? <i>Qui facit per alium, facit per se</i>, and this +fundamental maxim of law and reason is violated when a State does +through any instrumentality, created by it, what the State cannot do +itself.</p> + +<p>It is true that a majority of the Supreme Court of the United States, in +11 Peters 257, did decide that the Bank of the Commonwealth of Kentucky +did not violate that clause of the Constitution forbidding States to +'emit bills of credit,' but Justice Story, in his dissenting opinion, +said: 'When this cause was formerly argued before this court, a majority +of the judges who then heard it were decidedly of opinion that the act +of Kentucky establishing this bank was unconstitutional and void, as +amounting to an authority to emit bills of credit, for and on behalf of +the State, within the prohibition of the Constitution of the United +States. In principle, it was thought to be decided by the case of Craig +<i>v</i>. the State of Missouri (4 Peters 410). Among that majority was the +late Chief Justice Marshall.' This decision, then, in the case of the +Bank of Kentucky, is overthrown, <i>as an authority</i>, by the fact that it +was against the decision of the Supreme Court in a former case, and +against the opinion of a majority of the court in that very case before +the death of Chief Justice Marshall. In delivering the opinion of the +court in the Missouri case (4 Peters 410), Chief Justice Marshall +defined what is that <i>bill of credit</i> which a <i>State cannot emit</i>. He +says: 'If the prohibition means anything, if the words are not empty +sounds, it must comprehend the emission of <i>any paper medium</i> by a State +Government, for the purpose of <i>common circulation</i>.' And he also says: +'Bills of credit signify a <i>paper medium</i>, intended to <i>circulate</i> +between individuals, and between Government and individuals, for the +ordinary purposes of society.' That the notes of the Bank of Kentucky +came within this definition and decision, is clearly stated by Justice +Story. In that case also it was expressly decided, that if the issues be +unconstitutional, <i>the notes given for the loan of them</i> <span class="smcap">ARE VOID</span>. It is +said, how<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>ever, that the bills are issued by a bank, not by the State; +but the bank is created by the State, and authorized by the State to +issue these notes, to circulate as money. In the language of Chief +Justice Marshall, in this case, 'And can this make any real difference? +Is the proposition to be maintained that the Constitution meant to +prohibit names and not things?' On this subject, Justice Story says: +'That a State may rightfully evade the prohibitions of the Constitution +by acting through the <i>instrumentality of agents</i> in the evasion, +instead of acting in its <i>own direct name</i>, is a doctrine to which I can +never subscribe,' etc. I am conscious that Justice Story also said in +the same case, <i>arguendo</i>: 'the States may create banks as well as other +corporations, upon <i>private capital</i>; and, <span class="smcap">SO FAR AS THIS PROHIBITION IS +CONCERNED</span>, may rightfully authorize them to issue bank bills or notes as +currency, subject always to the <i>control of Congress</i>, whose powers +extend to the <i>entire regulation of the currency of the country</i>.' It +will be observed, that Justice Story gives no opinion as to whether the +issues of such banks are constitutional, whether they conflict or not +with the power of Congress to regulate coin or commerce. He only says +(and the limitation is most significant), they do not violate the +prohibition as to bills of credit (from which I dissent); but he does +declare that to Congress belongs '<i>the entire regulation of the +currency</i>.' Now this power must rest on the authority of Congress to +regulate coin and commerce. But these powers, we have seen, were not +concurrent, but <i>exclusive</i>; and, in the language of Chief Justice +Marshall, in delivering the unanimous opinion of the Supreme Court in +the case before quoted from 4 Wheaton 193, as to any such power that +'should be exercised <i>exclusively</i> by Congress, the subject is as +<i>completely</i> taken from the State Legislature as if they had been +<i>forbidden to act on it</i>.' All then who agree that Congress has 'the +entire regulation of the currency,' must admit that all banks of issue +incorporated by States are unconstitutional, not because such issues are +bills of credit, but because they violate the exclusive authority of +Congress to regulate commerce, coin, and its value. I repeat, that while +this question has never been adjudicated by the Supreme Court, yet, if +their decision in fourth and ninth Wheaton is maintained, such bank +issues are clearly unconstitutional. It is clear, also, whatever may be +the case of bank issues, based only 'upon private capital,' or, in the +language of Judge Story, 'if the corporate stock, and that only by the +charter, is made liable for the debts of the bank,' yet, if the bank +issues are based on the 'funds' or 'credit' of the State, such issues do +violate the prohibition against bills of credit. Such bank issues, then, +as are furnished and countersigned by State officers, acting under State +laws, and are secured by the deposit with the State of its own stock, +are most clearly unconstitutional.</p> + +<p>In No. 44 (by Hamilton) of the <i>Federalist</i>, the great contemporaneous +exposition of the Constitution (prepared by Hamilton, Madison, and Chief +Justice Jay of the Supreme Court of the United States), it is said: 'The +same reasons which show the necessity of denying to the States the power +of regulating coin, prove with equal force that they ought not to be at +liberty to substitute a paper medium instead of coin.' Such was the +opinion of the two great founders of the Constitution (Hamilton and +Madison), and its first judicial expositor, the eminent Chief Justice +Jay. Justice Story quotes and approves this remarkable passage, and says +'that the prohibition was aimed at a <i>paper medium</i> which was intended +to <i>circulate as money</i>, and to that alone.'</p> + +<p>In his message of December 3, 1816, President Madison, referring +expressly to a <i>bank</i> and <i>paper</i> medium, said: 'It is essential that +the nation should pos<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>sess a currency of equal value, credit, and use, +wherever it may circulate. The Constitution has entrusted Congress +<i>exclusively</i> with the power of <i>creating</i> and <i>regulating</i> a currency +of that description.'</p> + +<p>This rebellion proves the awful danger of State violations of the +Federal Constitution. The rebellion is the child of State usurpation, +State supremacy, State allegiance, and State secession. And now the +Government is paralyzed financially, in its efforts to suppress the +rebellion, by a question as to State banks, depreciating the currency, +and State banks based on State stocks. The Government wishes a currency, +not redundant, and to borrow money to save the Union. But one State +says, we have placed all our surplus money in State banks, and another +State (as in the case of New York) says, we have based the circulation +of these banks, mainly on our own State bonds, and you must do nothing +which will injuriously affect their value. It is true the Union is in +danger, but are not the credit of State banks and State bonds of higher +value than the Union? The State first, the Union afterwards. Our +paramount duty is to our State, and that to the Union is subordinate. +Why, this is the very language of rebellion—the echo of South Carolina +treason. But it is not the language of the Constitution, which declares +that "This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall +be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be +made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law +of the land: and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, +anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary +notwithstanding."</p> + +<p>The <i>supremacy</i> then, is with the Federal Constitution and laws; +otherwise there could be no uniformity or nationality. And does New York +suppose that she can tear down the temple of the Union, and that the +principal pillar which supported the arch will stand firm and erect? No! +if the Union falls, New York will only be the most conspicuous among the +broken columns.</p> + +<p>But New York knows that the path of interest is that of honor and of +duty. It is the Union only that has made her great. It is the +concentration by the Union of interstate and international commerce in +her great city, that was consummating its imperial destiny. Before the +Union of 1778 and 1787, New York city was the village of Manhattan: +destroy the Union, and she will again become little more than the +village of Manhattan. The trident of the ocean, the sceptre of the +world's commerce would fall from her grasp, and London be left without a +rival. Deprive the Government of the power to regulate commerce, and the +fall of New York will be as rapid as her rise. Each State then, as +before the Constitution, would control its own commerce, and the +railroads and canals of New York would cease to be the vehicles of the +trade of the nation and of the world. Each State, as under the old +Confederacy, would force commerce into her own ports by prohibitory or +discriminating statutes. No, when New York takes from the Union the +exclusive control of commerce, she commits suicide. One uniform +regulation of commerce, and one uniform currency, are more essential to +the prosperity of New York than to that of any other State. New York +represents interstate and international commerce. There are concentrated +our imports and exports, and there three fourths of our revenue is +collected. There, if the Union endures, must be the centre of the +commerce of the nation and of the world. If the rebellion succeeds, the +separation of the East and West is just as certain as that of the North +and South. Discord would reign supreme, and States and parts of States +become petty sovereignties, mere pawns, to be moved on the po<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>litical +chess board by the kings and queens of Europe.</p> + +<p>As New York has derived the greatest benefits from the Union, so would +she suffer most from its fall. It is New York to whom the Union +transferred the command of her own commerce, and ultimately that of the +world. It is New York to which England looks as the future successful +rival of London, and it is New York at whom England chiefly aims the +blow in desiring to overthrow the Union. The interest of New York in the +price of bank or State stock is insignificant compared with her still +greater stake in the success of the Union. Indeed, if the Union should +fall, State and bank stock and all property will be of little value, and +bank debts will generally become worthless.</p> + +<p>But if the war continues, we have seen that a redundant and depreciated +currency would increase our expenditures $408,800,000 per annum. This +would require a like addition to our annual tax, of which the share of +New York would be over $50,000,000, and the share of every other State +in like proportion to its population.</p> + +<p>By Treasury Table 35, the stocks, State and Federal, held by the New +York banks in 1860, was $29,605,318, the circulation $28,239,950, and +the capital $111,821,957. Thus it appears that the increased tax to be +paid <i>annually</i> by New York, as the consequence of a redundant and +depreciated currency, would be nearly double her whole bank circulation, +and that thirteen months of this increased tax to be paid by the nation, +would largely exceed the whole capital of all the banks of the United +States in 1860. (Census Table 35.) These are the frightful results of an +irredeemable, redundant, and depreciated currency.</p> + +<p>Such a course, on the part of a Government, which must make large +purchases, resembles that of an individual who wishes to buy largely on +his own credit and paper, but depreciates it so much as to compel him to +pay quadruple prices, the result being bankruptcy and repudiation.</p> + +<p>There is great hope in the fact that New York takes no contracted view +of this great question. She knows that her imperial destiny is +identified with the fate of the Union. Realizing this great truth, she +has more troops in the field than any other State, she has expended more +money and more blood than any other State to suppress this rebellion, +and she will never array State stocks or State banks in hostility to the +safety of the Union.</p> + +<p>And what of Pennsylvania, that glorious old Commonwealth, so many of +whose noble sons, cut off mostly in the morning of life, now fill graves +prepared by treason? Is she to become a border State, and her southern +boundary the line of blood, marked by frowning forts, by bristling +bayonets, by the tramp of contending armies, engaged in the carnival of +slaughter, and revelry of death? Is New England to be re-colonized, and +the British flag again to float over the chosen domain of freedom? What +of the small States, deprived of the secured equality and protective +guarantees of the Constitution, to be surely crushed by more powerful +communities? What of the West? Is it to be cut off from the seaboard, +and rendered tributary to the maritime power? What of the States of the +Pacific? Are they to lose the great imperial railways destined, under +the Union, to connect them with the valley of the Mississippi and the +Atlantic? But alas! why look at any of the bleeding and mutilated +fragments, when all will be involved in a common ruin?</p> + +<p>May a gracious Providence give us all, the wisdom to discern what is +best for our beloved country, in this her day of fearful trial, and the +courage and patriotism to adopt whatever course is best calculated to +save us from impending ruin!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="A_TRIP_TO_ANTIETAM" id="A_TRIP_TO_ANTIETAM"></a>A TRIP TO ANTIETAM.</h2> + + +<p>The great battle of the Antietam had been fought, and a veteran army was +gathered around Harper's Ferry recruiting for fresh campaigns. Here was +a chance to see a battle field and warriors to be celebrated for all +time. From childhood up we have been taught history; and all history, +except some few dry constitutional treatises, has been accounts of great +commanders, of the marches and retreats of bronzed soldiers, of empires +won by the sword, of dynasties established by conquests. Our hymn book, +our clergymen, and our Bible have exhorted us to be soldiers of the +cross, to buckle on our armor, and to fight the good fight, even when +turning the other cheek when smitten on the one. Now this opportunity to +see actual history, a battle field, and veteran troops, and great +leaders whose names are to be household words, could not be resisted; +so, taking a couple of blankets apiece, and a few clothes, and money +wherewith to pay our way, we started by rail for Baltimore, and thence +for the army.</p> + +<p>Around Baltimore were several regiments. Those that we visited were of +the recent levies, and were improving fast in discipline and drill. They +were placed in strong positions to prevent a rebel attack from the west, +and to command the city. The stars and stripes floated over houses in +all parts of the town. We met a little company of boys seven miles out +playing soldier, with the star-spangled banner, a cheering sign of the +loyalty of the place.</p> + +<p>At Baltimore my friend and I took seats in the car for Harper's Ferry. +The train was crowded with a most miscellaneous set of passengers, +officers of all grades, from general with stars to second lieutenant +with plain bands, common soldiers, sutlers, Jews, and country people. +Some of the Jews, after a time, became the most noisy part of the crowd, +and belied their proverbial reputation for shrewdness by imbibing from +bottles, which they circulated very freely, becoming very talkative, and +most decidedly drunk. The most interesting companion we met was a member +of the Maryland House of Representatives, a very sensible man, and of +course a strong Unionist. He did not approve of the President's +emancipation proclamation; thought it would alienate Union men in the +Border States, and made other objections to it. He informed us that his +negroes were of no profit to him; that the proclamation had made them +believe they would all be free; that they did pretty much what they +chose; and that Maryland would have to accede to the President's advice +to the Union Border States to emancipate their slaves and receive +compensation for so doing.</p> + +<p>The railroad, after leaving the Relay House, runs along the Patapsco +river, amid most beautiful scenery. We passed numerous trains with +Government stores—one of baggage cars fitted up with rough seats and +crowded inside and on the top with a regiment of Uncle Sam's bluecoats, +cheering and singing as new troops only do. There were no signs of the +devastations of war until we approached the Monocacy river. During their +campaign in Maryland, the rebels at one time made this river their line +of defence: it was supposed that they would make here a stand against +McClellan's advance from Washington. They had burnt the woodwork of the +bridge, twisted the long iron rods of the structure to one side, +destroyed all the railroad building, engines, and cars they could lay +hands on, and had done everything to retard our force. A new bridge had +now been recently built, over which we were obliged to pass<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> slowly. +Immediately after leaving the river, the road branched, one track +leading to Frederick, then an immense hospital containing seven thousand +wounded soldiers, the other keeping on and striking the Potomac at the +Point of Rocks. We saw soldiers and sentries at several places, but were +surprised that we did not see more. The road keeps close to the river +for some miles to Harper's Ferry. On the other side the ground was +frequently occupied by the enemy's pickets; the difficulty of +approaching the river being the only impediment to the shelling of +trains on our side. The Potomac was unusually low; there had been a long +season of dry, beautiful weather, rendering it fordable in many places.</p> + +<p>At the Point of Rocks we enter upon the mountains of the Blue Ridge, and +the railroad winds in the deep valley worn by the river, amid the most +picturesque and beautiful scenery. The canal is between the railroad and +river: its locks had been destroyed and the water drained out by the +rebel hordes; for it is a great artery of life to Washington, and +invaluable to an army encamped along its borders, furnishing +economically the transportation of the great supplies necessary for the +soldiers' subsistence. At this time it seemed of no use except as a +depository for the carcasses of dead horses.</p> + +<p>With the exception of this dismal empty canal, there were very few signs +of the ravages of the armies which had lately swept through these +charming valleys. A few miles from Harper's Ferry, by the side of the +railroad, were great hayricks, and the barns were full to overflowing. +As we approached Sandy Hook, a village of a few houses on the north side +of the Potomac, about a mile from Harper's Ferry, we saw on the road, +which ran close to the railroad track, thousands of the blue-bodied, +white-topped army wagons. In the most crowded thoroughfare of London one +would not see so many teams. From this neighborhood the great army of +the Potomac drew the most of its supplies. The ninth army corps was +moving this day to its camp, two or three miles northward; and part of +its cannon, their brazen throats still tarnished by sulphurous smoke, +added to the throng. It is surprising how large a portion of the army is +composed of these baggage trains, and of the camp followers, teamsters, +servants, and sutlers. A regiment of infantry, under the little shelter +tents is crowded, into a small space; but the bulky baggage trains cover +much ground. We spent the best part of a day, in going to and returning +from the army, in the neighborhood of a small wayside tavern in this +little village of Sandy Hook, with no other amusement than watching the +moving of the teamsters, chatting with stray officers and soldiers, and +seeing what may be called the back-stair life of the army. And we wish +here to protest against the abuse which has been so abundantly heaped +upon the teamsters: we found them, as a class, a respectable body of +men, quite skilful in the management of their animals, comparing well +with those in the same occupation in our great cities: there was +certainly not so much swearing, and not so much abuse of their mules and +horses, as one sees in New York. I remember their kind attention to me, +some days afterward, when, in my impatience to get by a long train of +teams filling up a little country road, I had imprudently urged my horse +on to a ledge of rocks, where he, not being an old warhorse, hesitated, +slipped, and fell flat on his side, among the mules of one of the +wagons; and, as the horse, with my leg under him, was rolling to recover +himself, the anxiety of the teamsters as to whether I was hurt, and then +as to my horse, a fine animal, who had cut himself a little on the +rocks. Their proffered assistance was very different from the oaths I +should have met under similar circumstances in some Northern cities.</p> + +<p>The army wagons are large, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> great white cotton coverings, and +generally drawn by six mules: the driver, usually a colored man, rides +the first nigh mule, and has <i>one</i> rein, called the 'jerky rein,' +running over the head of the mule before him, through a ring fastened to +his headstall, and dividing on the back of the leader, and fastening to +his bit. The mule is directed to one side or another by the driver +twitching the rein and shouting. There were some few wagons driven from +the box, but in all these cases that we noticed, the animals were +horses, four in number, and their drivers were white. The mules and +horses were generally in good condition, and quite a contrast to those +in the cavalry service, which, even in a crack regiment, like the sixth +regular, presented a most sorry appearance of overwork and terribly hard +usage. The baggage trains and camp followers are a necessary portion of +every army, and its efficiency depends in a great measure upon the +perfect organization of this essential part. In the French army this +organization is carried to a high degree of perfection. A small army of +ten or twenty thousand men can get along with a fewer proportional +number of followers, as it lives more upon the country, than a great +army of one hundred thousand.</p> + +<p>Every regiment has its own baggage wagons to carry its tents, cooking +apparatus, officers' mess chests, and personal baggage. At the beginning +of the war, each of the Massachusetts regiments was fitted out with from +fifteen to twenty-four wagons. A recent United States regulation has +limited the number to six for one regiment. The personal baggage of the +regiments, however, forms a small part of the great transportation of an +army. The spare ammunition is no small matter; every cannon having a +supply of round shot, shell, canister, and grape: all these may be +needed by each piece in a battle, as the shot used depends upon the +distance of the foe. A full regiment of infantry may fire in one battle +sixty thousand rounds of ammunition, weighing nearly three tons. The +pontoon trains, the baggage of the staff, the forage for the horses of +the artillery and of the generals, field officers, and their staffs, the +food of the army, and the food and forage for this further army of camp +followers—all have to be transported. The cavalry are expected to +forage for their horses from off the country; all the rest have to be +provided for. To carry the subsistence of a regiment of nine hundred men +for one day, requires one of the six-mule teams: for a march of twenty +days there must be twenty wagons. One will see from this that, next to +the general, the quartermaster has the great post of responsibility. He +has to see that all the supplies are obtained and forwarded to the right +place. He commands all these countless wagons with their teamsters. It +is also his duty, when on the march, to pick out the camp, unless the +general may take it from out of his hands. The army, as a general thing, +will not fight well unless it is well fed and well cared for. To assist +him, the quartermaster has his necessary clerks, for he carries on a +large business, with Uncle Sam as his principal, and he must account to +him for every pound of coffee, bacon, flour, and hay, barrel of vinegar, +keg of nails, tent or tent pin that he receives, and finally return +them, or tell him satisfactorily where they have gone, and produce his +vouchers; or he and his bondsmen must pay their value. All this is done +by system and rule: there are mounted wagonmasters to look out for every +small string of wagons, and some sort of discipline prevails among these +non-enlisted men. A great army must be a moving city, capable of +subsisting itself in the uncultivated and desert regions through which +it often passes. Every cavalry soldier carries his spare horseshoes and +nails; and every cavalry regiment and every battery of artillery has its +own forge, tools, and materials for shoeing its horses and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> making +repairs: even the quartermaster's train must have its blacksmiths and +their supplies.</p> + +<p>In travelling down the Rhone during the Crimean war, I was vainly trying +to make out the meaning of the letters on the military button of an +officer sitting before me; when one of his companions, who happened to +be at my side, a well-educated, intelligent man, good-naturedly informed +me that they indicated that the wearer belonged to the bureau of the +post. He and several others on the boat had been educated for this +branch of the service at a military school in Paris, and were en route +for the sole purpose of taking charge of this department. We have not +arrived at this perfection; for ours, after all, in many respects, is an +army of volunteers; but still a messenger had to go every day to +Washington for the letters of the army corps, and the telegraph and its +wires travel with the camp. The officers' servants alone, in an army of +a hundred and fifty thousand men, number more than the thirty-nine +hundred soldiers the city of Boston has to raise for her proportion of +the levy of nine-months men. The number of servants and horses of an +officer depends upon his rank; he draws subsistence for the number +allowed to him. A mere cavalry captain can draw for and usually has two +horses. His horses and trappings, his mess, must be cared for by others; +and hence the thousands of servants that must go with the thousands of +officers.</p> + +<p>But let us pass from this, which is common to every army, and proceed on +our journey. The easily pulverized, light, clayey soil around Sandy Hook +was raised in huge clouds by the countless wagons and the hoofs of the +horses of the squads of cavalry officers, couriers, and wagonmasters. +The little tavern was once, the old woman who kept it assured us, +surrounded by a pretty fence, and a garden with grass and flowers: now +the fence was half gone, and to its pickets were tied the horses of +officers, quartermasters, baggagemasters, and orderlies, and the flowers +were trampled into light dust. The provisions in the house had been +eaten by hungry travellers, who were supplied with very scanty fare, and +were thankful to get that. The old woman, having dealt out to us the +little she had left, for which she demanded most abundant compensation, +amused us with her tales. Her house had been alternately the home of +Unionists and rebels. It was not many days since divisions of rebels had +gone by and encamped there, both before and after the surrender of +Harper's Ferry. The shells fired in that fight had passed over her +tavern. Her description of the hungry, tired troopers, arriving in the +evening, and surrounding the house, the men falling down asleep under +their horses' bellies, horses and men packed in together as thick as a +swarm of bees, was quite graphic. Her accounts of her conversations with +the great rebel leaders were interesting, but I feared were apocryphal, +as she ended by assuring us that General Lee had to sleep supperless on +her woodpile. If it were not for this last tale, kind reader, you would +have been entertained with the conversations of the great chiefs of +rebeldom, as related by a reliable witness. We did hear from her, and +from officers who saw the rebel soldiers at Harper's Ferry, of the +pitiable condition of some of the infantry, of their naked, bleeding +feet, and their gaunt looks. Our landlady affirmed that we could not +find a dog in the neighborhood; for they had gone before the rebel +hordes in the way that such flesh disappears before the Chinese and +Pacific Islanders. It is probably true that at times they were hard +pressed for food, and many badly off for shoes; but we were told by +officers who saw the dead at Antietam that, though not so well shod as +our men, they were shod, and they had provisions in their haversacks. +The rebels have flour dealt out to them as rations on the march, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +they have to cook it. Our troops have hard biscuit, called 'tack;' it is +made in squares, and some which was fresh was very good; but it often +comes to the regiments with maggots. This is not so much objected to; +but when, in addition, it is mouldy, the men grumble. By the side of the +fresh tack were some Sandy Hook veteran biscuit, that had been through +the Peninsular campaign, and had come last from Harrison's Landing; the +outside of the boxes was enough to condemn them, and the commissary was +saying that he must get Uncle Sam's inspector-general to examine and +pass upon them. When we saw this hard, mouldy old tack, we appreciated +the joke of the Western boys, who declared they found the date of the +baking on their biscuit in the letters 'B. C.,' 'Before Christ.' The +luxury of soft bread is prized by the troops. Near Baltimore, where the +38th Massachusetts were stationed for some weeks, nice ovens were built, +after the fashion of the French army, and fresh bread, meats, and the +Yankee Sunday beans cooked. With the army in the field this cannot be +done, but the ovens could have been built during the weeks our soldiers +were resting on the banks of the Potomac. Our troops at this time were +fed on the hard tack and fresh beef; and some of the men in a camp near +Sharpsburg complained of the want of salt provisions. This seemed +unreasonable, until we heard that they had no salt, the long distance it +had to be teamed being the excuse given for the unpardonable want of it. +This hard tack is doing one good thing: it is giving the men white +teeth; you can tell an old soldier by his polished ivory; his teeth +approach the appearance of the Italian and Swiss peasantry, who also +chew hard bread. Reader, did you ever try to work your way through the +hard loaf of the peasant's fare? The army regulations require tooth +brushes for the men; it is supposed that the proper use keeps off ague +and disease; still many regiments were without one to a company.</p> + +<p>But to return to our old woman at the little tavern of Sandy Hook. She +had tales, too, of our officers. That morning she had seen our +handsomest and our most splendid-looking general—in appearance the +ideal of the brigand of the romance—Burnside, riding by, with his +black, tall, army felt hat, without plume or gilt eagle, brim turned +down, his dark blue blouse covered with dust. 'Why,' said she, 'he +looked, in his dusty blue shirt, with two old tin dippers strung by the +handle at his belt, like any farmer; but I suppose he had some better +clothes.' Her lament for the gallant fellows who had fallen by disease, +torn by the cannon shot, or struck by the deadly rifle ball; for the +sufferings of the poor, sick, lame, and mutilated soldiers; and her +solemn asseverations that there was something wrong in the hearts of the +leaders on both sides, to permit this suffering and loss of so many good +men, was truly touching. We could not reason it out with her; logic had +to give place to her pathetic lamentation. I do not, however, intend to +keep my readers so long a time at this little wayside inn as I was; and +will pass on to Harper's Ferry, a mile beyond.</p> + +<p>But before we part, we certainly should not fail to notice a modern +addition to the camp follower that Napoleon did not have in his grand +armies—the newsboy—the omnipresent, the irrepressible gamin of the +press. New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, all had +contributed their quota, and what a glorious harvest they were reaping! +Baltimore <i>Americans</i>, at five cents each; New York <i>Heralds</i>, +<i>Tribunes</i>, and <i>Times</i>, at ten cents; and everything sold early. One +little fellow was strutting around with a pair of spurs on, and styled +himself 'colonel;' the others he introduced as his staff. The day's work +was over, and larking had begun. I found the spurs were for use. The +colonel had bought an old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> condemned brute, which his companions were +trying to buy at the advanced price of ten dollars. The camps were at a +distance, from two miles upward, and a mounted boy could bring his wares +to market first. And so the whole afternoon every rider of a +particularly bad horse was pestered by an offer of five or ten dollars, +from a throng of dirty, noisy, scampish ragamuffins. Later in the +evening, the guard went by with some three or four of the boys, for once +without a grin on their faces, under arrest. We asked the colonel, who +had the reputation of being an honest fellow, what was the matter with +his suite. He only replied that it was hard times for newsboys, if that +was the way things were going; and walked off, clanking his long spurs +over the stones.</p> + +<p>The railroad and road from Sandy Hook to Harper's Ferry run under the +Maryland Heights, the rocks having been blasted away for a passage. The +railroad bridge had been rebuilt, not permanently, but so that trains +could again cross. Lower down the river were the remains of the pontoon +bridge destroyed by the rebels. Higher up on the other side of the +railroad was a new pontoon bridge, built on boats, painted with Uncle +Sam's light blue color. Farther up, the wagons were fording the stream. +As you crossed the pontoon bridge, you came directly to the little stone +engine house, with its belfry, where John Brown held the power of the +great State of Virginia at bay. All else of the Government buildings are +in ruins. The long lines of brick and stone walls blackened by fire, and +the picturesque broken arches of the engine-house windows, were a fit +greeting to one's entrance upon the ruined grandeur of the Old Dominion. +Through the clouds of dust and the noise and confusion of the village +upon the hill rising immediately above the river, we rode, noting the +signs of the recent contest, or looking down on the blue Potomac, +flowing peacefully below. One large brick house had a breach in the +basement story large enough for us to ride in, caused by some bursting +shell. Dead horses still lay in the road; the tailpiece of a broken +cannon was yet there. As we emerged out of the dust at the top of the +hill beyond, toward the afternoon sun, rose Bolivar Heights, and the +innumerable white tents of General Sumner's large army corps. The +soldiers were out for drill or dress parade. The distant sounds of the +bands and bugles and drums, sometimes succeeding each other, then +mingling together, fell softened but constantly on the ear, and +everywhere was the gleam of the declining sun on glistening sword or +bright musket barrel. Behind us to the east, and beyond the Shenandoah, +which flowed at the foot of the village, arose the high Loudon +Mountains; on the north, on the other side of the Potomac, were the +Maryland Heights, with the road to Sharpsburgh and Williamsport winding +along its wooded base. The tops of these mountains were lighted up and +wreathed with the smoke of the fires kindled to destroy the thick woods +that might afford shelter to approaching enemies. It was most charming +mountain scenery. We enjoyed the view long, but had to turn our backs at +last; and as we recrossed the pontoon bridge we wiped off from the soles +of our feet a large portion of the sacred soil of Virginia. Yes, the +sacred soil of Virginia, the mother of presidents, the home of +Washington, Patrick Henry, Jefferson, and Madison, and of how many +others famous in our history. O Virginia, what a contrast is there now! +the blood of thy boasted chivalry struggling manfully stains the ground; +thy soil is ground to powder under the heel of the hated mudsils of the +North; thy fertile plains and beautiful valleys are trodden down by +armed men; the fierce contest, and desolation and want have come to +every household; and the cry arises for thy sons that are not!</p> + +<p>The headquarters of Gen. McClel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>lan were two or three miles north of +Knoxville, a little village on the Potomac, about three miles below +Harper's Ferry. The day that we were there, the General was absent on +his way to meet Mrs. McClellan, and though the telegraph wires ran to +headquarters, nothing was there known of the foray Stuart had begun +early that morning from Hancock, in the rear of our forces; not till +evening, and until his arrival at Chambersburg did the news arrive. If +the telegraph wires had been laid, or the signal corps so stationed as +to have given warning of the inception of this movement, these bold +rebels could not have advanced so far, but would have been compelled to +retreat as they came. Between the General's headquarters and the river +were the famous sixth cavalry of regulars and some batteries of +artillery. He had no guard in the direction of Pennsylvania toward the +northeast, where Stuart's cavalry passed on their way to the Potomac. +The camp itself was not well placed, and was soon changed. In going from +it we rode through a most beautiful country by the side of an officer of +the sixth cavalry, and listened to his enthusiastic account of scouting +in front of our lines, in the footsteps of the retreating enemy, over +the very roads we were travelling safely and without concern; and yet we +were not many miles from the foe, and within reach of the marvellous +flight of the minié ball, which some lurking rifleman might aim from the +other side of the Potomac. These cavalry soldiers and horses have had a +terribly hard time of it. The horses of the sixth were more broken down +and thinner than in the artillery or baggage trains. Two squadrons had +lately been part of the force sent on a reconnoisance to Leesburg; and +upon the return of our troops it had been the duty of our companion, +then in command, to bring up the rear and drive in the infantry +stragglers. Some two hundred had fallen out of the ranks from mere +exhaustion. To leave any of these soldiers behind would be giving them +up as prisoners, and affording the enemy the opportunity of obtaining +information which it was of the utmost importance for the safety of the +expedition to keep back. The troopers had therefore to drive them on +with their swords—not a pleasant duty, when the poor fellows were faint +and used up by fatigue—still it must be done. This service creates +quite a dislike between the two arms. The infantry man hates the +horseman, and the cavalry man despises the foot soldier. At this time +straggling was quite prevalent: we saw on byroads many who had left the +ranks, almost invariably having thrown away their arms, and subsisting +on plunder. The cavalry were scouring the roads for them, and were +bringing them in as prisoners for punishment. This sixth cavalry, like +all the old regiments which had been through the Peninsular campaign and +the disastrous retreat under Pope, was frightfully reduced in numbers: +only three hundred and seventy were around the standards out of the +eleven hundred who first took the field. Many had fallen on picket or +been cut off singly, more by disease, but alike doing their duty, +unmentioned and unnoticed. A larger number were yet suffering from +overwork and sickness; and the regiment would in time recruit to seven +hundred, from men now disabled, if there should be no more casualties.</p> + +<p>A few days in camp, in a good-sized tent—none of the two-feet-high +shelter affairs—in pleasant summer weather, is, on the whole, something +new and exhilarating. The ground, to be sure, is rather hard, +particularly when you have no straw; and a soldier's table is not always +the most luxurious in the world. Now that we are safe, dry, and warm, at +home, we can venture to declare that we were very unfortunate in losing +the sensation of going without food, of sleeping in the mud and in the +rain—our arms girded on—any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> moment to be aroused by the whistle of +the bullet or the roll of the drum calling us to the deadly strife.</p> + +<p>To us, however, it was all <i>couleur de rose</i>. In the early morn, at +break of day, it was not the crow of the cock, or the jarring rattle of +the wheels of the city baker or milkman, but the reveille that waked us +from our martial dreams. The drum of the infantry, the bugles of the +cavalry and artillery would begin; some early riser would rouse up his +regiment; then another would take it up; until the call had gone through +every corps. The old staid rub-a-dub of the English drummer is giving +place to the stirring French rat-a-plan. And there was one band that +generally led off in a splendid style. They did beat their drums lively +and sharply. Not being obliged to be up with the sun and cook our own +breakfast, we generally contrived to get a little more sleep. After +breakfast, the bands were playing for guard-mounting; and we sat gazing +down into the valley from our tent upon the large army corps encamped +below. We were on the western slope of the Blue Ridge, through whose +gaps not many days before, a few miles farther north, Franklin had +successfully fought his way. Still farther up, Burnside, with Reno and +Hooker under him, had at South Mountain driven the enemy in—that battle +which came to us so welcome, the first victory after Pope's disasters, +and the retreat from the Peninsula. The valley below us was Pleasant +Valley. The opposite side to our tent was a short spur of the Blue +Ridge; the southern extremity of which is the Maryland Heights, so well +known in the history of the surrender of Harper's Ferry. The valley +between is fertile and highly cultivated, full of mountain springs and +brooks, emptying into one stream of sufficient size to turn the wheels +of a large mill; the water is delicious; the prevailing limestone does +not reach this valley. In the morning before the army moved there, the +little river was clear as crystal; at night it was changed into an +opaque white color, a stream of soapy water; a pleasing witness to the +cleanliness of our men. There were no clothes lines, however, but many +of the washers were so scantily off for clothing that they put their +garments on to dry. The farmhouses in the valley are mostly of stone. It +is a most charming and beautiful place, and appropriately called +'Pleasant Valley.' The farmers are prosperous; and the land so rich that +it sells for the high price of seventy and eighty dollars an acre. The +mountains rising on the sides of the valley are thickly wooded; and in +the cultivated fields between were crowded the tents of the ninth army +corps. With the exception of one or two new regiments who had wall +tents, the soldiers were under little shelter tents, of which each man +carries a piece. The infantry were encamped in divisions and brigades; +the cavalry generally picketed along a fence; the horses and men, except +the officers, without shelter. The encampments of the artillery and +cavalry with their horses, forges, and wagons, covered much ground; but +the infantry were thickly crowded together; and it was surprising to see +how many men a small encampment would turn out.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon came drills, sometimes of regiments, sometimes of +brigades, and the unfailing dress parade. There were a few regiments of +new levies just arrived, a thousand strong; all provided with overcoats, +and looking finely in their new, clean clothes—quite a contrast to the +old soldiers. In one of the old regiments on brigade drill we saw an +officer, probably a sergeant, in a checked knit undervest, his neck and +part of his arms bare—commanding a company. A sentry on guard before +the quarters of the general in command, had great holes in both elbows +of his dirty jacket, and his shoes were untied. The brigades were +generally of five regiments, a new regiment being one, and composing +fully<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> two fifths of the line. It is not wholly, however, by the +casualties of the battle or the greater losses from exposure, overwork, +and disease, that the regiments are diminished. If a good blacksmith is +found, he is detailed to the forge; others are detached as ambulance +drivers, or as hospital attendants or clerks. This thins the ranks of +the old regiments. It is surprising, however, to see how much better the +veterans will bear exposure than men coming fresh from home. The old +regiments were frightfully diminished by disease on the Peninsula; but I +saw very few that could not rally more men than the 35th Massachusetts, +that had been out of the State only a little over a month. They had but +three hundred men of the original thousand. They left Washington without +their knapsacks; and had marched without even the shelter tents, +officers and men alike bivouacking on the ground, wearing the same +clothes without a change. The long marches, the exposures, the +excitement of battle, and the unaccustomed food had disabled four +hundred men; some of them undoubtedly never strong enough to have +enlisted, and who should have been rejected by the examining surgeons. +The old regiments, who had gradually been hardened to this life, and who +had learned to thrive on the soldier's fare, lost comparatively few in +this way.</p> + +<p>The brigade drills and the manœuvres in line were not so well +executed as we expected. There was no practice in firing at a mark; +probably from a want of ammunition. From accounts of officers on the +field of battle, it certainly is the case in our army that some of the +fresh soldiers will fire in the air, and even close their eyes. The +Hythe system, as now taught in the English army, and among the rifle +clubs, makes excellent marksmen; and the greater part of the instruction +is without the use of powder. It is a pity it cannot be more extensively +introduced in our army.</p> + +<p>One does not expect to find the same training before the enemy as in the +great French camps of instruction. It was my good fortune to visit the +camp of a portion of the great Crimean army. The privates, besides their +military drill, were exercised in running, leaping, fencing, and boxing; +and some sergeants were teaching dancing. I followed a regiment of the +chasseurs of Vincennes to their field of drill. For an hour or two they +went through different manœuvres by the bugle, performing many of the +movements at the double quick. Then came a rest; as soon as that was +ordered, the fine band of the regiment came forward and struck up a +lively dance, to the tune of which several of the privates amused and +refreshed themselves by waltzing round the field.</p> + +<p>Returning, however, to our picturesque camp in this charming valley. +There was no more striking scene than when darkness came on and the +thousand camp fires and lights in the tents were all in sight. The rail +fences, bought by the thoughtful quartermaster, and paid for as an army +supply, were used as fuel; a truly considerate act, for a quartermaster +can buy fuel for the army, but he cannot pay damages done to property. +This same ground, now covered by our troops, had been camped over by +Lee's army; who had also used the fences, not even paying for them in +the worthless Confederate scrip. Soon after dark, the bright lights of +the signal corps appeared on the mountain north of the Maryland Heights, +and messages were sent to McClellan's headquarters. Flags are used in +the day, and at night lanterns. The signal officer has two lights; they +are held one above the other, the lower one being stationary; moving the +upper light to the right means number one; moving the light to the left, +number two; moving first to the right and then to the left, number +three; by lowering the upper light in front of the under one, a fourth +signal is given; and so on. There are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> about five numbers; and by the +different combinations of these five numbers, there is made a great +number of signals, which can be read by the officers who have the key. +The mode is much the same as that used by our mercantile marine with +their signal flags. The signals are given very rapidly, and a few +minutes suffice for the sending of the messages.</p> + +<p>Evening is the time for talk around the camp fires; and the conversation +often turns upon our rebellious brethren. Among our regular officers you +meet the classmates and old companions in arms of the rebels, and hear +of little traits and peculiarities that only intimate acquaintances can +relate. Civilians who had known General Lee at Washington, have spoken +of him as very formal, and rather pompous in his manner, giving the +impression that he was a man of more show and pretence than abilities. +We learned here, however, that, in Texas, or California, where he was +for a long time before he took his high position on Scott's staff, he +was famous for marching his men without the usual encumbrances of +baggage, on the most severe expeditions against the Indians, in the snow +and cold of the winter. Stonewall Jackson has always been famed for his +peculiarities. When a young man, he was possessed with the idea that he +was in danger of having his limbs paralyzed, and he would pump on his +arm for many minutes, counting the strokes, and annoyed beyond measure +by the interruptions of his companions breaking up his count. Our +officers, both regular and volunteer, who have been in actual battle, +have a great respect for the rebel leaders and soldiers; they speak very +highly of their drill, and believe that straggling exists to a less +extent among them, in battle, than with us. From the rebel newspapers I +should doubt whether this is the case. One thing we have not considered, +which has given the rebels a great advantage in this contest. It is the +large number of military colleges in the South; not like our few private +schools at the North, but well-endowed academies. In the summer of 1860, +immediately before the election of Lincoln, I visited the military +academy at Lexington, Virginia. It was supported at the expense of the +State, with two hundred and more pupils, coming from the different +counties in proportion to their population. They were practised in the +actual firing of cannon and mortars; and every afternoon were drilled as +infantry for about two hours, much of the time at the double quick. The +principal was a graduate of West Point; and he was assisted by a +respectable board of instructors. A good civil and military education, +after the mode of instruction at West Point, was afforded to the +students. This institution had been in existence for years; and one can +readily appreciate the advantage that Virginia has in this war from the +graduates of this school. Alabama and several other of the Southern +States have similar colleges; while we at the North have been obliged to +educate all our volunteer officers by actual service.</p> + +<p>The morning Stuart with his cavalry left Chambersburg, we rode forth for +the battle field of the Antietam. We noticed the disappearance of some +of the camps of the infantry brigades. We knew of the patrolling of the +cavalry along the road we were pursuing, and found the picket guards +farther out, and passes and countersigns necessary where before we went +unchallenged. We were several hours in getting to the battle field, and +stopped to get some refreshments at a large brick farmhouse, where the +battle on the left began. The hospital flag was still flying over the +building, though no patients had been there for a day or two. +Twenty-seven died in that one farmhouse from wounds received in that +bloody fight. On the night of the battle, cows, sheep, poultry, and +fences disappeared before our cold and hungry troops. But since then, +though the house was in the neighbor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>hood of several camps, the old lady +and her daughters, who alone were at home, had been undisturbed, except +by the small pilferings of stragglers.</p> + +<p>The great battle has been so well described by the correspondents of the +newspaper press, and by those who were over the field before we were, +that I shall only mention a few incidents to which our attention was +called. The principal contest was on the right, west of the Antietam +river. Here Hooker with his army corps began the battle, and fought so +long and splendidly. Both armies crowded their forces to this part of +the field. Sumner, whose troops had been with their belts on since three +in the morning, brought up his large corps, drawn up in three columns, +forty paces apart, to reënforce Hooker's hard-pressed soldiers, who were +retreating before the fresh and overwhelming reënforcements of the +enemy. In less than an hour, the whole of Sumner's corps was swept back, +broken and entirely routed, and never appeared in the field again; the +column in the rear not being in position to fire a gun, but losing as +many men as those in front.</p> + +<p>The manner in which General Sumner brought his troops into action has +been severely criticized, even by officers of his own corps; whether +justly or not, it is difficult to decide. No commander was more confided +in by his soldiers than Sumner. 'He has risen from the ranks, and been +through all the grades of the service,' 'He knows how to treat his men,' +were expressions constantly heard. General Hooker's reputation as a +fighting general was admitted everywhere; his <i>coup d'œil</i> of the +battle field was represented as most excellent.</p> + +<p>It was also on the right that the desperate fighting in the woods and +the deadly struggle at close quarters in the cornfield with such fearful +loss of life took place. An officer who was on the battle fields of +Magenta and Solferino, says that the scene here was much more horrible. +Many spoke of the scenes they saw with a shudder. They could not throw +off the impression made by the masses of wounded and dead; the wounded +often lying neglected and helpless under the dead, sometimes crushed to +death by the wheels of our own artillery.</p> + +<p>Our left at Antietam was far off from the right: in these days of guns +of long range the line of battle is longer than it was formerly. At +Waterloo the English occupied a front of less than two miles. In this +battle ours was about four miles. In the battle of Solferino the +engagement extended for eighteen miles.</p> + +<p>The contest on the left was fought by General Burnside with only one +army corps, the ninth. The battle at this place was a most gallant +affair, but has excited less attention than the bloody fight on the +right. In the dusty, tiresome march through Maryland, in the skirmishes +in and around Frederick, during the glorious hearty welcome our troops +received in that old town, the advance, consisting of both Hooker's and +Reno's army corps, had been commanded by Burnside. With them he had +fought the successful and brilliant battle of South Mountain, coming to +us so gratefully after the disastrous repulse and retreat of Pope. Reno +had unfortunately fallen, and General Burnside took command of his +corps: it was his old force from North Carolina, increased by General +Cox's Kanawha troops, and some new regiments, in all a little short of +twenty thousand men. On the morning of the battle, Burnside took his +station on the east side of the Antietam, in a field overlooking the +country on the other side of the river. The gathering of his staff to +their breakfast brought the shells of the enemy in their midst, and +compelled a change of position to the rear of some haystacks. On the +same hill was placed a formidable battery of rifled cannon, throwing +twenty-pound shot, commanded by Lieutenant Ben<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>jamin, of the regular +artillery. The guns are so heavy that they each have eight horses to +drag them, and the caissons have six. There was unfortunately a short +supply of ammunition, and the battery was fired slowly during the day. +The guns were well placed and served, and aimed with wonderful accuracy. +Shells were planted in two of the enemy's ammunition carts, blowing them +to pieces; and the fire of cannon was so hot that it compelled a rebel +battery two miles off, coming down a road to get into position, to wheel +round and gallop over the hill. Proud, indeed, were the Lieutenant's men +of their exploits on that day, and wonderful stories they told of their +famous battery.</p> + +<p>The Antietam in front of Burnside was deep, not fordable, flowing in the +bottom of a charming valley, and overshadowed by trees. There was a +solid stone bridge over it, with three arches, rising picturesquely in +the centre, with stone parapets on the sides, the parapets spreading at +both ends of the structure. One would almost imagine that it was an old +Italian bridge transported to our wooden-building land. The side of the +valley held by the rebel troops rises sharply, not densely wooded, but +covered by large trees thickly placed, as in an old English park. Along +the top of this ridge ran a solid stone wall, thicker and of heavier +stones than any we saw in the neighborhood. Where the wall ended rifle +pits had been dug. Behind the massive trunks, and in the branches of the +old trees, behind this wall and in the pits, were crowded the +sharpshooters of the rebels. The ascent from the bridge out of the +valley on the enemy's side, was too steep for a straight road up the +ridge. If ever a bridge could be defended, that should have been; the +only disadvantage the rebels were under was that they could not sweep it +with artillery.</p> + +<p>Our left had vainly attempted to cross the bridge; twice had they been +repulsed. On the right our troops were hard pressed; much of the ground +gained in the morning had been lost; Hooker was wounded, Sumner's corps +routed, Mansfield killed, and his corps beaten back. Then McClellan +ordered Burnside to take the bridge, and hold it at any cost. Burnside +sent some troops farther down the river, where it was fordable. He +called up one of his old brigades that had been with him in North +Carolina, saying, if any brigade could take the bridge, that one would. +It was composed of the 51st New York, 51st Pennsylvania, 21st +Massachusetts, and a Rhode Island regiment; on their colors were +inscribed, 'Roanoke,' 'Newbern,' two of our most glorious victories. +With these veteran troops was the 35th Massachusetts, a new regiment +that had left home only a month before, but who nobly did their part. +Down went the 51st Pennsylvania in column in the advance, at the run, +shouting and crowding and firing as they hurried across the bridge, +bringing down the rebels from the trees, suffering themselves, but never +halting. They crossed and deployed on the other side. Next came the 35th +Massachusetts, over the bridge, up the valley, then forming in line of +battle on the top of the small hill commanding the stream. The enemy +were drawn up before them, quite a distance off, on the top of the next +hill. Every inch of ground between was commanded by the rebel fire; but +our brave fellows charged on up this hill, driving the foe before them: +they did not halt there, for another still higher hill, which could now +for the first time be seen farther on, rose up before them. Nothing +daunted, they followed up their charge, and drove the enemy from this +hill, and took this most commanding position. There they halted, close +to Sharpsburg, almost in the rear of the rebels. Some of our troops even +penetrated to Sharpsburg itself, and were taken prisoners. A short +distance farther would have cut off the enemy's di<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>rect retreat to the +Potomac. Rebel troops were seen hurrying on the road to the river. Our +men were now fired upon by artillery, and attacked by fresh bodies of +infantry coming up, as the enemy say in their account, from Harper's +Ferry. Our brave fellows, however, stood their ground, waiting for +reënforcements, which Burnside called for. But McClellan, unfortunately, +dared not throw in his reserves; his object had probably been gained in +making a diversion from the hard contested field on our right. Our +gallant fellows had to stand there unsupported until their ammunition +gave out; they fired their sixty rounds of ammunition, collecting all +they could from their dead and wounded comrades, and then began to +retreat. Benjamin's battery of artillery was also short of ammunition, +and could not support them. Our brave boys only retreated to the next +hill, not to the hill above the Antietam, and then lay on their arms +during the night, and there they stayed during the next day, expecting +the order to advance.</p> + +<p>Little mounds of earth, covering fallen heroes, point out the course of +our soldiers all the way from this side of the Antietam to the top of +the farthest hill. Here our men were so much more exposed than the +rebels that our loss was greater than theirs. On the right the rebel +loss was much the larger.</p> + +<p>In the battle beyond the river, the Hawkins Zouaves, another of the +regiments distinguished in North Carolina, captured a rebel battery at +the point of the bayonet. In the rebel account we are told how the brave +General Toombs, with a whole brigade, retook the battery and defeated +this single regiment, which they magnify into an immense force.</p> + +<p>General McClellan, with all his knowledge and great skill and success in +defensive warfare, as shown in his Peninsular campaign, after our defeat +at Gaines's Mill, is wanting in the rapidity of comprehension and +audacity which are necessary components of the highest military talent. +He waits for too many chances, and fears any risk.</p> + +<p>In the battle of Antietam, he had fifteen thousand fresh men under Fitz +John Porter in the centre. The enemy had probably used their last +soldier, for the correspondent of the Charleston <i>Courier</i>, who has +given the best rebel account of the battle, impliedly states that they +had no reserves left. Ignorant of our unused troops, he laments the want +of a few more rebel men, and says, that if only five thousand of their +stragglers, who were on the way to Winchester, had been present, a most +decisive rebel victory would have been obtained. If McClellan had added +Fitz John Porter's reserve to Burnside's soldiers, he would have had +nearly thirty-five thousand men flanking the enemy, already beaten, and +threatening their retreat across the Potomac. Who knows what those fresh +men might not have done? Many think that the doubtful victory would have +ended in the most brilliant decided success, and the stone bridge of +Antietam would have stood in history by the side of Arcola and Lodi. But +let us be thankful for what we did achieve: never should the nation +forget how a retreating, discouraged, defeated, demoralized, and even +mutinous army, that had suffered terribly in killed and wounded, and +lost prisoners and large numbers of cannon and material, was again +reformed, and marched triumphantly against a victorious foe; achieved on +Sunday the brilliant victory of South Mountain, and on Wednesday fought +the bloody fight of Antietam. There we captured cannon, small arms, and +standards, and lost none. Many have forgotten that ever since spring the +rebels have boasted that the war was to be carried within our territory; +that they had begun this programme; and that General Lee in entering +Maryland had issued a boasting proclamation, promising to redeem it from +a hated tyranny. If he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> succeeded, and defeated McClellan, as he had +beaten Pope between Manassas and Washington, we had no reinforcements or +forts to prevent his march to Philadelphia. McClellan's presence stirred +the common soldier as Napoleon's did, and it was this unbounded +enthusiasm which he excited, that saved the nation when he took command +at Washington. I know of nothing that made me more indignant than the +folly of some ladies who, among his soldiers on the Potomac, decried and +denounced him as an imbecile. What treachery can be worse than the +attempt to destroy the confidence of the soldiers in their leader, when +their lives depend upon his judgment and skill, and there can be only +dejection and despair when that judgment and skill are doubted.</p> + +<p>Upon our return from the battle field to Pleasant Valley, we heard that +orders to McClellan to advance had come from Washington. The only +answers to inquiries when the advance would take place, were ominous +shakings of the head or shrugs of the shoulders, which were indicative +of anything but belief in a speedy movement. We also heard of the +appointment of General Burnside to the command of three army corps, the +precursor of a greater command yet to come. We have in our new +commander-in-chief a general who has an implicit belief that our cause +is just, and a trust in Providence that he will make the just cause +victorious. In General McClellan we had also a general who believed in +Providence, and who has always shown great reverence in his writings. +General McClellan is reticent. You can, however, tell somewhat of the +opinion of the head of the house from his children; and judging from the +tone of belief among the General's military family, from that long delay +after Antietam, it was pretty evident that in his opinion the South +cannot be subdued, and that the question between us was a matter of +boundary. With General Burnside we have no such belief. His faults, if +they are faults, are those of the bold general, not of the Fabian order. +At Newbern he brought at once into the fight every soldier he had, not +keeping one in reserve; and he gained the battle by his audacious +policy. And it is the wonder to this day of every one who has been over +the battle field, that the enemy should have been beaten. With all this +boldness, he is a modest man; twice before having refused the chief +command: once when it was offered to him at the time Pope was appointed; +again when McClellan took it before Washington. Of a commanding figure, +every inch a soldier, one cannot look upon him and his kindly eye +without instant admiration. His modest way of riding among the men, +alone or attended by a single orderly, will make him beloved by our +republican soldiers. He was so then, and 'Old Burn,' as they familiarly +called him, was everywhere heartily received. By the way, McClellan's +nickname on the Peninsula was 'George,' and not 'Little Mac,' as is +generally supposed.</p> + +<p>General Burnside, we believe, is a good judge of men. The generals he +selected for his North Carolina expedition, though previously unknown, +and but captains in the service, have already distinguished themselves +and justified his choice. General Foster, now commanding the department +of North Carolina, has shown himself an able, active general. All who +have been connected with him, speak highly of him. Though not a +Massachusetts man, he has a peculiar penchant for Massachusetts troops: +he was first at Annapolis, and picked out for the first brigade the +Massachusetts soldiers. Recently, through the Governor, he has obtained +some eight or ten more regiments, and in some way or other he has the +crack ones.</p> + +<p>General Reno, who was Burnside's second brigadier, has made a reputation +that will live forever in his country's history. At the battle of +Roanoke the little general, but a month before a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> captain of ordnance, +stood up fearlessly in the swamp amid his men, when they were lying down +by his direction, and coolly gave his orders and encouraged them, +entirely regardless of the balls flying round him on every side. In +Pope's retreat, and amid disaster and defeat, he acquired new reputation +by his skill, energy, and daring. A Virginian by birth, he was truly a +loyal man; and, unlike some generals of our army corps, obeyed orders, +and did all that could be done for the country and the general in +command. His testimony that Pope's dispositions were good, if he had +only been obeyed, should weigh much in that general's favor. After the +victory of South Mountain, he was reconnoitring the enemy, when he fell +by a random shot, which came, so those who were in the action say, from +some soldier of our force. Lyon, Kearny, Reno, gone! Have we three such +men left?</p> + +<p>General Park, an accomplished soldier, who particularly distinguished +himself at the battle of Newbern, was General Burnside's third +brigadier. The country will feel renewed confidence from his remaining +with our new commander as chief of staff.</p> + +<p>On the morning we left the camp, a squad from a new regiment just +arrived had been detailed for the guard at headquarters; one of the +sentries was smoking his pipe as he marched up and down; another, who +should have been patrolling his beat, was seated on the ground, cleaning +his musket with a piece of wash leather he pulled from his pocket. The +General was not near to stop these unsoldierly occupations. We came to +the opinion that the boys in that regiment had never been to a country +muster; but they were stout fellows and looked like fight.</p> + +<p>At Sandy Hook, on the day of our return, we had to wait until nine in +the evening for the train to Baltimore. Stuart's cavalry had been over +the road in the morning, making their escape into Virginia. They dared +not stay to do mischief; our forces were at all the important points. +Considering the immense supplies in the rear of the army, Stuart did +very little harm; his eight hundred fresh horses were not worth the risk +he ran. If he could have seized our supplies at Monocacy Station, and +burnt the bridge there, he would have inflicted a serious loss upon the +army. The nature of his raid seemed well understood, and there was no +apprehension then of the enemy's holding the railroad; for the train +from Baltimore had passed over the restored rails a few hours after the +retreating troopers. At every important point we found soldiers, and +near Frederick we were glad to hear that seven of the sick troopers, +used up by their hard service, had fallen behind and been taken. We +learned that General Pleasanton with some of our cavalry was in pursuit, +and there were several stories about an engagement: the firing of cannon +had been heard. General Pleasanton at that time was held in very little +esteem, and seemed to have particularly disgusted those who had served +under him, and was often cited as an example of McClellan's lack of +judgment in men. He appears since to have acquired a newspaper +reputation for ability and energy. I only hope that it is deserved, and +that the opinions we heard so often were not well founded.</p> + +<p>We arrived at the Baltimore depot at four in the morning amid a rain, +and found it occupied by some one or two thousand soldiers, standing and +sitting about in their blue overcoats with their arms stacked. Not a +carriage could be obtained, and so, shouldering our bag in military +fashion, we marched for the Eutaw House. At the door was stationed a +guard, marking it as the headquarters of Major-General Wool. We passed +by unchallenged; in our bag, however, we had rebel ammunition: a loaded +shell fired at our men as they were crossing the stone bridge at +Antietam. For<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>tunately the fuse had gone out, and it remained a trophy +for one of the despicable Down-East Yankees. We heard the old General +was still the centre of attraction to the pretty secesh ladies who had +friends or relatives in durance vile in Fort McHenry. The veteran hero, +though rich, wears a uniform that shows the marks of service. That, +however, does not prevent the constant presents of delicious fruit and +beautiful flowers, and invitations to drive to the fort, from those +bewitching belles of Baltimore: whereat some strong Union people grumble +loudly.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="AMERICAN_DESTINY" id="AMERICAN_DESTINY"></a>AMERICAN DESTINY.</h2> + +<h3>II.</h3> + + +<p>The law under consideration is exemplified in the social, industrial, +and political development of the United States. There is a manifest +difference, however, between the history of our civilization and that of +Europe, though not in the least affecting the integrity of the law. The +people of our nation were not derived directly from a rude and primitive +condition, as were those of the Old World. The history of our +civilization is, in its origin, coördinate with European civilization in +the seventeenth century, after modern intellect had been fairly aroused, +and the national organizations had been quite fully developed. The chaos +and barbarism which the history of European civilization presents, and +the play of antagonizing forces through the long period of centuries, +resulting in some degree of political order and unity, does not belong, +except as an introduction, to the history of American civilization. Ours +is a branch from the European, after it had been growing for several +hundred years.</p> + +<p>During the period which intervened between the Declaration of American +Independence and the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, +there was no formal and permanent bond of union between the several +States; it was provisional,—they were held together by outside pressure +and a common interest in the cause of independence. The settlement of a +general government for all the States was a crisis, not only in the +affairs of this country, but of the whole civilized world, as we believe +the future will most fully reveal. To the responsible statesmen of that +day, this was a period of intense solicitude, such as we can realize +only by an effort of mind to place ourselves in their situation, and +bring before us the magnitude of the objects to be attained, and the +difficulties to be overcome. There was then, as now, a diversity of +interests to be harmonized; but there was one interest, which, in its +political relations, requires to be characterized by a stronger term +than that of 'diversity.' Between chattel slavery and free labor there +is 'irrepressible' antagonism, and there could be no real union—no +blending of the twain; but the gulf was bridged, under the pressure of +necessity, as the wisdom of the times could best devise. It was, indeed, +well done. Union was the great object to be accomplished—it was the +highest, the most comprehensive principle that could enter into the +motives of political action—it was even a necessity of the current +civilization, and must needs subordinate all minor principles and +interests; and we owe a debt of gratitude to those who so nobly wrought +this glorious Union out of colonial chaos and isolation.</p> + +<p>The instrument of this Union has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> been characterized by well-meaning, +but one-idea minds, as a 'covenant with death, and an agreement with +hell,' simply because it effected the union of free with slave States. +This method of characterizing the Constitution of our country—as noble +a document for its time and place as the world has ever seen—can well +be excused, since it has no doubt been done in utter obliviousness of +the importance of the principle of political unitization. The original +consummation of this Union was a great step in political progress; it +was an achievement of the master principle of political movement; and +God wills that no part of the advantage then gained in the struggle of +Destiny shall ever be given up!</p> + +<p>But while unity is thus exemplified in the history of our Government, +the phenomenon of differentiation is also manifest. The functions of +government have greatly multiplied since its first organization; the +'division of labor' process has been going on, and new departments and +bureaus have been established. While I write, the expediency of another +department, that of agriculture, is being agitated in Congress. The +Department of the Interior has been quite recently created, and new +bureaus in this department, and in others, are being created from time +to time, by act of Congress, to meet new wants in the administration of +our Government. And what is true in this respect of the General +Government is, also, true of the State Governments; for there, too, do +we find the development of new functions, and the creation of new +official organs to execute the same.</p> + +<p>This growth of the country at large, from which these new demands on the +Government arise, is to be seen very distinctly in the industrial and +educational elements of society. While these interests increase in +magnitude and variety, and the people are becoming more concerned +therein, the Government assumes a responsibility in regard thereto, +which can only be discharged by the multiplication of the administrative +appliances. These new governmental activities arise from the popular +will, as moulded and expressed through the more intelligent and +enterprising of its actors. They choose to have it so. It is found +convenient, in the promotion of certain general interests, to appeal to +a power which is presumed to embody the elements of order and authority +in the execution of its will. In the construction of railroads and +telegraphs, capitalists must coöperate with the Government in relation +to questions of right, which, in many cases, can only be settled by a +regularly constituted tribunal. State agricultural societies appeal to +State Governments for coöperation, and when received, the industrial +interests of the country are advanced thereby. We all know what State +Governments have done for the cause of education. Sections of country +which would at this hour have been in a state of almost semi-barbarism +have—thanks to our educational policy—been redeemed from their +prejudices against intelligence and education, and been made to step +into line with the advancing columns of civilization. The same +civilizing influences, precisely, have been brought to bear, by the +active part which Government has taken in the improvement of all the +means of travel, trade, and the transmission of intelligence. The +intelligent and active few have thus advanced the interests of the many. +In districts of country which have been without the channels of commerce +except in a very rude condition, and where the enterprise of the people +was inadequate to their improvement, the Government has reached out its +strong arm and redeemed them from their primitive rudeness, thereby +promoting the physical condition, the enlightenment, and the culture of +the people. There are plenty of instances on record, in which +improvements of this kind—of roads, for example—have been made against +the will and in spite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> of the opposition of the people most to be +benefited thereby; and had they not been related under the same +government to communities more intelligent and enterprising than +themselves, they would have remained in an isolated and semi-barbarous +condition.</p> + +<p>Now, while we readily discern the increase in the objects and in the +machinery of government, we cannot so readily discern the abatement of +governmental interference with the private affairs of the individual, as +in governments of longer standing. There has not been time for great +changes in this respect; and then, in the earliest legislation of our +country there was comparatively so little that was obnoxious to +individual freedom, that there has been less occasion for the change in +question. The Blue Laws of Connecticut are proverbial for their +intermeddling with private life. There has been no change in this +respect so marked since the organization of our Government as there was +before; but so far as there has been any, it is in favor of the +exemption of the individual, in ordinary times, from legal interference. +The entire atmosphere of American society is becoming more liberal as +general education advances; and this, in turn, acts upon the legislative +and executive functions of the Government, to make the laws and the +execution of the same more acceptable to a cultured people. The 'Maine +Law,' earnest and benevolent as it was in purpose, and to all seeming so +obviously founded in the right of society to protect itself, could not +be sustained against this tendency in government to let the individual +alone in the affairs of his private life.</p> + +<p>We have observed that there is a concentration of different industrial +and commercial functions in different sections of the country, whereby +these sections become dependent upon each other, and the unity of the +whole, to a certain extent, made inevitable. Now, we insist that +political economy and the greatest well-being of all require that the +political jurisdiction should, as far as possible, be commensurate with +that commercial, industrial, and social dependence which works itself +out to a large degree of fulfilment in spite of the obstructions +interposed by the contractedness and isolation of political +organization.</p> + +<p>As we have seen, this dependence of one industrial section upon another, +and of one commercial centre upon another, as the result of commercial +and industrial specialization, is becoming more and more marked as a +development of human progress. All this increases the need for more +extensive political organization, while at the same time it makes it +possible.</p> + +<p>It will readily be perceived that since industrial and commercial +development is necessitating dependence and unity, it is equally true +that the natural varieties of soil and climate are, also, conditions of +like dependence and unity. When these diversities of soil in different +sections are fully developed, and the exchange of products readily made +through improved commercial facilities, and human wants multiplied by +means of civilized culture, agricultural specialization creates the +demand, not for political division and isolation, but for more extensive +organization. That New England manufactures is no reason that she should +separate her government from that of the other States, but just the +reverse. That the Middle States are more distinctively a mining region, +and the great West agricultural, is no reason that their general +government should be distinct, but precisely the reverse. That the South +produces cotton, rice, and sugar, is no reason for her seceding from the +Union, but exactly the reverse. These diversified interests, we repeat, +create interrelation and dependence, unitizing the commercial and +industrial polity; and the political organization should, as far as +possible, be coextensive therewith. There are physical necessities which +prevent the formation and maintenance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> of a comprehensive political +organization in the earlier stages of civilization, but these never have +obtained in the United States, and every hour's improvement carries us +farther beyond them.</p> + +<p>All the results of a progressive civilization are constantly +complicating the dependence and interrelation of various sections of our +country. Roads, railroads, canals, and lines of telegraph, by their +connections and intersections, are so many bonds of union between the +various districts of our country—so many bonds of union between the +various States of the confederacy—and forbid its dissolution. Even +Nature conspires with civilization to the same end. The great valleys +and rivers running north and south are so many natural ties, which the +most incorrigible perverseness, on the part of man, could alone prevent +from performing the office to which they seem so happily adapted in the +play of the civilized elements.</p> + +<p>As we have seen in our brief view of Europe, greater political +unitization has been the result of growth in civilization. In the United +States, all natural, commercial, and industrial bonds of union are +becoming more fully developed. This evinces the direction of progress.</p> + +<p>What, in the light of this view, are we to think of the doctrine of +'secession'?—of secession, that political dogma of recent development, +which, if made practical, would destroy all political unity of greater +compass than a State—a State, the idol of Southern political worship. +It would break any confederacy into fragments, and prevent the +consummation of those great unities which an advancing civilization +demands. This doctrine of 'secession' would remand us back to the +condition of affairs in Europe during the twelfth century, before +commerce, the Crusades, and the waking up of intelligence had commenced +the movement of national organization. The Southern States have a +barbarian institution in their midst, but, not satisfied with that, they +would inaugurate the practical operation of a new political doctrine, +which must introduce still another element of barbarism, and interpose +an additional obstacle to the progress of civilization. Shall this be? +It is opposed to the political tendency of the times; and the common +sense of mankind should forbid the acceptance of a political solecism in +the organization of government, which virtually annuls the unity and +integrity of the government itself.</p> + +<p>There are crises, however, in human development, when the movement is +rapidly set forward; and others, when it may be as suddenly arrested or +thrown back, requiring long periods to regain the lost ground, +preparatory to a new advance. Our Union, only a brief while since, +appeared to be upon the point of irreparable rupture; the division of +this great Union into minor geographical districts, like the European +monarchies, seemed to be imminent. The determination of the South to +secede; a large portion of the influential press at the North pleading +their cause; Buchanan favoring secession; many in the North, then, and +for a long time previous, in favor of a 'peaceable separation;' +but—thanks to the blind impetuosity of 'Southern chivalry'—with the +fall of Sumter, and the inauguration of the war, the only hope for this +Union revived! Wicked or foolish people have said that the bombardment +of Sumter was the death-knell of the Union;—we believe it was just the +reverse;—as the turning point of a great crisis, it signalled the birth +of a new era. It threw the trimming and temporizing politicians of the +North off their old tracks, and tore their platforms from under them; +their antipathies were suddenly neutralized; their prejudices vanished; +they were unexpectedly floating anew on the sea of public sentiment; the +opinions of influential men were subject to a new<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> ordeal; and the views +of many an entire clique, faction, and party were revolutionized in a +day. Northern pride was wounded; Anglo-Saxon energy was aroused; there +was a demand for determination and 'pluck,' and the result is known to +all. Secession, in the Free States, was suddenly transformed; there was +a grand uprising for the vindication of a great principle of political +development; and nearly a million of armed men of all parties are now in +the field; and God grant that they may be able to overcome the abettors +of a barbarian policy!</p> + +<p>But if the cause of patriotism and civilization should fail in this +struggle, what will be the consequences? Standing armies, stronger +governments, leagues, and ruptures, internecine wars, European +interference. Let this division of our once happy country be consummated +now, and there can be no reunion for ages. The Southern nation +recognized by European Governments, treaties and alliances formed, and +we are involved in European complications through which the separation +will be perpetuated. And this disunion made permanent, others will +develop themselves, and in time be consummated. It is the interest of +the reigning dynasties in Europe to see our nation dismembered: the +South would be our rival; and we should not have power to enforce union +hereafter. When a politico-geographical weakness is developed along the +Rocky Mountains, the Pacific States will not be without ambitious +demagogues to attempt the establishment of an independent organization +on the Pacific. Another fracture may be developed along the Alleghanies, +and the great agricultural West may set up for itself among the nations. +New England may be seized with a like madness, and unworthily aspire to +a separate national existence. With all these petty nations on this +continent, there must be standing armies, leagues, and complications, as +in Europe. Diplomacy, with its intrigues, and wars to maintain the +'balance of power,' will make up the great body of national history and +absorb those energies which should be employed in advancing the means of +human well-being.</p> + +<p>But we will not speculate upon probabilities so remote. We will presume +the success of rebellion, and one nation south, another north. The evil +would still be very great. There must be armed thousands maintained by +the two Governments to be ready for war at any moment. Two such nations, +even if both were free, and still less with slavery in one of them, +could not exist by the side of each other without frequent broils and +collisions. Standing armies exhaust the resources of nations and retard +the progress of civilization by a double result. They withdraw +able-bodied men from the productive energies of the country, and are at +the same time a tax upon the industrial forces which remain. The +enormous daily expense of the present war must give us some idea of the +cost of maintaining a standing army of two or three hundred thousand men +even in times of peace. This has done a great deal to retard the +progress of Europe; and that we, as a nation, have heretofore been free +from this encumbrance, is doubtless one of the reasons why we have made +such rapid strides in so much that makes a nation great and happy. But +standing armies imply war, and the international wars of Europe have +done much to exhaust her resources and paralyze her prosperity. Guizot +says—and we may see it in history for ourselves—that 'for nearly three +centuries, foreign relations form the most important part of history.' +Foreign relations, wars, treaties, alliances, alone occupy the attention +and fill the page of history. Sad result of the political divisions of a +continent! Unhappy fruits of maintaining the balance of power among +neighboring nations! Let this continent be warned!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> And now is the +crisis when this warning needs most to be heeded. And even if this +critical juncture should be safely passed, we have need to guard against +others, and these truths should be universally recognized as elements of +our national preservation. We may profit by the shipwreck of others, to +avoid the rock on which they split. There are causes clearly discernible +in the history of Europe, for the divisions of that continent, which do +not now, and never have obtained here. Her political institutions were +developed out of the chaos of barbarism, and she had to unite smaller +jurisdictions into larger ones; and she did this as well as the status +of civilization would permit at the period when national organization +was effected.</p> + +<p>The facilities of intercourse between a people, for the transmission of +intelligence, for travel and transportation—those accompaniments of +civilization which bring remote sections of country near each other and +bind them together; the resemblance or the difference of languages +spoken; the antipathies, prejudices, sympathies of the peoples—all +these are elements which go to determine the geographical extent of a +nation. Original difference of language, local prejudices, the want of +civilization, contributed to limit the European nationalities to the +small extent of territory which, for the most part, they occupy. These +causes have not operated against us. Local distinctions on account of +language do not even obtain here. There are no real causes to contract +the geographical boundaries of our Government; while, on the other hand, +the constant increase of facilities for the commercial and social +intercourse of one section with another, and the specializations of the +agricultural, manufacturing, and commercial interests, in the creation +of dependence between different sections of the country, demand, in the +name of science, common sense, justice, and the good of the people, that +this Government shall remain one and undivided.</p> + +<p>We cannot, therefore, afford to allow the present or any other rupture +to become permanent, and entail upon ourselves and our children all the +disadvantages and calamities incident thereto. It would not be wise to +prepare the political stage of this country for the reënaction of the +tragedies of Europe. Better any sacrifice than this. Even if we should +lose great battles, or if European interference should threaten, it +would be better to rally the people anew even to the raising and +equipment of millions of men, and sustain the war at this enormous cost, +rather than entail division and its necessary calamities on the future +political life of this continent. This war is costing immensely in men +and property; but if, thereby, the integrity of the Union can be +maintained, it will be an economy both in men and means, if only a brief +period of the future be taken into the account. We are often reduced to +a choice of evils. War is a great evil, but it may prevent others still +greater. The indiscriminate arming of slaves and the spread of +incendiary fires would be great calamities, but nevertheless +justifiable, if the only means of selfdefence, or of preventing still +greater and more enduring calamities. But there need be no violation of +the ethics of war, no infringement of the rights of humanity. The North +is strong in its natural resources, strong in the justice of its cause: +it has risen to vindicate the cardinal law of civilization, and by this +shall it conquer. There appeared to Constantine a vision of the cross, +with the motto, 'By this conquer.' Science has descended in these last +days to dwell among mankind. In her hand is a scroll which she unfolds +before the nations, and they read, 'Unity, the consummation of social +and political destiny.' Thereupon, turning to our nation in the hour of +trial, she says: 'The time is approaching when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> the principle of +unitization must sweep a wider circle, and you are chosen to inaugurate +this new era in the destiny of nations. Thus far you have done well; be +true to the work so happily begun; carry it unflinchingly through this +ordeal, and you will be the greatest Power for good upon the earth. +There must be an extension of political organization—a widening of the +sphere of political unity; and through your example and influence will +the nations be gathered into a larger fold.' And pointing to the scroll, +she adds: 'Let 'Union' be eternally your motto; by this conquer!'</p> + +<p>If we should apply no other than a superficial interpretation to +history, overlooking the great laws by which development proceeds, and +thence conclude that the world is to follow doggedly in the footsteps of +the past, we should anticipate a future far less beautiful in grand +results than Destiny has in store for the generations to come.</p> + +<p>Are we to have the Empire of Rome or of Charlemagne over again? In the +Roman Empire there were no common interests; no representation; no +communication among the people; no intersection of the country by the +networks of roads—only great military roads leading from province to +province; no specialization of industrial and commercial interests; no +civilized dependence of one part on another; no natural ties as yet +developed to their real significance between the several countries of +the Roman Empire: it was held together by the strong and despotic arm of +Rome. The Empire of Charlemagne embraced the territory of Middle and +Western Europe, inhabited by barbarous peoples, isolated, warlike, and +speaking different languages; there were none of the civilized bonds of +union; only the genius of Charlemagne held them together; and upon his +death the huge fabric he had reared naturally fell to pieces. The +Spanish Empire is but another instance showing that geographical and +other elements of disconnection must not overbalance those which relate +remote sections to each other, and bind them together in a common +interest, else dissolution will be the result. In respect to the United +States, all these conditions are reversed. Every interest in the natural +course of development points to union—demands union, and, in the +triumph of justice, shall have union.</p> + +<p>Is there anything in the way of this union? Is there a morbid growth—a +cause of irritation and disease tending to dissolution? Then, it must be +removed. Is ambitious and reckless demagoguism to be apprehended? Then +educate the people and diffuse science. But is there not still a worse +devil to be cast out? Where slavery is, you cannot educate the people, +you cannot diffuse science; and without enlightenment there can be no +political justice, since unprincipled demagogues will sway all political +destiny. Slavery cannot always exist side by side with freedom; it is +the natural enemy of union, the enemy of civilization. Prominent +secession leaders have admitted that slavery is the cause of this war, +boasting at the same time that the confederate constitution is founded +on a scientific distinction of races. Without slavery there could be no +sufficient motive for the independent national existence of the South. +Had there been no slavery, there had been no civil war. This is, at the +present time, the political significance of the institution. There is no +safety but in its extinction—so far at least as the border Slave States +are concerned, in order to overthrow its power in the United States +Senate, to enlarge the sympathies of freedom, and weaken and +circumscribe the chances for revolutionary movements which slavery will +be ready at any critical moment to precipitate against the Union.</p> + +<p>If we have not misinterpreted the law of development, slavery, as it +exists in this country, is a morbid political condition, a social +disease, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> stands in the way of the natural course of social +evolution. In this law, therefore, is written the doom of slavery. The +enlightened world will not always permit it to blast the fair field of +civilization by its poisonous presence.</p> + +<p>There is a law of human movement by which predominating conditions +extend and perpetuate themselves, overcoming those which are weaker and +on the wane. We observed this in our brief survey of the feudal system. +Freedom is now in the ascendant, and slavery must go down. And since +secession is the child of slavery, and both at war with the cardinal +principles of progressive civilization, it is meet that both should fall +together.</p> + +<p>This war may not directly extinguish slavery, and it may; we do not see +the end. But if not directly, we believe the war is, nevertheless, +indirectly setting those forces into action which will eventually +extinguish the institution. If the 'confederacy' should be destroyed, +as, if not saved by foreign intervention, it certainly will be, slavery, +if not already dead, will be pent up, and, in that case, will soon die +by its own hands.</p> + +<p>Immediate interests control us more than those which are remote; +interests which affect ourselves, more than those which affect our +descendants. Citizens of the Southern States, to save a petty individual +interest, are nursing in the bosom of society a malignant canker, which, +if let alone, must one day, in the inevitable course of destiny, eat +into its vitals. Heroic treatment will alone meet the demands of the +case. It must be a surgical operation that will penetrate to the very +roots of the invading tumor.</p> + +<p>The salvation of the South itself, as well as of the Union, hangs upon +the extinction of slavery. Indeed, the South has far more interest than +the North in the restoration of political health as the condition of +political union; and she would see it so, if slavery had not made her +blind. The elimination of slavery would, in the end, be clear gain to +her, while she would reap equally with the North the advantages of +union, and escape the disadvantages and calamities which, as we have +seen, must inevitably follow in the wake of confirmed disunion.</p> + +<p>The writer of this article bases his opposition to slavery solely upon +politico-scientific grounds; he urges the recognition of a great law of +human development, that its bearings on human destiny may be fairly +seen, and human endeavor more wisely directed to the achievement of the +end 'so devoutly to be wished.' The discussion of American Destiny in +all its ramifications would involve the discussion of the ultimate fate +of the negro race on this continent; but that is not within the range of +our present purpose. We have aimed only to indicate the law of +development from the simple to the complex, over which a necessary unity +at length prevails; to show that this law obtains in the political as in +all other realms; to insist that political unity should enlarge its area +as facilities for intercommunication permit, and the interrelation of +industrial, commercial, and social interests demand; that the +jurisdiction of the political unity should correspond to the extension +of general interests, so far as may be possible in the face of physical +necessities not yet overcome in the progress of civilization. We would +apply the doctrine more especially to the present crisis in American +affairs, to enable us to realize that all our sacrifices to maintain the +Union are fully warranted by the great principle of human development +which is involved in the contest.</p> + +<p>If we have rightly interpreted history and the law, these sacrifices are +justified by a double consideration. The first, which is negative—to +avoid the entanglements, broils, and conflicts of neighboring nations, +and the consequent exhaustion of the resources of civilization, through +which its progress<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> would necessarily be retarded; the second, which is +positive—to maintain a vast political organization on this continent in +accordance with the demands of a higher civilization, as the only sure +guarantee for the integrity of the 'Monroe doctrine,' and the +accomplishment of a great political mission, by reacting upon Europe, +and leading her isolated and fragmentary nationalities into a higher +unity, involving order, authority, and the economy of power.</p> + +<p>It is the selfish interest of the crowned heads of the little nations of +Europe to maintain things as they are, with a principality and a palace +for each puppet of royalty. Hence their costly machinery for maintaining +the 'balance of power.' There may have been a use for this in the +ignorance of the masses, when the extension of sovereignty was often but +the increase of despotism; but there is no such need in the advanced +culture of the people and the progress of civilization. Formerly there +was no public sentiment; but, with the rise of civilized methods, it +became developed, and it has gradually enlarged its sphere, till, as a +writer on dynamical physiology remarks, 'we now hear of the public +opinion of Europe.' (Draper.) And we believe that, before this public +sentiment, thrones are doomed to topple, and sceptres and diadems to +fall, to make way for the more liberal and comprehensive political +organizations of an advancing and triumphant civilization. And herein +appears a glimpse of the political mission of the American Union, +destined itself to become still more comprehensive in the inevitable +fluctuation and change of the political elements. It is a hackneyed +theme that all the natural features of our country, its mountains, +rivers, valleys, lakes, are on a grand scale; it is, therefore, meet +that we should lead the civilized world in the movement of political +unity.</p> + +<p>When Russia shall have more completely filled up the measure of her +civilization, and general intelligence shall have secured the liberty of +the subject, and laid forever the ghost of political absolutism, it may +become the mission of the younger nation to infuse new life into the +political system of Europe. With such a nation on the East, and a great +continental policy well advanced in the Western World, Middle and +Western Europe could hardly maintain its present divided, discordant, +and consequently feeble condition: there must be union then, if not +before. With Europe thus united, having outgrown the diplomatic +intrigues and exhausting wars of jealous and ambitious rulers, the dream +of 'universal peace' may realize the inauguration of its fulfilment, and +civilization come to have a meaning which, as yet, is folded up in the +bosom of prophecy—the clearer prophecy, we believe, of science and +history. We are confident that the prestige of the past and the earnest +of the future are for us and our cause; that our nation will not be torn +to pieces and sunk to the dead level of political imbecility, but will +victoriously avouch the integrity of American unity, and gradually gain +the advance in the grand march of civilization, and lead the nations for +hundreds of years to come!</p> + +<p>We may well be proud that we are Americans, and that our lot is cast in +these times. Let us never abase our position by the least approach to +ignoble compromise; let us shrink from no responsibility; but acquit +ourselves as becomes an intelligent people conscious of a noble +destiny!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_BIRTH_OF_THE_LILY" id="THE_BIRTH_OF_THE_LILY"></a>THE BIRTH OF THE LILY.</h2> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The Rose had bloomed in Eden. Odors new</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Entranced the groves; and iridescent birds,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">At this new birth of beauty, sudden rose</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">In richest chorus, bearing up the balm</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Upon their beating wings. The bee had learned</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The place of golden sweets, the butterfly</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Loved well to dream within those crimson folds,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And Eve had made a garland delicate,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Of feathery sprays and leaves and drooping bells,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And placed the Rose, the queen of bloom, above</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The centre of her brow. Thus she bound up</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The golden ripples that fell down and broke</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">O'er her white breast, hiding the bosom buds,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">That never yet had yielded up their sweets</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">To the warm pressure of an infant's lip.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And Eve had bent above the glassy lake,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Smiling upon her picture, pressing close</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The soft cheek of the Rose upon her own,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And praising God for beauty and for life.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">But now a morn had come more strangely dear</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Than Eden yet had known. The sleeping wind</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Woke not to stir the fringes of the lake,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Nor shook the odors from the scented plant.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">A silver, misty wreath closed fondly down</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Above the waveless tide. The insect world</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Lay waiting in the leaves, as though a spell</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Had hushed Creation; yet expectant thrills</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Ran through the silence, for the loaded air</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Grew lighter, purer, and the recent Rose</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Drooped her proud head in meekness, and the face</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Of heaven flushed with burning brilliancy,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Above some coming wonder.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 13em;">One by one</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The beasts and birds of Paradise came down,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">With noiseless movement, to the water's edge,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And waited on the margin. Creatures huge,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">With honest, liquid eyes, and those that stepped</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">With cushioned feet and feathered footfall, stole</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">About the brink, with all the tribe that gave</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The forest life. The serpent reared its crest,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Not yet polluted with the valley's dust,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And stood like one with royal gems encrowned;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">While beast, and bird, and serpent turned to gaze</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Upon each other with inquiring eyes,</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And half-bewildered glance.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 11em;">Then last of all</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Came Eve with Adam to the circling rim,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Her fingers grasping roses, and her lip</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">All beautiful with Love's own witchery.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">She stood and noted with admiring look</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The strength of Adam's form, the expansive chest,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The sloping muscle, and the sinew knit,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The firm athletic limb, and every grace</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Combined and joined in that first, perfect man.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Then Eve, grown humble in her wondrous love</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Of Adam's beauty, knelt upon the turf,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">While her long hair fell down in shining waves,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And pressed her lip upon his dew-washed feet:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Then with her agitated fingers broke</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The foxglove pitcher from the stem, and stooped</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">To fill it up for him; but quickly drew</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Her pearl-white hand away from the still lake,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And held it o'er her heart, with such a look</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Of awe and mystery, as if a spell</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Was on the water, that she dared not break.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">So all was hushed and waiting; when, behold!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">A flash of gold shot from the silver East,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">A gush of new perfume spread through the grove,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The Rose drooped lower, and the impatient birds,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Loosed from restraint, sang in a strain refined</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Of dulcet clearness, such as those young bowers</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Had never heard before. The beast crouched down</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Upon the velvet turf, the serpent's crown</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Flashed richer splendor, and the angel-guard</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Whose fearful sword gleamed by the Tree of Life,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">His very plumes were tremulous with joy.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Then Eve looked o'er the swelling wave, and, lo!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The lake was overspread with blooming stars,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Or snowy golden-centred cups, that rocked</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And spilled the choicest incense. Adam cried,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'The Lily;' but the sweet voice at his side,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Grown tremulous and faint with overjoy,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Could only whisper, 'Purity.' Then quick,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">With restless hands, she culled the floral star—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Queen of the wave—emblem of innocence,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And hung it in the lion's matted mane,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And twined it round the serpent's glittering neck;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Thus humoring her fancy in the play</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Till half the morning hours had slipped and gone.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Then, startled by the voice she loved so well,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">She left the sport, the creatures, and the flowers,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And hastened back with Adam to the trees</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Where God was walking in the solemn shade.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">O mother frail, thou hast not known a tear!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Thy spirit, clothed in simple innocence,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Wears the true garb of bliss. Not yet thy hour</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Of sorrow and departure; nor the pangs</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And mystery of motherhood are thine!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And yet, weak one! some day, because of thee,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">God's love shall give a Saviour to the world!</span><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="WAS_HE_SUCCESSFUL" id="WAS_HE_SUCCESSFUL"></a>WAS HE SUCCESSFUL?</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'Do but grasp into the thick of human life! Every one <i>lives</i> +it—to not many is it <i>known</i>; and seize it where you will, it is +interesting.'—<span class="smcap">Goethe</span>.</p></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'<span class="smcap">Successful</span>.—Terminating in accomplishing what is wished or +intended.'—<span class="smcap">Webster</span>'s <i>Dictionary.</i></p></div> + + +<h3><i>PART SECOND.</i></h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'I have been young and now I am old, and I bear my testimony that I +have never found thorough, pervading, enduring morality with any +but such as feared God—not in the modern sense, but in the old +child-like way. And only with such, too, have I found a rejoicing +in life—a hearty, victorious cheerfulness, of so distinguished a +kind that no other is to be compared with it.'—<span class="smcap">Jacobi</span>.</p></div> + + +<h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<p>The first part of this narrative naturally closes with the termination +of our hero's career at Burnsville, and his establishing himself as a +resident of New York.</p> + +<p>Up to this period, he has had no great difficulty in making his conduct +consistent with his religious professions. He certainly has striven with +a species of conscientiousness to do so, and we repeat, he has achieved +his object.</p> + +<p>Now, however, he is embarking on a very different sea from the quiet, +placid waters of his village life. Here, Hiram Meeker, you will +encounter many and frequent temptations to <i>do</i> wrong. For you are soon +to commence on your "own account," and then you must prepare for that +mortal struggle, in which none, without the grace of God to aid them, +can come off victors.</p> + +<p>Hiram understands this: that is, he has been educated to believe it. +Surely he enjoys saving grace. Who more constant at church and evening +meetings; who prays longer and more vigorously than he?</p> + +<p>Let me repeat that Hiram has a strong desire to enter the kingdom of +Heaven, and thinks that all the chances are in favor of his doing so. +But this desire is of the same nature as his wish to become rich. It is +founded on the determination to promote the fortunes of the individual +<i>me</i>, here and hereafter. It leads him to treat as a <i>principle</i> the +statement of <i>fact</i>, that "honesty is the best policy;" and his policy +is—Self. He can practically master the theory of cause and effect as to +what is going on <i>here</i>. And since he believes he will secure a good +position in the world to come by strict observance of the "ordinances," +he considers himself all right <i>there</i>.</p> + +<p>It is with entire complacency, then, that Hiram Meeker sets sail in New +York. He is young, and, as the word goes, handsome; with good health, +strong nerves, an enduring frame, and excellent constitution. He is well +edu<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>cated, and has a remarkable capacity for affairs, with sufficient +experience in business to qualify him for any mercantile career he +chooses to enter on. Moreover, in all the relations of life, he +professes to be governed by the highest possible principle—Christian +principle; and claims to be, indeed really is, at least theoretically, a +believer in the truths of our holy religion. Why is it, then, reader, +you have already taken such a prejudice against Hiram? For I know, as it +were instinctively, that you are prejudiced against him. Indeed, I +confess that in preparing his history for the press, I have +unconsciously permitted certain comments to creep in, indicating my own +feelings toward the young man. But, in fact, I could not help it, +especially when I came to narrate Hiram's course toward Sarah Burns.</p> + +<p>But here in New York, I begin to feel a painful interest for young +Meeker. He is at the "parting of the ways." Up to now, there has been no +great strain on his moral sense, while he has not been altogether +insensible to humanizing influences. He has been thus far in the service +of others, and had wisdom enough to understand it was best for him to +serve with fidelity. Thus, his sense of duty did not conflict with his +interests, and he won golden opinions from all.</p> + +<p>Probably, when he left Burnsville, but one person thoroughly knew +him—that person was Sarah Burns. For it is given to those whose hearts +are honestly <i>devoted</i>, in time to learn and fully comprehend the nature +of the hearts brought in contact with theirs.</p> + +<p>The young ladies universally recalled their delightful flirtations with +Hiram with a sort of pleasurable regret, in which no angry feelings +toward him were mingled. Even Mary Jessup looked back with a sentimental +sigh, but not with any feeling of bitterness, to the period when she was +so happy with "young Meeker, boarding at their house." The Hawkins girls +still severally had their secret hopes in the future. [As to the widow +Hawkins, I cannot say.] But nobody understood the young man except Sarah +Burns. <i>He</i> knew that, and when he drove away from her door, he felt he +was <i>found out</i>.</p> + +<p>I am getting from my subject, which is Hiram's dangerous situation, now +that he has reached New York. One thing much to be regretted is that he +has resolved, at least for the present, to adjure society, in his entire +devotion to his main purpose. This is an alarming feature. For +notwithstanding, in his intercourse with the sex, he had sought entirely +his own pleasure, still it was not without its qualifying influences. +His mind was diverted from a perpetual thought of how he should get +rich, and nature (I mean the nature common to us all) was permitted to +have a certain sway.</p> + +<p>When Hiram stepped foot in the metropolis, he cut off these diverting +elements. He decided, and he had long and carefully considered it, that +in the strife in which he was soon to enter, he should require all his +time, all his faculties. For this reason, he determined to accept Mr. +Eastman's offer of board and lodging at his house, albeit his wife was +shrewish and generally disagreeable. He no longer permitted the gay +throng in Broadway to move his nerves or excite his senses. And thus all +these secondary impulses and emotions and sentiments yielded to the one +main controlling purpose.</p> + +<p>Yes, Hiram Meeker, I feel a painful interest in your situation. I see +that, once entered on your career, there will be no departure or +deviation or pause in it. As in metal poured into the mould, which, +while it remains in a fluid state, is capable of being converted into +other forms, but which, after a time, fixes and becomes +unchangeable,—so, in the life of every human being, there is a period +when the aims and purposes are fixed and the charac<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>ter is settled +forever. With some, this comes earlier, with others later; but it comes +inevitably to all of us.</p> + +<p>It seems to me Hiram is fast approaching this epoch, and this is why my +interest in him becomes painful. For after this—but I will not +anticipate.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> + +<p>The first thing which Hiram undertook after getting settled at his +boarding place, was to decide what church to attend. This was a matter +which required a great deal of deliberation, and week after week he +visited different churches of his own faith.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bennett, with his family, went to an Episcopal church. He took the +liberty, one day, of flatly advising his cousin to cut Presbyterianism, +and go with him.</p> + +<p>'The fact is, Hiram, I can't stand the blue lights; they make a +hypocrite of you, or a sniveller. Now, I don't profess to be a good +person, but I think, after all, my neighbors know about where to find +me. As to the Episcopalians, they give us good music, good prayers, and +short sermons. They don't come snooping about to find out whether you go +sometimes to the theatre, or if any of your family practise the damnable +sin of dancing at parties. They mind their own business, and leave you +to mind yours.'</p> + +<p>'What <i>is</i> their business?' asked Hiram.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bennett, taken a little aback, hesitated a moment; then he replied, +'Why, to preach and read the service, and perform church duties +generally.'</p> + +<p>'Well,' said Hiram, 'I always thought it was a part of a minister's duty +to look after the spiritual welfare of every one of his church, and to +visit the families, and converse with all the members.'</p> + +<p>'You forget you're not in the country, where everything is got up on an +entirely different basis,' replied Mr. Bennett. 'You won't find much +'pastoral' work here, even among the blue lights. They confine +themselves to preaching brimstone sermons from the pulpit and at evening +lectures, and giving orders about the management of your family and +mine, taking care that nobody shall enjoy anything if they can help it. +If you go to see a play, it is a plunge into Tophet; if you permit your +child to tread a quickstep to a lively tune, both you and your child are +fit subjects for the wrath to come.'</p> + +<p>'I rather think you are mistaken when you say the Episcopalians approve +of the theatre and late parties, and so forth,' retorted Hiram. 'I have +been told by two or three of that persuasion, that the clergy object +decidedly to all these things.'</p> + +<p>'Gammon, Hiram—gammon for the country market. I tell you, I know that +we can do just what we please in the way of 'rational amusement,' as our +clergyman calls it, and your people can't, and I advise you to come over +to the liberal side.'</p> + +<p>Hiram shook his head.</p> + +<p>'Well, if you won't, I recommend Dr. Pratt. He, I understand, permits a +little fun occasionally; then he makes use of our prayers, commits them +to memory, you know; and latterly has put on a gown, and has a little +boy to open the door of his pulpit. I advise you to go there.'</p> + +<p>'Thank you,' said Hiram; 'but I don't think I should relish that kind of +a man. I prefer something decided one way or the other.'</p> + +<p>'Then take Dr. Chellis, he's your chap. Boanerges! a regular son of +thunder. Egad, I believe he <i>does</i> visit every soul of his flock—keeps +them straight. The other evening he was invited to a little gathering at +the house of a new comer in his congregation—he always accepts +invitations, and they say he is very fond of oysters and chicken salad, +though he drinks nothing but cold water;—well, it happened the young +folks wanted to get up a quadrille,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> began to arrange it innocently +enough before his face and eyes. Thereupon he jumped up in a huff, and +flung himself out of the house, and the next Sunday delivered an extra +blast on the 'immoral tendencies of the dance.'</p> + +<p>'That's the man for me,' said Hiram, firmly.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bennett regarded his protegé with a keen, inquisitive glance, with a +view to fathom him, if possible. It would seem that the result was +unsatisfactory, for after a moment he exclaimed, 'Well, I confess I +don't exactly see through you. It may be one sort of thing; it may be +another; but I can't say which.'</p> + +<p>'It is a very simple matter, Mr. Bennett. I was brought up strictly, and +believe in my bringing up.'</p> + +<p>'All right, if you mean it.'</p> + +<p>'I do mean it. Besides, now that I have come to New York to reside, +where I shall be subjected to the numerous temptations of a city life, I +shall need more than ever to be under the preaching of just such a man +as you describe Dr. Chellis to be.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, don't; that is coming it too strong; now I think I <i>do</i> understand +you. But, Hiram, drop all that sort of thing. If you want to join +Chellis's church, join it; but talk your cant to the marines.'</p> + +<p>Hiram was angry, but he said nothing.</p> + +<p>'You must not be vexed, Hiram. You know I want to do you all the good I +can. Recollect, if you are smart, you have much to learn yet. Let me +have your confidence, and I will advise you according to my experience. +If you really like severe preaching, you can't do better than go in for +the Doctor. He has the richest congregation in New York. Allwise, Tenant +& Co., Starbuck & Briggs, Daniel Story. Those are names for you; +South-street men, too, in your line. They are the pillars of Chellis's +church; good men and true, if they are blue lights. Besides, there are +lots of pretty girls—tight little Presbyterian saints, with plenty of +cash. Their fathers can buy and sell Dr. Pratt's congregation and mine +together. Yes, you are right; I wonder I did not think of it. Go in for +Chellis.'</p> + +<p>Hiram was still silent. His heightened color and severe expression +showed how little he relished Mr. Bennett's conversation.</p> + +<p>Nothing is so disagreeable to a person whose nature is not thoroughly +genuine, but who claims to act from proper motives, as to have another +take it for granted he is not doing so.</p> + +<p>He did not forget a word that Mr. Bennett had said, though. Indeed, he +recovered his equanimity so far as to thank him for his suggestions, +and, wishing him good-day, he started for his place in South street.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bennett watched the young man as he walked up the street (the +conversation occurred in the doorway of H. Bennett & Co.'s +establishment), and until he had turned the corner. 'Deep, very deep,' +he muttered as he stepped inside. 'He'll be 'round one of these days, or +I am mistaken.'</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Hiram continued on his way to the store, his cheeks burning +under the influence of Mr. Bennett's plain talk, but sensibly alive to +the description of Dr. Chellis's church.</p> + +<p>'Allwise, Tenant & Co., eh? and Starbuck & Briggs (Hiram had been but a +few weeks in New York, and already had learned to pay that almost +idolatrous deference to great commercial names which is a leading +characteristic of the town); that will do. Plenty of rich girls,'—his +heart began to beat quick,—'plenty of rich girls. That's the place for +me.'</p> + +<p>Strange, in this soliloquy he said nothing about the spiritual +advantages to be derived under the preaching of so noted a divine as Dr. +Chellis. Yet Hiram really liked strong preaching and severe discipline. +For he never appropriated any of the denunciations. Feeling perfectly +safe himself, it gratified<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> him to hear the awful truths severely +enforced on the outsiders.</p> + +<p>We see, however, from this little conversation with himself, what was +uppermost in Hiram's mind. Subsequent inquiries, carefully made of +various persons, fully confirmed the statement of Mr. Bennett as to +these little particulars in relation to Dr. Chellis's church and +congregation.</p> + +<p>Dr. Chellis himself was a person of extraordinary ability, great purity +of character, and great zeal. At this period he was about sixty years of +age, but he possessed the earnestness and energy of a young man. His +congregation were very much attached to him, and it is true he exercised +over them a remarkable influence. Many people sneered, accusing them of +'being led by the nose by their minister.' They were led, it is true, +but not in that way: rather by their understanding and their affections. +For, strict and stern and severe as the 'old Doctor' appeared to be, it +was the <i>sin</i> he thundered against, not the individual. And those who +were brought in more intimate contact with him, declared that he was, +after all, a kind, tender-hearted man.</p> + +<p>His church were devoted to him. The majority were a severe, toilsome, +self-denying company—too much so, perchance; but of that I dare hazard +no opinion: God knows. Like their minister, sincere, indulging in no +cant; without hypocrisy, practising in the world during the week the +principles they professed on Sunday to be governed by; a church +deserving to be honored for its various charities (it gave twice as much +as any other in the city), for the personal liberality of its members +when called on to join in public or private subscriptions, and for the +exalted influence they exerted in affairs generally.</p> + +<p>Into such a church, and among such a people, Hiram Meeker proposes to +introduce himself.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>His first move was to call on Dr. Chellis without any introduction, and +present his credentials from the church in Burnsville, as well as an +excellent letter from his minister, certifying particularly as to his +religious character and deportment. He thought by going as an +unsophisticated youth from the country he would make a better impression +and more strongly commend himself to the Doctor's sympathy than in any +other way.</p> + +<p>I think, however, that Hiram's call was rather of a failure. He had no +ordinary man to deal with. Dr. Chellis had not only a profound knowledge +of human nature, but a quick insight into its various peculiarities. He +could classify individuals rapidly; and he read Hiram after fifteen +minutes' conversation.</p> + +<p>The latter, not accustomed to men of the Doctor's calibre, found himself +wanting in his usual equanimity. His familiar rôle did not serve, he +could see that, and for once his resources failed him.</p> + +<p>For the Doctor did not appear to be specially interested when Hiram, +apropos of nothing, except as a last card, undertook, in a meek, +saint-like manner, to give him an account of his early conviction of sin +and subsequent triumphant conversion. Indeed, if the truth must be told, +the worthy divine gave evident symptoms—to speak plainly—of being +bored before Hiram's story was half finished! The latter was not slow to +see this, and he found it difficult to rally.</p> + +<p>At length he gave the Doctor an opportunity to speak, by bringing his +personal narrative to a close.</p> + +<p>'You have no acquaintances in the city?'</p> + +<p>'I think I may say none, except in business; and my object in selecting +such a church as yours is to keep up the same degree of piety which I +humbly trust I maintained in my village home.'</p> + +<p>[Pretty well, Hiram, pretty well—but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> you have an old head to deal +with, and an honest heart: be careful.]</p> + +<p>'To do that,' replied the Doctor, gravely, 'you must not look back to +what you were, or thought you were. Be sure you are in danger when you +feel complacent about yourself.'</p> + +<p>These were awful words to Hiram, and from such a severe, grave, +dignified old man.</p> + +<p>'In danger!' That was something new. 'Of what?' Why, no thought of a +possibility of danger had crossed young Meeker's mind since the day he +joined the church in Hampton.</p> + +<p>He sat quite still, uncertain what reply to make.</p> + +<p>He was interrupted by the tones of the Doctor's voice—tones which were +modified from their previous severity.</p> + +<p>'I will take your letter,' he said, 'and at the next communion, which +will take place in about six weeks, you will be admitted to membership.'</p> + +<p>'I should like to have a class in the Sunday school,' said Hiram, +breathing more freely.</p> + +<p>'If you will speak next Sunday to Mr. Harris, the superintendent,' +replied the Doctor, 'he will furnish you with one. There is a demand for +teachers just at present, I heard him say.'</p> + +<p>Dr. Chellis rose, as if Hiram had taken up enough of his time. Our hero +could but do the same. He bowed and left the room.</p> + +<p>'A pretty sort of minister that,' exclaimed he between his teeth, as he +quitted the house. 'Pious! no more pious than my boot. Never listened to +a word I said. I know he didn't. Is it possible I must sit under this +man's preaching? I see now what cousin Bennett meant by things being got +up on an entirely different basis here from what they are in the +country. I should think they were. But there is Allwise, Tenant & Co., +Daniel Story. I may trust myself with such names [he did not say with +such <i>men</i>]. Ah! h'm—h'm—lots of pretty girls, with plenty of cash. +I'll try it. Anyhow, it stands number one. No mistake about that!</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> + +<p>Hiram soon learned a lesson. He discovered there were people in New York +just as quickwitted, as keen, and as shrewd as he was himself. This did +not alarm him. Not a bit. He was only the more ready to appreciate the +truth of Mr. Bennett's remark, that he had yet much to learn.</p> + +<p>'I see it,' quoth Hiram. 'The city gets the best of everything, by the +natural course of supply and demand. Yes, it gets the best beef and +mutton and fowls, and fruits and vegetables, and on the same principle +it commands the best men. Well, I like this all the better. It was dull +business in Burnsville, after all, with nobody to compete with. Give me +New York!'</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>In the store of Hendly, Layton & Gibb, Hiram saw and conversed with +shipmasters who were familiar with every port in the world. The reader +will recollect, at school he had devoted himself to mercantile +geography. Thus he had located in his mind every principal seaport, and +had learned what was the nature of the trade with each. The old sea +captains were amazed at the pertinence of Hiram's questions, and with +the information he possessed on topics connected with their business. +They could scarcely understand it. It gave them a great respect for the +'fellow,' and Hiram speedily became a favorite with them all. He used to +like to go on board their ships, and chat with them there, whenever he +found time. Do not suppose these were mere pleasure excursions. Hiram +Meeker was forming his opinion of each one of these captains. For in his +mind's eye he saw some of them in <i>his</i> employ; but which? that was the +question. So by mingling with them, he learned much of the mechanical +part of commerce, and he discovered, besides their different characters, +who were compe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span>tent and honest, and who were not altogether so.</p> + +<p>Hiram also spent a good deal of his time conversing with Eastman, with +whom he boarded. He got the latter's ideas of business and about the men +they daily encountered, and Eastman could furnish a fund of valuable +information, based on long experience.</p> + +<p>Hiram all this time was indefatigable. He watched the course of trade. +He endeavored to discover the secret of the success of the great South +street houses. He worked, he pondered, and yet all the time served +Hendly, Layton & Gibb with fidelity. Eastman became attached to him. +Mrs. Eastman said the man did not give her half the trouble she +expected. So you see, in certain quarters, Hiram was as popular as ever.</p> + +<p>Meantime he had secured a seat in and joined Dr. Chellis's church. He +duly presented himself at the Sunday school and obtained a fine class. +From that time he never missed a service on Sunday, nor a lecture, or +prayer meeting, or other weekly gathering. He even attended a funeral +occasionally, in his zeal to 'wait' on all the ordinances. He was, +however, exceedingly modest and unobtrusive. He did not seek to make +acquaintances, but no one could help noticing his punctilious regularity +and decorum. I have remarked that Hiram determined to cut off what had +been a great source of pleasure—society; but he still paid the same +attention to his personal appearance as before. After a while questions +began to be asked: 'Who is this new comer, so constant, so devout, and +so exemplary?'</p> + +<p>'What a fine-looking fellow! I wonder who he is?' whispered Miss Tenant +to Miss Stanley, one morning, as our hero passed their seats (they both +had classes) to take his place with his Sunday school pupils.</p> + +<p>'I don't know, I am sure,' replied her friend.</p> + +<p>'I can't find any one who does. Do you know, <i>I</i> think he is real +handsome?'</p> + +<p>'So do I, if he would only lift his head up and look people in the face; +he is as bashful as a sheep.'</p> + +<p>'My little brother is in his class, and he says they all like him so +much. He takes such an interest in his pupils.'</p> + +<p>'Then I should think you could find out something about him.'</p> + +<p>'No: his name is Meeker; that's all any one seems to know.'</p> + +<p>'Funny name; I don't like it.'</p> + +<p>'Nor I. Still, we won't condemn him for his name. Besides, I like his +face?'</p> + +<p>'Hush!'</p> + +<p>Here the conversation of the two young people was interrupted by the +rapping of the superintendent, and the services of the school commenced.</p> + +<p>If young ladies of the importance of Miss Tenant and Miss Stanley begin +to talk about Hiram, you may be certain it will spread through the +school and into the church. <i>He</i> knew what was going on—of course he +did; but only took still greater pains with his personal appearance, and +became more shy and reserved and assiduously devout.</p> + +<p>The elders of the church could not help noticing him.</p> + +<p>The young ladies noticed him.</p> + +<p>Heads of families observed his exemplary deportment.</p> + +<p>Who could he be?</p> + +<p>Dr. Chellis, meantime, did not lose sight of his new communicant. They +frequently met, and Hiram was always greeted, if not with cordiality, +yet kindly. Strange to say, contrary to his habit, the Doctor neglected +or omitted to enter into conversation with Hiram on religious topics. He +felt a repugance to doing so which he could not explain. Everything +seemed so praiseworthy in Hiram's conduct, that one would suppose the +worthy divine would like to engage him in conversation, as the Rev. Mr. +Chase used to do at Burnsville. But a certain aversion prevented it.</p> + +<p>When applied to for information about Hiram, the Doctor could say<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +nothing, for he knew nothing; and so the mystery, for a mystery the +young ladies determined to make of it, increased.</p> + +<p>At last a rumor was circulated that Hiram had been disappointed in a +love affair. A mischief-loving girl detailed it to Miss Tenant, whose +interest in the young Sunday school teacher gradually grew stronger, and +it soon became a well-authenticated piece of history.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>During this time a species of intimacy was growing up between Hiram +Meeker and Hill. An odd companionship, you will say; but they seemed to +get along very well together. The latter, as you may remember, was a +wild, reckless fellow. He had his good traits, though. There was nothing +mean in his composition, but much that was impulsive and generous. He +never laid up a penny, and was always in debt. It was this unfortunate +habit which had kept him so long at Joslin's. He had got in advance of +his salary, and he would not quit till it was made up. When he left +there, he succeeded in getting a place in a large wine and liquor house; +for Hill's acquaintance was extensive, and in those days of +extraordinary 'drumming,' in which he was a great proficient, his +services were valuable. It was through Hill, as I have said, that Hiram +got his place at Hendly's, and after that he was in the habit of looking +in nearly every day on him toward the close of business hours.</p> + +<p>I cannot precisely explain by what species of fascination this poor +fellow was attracted to Meeker. Doubtless it originated in the +triumphant resistance which the latter opposed to Hill's attempt on him +at their first acquaintance, and his complete victory over and +discomfiture of Benjamin Joslin, for whom Hill entertained a supreme +contempt. There was a mystery about the sources of Hiram's power which +completed the charm, and made Hill his willing subject, and afterward +slave.</p> + +<p>But what did Hiram want of Hill? That would appear more difficult to +answer. He certainly did want something of him. For he encouraged his +coming often to see him, and talked with him a great deal. He even lent +him occasionally small sums of money. I repeat, what a droll +companionship! Hill, a swearing, drinking, godless scapegrace. Meeker, a +quiet, exemplary, religious, laborious young man.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was the rule by which opposites are attracted to each other.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was something else.</p> + +<p>On the whole, I am inclined to think it was something else, on Hiram's +part at least. I believe he acted, with respect to Hill, as he did with +respect to everybody—from carefully considered motives. We shall see, +perhaps, by and by, how this was.</p> + +<p>Eastman used to wonder that Hiram should tolerate Hill's society. To be +sure, he himself had a sort of family regard for him. But his presence +always annoyed him. He even expressed his surprise to Hiram, who replied +by making use of the moral argument. He was sorry for the poor fellow. +He hoped to do him some good. Possibly he might be able to bring him +under better influences. Certainly Hill would not harm <i>him</i>, while, on +the contrary, he (Hill) might be benefited.</p> + +<p>Hiram did not tell the truth.</p> + +<p>Really, if he had dared to stop and inquire of himself, he would be +forced to acknowledge that he did <i>not</i> want Hill to be different from +what he was. Then he would not serve his purpose. To be sure, sometimes, +when Hill permitted an extra strong oath to escape his lips, Hiram would +fidget and look uneasy, and beg his visitor to break himself of such a +wicked habit. But the secret of Hiram's power did not lie in his <i>moral</i> +influence certainly, for Hill's habit of swearing did not improve, +indeed it grew worse.</p> + +<p>In this way passed our hero's first year in New York.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="NULLIFICATION_AND_SECESSION" id="NULLIFICATION_AND_SECESSION"></a>NULLIFICATION AND SECESSION.</h2> + + +<p>We publish the principal part of the speech of Hon. R. J. Walker, +against nullification and secession, made at the great Union meeting at +Natchez, Mississippi, on the first Monday of January, 1833. We republish +this speech from the Natchez <i>Mississippi Journal</i> of that date. Upon +that speech, Mr. Walker became the Union candidate for Senator of the +United States from Mississippi against Mr. Poindexter, a Calhoun +nullifier and secessionist. After a three years' contest of unexampled +violence, Mr. Walker was elected on the 8th of January, 1836. So +distinct was the issue, that the Legislature of Mississippi declared +nullification and secession to be treason. The contest was conducted by +Mr. Walker by speeches in every county, with the banner of the Union +waving over him, and to the music of our national airs.</p> + +<p>We republish this speech now because it preceded Mr. Webster's great +reply to Calhoun, and because its arguments are applicable to the +present contest. This speech drew out Gen. Jackson's celebrated letter, +heretofore published, in favor of Mr. Walker; and the speech received +the cordial approval of ex-President Madison. By reference to the +Washington city <i>Globe</i> of the 12th August, 1836, it will be found that, +in conversation with Mr. Ingersoll, 'Mr. Madison spoke very freely of +nullification, which he altogether condemned, remarking that Mr. Walker, +of the Senate, in a speech he had made on some occasion, was the <i>first +person</i> who had given to the public what he (Mr. Madison) considers the +true view of Mr. Jefferson's language on that subject.' Mr. Webster gave +the Whig arguments against nullification and secession, Mr. Walker the +democratic; but they both arrived at the same conclusions:</p> + +<p>Never, fellow citizens, did I rise to address you with such deep and +abiding impressions of the awful character of that crisis which involves +the existence of the American Union. No mortal eye can pierce the veil +which covers the events of the next few months, but we do know that the +scales are now balancing in fearful equipoise, liberty and union in the +one hand, anarchy or despotism in the other. Which shall preponderate, +is the startling question to which we must all now answer. Already one +bright, one kindred star is sinking from the banner of the American +Union, the very fabric of our government is rocking on its foundations, +one of its proudest pillars is now moving from beneath the glorious +arch, and soon may we all stand amid the broken columns and upon the +scattered fragments of the Constitution of our once united and happy +country. Whilst then we may yet recede from the brink of that precipice +on which we now stand, whilst we are once more convened as citizens of +the American Union, and have still a common country, whilst we are yet +fondly gazing, perhaps for the last time, upon that banner which floated +over the army of Washington, and living beneath that Constitution which +bears his sacred name, let us at least endeavor to transmit to +posterity, unimpaired, that Union, cemented by the blood of our +forefathers. The honorable gentleman who has preceded me, in opposition +to the resolutions submitted for your consideration, tells us that he +was nursed in the principles of '76 and '98—that these are the +principles of Carolina, and that they ought to be maintained. Let me +briefly answer, that the humble individual who now addresses you is the +son of a soldier of the Revolution, and that from the dawning of +man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>hood, from his first vote to his last, at all times, and upon all +occasions, he has supported and will support the principles of +democracy, and the doctrines of '76 and '98. But it was under the banner +of the Union that the whigs of '76 and '98 achieved their glorious +triumphs; and is that the standard now unfurled by the advocates of +nullification? It is true, we find nullification declared in the +Kentucky resolutions to be a rightful remedy—but nullification by whom? +by a single State? no—by those sovereignties the several States, in the +mode prescribed by the Constitution, by a declaratory amendment +annulling the power under which the law was passed. This would be a +remedy in fact; for it would operate equally on all the States; but can +the same act of Congress be constitutional in one State, and +unconstitutional in another? South Carolina declares the Tariff +unconstitutional—Kentucky declares it valid; is it nullified or not? is +it void or valid? The South Carolina theory gives to each State, of +itself, the unlimited power to pronounce ultimate judgment against the +validity of any act of Congress. If so, the Tariff must be valid in +Kentucky, and void in South Carolina. Yet if the Carolina ordinance, +nullifying the Tariff, be valid in that State, it is valid in every +other State, and Carolina may introduce foreign imports, once landed in +her own State, into every other State, free of all duty; for, by the +Constitution, 'no tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from +any State.' What then becomes of the ultimate judgment of Kentucky? +Nullified by a single State; and that is the nullification of South +Carolina, by which she can constitutionally, and as a member of the +Union, repeal any act of Congress she may deem invalid, and prescribe +her will for law throughout the limits of every other State. The +Constitution of the Union would then be this: <i>Be it enacted</i>, that the +American Congress shall possess such powers only as South Carolina +believes they may lawfully exercise; and the whole American people be +thus subjected to the government of the ordinances of a single State. Is +this democracy? The truth is, every act of Congress is intrinsically +void or valid, from its repugnance to or consonance with the provisions +of the American Constitution; nor can the judgment of a State render +void an act of Congress which is constitutional, or render valid an act +of Congress which is unconstitutional. Would the judgment of a single +State have rendered the alien and sedition law constitutional, or the +last war unconstitutional, or would the Supreme Court of the Union have +been compelled to render opposite judgment in a case brought before +them, declaring the citizen of Massachusetts bound to oppose, and of +Virginia to support either of these laws, as their respective States had +pronounced contradictory judgments upon them? Suppose Massachusetts had +not only declared the last war unconstitutional, but had passed an +ordinance requiring her citizens to resist the war, to prostrate and +oppose the armies of the Republic, and to aid a tyrant's myrmidons in +driving the steel deeper into the bosoms of our bleeding countrymen; +would the ordinance be constitutional, or would not the acts it required +to be performed be treason against the Government of the Union?</p> + +<p>It is said a State cannot commit treason; no, but its citizens may; nor +would they be rightfully acquitted because sustained by the judgment of +a single State. If each State possesses an equal right to pass ultimate +judgment upon any act of Congress, and two States enact ordinances +directly contradictory to the same law, do they not, like the meeting of +equal forces in mechanics, nullify each other? or must the same law be +enforced in one State and disregarded in the other? Not without +violating the Constitution; for if New York pronounces the Tariff valid, +and South Carolina declares it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> void, and suits are instituted in each +State on bonds given for the payment of duties on imports introduced +into each, must the duties be collected in one State, but not in the +other? This would be to set at open defiance those clauses of the +Constitution which declare that all imposts 'shall be uniform throughout +the United States,' and that 'no preference shall exist in the +collection of revenue in the ports of one State over those of another.' +Upon an appeal from the decisions by the Federal district courts of New +York and Carolina, in the suits on the bonds for these duties, how would +the Supreme Court of the Union decide the question? by enforcing the +payment of the bonds given in Carolina? No; for that State had exercised +the right of ultimate judgment, and pronounced the law invalid; would +the court decide against the validity of the bond given in New York? No; +for that State, in exercising its equal right of pronouncing ultimate +judgment, had declared that the law was valid. Or would they enforce the +payments of the duties in New York and not in South Carolina? This, we +have seen, would violate both the clauses of the Constitution last +quoted. The only remaining judgment would be, to disregard the edict of +a single State, and to enforce the payment of the duties in both States, +or in neither, as the act of Congress might or might not be repugnant to +the provisions of the Constitution. If Kentucky and Virginia thought +they possessed the power in regard to the alien and sedition laws now +claimed by Carolina in regard to the Tariff, where is the ordinance +nullifying those laws? Or would they be nullified by resolutions +expressing only the judgment and opinion of the Legislature in regard to +the constitutionality of the law, as if the Legislature, one department +only of the Government of a single State, could annul all the laws of +the Union? Even South Carolina does not urge a doctrine so monstrous, +for she declares this can be done solely by the 'delegates' of the State +in 'solemn convention.' South Carolina finds, then, in the practice of +Virginia and Kentucky, no warrant for the doctrine of nullification. She +finds neither ordinance, nor test oaths, nor standing armies, nor packed +juries, nor secession, or threats of secession, from the Union. They +find Mr. Jefferson in that great emergency protesting against 'a +scission of the Union,' in any event; and the ordinance of South +Carolina would have received his unqualified abhorrence. But, if we are +asked to surrender the principles which alone can preserve the Union, on +the assumed authority of Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison, of Kentucky and +of Virginia—why do not the advocates of nullification tell us that Mr. +Jefferson, in 1821, as appears by his printed memoirs, emphatically +denied the right of a State to <i>veto</i> an act of Congress; and Mr. +Madison, a surviving founder of the Constitution, and framer of the +Virginia resolutions, unequivocally denounces the doctrine of +nullification? And are they not safer guides than Messrs. McDuffie, +Calhoun, and Hamilton, the former of whom wrote and published in 1821, +and the latter deliberately sanctioned, in a laudatory preface, a series +of essays, denouncing this very doctrine of nullification as the +'<i>climax</i> of political heresies'? Why do not those who would look to +Kentucky and Virginia as the only safe expositors of the Constitution +inform us also, that the great and patriotic commonwealth of Kentucky is +indignantly repelling the charge that nullification ever was sustained +by her authority? Why do they not point to the unanimous resolution of +the Virginia Legislature in 1810, declaring in the very case of a +nullification, by a law of Pennsylvania, of a power of the General +Government, that the Supreme Court of the Union is the tribunal, +'already provided by the Constitution of the United States, to decide +disputes between the State and Federal' authorities?' (See 'Sup.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> Rev. +Code of Virginia,' page 150.) These resolutions, directly affirming the +supremacy of the judgment of the Supreme Court of the Union over the +laws and judgment of a State, were adopted by Virginia within a few +months after the promulgation by that tribunal of its decree enforcing +the authority of the Union against the nullifying edict of a sovereign +State. Virginia did more: she not only affirmed the power of this +tribunal, and sanctioned its decree, but spoke of it in terms of the +highest eulogy, and scouted indignantly the proposition of Pennsylvania +to vest the right of deciding questions of disputed power and +sovereignty in some other tribunal than the Supreme Court of the Union. +The same proposition was treated with the open or silent contempt of +every State in the Union, South Carolina among the number; and +Pennsylvania receded, though she had passed a law commanding the +Governor of the State to prevent by an armed force the execution of the +process emanating under the authority of the Constitution of the +Union—though she placed her act upon the same ground as Carolina, that +the power exercised in that case had never been granted by the +Constitution to any department of the General Government. Thus ended +nullification in the keystone of the arch of the Union. That State, +which has ever sustained the Democracy of the South, in the election of +Jefferson, of Madison, and Monroe, and the cheering voice of whose +public meetings first called out as a candidate for the presidency the +patriot Chief Magistrate who now upholds the banner of the Union, +submitted to the law of the Union. And is nullification constitutional +in Carolina, but unconstitutional in Pennsylvania? Is the one a +<i>sovereign</i> and the other a <i>subject</i> State? Shall the one submit to the +laws of the Union, and not the other? Why, sir, if the people of +Pennsylvania could sustain a distinction so odious, the very shades of +their ancestors would rise from the battlefields of the Revolution, from +Paoli and Germantown, and call their children bondmen of Carolina, +vassals and recreant slaves! I speak not now of the whiskey +insurrection, when, at the order of Washington, the militia of Virginia +and of other States moved against the people of Western Pennsylvania, +under the command of the Governor of Virginia and Carolina, and the +nation approved the deed; but I speak of the period, during the +presidency of Mr. Jefferson, when the State of Pennsylvania passed a law +nullifying the powers of the General Government, under her reserved +right to construe the Constitution at her pleasure, when she was +compelled to yield to the laws of the Union, and her armed force, +assembled by her Governor under an edict of the State, was ineffectual. +Nullification was condemned by Jefferson and Madison, by Virginia and +Carolina, and the people of the Union; and must one State nullify and +not another? No, sir; all or none of the States must submit to the +supremacy of the Government of the Union; and if Carolina can +successfully resist that Government, will any other State submit to a +power which is thus insulted, disgraced, defied, and overthrown by the +edict of a single State, and which acts and exists only by its +permission? No, sir; one successful example of practical nullification +by a State destroys the Union; for it demonstrates that the Government +of the Union has no power to execute its laws, or preserve its +existence—<i>that it is not a government</i>, or that its powers are written +in sand, to be swept away by the first angry surge of passion that beats +over them. Such was the prediction of the despots of Europe, too soon to +be fulfilled if the fatal ordinance of Carolina is sustained, and the +flag of the Union struck down by the imperious mandate of a single +State. Let us, then, now teach those despots, who, pointing with +exultation to our dissensions, and anticipating our downfall,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> proclaim +that man is incapable of self-government, that the Union can and shall +be preserved, that we know that 'Union and Liberty are inseparable,' +that the name and privileges of American citizens are entwined with the +very ligaments of our hearts, that they are our birthright, the glorious +inheritance purchased by the blood of our forefathers, and never to be +surrendered by their sons; that we will all rally round the banner of +our country and sustain it, upon the ocean, on the land, in war and in +peace, against foreign or domestic enemies; or, if it must fall, it will +be upon the graves of Americans preferring death in its defence to life +without it, when the iron chains of despotism would bind them as slaves +to that soil which they would tread only as freemen.</p> + +<p>It is said that the Government of the Union is but a league formed by +sovereign States. Did the States form it as governments? if so, which or +all of the departments of any State subscribed or ratified the compact? +or could the government of any State change the organic law, unless by a +power given them by the Constitution, or surrender the sovereign +attributes of power, and unite the people in a new government with other +confederates? No; the government cannot abolish or change its form or +transfer its powers to another government: this highest act of +sovereignty can only be performed by the people of a State; and it was +by the people of every State, acting in convention as separate and +distinct communities, that the Constitution was ratified and rendered +binding upon the people of all the States; and, in the language of Mr. +Jefferson, the Government thus formed was 'authorized to act immediately +on the people and by its own officers.' Was it then a league only? No, +it was what its framers, the people, as we have seen, and not the +governments of all the States, called it, a 'Constitution'—a +'Government;' and it is an overthrow of fundamental principles to say +that a 'constitution,' a 'government,' which is made 'the supreme law' +in all the States, could be created by any power less than the people of +the several States, but as the people of the States, and not in their +aggregate capacity. Whatever may be the theories of the advocates of +consolidation on the one hand, or nullification on the other, this is +certainly a true history of the manner in which the Government of the +Union was formed. The Constitution itself expressly declares that it +could be created only by 'the ratifications of the conventions of the +States;' and this Constitution was expressly rendered 'the supreme law +of the land,' 'anything in the constitution or laws of any State to the +contrary notwithstanding,'—as if the government of a State could render +their own constitution subordinate to another constitution. A return +then having taken place, in forming the Constitution, to the people of +all the States, as the primary fountain of power, they might have vested +all their sovereignty, or but a part of it, in one government; and they +might have given, in either event, the same power which exists in +ordinary governments of enforcing its laws when sustained as +constitutional by all its departments, subject only to the natural +rights of the people to revolutionize the government in case of +intolerable oppression. Certain important powers and attributes of +sovereignty the people of the States gave to this new government. They +made this government 'supreme' in the exercise of its powers in all the +States. They gave this government the sole power 'to declare war.' Did +the State then remain an absolute sovereign in that respect, and with +absolute power to judge if the object of the war was constitutional, and +annul the declaration? This new government had the sole power to lay and +<i>collect</i> 'duties on imports;' did each State remain an absolute +sovereignty in this respect, and with absolute powers to judge if the +object of the duties was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> constitutional, and annul the law? The General +Government was the only sovereign as regards these powers; but a single +State, having none of these powers, is made the absolute judge whether +they can or cannot be exercised: then no powers have yet been granted to +the General Government by any State, if each possesses the right to +interdict the exercise of any of these powers. But, could this General +Government exist without the authority to give one uniform effect to the +execution of its powers in all the States? Created with all the organs +of a government, legislative, judicial, and executive, may it enact, but +not expound, or enact and expound, but not execute? Must it stop at the +boundary of each State, and ask what power it possesses, and act upon +the contradictory responses of each State? Must it possess one set of +powers in one State, and another and wholly opposite set of powers in +another State? May it lay a tariff in one State, and not in another, and +yet this tariff required to be uniform in every State? Is it one +constitution, and susceptible of one only true construction, or +twenty-four constitutions, with twenty-four various and contradictory +constructions, and all right, because all pronounced by absolute +sovereigns exercising the uncontrolled power of ultimate judgment? Has +it any powers, and what are they? Will Mississippi submit this question +to Massachusetts or Carolina, or is a government created whose powers +cannot be ascertained? Must anarchy govern? Can there be no decision, or +is that of a single State, or of a small minority of the States, to +sweep away the legislation of a majority, or two thirds of the States? +According to the new theory, each State has the constitutional power in +the first instance, and one fourth in the last resort, to judge what +powers each State may exercise, and the other States must submit. Now, +this is impossible, where the legislation of the two States is +contradictory; and, if possible, is not a mere negative, but a positive +power. It is a government without limitation of power, in a single +State, aided by one fourth of the States—a government by which the +minority may control the majority in all cases whatsoever. Thus, +Carolina frames any law or ordinance she thinks she may lawfully do in +the exercise of her reserved rights. She gives clearances for vessels, +for instance, to introduce all imports free of all duties. When once +introduced into Carolina, she has, or claims and exercises the right +under the Constitution of introducing these imports free of all duties +into every other State in the Union. Two thirds of the States have +passed an act of Congress imposing certain duties on foreign imports: as +separate States they can pass no such laws, having surrendered that +power in the Constitution of the Union. Can Carolina compel them to +receive all foreign imports free of all duties? Yet she says this is one +of her reserved rights, and she may forever constitutionally exercise +it, in defiance of an act of Congress passed by two thirds of the +States. Such a government would be an oligarchy of the most odious and +detestable character. The right of the people of any State, or of any +portion of them, to meet intolerable oppression by revolution is +certain; but, in Mr. Jefferson's rough draught of the Kentucky +resolutions (now attempted to be substituted for his deliberate +conclusions as contained in the resolutions themselves), does he +advocate nullification by a single State as a <i>constitutional</i> remedy, +by a State remaining in the Union and submitting only to such laws as it +deemed valid. No; it was not as a <i>constitutional</i>, but as a '<span class="smcap">NATURAL</span> +right,' that Mr. Jefferson spoke of nullification by the people of a +State. I say the people, for Mr. Jefferson well knew that the '<i>natural</i> +right' of a State to nullify, as an artificial body politic, would be a +contradiction in terms. This '<i>natural</i> right' is a <i>personal</i>, as +contradistinguished from a <i>State</i> right; it is in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>alienable—it is +neither given nor reserved by constitutional compacts—it exists in +citizens of every State, the minority as well as the majority, and not +in the government of any one State. But the exercise of this right is +<i>revolution</i>—it is a declaration of independence—it is <i>war</i>, and +appeals to the sword as its umpire. Let no State, then, claim to stand +on the basis of the Constitution of the Union, while stripping it of its +vital powers, or setting up its will for law. No, the ordinance of +Carolina is not a peaceful, constitutional remedy: it is a nullification +of the Government itself, sweeping away its revenues, its courts, and +its officers; it is a repeal of the Union; it is despotic; it is +revolutionary; it is belligerent; it is a declaration of war or separate +independence. It looks beyond a repeal of the Tariff; for, whether the +Tariff be repealed or not, it asks to engraft the doctrine of +nullification as a permanent feature of the Constitution, applicable in +every case in which any State may deem any act of Congress +unconstitutional. Then each one of the States may take up the volumes +containing all the acts of Congress, and repeal them all by one sweeping +edict of nullification; for there is no limitation to the exercise of +the power but her own will. It is said no State will abuse the power; +but if a majority of the States, by their representatives in Congress, +may abuse delegated powers, is there no danger that one of these same +States, by their representatives at home, may mistake the nature of +their powers, and endanger the Union by a usurpation of power? Or do the +same people, and voting at the same period in any State, elect men to +Congress who will violate, and to the councils of the State, who will +uniformly preserve the Constitution? A State declared the last war +unconstitutional: must the war be nullified, or, by the new theory, +suspended, till, by a slow and tedious process, its constitutionality be +affirmed by three fourths of the States? But, in the mean time, all +hostile operations must cease, our army be disbanded, our navy recalled, +and no further supplies decreed of money, ammunition, or men. And when +one State thus nullifies any act of Congress, she is not required to be +sustained by the vote of any other State: the one fourth are only +required to refuse to act—to remain neutral—if they consider the act +of Congress inexpedient, although they believe it constitutional. +Suppose the New-England States, after the war was pronounced +unconstitutional by a single State, had refused to call a convention to +amend the Constitution, or, if called, to grant the disputed power; then +the war must have been abandoned, the minority must govern, and our +country be disgraced, our seamen permitted to be pressed from the very +decks of our vessels into foreign service, and the maritime despotism of +Britain established without even a struggle in defence of our liberties. +Shall opposition to the Tariff betray us into the support of doctrines +so utterly subversive of the Constitution, and inconsistent with the +existence of any government of the Union?</p> + +<p>Once this power was threatened to be assumed by Massachusetts, now by +South Carolina, and how and by what State it will next be exercised, or +what vital power it may next strike from the Constitution, it is +impossible to predict; but, if permitted in one State, it will be +exercised by all, till not a vestige remains of the Constitution of the +Union. Suppose the Tariff repealed by Congress, nullification may annul +the repealing law. Louisiana may, in the exercise of her right of +ultimate judgment, declare that the repealing law is unconstitutional, +upon the pretext that it destroys rights vested by the first law and +violates the plighted faith of the Government, insist on the collection +of duties under the first law, pass her ordinance, array her State +officers against those of the Union, and thus destroy the commerce of +Mississippi, and of all the Western States, or com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>pel the collection of +the present duties. Or she may say that, if Congress possesses no power +to lay duties which will operate an incidental protection, Louisiana +possesses the reserved right of imposing duties for that purpose; that +each State possessed it before it became a member of the Union; that +duties for revenue only can be collected by the General Government, and +that the residuary power to lay duties for protection is one of the +powers of a sovereign State; that she will exercise it, and impose +protecting duties on imports, and thus we shall have various and +conflicting State tariffs from Maine to Louisiana (the very object which +the Constitution was designed to prevent); but if Louisiana alone adopt +the measure, the commerce of the West is prostrate at her feet.</p> + +<p>It is in the name of liberty and to protect minorities, that +nullification professes to act; while in its first ordinance it sweeps +away the dearest rights of a large minority of the people of Carolina, +and binds the freedom of conscience in adamantine chains. It deprives +American citizens of that last and hitherto sacred refuge from +oppression, a trial by an impartial jury, and requires the very judges +upon the bench and jurors within the box to be sworn to condemn the +unhappy man whose only crime was this: that he claimed the Government of +the Union as his birthright, and acknowledged the duty of obedience to +its laws. Such are the opening scenes of nullification; and, if not +arrested, where or how will the drama close? In all the horrors of civil +war. Turn your eyes upon the scenes of the French Revolution, and behold +them about to be reacted within the limits of a sister State. Already +nullification calls upon its twelve thousand bayonets; friend is rising +against friend, and brother against brother, under the banner of +Carolina on the one side, of the Union on the other; the inflammable +materials are ready, the spark approaches, the explosion may soon take +place, and the genius of liberty, rising in anguish from the +bloodstained fields of Carolina, spread her pinions, and wing her way +forever from a world, on one side of whose waters despotism reigns +triumphant, and, upon the other, anarchy, with one foot upon the scroll +of the Declaration of American Independence, and with the other upon the +broken tablet of the Constitution of the Union, shall wave that sceptre, +whereon shall be inscribed the motto, never to be effaced: 'Man is +incapable of self-government.' Yes, this is the best, the brightest, the +last experiment of self-government: universal <i>freedom</i> or universal +<i>bondage</i> is staked on the result of the success or failure of the +American Union; and as it shall be maintained and perpetuated, or broken +and dissolved, the light of liberty shall beam upon the hopes of +mankind, or be forever extinguished, amid the scoffs of exulting tyrants +and the groans of a world in bondage. Rising, then, above all minor +considerations, and lifting our souls to the contemplation of that lofty +eminence on which Heaven itself has vouchsafed to place the American +people, as the only guardians of the hopes and liberties of mankind, let +us act as becomes the depositaries of that sacred fire which burns on +the altars of the American Union, and resolve that this Union shall be +preserved, all whole and inviolate, as we received it from the hands of +our forefathers.</p> + +<p>But, if nullification is not a constitutional remedy, we are told that +<i>secession</i> is; and a few, who deny the one, admit the other; and our +venerable chief magistrate (Jackson) has been proclaimed as a +Federalist, because he denies the right of secession; and many of his +supporters, although some may not concur in every argument by which he +arrives at his conclusions, but concur in the conclusions themselves, +are visited with a similar denunciation. Sir, the President is one of +the fathers and founders of the Democratic party—one of its earliest +and most steadfast supporters,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> in defeat and triumph, in war and in +peace, in sunshine and in storm. In the Senate of the United States he +voted against the alien law, and was a zealous advocate of the +principles which resulted in the election of Mr. Jefferson, and the +great political revolution of 1800; and if any one man has done more to +support all the just rights of the States than General Jackson, that man +is not known to me. It is now nearly ten years since I had the honor to +propose the name of this illustrious patriot to the first meeting of a +portion of the Democracy of Pennsylvania as a candidate for the +presidency, and I will not hear him denounced as a Federalist without, +at least, an effort in his defence. Who made the right of secession as a +constitutional right of every State an article in the creed of the +Democratic party, and by what authority? By what reasoning is +nullification denounced, and secession supported, as a constitutional +remedy? If there be any real difference, the former is check, and the +latter a check-mate, to the movements of the Government of the Union. +The same reasoning demonstrates the fallacy of nullification or +secession, with equal clearness and certainty. A State cannot nullify a +law of the Union, because the <i>Constitution</i> and <i>laws</i> of the State are +made <i>subordinate</i> to the Constitution and laws of the Union, by a +compact to which the people of each State were one party, and bound +themselves to the people of all the other States, as the other party. +One State cannot change the compact, or any of its terms or provisions, +yet it may rescind the compact at pleasure! It would be abuse of +language to call such an instrument a <i>compact</i>, because it would be +obligatory upon none. Without the constitutional right to nullify a law +of Congress by the ultimate judgment of the State against it, how could +the constitutional power of secession arise? It is said, from a +violation of the Constitution of the Union by the General Government; +but if a State has not, as the opponents of nullification admit, any +right to pass ultimate judgment on the constitutionality of an act of +Congress, how can it make the supposed violation of the Constitution by +the General Government the basis of the act of secession? The preamble +of the ordinance on which the State would rest its act of secession, by +asserting the unconstitutionality of an act of Congress, would be swept +away by the non-existence of a power in a single State to pronounce +ultimate judgment upon the acts of the Government of the Union; and the +preamble and ordinance of secession would fall together. Thus, when +Carolina, in her ordinance, first declares certain acts of Congress +unconstitutional, and proceeds, with the same ordinance, to +nullification first, and then to secession, we deny her constitutional +right to nullify or secede for the same reason; because the right +declared by her ordinance to render an act of Congress unconstitutional +by the judgment of a single State is a usurpation of power. Governor +Hayne, of Carolina, in his late proclamation, inquires if that State was +linked to the Union 'in the iron bonds of a perpetual Union.' These +bonds were not of iron, or Carolina would have never worn them, but they +are the enduring chain of peace and Union. One link could not be severed +from this chain, united in all its parts, without an entire dissolution +of all the bonds of union; and one State cannot dissolve the union among +all the States. Yet Carolina admits this to be the inevitable +consequence of the separation of that State; for, in the address of her +convention, she declares that 'the separation of South Carolina would +inevitably produce a <i>general dissolution of the Union</i>.' Has the +Government of the Union no power to <i>preserve itself from destruction</i>, +or must we submit to a 'general dissolution of the Union' whenever any +one State thinks proper to issue the despotic mandate? It was the +declared object of our ancestors, the hope of their children, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> they +had formed 'a <span class="smcap">PERPETUAL</span> Union.' The original compact of Carolina with +her sister States, by which the confederacy was erected, is called +'Articles of Confederation and <i>perpetual</i> Union.' In the thirteenth +article of this confederacy, it is expressly declared that 'the Union +shall be <i>perpetual</i>;' and in the ratification of this compact, South +Carolina united with her sister States in declaring: 'And we do further +solemnly plight and engage the faith of our respective constituents' +that 'the Union <i>shall be perpetual</i>;' and may she now withdraw this +pledge without a violation of the compact? By the old confederacy, then, +the Union was <i>perpetual</i>; and the declared object of the Constitution +was to form 'a more perfect Union' than that existing under the former +confederacy. Now, would this Union be more perfect under the new than +the old confederacy, if by the latter the Union was perpetual, but, +under the former, limited in its duration at the will of a single State?</p> + +<p>The advocates of secession claim the constitutional power for each State +to annul, not only any law which the State may deem unconstitutional, +but to abolish the Constitution itself as the law of the State. Now, by +this Constitution, Carolina granted certain powers to the General +Government: may she constitutionally alter or revoke the grant, in a +manner repugnant to the provisions of that Constitution? That instrument +points out the mode in which it may be changed or abrogated, and by +which the several States may assume all or any of the powers granted to +the General Government, namely, by the conjoint action of three fourths +of the States. What, then, are the powers reserved to the State? The +ninth article of the Constitution of the Union declares that 'the powers +not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited +by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the +people.' Then the powers delegated to the United States were not +reserved to the States or to the people. What is the meaning of the +clause 'or to the people,' as contradistinguished from 'the States'? +Does it mean that any of this mass of undefined powers, but embracing +all not granted to the General Government, was reserved to the people of +the United States in the aggregate? Then there would exist, and does now +exist, a consolidated despotism. No, it was to the <i>people</i> of each +State the reservation was made. Then it follows, as a necessary +consequence, that none of the powers granted to the General Government +were reserved either to the States or the people of any State. That is, +so far as the people of any one State had granted, by their own separate +constitution, to the State government any powers not delegated to the +General Government, the government of the State might exercise these +powers, and so far as any of these undelegated powers were not granted +to the State government, by the people of the State, they were reserved +to the people of each State. Now, one of the powers reserved to the +people of each State is to change their form of State government, and +resume the powers granted by it. But we have seen that neither the +government or people of a State could resume 'the powers delegated to +the United States,' because it was not one of the rights reserved to +either. What! I am asked, cannot the people of a State abolish their +form of government? Yes, in two modes: one in accordance with the +Constitution, and the other by a revolution. Could the people of +Carolina or Mississippi change or abolish their State constitution, +except in the mode prescribed by that instrument, unless by a +revolution? And the same power, the people of Carolina, that formed for +them their State constitution, ratified and rendered obligatory upon +them the Constitution of the Union; and can the one and not the other be +abolished, except by a revolution, in any other mode than that +prescribed by the Constitution? No;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> the people of Carolina, and of all +the States, as distinct communities, in ratifying the Constitution of +the Union, rendered it binding upon the people of every State, by the +declaration that 'this Constitution shall be the supreme law of the +land, and that the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, +anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary +notwithstanding.' Here we see the distinction between the State and the +people of the State again recognized and confirmed, and the 'State,' by +its 'laws,' and the people of the State, by the formation of a +constitution, expressly prohibited from arresting the operation of the +Constitution of the United States, as 'the supreme law of the land,' 'in +every State.' If Carolina secede, she must form a constitution, by which +she will assume the powers granted to the General Government, and vest +them in the government of the State. Here she would be met by the former +act of the people of Carolina, declaring that they had abandoned the +power to form for themselves a constitution by which the Constitution of +the Union would cease within their limits to be 'the supreme law of the +land.' Nor did the framers of the Constitution mean to say only that the +then existing Constitutions of the States ratifying the compact should +be subordinate to the Constitution of the Union; for then, also, only +the existing laws of any State were required to be subordinate to the +Constitution of the Union; but both are placed on the same basis. The +power of a State to nullify by its laws, or secede by forming a new +constitution, are both denied in the same clause and sentence of the +American Constitution. The language is clear, that the Constitution of +the Union shall be 'the supreme law of the land,' and 'binding in every +State,' 'anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the +contrary notwithstanding.' The terms are '<i>shall be</i>;' it is the +language of command, it is prospective, it was binding when subscribed, +now, and forever. Or, was Carolina never bound by this compact, and +might she, the very day after it was ratified by her people, disregard +it altogether, secede, and establish a constitution directly repugnant +to the Constitution of the Union? If so, written constitutions are worse +than useless; they are not obligatory, there is no penalty for their +violation; obedience to them cannot be enforced; there is no government +but that of opinion, fluctuating and uncertain, undefined and +undefinable, which is paramount to the fundamental law. This is what the +<i>despots of Europe</i> call our government, and why they <i>predict</i> its +downfall—a prediction now in the course of fulfilment, if these +anarchical principles can be recognized as the doctrines of the +Constitution.</p> + +<p>There is no difference between the doctrines or acts of Jefferson and +Jackson on this subject. Both admit nullification or secession as a +revolutionary measure; and the new doctrine of suspending a law by a +nullifying edict finds not the remotest support from Mr. Jefferson. In +his celebrated draught of the Kentucky resolutions, so much relied on by +Carolina, we have seen, he speaks of these powers of the people of any +State as 'a <i>natural</i> right,' and so is revolution; and the cases to +which he refers are such as render a revolution unavoidable, namely, if +Congress pass an act 'so palpably against the Constitution as to amount +to an undisguised declaration that the compact is not meant to be the +measure of the powers of the General Government.' Is there now such a +case? if there is, revolution is justifiable. Why then ask any other +remedy than revolution for a case where revolution would be unavoidable? +And <span class="smcap">SECESSION IS REVOLUTION</span>. But did Mr. Jefferson mean to say that +whenever any State should place its laws or Constitution, by +nullification or secession, in opposition to the laws of the General +Government, that the power of the General Government must not be +exerted? The very reverse. The act<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> of Congress of the 3d of March, +1807, signed and approved by Mr. Jefferson as President, expressly +authorizes the President of the United States to 'employ such part of +the land and naval force of the United States as may be necessary' to +execute 'the laws of the United States.' Does this mean, as General +Hayne tells us in his proclamation, to execute the laws against +insurgents not sustained by any law of the State? No; this act was +passed at the very time when Pennsylvania was proceeding, by virtue of a +law of the State, to execute, by an armed force, the mandate of the +State in opposition to the mandate of the Federal authorities; and the +officer of Pennsylvania, acting under the mandate of the Governor and a +positive law of the State, was condemned for executing a law of the +State opposed to the mandate of the General Government, and only escaped +punishment by the pardon of President Madison: and thus falls the very +basis of the doctrine of nullification. Here is a commentary by Messrs. +Jefferson and Madison, demonstrating their entire concurrence with our +present Chief Magistrate. And, if any further evidence of Mr. +Jefferson's views were wanting, it is to be found in his letters, +already referred to, protesting against a separation of the Union, and +denying the right of a State to '<i>veto</i>' an act of Congress; and in many +other letters to be found in his memoirs, insisting upon the power even +of the old confederacy to exercise '<span class="smcap">COERCION</span> over its delinquent +members,' the States. 'Compulsion,' he says, 'was never so easy as in +our case, where a single frigate would levy on the commerce of a State +the deficiency of its contributions; nor more safe than in the hands of +<i>Congress</i>, which has <i>always</i> shown that it would wait, as it ought to +do, to the last extremities, before it would exercise any of its powers +which are disagreeable.' Here, then, we find Mr. Jefferson most +distinctly admitting the power of Congress under the old, as in 1807 he +admitted under the present confederacy, to <i>compel a State</i> by <span class="smcap">FORCE</span> to +obey the laws of the Union. Why, then, is General Jackson denounced as a +tyrant, for doing that which his oath and the Constitution compel him to +do? Suppose any State, by its ordinance, should arrest the passage of +the mail through their limits, upon the pretext that the law was +unconstitutional; the acts of Congress place at the disposal of the +President the militia of any one or all of the States, or 'the land or +naval force of the United States', to <i>execute the law of the Union in +every State, by whomsoever resisted or opposed</i>. The Constitution and +his oath command him to execute the laws; he must execute them, and the +mail must pass on, though the edict of a single State should attempt to +arrest it by nullification or secession. Such, too, was the opinion of +Mr. Jefferson; and that illustrious patriot would have laid his head on +the block, and blessed the hand that severed it from his body, rather +than sever the Union by the promulgation of the doctrines now ascribed +to him. What are the consequences of this right of a State to secede +from the Union?—this right of revolution, without the power of the +General Government to <i>preserve the Union</i>? Any one State may arrest, +to-morrow, the mail of the Union, and its passage from State to State, +and refuse it a passage forever. Pennsylvania, a central State, may +separate the North from the South, prevent all intercommunication, +render our country a republic divided and indefensible. Louisiana, +purchased by taxes imposed upon the people of all the States, may secede +and establish a separate and independent government, lay protective or +prohibitory imposts on the imports and exports of this State and of the +West, carried through her ports and the outlets of the Mississippi. She +might say, I will protect my own cotton planters, by prohibitory duties +on the cotton of Mississippi or the West, or the imports designed to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +exchanged for it, shipped through my ports or through the outlet of the +Mississippi: it is my interest to do so; for thus I can deprive the +cotton planters of Mississippi and the West of a market; thus compel +them to abandon the culture of that staple, and sell my own cotton at a +higher price. Louisiana asserts no such doctrines; but, if she did, +could Mississippi, could the West admit them? and, in the last resort, +would not the Government <i>force</i> a passage for our imports and exports +by the <i>sword</i>? Yes; for as well might you take the heart from the human +body and bid it live, as sever Louisiana from the States that border on +the Mississippi, and bid these States to prosper. No; Louisiana holds +the outlet of that stream through which the life blood of their commerce +and industry must forever flow; and we never could admit her right to +secede from the Union, and dictate the terms on which we should use the +outlet of that stream, whose banks were destined by heaven itself as the +residence of a united people. Not only Louisiana, but State by State +that borders on the Atlantic or the Gulf, might secede, seclude the West +from the ocean, and render them the tributaries of the seaboard States, +by laying prohibitory duties on their imports and exports. Could we +submit to this? <i>Not while the West contained a gun to use, or a man to +shoulder it.</i></p> + +<p>And may Carolina secede and establish an independent government? Did she +establish her own independence? No, it was achieved by the arms and +purchased by the blood of Americans, with the banner of the Union +floating over them. I know the valor of Carolina, that, man to man, she +is invincible; but, unaided and alone, she would have fallen in the +Revolution. She would have fallen gloriously, her soil would have drunk +the blood of her children; but still she must have fallen in the unequal +contest. When Carolina was made the battlefield of the Revolution, from +the very rock of Plymouth and the heights of Bunker Hill, from +Pennsylvania, from Virginia, American citizens flew to her rescue. Side +by side with Carolina's sons they marched beneath the banner of the +Union; they fought, they conquered; Carolina was redeemed from bondage, +but upon her many and well-fought fields was mingled the blood and +repose the ashes of our common ancestors, the pledges of our Union in +victory and in death.</p> + +<p>Shades of these departed patriots! arise, and say to the sons of +Carolina, it was the Union that made you free. Without it, you would yet +be subjects, colonial vassals, and slaves; without it, the chains are +now forging that will bind you to the thrones of despots. And could we +stand with folded arms, and behold the Union dissolved? Could we see the +seventeen thousand freemen of Carolina, who cling with the grasp of +death to the banner of the Union, deprived of their privileges as +American citizens, proscribed, disfranchised, expelled from all offices, +civil and military, driven by glittering bayonets from the bench and the +jury box, tried and convicted by judges and jurors sworn to condemn, +attainted as traitors, torn from the last embraces of wives and +children, consigned to the scaffold or the block, or immured within the +walls of a dungeon, where the light of heaven or liberty should never +visit them, with no consolation but their patriotism, and no companions +but their chains? And, gracious Heaven, for what? Oh! Liberty, when was +thy sacred temple profaned by deeds like this? Thy martyrs suffered only +for clinging to the banner of the American Union. And could we see them +torn from around that sacred banner, and move not to their rescue? No; +the glow that beams on every countenance, the patriot's answer that +speaks from every throbbing breast, proclaims that, as in '76 our +fathers marched to free their sires from tyrants' power, so would their +children go, to save from death or bondage Carolina's friends of +union—with them,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> beneath the standard of our common country, to die or +conquer.</p> + +<p>Citizens of Mississippi, to you the address of the nullifying convention +of Carolina makes a special appeal. It asks, if Carolina secedes from +the Union, 'Can it be believed that Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and +even Kentucky would continue to pay a tribute of fifty per cent. upon +their consumption to the Northern States for the privilege of being +united to them, when they could receive all their supplies through the +ports of South Carolina, without paying a single cent for tribute?' To +this question, Georgia has already answered, by expressing her +'abhorrence' of the doctrine of nullification, her firm resolve to +adhere to the Union. Tennessee has made the same response. Kentucky, in +a voice of thunder, answers, <i>No</i>, we will preserve the Union as it is. +And will Mississippi receive the bribe thus offered to dissolve the +Union? What is it? The privilege of exchanging our exports for imports +free of duty, in the ports of Carolina; and then would Carolina pay the +taxes to raise and maintain an army, or a navy, and protect our +commerce? But if she could, nature pronounces the project impracticable. +Our commerce must flow through the outlet of the Mississippi; and how +would our exports reach the ports of Carolina—how would our imports +thence be received? Through the outlet of the Mississippi? No, that +outlet and its ports would then be in the hands of Louisiana—in that +event, to us a hostile foreign government, from which we had severed +ourselves. For let it not be forgotten that Louisiana is not even +invited to join this new confederacy; and if she were, is announcing her +unalterable determination to adhere to the Union as it is. Then, through +the outlet of the Mississippi our commerce could not be carried on with +the ports of Carolina; for Louisiana, as we have seen before, would meet +and stop our exports and imports with prohibitory duties. Would we move +up the Mississippi or Ohio to reach the ports of Carolina, or any other +market? There we would find the confederates from whom we had severed; +we would find a foreign government, and prohibitory duties would exclude +our access to Carolina's ports in that direction. How would we reach +them? The only other route, if Georgia and Alabama would grant the boon +for Carolina's benefit, would be to pass through those States by land to +Charleston, with our cotton, and return by land with the imports +received in exchange. A trip of one thousand miles by wagon road with +cotton! The entire value of the crop would not pay for its +transportation. Is this the proposition of Carolina? What is the only +commerce we could carry on with her? By abandoning the culture of cotton +upon our fertile lands, for the benefit of Carolina, and our planters +all becoming drovers of horses, mules, and cattle, to exchange for her +imports, and return with them, packed on the number unsold of our mules +and horses. And are these the benefits for which we are asked to +dissolve the Union, and place the channel of the Mississippi above and +below, and its outlet, in the hands of a foreign government, denying a +passage ascending or descending, to our imports or exports, and +excluding us from the ocean altogether? If Carolina's scheme were +practicable, Mississippi would not sell the Union for dollars and cents; +but though the scheme might be beneficial to Carolina, by stopping the +culture of cotton on our fertile soil, to the people of this State it is +ruin immediate and inevitable. The remedy Carolina proposes to us for +the Tariff, is worse than the disease. The disease is not mortal—it is +now in a course of cure; but Carolina's remedy is death—it is suicide; +for the <i>dissolution of the Union is political suicide</i>.</p> + +<p>A Southern convention is proposed, of the States of North and South +Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, Ala<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>bama, and Mississippi. If +the object be a confederacy of these States, without Louisiana and the +Western, Middle, and Northern States, if patriotism, or love for the +Union were insufficient to restrain us from attempting this fatal +measure, we have seen that it would blast forever the fortunes of the +planters of Mississippi. But what States will unite in this convention? +Georgia has disavowed the act of the self-constituted, self-elected +minority convention that acted in her name. The history of Virginia +speaks in the voice of indignant rebuke to all those States that +assemble sectional conventions. North Carolina, unassuming, but +steadfast in support of the Union, will enter into no such convention. +Alabama, if her public meetings and journals and her chief magistrate +speak the voice of the State, will send no delegates. Tennessee, brave +and patriotic, devoted to the Union, and sustaining its banner in war +and in peace, meets the proposition with a decided refusal. I imagine, +then, our delegates would return without finding this Southern +convention. I am opposed to all sectional conventions. We have had one +such convention, and, whatever the secret motives of its members may +have been, the very fact that it was a sectional convention, that it was +believed to be convened to calculate the value of the Union, that it was +supposed to have in view an Eastern confederacy, has sealed the doom of +its members and projectors. And when the calm shall follow the storm, a +similar fate awaits all who will go into this Southern convention. I +trust there never will be another partial convention, Northern, +Southern, Eastern, or Western; for, whether assembled at Hartford or +Columbia, they are equally dangerous to the Union of the States. They +create and inflame geographical parties. Could the North, assembled in +convention, have that full knowledge of the situation and wants of the +people of the South, as to legislate for them, and propose ultimatums to +which the South must submit, or leave the Union? Could the South possess +that full knowledge of the situation and wants and interests of the +people of all the other States, as to enable them to dictate the terms +on which the Union should be governed or dissolved? No; it is only in a +meeting of all the States, in Congress or convention, that that +knowledge of the wants and interests of all, and that fusion of +sentiment and opinion, and spirit of concession, can exist, in which the +Constitution was framed, and all its powers should be exercised.</p> + +<p>If we hold Southern conventions, then will there be Northern, Eastern, +and Western conventions, and they will overthrow the Union. Partial +confederacies will first be formed, and then, as Mr. Jefferson most +truly tells us, would speedily follow the formation of a separate and +independent government by each State. What is it we are asked to +abandon, and for what? That Union which ushered in the morn of American +Liberty, and gave birth to the Declaration of Independence; which +carried our armies victoriously through the storms of the Revolution and +the last war, and now waves triumphantly in every sea, the kindred +emblem of our country's glory. It gave us Washington—it gave us +liberty, and bears our name aloft among the nations of the earth. It is +our only rampart in war—our only safeguard in peace, and under its +auspices we declared, achieved, maintained, and can alone preserve our +liberties. It is the only basis of our solid and substantial interests, +and the last star of hope to the oppressed of every clime. Shall we +calculate its value? No! for we will not estimate the value of +liberty—and 'liberty and union are inseparable.' Dissolve this Union, +and let each State become, as Mr. Jefferson truly tells us it would, a +separate government, could we preserve our liberties? Where would be the +army and navy and seamen of the State of Mississippi? how to be +procured, and how to be maintained and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> paid? Where would be her +ambassadors and treaties, her commerce—and through what ports and by +whose permission would she ship her exports or introduce her imports? +Who would respect her flag, who recognize her as a nation—and how would +she punish aggressions upon her rights, on the ocean or the land? No, +fellow citizens; the President truly tells us that 'separate +independence' is a 'dream'—a dream from which we would wake in bondage +or in death. But, if disgraced abroad, what would be our situation at +home, as separate bordering and hostile States—and how long could we +remain in peace and concord? The voice of history tells us—the +bloodstained fields of our sister republics of America proclaim, that +disunion would be the signal for <span class="smcap">WAR</span>—a war of conquest, in which the +weak would fall before the power of the strong; and upon the ruins of +this now happy Union might arise the darkest despotism that ever crushed +the liberties of mankind, for it would be established and could only be +maintained by the bayonet. Perhaps, while yet the civil war should rage +with doubtful issue, while exhausted and bleeding at every pore, that +sanguinary alliance of despots, combined to crush the liberties of man, +would send its armies to our shores. Under what standard would we rally +to preserve our liberty? There would be no Union—without it there would +be no strength; and those who, united, could defy the world in arms, +divided would be weak and powerless. Such are the ultimate results of +disunion. Let us take the first step, and all may be lost forever. That +step is nullification by Carolina, then her secession—then, as she +truly tells us in her address, 'the separation of South Carolina would +inevitably produce a general dissolution of the Union.' And shall +Carolina dissolve the Union? No; the liberties of all the States are +embarked together, and if one State withdraw her single plank, the +national vessel must go down to rise no more, and shipwreck the hopes of +mankind. Let us then adjure the people of Carolina, by the ties of our +common country and common kindred—by the ruin and disgrace which civil +war will bring upon the victors and vanquished—by the untried horrors +of those scenes to which disunion must conduct, to repeal her ordinance, +and not to force upon us that dread alternative, in which we must +support the flag of our country, or surrender our Union and liberty +without a struggle: that we cannot, we will not, we dare not, surrender +them; and, if forced to draw the sword to defend our liberties, the +motto will gleam on every blade: 'The Union shall be preserved.' For +were it abandoned, life would not be a blessing, but a curse; and +happiest would those be whose eyes were closed in death ere they beheld +the horrors of those scenes to which with viewless and rapid strides we +seem to hasten. Well, fellow citizens, may our hearts be wrung with +sorrow on this occasion, in looking back to what we were, and forward to +what we may soon be. Well may the tears unbidden start, for they are the +tears that patriots shed over the departing greatness of our once +united, but now distracted and unhappy country.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_SIOUX_WAR" id="THE_SIOUX_WAR"></a>THE SIOUX WAR.</h2> + + +<p>Compared with the great storm of rebellion which has darkened and +overspread our whole national sky, the Indian war on our northwestern +frontier has been a little cloud "no bigger than a man's hand;" and yet, +compared with similar events in our history, it has scarcely a parallel. +From the days of King Philip to the time of Black Hawk, there has hardly +been an outbreak so treacherous, so sudden, so bitter, and so bloody, +as that which filled the State of Minnesota with sorrow and lamentation, +during the past summer and autumn, and the closing scenes of which are +even now transpiring. We were beginning to regard the poetry of the +palisades as a thing of the past, when, suddenly, our ears were startled +by the echo of the warwhoop, and the crack of the rifle, and our hearts +appalled by the gleam of the tomahawk and the scalping knife, as they +descended in indiscriminate and remorseless slaughter, on defenceless +women and children on our border.</p> + +<p>In the year 1851, the Sisseton, Wahpeton, M'dewakanton and Wahpekuta +bands of Dacotah or Sioux Indians by treaty ceded to the United States, +in consideration of certain annuities to be paid them, all their lands +within the present limits of the States of Iowa and Minnesota, excepting +a reservation set apart for their habitation and use, embracing a narrow +strip along the southern side of the Minnesota River, of about ten miles +in width and one hundred and fifty in length. To this reservation these +four bands removed their people, numbering some seven thousand souls, of +whom, perhaps, twelve hundred were warriors. During the eleven years +which have elapsed since this treaty was made, they have lived there, +the State of Minnesota being meanwhile peopled by the whites with +unparalleled rapidity, and the Indians seeing flourishing and populous +settlements springing up all about them. With but a single interruption, +peace and amity has existed between the two races; missions, schools, +and to some extent, agriculture, have been established among them; and a +large number of halfbreeds, springing from marriages between white +traders and Sioux women, have formed, apparently, a link of +consanguinity and interest, which, aided by the influence and laws of +civilization, would hereafter prevent any trouble or bloodshed on the +part of the savages.</p> + +<p>One single and very grave interruption to these peaceful relations has, +however, occurred. In March, 1857, Inkpadutah, a Wahpekuta Dacotah, with +a small band of followers, committed a terrible massacre near Spirit +Lake, in the northwestern corner of Iowa, slaying fifty persons, and +carrying away four women into captivity, two of whom were, after some +months, ransomed and restored to their friends, the other two having +been previously murdered by their captors. But Inkpadutah and his band +were outlaws, driven away by their own people for creating internal +dissensions; and although the perpetrators were never properly pursued +and punished, it was not thought that the outrage had been countenanced +by the rest of the nation, or that any danger existed of similar acts on +their part.</p> + +<p>The cause of the recent outbreak cannot, perhaps, be absolutely +determined; the manner of its beginning is more easily traced. It must +be understood that, for the purpose of receiving their annuities, the +Indians, at a certain period every summer, come down from their hunting +grounds to the two Agencies, one at Redwood, near Fort<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> Ridgely, and the +other at Yellow Medicine. It is the custom to keep a certain quantity of +provisions at these Agencies to feed them during these visits, and also +to sometimes send them supplies during times of great want and scarcity +of game in winter. Unfortunately, they came last year much earlier than +common, and before they had received their usual notification from the +Agent, that the annuities were awaiting them. In addition, as if all the +accidents were destined to be adverse, the session of Congress was very +long, the Appropriation Bill, which included the Indian appropriations, +did not pass until the day before the adjournment, and the immense +pressure of business on the Departments, and the great difficulty of +obtaining coin, all occasioned long and unusual delays. The coin, +$71,000 in silver (Indians understand silver coin, and will scarcely +take any other), was finally shipped by express from the sub-treasury in +New York city, on the 12th of August, reached St. Paul on the 16th, and +was immediately despatched by private conveyance to Yellow Medicine, via +Fort Ridgely, at which latter place it arrived on the 18th.</p> + +<p>The Indians came down to the Agency at Yellow Medicine about the middle +of July, to the number of four thousand, men, women, and children. Here +they remained in waiting some three weeks. Provisions, in small +quantities, were given to them, but for so large a number of mouths the +rations were scanty. This supply, with the few wild ducks and pigeons +which they could shoot from time to time, the little flour they were +able to buy on credit from the trading houses, and the half-grown +potatoes they stole from the fields, enabled them to eke out a scanty +subsistence.</p> + +<p>As might be readily imagined, this state of things bred great +discontent. On the morning of the 4th of August, a large number of +Indians came over from their encampment, and some on horseback, and some +on foot, with guns and hatchets, rushed to the door of the warehouse, +cut it down, and commenced carrying out bags of flour. The few soldiers +who were stationed at the Agency, were, as well as the Agent and +employés, taken completely off their guard by this movement; but in a +short time they recovered themselves; got a field piece loaded and +turned upon the crowd, and sent a squad of soldiers to the warehouse. At +these preparations, the Indians desisted; but the military force was too +small to make more than a formal demonstration. The pile of flour taken +out of the warehouse had not been carried away, and while the soldiers +prevented this being done, the Indians placed a guard to hinder its +being recovered by the whites. Thus they stood during the remainder of +the day, in an attitude of mutual defiance, yet neither party was +willing to inaugurate hostilities. The next morning, when the Indians +again as usual flocked down to the Agency, a couple of arrests were +promptly made by the guard. This had the effect of driving them all back +to their camps. Almost immediately afterward they struck their tents, +and removed to a distance of from two to four miles. This was looked +upon at the Agency as a war movement, and all possible defensive +preparations were at once made. Some of the women were sent away, guns +and pistols were loaded, field pieces and troops were placed in +position, and pickets were thrown out. Everything looked like war. Still +there had been no actual bloodshed. Through the mediation of Rev. Mr. +Riggs, who had long resided among them as a missionary, peaceful +counsels finally prevailed with the Indians. Thirty-six of the chiefs +met the Agent in council, smoked the pipe of peace, acknowledged their +offence, and expressed their sorrow and shame at its occurrence. Three +days afterward another council was held, in which they agreed to receive +certain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> rations, and promised to induce their people to move away until +the annuity money should arrive. The Agent, on his part, forgave their +trespass, and promised to send for them as soon as he should be prepared +to make their payment. So confident was he that the arrangement was +amicable and satisfactory, that he went soon afterward to St. Paul on +business, leaving his family at the Agency.</p> + +<p>Things remained in this condition until Sunday, the 17th of August, +1862. On that day, four young Indians, belonging to Little Six's band, +went to the house of Mr. Jones, at Acton, Meeker county, Minnesota. As +they evinced an unfriendly disposition, Mr. Jones locked his house, and +with his wife, went to the house of Mr. Howard Baker, a near neighbor, +where he was followed by the Indians. They proposed to go out and shoot +at a mark, but after leaving the house, suddenly turned and fired upon +the party, mortally wounding Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Mr. Baker, and a Mr. +Webster. Mrs. Baker, with a young child, concealed herself in the cellar +and escaped. The Indians then returned to Jones' house, which they broke +into, killing a young woman who had been left there. This was the first +bloodshed of the war.</p> + +<p>Up to this time there seems to have been no deliberate preparation, no +concerted arrangement for the outbreak against the whites. There was +excitement and discontent among the Indians on account of hunger, the +delay of their payment, and the real or supposed wrongs and frauds +committed by white traders and officials; but no organized hostile +movement had been agreed on. They knew that a great war was in progress +between the whites; that armies were being raised, and the country was +being drained of men. All this was known and discussed among them. There +are also grave suspicions, and not without considerable show of +evidence, that rebel emissaries, Indians or half breeds from the +Missouri border, had been among them fomenting the discord and urging +war.</p> + +<p>When these four young men returned on the 18th to their band, which was +then with others at the Sioux Agency at Redwood, the recital of their +murders created the most intense excitement among the Indians. They +became infuriated at the idea of bloodshed. Before the whites were aware +that trouble was brewing, Little Six's, Little Crow's, Grey Iron's, and +Good Road's bands of M'dewakantons, and a part of the Lake Calhoun band, +gathered around the buildings, and, with a general rush and yell, +massacred the whites, some twenty-five in number, robbed and plundered +the stores, and laid the whole place in ashes.</p> + +<p>The party who were conveying the annuity money to the Agency, reached +Fort Ridgely on the afternoon of the same day, and there learned that +the outbreak had taken place. A garrison of about seventy-five men was +in the fort at the time the news of the massacre reached it, and Captain +Marsh, taking fifty of them, proceeded toward the Agency, fifteen miles +up the river. In the evening twenty-one of the men returned, to tell +that the detachment had fallen into an ambush, and that all the others, +including the captain, were either killed or drowned.</p> + +<p>The Indians seem to have at once despatched messengers with the news of +these hostilities to the bands at the Upper Sioux Agency, at Yellow +Medicine. The chiefs there immediately called their followers into +council. About one hundred Sissetons, Wahpetons, and thirty young +Yanktons, were present. The council was stormy, and divided in +sentiment; the Sissetons urging the killing and robbing of the whites, +saying the M'dewakantons had already gone so far that they could not +make matters worse, and that, as the whites would inflict punishment +upon all alike, the best thing to be done was to kill them and take +their goods.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> The Wahpeton chiefs, though willing to rob the whites, +insisted on sparing their lives, and sending them off with their horses +and wagons across the prairies.</p> + +<p>About one fourth of the Sioux, previous to these events, had, through +the efforts of the Government and missionaries, renounced their savage +life, and adopted the customs of civilization. They had cut off the +hair, discarded the blanket, adopted the civilized costume, and +undertaken to live by the cultivation of the earth, instead of the +chase. One of the chiefs who joined in this reform was +An-pe-tu-to-ke-ca, or Other-Day, an Indian of more than ordinary +intelligence and ability. He had been much among the whites, and was a +convert to Christianity. Some years previous, while he was at Washington +city with a delegation of his tribe, a rather good-looking white woman, +who had lost caste in society, fell in love with him, married him, and +followed him to his Indian home in Minnesota.</p> + +<p>Other-Day took part in this deliberation. He arose and addressed the +council, warning them against the consequences of the attack they were +meditating. They might succeed in killing a few whites, he told them, +but extermination or expulsion would be their fate if they did. But his +pacific arguments produced no effect. Toward evening, the Yanktons, +Sissetons, and a few of the Wahpetons rose from the council, and moved +toward the houses of the whites, to prepare for the attack. All the +afternoon the Indians had been busy taking their guns to the blacksmith +shop to have them repaired, which the unsuspecting smith, being told +they were going on a buffalo hunt, had done.</p> + +<p>Other-Day now left the council, took his wife and his gun, and went to +warn the whites of the impending danger. They had, up to this time, +known nothing whatever of the council. At his suggestion, sixty-two +persons assembled in one of the Agency buildings, gathered their arms, +and prepared to defend themselves. Part of the farmer Indians assisted +Other-Day in standing guard round the house that night, part of them +guarded the house of Rev. Mr. Riggs, their old missionary, to whom they +were very much attached, and another part joined the insurgents.</p> + +<p>Small bands of hostile Indians were seen prowling around the house +during the night, and by the next morning it was nearly surrounded. At +daybreak, several shots were fired near the warehouses, some distance +away, and then a triumphant yell was heard from the Indians as they +broke into the stores and killed the inmates. At this, the savages who +had prowled around the house during the night ran off to the scene of +the riot to share in the booty; and even the farmer Indians who had +stood guard for the whites, excepting only Other-Day, followed them.</p> + +<p>Other-Day now advised the whites to make their escape, and offered to +pilot them out of danger. They were at first inclined to doubt his +faithfulness; but in their extremity, finally consented to follow him. +While the hostile Indians were occupied in the work of plundering the +stores and warehouses, the whites managed to collect three two-horse +wagons, and two buggies, and placing as many of the women and children +as they could in these, the party, sixty-two persons in all, started off +in a direction opposite to the usually travelled route. They reached and +forded the Minnesota River, eluded pursuit, and after a three days' +march of great severity and privation, under the faithful and successful +guidance of Other-Day, they arrived at a place of safety. True among the +treacherous, he should be gratefully remembered, and liberally rewarded +and protected for the remainder of his life, by the people of Minnesota +and the Government of the United States. When he reached St. Paul, after +the escape, he wrote the following, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> answer to the many questions +asked him:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I am a Dakota Indian, born and reared in the midst of evil. I grew +up without the knowledge of any good thing. I have been instructed +by Americans, and taught to read and write. This I found to be +good. I became acquainted with the Sacred Writings, and there +learned my vileness. At the present time, I have fallen into great +evil and affliction, but have escaped from it; and with fifty-four +men, women, and children, without moccasins, without food, and +without a blanket, I have arrived in the midst of a great people, +and now my heart is glad. I attribute it to the mercy of the Great +Spirit.</p> + +<p class="author"> +An-pe-tu-to-ke-ca.<br /> +(Other-Day.)"<br /> +</p> + +</div> + +<p>Another party of about forty persons escaped from the vicinity of Yellow +Medicine, under the guidance of the missionary, Rev. Mr. Riggs, who was +also warned and aided by a few of the farmer Indians.</p> + +<p>Having thus successfully attacked and destroyed the Lower Agency, at +Redwood, and the Upper Agency, at Yellow Medicine, and having obtained +large supplies of arms and ammunition from the stores and warehouses +they sacked at these points, part of the Indians divided into small +marauding bands, and scoured the country, attacking and murdering +isolated settlers, burning houses, and stealing horses and cattle; but +the larger portion remained together, and, under the leadership of +Little Crow, planned further attacks.</p> + +<p>Fifteen miles below the Lower Agency, on the north bank of the +Minnesota, is Fort Ridgely; and twenty miles below the fort, on the +southern bank of the river, is the town of New Ulm, which, as its name +indicates, is mainly populated by German settlers. Early in the +afternoon of Tuesday, August 19th, a party of citizens from New Ulm, +returning from a neighboring village, where they had gone to aid in +recruiting volunteers for the Union army, were fired upon from an ambush +by a number of mounted Indians, and several of them killed. Those who +escaped had barely time to get back to New Ulm and give the alarm before +the Indians advanced upon the town, and began firing at long range upon +the distressed and panic-stricken inhabitants, who were huddled +together, in helpless confusion, in a few of the more protected houses. +Fortunately, a squad of eighteen armed men from one of the lower +counties had arrived there an hour or two previous. Only six of the +number had good guns; but they immediately organized themselves, and +went forward to meet the savages. By dint of determined coolness and +bravery, they held the Indians at bay, killing several of them, until, +seeing the town reënforced by another small party of mounted whites, the +savages retreated. The fight lasted two or three hours, and a number of +the Germans were killed.</p> + +<p>Beaten back from New Ulm, the Indians retraced their course up the +river, and being joined by other bands, a concerted and deliberate +attack was next made on Fort Ridgely. Like too many of our frontier +forts, it is a fort only in name. Situated on a projecting spur of the +river bluff, it is almost completely encircled by deep and wooded +ravines, the edges of which are within a stone's throw of the buildings. +A long, two story stone building with an ell, standing in the centre, +and a number of log and frame houses ranged around it in an irregular +circle, with several barns and outhouses beyond them, constitute what is +called the fort, but what is really only barracks for a small number of +troops.</p> + +<p>When on Monday Captain Marsh left the fort to quell the disturbances at +the Agency, only about twenty-five soldiers remained to protect it. +After his party was cut up in ambush, only twenty-one, wounded and all, +returned. Luckily, however, on Tuesday, two detachments of +reënforcements, of about fifty men each, reached the garrison in safety. +On the other hand, from the beginning of the outbreak,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> the women and +children of the surrounding country who had escaped massacre, sometimes +a whole family, sometimes only a single member—now a mother, and then a +child—fresh from the scenes of savage violence and blood, had been +fleeing to the fort for safety, until the number had been swelled to +some three hundred. Six cannon, a few old condemned muskets, and +considerable supplies of provisions were fortunately in the fort. Such +hurried preparations for defence as could be, were soon made. Small +squads of Indians were seen prowling about during Monday and Tuesday, +but they were promptly scattered by a shell from the howitzer, +accurately planted by the veteran artillery sergeant who was in charge +of the guns.</p> + +<p>At a quarter past three o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, about three or +four hundred Indians, led by Little Crow, advanced under cover of the +woods and ravines to the attack of the garrison. It was a complete +surprise, the first announcement being a deadly volley through one of +the north entrances into the parade ground of the fort. For a moment +there was uncontrollable confusion and alarm among the whites, and had a +storming assault immediately followed, the fort must have fallen. The +garrison, however, quickly rallied, manned the guns, and poured a steady +fire on their assailants. The Indians, as usual, took shelter behind +every available cover—trees, ravines, outhouses, high grass and +logs—the whites directing their return shots as best they could. In +this way, a brisk fusilade was kept up until half-past six o'clock in +the evening. A number of the outbuildings were fired by the enemy, but +the flames did not reach the fort. The houses that remained nearer the +fort were destroyed by the garrison after the enemy withdrew. The +garrison lost twelve or fifteen men killed and wounded in this +engagement.</p> + +<p>A night of terrible anxiety and suspense succeeded, but there was no +further disturbance. On the next day, Thursday, two more attacks, each +lasting about half an hour, were made, one at nine o'clock in the +morning, and the other at six in the evening, but they were much feebler +than the previous one, and easily repulsed.</p> + +<p>The final and most desperate attack occurred on Friday, the +twenty-second. The garrison was engaged in strengthening its defences, +when, at one o'clock in the afternoon, the sentinel saw at two miles +distance great numbers of Indians approaching on horseback. As they +neared the fort they dismounted, and advancing from three different +points under cover of the ravines, where the shells from the field +pieces could do them but little damage, they opened a terrible fire on +the garrison. But the previous two days' siege had steadied the nerves +of the whites, and they received the onslaught coolly, reserving their +fire until they could obtain a fair view of the enemy, and do effective +execution. The "big guns," of which Indians stand in so great dread, +were also well served. The fight raged all the afternoon, from two until +half past six o'clock. Once the savages pressed up so near that the +halfbreeds in the fort could distinguish the shout of the chiefs +ordering a charge for the purpose of capturing the guns. It was a +concerted movement; a feint to draw the fire of the field pieces, and an +immediate rush was made to secure them before they could be reloaded. +But the old artillery sergeant was not to be trapped; he reserved the +fire of his own gun, and when the storming party emerged into open view, +he planted a shell among them which sent them howling back to their +shelter. At nightfall the savages reluctantly gave up the siege and +retired, carrying away a considerable number of killed and wounded. +Those in the fort escaped miraculously; only one man being killed, and +three or four slightly wounded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> + +<p>The next morning, Saturday, the Indians were seen again approaching the +fort, apparently to renew the attack; but it was soon discovered they +were withdrawing, to wreak their thwarted vengeance on the devoted town +of New Ulm. In the interim since the first attack, the town had been +reënforced by about one hundred volunteers, and had also been put in a +partial state of defence. Fire, murder, and pillage marked the way of +the savages toward it; the garrison noted their approach by the clouds +of smoke which the burning dwellings of the settlers sent up to heaven.</p> + +<p>The Indians reached and again attacked New Ulm, on Sunday morning at +about eleven o'clock. The commanding officer of the whites had placed +pickets, and a considerable part of his force to support them, along the +outer edge of the town toward the foe; but so fierce and impetuous was +the attack, that the whites were forced back into the town at the first +onset of the enemy, giving them possession of several of the outer +buildings, from which they pushed their further operations. But the +garrison soon rallied, and obstinately held their ground. Finding +themselves so unexpectedly held at bay, the Indians, who were to the +windward, set fire one after another to the buildings they held, thus +literally burning their way into the town. All day long this continued. +Toward evening, the whites found they had been forced back, inch by +inch, by the fire and smoke and the swift leaden messengers of death, +until nearly one half of the town was lost; but they rallied once more, +made a vigorous charge on the foe, and drove them out. At this the +Indians withdrew, forming themselves into three parties, and camped a +short distance off, making the night hideous with fiendish yells and the +horrid music of their war dances. During the night the garrison +retreated into a still smaller and more defensible part of the town, +committing the rest to flames. A brief demonstration was made by the +enemy on the following morning, but finding the whites so well posted, +they finally abandoned the contest and withdrew. The whites, exhausted +and cut up, joyfully welcomed a cessation of hostilities. During the day +they evacuated the town, bringing off what remained of the garrison in +safety. In this battle they lost ten killed, and about fifty wounded, +while the Indians lost about forty. They were seen to haul off four +wagon loads of dead.</p> + +<p>The events thus far narrated cover a period of nine days, and, though +forming the principal ones, were by no means the only events of that +brief time. The contagion of murder, arson, and rapine spread over the +whole area of country on which the Indians lived and roved, embracing a +district one hundred miles in width by two hundred in length. Fort +Abercrombie, situated at the upper end of this vast tract, was +surrounded and besieged, as Fort Ridgely at the lower end had been. +Throughout the intermediate region, scattering parties of the savages +appeared in the isolated villages and settlements, spreading death and +desolation. Local conditions exaggerated and heightened the horrors of +the insurrection. The population of Minnesota, and particularly of these +exposed regions, unlike that of the lower Western States, whose +settlers, trained in border warfare, were familiar with savage craft and +cruelty, and inherited the prowess and spirit of daring adventure which +possessed Daniel Boone, was largely made up of foreign emigrants, +Germans, French, Norwegians, and Swedes. They were unaccustomed to +danger, and unused to arms. They had lived for years in confidence and +daily intercourse with the Indians. Engaged in the absorbing labor of +building and providing their new homes, they were without guns or other +weapons of defence. Still worse, the war for the Union had called into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +its ranks a large proportion of their young, active, and able-bodied +men, and left only the women and children to gather the harvest and +guard the hearthstone. Upon their heads this storm burst suddenly, and +with a terror which deprived them of all courage and resource to resist +it. Emboldened by the feeble opposition they met, and maddened by the +carnival of blood in which they rioted, the savages indulged in +cruelties and barbarities too horrible to recount in detail. The +Governor of Minnesota, in a special message to the Legislature of the +State, thus paints them:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'Infants hewn into bloody chips of flesh, or nailed alive to door +posts to linger out their little life in mortal agony, or torn +untimely from the womb of the murdered mother, and in cruel mockery +cast in fragments on her pulseless and bleeding breast; rape +joined to murder in one awful tragedy; young girls, even children +of tender years, outraged by their brutal ravishers, till death +ended their shame and suffering; women held in captivity to undergo +the horrors of a living death; whole families burned alive; and as +if their devilish fury could not glut itself with outrages on the +living, its last efforts exhausted in mutilating the bodies of the +dead; such are the spectacles, and a thousand nameless horrors +besides, which their first experience of Indian war has burned into +the brains and hearts of our frontier people.'....</p></div> + +<p>A wild panic ensued. Those who escaped the tomahawk and scalping knife +fled in consternation and dismay, abandoning their little earthly all, +leaving their cattle astray on the prairies, and their crops uncut and +ungathered in the fields; some fleeing with such precipitation as to +leave their food untouched on the table, where but a moment before it +had been spread for the daily repast. Women and children wandered for +days in the woods, subsisting on nuts and berries. Every road was lined +with fugitives, and all the villages were crowded with their surrounding +population. The refugees poured by hundreds into the city of St. Paul, +situated from eighty to one hundred and fifty miles from the scenes of +the outbreak; and many, who were able to do so, embarked on the first +departing steamers, and hurried away from the State. It is estimated +that ten large and flourishing counties were almost completely +depopulated.</p> + +<p>It so happened that a portion of the volunteers recruited for the Union +army had not yet been ordered out of the State. Though poorly equipped +and supplied, they were at once sent into the field against the Indians, +and they served as a nucleus around which the irregular organizations +could rally. Every old gun, pistol, knife, or other weapon was cleaned +up; every pound of powder and lead was bought and distributed; and +horses were impressed by military authority, with which to extemporize +cavalry companies. The surrounding States promptly sent what aid they +could in men, guns, and cartridges. The Governor by proclamation +authorized the formation of companies of scouts and rangers in the +threatened neighborhoods. Very soon after the outbreak, Colonel H. H. +Sibley, an experienced frontiersman, having a thorough knowledge of +Indian habits and character, was on the march against them, with about +one thousand men. The General Government augmented these forces as +rapidly as possible, and sent Major-General Pope to assume command of +the Indian Department.</p> + +<p>Hearing of Colonel Sibley's approach, Little Crow retreated to Yellow +Medicine, taking with him a large baggage train of plunder, and about +one hundred white prisoners, chiefly women and children, whom he had +captured at different places, and whom, with a few exceptions, they did +not specially maltreat, but compelled to labor at camp drudgery.</p> + +<p>Colonel Sibley pushed on with his forces, sending in advance a cavalry +detachment, which reached and relieved Fort Ridgely on the 27th of +August, after it had been besieged for nine days. He himself arrived at +that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> post with the remainder of his troops on the following day. On the +31st, he sent out a detachment of two companies, one mounted, a fatigue +party of twenty men, and seventeen teams and teamsters, to reconnoitre +the neighboring settlements and to bury the dead. They proceeded to the +Minnesota river opposite the Lower Agency, and found and buried sixteen +corpses the first day. The next day they continued their search, finding +and burying fifty-four. That night they encamped on the open prairie, +near the upper timber of the Birch Coolie creek, three miles from the +Lower Agency. At about four o'clock of the next morning, September 2, +one of their sentinels shouted, "Indians!" and almost immediately, a +shower of balls rained upon the camp. From this first fire, and during +the confusion attending it, the detachment suffered severely. They soon, +however, gained the shelter of their wagons, and from behind them and +the piles of dead horses which literally covered the ground, they +returned a vigorous fire upon their assailants, meanwhile digging a +rifle pit as they fought. It was a fierce morning's battle, and the foe, +in largely superior numbers, had nearly surrounded and captured them +when reënforcements arrived. So hot was the attack, that one of the +tents was found to have one hundred and forty bullet holes through it.</p> + +<p>The boldness and severity of this attack, demonstrated to Colonel Sibley +the necessity for an increase of force and very cautious movements, and +accordingly he fell back to the neighborhood of Fort Ridgely. Anxious +also to obtain the release of the white prisoners in Little Crow's camp, +and fearing that if he won a decided success in battle they would be +murdered, he determined to resort to negotiation. He therefore wrote the +following note and left it fastened to a stake, on the ground where the +last battle had taken place:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'If Little Crow has any propositions to make to me, let him send a +halfbreed to me, and he shall be protected in and out of my camp.</p> + +<p class="author"> +<span class="smcap">H. H. Sibley</span>,<br /> +Col. Com. Military Expedition.'<br /> +</p> + +</div> + +<p>A day or two afterward, two halfbreeds came into his camp under a flag +of truce, bringing a note signed 'Little Crow, his mark,' excusing and +justifying his attack on the whites. Colonel Sibley replied, 'Little +Crow, you have murdered many of our people without cause. Return me the +prisoners under a flag of truce, and I will talk with you like a man.' +After the lapse of a few days, another message came from Little Crow, +stating that he had one hundred and fifty-five prisoners, and asking +what he could do to make peace. Colonel Sibley replied that his young +men had been committing more murders, and that was not the way to make +peace.</p> + +<p>Having learned from several sources that serious dissensions had broken +out in the Indian camp, and having also received the needed +reënforcements, Colonel Sibley left Fort Ridgely on the 12th of +September, and marched up the Minnesota river to Wood Lake, near Yellow +Medicine, arriving there on the 22d following. Little Crow was encamped +in the vicinity with his braves. The savages, however, had become +demoralized, and he could no longer control them. Little Crow desired to +make an attack that night, but his opponents told him in council that if +he was a brave Indian he would fight the white man by daylight. +Accordingly, next morning he attacked Colonel Sibley's forces with three +hundred of his warriors, the others refusing to join in the fight. After +a sharp two-hours' battle the Indians were completely routed, losing +thirty killed, and a proportionate number of wounded. The whites lost +four killed, and forty wounded.</p> + +<p>This battle substantially ended the war. The Indians retreated, and the +whites pursued them to Lac Qui Parle. Four days afterward, a camp of +about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> one hundred and fifty lodges of Indians and halfbreeds separated +from Little Crow's party, met Colonel Sibley in council, surrendered +themselves, and formally delivered up to him ninety-one white prisoners, +and over one hundred halfbreeds, whom they had obtained. Other parties +came in afterward, surrendering themselves unconditionally, until +between two and three thousand Indians, of all sexes and ages, were in +the hands of the troops as prisoners of war. A military commission was +appointed to try the ringleaders and worst offenders, and over three +hundred of them were convicted and sentenced to death. Before this paper +is printed, some, at least, of these, will have expiated their crimes on +the gallows. Little Crow, with a small but desperate band of followers, +succeeded in making his escape to Devil's Lake in Dakota Territory.</p> + +<p>The future disposition of the Indians of the State of Minnesota is one +of the most perplexing minor questions of the day. In their present +location, the feud of race engendered by the insurrection will only die +with the generation that witnessed its beginning. Humanitarian impulses +and humanitarian duties are forgotten in the fierce thirst for private +vengeance. With one voice, the people of that State demand the removal +or threaten the extermination of their dangerous neighbors. But whither +shall they go? The swallowing tides of civilization encompass them on +the east, the north, and the south; and the only other avenue, the west, +is guarded by the gaunt wolf starvation.</p> + +<p>It is proposed by some to colonize them on the island of Isle Royale, in +Lake Superior; by others, to purchase some small West India island, and +transport them there, where tropical nature will feed them without +expense to the Government. Perhaps the more practical measure would be +to gather all that remains of the red race within the United States into +one Territory, to establish a more thorough guardianship over them, and +to subject them to a stricter and more absolute government, which should +compel them to assume gradually the duties and customs of civilized +life.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="DEAD" id="DEAD"></a>'DEAD!'</h2> + + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">With chilling breath it comes:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Again—and yet again! on every gale,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">America! from thy great battle field!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">Our hearts are hushed, and desolate our homes—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Our lids are heavy, and our cheeks are pale—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 7.5em;">While thus we yield</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6.5em;">Our loved ones up to thee!</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">Dead! dying at their posts!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The young, the noble, and the loving ones!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">The widow's all! the gray-haired father's hope—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">All thine, my country! take the treasured hosts:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Hold in thy faithful keeping all thy sons!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 7.5em;">We give them up—</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 6.5em;">To thee and liberty!</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">Oh, keep our honored dead</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Within the folds of thy great-pulsing heart!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Entwine their memory with thy polished lore:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">Cherish the sacred dust above <i>their</i> bed</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Who sprang to shield thee from the traitor's dart!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6.5em;">Bless evermore</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">The dead who died for thee!</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">Silent the teardrops fall</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Down the pale mother's cheek at close of day;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">For sorrow sitteth at the widow's gate:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">Dark are the shadows gathered on the wall,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And where the mourner bendeth low to pray—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6.5em;">No more to wait</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">The coming of her free!</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">For thee—'dear native land!'</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">What precious hopes are severed one by one!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">What hearts lie crushed and sick by 'hope deferred!'</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">How many dear ones, stretched along the sand,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Bleed out their lives beneath a blighting sun—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6.5em;">With but a word—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">'Mother!' for plaint or prayer!</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">Shall they be vainly shed—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The blood and tears that wash our stricken soil?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Bringing no healing with their torrent streams?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">Vain the long requiem for the noble dead—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Vain all the agony and all the toil—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6.5em;">The soldier's dreams—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">The patriot's thought and care?</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">No! float upon the winds!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Flag of my country! let thy stars give light</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">To nations of the earth! proclaim afar</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">The end of tyrant rule that madly binds</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Our millions down beneath a fearful blight!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6.5em;">Float—<i>every star</i>!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">We have not one to spare!</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="A_MERCHANTS_STORY" id="A_MERCHANTS_STORY"></a>A MERCHANT'S STORY.</h2> + +<p class="center">'All of which I saw, and part of which I was.'</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3> + +<p>After dinner, we rode over my friend's plantation. It contained about +twelve hundred acres, mainly covered with forest trees, but with here +and there an isolated patch of cleared land devoted to corn and cotton. +A small tributary of the Trent formed its northern boundary, and +bordering the little stream was a tract of three hundred acres of low, +swampy ground, heavily timbered with cypress and juniper. Tall old +pines, denuded of bark for one third of their height, and their white +faces bearded with long, shining flakes of 'scrape turpentine,' crowned +the uplands; and scattered among them, about a hundred well-clad, +'well-kept' negro men and women were shouting pleasantly to one another, +or singing merrily some simple song of 'Ole Car'lina,' as with the long +scrapers they peeled the glistening scales from the scarified trees, or, +gathering them in their aprons, 'dumped' them into the rude barrels +prepared for their reception. Preston had a kind word for each one that +we passed—a pleasant inquiry about an infirm mother or a sick child, or +some encouraging comment on their cheerful work; and many were the +hearty blessings they showered upon 'good massa,' and many their +good-natured exclamations over 'de strange gemman dat sells massa's +truck.'</p> + +<p>'He'm de kine, 'ou gals,' shouted an old darky, bent nearly double with +age, who, leaning against one of the barrels, was 'packing down' the +flakes as they were emptied from the aprons of the women: 'He'm de kine, +I tell by him eye; de rocks doan't grow fass ter dat gemman's pocket!'</p> + +<p>'Well, they don't, uncle,' I replied, tossing him a half-dollar piece, +and throwing a handful of smaller coin among the women. A general +scramble followed, in which the old fellow nimbly joined, shouting out +between his boisterous explosions of merriment:</p> + +<p>'Dis am de sort, massa; dis am manna rainin' in de wilderness—de Lord's +chil'ren lub dis kine—it'm good ter take, massa, good ter take.'</p> + +<p>'Good as black jack, eh, uncle?' I inquired, laughing, for I saw certain +lines about his shrunken mouth, and underneath his sunken eyes, which +told plainly he was rather too familiar with that delicious compound of +strychnine and whiskey.</p> + +<p>'Yas, massa, good as black Jack; dat's my name, massa, dat's my +name—yah, yah,' and he turned his face, wet with merry tears, and +distended in an uncommonly broad grin, up to mine. In a moment, however, +his eye caught Preston's. His broad visage collapsed, his distended +mouth shrank to a very diminutive opening, and his twinkling eyes +assumed a peculiarly stolid expression, as he added, in a deprecatory +tone:</p> + +<p>'No, massa Robert, not so good as black jack; not so good as dat—'ou +knows I doan't keer fur him; you knows I doan't knows him no more, massa +Robert.'</p> + +<p>'I know you never knew him,' replied Preston, playing on his name. 'He's +a hardened old sinner. He has sinned away the day of grace, I'm sure. +But you know better than to ask presents of strangers. Give it back to +the gentleman at once.'</p> + +<p>An indescribable expression stole over the old negro's visage as he +thrust his hand through his thin, frosty wool, looked pleadingly up at +his master's face, and, seeing no signs of relenting there, slowly and +reluctantly opened his palm and offered me the money.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p> + +<p>'No, no, Preston, let him keep it; it won't do him any harm,' I said.</p> + +<p>'No more'n it woan't, good massa, not a morsel ob harm,' exclaimed the +darky, his small eyes twinkling again with pleasurable anticipation, and +his broad face widening into its accustomed grin: 'I woan't take nary a +drop, massa Robert, nary a drop!'</p> + +<p>'Well,' said his master, 'you can keep it if you'll promise not to drink +it all to-morrow. So much whiskey would spoil your prayer at the +meeting.'</p> + +<p>'So it 'ould, massa Robert; so much as dat; but Jack allers prays de +stronger fur a little, massa Robert, jess a little—it sort o' 'pears +ter warm up a ole man's sperrets, and ter fotch all de 'votion right +inter him froat.'</p> + +<p>'I suppose it does; all the devotion you ever feel. You're an old +sinner, Jack, past praying for, I fear,' replied Preston, +good-naturedly, turning his horse to go.</p> + +<p>'Not pass prayin' fur 'ou, massa Robert, not pass dat, an' ole Jack +neber will be, nudder—not so long as he kin holler loud 'nuff fur de +Lord ter yere. 'Ou may 'pend on dat, massa Robert, 'ou may 'pend on +dat.'</p> + +<p>As we rode away, I asked Preston if the old black led the services at +the negro meetings.</p> + +<p>'Yes, I am obliged to let him. He was formerly the plantation preacher, +and, with all his faults, the blacks are much attached to him. A small +rebellion broke out among them, five years ago, when I displaced him, +and put Joe into the pulpit. I compromised the difficulty by agreeing +that Jack should lead in prayer every Sunday morning. They think he has +a gift that way, and <i>you</i> would conclude the day of Pentecost had come, +if you should hear him when he is about half-seas-over.'</p> + +<p>'Then he does pray better for a little whiskey?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, a mug of 'black jack' helps him amazingly—it gives him the real +power.'</p> + +<p>After a two hours' circuit of the plantation, we halted in the vicinity +of the distilleries, which stood huddled together on the bank of the +little stream of which I have spoken. There were three of them, each of +thirty barrels' capacity—an enormous size—and they were neatly set in +brick, and enclosed in a substantial framed structure, which was +weatherboarded and coated with paint of a dark brown color. Near the +only one then in operation were several large heaps of flake turpentine, +three or four hundred barrels of rosin, and a vast quantity of the same +material scattered loosely about and mixed with broken staves, worn-out +strainers, and the <i>debris</i> of the rosin bins. Pointing to the confused +mass, I said to my host:</p> + +<p>'I've half a mind to turn missionary. I feel a sort of call to preach to +you Southern heathen.'</p> + +<p>'I wish you would,' he rejoined, laughing; 'you'd give me a chance to +laugh at your sermons, as you have laughed at mine.'</p> + +<p>'No, you wouldn't laugh. I'd make you <i>feel</i> way down in your pocket. +I'd have but one sermon and one text, and that would be: 'Gather up the +fragments, that nothing be lost.' You Southern nabobs do nothing but +waste—you waste enough in one day to feed the whole North for a week. +It's a sin—the unpardonable sin—for you know better.'</p> + +<p>'Well, it <i>is</i> wrong, but how can we help it? We can't make the negroes +anything but what they are—shiftless and careless of everything but +their own ease.'</p> + +<p>'I don't know about that. I think such a man as Joe ought to be able to +manage them.'</p> + +<p>'Joe! Well, he can't. He's all drive, and negroes are human beings; they +should be treated kindly.'</p> + +<p>We had approached the front of the still, and were fastening our horses +to the trunk of a tree, when we heard loud voices issuing from the other +side of the enclosure.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Her'm what I owes you—now pack off ter onst, and don't neber show your +face on dis plantation no more,' said a voice, which I at once +recognized as that of 'boss Joe.'</p> + +<p>'I shan't pack off till I'm ready, you d—d black nigger, I've been +bossed 'bout by ye long 'nuff. Clar out, and 'tend ter yer own 'fairs,' +rejoined another voice, which had the tone of a white man's.</p> + +<p>'I reckon <i>dis</i> am my 'fair, and I shan't leff you git drunk and burn up +no more white rosum yere; so take yerseff off. Ef you don't, I'll make +you blacker nor I is.'</p> + +<p>'Put your hand on me, and I'll take the law on ye, <i>shore</i>,' returned +the white man.</p> + +<p>'Pshaw, you drunken fool, do you s'pose dese darkies would tell on <i>me</i>? +Ef dey would, dar word ain't 'lowed in de law; so you trabble. I don't +keer ter handle you, but I shill ef you don't leab widin five minutes.'</p> + +<p>What might have followed will not go down in history, for just then +Preston and I, emerging from around the corner of the building, appeared +in view of the belligerents. The native—a respectable specimen of the +class of poor whites—stood in a defiant attitude before the still-fire, +while Joe was seated on a turpentine barrel near, quietly noting the +time by a large silver watch which he held in his hand. He kept on +counting the minutes, and gave no heed to his master's approach, till +Preston said:</p> + +<p>'Joe, what's to pay?'</p> + +<p>'Nuffin, master Robert, 'cept I'se 'scharged dis man, and he say he +won't gwo.'</p> + +<p>'Do as Joseph bids you,' said Preston, turning to the white man, 'take +your pay and go at once.'</p> + +<p>The man stammered out a few words with a cringing air, but the planter +cut him short with:</p> + +<p>'I want no explanations. If you can't satisfy Joseph, you can't satisfy +me.'</p> + +<p>The native then leisurely took down a ragged coat that hung from one of +the timbers, counted over a small roll of bank notes which Joe gave him, +and meekly left the still-house.</p> + +<p>Joe and his master devoted the next half hour to piloting me over the +distilleries. I commented rather freely on the sad waste of valuable +produce which was scattered about, and on the bad economy of keeping +three 'stills' to do the work of one.</p> + +<p>'It might have done years ago,' I remarked, 'before your trees ran to +'scrape,' and when they yielded enough 'dip' to keep all the stills +busy; but now they are eating you up. You have fully four thousand +dollars idle here. Sell them, Preston—that amount would help you out of +debt.'</p> + +<p>'Dat's what I tells master Robert, Mr. Kirke, but he sort o' clings to +ole tings, <i>sar</i>,' said Joe, in the free, familiar tone usual with him.</p> + +<p>'But <i>you</i> do just as badly, Joe,' I replied. 'You let these darkies +waste more than they eat, and you keep four here to do the work of +three. You are no better than your master.'</p> + +<p>'Only half so good, Mr. Kirke,' rejoined the black, showing a set of +teeth which a dentist might have used for a door plate; 'only <i>half</i> so +good, 'case I'se only half white. But, if master Robert 'ould leff me +handle de whip, I'd show him suffin'! I reckon de int'rest 'ouldn't be +ahind den.'</p> + +<p>'Why? don't you let Joe whip the negroes?' I asked Preston.</p> + +<p>'No, not now; I did, till some years ago, when he almost killed one of +them, and came near getting me into serious trouble. He could manage +them well enough without whipping, if he'd curb his impetuous temper a +little.'</p> + +<p>'But I does curb it, master Robert, and it tain't ob no use. Dey knows I +<i>can't</i> whip 'em, an' dey don't keer fur de starvin', or de tyin' up, or +de talkin' to in de meetin'. Dey don't mind fur nuffin' but de whip, an' +a little ex'cise wid dat does a nigger good when he'm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> right down +'fractory. And you has 'lowed, master Robert, dat I warn't so much ter +blame in dat 'fair ob Black Cale.'</p> + +<p>'Well, perhaps you weren't. It's a good story, Kirke; did I ever tell it +to you?'</p> + +<p>'No; I'd be glad to hear it.'</p> + +<p>'Come, Joe,' said his master, good-naturedly, 'you can tell it better +than I. You know it by heart.'</p> + +<p>'Well, master, if you says so,' replied Joe; and as we seated ourselves +in a semicircle on some rosin barrels, the black proceeded to give the +following illustration of the working of free and slave institutions:</p> + +<p>'Well, you see, Mr. Kirke, de darky's name wus Black Cale, an' he wus a +raised up 'long wid me by de ole gemman—dat am master Robert's +gran'fer. He wus allers a hard-bitted, 'fractory darky, but he wus +smart, awful smart, and could do a heap ob work when a minded to; but he +wusn't a minded to bery of'en, an' ole master used to hab ter flog +him—flog him bery hard. Well, finarly, de ole gemman grow'd tired ob +doin' so much ob dat, an' he call Cale ter him one day, an' he say:</p> + +<p>''Cale, you'se a likely nigger, an' I <i>don't</i> like ter flog you so much. +Now, I'll leff you hire you' time, an' gwo down ter Newbern, an' shirk +fur you'seff.'</p> + +<p>'Ole master knowed Cale wus habin' a bad 'fect on de oder darkies, an' +he 'lowed 'twould be cheap leffin' him gwo ef he didn't get a picayune +fur him. Well, Cale, he took ter dat ter onst, an' he 'greed to gib ole +master one fifty a year fur his time; an' so he put off ter Newbern. +Well, ebery ting gwo on right smart till de ole gemman die. Cale, he +work hard, pay master ebery year, and sabe up quite a heap. Well, ole +master die widout a will, an' all de property gwo ter de two sons; dat +am master James an' master Thomas—he war master Robert's fader. Now +master James he neber lib'd on de plantation, so he sold all his half ob +de nigs to master Thomas, an' put all de 'vails inter his bisness down +dar ter Mobile, whar he am now, doin' a heap in de cotton way. But he +didn't sell his half ob Cale, 'case master Thomas wouldn't buy him, +nohow. Well, dey owned Cale tugedder fur a spell, an' Cale he work on +right smart, till one day master James come home, and he tells master +Thomas dat on de way he'd a stopped at Newbern, and sole his half ob +Cale ter Cale heseff, fur five hundred dollar, and giben him de free +papers. Well, den Cale he want to buy de oder half ob heseff ob master +Thomas, an' master Thomas he offer to take de same money; but Cale say +de oder half not wuth so much as de fust, an' dat he wouldn't gib only +two fifty.'</p> + +<p>'Not worth so much—why not?' I asked.</p> + +<p>'Why, Cale say 'case he could do what he like wid de free half, and he +reckoned he shouldn't be quite so 'sponsible <i>den</i> fur de slave half,' +and here Joe broke into a merry fit of laughter, in which Preston +joined.</p> + +<p>'Well, master Thomas an' Cale couldn't 'gree 'bout de buyin', but Cale +promise to gib seventy-five dollar a year fur de use ob master's half, +an' he gwo off agin ter Newbern. Den de time gwo by fur a yar or two, +but master neber git nary dime out ob Cale fur his half. Cale would say +dat only half ob him wus free, an' de oder half wasn't 'sponsible, and +couldn't pay its debts, nohow. Finarly, master, seein' he couldn't git +nuffin out ob Cale, only offers ob two fifty fur de oder half—and <i>dat</i> +he wouldn't take, nohow—sent me down to Newbern to sort o' mediate +'tween Cale an' he. Well, I coaxed Cale to 'gree to wuck one monfh for +heseff and de oder monfh fur massa, and I come home; but it warn't ob no +use; Cale would wuck, but massa neber seed a fip ob de pay. Finarly, +af'er he'd a gone on dat way 'bout ten yar, stowin' 'way what he arned +whar nobody could fine it, an' allers off'rin' two fifty fur de oder +half ob heseff, master<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> Thomas he die, and master Robert he come ter lib +on de plantation. Den master Robert axed me what he should do wid Cale, +and I tole him to take de two fifty, and leff him gwo. But he say, 'no,' +dat he wouldn't sell him fur dat, nohow.' And here the black looked +slyly at his master, and a merry twinkle came into his eyes. 'Well, den, +I tole master Robert dat I tought I could fix Cale ef he'd leff me +manage him jess as I like. He 'greed to dat, an' I gwoes down to +Newbern, an' makes Cale come home, an' den I say to him:</p> + +<p>''Now, Cale, you stay yere, an' gwo to wuck. Ebery monfh you wuck fur +me, an' ebery oder monfh you wuck fur you'seff, an' when you wuck fur +you'seff I pay you so much fur ebery barr'l ob dip, an' so much fur +ebery barr'l ob scrape, an' so much fur ebery day when you wuck roun'; +an' I makes you pay so much fur what you lib on. Well, Cale, he 'gree to +dat. He wuck de fust monfh fur heseff, an' he <i>did</i> wuck—he done twice +so much as any hand on de plantation; but de next monfh, when he wuck +fur <i>me</i>, he don't do nuffin but lay 'bout, an' git drunk. I stood dat +till de monfh wus up—fur I neber did take ter whippin' de nigs, an' +master Robert know dat—an' den w'en Cale wus clean sober, I tied him up +to gib him a floggin'. Well, w'en he wus a stripped, an' I was jess +gwine to lay on de lashes, Cale say to me, says he:</p> + +<p>''Look a yere, 'ou Joe, 'ou may whip massa's half ob dis nig jess so +long as 'ou likes, but ef 'ou put de lash onter <i>my</i> half, I'll take de +law on 'ou. I will, shore.'</p> + +<p>'Dat sot me a tinkin'; fur de fac wus, I'd nary right to flog <i>his</i> +half; but den it 'curred ter me dat none but darkies wus roun', an' so I +tought I had him, <i>shore</i>. Well, I puts on de lashes, an' he keeps a +tellin' me he'd hab de law on me, which make me sort o' 'zasparated, +till I put 'em on right smart, an' at lass he gib in. Well, w'en I'd a +got him a feelin' 'bout right, an' wus only jess puttin' de lass blows +on to finish up makin' a decent nigger ob him, master Robert he come up, +and when he seed de blood a runnin' down his back, he say Cale had been +whipped 'bout 'nough, and I must stop. Cale turned up missin' dat night, +an' got off to Newbern; an' shore 'nuff, de next evenin', long 'bout +dark, de sherrif he rode up to de house wid a writ fur master Robert fur +habin' made 'salt an' batt'ry on one collud man, called Caleb Preston, +an' he pulled out a suspeny dat make massa Robert witness agin heseff! +ha! ha! You see Cale wus smart; he know'd master Robert b'longed to de +Baptist meeting, an' wouldn't lie fur all de niggers in Jones county; so +he had him dar, ha! ha!'</p> + +<p>Here Joe for some minutes was unable to continue the narrative. His +merriment was contagious. I laughed till my sides were sore, and Preston +enjoyed the story quite as much as I did.</p> + +<p>'Well, what was the end of it?' I asked.</p> + +<p>'Only, master Robert hed to be toted off to Newbern dat night, git bail +or sleep in de jail, and de next mornin', af'er de nig hed a hed ten +yars' use ob heseff fur nuffin, master Robert hed to do what <i>he'd</i> a +said, an' his fader afore him hed said, dey neber would do—dat is, take +two fifty fur de oder half ob Cale! Ha! ha! De next time I gwoes to +Newbern I hunt Cale up, an' I tell him he must study fur de law, shore; +an' dat ef he done it, I know'd master Robert would pay de 'spences, out +ob lub to de country.'</p> + +<p>The negroes who were attending the still had dropped their work to +listen to Joe's story, and at its close guffawed in a chorus that made +the woods ring. Hearing it, Joe sprang to his feet, shouting out: +'Yere—'bout you' wuck dar; leff me kotch you eavesdroppin' on gemmen +agin, an' I'll gib you what I gabe Cale. 'Bout you' wuck, I say.' They +turned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> nimbly to their tasks, and Joe resumed his seat.</p> + +<p>'I see the moral of that story, Preston,' I said, when the negro had +concluded.</p> + +<p>'What is it?'</p> + +<p>'That a darky may be as smart as a white man. Cale outwitted you.'</p> + +<p>'Well, he did,' he replied, laughing; 'but that isn't the moral: it is +that flogging never accomplishes its object.'</p> + +<p>'I'm not so sure of that. Joe had brought Cale to terms, 'made a decent +nigger on him,' when you, unluckily, interfered.'</p> + +<p>'It ain't so much de floggin' on 'em, Mr. Kirke,' said Joe, 'as dar +knowin' dat you <i>will</i> do it ef dey desarve it. Dar ain't a darky on de +plantation dat don't know master Robert an' de good missus 'ould rader +be flogged demselves dan flog dem; an' dat wucks bad, Mr. Kirke, sorry +bad;' and the negro shook his head with a grave, thoughtful air.</p> + +<p>'Tell me, Preston,' I said, after a slight pause, 'how is it that your +neighbor Dawsey, with only seventy-five negroes, sends us more produce +than you do with a hundred and fifty?'</p> + +<p>'Simply because he treats his hands like brutes, while I treat mine like +men.'</p> + +<p>'I hope you'll take no offence,' I replied, 'but it appears to me there +must be some other reason. He has only <i>half</i> your number.'</p> + +<p>'Well, I will tell you how he and I manage, and you can judge for +yourself. Dawsey has seventy-five slaves; forty child-bearing women, +twenty men, and fifteen children under five years. The sixty adults are +all prime hands. They are given daily tasks, which they cannot possibly +do in less than fifteen hours, leaving them only nine hours out of the +twenty-four for eating, sleeping, feeding their children, and the waking +rest necessary to working people. He never whips them on a week day, +because it wastes working time, but makes Sunday a general flogging +season. He has two women where he has one man, and each woman is +expected to bear a child a year. If she doesn't, she is sold. They are +made to work in the field till the labor pains are on them; and they are +allowed only two weeks' rest after confinement. Three of them have borne +children in the woods this season. He keeps only one nurse for the +fifteen children, and as soon as each child is five years old—the age +at which it can be legally sold away from its mother—it is disposed of +to the traders. In addition, three of these women are his own mistresses +and they are expected to have children as fast as the others. He serves +their children like the rest; that is, rears them to the age of five, +and then sells them as he would so many hogs.'</p> + +<p>'My God!' I exclaimed, 'he's a monster.'</p> + +<p>'There are different opinions about that. Dawsey passes for a jovial +good fellow; keeps open house for his friends; spends money freely at +the elections, and two years ago 'got religion' at a camp meeting. He +merely regards his slaves as chattels, and manages his plantation in +perhaps the only way that is profitable in an old section of country +like this.'</p> + +<p>'And how is it with you? How do you manage?' I asked.</p> + +<p>'Leff <i>me</i> tell, master Robert,' said the black, smiling. 'I knows all +de 'ticulars 'bout dat.'</p> + +<p>'Well, go on,' said Preston, laughing, 'but don't be too hard on <i>me</i>.'</p> + +<p>'We hab,' continued the black, 'countin' me in, a hundred an' fifty-one +darkies, all in fam'lies—faders, mudders, children, and some on 'em +gran'faders and gran'mudders,'most all born on de plantation, an' some +on 'em livin' on it fur forty, fifty, sixty, an' seventy yar. Out ob +dese, we hab only forty-two full hands, 'case some ob de wimmin dat come +in de ages fur full wuck am sickly, puny tings, only fit fur house wuck<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +or nussin'. From de whole I gits equal to fifty-four full hands. +'Cordin' to master Robert's direction, I gib 'em easy ten-hour tasks; +but suffin' or anoder turn up 'most ebery day, so dat 'bout half on 'em +don't do full wuck, an' I reckon dey don't make, on de whole, more'n +'bout nine hour a day. So you see, Cunnel Dawsey, he hab sixty, an' he +wuck em fifteen hour a day; we hab only fifty-four, an' we wuck 'em nine +hour a day; an' 'cordin' to my 'rithmetic, dat would make de Cunnel turn +out 'bout twice as much truck as we does.'</p> + +<p>'And you have twice as many mouths to feed as he,' I remarked; 'and the +result is he makes money, while you—'</p> + +<p>'Lose nigh onter two thousand a year, Mr. Kirke, an' hab done it ebery +yar fur five yar, eber since master Robert come on to de plantation, an' +gwo to workin' on human principles, as he calls 'em.'</p> + +<p>This was said in so sad and regretful a tone, that, in spite of the +serious manner of both the black and his master, I laughed heartily. +When my merriment had somewhat subsided, I said:</p> + +<p>'Joe, what would you do to mend this state of affairs?'</p> + +<p>'It can't be mended if we stay in dis ole country, an' wuck 'cordin' to +master Robert's notion.'</p> + +<p>'Then you mean to say you can't apply humane principles to slave labor, +in an old district of country, and make money?'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' said Preston, rising and pacing up and down in the small +semi-circle formed by the rosin barrels, 'that is what he means to say, +and it is true.'</p> + +<p>'Then how do the majority of turpentine planters in this section make +money? They <i>do</i> make it, that is certain.'</p> + +<p>'By overworking their hands, as Dawsey does. All may not be as severe +with them as he is, but all overwork them, more or less,' replied +Preston.</p> + +<p>'I don't know 'bout dat, master Robert, twelve and eben firteen hour a +day neber hurt a prime hand, if he hab good feed.</p> + +<p>'Well, it is six o'clock, and supper must be in waiting,' said Preston, +drawing out his watch; 'we'll talk more on this subject to-night. Joe, +bring the books up to the house this evening. Mr. Kirke has promised to +look into our affairs, and I shall need you.'</p> + +<p>'Yas, master Robert,' replied the black; and, mounting the horses, +Preston and I rode off to the mansion.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER X.</h3> + +<p>Mrs. Preston and master Joe were on the piazza awaiting us, and in the +doorway we were met by the younger children. Preston lifted one of them +upon his shoulder, and taking another in his arms, led the way to the +supper room. However disturbed might be my friend's relations with the +outer world, all was peace by his cheerful fireside. No man was ever +more blessed in his home. His children were intelligent, loving, and +obedient; his wife was one of those rare women—seen nowhere more often +than in the South—who, to a cultivated mind and polished manners, add +the more homely accomplishments of a good housewife. It is years since +she laid aside the weary cares of her plantation home, and entered on +the higher duties of another life; but her gentle words are still as +fresh in my memory, her kindly image as warm in my heart, as on that +autumn day, when she placed her hand in mine for the last time, and +spoke the last 'God bless you' which was to fall on my ears from her +lips on this side of the grave. She was a perfect woman—a faithful +mistress, a loving wife, a devoted mother. Anticipating every want of +her husband, cheerfully instructing her children, overseeing every +detail of her household, meting out the weekly allowance of the negroes, +visiting daily the cabins of the sick and the infirm, and with her own +hand dispensing the soothing cordial or the healing medicine,—or, when +all medi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>cine failed, bending over the lowly bed of the dying, and +pointing him to the 'better home on high,'—she was a ministering +angel—a joy and a blessing to all about her. She wore no costly silks, +no diamonds on her fingers, or jewels in her hair; but she was arrayed +in garments all rich and beautiful with human love. She knew +nothing—cared nothing—about the right or the wrong of slavery; but +cheerfully and prayerfully, never wearying and never doubting, she went +on in the lowly round of duties allotted her, leaning lovingly on the +arm of the <span class="smcap">Good All-Father</span>, and looking steadfastly to <span class="smcap">Him</span> for guidance +and support. And, truly, she had her reward. 'Her children rose up and +called her blessed; her husband, also, and he praised her.'</p> + +<p>Supper was soon over, when my hostess rose and conducted me to the +library. That apartment was in an L, detached from the mansion, and +communicating with it by a covered passage way. It was plainly +furnished, but had a cosy, homelike appearance. Its four walls were +lined with books, some standing on end, some resting on their sides, and +some leaning negligently against each other; and over the massive centre +table were scattered open volumes, old newspapers, and unfinished +manuscripts, in most delightful confusion. A half dozen old-fashioned +chairs straggled about the floor, as if they did not know exactly what +to do with themselves, and a score of old worthies—their faces white as +chalk, and their long hair and beards powdered with a whole generation +of dust, looked complacently down from the top of the bookshelves. Dust +was on the table, on the chairs, on the floor, on the ceiling, and on +the musty old volumes ranged along the walls, and dust everywhere told +unmistakably that no profane hand ever disturbed the dusty repose which +reigned in the apartment.</p> + +<p>Two or three oaken logs, supported on bright brass andirons—the only +bright things in the room—were blazing cheerfully on the broad +hearthstone; and drawing our chairs near, we sat down before them.</p> + +<p>'May I come in?' said master Joe, thrusting his head in at the +half-closed doorway.</p> + +<p>'No, my son,' answered his father; 'Mr. Kirke and I are to talk over +business matters.'</p> + +<p>'Do let him come, Robert,' said Mrs. Preston; 'he is old enough to learn +something of such affairs.'</p> + +<p>The lad entered, and seating himself on a low stool by the side of his +mother, and burying his head in her lap, was soon fast asleep.</p> + +<p>'This room, Mr. Kirke,' said the lady, 'is sacred to Robert and the +dust. I beg you will not think I have the care of it.'</p> + +<p>'Oh no, madam; it is plain that a <i>man</i> has exclusive dominion here; but +your husband has been away from it for some time.'</p> + +<p>'That does not account for the dust; it hasn't been stirred for a +twelve-month;' and after a pause, she added, a thin moisture glistening +in her eyes, 'I have not yet thanked you, sir, for saving Phyllis and +the children from the clutches of that wretched trader.'</p> + +<p>'No thanks are requisite, madam. It was a mere matter of business; we +are in the practice of making advances to our consignors.'</p> + +<p>'Nevertheless we thank you, sir; Robert and I will ever be grateful for +it.'</p> + +<p>'Do not speak of it, madam; I would be glad to serve you to a much +greater extent.'</p> + +<p>The lady made no reply, and a rather embarrassing silence followed for +some minutes, when I said:</p> + +<p>'Preston, Joe is a remarkable negro; I think I never met one so +intelligent and well informed.'</p> + +<p>'He <i>is</i> very intelligent,' he replied; 'he has fine natural abilities.'</p> + +<p>'It is a pity Nature gave him so dark a skin, and made him a—slave.'</p> + +<p>'Not a <i>pity</i>, Mr. Kirke,' rejoined<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> Mrs. Preston; 'Nature, or rather +God, always puts us in our right places. Joseph is more useful where he +is than he would be anywhere else.'</p> + +<p>'I understood him that he was raised on the plantation,' I added.</p> + +<p>'Yes,' replied my host; 'my grandfather bought his mother, who is a +native African, when she was a girl; she was a favorite house-servant, +and Joe was born in a room over where we are sitting. This building was +then all there was of the mansion.'</p> + +<p>'And how did he pick up so much information?'</p> + +<p>'The old gentleman, who gave little heed to either law or gospel, taught +them both to read and write.' (Years after the date of this conversation +I learned that Joe was the son of that lawless, graceless old +gentleman.) 'And Joe, when a boy, read everything he could lay his hands +on. Since I brought my library here, he has devoured about half of the +books in it. He devotes every night, from eight o'clock to twelve, to +reading.'</p> + +<p>'I am surprised that with so much reading he uses so entirely the negro +dialect.'</p> + +<p>'But he does not. In common conversation he expresses himself in it, for +it is the dialect in which a black does his ordinary thinking; but let +him get upon an elevated subject, as he does frequently in his sermons, +and you will hear words as strong, pure, and simple as any found in the +Bible, flow from him like a stream.'</p> + +<p>'Does he preach every Sunday?'</p> + +<p>'Yes; I usually catechize the people in the morning, and he preaches in +the evening.'</p> + +<p>'But do you learn all your negroes to read?'</p> + +<p>'No, the law does not allow it. I teach them to repeat the catechism, +texts of Scripture, and passages from good books, and I explain these to +them.'</p> + +<p>'And Joe is your overseer?'</p> + +<p>'Not exactly that. My father made him overseer about thirty years ago, +but the law requires a white man in that situation; and when I took +charge of the plantation, the neighbors made a clamor about my having a +black. The result was, I 'whipped the devil round the stump,' by hiring +a white distiller, and <i>calling</i> him 'overseer.' I let Joe, however, +'oversee' him, as you have seen to-day.'</p> + +<p>A rap came then at the door, and master Joe, springing up, ushered the +subject of our conversation into the room. He held his hat in his hand, +and had under his arm a couple of account books.</p> + +<p>'This is Joseph the First,' said the lad, taking the black by the +coat-tail, and bowing gravely to me.</p> + +<p>'And you are Joseph the Second, eh?' I said, laughing.</p> + +<p>'Yas, sar, he'm dat 'stinguished gemman,' replied the negro, stroking +affectionately the lad's head; 'and he don't dishonor de name, sar. He'm +de true blue, dyed in de wool.'</p> + +<p>'He was named for Joseph,' said the lady, smiling kindly on the black. +'Bring up a chair, Joseph.'</p> + +<p>'Tank you, missus,' and the negro seated himself by the fire, between +Preston and me.</p> + +<p>'You have brought the documents, I see, Joe; let me look at them,' I +said, reaching out my hand for the books.</p> + +<p>'Yas, sar, and dey'm all written up till a week back. I reckon <i>you</i> kin +pick 'em out, Mr. Kirke, dough master Robert he say he don't understand +my way ob keepin' 'em.'</p> + +<p>I opened the books, and any man of business will appreciate my surprise +to find them kept by 'double entry.' Cotton, corn, and turpentine had +each its separate account, and at a glance I could see how much had been +made or lost by the production of each staple. The handwriting was plain +and bold, and the general appearance of the ledger compared favorably +with that of a much larger one I knew of, which was the pride of an +experienced bookkeeper.</p> + +<p>'Why, Joe, I'm astonished,' I ex<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span>claimed with unaffected gratification; +'you write like a schoolmaster.'</p> + +<p>A flush, which would have been a blush on a lighter skin, overspread the +negro's face, as he replied:</p> + +<p>'I don't hab practice 'nuff, Mr. Kirke, to write bery well.'</p> + +<p>'Practice!' said Preston, 'he has constant practice; he writes the love +letters of all the darkies in the district.'</p> + +<p>'It am so, dat's a fac, sar', said Joe, a quiet humor twinkling in his +eye. 'One ob Cunnel Dawsey's folk came to me tother day—his wife had +been sold down Souf, an' he wanted to say to har, dat dough ribers rose, +and mountins run atween 'em, he'd neber hab nuffin to do wid no oder +'ooman—so he come to me, and I wrote de letter; an' when I'd a put in +all de ribers, an' de mountins, an' eber so many runs, an' thought I'd +done it right smart, I read it ober to him, but he say he sort o' +reckoned it warnt quite done up 'pletely, not 'xactly 'cluded; an' he +'sisted dat I muss 'sert a pose scrip, axin' her to ''scuse de bad +writin'.''</p> + +<p>'And you did it?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, sar, I done it.'</p> + +<p>'Well, Joe, the important thing just now, is how much you owe. Give me a +slip of paper, and let me put these balances together.'</p> + +<p>'I'se done dat, Mr. Kirke; here dey am,' and he handed me a correctly +drawn-up statement, showing Preston's exact liabilities. I glanced over +it, compared it with the footings in the ledger, and said:</p> + +<p>'I see by this, Preston, that you owe seventeen hundred dollars, +floating debt; twelve hundred dollars, interest on your mortgage, and +are overdrawn five hundred dollars on our house.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, so Joe makes it, and I reckon he's correct.'</p> + +<p>'But dar'm de six hunderd you 'cepted fur master Robert, de oder day, in +Newbern—dat ain't counted in,' said Joe.</p> + +<p>'Well, all told, it's four thousand, besides the note I have given for +Phyllis. What do you calculate on to pay it, Preston?'</p> + +<p>'I don't know. How can we pay it, Joe?'</p> + +<p>'We moight sell de two stills, and some ob de hosses; I reckon dey'd be +'nuff,' replied the black; 'but de raal trubble, master Robert, am +what's cummin'; we'm gwine ahind ebery day, 'case we lose money on ebery +crop ob turpentine. Nuffin pay now but de corn and de cotton, and we +don't raise 'nuff ob dem to do no good.'</p> + +<p>I turned to the ledger, and found that it showed what the black said to +be true—corn and cotton had made a handsome profit, but turpentine had +'paid a loss.'</p> + +<p>'That is because your trees are old, and now yield scarcely anything but +scrape,'<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> I said.</p> + +<p>'Yas, sar, and 'case dey am so thin like, sense we cleaned out de pore +ones, dat it take a hand long time to git 'round 'mong 'em.'</p> + +<p>'Why not drop turpentine, and cut shingles from the swamp? You've a +fortune in those cypress trees.'</p> + +<p>'My negroes are not accustomed to swamp work—it would kill them,' +replied Preston.</p> + +<p>'Mr. Kirke,' said Joe,—'you'll take no 'fence, master Robert, if I says +dis?'</p> + +<p>'No, go on,' said his master.</p> + +<p>'De ting am right in a nutshell, an' jess so clar as apple jack: we owes +a heap; we'se gittin' inter debt deeper an' deeper ebery yar; we lose +money workin' de ole trees; we hain't got no new ones; an', dar's no use +to talk,—master Robert <i>won't</i> put de hands inter de swamp. What, den, +shill we do?'</p> + +<p>Avoiding the darky's question, I said: 'I never before understood why<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +slavery is so clamorous for new fields. I see now—it can draw support +only from the virgin soil. It exhausts an old country: like the locusts +of Egypt, it blasts the very face of the earth!'</p> + +<p>'That is true,' replied Preston; 'but Joe has stated the case correctly, +<i>What shall we do?</i>'</p> + +<p>'One of two things. Sell your plantation and negroes, or take your hands +to a new section, where you can raise virgin turpentine.'<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>'I cannot sell my negroes—they were all raised with me; and the +plantation—it was my ancestors', over a hundred years ago. I would move +the hands to a new section, but I have not the means to buy land.'</p> + +<p>'Ay, dar's de rub, as Shakspeare say,' said Joe, with a pleasant humor, +intended, I thought, to cheer his master, whose face was clouding over +with grave thought; 'dat's de ting dat spile de 'gestion ob de king; and +in him sleep, such dreams do come ob suffin' better'n dis, some +undiscobered country, whar de virgin trees weep tears so white as +crystal, and turn to gole de moment dey'm barrled up, dat—'</p> + +<p>'Come, Joe, that'll do,' said his master, laughing; 'don't give us any +more, or you'll murder <i>us</i>, as well as Shakspeare.'</p> + +<p>'You don't 'preciate dat great man, master Robert,' rejoined Joe, also +laughing.</p> + +<p>'No, I don't—not just now.'</p> + +<p>'If you could satisfy your outside creditors that things were likely to +go better with you in future, could you put off the payment of the three +thousand dollars for a time?' I asked.</p> + +<p>'I reckon I could—nearly all of it,' replied Preston.</p> + +<p>'Well, then, I'll make you a proposition. Buy ten thousand acres on the +line of the Manchester railroad. It is finished to Whitesville, and you +can buy land within twenty miles of that station, at seventy-five cents +an acre. We'll advance the twenty per cent. you'll have to pay down, and +five hundred dollars more to start you there, and hold the deed of the +land to secure us. Ship your produce to us, and agree to forfeit the +land, if, at the end of three years, you have not paid all the original +advance. Move your stills, and your able-bodied men and women there, +leaving the old and the young negroes here to raise corn and cotton. +<i>Hire</i> fifty more prime hands, and put Joe over the whole, with +unlimited power to work them to death if he pleases.'</p> + +<p>Preston leaned his head on his hand, as if bewildered. He seemed not to +understand me, but Joe's face lighted as if a stream of electricity were +playing under his dark skin. Mrs. Preston was the first to speak. Rising +and taking my hand, she said: 'Robert will do it, Mr. Kirke; and how can +we ever thank you enough for your generous—your <i>noble</i> conduct toward +us? You have taken a weary load off our hearts.'</p> + +<p>'It is a simple business transaction, madam; I expect to make money by +it. I insist on your husband's consigning his produce to us, and I shall +require the forfeit of the land and the improvements, if he does not pay +our advances within three years.'</p> + +<p>'We kin pay 'em in <i>one</i> year, an' you knows it, sar!' exclaimed Joe, +springing to his feet, and almost dancing around the room. 'Come, master +Robert, look up, an' tell 'im we'll do it, for ole Joe'll make de chips +fly as you neber seed 'em fly afore.'</p> + +<p>Preston looked up, and a tear rolled down his face, as he said, 'I thank +you, my friend. I need not say more.'</p> + +<p>'You need not say <i>that</i>; only buy the land, and make Joe autocrat of +the new plantation, and your bacon is cured.'</p> + +<p>'Joe'll show you how bacon am cured, Mr. Kirke, an' he'll name his fuss +boy af'er you—<i>shore</i>!' shouted the black, grinning all over.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p> + +<p>'He can safely promise that,' said the lady, laughing through her tears; +'for Aggy is fifty, and never had a child.'</p> + +<p>A half-hour's conversation over the details of the proposed arrangement +followed; then Joe rose, and taking the account books under his arm, +bade us 'good evenin'.' As he was leaving the room, I asked, 'Do you +preach to-morrow?'</p> + +<p>'Yas, sar, an' I'se gwine home to study ober de sermon. You'll come dar, +sar? You won't har no raal preachin', 'less master Robert feel de +sperrit move, fur de Lord don't gib de black man de tongue he gib de +white.'</p> + +<p>'I'm not sure of that; but I'll be there. Good night.'</p> + +<p>'Good night, sar, an' de Lord bless you.'</p> + +<p>When he had gone, I said to Preston: 'You have admitted me to your +confidence, my friend, and asked my advice; therefore, I think you will +pardon me, if I make you a few business suggestions.'</p> + +<p>'Most certainly, and I shall be guided by what you say.'</p> + +<p>'With a hundred hands in those thick woods, Joe will turn out a vast +amount of produce. His ambition is excited with the idea of being his +own master, and he will coin money for you; but you need to be prudent. +You owe a mortgage of twenty thousand dollars—and mortgage debts are +the worst in the world. Your plantation and negroes may be worth three +times the amount, but they are in jeopardy so long as it exists. If it +were called in on you suddenly, you couldn't pay it—your property would +be sacrificed—everything might be lost. Now, I would suggest that you +sell, at once, your three hundred acres of swamp land, all your surplus +live stock and materials, and appropriate the proceeds to paying your +floating debt, and reducing the mortgage.'</p> + +<p>'And we might reduce our family expenses, Robert,' said his wife; 'we +have too many house-servants. We could hire out five or six of them in +Newbern. And Joseph's schooling costs us five hundred dollars a year; he +might come home—<i>I</i> could teach him.'</p> + +<p>'You would take too much on yourself, Lucy,' replied her husband. 'You +are not strong, and you can't spare a single servant.'</p> + +<p>'How many have you?' I asked.</p> + +<p>'Nine,' said Preston.</p> + +<p>'For a family of two adults and three children?'</p> + +<p>'It strikes you as too many, Mr. Kirke,' said the lady, 'and it <i>is</i>. It +is our Southern way; but every additional servant makes additional work +for the mistress.'</p> + +<p>'I think you are right, madam,' I replied; 'a Northern lady that you +know of, takes care of me, Frank, the two young children, and a large +house, with only two servants and an errand boy; and she never has +anything to do after two o'clock in the day.'</p> + +<p>'But you have the Irish; they are better house-servants than our blacks; +and you can discharge them if they won't work,' said Preston.</p> + +<p>'I would rather have Phyllis than any servant I ever saw at the North. +With her, the cook, and one more, I will promise to get on beautifully,' +remarked his wife.</p> + +<p>Preston gave her a look of indescribable tenderness and affection. What +the negro trader had said to me, gave me a key to the thoughts that were +passing in his mind. His wife's trust in him was so great, that she was +willing to again admit into her family the woman who had made him +forget, through long years, the promises he made her in their youth! +Truly, the angel of perfect love and forgiveness makes its earthly home +in the breast of woman.</p> + +<p>Preston's voice quivered as he replied: 'I—I appreciate what you +say—Lucy. Do as you think best.'</p> + +<p>'But, madam,' I said, 'I think you are really taking too much on +yourself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span>—the care of the children will be a great tax on your +strength. Would it not be better to employ a governess to instruct them? +What is now expended on Joe would pay a competent person.'</p> + +<p>'What do you say to that, Joe?' asked his father; 'would you like to +come home, and have a woman teacher?'</p> + +<p>'I'd like to do what mother wants me to,' said the lad, putting his arms +about her neck, and kissing her.</p> + +<p>'You're a good boy, Joseph,' said his mother.</p> + +<p>'But, you'll let me keep the pony, won't you, father?' said the lad.</p> + +<p>'Yes, my son, and if you learn well, you shall go with uncle James when +you're fifteen.'</p> + +<p>Shortly afterward we separated for the night.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3> + +<p>On a gentle knoll, a few hundred yards from the negro quarters, and in +the midst of a grove of pines, whose soft brown tassels covered the +ground all around it, stood the negro meetinghouse. It was built of +unhewn logs, its crevices chinked with clay, and was large enough to +seat about two hundred persons. Though its exterior resembled a +backwoods barn, its interior had a neat and tasteful appearance. +Evergreen boughs hid its rough beams and bare shingled roof, and long +wreaths of pine leaves hung in graceful festoons from its naked walls +and narrow windows. On the two sides of a wide aisle, which served to +separate the sheep on the right hand from the goats on the left, were +long rows of benches, with hard board bottoms, and rough open backs, and +beyond them, divided from the rest of the interior by a rustic railing, +was the 'family pew,' an enclosure about twelve feet square, neatly +carpeted, and furnished with half a dozen arm chairs. Opposite to this +was a platform elevated three steps from the floor, and on it stood a +rustic settee, a large easy chair, and a modest desk covered with green +baize, and decorated with small sprigs of evergreen. On this desk rested +a large Bible.</p> + +<p>The enormous seashell which served as a bell to this 'house of prayer,' +was sending its last blast in long echoes through the old trees, when, +with Mrs. Preston and the children, I elbowed an opening through the +thick group of grinning Africans that blocked the doorway, and 'worked a +passage' down the crowded aisle to the family enclosure. Seating myself +in one of its cane-bottomed seats, I glanced around on the assemblage. +Such a gathering of woolly heads I had never seen. Every plantation +within a circuit of five miles had sent in a representation, till the +benches, the aisle, the small area around the pulpit, and the open space +near the doorway, were all densely packed. On the left, the men, in +gaudy cravats and many-colored waistcoats, were chatting merrily +together, and enjoying themselves as heartily as a parcel of Yankees at +a clambake; and on the right, the women, in red and yellow turbans, and +flaming shawls and neckerchiefs, were bobbing about and flaunting their +colors, like so many dolphins sporting in the sunshine. Preston was +seated in the lone chair at the back of the pulpit, and Boss Joe and +Black Jack occupied the settee near him. The latter shortly rose to open +the services, and, in a moment, a deep silence fell on the noisy +multitude. The old preacher had carefully combed his thin wool into a +pyramid on the top of his head, and he looked, dressed in glossy black +pants, longtailed blue coat, ruffled shirt, and high shirt collar, like +a stuffed specimen at an exhibition of wax figures. Stepping rather +unsteadily to the front of the platform, he flourished his red cotton +bandanna, and spreading his huge claws over the large Bible, said:</p> + +<p>'Dear bred'rin, leff us begin de worship ob de Lord by singin':<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'From all dat dwell below de skies</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Leff de Creator's praise arise.''</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>A half dozen darky fiddlers at the left of the pulpit tuned their +strings, and then the whole assemblage rose and burst into that grand +old hymn. As its last echoes were dying away, Joe got up, and opening +the large Bible, read, in a clear, mellow voice, a portion of the one +hundred and nineteenth Psalm. When he had concluded, the old darky again +came forward.</p> + +<p>Gazing complacently around on the audience for a moment, he drawled out: +'My bred'rin, leff us raise our hearts to de Lord.' The whole +congregation then kneeled, and Jack, closing his eyes, clenching his +hands together, and throwing his head back, until his nose came nearly +on a line with the roof of the building, 'lifted up his voice' and +prayed.</p> + +<p>After the fashion of very many white preachers, he began by telling the +Lord all about Himself; all He had ever done, and all He is going to do; +how long He had lived, and how long He is going to live; how great He +is—'taller dan de mountin's, and bigger dan de seas.' How He made the +world in six days, and then, 'gittin' tired, rested on de sevenfh;' How +He formed man out of the dust of the ground, and then out of his rib +formed woman; how the woman tempted the man, and he fell, and how woman +has 'raised Cain' on the earth ever since. How He sent the flood, and +how Noah builded the ark; how Noah axed all the wild 'critters' into it, +and how they all came in two by two, and how Noah and the wild beasts +lay down lovingly together, till the 'wet spell' was over. How He chose +the Jews—a meaner race than the 'pore whites'—to be his peculiar +people; and how that proves His boundless love and unlimited goodness; +'fur no oder man in all creashun would hab taken <i>dem</i> folks up, no +how.' How Moses, when he came down from the Mount, 'stumbled and broke +de law; and how 'ebery one of us dat hab come inter de worle sense, hab +stumbled and broke de law, 'case he did,' How Noah, though he was a +white man, and had a white wife, begat a black son; and how that black +son was a great sinner, and how all his descendants have taken after +him, and been mighty big sinners ever since.</p> + +<p>Then he described the sinners, particularly the black sinners present; +and if half of what he said was true, every one of them deserved to be +sold 'down Soufh,' and kept on cold hominy and hoecake all the rest of +his days.</p> + +<p>The prayer was a strange mixture of absurdity, presumption, and +profanity, and I felt relieved to hear his long 'amen,' and to see Joe +rise and again approach the pulpit.</p> + +<p>Requesting some one present to raise a few of the windows (I took +occasion, afterward, to thank him for that very considerate thought), +Joe opened the Bible, and said: 'My friends, I am gwine to talk ter you +from de tex, 'An' dey drew an' lifted up Joseph out ob de pit, an' sold +Joseph to the Ishmaelites fur twenty pieces ob silver, an' dey brought +Joseph inter Egypt.'</p> + +<p>'You all knows,' he continued, 'de story ob Joseph an' his bred'rin; how +dey wus raised up by dar fader Jacob in a wile country, whar dar warn't +no schools, an' no 'telligence, an' no larnin'; and how his fader lub'd +Joseph more dan all ob his bred'rin, an' make fur him a coat ob many +colors. But p'raps you don't know dat de Lord lub Joseph a great sight +better'n his fader did, an' 'case He lub him so, dat He hardened de +hearts ob his bred'rin agin him, till dey sole him to de Ishmaelites—de +slavetraders ob dem days, to be taken down inter Egypt. An' p'raps you +don't know dat Egypt wus a great country, whar dar wus schools, an' +churches, an' great libraries ob books, an' all manner ob sciences; an' +dat Joseph wus made de lord ob all dat country, an' dat finarly he got +his fader, an' his bred'rin, an' dar wifes,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> an' all dar little ones, to +come down dar, an' stay; whar, dough de tasks war sometimes hard, an' +dey hed to 'arn dar bred by de sweat ob dar brow, dey could git +knowledge an' larnin'. An' p'raps, too, you don't know dat de chil'ren +ob Israel, who war de chil'ren ob Joseph an' his bred'rin, when dey'd +staid down dar in Egypt de 'pointed time, war taken by de Lord inter de +lan' ob Canaan, which was a lan' 'flowin' wid milk and honey;' and dat +dey war gib'n dat lan' far dar possession. Now, my friends,' and he +paused and looked around on the congregation, 'de story ob Joseph am de +story ob de brack man; <i>he</i> hab been taken out ob de pit; <i>he</i> hab been +sole fur twenty pieces ob silver; <i>he</i> hab been brought inter Egypt, +an', bless de Lord, <i>he</i> am bound fur de lan' ob Canaan.</p> + +<p>'He hab been taken out ob de pit. A pit, my friends, am a dark place, +whar de sun neber shine, an' de light neber come; an' Africa, de country +whar our faders an' our gran'faders come from—am a pit; fur de darkness +cobers dat lan', an' gross darkness de people dareof. Dey hab no +cloes—dey lib in cabins made ob clay, an' in holes in de groun'—dey +kill an' eat one anoder, an' dey'm allers at war wid one anoder. But de +white man he gwoe dar, an' he buy 'em fur twenty pieces ob +silver—dat's' zactly de price—twenty silver dollars—dey pay dat fur +'em up ter dis day—dem pore, ign'rant folks won't take nuffin' but +silver. Well, de white man buy 'em, and he fotch 'em to dis country, +which am like de lan' ob Egypt, full ob schools, ob churches, ob +larnin,' an' ob all manner ob good tings. Shore, we hab to wuck hard +har; some ob us hab to bear heaby burdens, an' to make bricks w'en dey +gib us no straw to make 'em wid; but we am in de lan' ob Egypt, whar we +hab knowledge ob de Lord; whar de gospil am preach to us, an' whar we +kin fine out de rode to de lan' ob Canaan. (To be shore, we karn't all +larn out ob de books; but book larnin' neber make a man, no how.) Yas, +my friends, yere we kin fine out de road to de lan' ob Canaan; an' do ye +know what dat lan' ob Canaan, dat'm waitin' fur de brack man, am? Do ye +'spose it am a lan' whar de days am hot, an' de nights am cole; whar +we'll hoe de cotton, an' gader de turpentine, an' cut de shingles in de +swamp? whar we'll wuck till we drop down; whar we'll hunger an' furst? +whar de fever will burn in our veins, an' de nager will rattle our bones +as de corn am rattled in de hopper? No, my friends, 'tain't no lan' like +dat! It am de habitation on high, de city builded ob de Lord, de +eberlasting kingdom founded by de Eternal God, who made heaben an' +'arth, de sea, an' all dat in dem is! Oh, tink ob dat, my friends, an' +hab courage! Tink ob dat when you'm a faint an' a weary, an' leff you' +hearts be glad, an' you' souls rejoice in hope. Fur dat lan' ain't +'spressly fur de white man—it am fur de brack man, too; an' ebery one +ob us, eben de brackest, kin git to it ef we'll jess foller der road—ef +we'll jess do our duty, bear meekly our burdens, an' lean humbly on de +arm ob de Lord. I knows it am so, my friends. I <i>knows</i> it am so, fur de +oder night, when de deep sleep fell upon me, I dreamed a dream. I fought +dar come to my cabin, an' stood aside ob my bed, a great white angel, +wid feet dat touch de 'arth, but wid head dat reach unto de heabens. He +wore raiment shinin' like silver, an' on his head wus a girdle ob stars. +His face wus dazzlin' as de sun, an' his eyes war like flamin' fire. He +look at me, an' he say: 'Joseph, come up hither!' He reach out his hand +an' he lift me up—above de 'arth—above de clouds—above de stars—'way +up to de high heabens, whar am de sperrits ob just men made perfect, who +hab been redeemed from among men, who hab gone fru great tribulation, +whose garments hab been washed clean in de blood ob de Lamb! 'Dis,' he +say, 'am de city ob de livin' God, de heabenly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> Jerusalem, whose +foundations am saffomires, whose walls am silver, whose streets am gold, +whose houses am jewels an' all precious stones! Here de sun neber sets. +Here de storm an' de hurricane neber come, an' here, Joseph, am a +dwellin' prepared fur you—'here, ef you'm faithful an' 'bedient, you +shill come when you' wuck on de 'arth am ober!'</p> + +<p>The speaker had been gradually warming with his subject till he uttered +this last sentence, when his voice trembled, his face glowed, and his +upturned eye seemed gazing on the ineffable glories of the land he was +describing. A stillness like that of death fell on the assemblage, and +the simple blacks, hanging breathlessly on his words, looked up to where +Joe's hand was pointing, as if they too had caught the vision on which +his eyes were feasting. In a moment, he continued:</p> + +<p>'I looked round, an' I saw dat beautiful city; I breafed its air; I +walked its streets; I hard its music—de neber endin' song which its +countless people send up to de throne ob de Great Father; an' I say to +de angel: 'Do brack folks lib yere? Kin <i>dey</i> come to dis beautiful +country?' an' he say: You shill see.' Den he lead me fru dose shinin' +streets, out inter de open fiel's whar war pleasant pastures, greener +dan any on de 'arth, an' still waters, dat sparkle in de sun, jess like +missus' diamonds in de light ob de fire.' (I did not know that Mrs. +Preston wore diamonds—she certainly had not worn them in my presence.) +'He lead me out till we come to a great woods, whar fount'ins war +playin', an' birds war singin', an' flowers war growin', an' de air wus +full of fragrance; an' dar I seed a great crowd ob people gadered +togeder, a listenin' to one dat wus a talkin' to 'em. Dar wus Ab'ram, +an' Isaac, an' Jacob,—dar wus Moses, an' Joseph, au' Samuel—dar wus +David, an' Solomon, an' de prophets—dar wus Paul, an' John, an' +Peter,—dar wus 'most all de great an' good men who hab libed in de +worle; an' dar too, right aside ob de one dat wus speakin', wus de +blessed Saviour, wid de woun' in his side, an' de print ob de nails in +his hands. An' who do you tink wus a talkin' dar, to all dem great +people? Who do you tink wus fought good 'nuff to stan' by de side ob de +blessed Saviour? It wus a brack man! It wus a brack man, who, down yere +had been ole, an' lame, an' blind, an' ob no account—so no account he +wouldn't sell fur nuffin'. He wus tellin' dem great folks ob de great +lub ob de Lord to him, an' dar tears rolled down as dey hard him. He +tole 'em how he use to lib in Car'lina—how he wus a slave; how he'd +'most nuffin' to eat; how he wus wucked in de swamp; how, 'fore de sun +rose, an' 'way inter de night, he use to stan' in de mud an' de water, +till his bones war sore, his heart wus weary, his soul wus faint. How +his massa flog him, 'cause he couldn't wuck no more, till de blood run +down his back, an' it wus a ridged like de ploughed groun'. How his wife +wus whipped to death afore his bery eyes; how his chil'ren—all 'cept +one—war sole 'way from him; how dat one 'bused him, an' flogged him, +an' tormented him, till he wus jess ready to die. How, when his hair wus +white, his body wus bent, his strength wus gone, an' he was ole, an' +lame, an' blind, his massa drove him 'way, and make him shirk fur +himseff. How he beg in de roads; how he sleep in de woods; in de cole +an' de rain, till a good gemman take him in, gib him a bed, tend to his +wants, an' pray ober him when he die. He tole 'em all dat; but he say +dat fru it all, he hab peace; fru it all, de Lord wus good to him; fru +it all, he felt His lub in his heart; fru it all, de blessed Redeemer +wus wid him; fru it all, he knowed dat mercy an' salvation am in de +heabens! An' <span class="smcap">DEY AM DAR</span>! Dey took him 'way, 'way from de 'arth; 'way +from his suffrin's an' his sorrers down yere, to joy, an' peace, an' +rest up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> dar. Up dar, whar all great an' good men call him brudder—whar +de Lord Jehobah call him son, an' whar de blessed Saviour will leff him +stan' at his right hand, foreber and eber. An' he, my friends, wus a +<span class="smcap">BRACK MAN</span>! An' who do you 'spose he wus? Who do you 'spose he wus?'</p> + +<p>He paused for a moment as he repeated the question, and then, in a slow, +impressive manner, continued:</p> + +<p>'It wus ole Cale—Cunnel Dawsey's Cale; an' dat good gemman dat take him +in and pray ober him when he die—wus <i>my</i> master—yas, bless de Lord, +he wus <span class="smcap">MY</span> master!'</p> + +<p>As Joe uttered these last words, Preston bowed his head, his wife sobbed +aloud, and the black people gave out a low cry, as sad as the wail which +their own mourners breathe over the dead. Fixing his eyes on a tall, +stalwart negro in the audience, the preacher continued:</p> + +<p>'An' he wus <i>you</i>' fader, Jake! You fader, who, when he wus down yere, +you 'bused, an' persecuted, an' treated like a dog, but who up dar am +fought worthy to stand at de Saviour's right hand! I <i>knows</i> it wus him, +fur I seed him, I talked wid him, an' he gabe me suffin' to tell you. +Stand up now, an' yere what he hab to say.'</p> + +<p>The black man's face assumed a dogged expression; he moved uneasily on +his seat, but showed no inclination to rise. In a firm, imperious tone, +Joe again called out to him:</p> + +<p>'Stand up, I say! Folks like you' fader am now, don't talk to sech as +you when dey'm sittin' down: stand up, or I'll gib you what Cunnel +Dawsey neber gabe you in all you' life.'</p> + +<p>The negro reluctantly rose. Every eye was fixed upon him as Joe +continued:</p> + +<p>'He ax me to say to you, Jake, dat he lubs you—lubs you bery much—dat +he fully an' freely furgibs you fur all de wrong you eber done him; fur +all de tears an' de sorrer you eber cause him. And he say to me: 'Tell +Jake dat I'se been down dar an' seed him. I'se seed how he shirk his +wuck; how he 'buse his wife an' chil'ren; how he hate his massa, an' +mean to kill him—(dough his massa am hard on him, 'tain't no 'scuse fur +dat). How he swar, an' lie, an' steal, an' teach all de oder brack folks +to do de same. How he'm no fought ob his soul; no fought ob dyin'; no +fought ob whar he'm gwine when de Lord's patience am clean worn out wid +him. Tell him dat ef he gwo on dis way, he'll neber see his ole fader no +more; neber see his ole mudder, an' his little brudders, who am up yere, +too, no more; neber come to dis fine country, but be shet out inter +outer darkness, whar am weepin' an' wailin' an' knashin' ob teeth. Oh! +tell him dis, an 'treat him, by all his fader's keer fur him when he wus +a chile; by all his lub fur him now; by all de goodness ob de Lord, who +hab borne wid him fru all dese long years, to turn round—to turn round, +<span class="smcap">NOW</span>, an' sot his face towards dis blessed country, whar he kin hab joy +foreber! Tell him, too, dat ef he'll do dis, dat his ole fader'll leab +his happy home an' come down dar an' holp him; holp him at his wuck; +holp him to bar ebery load; gib him strength when he'm weak; hole up his +feet when he'm weary; watch ober him day and night, all de time, till +he'm ready to come up yere, an' lib wid de Saviour foreber! Tell him—'</p> + +<p>Joe paused, for a wild cry echoed through the building, and the negro +fell in strong convulsions to the floor.</p> + +<p>A scene of indescribable excitement and confusion followed, during which +the black was carried out, and, more dead than alive, laid upon the +ground. When quiet was somewhat restored, Preston made a short and +feeling prayer, and then, after giving out a hymn, he dismissed the +congregation with the usual benediction.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> 'Scrape' is the turpentine gathered from the face of the +pine. On old trees, the yearly incision is made high above the boxes, +and the sap, in flowing down, passes over and adheres to the previously +scarified surface. It is thus exposed to the sun, which evaporates the +more volatile and valuable portion, and leaves only the hard, which, +when manufactured, is mostly rosin. 'Scrape' turpentine is only about +half as valuable as 'dip.'</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> "Virgin" Turpentine is twice as valuable as "Dip."</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_CONSEQUENCES_OF_THE_REBELLION" id="THE_CONSEQUENCES_OF_THE_REBELLION"></a>THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE REBELLION.</h2> + +<h3>II.</h3> + + +<p>The sturdy oak which is not prostrated by the storm that assails it is +made thereby to take deeper hold, and to draw the sustenance for a +larger growth from the torn and loosened soil into which it has +opportunity to thrust new roots and tendrils. Reinvigorated by the +resisted violence, its branches shoot upward to the skies and extend +themselves laterally with majestic breadth. It gradually gains strength +and becomes so firmly rooted in its place that it bids defiance to the +repeated tempests vainly striving to overthrow it, and stands for +centuries, sublime in its unconquerable might and proud endurance. Our +noble Union, fiercely assailed in its early maturity, before its +strength has been fully developed, now bends before the hurricane of +civil war, swaying to and fro with fearful and threatening movements at +every paroxysm of the tremendous blast. We look on with intense agony of +suspense, to see whether it will stand the terrible ordeal, and outlive +the unexampled convulsion of social elements in which its strength and +endurance have been so sorely tested. Instinctively we know that if it +survive the present momentous crisis, successfully resisting the attack +of the enemy which assails it so furiously, its foundations will be +immensely strengthened, and its power of resistance in future dangers +will be indefinitely augmented. Prolonged and permanent existence, with +assured security and repose, will be the best and most indisputable +result of its triumph. Though shaken and torn by the deadly assault, and +to a certain extent deprived of its usual resources, in the very effort +of resistance it will have put forth new connections, which returning +peace will multiply and strengthen. The immense demand on its energy and +enterprise will have aroused all its slumbering capacities and +stimulated them to the highest point of exertion. Under the necessity of +self-preservation, the nation will have been fully awakened to a sense +of its gigantic power, which, when employed in the benign pursuits of +peace, will be sufficient speedily to restore its prosperity to even +more than former splendor. The resources of our broad domain are so +unbounded, and the courage and persistence of our people so indomitable, +that even the sacrifices and losses of so great a war will make no +serious impression on the destined career of this youthful and growing +nation. So long as the vigor and elasticity of the popular force is not +absolutely overpowered and suppressed, the reaction will only be so much +the stronger for all the mighty pressure which has been placed upon it. +Returning strength, so invigorated and redoubled by repose, will enable +the people to bear the burden patiently, and within a comparatively +brief period to throw it off entirely; and then they will bound forward +with renewed energy in that race of unexampled progress which has been +sadly interrupted, but not by any means wholly arrested.</p> + +<p>If peace had continued, and especially if no civil war had occurred to +desolate our country, the labors of the population would have been +directed chiefly to the increase of wealth, and to the improvement which +always accompanies material prosperity. It would be a monstrous error to +say that the interruption of these occupations has not been a calamity +of the most serious character. Yet is it not altogether unmixed with +good. Indeed, it is by no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> means certain that, in the circumstances +which gave rise to the war, there was not an actual necessity, of a +moral nature, which made it on the whole advantageous to arouse the +nation to this gigantic strife, and thus to exchange its ordinary +struggle for wealth into a combat for a momentous principle. Is it +questionable whether, in every case, the establishment of such a +principle is not the most important of all objects, and whether every +other pursuit and occupation ought not to be made secondary to it? In +the sacrifices and sufferings which a nation undergoes for the sake of +asserting an important moral or political truth, there is always a +wholesome virtue that in some measure redeems the brutality and violence +which are the inseparable accompaniments of all wars, and which +peculiarly characterize the history of civil wars, in every age and +country. It is not merely the elevated and unselfish sentiment of +patriotism, as known in former ages, and expressed in the noble +sentiment, <i>dulce et decorum est pro patria mori</i>, which, engenders +lofty impulses and nourishes the rugged virtues of the soldier in the +heart; but the still higher sentiment of love for humanity and universal +freedom—a sentiment wholly unknown in what are called the heroic +ages—sanctifies the labors, the wounds, and the glorious death of the +martyrs who struggle and fall in such a contest. Men have often fought +and willingly died in the cause of their country, regardless of the +merits of the controversy between the opposing parties. There is a +certain manliness and devotion to others in this species of patriotism, +which commands respect and admiration; and this feeling of approbation +rises still higher when the cause of the nation is undeniably just, and +the self-sacrificing patriot is giving his life for the purchase of +liberty to his country. But the highest and noblest of all exhibitions +is that in which the sacrifice is made for the good of the race—for +principles in which all men are alike interested, and in which the +martyr can claim no peculiar advantage to himself or to his own branch +of the human family. The nation which accepts war for such a cause, and +wages it with all her means and energies, exhibits a moral grandeur +which, in spite of misfortune, has a saving power, capable of overcoming +and compensating all calamities, of whatever nature and extent. That +nation cannot be overthrown—not unless the laws of the Most High +himself can be subverted, and the right be made permanently to succumb +to the wrong. Let it be understood, however, that this assertion is made +only with reference to wars which are essentially defensive; for no +nation has the right to propagate even the best and noblest principles +by the power of the sword. In our case, it is true, other motives concur +in moving the nation to this tremendous struggle. Not merely the rights +and interests of an inferior, degraded, and suffering race appeal to our +humanity; but the unity and greatness of our country, its influence +abroad, and its success and prosperity at home, are all involved. It is +one of many instances in which the best and highest impulses of our +nature are reënforced by the dictates of the noblest and most elevated +of human interests—the interests of a nation, of a continent, yea, of +the world itself; for our gates are still open to the ingress of our +brothers from abroad, and our immense and fertile domain, as well as our +priceless institutions, are freely offered to their participation.</p> + +<p>But, aside from the principles involved in the war, there are results of +an interesting character springing from it, which are well worthy the +attention of the statesman and the patriot. Two very opposite effects +are produced on the minds of the men engaged in such a contest as this, +or, indeed, in any contest of arms whatever, when it assumes the +proportions of a regular war. The volunteering of our young men of all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +classes, in numbers so immense, is an extraordinary phenomenon. These +soldiers by choice, many of them educated and intelligent, and impelled +by deliberate considerations of principle, willingly undergo the hard +labor of military training, of marches and campaigns, and the still more +trying inactivity of life in camps and fortresses, in new and unfriendly +regions and climates. They fearlessly face death in every ghastly form, +on the battle field, by exposure in all seasons, by physical exhaustion, +and by the most dreadful contagious diseases. They devote themselves +unreservedly to the great cause, and in doing so exhibit the noblest +spirit of self-sacrifice, and that on the grandest scale presented in +history. Fortitude and courage, contempt of the most appalling dangers, +disregard of suffering and privation, wounds, mutilation, and lingering +death—these are the habits of soul which our citizen soldiers +cultivate, and which tend to strengthen and harden the character, and to +give it great moral force. The great qualities thus nurtured in the +bosom of the multitudes destined soon to return to peaceful life will +assuredly make a powerful impression on the whole society, which must be +thoroughly pervaded with the manly virtues thence destined to be infused +into it. Every man who has been conspicuous for his soldierly conduct +and for the faithful performance of duty will be an object of general +respect, though he may have passed unscathed through the fiery ordeal; +while every maimed and wounded citizen will be regarded as bearing on +his person, in his honorable scars and deficient limbs, the decorations +which exalt and ennoble him in the eyes of his countrymen. Many a +chivalrous deed will be recounted with pride and satisfaction, and +handed down to immortality by the pen of history and poetry, and by the +pencil and chisel of art. Even the undistinguished services of those who +have fought in the war for the Union, and who have passed unchallenged +through the fiery ordeal, will be cherished by their children, and +transmitted to their remoter posterity with patriotic pride and +pardonable self-satisfaction. Thus the glory of noble deeds in this +memorable war will everywhere shed its lustre on the national character, +and will tend to stimulate the loftiest virtues in the present and +succeeding generations.</p> + +<p>But, on the other hand, the unavoidable dissipation of military life, +the vices of the camp, the brutality and want of moral sensibility +engendered by the necessity of slaughter and the horrible ravages of +war, will tend largely to counteract the good results already noted. +Those who may be nobly disdainful of their own sufferings, will +sometimes be even more regardless of the sufferings of others; and +perhaps sometimes, with the natural perversion of human passion effected +by civil war, will seek to avenge their own misfortunes by ungenerous +rigor and cruelty toward all within their power, suspected of favoring +the enemy only in thought or sentiment. Even this imperfect +discrimination is too often altogether omitted, and innocent loyalty is +made to suffer losses and severities which ought never to be visited on +non-combatants, even though they be of the enemy. The fearful disregard +of human life, and of the accumulations of human labor in the shape of +property, which marks the movements of our armies in almost all +quarters, and even distinguishes the conduct of some of our high +officials, constitutes one of the most serious evils which attend the +contest, and which will leave their natural consequences as a permanent +injury to the nation. The record of these misdeeds, now disregarded in +the hurry and excitement of the conflict, will hereafter confront us +with terrible effect. The bad acts themselves will long continue to bear +fruit after their kind, and to scatter the seeds of vice over the land. +Such drawbacks, however, accompany more or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> less all great military +operations, no matter how sacred the cause in which armies are engaged. +Yet, we fear, no such example of generous and unselfish devotion to a +holy cause can be found in our present experience as was exhibited by +the French people in their violent and bloody revolution of 1789. The +mercenary spirit has largely infected the military as well as the civil +agencies of our Government. But a people struggling for great principles +are compelled to use such instruments as may be at its command; and if +the material of armies and their connections in civil life be often of a +character to be degraded rather than elevated by the employments and +experiences of war, it is nevertheless certain that these bad effects do +not always, perhaps not generally, outweigh and overpower the good.</p> + +<p>History does not present another example of large armies made up of such +men as those who now constitute the defenders of the Union. For +intelligence and moral worth, they are unsurpassed by the masses of any +population in the civilized world, and certainly they are far superior +in all respects to those usually constituting the armies of other +nations. To our shame and regret, there are certainly some exceptions to +this statement; but these are comparatively few, and mostly confined to +those who have not enjoyed the full advantage of our noble system of +universal education. In many instances, the best young men in the land +have gone into the army as privates; while in the rural districts and +from the Western States, the very bone and sinew of the population—the +sober, steady, intelligent, industrious, and prosperous part of the +people—have taken up arms in the cause of the Union, from a deliberate +approval of the policy of the war on our part, and from the noblest and +most unselfish motives of patriotism. The preponderance of such men in +our armies evidently makes them, on the whole, susceptible to the good, +rather than to the bad influences of war. Reflection, self-respect, +rational views of the causes and objects of the war, and elevated +motives of action, cannot fail to bring those who possess these +qualities all the benefits of self-denial, of patriotic labor willingly +expended, and of sacrifices made and sufferings endured in a good and +noble cause. The mental cultivation and moral training of the American +citizen constitute a shield, from whose solid and polished surface the +missiles of temptation, which easily penetrate other defences, usually +glance or rebound with harmless effect. The carnage of the battle field, +the bombardment and capture of cities, and the ravages of armies, +marching or in camp, which too often harden the hearts and blunt the +sensibilities of the ordinary soldier, have no such effect, or, at +least, a much less effect, in this particular, on the minds of humane +and educated men. Hence we may fairly anticipate that the influence of +this war on the men who compose the army, and who must sooner or later +return to the occupations they have temporarily left, will be of a far +better character than that of any war ever hitherto waged in any part of +the world. No such conditions have ever heretofore existed in reference +to any great national contest. Our immense volunteer army, so largely +composed of intelligent and respectable men—men who are fully capable, +and entitled by their votes, to influence the great measures of war or +peace—presents a spectacle new and wholly unexampled in history; and +the consequences of our contest to the moral and social condition of the +people will be correspondingly unusual and important. We may safely +assume from these considerations that the good will preponderate over +the bad.</p> + +<p>There is, however, another species of influence of a more questionable +character, which is worthy of consideration in any attempt to anticipate +the conse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>quences of this extraordinary rebellion. The nature of our +institutions renders them accessible to popular impulses at very brief +intervals of time; and it may well be expected, that, after the +conclusion of the war, especially if it be successful, a sentiment +nearly universal will prevail in favor of the elevation of the men who +have been conspicuous in the military service. There will be a +disposition to reward the successful soldier with civic honors, and to +place the conduct of the Government in the hands of men who have +exhibited only a capacity to lead and handle armies. The power of the +military men will in this way be prolonged. Doubtless, a great soldier +may be expected to show large executive abilities, and with proper +experience may well be intrusted with the management of the highest +offices in our country. There are times and occasions, of which the +present is a most memorable instance, when the peculiar capacities of a +great military leader would be of infinite service to the cause of +freedom and humanity, provided, at the same time, he should possess +undoubted integrity and patriotism, without any mixture of bad ambition. +A Washington, or a Jackson, in the Presidential chair at the +commencement of this rebellion, would have been of inestimable value to +our country, outweighing the importance of mighty armies and countless +treasure; for the value both of men and money, in such emergencies, +depends wholly on the skill and wisdom with which they are used and +directed. If God had vouchsafed us one grand will to control the human +tempest now raging around us, our noble country would have been saved +from many calamities and much disgrace, such as will require hard labor +and heavy sacrifices to overcome.</p> + +<p>It is not, therefore, the probability that military men may frequently +be elevated to high office that need give any apprehension to the lover +of his country. But it is the almost certain prevalence of a blind and +undistinguishing sentiment of caste, which will seek to control the +elections in favor of the soldier under all circumstances, whether fit +or unfit for the position sought. We are likely to have soldiers in all +the executive offices, soldiers in the diplomatic service, in the +legislative halls, and even on the bench. The danger is that the popular +enthusiasm in favor of those who have served in the war will go to the +extent of substituting gallantry and good conduct in the field for those +very different qualifications demanded in responsible civil stations. A +wound received, or a limb lost, will, in many instances, constitute a +stronger recommendation for political preferment than long experience, +coupled with ability and high character. This disposition to reward +those who have faithfully served the country in time of war is an +amiable characteristic of the American people, and proves that, in this +particular at least, republics are not ungrateful. But it is clear, at +the same time, that the public gratitude, thus turned into political +channels, may be productive of great evil, by lowering the character of +the men employed in performing public functions of importance. Already +the results of our elective system have become the subject of intense +anxiety in the minds of reflecting men. Notwithstanding the extensive +provision made for the education of our people, of the universality and +efficiency of which we justly boast, an almost equal extension of the +elective franchise has not tended to improve the wisdom of the popular +choice, or the character and qualifications of the men selected in +latter times to fill high public offices. So seriously is this truth +felt, that it is now a political problem of the first importance to +devise some means by which the frequent elections in our country may be +made to work more certainly and uniformly to the elevation of good and +able men, who now too often shun rather than seek employ<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>ment in the +national service. If this indispensable improvement cannot be +accomplished, our institutions are in danger of falling into contempt, +as exhibiting no very great advance on the old modes of hereditary +designation of political functionaries. The party machinery of the +present day, adapted chiefly to the purpose of availability and the +means of securing success at all hazards, is mostly responsible for the +degeneracy which unquestionably characterizes the public men of this +day, in comparison with those who in former times filled the same high +stations. In view of these facts, it may be that the military regime +about to be ushered in as a consequence of the great existing war, will +of itself be an improvement, since it must be acknowledged there is some +merit in the devotion and sacrifices of those who fight the battles of +the Union, while it is notorious that corrupt political parties too +frequently select and reward their leaders without regard to merit at +all.</p> + +<p>It may be said that there is inconsistency and contradiction in the +views presented, inasmuch as the claim for remarkable intelligence and +superiority in the rank and file of the army would imply too much +patriotism and self-sacrifice to admit of the consequences suggested. +But we must remember the immense numbers of our army, its large +proportion to the whole population, the <i>esprit de corps</i> so naturally +engendered in such a body, and the powerful influence it may wield by +turning the scale in our inveterate and often nicely balanced partisan +contests. We must also take into consideration that well known principle +of human nature, as old as government itself, which seems to impel all +men possessing irresponsible power to abuse it, and employ it for their +own selfish advantage. This is peculiarly the case with <i>classes</i> which +gain ascendency, as such, over the other parts of the community. +Political parties in our country will surely not fail to seek alliance +with the citizen soldiers at the close of the war, and to secure success +by all the arts and devices which can be made available to that end. But +let us hope the good sense and patriotism of our young men, their +moderation and self-control, will be as conspicuous in future political +campaigns, as in those more glorious ones which are yet destined to +overthrow our enemies and restore our inestimable Union to its former +greatness.</p> + +<p>But it is not our purpose to confine these remarks to the loyal States +and the Union armies; nor is it at all paradoxical to extend them to the +region and the population controlled by the rebel government. Every good +citizen, having confidence in the supremacy of right and the destiny of +our country, anticipates the reunion of the States at the conclusion of +the war. The bulk of the Southern army must likewise return to society, +and carry with it such influence as it may derive from the peculiar +character of its cause, the motives by which it is animated, and the +acts, good or bad, noble or mean, which it may perform. It cannot be +denied that the soldiers of the rebel army have exhibited the highest +personal qualities, of daring courage, skilful enterprise, patient +endurance, and the most indomitable perseverance, under difficulties +apparently insuperable. Their cause is bad. The impartial judgment of +mankind will pronounce it so, when the passions of the hour shall have +completely subsided. But the masses of the Southern people evidently do +not take this view of the war they are waging against the Government +which has so long protected them, and under which they have acquired all +the strength they are now ungratefully using to overthrow it. They have +been artfully misled into the belief that they are engaged in a war +altogether defensive—that they are fighting <i>pro aris et focis</i>—in +short, that they have given themselves up to the holiest work which any +people can ever be called on to un<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>dertake. Doubtless, in frequent +instances, and sometimes among considerable populations, different +sentiments prevail and have been entertained from the beginning. A +glimmering of the truth may occasionally dawn on the minds of those who +went into the contest with entire confidence in the justice of their +cause. But on the whole it is vain to deny the sincerity and the deep +convictions of the Southern people. Nothing less than these could have +sustained them in the appalling difficulties of their position. No +people ever conducted a more brilliant and successful defensive war +against the vast odds, on land and sea, with which they have had to +contend. Let us be sufficiently magnanimous to confess the truth, +unpleasant though it be, and acknowledge that they have hitherto +outmanaged us in the general conduct of the war. They have exhibited an +earnestness and determination, a gallantry and devotion, worthy of the +highest purposes that ever call forth the energy of struggling nations. +It is vain to say they are compelled by a military despotism; for, +however strong and arbitrary their government may be, it evidently rests +upon the support of the people, and it could never continue the present +contest against popular disaffection at home joined with the mighty +invading armies of the Union.</p> + +<p>What then are to be the results of great efforts and sacrifices in a +cause which, though we believe it to be bad, they consider holy? Are +their chivalrous deeds to be less ennobling to the character of Southern +men, than similar ones, springing from like motives, on the part of our +armies? It is the motive which gives character to all actions, and +mistake or error of the most perverse kind, when arising from honest +conviction, cannot alter the merit of what is done or suffered. If it be +said that the assumed convictions of the Southern people are incredible, +it is only necessary to look back a few centuries, in order to see the +whole Christian world entertaining sentiments equally abhorrent to the +enlightened conscience of the present day. The universal participation +in the slave trade, and the horrible persecutions for religious heresy, +which everywhere prevailed, are sad evidences of the possibility of +indulging the most disastrous errors with perfect sincerity. Besides, if +we consider how great a diversity of opinion prevails among the people +of the loyal States, on the subject of the rebellion and its causes, it +will require no great degree of credulity to induce the belief that the +Southern people are impelled by deep convictions in their present +struggle.</p> + +<p>Failure and defeat on their part will cast the usual discredit on the +cause which is overthrown; and in this case we do not entertain a doubt +that ultimately the right will prevail, and that the discomfiture and +disgrace will fall where justice would require. Men will be deeply +mortified to find themselves utterly overcome, and all their brave deeds +and their magnanimous sacrifices and sufferings expended in a failing +and a bad cause. It will be their great misfortune that serious +reflection and conviction should come to them only after these great +events, and when it is too late to recall them. But it is the peculiar +characteristic of contests like this, that they do eventually make clear +the subjects of dispute in which they originate. All the wranglings of +politicians, and all the learning and logic of contending theologians in +divided churches, could never accomplish the speedy and thorough +decision of contested questions which will follow this tremendous war. +Bold and extra-constitutional expedients necessarily grow out of the +prevailing violence. They will soon test the possibility of measures +which are too great for ordinary times, and will push the existing +tendencies toward fundamental change into sudden and premature +development.</p> + +<p>Physical strength and success in war are by no means fair tests of truth +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> principle; but in the present contest, such is the condition of our +country and the character of its relations with the civilized world +that, if the Union shall be restored to its former integrity, the result +will give strong evidence of the righteousness of our cause. Such are +the temptations to foreign interference, and such the evident +disposition of the ruling dynasties in some powerful nations to destroy +the influence and example of this great republic, as well as to break +down her rivalry in commerce and manufactures, that nothing but a holy +cause, appealing to the moral sense of mankind, could prevent the +natural alliance between despotism abroad and the kindred system in the +South which seeks to establish its tyranny on the ruins of our +Government. Besides, the diverging systems of policy in the two sections +have carried on their struggle for more than a quarter of a century, +under conditions which make it demonstrable that their present +inequality of strength and means is the direct consequence of these +divergencies. Their long-continued emulation, passing through all the +stages of envy, hatred, and political contention, has finally culminated +in bloody civil war; and from the peculiar circumstances of the case, +the termination of the contest, if the parties be left to themselves, +will fully and fairly test the physical strength and moral force of the +contending principles. The better principle, by virtue of its superior +growth, will overthrow the worse and weaker one, which has relatively +declined in power throughout all the long contest between the two. +Enlightened convictions will grow up as the mighty conflict subsides; +and institutions will be modified in conformity with the truths which +are destined to appear through the blaze and smoke of battle.</p> + +<p>Heaven forbid that we should confound moral distinctions, and place +treason and rebellion on the same footing with patriotic devotion to the +cause of Union and liberty. Political and moral errors, however innocent +in intention, stand on the same footing, as to their consequences, with +all other violations of natural law. They bring retribution inevitable; +nor can the blind and ignorant partisan of wrong entirely escape the +shame of his misconduct, on the ground of erroneous judgment. But let us +not arrogate to ourselves a superiority of virtue, which in reality we +have no just right to claim. Are we sure that, even on our side, which +we consider that of truth and humanity, all our individual motives are +up to the level of the great principles involved? Are we not rather, to +some extent, the blind instruments of social causes, stronger than our +own will, and while seeming to follow the inclination of our own +enlightened minds, are we not impelled by passion and ambition in the +inevitable direction indicated, and even necessitated, by the +circumstances surrounding us? Are not similar influences operating on +the Southern mind, and forcing it, with a compulsion equally inexorable, +into the fatal current of civil war? With the masses on both sides, this +is undoubtedly true. Whole communities do not engage in such disastrous +strife in mere wantonness and wicked advocacy of a bad cause. Either +their judgment is distorted, or their passions aroused to such an extent +as to render them utterly blind to the true nature of the principles +involved, and to make them believe they are acting, under the strongest +provocation, for the defence of their honor, their interests, and their +acknowledged rights. Every liberal mind will readily concede the +existence of these sentiments and motives.</p> + +<p>But suppose the war ended by the overthrow of the rebellion and the +restoration of the Federal authority: what is to be the effect in those +States which have been the theatre of the great conspiracy, whence have +issued all the mighty armies which have assailed so fiercely the +Constitution and Govern<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span>ment of our fathers? Will the men who have shed +their blood freely to destroy the Union ever again be brought to sustain +it with sincerity and zeal? Can they be expected to acknowledge their +profound error, and receive again heartily to their affections and +willing obedience the authority which they have so haughtily spurned and +sought to smite with utter destruction? This is a momentous question. It +is the most important which can be presented to the country at the +moment of its anticipated triumph, when the fearful clash of arms is +about to subside and give place to the serious labor of conciliation and +reconstruction. To conquer the rebellion will be, at least, to make all +its aims utterly hopeless. Failure and disaster will be forever stamped +upon the ideas on which the revolution has been founded, and they, with +their inspiration, good or bad, will be permanently overthrown, together +with the men who have used them so efficiently for the inauguration and +continuance of this tremendous strife. There is wonderful power in the +success of an idea, as there is a corresponding influence in the utter +overthrow of its physical manifestations and efforts. A cause rendered +hopeless by defeat ceases to sustain the passions which it has excited, +under the influence of which it has made itself respectable and +powerful. If it be founded in truth and right, it will have within +itself the elements of resuscitation, and it can never become altogether +hopeless. But if it have no such basis of substantial truth, its failure +once is for all time. The hearts of men cannot long cling to such a +cause. Its traditions even become odious, and the effort will be to +ignore and forget its incidents, and to escape the discredit of having +participated in its ambitious struggles.</p> + +<p>But to conquer the rebellion is not to subjugate the South. This is a +distinction of the utmost importance in attempting to estimate the +consequences of the great struggle. So far from the subjugation of the +Southern people resulting, in any contingency, the success of the Union +arms must be their regeneration and redemption. To overthrow the +confederate government will be only to relieve the people from its +grasp, and to reinstate them in the rights and liberties which they have +hitherto enjoyed. A combination of force, fraud, and self-delusion has +sustained the power of the rebel dynasty, and enabled it to wield the +influence and authority of the whole people of the seceding States, with +some few remarkable exceptions. To break up this combination will do +more than merely defeat a hostile power: it will, in effect, annihilate +the whole vicious organization, and leave its elements free to engage in +other combinations, more in accordance with right, and better calculated +to secure success and prosperity. It is not unreasonable to anticipate +that they will eventually resume their former relations with the Federal +Government, as most conducive to these ends. There are some men, perhaps +one whole class, who can never escape the responsibility of all the +overwhelming evils and calamities which the war has brought upon the +South. The cordial acquiescence of these can hardly be anticipated; but +their power will be completely destroyed, and the people may well be +expected to disregard their murmurs and complaints. Indeed, it is not +altogether unlikely that an injured and exasperated people may turn on +the authors of their ruin, and wreak upon them a fearful vengeance, so +far, at least, as to ostracize and banish them forever from the land +they have blighted and destroyed. The masses of the people, holding few +or no slaves, though involved in the war by force of the general +delusion into which they have been artfully inveigled, will not consider +themselves responsible for its consequences; they will rather look on +themselves as the victims of designing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> men, who, for selfish purposes, +have partly seduced and partly impelled them into the perils and +disasters of a gigantic but fruitless rebellion. This state of feeling +will leave the minds of the Southern people in a condition to estimate +fairly their own relations to the rebellion, and their obligations to +the Union, which again calls them, with paternal tenderness, to its +generous confidence and magnanimous protection. They will have no cause +for apprehension that their restoration to good fellowship and perfect +equality will not be complete and free from all unfriendly reservations.</p> + +<p>But this influence will not operate on those alone who have few or no +slaves, comprehending the great mass of whites: it will exert itself +more notably on the large body of slaves themselves. This is an element +in the calculation which, humble though it be, cannot be overlooked +without great error in the results. A fundamental change will take place +in the condition of the blacks. They will be emancipated, either +gradually and safely, or with violent precipitation, with all its evils +and disasters. Yet, however the decree may come, whether by the sudden +blow of military power, or by the free and cheerful coöperation of the +States and their people, the measure itself will be plainly the result +of the rebellion, as met by the firm and noble stand assumed by the +Federal Government, and maintained at so great a cost of treasure and of +precious lives. The Government which, out of civil war and chaotic +strife, brings such advantages—out of calamity and danger educes such +blessings of security and progress will be entitled to the unbounded +gratitude of those who will be the chief gainers by its policy. But +experience will soon teach the whites that they will be equal gainers in +the end; and, in time, we may justly expect not only their cheerful +acquiescence, but their renewed allegiance and ardent support to the +Federal authorities.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MOTTOES_FOR_CONTRACTORS" id="MOTTOES_FOR_CONTRACTORS"></a>MOTTOES FOR CONTRACTORS.</h2> + +<div class="cpoem"> +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">When you contract for boots and shoes,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Be not contracted in your views.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">When you agree to clothe the body,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Expand your soul and flee from shoddy.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">No soul the difference can see</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'Twixt chico-rye and chicoree.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'Tis wise to feed the soldier well:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">For reason <i>why</i>—see Dante's 'Hell.'</span></p> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="SUNSHINE_IN_THOUGHT3" id="SUNSHINE_IN_THOUGHT3"></a>SUNSHINE IN THOUGHT.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></h2> + + +<p>The genial pen of Mr. Leland has found an attractive theme in the title +of this curious and suggestive volume. Without the formality of an +inexorable system, it is written from the impulses of a large and +sympathetic nature, more accustomed to the acute observation of details +than to exact and rigid generalizations, but sending free and +penetrating glances beneath the surface of social life, and presenting a +variety of sagacious hints and comments, often admirable for their +quaint, original illustrations, and seldom destitute of an important +ethical bearing and significance.</p> + +<p>In the composition of this work, Mr. Leland has aimed at the defence of +that view of life which combines a cheerful earnestness of purpose with +manly energy of action, as opposed to the melancholic, whining, +lachrymose spirit, which has been affected by certain popular modern +poets, and, through their vicious example, has been cherished as one of +the essential qualities of genius. Of this style of character Mr. Leland +has not the slightest degree of tolerance. Its manifestations are all +abominable in his eyes, and unsavory in his nostrils. He cannot endure +its presence; he regards its exercise as a nuisance: its permission in +the plan of a kindly Providence is a mystery.</p> + +<p>The influence of a morbid melancholy, whether affected or genuine, in +the literature of the United States, is justly a matter of surprise and +lamentation with the author. The American mind, as he remarks, has +doubtless a strong tendency to humor. It delights in the expression of a +mischievous irony or good-natured sarcasm. The querulous wailings which +are the stock in trade of a certain class of writers are unnatural and +discordant sounds. We should expect rather a serene and cheerful melody +from a young and brave-hearted race, which is in intimate relations with +the external world. Instead of this, we have sucked in with the milk of +our Puritan mothers a forlorn and sorrowful spirit. We celebrate our +festivals with a sad countenance. We attempt to make merry by singing +dismal psalms. We weave our woes into poetry, and expand our +wretchedness in plaintive declamations.</p> + +<p>This is a wide departure from the genius of Christianity, as well as +from the healthy instincts of humanity. In the first ages after Christ, +the newborn element of thought was a pure and beautiful spring, bubbling +up from the moss-grown ruins of the temple of heathendom. A hopeful, +joyous tone is indicated in the symbols of the early faith preserved in +the Vatican. It contained the germ of republican freedom and of a benign +and beneficent civilization. But it was driven by political convulsions +toward the East, and returned in the melancholy robes of the dreamy and +morbid oriental. It learned from Indian fakirs that laughter was a sin, +that misery was meritorious, that the hatred of beauty and joy was a +virtue in the sight of Heaven. The early Christians were imbued with the +sentiment of moral grandeur and loveliness; they represented Christ our +Lord as the fair ideal of humanity; but a darker age decreed that his +form should be meagre and homely—misled by those pagan Syrian pictures, +which still disfigure the churches in Russia, and whose original may be +found in the avatars of violence, modified by old Persian influence. +From the seventh to the twelfth century, the tendency to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> asceticism was +rampant. Beauty was proscribed as a temptation of the devil; deformed +and crooked limbs were ranked among the beatitudes; even dirt was +apotheosized, and, as a consequence, millions of men were mowed down by +unheard-of forms of disease. Humanity did not submit to this rule of +austerity and torture without a struggle. There was often a brave, +vigorous resistance. A lively protest was uttered in the joyous strains +of the troubadours and minnesingers. The glad spirit of nature could not +be wholly suppressed, and from amid the social oppressions of the times +sweet voices fell upon the ear, celebrating the praises of woman, the +love of beauty, and the joyousness of life.</p> + +<p>But, according to our author, none of the great names in literature have +ever proclaimed the evangel of cheerfulness in all its health and +purity. The world as yet has never been fit to receive it. Years may +pass before it will be fully unfolded. Society is still in its earliest +March spring. The fresh winds which blow are still wild and chill; the +nights are long and dreary; and during these gloomy hours, the ancient +crone still relates horrible legends to believing ears. If the elder or +wiser ones only half believe them, most of the listeners still shiver at +their weird, grotesque poetry, and when they make new songs for +themselves, the old demoniac strains still linger on the air, showing +the origin of their earliest lays.</p> + +<p>In order to illustrate the lack of true joyousness in the literature of +the world, Mr. Leland takes a rapid survey of some of the most +distinguished writers in ancient and modern times. Aristophanes, he +maintains, did not possess the genuine element in question. Allowing the +claims of the great satirist to genius, he had not reached the perennial +springs of cheerfulness in the depths of the human soul. In his gayest +arabesques, we trace the eternal line of life, but the deep, monotonous +echo of death is always nigh. He still had the sorrows which grieve the +strong humorist of every age. He could not escape the deep woe of seeing +social right and human happiness trodden under foot by tyranny; and +folly and ignorance, pain and sorrow were the great foundation stones on +which the gay temple of Grecian beauty was built. For every free citizen +who wandered through the groves of the Academy, holding high converse +with Plato, and revelling in the enjoyment of the divinest beauty in +nature and art, there was an untold multitude of slaves and barbarians, +into whose lives was crowded every element of bitterness.</p> + +<p>But surely, the great sage of humor, glorious Father Rabelais, of later +days, was an exception to the prevailing rule of joyousness in +literature? Not at all, contends our author. To the young mind which +hungers for truth and joy, there is something irresistibly fascinating +and persuasive in the jolly philosophy and reckless worldly wisdom of +Rabelais. But after all, it will not do. It is anything but attainable +by most of the world. It demands good cheer and jovial company. But it +dies out in the desert, and is stifled among simple, vulgar associates. +Rabelais believed that he sacrificed to freedom, when he only worshipped +fortune. He went through the world, familiar with the ways of princes +and peers, priests and peasants, travelling in many lands, exhausting +the resources of art and learning, seeing through the sins and shams and +sorrows of life, and laughing at everything, like a good-natured, +large-hearted Mephistopheles. But he had never learned the true +philosophy of joyousness in the sincere love of nature, the deep phases +of humanity, and the affluence and purity of strong affection.</p> + +<p>Nor do we find a better specimen in the renowned English humorists, +Sterne and Swift. The former closely follows his French prototype in +grotesque fancies: he abounds in tender and delicate pathos, though in +the highest de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span>gree artificial and forced; but do we ever arise from +reading him, like a giant refreshed by wine? Sterne, in fact, has even +less of the true philosophy of life than Rabelais. He affords no +stimulant to joyous, healthy action, awakens no impulse to gladden life, +or to make sorrow less and hope greater. It may be all very touching, +very comic, very ingenious, but it is not healthy or joyous. And Swift? +An immense fund of laughter, doubtless, had the witty Irish dean; but as +little claim to be a joyous writer as the prophet Jeremiah, or the +author of 'Groans from the Bottomless Pit.' The men who have been spoken +of dealt largely in satire and humor; but joyousness deals in infinitely +more. Mirth and laughter are all very well, but they are not all in all. +Cheerfulness requires something more than a well-balanced Rabelaisian +nonchalance in adversity and a keen relish for all pleasure.</p> + +<p>The relation of Christianity to the theme of the volume presents a +delicate, and, it may be thought, a dangerous topic of discussion, for a +so decidedly secular pen as Mr. Leland's; but he touches upon it with +freedom and boldness, though with frankest sympathy and reverence for +the great Spirit, whose religion is the most significant fact in the +history of the world. 'I must confess,' says he, 'that even regarded +from a material and historical point alone, that is a poor, cowardly +soul, which does not feel the deepest earnestness of truth in +acknowledging the Wonderful One, Jesus Christ, as the Lord and Saviour +of the whole world.' His sublime soul, profound, universal, loving +beyond all power of human conception, introduced a new era for humanity. +Under his teaching, philosophy became indeed truly divine, for it became +infinite, and was thrown open to all. He first of all opened the +consolations of free thought, of freedom from old superstition, of love, +and strength, and inward joy, to the whole race of mankind. No narrow +limits of sect or caste or nationality cramped him, the first great +Cosmopolite. We cannot sufficiently admire the infinite adaptability, +the universal knowledge of humanity, the boundless sympathy with man, +which are everywhere manifest in the original Christian philosophy of +life. What a depth of meaning in the symbolic bread and wine, typical of +the life which flows through eternity and all its changes, of human love +and birth and death, of bounteous, beautiful nature, with its +continually renewed strength—the whole given, not in funereal guise, +not with sombre fasting, but as a joyous feast.</p> + +<p>The New Testament abounds in symbols, parables, and proverbs, taken from +ancient tradition, but beautifully woven into a purer faith, which +taught that the healthy joys of life, and all knowledge of divine truth, +should be given not to a few kings or priests, a few favored with +initiation into divine mysteries, as of old, but to the whole world; for +the spirit of Christianity was identical with the genius of +republicanism. As taught by our Lord Jesus Christ, it was eminently +healthy, brave-hearted, and joyous. It did not commend celibacy, nor +excess of fasting, nor too long prayers, nor righteousness overmuch. It +did not approve of a plethora of outward goods, while the culture of our +highest faculties was neglected. It condemned all excess of care, even +in our daily duties, at the expense of that 'better part' which +distinguishes us from mere ants or bees. It gave no warrant for the +dismal dirges and melancholy groans which are raised in its name, by men +whom Jesus would have been the first to reprove. 'It was a religion of +life and of beauty, of friendship and temperate mirth, of love, truth, +and manliness; one which opposed neither feasting at weddings nor "going +a fishing."'</p> + +<p>The temptation to find a refuge from the evils of life in active +exertion, instead of cultivating the sources of joy in our own nature, +is the subject of an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> ingenious and striking chapter. In a land, where +enjoyment in many minds is connected with a sense of sin, it is +doubtless better that the overflowing energy of character, which is a +trait of the population, should seek vent in the excitements of labor, +than in poisonous liquors, horse races, politics, and the gaming table. +Where the natural support of life is wanting, partial methods of relief +may be employed. He who can no longer swallow, may gain an imperfect +nourishment by means of baths, or artificial transmission. So, the grim +and hardened soul, which has lost the support of inward cheerfulness, +may find strength in work, merely for the sake of work. But it is a +fraud upon humanity to educate men solely as industrious animals. Hives +are beautiful, honey is sweet, and wonderful is the cunning structure of +the cell; but society is not a hive, nor the people bees. The day is +dawning when it will be understood that cheerful songs are as essential +to genuine manhood as work; that labor is not to be borne as a curse, +with sighs and groans; but combined with mental culture, will become +capable of self-support, and will supply its own enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>The great problem of the age is the union of beauty with practical uses. +In their highest forms, art and science blend and become identical, just +as the Beautiful and the Good assimilate, as we trace them to their +source in Truth. While art becomes more practical, it loses none of its +beauty. In the infancy of science, it was mainly devoted to the +illustration of the fanciful and ornamental. Even architecture, in the +early ages, looked less to permanent comfort than to artistic effect. +But everything now tends to realization. Poetry and art fall in with +this influence of the age. Science is every day taking man away from the +purely ideal, the morbid and visionary; from the fond fancies of old +eras, and leading him to facts and to nature.</p> + +<p>Mr. Leland never becomes formal or spiritless in the treatment of his +favorite topics, and often rises to a high degree of enthusiastic +eloquence. Witness the following noble appeal in behalf of a cheerful +earnestness in the cultivation of literature and art:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Young writer, young artist, whoever you be, I pray you go to work +in this roaring, toiling, machine-clanking, sunny, stormy, +terrible, joyful, commonplace, vulgar, tremendous world in +<i>downright earnest</i>. By all the altars of Greek beauty themselves, +I swear it to you; yes, by all that Raphael painted and Shakspeare +taught; by all the glory and dignity of all art and of all Thought! +you will find your most splendid successes not in cultivating the +worn-out romantic, but in <i>loving</i> the growing Actual of life. +Master the past if you will, but only that you may the more +completely forget it in the present. He or she is best and bravest +among you who gives us the freshest draughts of reality and of +Nature. It lies all around you—in the foul smoke and smell of the +factory, amid the crash and slip of heavy wheels on muddy stones, +in the blank-gilt glare of the steamboat saloon, by the rattling +chips of the faro table, in the quiet, gentle family circle, in the +opera, in the six-penny concert, the hotel, the watering-place, on +the prairie, in the prison. Not as the poor playwright and little +sensation-story grinder see them, not as the manufacturers of +Magdalen elegies and mock-moral and mock-philanthropical tales skim +them, but in their truth and freshness as facts, around and through +which sweep incessantly the infinite joys and agonies, the dreams +and loves and despair of <i>humanity</i>. Heavens! is not <span class="smcap">Life</span> as +earnest and as mysterious and as well worth the fierce grapple of +<span class="smcap">Genius</span>, here and <i>now</i>, in this American nineteenth century, as it +ever was under the cedars of Italy, the olives of Greece, or the +palms of Morning Land? Are there not as much, or more vigor and +raciness in the practical souls of the multitude and in their +never-ending strife with Nature, as among the spoiled and dainty +darlings of fortune and among the nerveless, mind-emasculated +Victims of Society who sing us their endless Miserere from the +Sistine chapels of fashionable novels? You know there is, and if +you watch the time, you may see that it is the warm truth from real +life, which is most eagerly read and which goes most directly to +the hearts of all. Never yet in history was there an age or a +country so rich in great ideas, in great developments, or which +offered such copious material to the writer as these of ours. Be +bold and seize it with a strong hand. Those who are to live after +us will wonder as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> we now do of the great eras of the past, that +there were so few on the spot to picture them. Yet, why speak of +<i>great</i> scenes, when humanity and Nature are always great—great in +small things even, far beyond our utmost power of apprehension? +Forget the spirit of the past, live in the present, and thus—and +thus only—you will secure a glorious and undying reward in the +future.</p></div> + +<p>The fault of this volume, in the eyes of many readers, will be a certain +confusion in the arrangement of the matter, and the want of sufficient +expansion in the development of some of its leading suggestions. But it +must be judged as the earnest utterances of a poet, rather than a grave +didactic treatise. With the purpose which the author had in view, a +spice of rhapsody is no defect. He presents a beautiful example of the +smiling wisdom of which he is such an eloquent advocate. He has an +intuitive sense of the genial and joyous aspects of life, and has no +sympathies to waste on the victims of 'carking care' or morbid +melancholy. A more complete exposition of the conditions of cheerfulness +in the nature of man, would furnish materials for an interesting volume; +but it belongs more properly to an ethical or philosophical discourse. +We will not complain of the author for not doing what he has not +attempted—for what he had no inward call or outward occasion; what he +could not have accomplished but at the sacrifice of much which +constitutes the charm and grace of the present work; while we cordially +thank him for this endeavor to speak a cheering word in behalf of the +joyousness of life, and to spread 'sunshine in the shady place.'</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">R.</span><br /> +</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Sunshine in Thought.</span> By <span class="smcap">Charles Godfrey Leland</span>. 12mo, pp. +197. New York: Geo. P. Putnam.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="HOW_THEY_JESTED_IN_THE_GOOD_OLD_TIME" id="HOW_THEY_JESTED_IN_THE_GOOD_OLD_TIME"></a>HOW THEY JESTED IN THE GOOD OLD TIME.</h2> + + +<p>There is nothing which contributes so much to ease social intercourse as +the jest. In comparison with it, the proverb is only a humble +subordinate, and song itself, with all its power, but a weak influence. +Yet the song and the proverb boast a critical literature, while the +brief compendiums of merriment which never die, which, once written, +live through every age, and force their way through every penetrable +language, are undoubtedly less studied than any other popular medium of +feeling.</p> + +<p>What is a jest? It is as little worth the while to try to define its +nature, as it is to analyze wit. We all know that the world laughs, and +what it laughs at, and what the droll saws, anecdotes, rhymes, quips, +and facetiæ are, which give fame to a Bebel, or a Frischlin, a Tom +Brown, and a Joseph Miller. Leave labored analysis to the philosophers, +contenting ourselves with remarking that a jest is a laugh candied or +frozen in words, and thawed and relished in the reading or utterance. +And laughter? When a man is too lazy to think out an idea, and yet too +active to dreamily <i>feel</i> it, he laughs. When he catches its leading +points, and yet realizes that behind them remains the incomprehensible +or incongruous, he settles it for the nonce with a smile. Hence it comes +that we laugh so seldom with all our heart, a second time over a jest. +It has been <i>comprehended</i>; the mystery, the sense of contradiction and +incongruity, has vanished—we may revive it in others, and laugh +electrically with them; but the first piquant gusto of <i>its</i> spice is +gone forever.</p> + +<p>Yet the jest, like the proverb, ac<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span>quires a value by becoming current. +It often illustrates an opinion or an experience, and when it is much +worn, it may still gain a new point, by being brought into illustrative +relation with some event or idea. Esop's fables, or any fables, are, +after all, only good jokes in a narrative form, which owe their fame +simply to their boundless capacity for application. Sidney Smith's story +of Mrs. Partington, who tried to mop out the Atlantic, was a jest, and +so too was Lady Macbeth's 'cat i' the adage,' who wanted fish, yet would +not wet her paws, and let 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would.' <i>Something</i> +of our old enjoyment of a joke for the first time, always lingers around +it, and we gladly laugh again—for, 'old love never quite rusts out.' +And there are many jests, which, owing to their boundless variety of +application, always come before us in a new light. Such are those which +illustrate character. Woe to the man among the vulgar, who once becomes +the scape-goat of a story on the subject of a joke-anecdote which 'shows +him up.' Woe in truth, if it grow to a nickname—for then he, of all +persons, learns that there are jests which never lose their sting.</p> + +<p>Some jests have been progressive—they have been re-made to suit the +times. Diogenes, when asked which wine he preferred, replied, 'That of +other people.' An Englishman answered to the same question, 'The O. P. +brand,' referring the initials not only to Other People, but also to the +far-famed Old Particular stamp which marked certain rare varieties—or, +as others explain it, to 'Old Port.' The Scholastikos of Hierocles, +having a house for sale, carried a brick around as a sample—a modern +story says that a commander when asked of what material his +fortifications were built, called up his troops, and said: +'There!—every man's a brick.' Here we have the 'living walls' of the +Romans—two old stories blended into one, and the whole greatly +strengthened by a modern slang expression. When thus changed to suit the +times, jests, instead of growing old, rather grow new again. Not +unfrequently, a single joke becomes, in this manner, the parent of +scores of others. I think that it is Mr. Wendell Phillips, who, in a +lecture on Lost Arts, declares that there were never yet more than +twenty-five original 'good stories,' and that all of those now current +may be traced back to them. In a certain sense, the assertion is true; +but it is a mistake to confound the result of a cause with the cause +itself, and an error to declare the descendant to be one and the same +with the ancestor. Max Muller has proved that hundreds of words of the +most different meanings descend from the same root, and, in like manner, +we might show, if the traditional links were supplied, that the last +'good one' current at Washington, originated at the court of King +Pharaoh. Let no one laugh, for Chaucer's Clerke of Oxforde's Tale was +for years told, with Daniel Webster and Henry Clay as the heroes, and we +have even met with a bold Southron who '<i>knew</i> that it was true of +them!'</p> + +<p>In this connection it is worth while to observe that even the slang +phrases of the day, which are popular, partly because they <i>save trouble +in thinking</i>, and partly because the vulgar mind, like the vulgar ear, +finds a relief or pleasure in monotony—are not unfrequently of ancient +origin. The current expression, 'a high old time,' occurs in a Latin +jest, given in an old German-Latin jest-book, which, as its preface +asserts, consists entirely of a reprint from still older works. +'Henricus,' it says, 'was begged to make at a wedding (<i>Hoch +zeit</i>—literally, 'high time') a wedding song, and complied with the +following:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'Iste vetus Juvenis Socius prius ad stationem arripit</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Atque <i>altum tempus</i> habere cupit.'<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p> + +<p>The expression is better in its old form, since <i>altum</i> means both high +and old. Those who have laughed at the instance in 'Ferdinand Count +Fathom,' of the Dutchman, who boasted that his brother had written a +great book of poetry as thick as a cheese, may find its original +'motive' in an anecdote given in the same work.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'A peasant going to a lawyer, begged him to undertake a case for +him, to which the man of law assenting, began to refer to and read +in a very small book. But the peasant, who saw many large folios in +the study, touched the advocate on the arm and said:</p> + +<p>'Sir—please read some in a <i>great</i> book also, for this is +certainly a big case which I have brought to you.'</p></div> + +<p>Everybody knows the story of the fortune hunter who commanded his +servant to duplicate in the affirmative, when he should be in +conversation, all his assertions. 'I have a fine farm,' said he. 'Faith, +ye mane ye have two on thim,' interpolated his Irishman; and so it went +on, until the master admitted that he had a cork leg. '<i>Two</i> false ligs, +<i>an' ye know it</i>,' cried out the man. This is somewhat varied and +enlarged from the old story as given in the <i>Facetiæ</i> of Bebel, in which +the nobleman, remarking to his lady-love that he was 'a little out of +sorts,'—'<i>dixit ille, se pallidulum parumque infirmum</i>,' was +interrupted by his servant with: 'And no wonder, since you suffer with +such a terrible and incurable quotidian disease!'<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> + +<p>If all stories and jests are to be traced to a few originals, perhaps +the many eccentric tales of Jack on horseback may be found in a very old +anecdote of a certain <i>Venetus insuetus ac nescius equitare</i>—a Venetian +unaccustomed to and ignorant of riding, who, when mounted on horseback, +having inadvertently spurred the animal, exclaimed, as it reared and +plunged:</p> + +<p>'Lord! the waves of the sea are nothing to those on land,'—thinking +that the leaping of his steed was caused by a sudden storm! The +anecdotes of absent-mindedness may find a prototype in a very old +monk-Latin anecdote of a certain doctor who went riding '<i>cum Palatino +Rheni</i>,' with the Prince Palatine, and who, on being told that he had no +breeches on, replied: '<i>Credebam, ô princeps, mihi famulum ea +induisse.</i>' 'I thought, oh prince, that my valet had put them on!' +Domine Sampson and the magistrate who appeared un-breeched before +General Washington, are both anticipated in these absent small-clothes.</p> + +<p>Many of the capital extravagances contained in 'Baron Munchausen' are +borrowed literally from the old Latin jest-books. The incident of the +wild pig which led about by its tail a blind wild boar, so that when the +former was slain the latter was taken home by simply giving it the tail +to hold, is of very respectable antiquity—as is also the story of the +horse cut in two—attributed by Bebel to a locksmith. The locksmiths, he +tells us in the parenthesis, are the boldest of Major Longbows.</p> + +<p>There are many jests current in all languages, quizzing the vanity of +humble persons suddenly raised to some small dignity. 'Neebors, I am +still but a mon,' remarked the Scotchman, who became mayor.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> Perhaps +their type is latent in the '<i>De rustica præfecti uxore</i>—the village +magistrate's wife,—which runs as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'When a certain man had been made a prefect of a small village, he +bought his wife a new fur garment (<i>melotam</i>). She, proud of her +finery and full of her new honor, entered church, <i>capite elato et +superbo</i>, with her head raised, just as all the congregation rose +to their feet, when the Gospel was to be read. When she, thinking +it to be in her honor, and recollecting her former condition, said: +Sit still! I have not forgotten that I was once poor!'</p></div> + +<p>A very great proportion of the shrewd retorts and witty replies +attributed to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> great men are very old. 'What do you think of soldiers +who can endure such wounds?' remarked Napoleon, when, showing a +frightfully scarred grenadier to an Englishman. 'What does your majesty +think of the men who gave the wounds?' was the reply. It is essentially +the remark of Louis the Bavarian, who, on enlisting four soldiers famed +for incredible bravery, and observing that they were scarred from head +to foot, said to them: 'Ye are brave fellows; but I had rather see the +men <i>a quibus tot vulnera accepistis</i>—from whom ye received so many +wounds.' The number of witty retorts and droll stories associated with +the names of Talleyrand, Piron, Voltaire—in fact, to a certain degree, +of almost all great men—is so great as to almost persuade the reader +who wanders in the neglected field of ancient humor, that no man of the +later centuries was ever capable of a single witty and original thought. +It is not long since I met with an anecdote, stating that Alexandre +Dumas, who had a very unattractive wife, one day surprised a gentleman +in the act of tenderly embracing her. In a compassionate and astonished +tone the novelist exclaimed: 'Poor man! why do you act so? I am sure +that nobody could have compelled you to it against your will.' '<i>Eh! +monsieur, qui est-ce qui vous y obligeait?</i>' The jest is 'old as the +hills'—it was old before Dumas was born. So, too, with the amusing bit +of naïveté attributed to an English duchess, who, to express her +deeply-seated religious prejudices, declared that she would sooner have +a dozen Protestant husbands than one Catholic. The same point is +expressed as follows, in a very witty but extremely wicked collection of +facetiæ of the seventeenth century:<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Displicet, insignis, mihi Clericus ordo puella</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Inquit et est valde gens odiosa mihi.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Malo decem certè me consociare colonis,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Unicum Clero quam coiisse velim.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Sir Isaac Newton, and I know not how many other philosophers, have been +made to learn by a current story how to bear coals—literally. A learned +man, it is said, being asked by a little girl for a live coal, offered +to bring her a fire shovel. 'It is not necessary,' replied the child, +and having laid cold ashes on her palm, she placed a glowing ember on +them and bore it away safely. 'With all my wisdom,' said the sage, 'I +should never have thought of that!' The jest is of mediæval +antiquity—possibly pre-Latin—it was in later days, however, versified +by Schurrias—an extremely aged and dying woman being substituted for +the learned man.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'Nam nudâ poteris ignea ferre manu?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Parva puella refert: mater, perizomate prunas</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Portabo flammæ ne nocuisse queant.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Quid facies igitur, Anus inquit? Serviet hicce</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Mi cinis, illa refert; quo super hasce feram.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Mox exclamat Anus: disco, moriorque profecto.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">En disco moriens quæ latuere senem:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.5em;"><i>O, ich lern und stirb</i>!'</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>A very great number of the 'good stories' current at the present day +with new names and faces, are to be found in the works of Rabelais, and +in the <i>Moyen Parvenir</i>, now generally attributed to him. It is almost +needless to say that few of these were however original with the great +French humorist. We find them in the Macaronics of Merlin Coccaius, and +in scores of older authorities. Still it must be borne in mind that a +similarity does not always establish an identity. There are few persons +who cannot cite some droll instance of a sharper or greedy fellow, who, +expecting an undeserved reward for some sham service, has found himself +drolly overreached. So Rabelais dresses up for us anew the fable of the +woodman, who, having lost his hatchet, and wearied Jupiter with prayers +for its recovery, was tempted by Mercury with a golden hatchet, and +asked if it were the missing article. He answering 'No,' received the +precious one for reward. Which being made known, excited great hopes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> +among his neighbors of becoming rich by the same means:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'Ha, ha! said they—was there no more to do but to lose a hatchet +to make us rich? Now for that; it is as easy as ——, and will +cost us but little. Are then at this time of the year the +revolutions of the heavens, the constellations of the firmament and +aspects of the planets such that whosoever shall lose a hatchet, +shall immediately grow rich? Ha, ha, ha! by Jove you shall even be +lost and it please you, my dear hatchet! With this they all fairly +lost their hatchets out of hand. The devil of a one that had a +hatchet left; he was not his mother's son that did not lose his +hatchet. No more was wood felled or cleared in that country, +through want of hatchets. Nay, the Aesopian apologue even saith, +that certain petty country gents of the lower class who had sold +the Woodman their little mill and little field to have wherewithal +to make a figure at the next muster, having been told that his +treasure was come to him by this only means, sold the only badge of +their gentility, their swords, to purchase hatchets to go lose +them, as the silly clodpates did, in hopes to gain store of chink +by that loss.</p> + +<p>'You would have truly sworn they had been a parcel of your petty +spiritual usurers, Rome-bound, selling their all, and borrowing of +others to buy store of mandates,—a penny-worth of a new-made pope.</p> + +<p>'Now they cried out and brayed, and prayed and bawled, and invoked +Jupiter: 'My hatchet! my hatchet! Jupiter, my hatchet! on this +side, my hatchet! on that side, my hatchet! ho, ho, ho, ho, +Jupiter, my hatchet!' The air round about rung with the cries and +howlings of these rascally losers of hatchets.</p> + +<p>'Mercury was nimble in bringing them hatchets; to each offering +that which he had lost, as also another of gold, and a third of +silver.</p> + +<p>'Every <i>he</i> was still for that of gold, giving thanks in abundance +to the great giver Jupiter; but in the very nick of time, that they +bowed and stooped to take it from the ground, whip, in a trice, +Mercury chopped off their heads, as Jupiter had commanded; and of +heads thus cut off the number was just equal to that of the lost +hatchets.'</p></div> + +<p>This is but a small portion of the fable as amplified by Rabelais; but +what is cited illustrates the <i>accretive</i> power of a jest when it +involves a principle of general application. The same idea—that of +roguery rewarded according to the letter—is involved in an anecdote, +which tells us that a certain alchemist having dedicated to Pope Leo the +Tenth a book containing the whole art of making gold, received as +recompense a great empty purse, with the words: 'If thou canst make +gold, thou art far richer than I; but herein is a purse wherein thou +mayest put thy gold.'</p> + +<p>In the German <i>Lallenbuch</i>, as well as other works, we find the story of +the stupid fellow who, coming to the banks of a river, waited long and +in vain until the water should all have rolled by. It is given in the +following form in a very droll collection of jests:<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'Rustici cujusdam filius à patre in proximam urbem missus, quum ad +flumen aliquod pervenisset, diu dum integrum deflueret, sicque +transitum præberet, expectans, tandem ubi continuo aquam fluere +vidit, domum reversus est, de eo quod sibi accidisset, parentibus +conquestus.'</p></div> + +<p>But the story was old, centuries before the monks—for even Horace sums +it up in two verses as one quotes a well-known popular proverb:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'Rusticus exspectat dum defluat amnis: at ille</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Labitur et labetur in omne volubilis ævum.'</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'The clown awaits until the flood be gone:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">It glides and whirls for ages ever on.'</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>The reader has probably heard of the apocryphal twelfth commandment, +'Mind your own business.' Possibly its existence was suggested by the +discovery of the <i>first</i>, told as follows in the <i>Democritus Ridens</i>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'A certain soldier being asked by his pastor what was the first +commandment given by GOD, replied, 'Thou shalt not eat!' At which +answer the priest inquiring what he meant, received for reply that +this was the first command to our first parents relative to the +apple. <i>Quo audito, Pastor conticuit!</i> Which having heard, the +priest was silent.'</p></div> + +<p>Of the same family or parentage is the modern story of the clergyman +who, wishing to preach against the extravagant head-dresses worn by the +women of his congregation, took for a text, 'Top knot come down!' +referring for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> his authority to Matthew xxiv. 17. In like manner a not +over-learned brother is said to have expounded Genesis, chap. xxii. v. +23, as follows: 'These eight Milcah bear.' This shows us, my brethren, +what hard times they had of old, when it took eight on 'em to milk a bar +(and I 'spose get mighty little at that), when nowadays my darter kin +milk a cow with nary help, as easy as look at her.'</p> + +<p>Every one has heard of the Irishman crossing the brook. 'Sure, Paddy, if +ye carry me, don't I carry the barrel of whiskey, an' isn't that fair +and aiquil?' It is differently told in one of the old Latin jest books, +where a certain Piero, pitying his weary jackass, which bore a heavy +plough, took the latter on his own shoulders, and mounting the donkey, +said: '<i>Nune procedere poteris, non enim tu sed ego aratrum +fero</i>,'—'Now you may go along, for not you but I now bear the plough.' +Not a few of the jokes given to modern Irishmen originated centuries ago +in other countries than theirs. The reader may recall the advice given +by an Emeralder to another at a tavern, when the latter found that his +boiled egg was ready to hatch. 'Down wid it, Murphy, ye divil, before +the landlord comes in and charges ye for a <i>chicken breakfast</i>!' The +same occurs as an old Latin joke, with this difference, that, in the +latter, the companion, when the breakfast was over, required that the +chicken eater should pay the reckoning for both. '<i>Ni facis, dicam +cauponi de pullo quem pro ovo absumpsisti, et solves largius.</i>' 'Unless +you do, I will tell the landlord of the chicken which you ate for an +egg, and <i>then</i> see what a bill you'll have to pay.'</p> + +<p>The Germans of the present day have a story of a certain Englishman who, +on being told that his coat was burning, politely replied: 'What the +devil business is that of yours? I have seen your coat burning this half +hour, and never bothered myself about it.' Tom Brown tells us of a +roguish boy who said to a traveller, warming his feet at a fire: 'Take +care, sir, or you'll burn your spurs!' 'My boots! you mean,' quoth the +traveller. 'No, sir, I mean your spurs; your boots be burned already.' +But the best form of the joke is given by Erasmus in his Adages, as +follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'A certain traveller in Holland lay so near the fire that his cloak +was scorched. Which being observed by a guest, he said to the +sleeper, 'Here—I want to tell you something!' To which the other +replied: 'If it is bad news, put it off, for I don't wish to hear +any in company where all should be jolly. <i>Post convivium, inquit, +seria</i>—'save up the sorrow until after supper.' And when they had +merrily supped, 'Now,' said he, 'I am ready to hear it.' Then the +other showed him and immense hole in his cloak, and he began to +rage that he had not been warned of it in time. 'I wished to do +so,' replied the guest meekly, 'but you forbade me.'</p></div> + +<p>The witty sayings of men about to be executed are numerous, but are in +many cases far from being original or authentic. During the horrors of +the French Revolution, when men 'became so accustomed to death that they +lost all respect for it,' it became the fashion to make a jest with the +last breath, and it is said that a volume of these sayings was collected +and published. In the <i>Democritus Ridens</i>, already referred to, under +the head of <i>Jocus sub necem</i>, the author gives several anecdotes, more +than one of which has been attributed in modern times to some noted +criminal:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'Those condemned to death are not infrequently so excited and +confused as to lose their wits and joke most improperly. As an +example, take that man who, when standing on the scaffold, said +with a smile to the judge who was present: 'I wonder, old fellow, +that you with such a turned-up nose can see anything!'</p> + +<p>'Another when about to die asked for a parting cup. A goblet of +beer was brought, from which he carefully blew away the froth, +saying that it was 'unhealthy and conducive to the gravel.'</p> + +<p>'Another on the way to the gallows, seeing a crowd hastening +forward, said to them: 'There is no need of hurrying, children; +even though you go as slowly as I, for depend upon it, the thing +will not come off till I get there.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Another on quitting the prison, turning to his jailor, said +privately: 'You needn't keep the house open beyond the usual time +this evening on my account, for I shall not return.''</p> + +<p>'Another is said, when about to be shipwrecked, to have called for +salt meat. And being asked why? replied: 'Because I shall soon have +to drink more than I ever did in all my life.' <i>O ridiculos et o +insanos homunculos!</i> adds the old writer: 'O foolish and mad worms +of men who could thus joke at the very opening instant of +eternity!''</p></div> + +<p>This last instance of dying recklessness has been used by Rabelais as +one of the jests of Panurge. Much like it is the anecdote to the effect +that in a storm at sea, when the sailors were all at prayers, expecting +every moment to go to the bottom, a passenger appeared quite +unconcerned. The captain asked him how he could be so much at his ease +in this awful situation. 'Sir,' said the passenger, 'my life is +insured.'</p> + +<p>Somewhat allied to this spirit of blindness was the remark of the Greek +to his slave during a terrible storm at sea. Seeing the latter weeping, +he exclaimed, 'Why are you so troubled—I give you your freedom?' And +allied to it is the well-known epigram:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'It blew a hard storm and in utmost confusion</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The sailors all hurried to get absolution;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Which done, and the weight of the sins they confessed</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Was conveyed, as they thought, from themselves to the priest:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">To lighten the ship and conclude their devotion,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">They tossed the poor parson souse into the ocean.'</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>One of the coarse jokes current with the last generation was that of a +sailor who, when a duke with his lady was on board ship, and all +expected soon to be lost, asked the mate if he had ever lain with a +duchess? The other answering in fear and trembling, 'no,' was told by +the reckless fellow: 'Well, we shall all have that pleasure soon.' The +ship, however, was saved, and the sailor being asked by the duke what he +meant by his insulting remark, replied: 'At the bottom of the sea, your +grace, we all lie low in death together.' And he was pardoned. It is +remarkable that in all ages wit has been suffered to save men when +better qualities would perhaps be of no avail.</p> + +<p>We may class with these jests of men <i>in articulo mortis</i> the droll +story told by Bebelius, to the effect that a certain duke having caught +a miller in the act of stealing, asked his victim as he stood beneath +the gallows, to swear by his faith if he believed that there was on +earth a single man of his calling who was honest. To which the miller +stoutly swore that to his knowledge there was not one who was not a +greater thief than himself. 'If that be the case,' replied his judge, +'go in peace and live while you may, for I had rather be robbed by you +than by some more rapacious rascal of your trade.'</p> + +<p>An excellent illustration of the fact that old stories are frequently +revamped to suit new times and men, may be found in the following +'original,' also given by Bebelius, as <i>Pulchrum factum cujusdam militis +Tubigentis</i>—a fine deed of a certain soldier of Tübingen:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'Conrad Buhel of Tübingen, distinguished by his bravery among the +captains of Cæsar Maximilian in the Hungarian campaign, was, once +in camp, lying on the straw and expecting no evil, when there +entered another soldier to whom Conrad had done an injury. Who, +when he found him thus lying on his back, said with that noble +magnanimity characteristic of the German mind: 'Wert thou not lying +helpless, I would stab thee with my sword!' To which Conrad +replied: 'Wilt thou do me no injury until I stand up and am ready +for fight?' 'Not I,' replied his foe, 'for I hold it base to strike +an unarmed man.' 'Then,' replied Conrad, 'I shall lie still all +night.' But on the next day he transfixed the other with his +spear.'</p></div> + +<p>The same story is told of an eminent Irish lawyer, who had offended the +client of a rival pleader. 'Will ye get up till I bate yees?' 'An' would +ye strike a man lying down?' 'Divil a bit!' 'Then I'll jist go to slape +again.' In the modern stories the foes are reconciled—in the old camp +incident all is fierce and characteristic of the bloody feuds of the +middle ages, and the final murder of the great-hearted enemy strikes us +with a pang. The <i>sed postri<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> die alterum cuspide transfixit</i> seems +brutal and ungenerous; but the event, whether literally true or feigned, +had no such discord to the readers of those days. It was more essential +to establish the thorough bravery of Conrad, than to reward the +magnanimity of his foe. Truly, the history of jests is the history of +civilization.</p> + +<p>In relation to this transmission of the renown of stories of the olden +times to lawyers of the later day, we may cite the well-known incident +of the honest criminal who, travelling alone on foot, was met by Sir +Matthew Hale, and in answer to the questions of the latter, admitted +that he was going to a distant court to be tried for his life. The same +noble truthfulness is beautifully set forth in the following, <i>Pulchra +historia simplicis prætoris et furis</i>, or 'Fine Story of a +Simple-hearted Superintendent and Thief.'</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'My lord of Stœffel, of that free and excellent nobility which +are called barons, had a superintendent of his serfs. And he, when +a certain man was accused of theft, and condemned by him to the +torture of the cross (<i>ad crucis tormentum damnasset</i>), with rustic +simplicity sent the criminal to the church that he might confess +his sins, first taking his word that he would return after +confession. So he entered the shrine, confessed, and not heeding +the privilege of ecclesiastical immunity (i. e., the right of +sanctuary), 'whereby he might have escaped, kept his faith with the +superintendent (<i>fidem prætori servavit</i>), and again returning +underwent extreme punishment. And this I knew from my boyhood, that +he went up to the place of punishment with such alacrity, that it +would seem as if he truly desired death. But many curses were +lavished on the priest to whom he confessed, because he did not +warn the imprudent man not to quit the bounds of ecclesiastical +freedom!'</p></div> + +<p>There is a whole ballad—nay, a whole history of the middle ages in this +story; for among thousands I can recall none as perfectly characteristic +of the times. The absolute aristocratic control of the life of a white +slave; its abuse by transferring it to the arbitrary will of an upper +servant; the blind devotion to feudal service shown in the fidelity of +the poor serf, the horrible cruelty of his punishment; and finally, the +cowardly supple fawning of the local priesthood, who were always either +worms or dragons in their relations to the nobility, are all set forth +here in a few lines.</p> + +<p>I have said that the eminent lawyers of modern times are greatly favored +in the inheritance of old jokes. Judge Jeffries, we are told, in +examining an old fellow with a long beard, told him he supposed he had a +conscience quite as long as that natural ornament of his visage. 'Does +your lordship measure consciences by beards?' said the man; 'that is +strange, seeing you yourself are shaven.' Among the monk-Latin tales +there is one to the effect that a certain <i>pater</i>, priding himself on +his beard, was informed that in a convent of he-goats he certainly +deserved to be abbot. The same story, re-made into a gross form, is +current in this country, and attributed to an eminent Virginia +politician. In the <i>Antidotum Melancholiæ</i> (Frankfort, 1667), it is +given in the form of an evidently very old Latin rhyme:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'Si bene barbatum faceret sua barba beatum,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Nullus in hoc circo fuerit felicior hireo.'</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>There is a modern story current in America, which is often +circumstantially narrated, of some individual wearing a fine beard or +'whiskers,' and who is said to have sold them to a vulgar practical +joker, who had one shaved off, but suffered the other to remain for a +long time on the face of his victim, annoying him meantime with +inquiries as to 'my whisker.' It is the true type of a great number of +stories which originated in the Southern and South-Western United +States, the point of which almost invariably turns on vexing, grieving, +or maltreating some victim, who is an inferior as regards wit, fortune, +or physique. It is worth remarking that the only really original and +characteristic class of jokes which the slave States originated are +strongly marked with that cruelty and vulgarity which naturally attend +the morbidly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> vain and semi-civilized man, who is so unfortunate as to +have inferiors by fortune entirely in his power. I would ask the reader +in confirmation of this to simply turn over the large collection of +'Georgia Major' and 'Simon Suggs' tales, which, emanating from the +South, have contributed so much to brutalize and vulgarize the humorous +tendencies of that portion of the more Northern public which reads them.</p> + +<p>But to return to the story of the half shaven beard. It also is a very +old one, being told in its original form as <i>Barba deceptus +Judæus</i>—'The Jew deceived by a beard,' and is as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'A nobleman of Frankfort, while being shaved in a barber's shop, +was summoned by a Jew to whom he owed money. But at the request of +his debtor the Jew consented to forego the arrest until the +nobleman's beard should be shaved. Upon which the latter departed +unshorn, and ever remained so.'</p></div> + +<p>The old story—Jews, Cogots, serfs, negroes—the outwitting, +persecuting, and swindling some outlawed class of poor helpless victims, +who have been made worse than they should be by oppression. This +anecdote—like that of the free lance Conrad—is a sad epitome of the +middle ages, and to us of the present day, it rings like a curse on the +olden time, in the form of a diabolical jest. It is, however, bitterest +of all, to find the oppressed—as in the stories illustrating mere +<i>feudal</i> fidelity,—so utterly degraded as to actually take part with +their oppressors and with the foes of humanity, against their own +rights. So, in this present struggle with that incarnation of evil, and +of the old devilish feudal oppression, the Confederate South, we are +still pained to find among its adherents men, who, having been socially +trampled on in Europe, seek, by sheer force of slavish habit, masters to +lord it over them here. There is but one type of man who is more +pitiable—it is he who is recreant to the great cause of freedom for the +sake of—money!</p> + +<p>A brutal and disgraceful jest-story, which stands in close relation to +this last, is that of <i>Detrimentum barbæ propter Sanctos</i>;' or, 'losing +a beard for the saints,' which runs as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'A Hebrew contending with a Catholic, affirmed there were more +Jewish saints in Heaven than Christian. It was thereupon agreed +that each should name his saints in turn, and as he named, pluck a +hair from the beard of his adversary.</p> + +<p>'Abraham,' said the Jew, and plucked a hair.</p> + +<p>'Saint Peter,' said the Christian.</p> + +<p>'Isaac.'</p> + +<p>'Saint Paul.'</p> + +<p>And so they kept up their litanies, until the 'Christian,' +exclaiming: 'Saint Ursula and the Eleven Thousand Virgins!' tore +out the whole beard of the Jew by the roots, to the great laughter +of all standing around.'</p></div> + +<p>It would matter but little, that a fanatical and brutal crowd of the +middle ages had laughed at seeing 'only a Jew' disgraced and dripping +with blood, to point a scurvy jest. But, I confess that it struck me as +singular, when I once found this story in a memoir, set down as having +been narrated by an eminent Christian philosopher (now not long dead), +as a capital thing. Granting its humor, is it worth while to inquire if +he would have enjoyed it as much, had the Jew torn out the beard of the +Christian in the name of the thousands who had been martyred for the +faith of Israel?</p> + +<p>The jokes of the middle ages on the subject of the beard, were +numerous—it was a favorite ornament, as we may judge from the fact that +Eberhard, the far-famed old warlike duke, sung in more than one poem by +Uhland, is always spoken of in the old stories, as <i>noster princeps +barbatus</i>, 'our bearded prince,' or, more familiarly, simply as 'our +bearded one.' One of the table problems of the day was, '<i>Potestnè +probari mulierem quandam habuisse barbam?</i>'—'Can it be proved that any +woman ever had a beard?' The answer to which, was, 'Yes—when Judith +bore the head of Holofernes.' It was singular that such a question could +have been agitated, when the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> legends of the saints contained the story +of the bearded saintess of the Tyrol—a converted ballet-dancer, who was +thus rendered hideous in accordance with her prayer, that she might be +made so repulsive as to frighten away all lovers. And yet Mr. Barnum's +Bearded Lady had a husband!</p> + +<p>Jokes ridiculing red beards and heads were common in the old time; +probably because a popular tradition declared that Judas, 'the arch +rascal,' was so marked by nature. The anecdote of the good clergyman who +never laughed but once in church, and that was, when he saw a youth +trying to light a cigar, or warm his hands at a certain ruddy poll, +finds its prototype in one of the old Latin stories:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'Our country people are wont to say, when they see a red-headed +man; 'he would make a bad chimney-sweeper.' And when the reason is +asked, they say: 'when his head came out of the chimney the country +folks would think it was fire, and would ring the bells, assemble +from every direction, and cause all the riot and trouble incident +to a conflagration.'</p></div> + +<p>It is worth noting in this connection, that the prejudice against red +hair is rapidly being forgotten among cultivated persons, and is far +from being what it was within the memory of man. The vulgar, who are the +last to abandon an absurdity, still retain a few jokes on the subject; +but these will probably be as unintelligible in time, as would be the +jests of the middle ages on the <i>rufa tunica</i>, or red frock. The +boorishness and cruelty of 'the good old times,' are strongly reflected +in the following, which a scholar of the fifteenth and sixteenth +centuries was not ashamed to record of himself:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'When lately during Lent, in the year 1506, we had several guests, +among them a rustic from Weilsberg, who wore a long red beard. I +asked him why he did so? and he replied, 'out of grief for the +death of his father-in-law.' To which I replied: 'All wrong, for +red is a color suited to rejoicing'—at which remark all the guests +present began to laugh immoderately. But he with his rustic +simplicity, being made ashamed, answered: 'Yes, sir—that is very +true, and yet I assure you that I feel as sorrowful in this red +beard as any other man does in his black one.'</p></div> + +<p>The man who does not—though three and a half centuries lie +between—sympathize with the sad, honest simplicity of the poor +red-bearded mourner, must be as gross and heartless as was the narrator +of the incident. It gives one, indeed, strange subject for reflection, +to pause among these old trifles of a by-gone day; jotted down for +passing time in a rude age, and yet preserved so clearly, cut and +freshly colored in the modern time! Conrad Bühel, the free lance, and +his enemy—the red-bearded mourner, the Baron von Stoeffel and his +prætor, with the simple minded thief, and timid priests, and the genial +but coarse scholar, Bebelius himself, were all real men in their day, +who might have passed away without the slightest link to bind their +names or natures to an after age—and now they live in a jest! Still +they live—and it may be that when the page which you now peruse, O +reader, shall be as old as the yellow leaves of the sixteenth century +volume now before me, some one may revive them again. It is something to +be near a scholar now and then, for no one knows who once crosses his +path, but that he too may be noted down, to be borne by an anecdote +across stormy centuries, into ages all unlike our own. No man ever yet +died out of a printed book.</p> + +<p>Many a happy thought dashed off by a modern writer, is only the adroit +plagiarism of an old joke, 'But oh, the Latin!' says Heinrich Heine, in +describing his boyish sorrows to a lady—'Madame, you can really have no +idea of what a mess it is. The Romans would never have found time to +conquer the world, if they had been first obliged to learn Latin. Lucky +dogs! they already knew in their cradles the nouns ending in <i>im</i>.' This +is a very adroit theft from the <i>Epistolarum Obscurorum Virorum</i>, +attributed to Von<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> Hütten and others, in which a stupid monk, having +argued with Erasmus, writes as follows to his master:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'Then our host, who is a good scholar, began to talk of poetry, and +greatly praised <span class="smcap">Julius Caesar</span> in his writings and deeds. Now when I +heard this I was specially delighted that I had read so much, and +that I had heard you lecture on poetry in Cologne, and I said: +'Since you speak of poetry, I can no longer keep quiet, and I tell +you plainly that I do not believe that <span class="smcap">Caesar</span> wrote those +commentaries; and I strengthened my assertion with this argument: +'He who has his business in war and in constant labors, cannot +learn Latin. Now, <span class="smcap">Caesar</span> was always in wars or in great toils, +therefore he could not be erudite, or learn Latin.' I think, +however, that <span class="smcap">Suetonius</span> wrote those Commentaries, for I never saw +any writer whose style so much resembles that of <span class="smcap">Caesar</span>, as does +that of <span class="smcap">Suetonius</span>.'</p></div> + +<p>Who has not heard the story of the hackney coachman, who, at the end of +the day, was wont to divide his gains into 'half for master and half for +me,' when the whole should have been given to the proprietor? Or of the +American public functionary, who said that his annual gains were 'one +thousand dollars salary, besides the cheatage and stealage?' Both seem +to me to be foreshadowed in the following '<i>Sacerdotis jocus non +illepidus</i>';</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'A certain priest named <span class="smcap">Fysilinus</span> who begged for a convent of Saint +Sebastian, being asked what his annual salary was, replied: 'Twenty +gold crowns!' 'Little enough!' answered the other. To which +<span class="smcap">Fysilinus</span> replied: 'Various, however, are the emoluments of +mortals; for I have also what is given to me, and what I steal. And +very good is Saint Sebastian, who, whatever division I make with +him, is always silent and contented.'</p></div> + +<p>It is worth noting that this story and thousands which bore much more +severely on the priests, were current for centuries before the +Reformation. There were many anecdotes of this priest, all to his +discredit, many of which were attributed, at a later day, to other +unworthy monks. Among these, a very dull one is interesting, as +connecting him with Eberhard, 'our bearded prince,' already referred to. +Having begged of this truly noble man a benefice, Eberhard, who was +aware of his character, replied: 'If I had a thousand vacant, you should +not have the least of them.'—'<i>Si mille, inquit, mihi beneficia, ego +minimum tibi non conferrem.</i>' To which Fysilinus impudently replied: +'And if I should hold divine service a thousand times, I would never +bear you in mind, nor pray once for your salvation.'</p> + +<p>I have attempted in the foregoing remarks to set forth, or rather +illustrate, the manner in which modern jests have flown directly or +indirectly, from those of earlier generations; and have, in so doing, +called attention to a rare and curious class of humorous books, which +have been but little cited for more than two centuries. The principal +point which I would most gladly make clear, is the fact that in +literature and the history of culture, there are two classes of critics: +the ultra-modern and the ultra-conservative, both of whom are in the +wrong. The one cries that every flash of genius is new, and that an old +jest is an old abomination—the other vows that there is nothing new +under the sun, and that every good story is hidden away, in all its +excellence, somewhere in the storehouse of the past. Examination is, +however, like Pietro D'Abano, always a <i>Conciliator</i>. We find the +original <i>thema</i> in the past, often reduced to the careless illustration +of some principle or characteristic common to all humanity; but when we +follow it down to the present, it becomes varied, improved, and enlarged +into whole groups and families of new anecdotes, poems, jests, or +proverbs; any single member of which is, perhaps, better than the +original.</p> + +<p>The history of jests can, in turn, be made to furnish an extremely vivid +and curious history of the social conditions of men, and their changes +from the earliest ages—not to be surpassed in value by that of any +other peculiarities. In nothing is a man so much himself as in his +humor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Erneuerte und vermehrte Lustige Gesellschaft (<i>Comes +facundus in via pro vehiculo</i>), von <span class="smcap">Johann</span> <span class="smcap">Petro de Memel</span>, Zippelzerbst +im Drömbling. Im Jahr, 1657.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> <i>Facetiarum</i> <span class="smcap">Henrici Bebelii</span>, Poetæ. Tübingen, A.D., 1542. +Date of Preface, 1506.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Peter Cunningham's last Book, p. 45.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> <i>Hortuli amœni, viridis et elegantis floribus Historicis +et Poeticis</i>, &c. <span class="smcap">Balthasari Schnurii.</span> Rotenburg. 1637.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> <i>Democritus Ridens: sive Narrationum Ridicularum Centuria.</i> +<i>Selecta</i> <span class="smcap">Johanni Petro Langio</span>. <i>Ulmæ, anno 1667.</i></p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="LITERARY_NOTICES" id="LITERARY_NOTICES"></a>LITERARY NOTICES.</h2> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>An historical research, respecting the Opinions of the Founders of +the Republic on Negroes as Slaves, as Citizens, and as Soldiers. +Read before the Massachusetts Historical Society, August 14, 1862. +By <span class="smcap">George Livermore</span>. Boston: John Wilson & Son. 1862.</p></div> + + +<p>Within the past two years we have met with two pamphlets referring to +the negro question during the days of the Revolution—the one being a +reprint with comments of the celebrated Laurens letter,<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> the other +containing information as to the part taken by blacks in the +struggle.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> We inferred from these works that much remained to be +told, and find our surmise verified by an examination of the neatly +printed octavo of 215 pages, now before us, in which is given a mass of +information, fully establishing the fact that the negro played no mean +part in the army of the Revolution, and, we may add, suggesting the +reflection that he may only need proper encouragement to do as much, +again, unless he should have strangely deteriorated from the original +stock of his ancestry. Such a work as this, thorough and full of plain +facts, telling their own story, was greatly needed, and we congratulate +all who are interested in the future of this country on its appearance. +Published under the auspices of the Massachusetts Historical Society, +and warmly approved by <span class="smcap">Edward Everett</span> and the venerable <span class="smcap">Josiah Quincy</span>, +the work in question possesses, of course, the highest claim to +consideration as a well written and perfectly digested <i>resumé</i> of its +subject. It is curious to observe, from its documentary proofs, how +fully the slave-holding arguments of the present day were once negatived +by the experience of the past; and it is almost bitterly amusing that +men can learn so little from experience, and that in one generation the +dense clouds of ignorance should gather so thickly over a subject of the +most vital importance to the country.</p> + +<p>From this work we may learn that 'no language of radical reformers in +recent times surpasses in severity the honest utterances' of the first +men of the Revolution on the subject of slavery. It is worth knowing +what Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, Laurens, Pinckney, Randolph, Sherman, +and a host of others said—to realize that slavery was regarded by them +as a curse; and it is grievous to learn that 'circumstances,' local +feuds, and bewildering side-issues should have interfered to prevent +'abolition' at a time when it might have been safely carried out. The +vast amount of historical research on this subject, and its results, are +well set forth by Mr. Livermore; and had his work been limited to these +chapters alone, it should have won him a distinguished place among those +who have cast a light as of life upon the obscure difficulties which now +beset the great question. More encouraging and extremely interesting is +that second portion of the work which gives the opinions of the founders +of the republic respecting negroes as soldiers, and facts establishing +their military ability. That the first fight of the Revolution should +have been led by a negro, who was its first martyr, is of itself deeply +significant: so is the fact that the most remarkable incident at Bunker +Hill—the death of Pitcairn—was due to the bullet of a brave black +soldier. With the exception of the two Tory States, Georgia and South +Carolina, blacks, <i>slave</i> blacks, were enlisted from all the States in +great numbers, and fought well. It is remarkable that in the beginning +the same absurd objections to employing them were raised as those which +still abound in our 'Democratic' press; and it was not, indeed, until +forced by stern experience and dire need, that 'the States' found out +the folly of their prejudice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span></p> + +<p>All of these data in the history of slavery, and with them several of +minor importance, are remarkably well set forth in the present volume, +which may fairly claim to be the first work on the subject ever +published—the 'Historical Notes' already referred to having been +suggested, as we are told, by Mr. Livermore himself, and forming an +<i>avant courier</i> to the 'Historical Research.' It is needless to say that +we commend it with our whole heart to all who would study the question +of negro slavery from the beginning in this republic, and know, what few +do, the extent and importance of the early troubles on the subject, or +settle for themselves the greatly vexed question whether negroes, when +treated as men, will or will not fight. It is all there.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Like and Unlike.</span> By <span class="smcap">A. S. Roe</span>. New York: Carleton. Boston: A. K. +Loring.</p></div> + +<p>Mr. Roe's novels are of the manufactured kind. Like those of many others +who are in the business, they give the impression that they are easily +written, and might possibly be turned out by a machine, had invention +progressed a little farther than it has. Still his <i>piéces de +manufacture</i> are very good of their kind, and sell very well—like the +moral romances in China, which are disposed of by weight and in +fragments, in such vast quantities, and which are so entirely a matter +of mere pastime that the authors never think it worth while to affix +their names to them. <i>Like and Unlike</i> may be safely intrusted by the +most fastidious aunt to the most unsophisticated of nieces—and it is +not unlikely that the niece would greatly enjoy its perusal. It is by no +means devoid of interest, and indicates in many particulars that +familiarity with the press which preserves any work of its nature—so +far as style is concerned—from harsh judgment. There are better +books—but certainly there are thousands which are much worse.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Titan.</span> From the German of <span class="smcap">Jean Paul Friedrich Richter</span>, by <span class="smcap">Charles +T. Brooks</span>. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1863.</p></div> + +<p>To many men <span class="smcap">Jean Paul</span> has always been the greatest of German writers, +however they might protest their preference for some other idol. <span class="smcap">Carlyle</span> +knows and names GOETHE as the intellectual culmination of the past +age—and yet shows in every sentence the influence of The Only One, with +very barren traces indeed of The Old Heathen; reminding us of those +devotees who profess a faith in <span class="smcap">God</span>, but manifest it in the worship of +some congenial saint. At the present day, Richter, instead of being +overrated, is neglected. Already thirty years ago <span class="smcap">Hauff</span> bewailed that +his works were not taken from public libraries; and yet it is as true as +ever that he is, if not the greatest of German writers, at least the +most German among the great ones of his fatherland. And it is here that +the drawback lies—he carried to such excess all the peculiarities of +his very peculiar country, and was a giant of grotesqueness. No one can +really know German literature who knows not Jean Paul.</p> + +<p>The work before us is Richter's masterpiece, which cost him ten years of +labor. We could sum up of his other writings some thousand or two of +pages which we read with more pleasure; yet still commend 'Titan' as the +best beginning and ending for those who intend to go through all of +Richter's writings. It is a romance <i>sui generis</i>—in the world, and yet +most unworldly—full of unusual characters set forth in more unusual +language—refreshing and delightful to the initiate, and most wearisome +to commonplace minds. As regards the merit of the translation, we can +only say that, having compared the first hundred pages with the +original, we find them admirably and accurately rendered, and presume, +of course, that the remainder is equally excellent. Will not Mr. Brooks +at some future time give us a translation of Richter's <i>Vorschule der +Æsthetik</i>, a work sadly needed by some of our art-critics?</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Lines Left Out</span>; or, Some of the Histories left out in 'Line upon +Line.' New York: Harper & Brothers. 1863.</p></div> + +<p>A juvenile work with an extremely awkward title; 'Line upon Line' having +been a collection of Bible stories, adapted to the capacity of children, +of which book the present volume is a continuation. While we credit the +author for the best intentions, we must, however, suggest that it would +have been better in every instance had the original text been given as +well as the paraphrase, unless, indeed, it be assumed that the Bible is +unfit for children to read, or above their comprehension.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> A South Carolina Protest againt Slavery. New York: G.P. +Putnam. 1861.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Historical Notes on the Employment of Negroes in the +American Army of the Revolution. By <span class="smcap">George H. Moore</span>. New York: Charles +T. Evans. <i>Vide</i> also <span class="smcap">The Continental Monthly</span>, May, p. 324, vol. i.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="EDITORS_TABLE" id="EDITORS_TABLE"></a>EDITOR'S TABLE.</h2> + + +<p>Another month of these most eventful times has passed by with mingled +good and evil fortune, and we still find 'that great mystery, the +American Republic,' strong and in good hope, careering in headlong +speed, with accelerated motion, adown the great torrent of history. It +is natural enough—yet it is still most unreasonable—that there should +be so many who believe that every eddy and whirl should be its +death-struggle or its final dart into the deep calm sea of safety. With +every battle lost or won there are thousands who despair or +exult—forgetting that, come what may, the cause of human progress is +<i>never backward</i>, and that we might as soon hope to recall the middle +ages as build up into prosperity the 'patriarchal' old slave South.</p> + +<p>Every rebel's slave is free. Free on paper, if you will—theoretically +free; but is <i>that</i> nothing? How many years will slavery, or the +Southern system in its integrity, exist side by side with a rapidly +growing free country no longer recognizing the existence of 'the +institution?' How many months, in fact, <i>when</i> we shall have and +hold—as we are absolutely determined to do—the whole west bank of the +Mississippi and the confederate ports; which, by the way, <i>should</i> have +all been secured at the outset at <i>any cost</i>? Let us win or lose in the +field, we shall still, thanks to our fleet, hem them in. And will not +<i>that</i>, with mere waiting, prove a complete victory? Whatever financial +crises may be before the North, it will ever possess, in spite of the +most terrible sufferings, its enormous recuperative power, and its old +ability for hard work. But how is the exhausted, ruined South to arise, +save through Northern aid? Will its poor whites labor in factories? They +are expected to form a permanent standing army. The negroes? The day of +slavery is passing away rapidly. Let the South gain battles, if it +will—they are only defeats in disguise; and in the long run it will be +found that God willed this war to be long and bitter, that by it the +last stronghold of the wrongs of man might be the more thoroughly +exhausted.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h3>THE GOLDEN ROD.</h3> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Upon the waves that rise and die</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Along the banks of Severn's river,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Amidst the blue of broken sky,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">I saw thy half-drawn image quiver</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">In changing gleams of golden light,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Now broadly spread, now vanished quite.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Late Golden Rod! in thought I deem</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">I still shall find thee swaying there,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">As if some naiad of the stream</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Gave to the wind her yellow hair,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Or, leaning o'er the margin, sought</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The restless shape the waters wrought.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Though swaying, yet in quietude,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Thy beauty touched my very soul,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Like the calm eye of womanhood,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">In stillness keeping all control.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And lo! as under sudden spell,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Thy presence shadowed all the dell.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The valley took October's crown,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">I found thy glory still the same;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The sumach flung his red leaves down,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">And lit his winter crest of flame;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The early elm and maple gave</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Their burden to the patient wave.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">I sought thee in the later year,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">I sought, but found thee there no more;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Only a rigid stalk and sere</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">A withered head in silence bore,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Or swung, responsive to the sigh</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Of the stray wind that passed it by.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Now Severn's banks in snow are still,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">And Severn's stream is hushed and pale;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The sun shines on the whitened hill,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">And glows like summer in the dale;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And yet I come, and half in gloom</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And half in joy recall thy bloom.</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h4>Reader—do you want</h4> + +<h3>SOMETHING NEW FOR DINNER?</h3> + +<p>It is not necessary to refer to a cook book to know what an excellent +fish is the sheep's-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span>head; you may find it in Noah Webster's large +dictionary, where it is described as "the Sargus Ovis of Mitchell; +esteemed delicious food"; or, you can find it in market.</p> + +<p>Mr. Withers was married to a lovely young lady who once worked an entire +piano cover with worsted. They had commenced housekeeping but a few +months, when one morning the husband informed his wife that he should +invite a friend to dine with him that day.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Withers was in despair at this announcement, but she smiled and hid +her grief; or at least her grief, in the shape of a Celtic cook, was at +that time not to be seen, being employed in the kitchen, where she had +invited two of her friends to "come in and ate."</p> + +<p>Mr. Withers went down town; his wife then gave directions to the cook, +Biddy O'Shaughshenny by name, to buy a sheep's-head, beef, game, and so +forth.</p> + +<p>'By the way, Bridget, have you ever cooked a sheep's-head before?'</p> + +<p>'A shape's hid is it? Then I'm thinking, ma'am, I've cooked the likes of +them minny a time and oft in the owld counthry when I bided with Mister +Maginnis the grate counsillor in Dublin. I did.'</p> + +<p>This was sufficient: Mrs. Withers was relieved of all care, and soon +wended her way out shopping and making calls, until nearly the dinner +hour. Home came Mr. Withers and friend, an Englishman by the name of +Molesworth, with keen appetites. The dinner was served; oysters and soup +finished, the waiter brought on a large dish covered.</p> + +<p>'Ha, what have we here?' asked Withers, the husband.</p> + +<p>'Something new, my dear,' answered Withers, the wife. 'I knew they were +in season, and I ordered it for a surprise.'</p> + +<p>Withers lifted the cover!</p> + +<p>There <span class="smcap">WAS</span> a sheep's head—with horns on.</p> + +<p>However a Sheep's Head is like a turbot—for a turbot—according to +Albert Smith's account of the Frenchman learning English—is not unlike +a <i>tire-botte</i> (or a boot-jack) which <i>has</i> horns. Is'nt <i>that</i> a +frantic conciliation of differences, and one which might have done honor +to Petrus d'Abano, the Conciliator, himself?</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>There are many conscientious men whose consciences tear at the first +pull—as is shown 'in the subsequent:'</p> + +<h4>CONSCIENTIOUS.</h4> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Continental</span>: Perhaps the following incident will cause a smile to +ripple the good-natured features of some of your readers:—In the county +of M——, the Draft Commissioner held an extra appeal for the +'conscientious men.' Now, in said county, there dwelt one Barney Mullen, +who, not being exempted at the first appeal, on 'non-citizenship' +grounds, was in 'great tribulation' in regard to the approaching draft. +Some wag persuaded him to attend the second 'hearing,' telling him to +swear that he was conscientious, and he would get his exemption papers. +So Barney was at hand at the 'appointed time and place,' At last, 'it +came to pass' that he got a hearing, and the Commissioner asked him what +he had to say for himself.</p> + +<p>'Shure, it's consyintious I am, an' exempted I want to be.'</p> + +<p>The Commissioner had not forgotten Barney, so, to humor his whim, asked +him if he would take the affidavit, having first read that paper to him.</p> + +<p>'Afther David, the divil! It's me exemption papers I'm afther,' he +replied.</p> + +<p>'Have you conscientious scruples against fighting?' asked the +Commissioner.</p> + +<p>'Och, it's the schrupils an' dhrams both I have. I get 'em bad, too, yer +honor.'</p> + +<p>'Well, Barney,' said 'his honor'—putting the same question to him that +he asked all others who offered the conscientious plea (and who always +gave an affirmative answer)—'if your wife was being murdered, would you +stand by a silent spectator?'</p> + +<p>'Divil a silent spectator! D'yees take me fer a haythen? Be the howly! +show me the scallywag that would harrum a hair o' the ole 'oman's hid, +an' I'd give him sich a pelt on the gob, that he would think he'd got +forninst a horse's hoof!'</p> + +<p>'Then we can't exempt you, Mr. Mullen.'</p> + +<p>'Mither ov Moses!' exclaimed Barney, as he left the room, 'not exempt a +man because he wouldn't shtand by an' see the 'ole 'oman murdered!'</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>We are indebted to a friend—who is requested to call again—for the +following from</p> + +<p class="author"> +<span class="smcap">Philadelphia</span>, Nov. 1862.</p> +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><span class="smcap">Dear Continental:</span></span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Did you ever study the language of signs?</p> + +<p>I have—and a queer language it is. It is divided into two great +families.</p> + +<p>The first is of street signs.</p> + +<p>The second of signs manual, optical, and otherwise by gesture +sign-ificant.</p> + +<p>An excellent illustration of this latter class was witnessed lately in a +police court of this city. I give it as narrated to me by a friend.</p> + +<p>A deaf mute, whose banged and battered face spoke for itself, lately +appeared before a local magistrate to complain of the sufferings<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> +inflicted upon him by certain iniquitarians to ye court unknown.</p> + +<p>'He's deaf and dumb as a nadder, your honor,' remarked the solemn +policeman who introduced the silent man. 'But he kin tell his story +bully.'</p> + +<p>And he did.</p> + +<p>Striking an attitude the dumb one pointed to his bruises, and then +struck out one, two and three <i>à la</i> Heenan, to signify that his sorrows +had been caused by a pugilistic attack.</p> + +<p>The court nodded its perfect comprehension of the business thus far.</p> + +<p>Raising the two fingers of his left hand, the mute bowed them up and +down, so that they seemed to be human beings with solidified legs, +making salaams to the court.</p> + +<p>The court nodded.</p> + +<p>Then the two fingers precipitated themselves fiercely against the +forefinger of the right hand, which at once fell down, and was danced +upon and bumped in a variety of ways by the inhuman digits of the +sinister party.</p> + +<p>The court nodded. It understood that the dumb man had been attacked by +two persons.</p> + +<p>But who were the two?</p> + +<p>Elevating the forefinger of the left hand, the plaintiff first pointed +to its face—or the place most suggestive of one, and then pressed his +own nose flat.</p> + +<p>The court nodded. One of the assaulters had been flat-nosed.</p> + +<p>'A nigger, your honor!' exclaimed the constable in breathless +admiration.</p> + +<p>Raising the second finger the dumb man after a second crossed his two +forefingers, and made upon his breast the sign of the cross. It was +catholically done.</p> + +<p>The court nodded.</p> + +<p>'An Irishman, your honor!' exclaimed the constable, who like the +complainant argued very promptly from religion to nationality. An +Irishman and a nigger—and I'll find out in ten minutes all about it.'</p> + +<p>And he did—a warrant was issued, and the guilty men punished.</p> + +<p>"Thus he by gestes made knowne hys sufferance."</p> + +<p class="center"> +Yours devoted,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;"><span class="smcap">Jot</span>.</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h4>IN THE BATTLE.</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The drums are beat, the trumpets blow,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The black-mouthed cannon bay the foe,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Dark bristling o'er each murky height,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And all the field is whirled in fight.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The long life in the drowsy tent</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Fades from me like a vision spent;—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">I stand upon the battle's marge,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And watch the smoking squadron's charge.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Behold one starry banner reel</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">With that wild shock of steel on steel;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And ringing up by rock and tree</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">At last the cry that summons me.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">I hear it in my vibrant soul,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Deep thundering back its counter roll;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And all life's ore seems newly wrought</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">In the white furnace of my thought.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">No dream that made my days divine</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">But flashes back some mystic sign;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And every shape that erst was bright</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Sweeps by me garmented in light.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">High legends of immortal praise,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Brows of world heroes bound with bays,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The crownéd majesties of Time</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Rise visioned on my soul sublime.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Dear living lips of love and prayer</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Come chanting through the blackened air;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And eyes look out of marble tombs,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And hands are waved from churchyard glooms.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">"Charge! charge!" at last the captain's cry!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">We pant, we speed, we leap, we fly;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">I feel my lifting feet aspire,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">As I were born of wind and fire!</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">On! on! where wild the battle swims,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">On! on! no shade my vision dims;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Transcendent o'er yon smoky wreath,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">I see the glory of great Death!</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Come flashing blade, and hissing ball!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">I give my blood, my breath, my all,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">So that on yonder rocking height</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The stars and stripes may wave to-night!</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Our Art writer is awakened. Listen to him.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Continental:</span> You were kind enough to inform me that you would be +much obliged if I would let you know if there was anything stirring in +the world of Art.</p> + +<p>The last thing which stirred in my world—I mean in my workshop in the +Studio Building—was a German of the carpenter persuasion. At least he +had a side pocket, and folding two-feet rule, with a shaving on his left +curl.</p> + +<p>'Bees you a poor-trait bainter?' he inquired.</p> + +<p>'Truly I am!' I replied.</p> + +<p>'I wants you to baint de likeness to my fader.'</p> + +<p>'With pleasure. Bring him here.'</p> + +<p>'Yas—see now, dat is not bossiple. He lies geburied in the purying +crount in Stuttgart in Shermany.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Well, have you a photograph of him?'</p> + +<p>'<i>Nichtss</i> photograb.'</p> + +<p>'Or a bust?'</p> + +<p><i>Nichts</i> pust.'</p> + +<p>'Or a drawing?'</p> + +<p>'<i>Nichts</i> trawing.'</p> + +<p>'Or an engraving?'</p> + +<p>'<i>Nichts</i> craving.'</p> + +<p>'Well, then—what have you got?'</p> + +<p>'I got <i>dis</i> dings.'</p> + +<p>Saying this, he brought forth a small book, greatly worn, which he +slowly opened, and unfolded from it a broad leaf, adorned with German +emblems, and cragged pot-hook inscriptions which looked like lager-bier +signs.</p> + +<p>'What is that?'</p> + +<p>'Dis is mein fader's passport. Look ant readt! Plue eyes, proun hair, +round <i>kinn</i>, pig mouf—und all dat, so fort. He hafe a goot deal of +exbression like mine.'</p> + +<p>(Where this latter could have been I could not imagine.)</p> + +<p>'Yas—und he wear a plue gote.'</p> + +<p>'Oh—a <i>goatee</i>, I suppose, on his chin?'</p> + +<p>'No. It was a plue gote on his pack. He hafe a peard like mein, und look +like mein. Put mein fader was a more older man dan me.'</p> + +<p>'Ah, indeed!'</p> + +<p>'Yas. Baint him mit a piple on a taple, und mit a girl on his hands.'</p> + +<p>'<i>What!!</i>'</p> + +<p>'Yas—mine leetle daughter. I prings her here to be colored.'</p> + +<p>It was a bold thing to do; but on this small capital I went to work, and +succeeded. At least, Jacobus Kirchelheimer said so—and <i>he</i> ought to +know, for he was a first-rate fellow, and sent me over and above the +price agreed upon, a dozen bottles of Rudesheimer. A suspicion seemed +indeed to haunt his mind that the portrait resembled himself much more +than it did the late Herr Kirchelheimer, <i>pére</i>,—but he speedily found +comfort in the following reflection:</p> + +<p>'Ven I kits to be more older it will do shoost as goot for mine bicture +as for de old one.'</p> + +<p>It wasn't very self-flattering—that of hoping to resemble the Old One; +but I said nothing. And no more at present from</p> + +<p class="center"> +Yours truly,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;">POPPY OYLE.</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><span class="smcap">James Buchanan</span>—not satisfied with hoping for the parings of a +nomination to the Senate after having eaten the Presidential apple, has +pushed his impudence so far as to attempt to vindicate <span class="smcap">Floyd</span> from the +charge of stealing, although the theft was by <span class="smcap">Floyd</span> self-confessed and +gloried in. This is proving more than the record. What will <span class="smcap">Floyd</span> say +for <span class="smcap">Buchanan</span>?</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The Raven said: 'Of birds I know,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The very whitest is the Crow.'</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The Crow declared: 'While birds endure,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The Raven will be whitest, sure!'</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The Raven said: 'I do believe</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The Crow knows not what 'tis to thieve.'</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The Crow inquired: 'Who ever heard</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The Raven was a stealing bird?</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'He calls himself a thief, I know,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">But I can prove it is not so.'</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The Raven swore by wet and dry,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The Crow was never known to lie.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The Crow swore out by hot and cold,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The Raven's word was good as gold.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The Crow flew o'er an old oak tree;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'Caw me,' he croaked, '<i>and I'll caw thee</i>.'</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>It is an old story, and one which will last while rogues endure—be they +broken-down politicians, craving, like Buchanan, a little more paltry +notoriety, or any other variety of the great family of the Dishonest. +And they will go their way adown the road of time and into history, +properly brandmarked. The truth ever comes to light.</p> + +<p>'And that isn't all—either.' For even as we write, the following is +handed us by a friend:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Take, oh, take his pen away,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">That so feebly runs on paper;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Keep him quiet, or he'll play</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Other trait'rous prank and caper.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Why apologize for treason,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Or for stealing give a reason?</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Hide, oh, hide his pens and ink;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Try to keep him silent: do!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Would you let him lower sink,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">He'd defend the Devil too.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Keep him silent, let him be:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">He has <i>not</i> escaped Scott-free.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Not he—nor the opinion of the whole world, either. There—let him +go—<i>his</i> place in the future is at any rate decided on. And yet the +vindicator of Floyd intends, we are told, to vindicate himself!</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>A late 'horrible and agonizing execution' of two murderers in cultivated +and Christian England was witnessed by one hundred thousand +people!—according to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> London <i>Times</i>. In the first-class English +journals a large space is always devoted to police reports, in which the +vilest and most vulgar criminal cases are always given in full detail, +to gratify the almost universal British craving for filth and cruelty. A +drunken vagabond cannot maim his wife but all England must know all +about it. Let it be borne in mind that while English writers are never +weary of speaking of the blackguardism of the American press, nine +tenths of our journals abandoned many years ago the abominable practice +of regularly publishing police cases; and that, making every allowance, +English newspapers at present publish on an average ten times as much +demoralizing matter as the American.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>We clip the following from the Boston <i>Post</i>:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>'Speaking of the heathen names reminds the London Athenæum of what +M. Salverte says with respect to that fairest of the heroines in +that poem for all spring time, "Lalla Rookh." Everybody, in his +happy turn, has been in love with that lady of the peerless +enchantments: perhaps they will be taken a little aback when they +hear that before the lord of the East gave her the name of +Nourmahal, 'Light of the Harem,' or, in the later excess of his +love, Nourdjihan, 'Light of the World,' she was known to her family +and friends as Mher-ul-Nica, or, in equivalent Saxon, the +'Strapping Wench;' and that this 'tallest of women,' of whom it is +said her lover, Djihanguyr,</p> + +<p> +——preferred in his heart the least ringlet that curl'd<br /> +Down her exquisite neck, to the throne of the world,<br /> +</p> + +<p>only became the light of his harem by the process of cutting the +throat of her first husband. If this annotation, to be made in all +copies of the poem, do not wring all charm out of the names by +which the poet's lady is known to fame, then fiction again will +prove stronger than fact.'</p></div> + +<p>'And <i>that</i> isn't all, either.' For <i>Noor-Mahal</i>, albeit conventionally +used as Light of the Harem, <i>does</i> mean Light of the Workshop in Arabic. +We shouldn't in the least wonder if the lady in question, in her earlier +and better-behaved days, had been chief engineer of a sewing machine at +two shillings a day. However, we set that down to her credit side.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Reader</span>—you have travelled? If so, did you ever suffer from too much +landlord?</p> + +<p>The last time we were at Mackinaw, we had our boots blackened, our +clothes 'swept,' and our cigars diminished by a very funny halfbreed +named Pierre, and noticed that when more cigars than usual were taken, +we were always sure of receiving an extra amount of attention from him +in the way of sweeping, brushing, and small talk.</p> + +<p>'Mossu, how you lak Detroit?'</p> + +<p>'I like it very well.'</p> + +<p>'Zat fust-rate 'otel, ze Fiddle House; ze landlord he maks var' big fuss +over ze grand persons as come zére—var' big fuss. Mamselle <span class="smcap">Grandrose</span> +she var splendid danseuse, she 'ave ze grande attentions: Madame COLSON +she grande <i>chanteuse</i> 'ave ze grand care. Ah, bote zére comes zére +oncet ze <span class="smcap">Marquis de Chouxfleurs</span>, zen you should see zat landlord; he +bows and he smiles, and he rons round all ze time, viz, 'Musshoe ze +Markiss, vat you lak for to eat, for to drink, for to sleeps? can I do +somesings fore you. At lass ze Marquis he call for his bill, and he goes +for to leave ze hotel. Zen ze landlord he comes to ze door, and he bows, +and he smiles, and he robs his hands togezzer, and says he:</p> + +<p>'Musshoe ze Markiss, <i>bone voyyaidge</i>;' (you see he spiks ze French var' +bad;) 'I hope you have been satisfy wiz my ho-tel?'</p> + +<p>Zen ze Marquis smiles var' moch pleasaunt, and viz ze air off grand +seigneur he lokes down on ze landlord and spiks slowlee:</p> + +<p>'Ze eat is var' good, ze sleep is not so var' bad, bote I 'ave notice +one sing—zére is entairely <span class="smcap">TOO MOCHE LANDLORD</span>!'</p> + +<p>In American hotels, as strangers declare, unless one be acquainted, the +complaint is apt to be of too <i>little</i> landlord. Then—oh, <i>then</i>, 'all +goes as it does with a divinity in France,' as the European proverb hath +it—that is to say, very Paradisiacally indeed. Which reminds us of a +letter on the coming of the Millennium, from a friend who declares it to +be his conviction that those who are afraid of the immediate realization +of this consummation devoutly to be wished for, may lay aside their +apprehensions, since it is evident that nothing of the kind is to come +off <i>this</i> year at least.</p> + +<p>'Of which, dear <span class="smcap">Continental</span> friend, there can be no doubt, albeit there +may be somewhat pity. For I have lang syne awaited a mil<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span>lennium and a +golden age, and, when <span class="smcap">Fernando Wood</span> was kicked out of the mayoralty into +Coventry, hailed it as the beginning. Now, however, the old serpent +lifts his head—Fernando has gone to Congress, and the devil is let +loose again for a little season—to give seasoning by his sin to the +great sea of gruel of excessive virtue with which the world is +inundated. Oh for the wings of a dove, to be 'out of this'—cut loose +from all such 'carryin's on,' and fairly calm in some silent Lubberland +or Atlantis fairy realm of peace!</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'Where, with glasses ever clinking,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The gentles, ever drinking</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">To their lady loves in winking,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Cry aloud <i>in jubilo</i>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And the jolly plump old president</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Calls out to every resident,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And, when they answer, says he meant</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">To pledge <i>in gaudio</i>:</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'Where the bells all day are ringing,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Where the world is ever singing,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And the roasted ducks fly winging</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Their way into your mouth:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Where doors are never banging,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Where tongues are never clanging,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Where the peach and grape while hanging</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Turn <i>all</i> sides toward the south:</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'Where you find no foolish fussing,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Where you hear no oaths or cussing,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Where the babies need no nussing,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">But in smiles or sleep are found:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Where they all own herds and flockses,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Where we get in no 'bad boxes,'</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And where all the paradoxes</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Are made straight, or else come round.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'O land so sweet and sunny!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">O land of milk and money!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">O land of peach and honey!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">O land withouten peer!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">O land of good society!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">O land of great variety!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And genial sobriety,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Oh, would that thou wert here!</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'Or that I were 'over yonder!'</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Free to rest and free to ponder,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Free to print, and free to wander</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">'Mid the maidens short and tall!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">On 'the other side of Jordan,'</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Where all is tuned accordin'</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">'To your leastest wish, my lord,' in</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Every matter, great and small!</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>'Knowest thou, O Editor <span class="smcap">Leland</span>, of aught such, <i>where the board is +cheap</i>? Answer, I pray ye, forthwith. <i>Sono stancato.</i>'</p> + +<p>Not we. When we hear of it, O friend, we will take passage for two—by +the first boat.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>A <span class="smcap">FRIEND</span> communicates to us the following:</p> + +<p>'<span class="smcap">Plato</span>, I think, <span class="smcap">Pythagoras</span>, I guess, and <span class="smcap">Fo-hi</span>, as I suppose—to judge +from his eight <span class="smcap">Kua</span>—believed that all knowledge was capable of +mathematical representation.</p> + +<p>'I don't know Miss Brown,' quoth a lady lately, in my hearing, 'she +isn't in my Circle.'</p> + +<p>'And I don't know her,' added Miss Black, 'for she doesn't live in my +Square—and I never visit out of it.'</p> + +<p>Dr. <span class="smcap">Holmes</span> has, however, declared that a person may be known by +Triangulating the descent from the grandfather down.</p> + +<p>From all of which I should judge that to mathematically set forth the +knowledge of any person, it would be necessary to draw that slightly +paradoxical figure popularly described as a triangular square with round +corners!</p> + +<p class="author"> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Q.E.D.</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Yes—we think we see it. Square—corner—tri—Here, Thomas—carry it off +and have it set up. It's all right, we suppose. Somebody will find it +out, at any rate. Let us continue by singing the following genial +'Soldier's Song,' which hath the good ring of the good old time, and +which has just come to hand:</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h4>SOLDATENLIED.</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The wide world is the soldier's home,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">His comrades are his kin;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">His palace-roof the welkin dome,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">The drum his mandolin.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">He gives to air</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">All thought of care,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">And trolls his serenade</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">To fiery Mars,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">The king of stars,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">That never love betrayed.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The banner is the soldier's bride,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">The love of bold and brave;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">His wedding feast, the battle tide;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">His marriage bed, the grave.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">Where bullets sing,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">Death's leaden wing,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Light as a dancing feather,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">When hero falls,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">To glory's halls,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Wafts life and love together.</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>A teacher of the truly 'genial' stamp—that is to say one who takes +delight, in exercising his or her genius, and in awakening that of the +pupil is, we fear, a rarity; as much even in Art, as in any other branch +of education. We believe, however, that we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> may claim as an exception +Mrs. <span class="smcap">Eliza Greatorix</span> of this city, whom we believe to be honestly and +earnestly interested in her calling as an instructor in drawing, and one +who endeavors to make Art 'a living language by educating the eye +through the intelligence.' The method which she pursues is that of +drawing from objects, beginning with Harding's series of blocks, and +thereby accustoming both eye and hand to greater accuracy than can be +acquired from copying the usual plane surface pictures, which in most +cases makes of the pupil a mere facsimilist. Mrs. <span class="smcap">Greatorix</span> may be found +at Studio 12, No. 204, Fifth Avenue.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h4>A WORD FOR THE TIMES.</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">There ne'er was harm in anything,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">But it came by misgoverning:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">For one word of evil guiding</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">May lose a kingdom or a king!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">A sound truth this which all can feel</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">From the romance of Sir Greye Stele.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Ye rulers all who bear the bell,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Weigh it, I pray you, wisely, well.</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>In this world nothing is constant save inconstancy. Nature changes all +things, night and morn, and when she puts on again her former semblance, +still it is only a semblance, and never the very same. Young +ladies—when your lovers vow to be true forever to love—you may believe +them; but whether they will be eternally true to you, admits of +reflection. Such at least seems to have been the life-philosophy of him +who penned the following poem:</p> + +<h4>BY THE STREAM.</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Oh water that ever art roving!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">O fountain that never canst move!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Oh fancy—some new flame still loving!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">O heart, ever constant to love!</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The waterfall rustled and glistened,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Till it seemed like a musical flame,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And I lay and I looked and I listened</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Till the nymph of the waterfall came.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">It was no Undine or Lurley</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">(Though I thought her as beautiful still)</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">That came in the evening early—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">But a bare-footed maid from the mill.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The pitcher too frequently laden</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Must break and be lost at the worst,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">But the young heart, when full of a maiden,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Of the twain will be broken the first.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">But the pitcher, when cracked by a tumble,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Must be laid, till repaired, on the shelf,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">While the heart, although shattered and humble,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Will be mended in time by itself.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And we vowed that we loved—but with laughter,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">And we kissed with our feet in the brook;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">She left me—my whistle rung after,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">To win from the maid a last look.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And months have flown by since I missed her,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">For afar with another she's flown;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And now I wait here for her sister,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">To vow that I've loved her alone.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Oh water that ever art roaming!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Oh fountain that never canst move!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Oh fancy—some new flame still loving!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Oh heart ever constant to—love!</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Sing it, reader, 'if thou canst sing.' A lady friend assures us that it +goeth well unto voice and pianoforte.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h4>YE JOLLIE POACHER.</h4> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'Twas I that kept a shoddy mill</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">In starving Lancashire;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And shaved the Yankees shamefully</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">For many and many a year.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">The mill is stopped, I'm raving mad,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">As from the <i>Times</i> you hear;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Oh it's my delight to bark and bite</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">At all times of the year.</span><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<p><br /><br /></p> + + + <h1>The</h1> + <h1>Continental Monthly.</h1> + + +<p>The readers of the <span class="smcap">Continental</span> are aware of the important +position it has assumed, of the influence which it exerts, and of the +brilliant array of political and literary talent of the highest order +which supports it. No publication of the kind has, in this country, so +successfully combined the energy and freedom of the daily newspaper with +the higher literary tone of the first-class monthly; and it is very +certain that no magazine has given wider range to its contributors, or +preserved itself so completely from the narrow influences of party or of +faction. In times like the present, such a journal is either a power in +the land or it is nothing. That the <span class="smcap">Continental</span> is not the +latter is abundantly evidenced <i>by what it has done</i>—by the reflection +of its counsels in many important public events, and in the character +and power of those who are its staunchest supporters.</p> + +<p>Though but little more than a year has elapsed since the +<span class="smcap">Continental</span> was first established, it has during that time +acquired a strength and a political significance elevating it to a +position far above that previously occupied by any publication of the +kind in America. In proof of which assertion we call attention to the +following facts:</p> + +<p>1. Of its <span class="smcap">political</span> articles republished in pamphlet form, a +single one has had, thus far, a circulation of <i>one hundred and six +thousand</i> copies.</p> + +<p>2. From its <span class="smcap">literary</span> department, a single serial novel, "Among +the Pines," has, within a very few months, sold nearly <i>thirty-five +thousand</i> copies. Two other series of its literary articles have also +been republished in book form, while the first portion of a third is +already in press.</p> + +<p>No more conclusive facts need be alleged to prove the excellence of the +contributions to the <span class="smcap">Continental</span>, or their <i>extraordinary +popularity;</i> and its conductors are determined that it shall not fall +behind. Preserving all "the boldness, vigor, and ability" which a +thousand journals have attributed to it, it will greatly enlarge its +circle of action, and discuss, fearlessly and frankly, every principle +involved in the great questions of the day. The first minds of the +country, embracing the men most familiar with its diplomacy and most +distinguished for ability, are among its contributors; and it is no mere +"flattering promise of a prospectus" to say that this "magazine for the +times" will employ the first intellect in America, under auspices which +no publication ever enjoyed before in this country.</p> + +<p>While the <span class="smcap">Continental</span> will express decided opinions on the +great questions of the day, it will not be a mere political journal: +much the larger portion of its columns will be enlivened, as heretofore, +by tales, poetry, and humor. In a word, the <span class="smcap">Continental</span> will be +found, under its new staff of Editors, occupying a position and +presenting attractions never before found in a magazine.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<h4>TERMS TO CLUBS.</h4> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" width="50%" cellspacing="0" summary="Subscription Costs"> +<tr><td align='left'>Two copies for one year,</td><td align='left'>Five dollars.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Three copies for one year,</td><td align='left'>Six dollars.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Six copies for one year,</td><td align='left'>Eleven dollars.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Eleven copies for one year,</td><td align='left'>Twenty dollars.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Twenty copies for one year,</td><td align='left'>Thirty-six dollars.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align='center'>PAID IN ADVANCE</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p class='center'><i>Postage, Thirty-six cents a year</i>, to be paid <span class="smcap">by the +Subscriber</span>.</p> + +<h4>SINGLE COPIES.</h4> + +<p class='center'>Three dollars a year, <span class="smcap">in advance</span>. <i>Postage paid by the +Publisher</i>.</p> + + +<p class='center'>JOHN F. TROW, 50 Greene St., N. Y.,<br /> +PUBLISHER FOR THE PROPRIETORS.</p> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/imgfinger.jpg" alt="pointing finger" title="pointing finger" /></div><p>As an Inducement to new subscribers, the +Publisher offers the following liberal premiums:</p> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/imgfinger.jpg" alt="pointing finger" title="pointing finger" /></div><p>Any person remitting $3, in advance, will +receive the magazine from July, 1862, to January, 1864, thus securing +the whole of Mr. <span class="smcap">Kimball's</span> and Mr. <span class="smcap">Kirke's</span> new +serials, which are alone worth the price of subscription. Or, if +preferred, a subscriber can take the magazine for 1863 and a copy of +"Among the Pines," or of "Undercurrents of Wall Street," by <span class="smcap">R. B. +Kimball</span>, bound in cloth, or of "Sunshine in Thought," by +<span class="smcap">Charles Godfrey Leland</span> (retail price, $1. 25.) The book to be sent postage paid.</p> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/imgfinger.jpg" alt="pointing finger" title="pointing finger" /></div><p>Any person remitting $4.50, will receive the +magazine from its commencement, January, 1862, to January, 1864, thus +securing Mr. <span class="smcap">Kimball's</span> "Was He Successful? "and <span class="smcap">Mr. +Kirke's</span> "Among the Pines," and "Merchant's Story," and nearly 3,000 +octavo pages of the best literature in the world. Premium subscribers to +pay their own postage.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<p><br /><br /></p> + + + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/imgffl.jpg" alt="Finest Farming Lands" title="Finest Farming Lands" /></div> + + +<h3>EQUAL TO ANY IN THE WORLD!!!</h3> + +<h4>MAY BE PROCURED</h4> + +<h3>At FROM $8 to $12 PER ACRE,</h3> + +<p class='center'>Near Markets, Schools, Railroads, Churches, and all the blessings of +Civilization.</p> + +<h4>1,200,000 Acres, in Farms of 40, 80, 120, 160 Acres and upwards, in +ILLINOIS, the Garden State of America.</h4> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<blockquote><p>The Illinois Central Railroad Company offer, ON LONG CREDIT, the +beautiful and fertile PRAIRIE LANDS lying along the whole line of their +Railroad. 700 MILES IN LENGTH, upon the most Favorable Terms for +enabling Farmers, Manufacturers, Mechanics and Workingmen to make for +themselves and their families a competency, and a HOME they can call +THEIR OWN, as will appear from the following statements:</p></blockquote> + +<h4>ILLINOIS.</h4> + +<p>Is about equal in extent to England, with a population of 1,722,666, and +a soil capable of supporting 20,000,000. No State in the Valley of the +Mississippi offers so great an inducement to the settler as the State of +Illinois. There is no part of the world where all the conditions of +climate and soil so admirably combine to produce those two great +staples, <span class="smcap">Corn</span> and <span class="smcap">Wheat</span>.</p> + +<h4>CLIMATE.</h4> + +<p>Nowhere can the Industrious farmer secure such immediate results from +his labor as on these deep, rich, loamy soils, cultivated with so much +ease. The climate from the extreme southern part of the State to the +Terre Haute, Alton and St. Louis Railroad, a distance of nearly 200 +miles, is well adapted to Winter.</p> + +<h4>WHEAT, CORN, COTTON, TOBACCO.</h4> + +<p>Peaches, Pears, Tomatoes, and every variety of fruit and vegetables is +grown in great abundance, from which Chicago and other Northern markets +are furnished from four to six weeks earlier than their immediate +vicinity. Between the Terre Haute, Alton & St. Louis Railway and the +Kankakee and Illinois Rivers, (a distance of 115 miles on the Branch, +and 136 miles on the Main Trunk,) lies the great Corn and Stock raising +portion of the State.</p> + +<h4>THE ORDINARY YIELD</h4> + +<p>of Corn is from 60 to 80 bushels per acre. Cattle, Horses, Mules, Sheep +and Hogs are raised here at a small cost, and yield large profits. It is +believed that no section of country presents greater inducements for +Dairy Farming than the Prairies of Illinois, a branch of farming to +which but little attention has been paid, and which must yield sure +profitable results. Between the Kankakee and Illinois Rivers, and +Chicago and Dunleith, (a distance of 56 miles on the Branch and 147 +miles by the Main Trunk,) Timothy Hay, Spring Wheat, Corn, &c., are +produced in great abundance.</p> + +<h4>AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.</h4> + +<p>The Agricultural products of Illinois are greater than those of any +other State. The Wheat crop of 1861 was estimated at 35,000,000 bushels, +while the Corn crop yields not less than 140,000,000 bushels besides the +crop of Oats, Barley, Rye, Buckwheat, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, +Pumpkins, Squashes, Flax, Hemp, Peas, Clover, Cabbage, Beets, Tobacco, +Sorgheim, Grapes, Peaches, Apples, &c., which go to swell the vast +aggregate of production in this fertile region. Over Four Million tons +of produce were sent out the State of Illinois during the past year.</p> + +<h4>STOCK RAISING.</h4> + +<p>In Central and Southern Illinois uncommon advantages are presented for +the extension of Stock raising. All kinds of Cattle, Horses, Mules, +Sheep, Hogs, &c., of the best breeds, yield handsome profits; large +fortunes have already been made, and the field is open for others to +enter with the fairest prospects of like results. Dairy Farming also +presents its inducements to many.</p> + +<h4>CULTIVATION OF COTTON.</h4> + +<p>The experiments in Cotton culture are of very great promise. Commencing +in latitude 39 deg. 30 min. (see Mattoon on the Branch, and Assumption +on the Main Line), the Company owns thousands of acres well adapted to +the perfection of this fibre. A settler having a family of young +children, can turn their youthful labor to a most profitable account in +the growth and perfection of this plant.</p> + +<h4>THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD</h4> + +<p>Traverses the whole length of the State, from the banks of the +Mississippi and Lake Michigan to the Ohio. As its name imports, the +Railroad runs through the centre of the State, and on either side of the +road along its whole length lie the lands offered for sale.</p> + +<h4>CITIES, TOWNS, MARKETS, DEPOTS.</h4> + +<p>There are Ninety-eight Depots on the Company's Railway, giving about one +every seven miles. Cities, Towns and Villages are situated at convenient +distances throughout the whole route, where every desirable commodity +may be found as readily as in the oldest cities of the Union, and where +buyers are to be met for all kinds of farm produce.</p> + +<h4>EDUCATION.</h4> + +<p>Mechanics and working-men will find the free school system encouraged by +the State, and endowed with a large revenue for the support of the +schools. Children can live in sight of the school, the college, the +church, and grow up with the prosperity of the leading State in the +Great Western Empire.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h4>PRICES AND TERMS OF PAYMENT—ON LONG CREDIT.</h4> + +<p class='center'> +80 acres at $10 per acre, with interest at 6 per ct. annually +on the following terms:</p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" width="65%" cellspacing="0" summary="Cost of Land"> +<tr><td align='left'>Cash payment</td><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'>$48 00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Payment</td><td align='left'>in one year</td><td align='right'>48 00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'>in two years</td><td align='right'>48 00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'>in three years</td><td align='right'>48 00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'>in four years</td><td align='right'>236 00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'>in five years</td><td align='right'>224 00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'>in six years</td><td align='right'>212 00</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p class='center'>40 acres, at $10 00 per acre:</p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" width="65%" cellspacing="0" summary="Cost of Land"> +<tr><td align='left'>Cash payment</td><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'>$24 00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Payment</td><td align='left'>in one year</td><td align='right'>24 00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'>in two years</td><td align='right'>24 00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'>in three years</td><td align='right'>24 00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'>in four years</td><td align='right'>118 00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'>in five years</td><td align='right'>112 00</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>"</td><td align='left'>in six years</td><td align='right'>106 00</td></tr> +</table> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h4>Number 15. 25 Cents.</h4> + + + + <h2>THE<br /> + + CONTINENTAL<br /> + + MONTHLY.</h2> + + + <h4>DEVOTED TO</h4> + + <h3>Literature and National Policy.</h3> + + + <h4>MARCH, 1863.</h4> + + + <p class="center">NEW YORK:<br /> + + JOHN F. TROW 50 GREENE STREET<br /> + + (FOR THE PROPRIETORS).<br /> + + HENRY DEXTER AND SINCLAIR TOUSEY.<br /> + + WASHINGTON, D.C.: FRANCK TAYLOR.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS_NO_XV" id="CONTENTS_NO_XV"></a>CONTENTS.—NO. XV.</h2> + + + +<div class='centered'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="CONTENTS XV"> +<tr><td align='left'>Turkey. A. Comté, Jr.,</td><td align='right'>257</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>False Estimations,</td><td align='right'>274</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Blue Handkerchief,</td><td align='right'>276</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Gold,</td><td align='right'>279</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Last Words. Ingoldsby North,</td><td align='right'>282</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Parting. Edward S. Rand, Jr.,</td><td align='right'>288</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A Merchant's Story. By the author of 'Among the Pines,'</td><td align='right'>289</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Captain of '63 to his Men. Mary E. Nealy,</td><td align='right'>315</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Vision of the Monk Gabriel. Eleanor C. Donnelly,</td><td align='right'>316</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Century of Inventions. Charles G. Leland,</td><td align='right'>318</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Lady and her Slave,</td><td align='right'>330</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>For and Against,</td><td align='right'>334</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>European Opinion. Hon. F.P. Stanton,</td><td align='right'>340</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Huguenots. Hon. G.P. Disosway,</td><td align='right'>348</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Montgomery in Secession Time,</td><td align='right'>354</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Union. By Hon. Robert J. Walker,</td><td align='right'>366</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Soldier's Burial,</td><td align='right'>373</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Literary Notices,</td><td align='right'>374</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Editor's Table,</td><td align='right'>379</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<blockquote><p>'<span class="smcap">Sunshine in Thought</span>,' by Charles Godfrey Leland, one of the editors of +this magazine, has just been issued by Charles T. Evans.</p> + + +<p>'<span class="smcap">My Southern Friends</span>,' by the author of 'Among the Pines,' will be +published in book form, by Carlton, 448 Broadway, about March 1st.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Entered</span>, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by <span class="smcap">James R. +Gilmore</span>, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United +States for the Southern District of New York.</p></blockquote> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">John F. Trow, Printer.</span></p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Continental Monthly, Vol. 3 No 2, +February 1863, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONTINENTAL MONTHLY *** + +***** This file should be named 26077-h.htm or 26077-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/0/7/26077/ + +Produced by Joshua Hutchinson and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by Cornell +University Digital Collections) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/26077-h/images/imgffl.jpg b/26077-h/images/imgffl.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..28db1fc --- /dev/null +++ b/26077-h/images/imgffl.jpg diff --git a/26077-h/images/imgfinger.jpg b/26077-h/images/imgfinger.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..52e4dc6 --- /dev/null +++ b/26077-h/images/imgfinger.jpg diff --git a/26077.txt b/26077.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e7032bc --- /dev/null +++ b/26077.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9132 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Continental Monthly, Vol. 3 No 2, +February 1863, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Continental Monthly, Vol. 3 No 2, February 1863 + Devoted To Literature And National Policy + +Author: Various + +Other: Various + +Release Date: July 17, 2008 [EBook #26077] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONTINENTAL MONTHLY *** + + + + +Produced by Joshua Hutchinson and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by Cornell +University Digital Collections) + + + + + + + + + + + +THE + +CONTINENTAL MONTHLY: + +DEVOTED TO + +LITERATURE AND NATIONAL POLICY. + + + + + +VOL. III.--FEBRUARY, 1863.--No. II. + + + + + +OUR NATIONAL FINANCES. + + +Our national finances are involved in extreme peril. Our public debt +exceeds $720,000,000, and is estimated by the Secretary of the Treasury, +on the 1st of July next, at $1,122,297,403, and on the 1st of July, +1864, at $1,744,685,586. When we reflect that this is nearly one half +the debt of England, and bearing almost double the rate of interest, it +is clear that we are approaching a fatal catastrophe. Nor is this the +most alarming symptom. Gold now commands a premium of thirty-two per +cent., as compared with legal tender treasury notes, and, with largely +augmented issues, must rise much higher, with a correspondent increase +of our debt and expenditures. Indeed, should the war continue, and there +be no other alternative than additional treasury notes, they will, +before the close of the next fiscal year, fail to command forty cents on +the dollar in gold, and our debt exceed several billions of dollars. +This would result from an immense redundancy and depreciation of +currency, and from the alarm created here and in Europe, as to the +maintenance of the Union, and the ultimate solvency of the Government. +Indeed, our enemies, at home and abroad, the rebels, and their allies in +the North and in Europe, already announce impending national bankruptcy +and repudiation, and there are many devoted patriots who fear such a +catastrophe. + +That the danger is imminent, is a truth which must not be disguised. +Here lies the great peril of the Government. It is not the rebel armies +that can ever overthrow the Union. It is the alarming increase of the +public debt and expenditures, and the still more appalling depreciation +of the national currency, that most imperil the great Republic. + +And is the Union indeed to fall? Are we to be divided into separate +States or many confederacies, each warring against the other, the sport +of foreign oligarchs, the scorn of humanity, the betrayers of the +liberty of our country and of mankind? Can we yet save the Republic? +This is a fearful and momentous question, but it must be answered, and +answered NOW. Inaction is syncope. Delay is death. The life of the +Republic is ebbing fast, and the approaching Ides of March may toll the +funeral words, _It is too late_! + +What then must be done to avert the dread catastrophe? Action, immediate +and energetic action, in the field and in Congress. Winter is the best +season for a campaign in the South. On--on--on with the banner of the +Republic, by land and sea, and with all the reinforcements, from the +Ohio and Potomac to the Gulf. On, also, with the necessary measures in +Congress to save our finances from ruin, arrest the depreciation of our +national currency, and restore the public credit. We are upon the verge +of ruin. We are hanging over the gulf of an irredeemable paper system, +and its spectral shade, repudiation, is seen dimly in the dark abyss. +The present Congress may save us; but what of the next? Would they, if +they could? Who can answer? Can they, if they would? No! no! It will +then be _too late_. Never did any representative assembly encounter so +fearful a responsibility as the present Congress. Each member must vote +as if the fate of the Union and of humanity depended upon his action. He +must rise above the passing clouds of passion and prejudice, of State, +local, or selfish interests, into the serene and holy atmosphere, +illumined by the light of truth, and warmed by the love of his country +and of mankind. His only inquiry must be, What will save the nation? The +allegiance to the Union is paramount, its maintenance 'the supreme law,' +the _lex legum_, of highest obligation, and he who, abandoning this +principle, follows in preference any real or supposed State policy, is a +secessionist in action, and a traitor to his country and mankind. Should +the catastrophe happen, no such paltry motives will save him from +disgrace and infamy; and, if he be snatched from oblivion, his only +epitaph will be: Here lies a destroyer of the American Union. He did not +destroy it by bullets, but by votes. He did not march against it with +armed battalions; but, a sentinel, he slept on the post of duty, +and--his country fell. + +What, then, can Congress do? They can consider _at once_ this great +financial question, uninterrupted by any other measure, until there +shall have been action complete and decisive. But two months more remain +of the session. Not another day nor hour must be lost. All admit that +something must be done, and done quickly. + +What then is the remedy for our depreciated and depreciating national +currency? The Secretary of the Treasury anticipated the disaster, and +proposed a remedy in 1861. I gave his bank plan then my earnest and +immediate support. Well would it have been for our country if it had +then been adopted, and gold would not now command a premium of +thirty-two per cent. After a year's experience and deliberation, the +Secretary reiterates his former recommendation, with words of solemn +import, and arguments of great force. His is the chief responsibility. +To him is mainly intrusted the custody of the public credit. His is now +the duty of saving us from national bankruptcy. At such a time, I would +differ from him on such a question, only on the clearest convictions, +and then only upon the condition that I had a better plan as a +substitute, and that mine could become a law now, and be carried now +into practical execution. If all this could not be done, I would support +the plan of the Secretary, as all admit that delay or inaction is death. +If my words be too bold or earnest, let them be attributed to my +profound conviction that the American Union is in extreme peril, and +that its downfall involves the final catastrophe of our country and of +our race. Let no man talk of a separation of the Union in any +contingency. Let none speak now of peace or compromise with armed +treason. Let none think of constructing separate nationalities out of +the broken and bleeding fragments of a dismembered Union. No; far better +that our wrecked and blasted earth should swing from its orbit, +disintegrate into its original atoms, and its place remain forever +vacant in the universe, than that we should survive, with such memories +of departed glory, and such a burning sense of unutterable infamy and +degradation. Fallen--fallen--fallen! from the highest pinnacle to the +lowest depth, to rise no more forever! What American would wish to live, +and encounter such a destiny? And why fallen? From a cause more damning +than our fate. Fallen, let the truth be told, as history would record, +because faction was stronger than patriotism, and the degenerate sons of +noble sires extinguished the world's last hope, by basely surrendering +the American Union to the foul coalition of slavery and treason. This +rebellion is the most stupendous crime in the annals of our race, and +its projectors and coadjutors, at home or abroad, individual or +dynastic, are doomed to immortal infamy. With its demoniac passions, its +satanic ambition, desecrating the remains of the slain, making goblets +of their skulls, and trinkets of their bones, this revolt is a +heliograph of Dahomey, and Devildom daguerreotyped more vividly than by +Dante or Milton. + +The plan of the Secretary is clear, simple, comprehensive, practical, +and effective. It is the plan of an uniform circulation, furnished by +the Federal Government to banking associations organized by Congress, +securing prompt redemption by the deposit of the same amount of U.S. six +per cent stock in the Federal custody, the principal and interest of +this stock being payable in gold. This plan, with me, is a necessity, +and not a choice. It is the plan of the Secretary, and not mine, and is +therefore supported by me from no vanity of authorship. Nay, more, it +required me to overcome strong prejudices against any bank circulation, +and especially any connected in any way with the Government. It is, +however, a strong recommendation of the plan of the Secretary, that the +proposed connection of the banks with the Government is not political, +and attended with none of the formidable objections to the late Bank of +the United States. Ever since the bank suspension of 1837, I have been a +bullionist, and sustained that doctrine in the Senate of the United +States, and as Secretary of the Treasury. The act establishing the +independent treasury in 1846, was drawn by me, avowedly as a 'specie +receiving and _specie circulating_' institution, and to restrain +excessive issues by the banks; but it is impossible now to carry that +system into practical execution. The suspension of specie payment by the +banks and the Government, has been forced by the enormous expenditures +of the war, and the sub-treasury, which never was designed for the +custody or disbursement of paper, has been so far virtually superseded. +In acceding now, as in December, 1861, to the Secretary's plan of a bank +circulation, I must be understood as having changed my views in no +respect as to banks, but that I yield to the great emergency, which +renders the support of the war and of the Union paramount to any +question of coin or currency. + +The national disbursements for the present and succeeding fiscal year, +as stated by the Secretary, together with his remarks on that subject, +supersede the necessity of any further argument in proof of the absolute +impossibility of specie payments now by the Government. We are compelled +to resort to paper, and the only question is as to the character and +extent of the issue. It is my opinion that we should limit this paper +currency, as far as practicable, that it may be as little depreciated +now as possible; so that when the rebellion is crushed, the banks and +the Government may resume specie payments at the earliest moment. I +favor the plan of the Secretary mainly because, by arresting +depreciation, it would furnish a currency approaching specie now more +nearly than can be accomplished in any other way, and because, when the +war is over, it provides the best means for a return, in the shortest +possible period, to specie payments. An irredeemable paper currency +dissolves contracts, violates good faith, and its history here and in +Europe is a record of financial ruin, bankruptcy, and repudiation, of +frauds, crimes, and demoralization, which no friend of his country or +race can desire to witness. The issue of treasury notes as a legal +tender was favored by me as a _necessity_ super-induced by the +rebellion, and as a substitute for the present bank issues. Such notes +would be depreciated much less when made a legal tender, and, to that +extent, our expenditures would be diminished, and specie payments could, +therefore, be resumed eventually at a much earlier period. Why, then, it +is asked, not continue and extend that system, rather than adopt the +plan recommended by the Secretary? Because, Congress refusing to +prohibit a bank circulation, such increased issues of treasury notes +would cause a further great depreciation of such notes, to that extent +augment our expenditures, and postpone, perhaps indefinitely, the +resumption of specie payments. Gold now commands a premium of thirty-two +per cent., payable in treasury notes; but, if such issues be increased +one half, they would fall to fifty per cent., and, if doubled, to at +least sixty per cent. below specie. At the last rate, if our yearly +expenditures, paid in paper, reached $700,000,000, this would command +but $280,000,000 in gold, thus subjecting the Government to a loss of +$420,000,000 per annum, and at thirty-two per cent. discount, +$224,000,000 per annum. These notes, it is true, bear no interest, which +at six per cent. on $280,000,000, would save $16,800,000 a year. But as +under the Secretary's plan (hereafter developed) the Government would +only pay an annual interest of four per cent. on this loan, the saving +would only be $11,200,000. Deduct this interest thus saved from the +$420,000,000 of increased annual expenditures, arising from such +depreciation of treasury notes, and the result is a net loss of +$408,800,000 per annum to the Government, from the use of such redundant +and depreciated currency. Surely, such a system would soon terminate in +bankruptcy and repudiation, repeating the history of French assignats +and Continental money. + +Nor is it the Government only that suffers from such a disaster, but the +ruin extends to the people. There is no law more clearly established +than this: that the currency of a country bears a certain fixed +proportion to its wealth and business. If we expand the currency beyond +this proportion, we violate this law, and will surely suffer the +terrible penalties of this disobedience. This law is so certain and +invariable, that, if the expansion beyond this proportion should be even +in specie, the result would still be disastrous. + +This was illustrated during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, when +Spain, having opened the virgin mines of America, brought the precious +metals in countless millions within her limits, and restricted their +exportation by the most stringent penalties. And what was the +consequence? Mr. Prescott, of Boston, tells us in his great history, +that 'the streams of wealth, which flowed in from the silver quarries of +Zacatecas and Potosi were jealously locked up within the limits of the +Peninsula.' 'The golden tide, which, permitted a free vent, would have +fertilized the region through which it poured, now buried the land under +a deluge, which blighted every green and living thing. _Agriculture_, +_commerce_, MANUFACTURES, every branch of national industry and +improvement, languished and fell to decay; and the nation, like the +Phrygian monarch who turned all that he touched into gold, cursed by the +very consummation of its wishes, was poor in the midst of its +treasures.' Such was the effect of violating the law which regulates the +ratio of money to wealth; such the consequence of a superabundant +currency, even in specie. The result was that Spain, which had been the +most prosperous nation of Europe, and whose products and manufactures +had supplied the markets of the world, lost nearly all her exports, and +was forced to resort to the prohibitory system. The cost of living, of +working farms, of manufacturing goods, of making and sailing ships, +became so high in Spain, from her superabundant currency, that she was +unable to compete with any other nation, was reduced to poverty, and +never began to recover until 'Spain changed her system, encouraged the +exportation of the precious metals, and thus brought down her +superabundant currency and inflated prices, and thus enabled Spanish +industry to supply the markets of the Peninsula and of the world.' +_Then_, the distinguished historian tells us, 'the precious metals, +instead of flowing in so abundantly as to palsy the arm of industry, +only served to stimulate it, the foreign intercourse of the country was +every day more widely extended;' 'the flourishing condition of the +nation was seen in the wealth and population of its cities,' etc. It is +a redundant currency, even if gold or convertible into gold, that +produces these evils, although depreciation adds to the disaster. + +What is the effect here of a redundant currency, is ascertained by +reference to our exports. By Treasury Tables 20 and 21, our foreign +imports consumed here in 1836-'7 rose to $168,233,675, being largely +more than double what they were in 1832 ($76,989,793), and nearly double +the consumption, _per capita_, which was $5.61 in 1832, and $10.93 in +1836. This was our great year of a redundant, although still a +convertible currency, when our imports consumed exceeded our exports of +domestic produce, $61,662,733; and so enhanced was the cost of living +and production here, that we actually imported breadstuffs that year of +the value of $5,271,576. (Table 1, Com. and Nav.) Our bank currency that +year was as follows: Circulation, $149,185,890; deposits, $127,397,185; +circulation and deposits, $276,583,075; loans, $525,115,702. (Treasury +Report, 1838, Doc. 79, tables K. K.) The legitimate result of this +expansion of loans and currency was the great bank suspension of May, +1837, and general bankruptcy throughout the country. + +Now our bank circulation in 1860 was $207,102,477; deposits, +$253,802,129; circulation and deposits, $460,904,606; loans, +$691,495,580. (Table 34, Census of 1860.) Yet our population in 1860 was +more than double that of 1837, and our wealth (the true barometer, +marking the proper rise and fall of our currency) had much more than +quadrupled. (Census Table 35.) The proportion of the currency to wealth +in 1837 was more than double the ratio of 1860. It was not the tariff +that produced the suspension of 1837, for it was _much lower_ in 1860, +than at the date of the bank suspension of 1837. + +By Treasury Table 24, our total exports abroad of domestic produce, +exclusive of specie, from the 30th of September, 1821, to 30th June, +1861, were $5,060,929,667; and, in the year ending the 30th June, 1860, +were $316,242,423. At the same rate of increase from 1860 to 1870, as +from 1850 to 1860, our domestic exports exclusive of specie in the +decade ending the 30th June, 1870, would have exceeded five billions of +dollars, had peace continued and the currency been no more redundant in +proportion to our wealth than in 1860. But with a redundant and +depreciated currency our exports must have been reduced at least one +fourth. What would be the effect on every branch of our industry, may be +learned by looking at Treasury Table 40, showing our domestic exports +for the year ending 30th June, 1861. These exports were, of the products +of our fisheries, $4,451,515; of the forest, $10,260,809; of +agriculture, exclusive of cotton, rice, and tobacco, $100,273,655, and +of our manufactures, $35,786,804. This was mainly from the loyal States. +Now if the foreign markets for our products are reduced only one fourth +by the effect of a redundant currency, inflating here the cost of +production and of living, the result would be most disastrous to our +industry. The reduction would be equal, as we have seen, to $125,000,000 +per annum, and $1,250,000,000 in the decade. Our imports would be +reduced in the same proportion, and our revenue from customs in a +corresponding ratio. Supposing the average rate of duties of the present +tariff to be equal to 40 per cent. ad valorem, this would make a +difference in our revenue from customs of $500,000,000 in the decade, +and, including interest not compounded, $635,000,000. And here I deem it +a duty to say to the financial portion of our peace party, especially in +New York, that our redundant and depreciated currency, with our failure +to crush the rebellion, and a consequent dissolution of the Union, would +make repudiation inevitable. We are forced, then, by a due regard to our +material interests, as well as by the higher obligations of honor and +duty, to subdue the revolt and restore the supremacy of the Government +in every State. This we can and must do. It is due to our country and to +the world. It is due to the wounded and mutilated survivors of the +bloody conflict, and to our martyred dead, murdered by the foulest +treason, and in the accursed cause of slavery. No! all this blood and +treasure must not have been poured out in vain. It is a question mainly +of money and persistence. Our armies can and will conquer the rebellion, +if we can and will supply the sinews of war. Our success is much more a +financial than a military question. As regards the result, the Secretary +of the Treasury holds now the most important post in this contest: he is +the generalissimo; and as he is right on this question, and the fate of +the Union is involved, I deem it my duty to give him my earnest and +zealous support. + +Ruinous as must be the effect of a redundant and depreciated currency +upon all industrial pursuits, the injustice to our gallant army and +navy, regulars and volunteers, would be attended with extreme peril. +Upon their courage and endurance we must rely for success. We have +pledged to our brave troops, who are wounded or dying by thousands that +the Union may live, such pay as to enable them while fighting our +battles to make allotments of portions of their money for the support of +their families during their absence. We have promised pensions also. +These are all solemn pledges on the part of our Government, and our +faith is violated if this pay or these pensions are reduced. But there +is no difference between a law directly reducing this pay and these +pensions, and the adoption by Congress of the policy of a redundant and +depreciated currency which will produce the same result. Every vote then +in Congress for such a policy, is a vote to reduce the pay and pensions +for our troops, and to annihilate the allotments made by them for the +support of their families. What effect such a policy must have on our +troops and the maintenance of the Union is but too palpable. It is +disbandment and dissolution. Every such vote is given also to reduce the +value of the wages of labor, and for increased taxation, to the extent, +as we have seen, of $408,800,000 per annum. It is a vote also to reduce +our exports and revenue from customs, to paralyze our industry; and +finally, in its ultimate results, it is a vote against the war, for +repudiation and disunion, and hence every disunionist will oppose the +plan of the Secretary. + +To what extent this redundancy and depreciation will go, by enlarged +issues of legal tender treasury notes, we may learn from the fact that +the banks substitute them for coin for the redemption of their paper. +Now, just in proportion as the issue of treasury notes becomes redundant +and depreciated, will the bank circulation, redeemable in such notes, +augment and depreciate also. This is the law of bank circulation as now +forced upon us by Congress. It is the law of redundancy and +depreciation. If this policy is adopted by Congress, an enlarged issue +made of treasury notes, and the plan of the Secretary discarded, our +bank and treasury note circulation, with the war continued, will very +largely exceed one billion of dollars before the close of the next +fiscal year, and both will be depreciated much more than sixty per cent. +Thus, if we should enlarge our issues of legal demand treasury notes to +$500,000,000, and these be made the basis of bank issues, in the ratio +of three to one, our total paper circulation would be $2,000,000,000, +such treasury notes inflating the bank issues, and both depreciating +together. And yet this is the currency in which it is proposed to +conduct the war and the business of the country. The banks alone, by +excessive loans and issues, would grow rich apparently, on the ruin of +their country. But there would be a terrible retribution. The result +would be general insolvency and repudiation, _the debts due the banks +would become worthless_, and they be involved in the general ruin. It is +then the interest of the banks to sustain the Government and the +Secretary, and to transfer their capital to the new associations. This +is especially the case with the New York banks, which, under a provision +of their State constitution, HAVE NO LEGAL EXISTENCE. When repudiation +and bankruptcy become general, the cry, like that of a routed army in a +panic flight, would be raised, _Sauve qui peut_; we may have again an +old and a new court party, especially under our miserable system of an +elective judiciary; and the banks be crushed by wicked legal devices, as +they were in the West and Southwest in 1824 and 1838. + +Referring to bank issues, the Secretary says, in his last report: 'It +was only when the United States notes, having been made a legal tender, +were diverted from their legitimate use as a currency, and made the +basis of bank circulation, that the great increase of the latter began.' +At the present depreciation of these treasury notes, it is better for +the banks, by one third, to redeem their circulation in these notes, +rather than in specie; and they need keep only one dollar of treasury +notes for three of bank circulation. This is the policy forced upon the +banks by Congress. But the more redundant and depreciated this currency +becomes, the easier will it be for the banks to provide the basis of +redemption, and expand their circulation in the ratio, like that of +specie, of three dollars of bank currency for each dollar of treasury +notes held by them. Thus it is that the enlarged issue of treasury notes +necessarily increases the bank circulation, in the ratio of three to +one, and thus also, that the circulation of bank and treasury notes +becomes redundant and depreciated. Under such a policy, every bank then, +however loyal its stockholders or officers, becomes a citadel, whose +artillery bears with more fearful effect upon the Government than all +the armies of the rebellion. This will soon become obvious, and the +odium will rest upon the banks, their officers and stockholders. But the +real responsibility will be with Congress, who, by such a system will +have arrayed the banks in necessary and inevitable hostility to the +Government. Such, we all know, is not the intention of Congress; but as +this result will necessarily flow from their measures, upon them, in the +end, will fall the terrible responsibility of the disaster. It is this +appalling condition of our finances that gives the rebellion its only +hope of success, and invites foreign intervention. But if Congress will +adopt the policy of the Secretary, they will render certain the triumph +of the Union, and the rebels, from despair and exhaustion, must soon +abandon the contest. + +We have seen how dreadful is the disaster which the banks would bring on +the country by pursuing the present system, and how terrible the odium +to which they would be subjected. But now let us look at the result, if +the plan of the Secretary is adopted. The new banks would become fiscal +agents of the Government. Their circulation would be uniform, furnished +by the Government, and based on U. S. stocks, the principal and interest +of which would be payable in gold. The interest of labor and capital, of +the banks, the Government, and the people, would for the first time +become inseparably united and consolidated. This is a grand result, and +fraught with momentous consequences to the country. Every citizen, +whether a stockholder of the banks or not, would have a direct and +incalculable interest in their success and prosperity. They, the people, +would have this interest, not merely as holding the notes of the banks, +which would become our currency, but because the banks would hold the +stock of the Government, would have loaned it in this way the money to +suppress the rebellion, and thus have saved us from a redundant and +depreciated currency, from inevitable bankruptcy and repudiation, and +have prevented the overthrow of the Union. Each bank would then become a +citadel over which should float the flag of the Union, for each bank +would then become a powerful auxiliary for the support of the Government +and the overthrow of the rebellion. + +The bill divorcing the banks and the Government was drawn by me, as +Secretary of the Treasury, in 1846, to enlarge the circulation of +specie, and restrain excessive issues of bank paper. I go for the +reunion now, as proposed by the Secretary, to enable the Government to +effect loans upon their stock, to prevent a redundant and depreciated +paper currency, with a correspondent increase of expenditures, and to +provide the means, when the war is over, to resume specie payment at the +earliest practicable period. I was for restraining excessive paper +issues then, and so am I now, as far as possible. I carried into full +effect then the divorce of the Government and the banks, against a +terrible opposition from them and the great Whig party. I made the +divorce complete, _a vinculo matrimonii_: so now I would make the union +complete, so far as proposed by the Secretary, for the interest of the +banks and the Government would be united, and just as you strengthened +the banks and increased their capital and profits, would you fund more +and more treasury notes, and save us from the ruin of a redundant and +depreciated currency. + +The Secretary proposes to make these banks depositories of treasury +notes, received by the Government for all dues except customs. This is +well; for to use the sub-treasury to receive and circulate treasury +notes, is against the object for which it was created. Such deposits +should be secured by U. S. stocks with the Government, and thus largely +increase the demand for this stock. During nearly my first two years as +Secretary of the Treasury, the public moneys were deposited by me in the +State banks, secured by United States and State stocks, and there was no +loss. Nor, indeed, was there any loss or default by any officer, agent, +or employe of the Treasury Department during my entire term of four +years, notwithstanding the large loans and war expenditures. + +Disbursing officers should also deposit with the banks, and pay as +formerly by checks on them, with the same guarantee by them of U. S. +stocks. How far, and to what extent, and under what special provisions +the gold received for customs might be deposited with these banks, may +be the subject of discussion hereafter. + +If this system were adopted in its entirety, the process of absorbing +treasury notes would commence at once, and also a correspondent rise in +their market value. The system of loans and funding saved England from +bankruptcy during her long wars with France, and we must resort to +similar expedients. But as loans, in the usual way, except at ruinous +discounts, for any large amounts, are impracticable, we are left to the +alternative of the Secretary's system, or bankruptcy, repudiation, and +disunion. + +I have another suggestion to make as regards these notes furnished by +the Government to the banks, secured by U. S. stocks. These notes are +guaranteed not only by the stock of the Government, but, in addition, by +the whole capital and property, real and personal, of the banks, and a +prior lien on the whole to the Government, to secure the payment of +these notes. These notes are receivable by the Government for all dues +except customs. These notes are a national currency, furnished by the +nation and secured by its stock. + +These notes then, as in England, should be a legal tender in payment of +all debts, except by the banks. As the banks can redeem these issues in +legal tender treasury notes, these issues of the new banks ought to be a +legal tender also, except by the banks. + +There is another reason why this currency should be made a legal tender. +Our two last suspensions of specie payments by the banks, viz., in 1857 +and in 1860, were based upon _panics_, yet they had the same disastrous +effect, for the time, as if arising from short crops, overtrading, or a +currency greatly redundant. Such panic convulsions are caused mainly by +the call for the redemption of bank notes in specie, based on the fear +of suspension and depreciation. But if such notes, as in European +government banks, were a legal tender, except by the banks, such panics +would be far less frequent here, and less injurious. The present system, +as compared with that of Europe, discriminates most unjustly against our +country. As a general rule, the American creditor cannot demand gold +from the foreign debtor, but such foreign or domestic creditor could +always demand gold from the American debtor. This discrimination has +produced here the most disastrous consequences, and, independent of the +present condition of the country, our whole banking system requires +radical reform. We have had eight _general_ bank suspensions under our +present bank system, many of them continuing for years, and producing +ruin and desolation. Under our present system, to talk, as a general +rule, of well-regulated banks, is to talk of a well-regulated famine or +pestilence, or of a well-regulated earthquake or tornado. And even the +few banks that are claimed to be well managed, have no appreciable +effect on the system. It is the system that knows no uniformity or +security, and never can have, as now organized. That a system so +perilous and explosive, should have even partially succeeded is proof +only of the intelligence and integrity, generally, of the bank officers +and directors, but no recommendation of the system itself. + +The want of uniformity as to commercial regulations, led to the adoption +of our Federal Constitution; and yet we have no uniformity as to money, +which represents commerce and effects its interchanges. In this respect, +we are still suffering all the evils of the old confederacy, and have +thereby so weakened the Government as to have invited this rebellion. +Indeed, the State banks in the revolted States were the main auxiliaries +of treason and secession, and supplied, to a vast extent, the sinews of +war. By Census Table 34, there were in 1860, 1,642 banks, incorporated +by thirty-four States, with no uniformity of organization, issues, or +security. Thus is it that the States have usurped the power to regulate +commerce and currency, and to emit bills of credit, in defiance of the +prohibition of the Federal Constitution. The Egyptians abandoned their +folly after seven plagues; but we have had eight bank convulsions, and +yet we adhere to the wretched system. + +I believe it was slavery caused the rebellion, but, in the absence of +powerful aid from the Southern banks, the revolted States could never +have maintained so prolonged a contest. Organized as now proposed, these +new banks, and all who held their notes, must have sustained the +Government. Nations expend millions yearly in erecting forts and +maintaining, even in peace, large armies and navies to preserve the +Government. But necessary as these may be, they would not be more +important than the system now proposed as a security for the +preservation of the Government. + +My last suggestion is, that as regards all such United States loans, as +during the war shall become the basis of this system, the time of +payment shall be made twenty years instead of five, so as, with the +modifications above proposed, to insure the cooperation of the banks, +and the success of the system. As this plan is deemed essential to save +our finances, to suppress the rebellion, and maintain the Union, why +incur any hazard on such a question as this? In all our wars, including +the present, we have issued bonds running twenty years to maturity, and +the bonds, redeemable in 1881, are scarcely at par. Why, then, issue a +stock of less value, which may fail to accomplish the great object, when +a better security would certainly succeed? I fully agree in the opinion +expressed by the Secretary, against 'a fixed interest of six per cent. +on a great debt, for twenty years,' if it can be avoided; but I also +concur in that portion of his report in which he says: 'No very early +day will probably witness the reduction of the public debt to the amount +required as a basis for secured circulation.' To that extent, then, +would I enlarge the time for the maturity of the bonds. Surely, if this +be necessary to secure the cooperation of the banks, and the capital of +the country, there should be no hesitation. Even if the system, based +only on the bonds of short date, should ultimately succeed, the loss, in +the interim, from a redundant and depreciated currency, would far exceed +any benefit derived from the substitution of five-twenties for twenty +year bonds. By Census Table 35, our wealth in 1850, was $7,135,780,228, +and in 1860, $16,159,616,068, the ratio of increase during the decade +being 126.45 per cent.; at which rate, our wealth in 1870 would be +$36,583,450,585, and in 1880, $82,843,222,849. Surely, then, at these +periods, it would be much easier to liquidate this debt than in 1867. +But, were it otherwise, the immediate gain from decreased expenditures, +arising from funding more rapidly our treasury notes, thus rendering our +currency less redundant and depreciated, with the revival of the public +credit, and its immediate happy influence, North and South, here and in +Europe, would far more than compensate for any contingent advantage +arising from short loans. Our twenty years' loan is now barely at par, +and the five-twenties below par. The difficulty of inducing bank and +other capital to invest hundreds of millions of dollars under the new +system is very great. Is it wise to commence the effort, confined to our +weakest securities, now below par? Besides, considering the old and new +debts, and constantly increasing responsibilities, is there any prospect +that we will have liquidated all these before the end of five years, and +the five-twenty loan also? Surely, upon a benefit so doubtful, and a +contingency so improbable, we ought not to risk the fate of a measure on +which depends the safety of the Union. But if we could pay off the +five-twenty loan held by the new banks, is it prudent to assume that so +many hundred millions of capital will be withdrawn from the present +banks and other business for investment in the new banks, which may +cease at the end of five years by payment of the bonds? The change from +the old to the new banks may involve some loss at first, but, if the +system may be arrested at the end of five years, just when profits might +be realizing, the plan could scarcely succeed. When the Secretary first +proposed this system in December, 1861, he probably would have succeeded +with the five-twenties, in the condition at that date of the public +credit. But the disastrous fall of our securities since that date, seems +now to require bonds of a higher value. + +I would then provide a twenty years loan, for all that may be made the +basis of the new bank circulation. But it is not a six, but only a four +per cent. twenty years' loan that is proposed, by deducting one per +cent. semi-annually from the interest of the bonds made the basis of +this bank circulation. This deduction would only be a fair equivalent +for the expenses incurred by the Government in furnishing the +circulation, for the release of taxes, for the deposit of public moneys +with these banks, for making their notes a legal tender, and receiving +them for all dues except customs. The tax on all other bank circulation +should be one and a half per cent. semi-annually, secured by adequate +penalties. + +If, under this system, during this stupendous rebellion, involving the +existence of the Government, with armies and expenditures unexampled in +history, the Secretary (as, with the aid of Congress and the banks, I +believe he can) should secure us a sound and uniform currency, and +negotiate vast loans, running twenty years, at par, the Government +paying only four per cent. interest per annum, he will have accomplished +a financial miracle, and deserved a fame nearest to that of the first +and greatest of his predecessors, the peerless Hamilton. + +The bill organizing the new system, presented in Congress by Mr. Hooper +last summer, is drawn with great ability, and it is much to be deplored, +that (with some amendments) it had not then become a law, when it could +have been much more easily put in operation, and would have saved +hundreds of millions of dollars to the Government. + +But the fifty-fifth section of that bill provides that all the banks +organized under it are to become 'depositaries of the public moneys,' +excepting those in 'the city of Washington.' Why this discrimination? If +there be any place where banks, organized under a national charter, +issuing a national currency, and receiving national deposits, should be +encouraged, it is here. With no discrimination against them, such banks +would be established here with considerable capital. And why not? It +cannot be intended to discourage the establishment of such banks here, +and thus defeat, to that extent, the success of the system. It is here, +if anywhere, that such banks should receive the public deposits, where +they could be constantly secured from day to day under the immediate +supervision of the Government. Besides, the only effect of such a +discrimination would be to drive such banks to Georgetown, Alexandria, +or some other speculative site outside the city or District. This city +has just been consecrated to freedom by Congress, and it is hoped that, +in commencing its new career, no discrimination will be made against it. +Indeed, I think it would be wise, in order to insure the success here of +the new system, to allow the district banks organized under this law to +receive the same rate of interest as is permitted in New York. + +I have contended, during the last fourth of a century, that all State +bank currency is unconstitutional. This rebellion will demonstrate the +truth of that proposition, and the question ultimately be so decided by +the Supreme Court of the United States. This, it is true, might require +some of those Judges, if then living, to change their opinion on some +points; but this has been done before, and even on constitutional +questions; and State banks will fall before judicial action, as well as +nullification, State allegiance, secession, and the whole brood of +kindred heresies. + +A republic which cannot regulate its currency, or which leaves that +power with thirty-four separate States, each legislating at its pleasure +and without uniformity, abandons an essential national authority, and +this abdication has furnished one of the main supports of the rebellion. +With nothing but a national currency, the revolted States never could +have successfully inaugurated this war, and we must deprive them in all +time to come of this terrible ally of treason. To permit the States to +provide the circulating medium, the money of the country, is to enable +them to furnish the sinews of war, and clothe them with a power to +overthrow the Government. + +With only such a national currency as is now proposed, issued by the +Government to these banks, organized by Congress, and based on the +deposit in the Federal treasury of United States stock, the rebellion +would have been impossible. Our Government was so mild and benignant, +that we deemed it exempt from the assault of traitors; but this revolt +has dissipated this delusion, and warned us to provide all the +safeguards indicated by experience as necessary to maintain the Union. +Among the most important is the resumption by the Government of the +great sovereign function of regulating the currency and giving to it +uniformity and nationality. Such was clearly the intention of the +Constitution. The Government has, by the Constitution, the _exclusive_ +power 'to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several +States.' But commerce is _regulated_ mainly by money, and by it all +interstate and international exchanges of products are made. If the +currency is redundant, prices rise, exports are diminished; and the +reverse follows with a contracted circulation. But banks inflate or +restrict the currency at their pleasure, and thus control prices, +commerce, exports, imports, and revenue. But they also destroy or +depreciate the money of the Government, and deprive it of a vital power. +Thus, the nation issues treasury notes, and makes them a legal tender: +the banks immediately make such notes the basis of bank issues, in the +ratio of three to one, and the whole currency necessarily becomes +redundant and depreciated; and thus this essential power of the +Government is controlled by the States, and, for all practical purposes, +annihilated. + +Chief Justice Marshall, in delivering the unanimous opinion of the +Supreme Court of the United States (4 Wheaton 193), said: 'Wherever the +terms in which a power is granted to Congress, or the nature of the +power require that it should be exercised exclusively by Congress, the +subject is as completely taken from the State Legislatures as if they +had been forbidden to act on it.' Now, it has been decided by the +Supreme Court of the United States (9 Wheaton 1) that, this power to +_regulate commerce_ extends to the _land_, as well as to the _water_, +that it includes _intercourse and navigation_, and vessels, as vehicles +of commerce, that it includes an _embargo_ which is prohibitory, that +this power is 'EXCLUSIVELY vested in Congress,' and '_no part of it can +be exercised by a State_.' Now, the question, whether the notes of a +State bank, issued on the authority of a State, and designed to +circulate as money, conflicts with _this clause_ of the Constitution, +has _never been decided by the Supreme Court of the United States_. This +is a new and momentous question, never yet adjudicated by the Supreme +Court; but how they would now decide that point, with the light thrown +upon it by this rebellion, I cannot doubt. + +The Government also has the sole power to lay and collect _duties_, +which 'shall be uniform throughout the United States,' and the States +are prohibited from exercising this authority. But this power also is in +fact controlled by the banks, and the revenue from imports increased or +diminished, according to their action. Indeed, they can modify or repeal +tariffs at their pleasure, for, they have only to inflate the +circulation, and prices rise here to the extent of the duties, and the +tariff becomes inoperative. Of all the branches of our industry, the +manufacturing is injured most by a redundant currency, limiting our +fabrics to a partial supply at home, and driving them from the foreign +market. Give us a sound, stable, uniform currency, sufficient but not +redundant, and our skilled, educated, and intelligent labor will, in +time, defy all competition. But the banks, as now conducted, are the +great enemies of American industry. + +The Government has also the _sole_ power 'to coin money, regulate the +value thereof,' etc. But the banks now regulate its value by controlling +prices, by substituting their money for coin, and by expelling it from +the country at their pleasure. Recollect, these powers over commerce and +money are _exclusive_, not concurrent, so adjudicated, and the +Constitution, in delegating them exclusively to the Government, withheld +them altogether from the States. The conceded fact that these powers are +_exclusive_, proves that the States cannot, by any instrumentality, +directly or indirectly, control their exercise. An exclusive authority +necessarily forbids any control or interference. But there are express +prohibitions in the Constitution as well as grants. That instrument +declares that 'no _State_ shall emit _bills of credit_.' The State +itself cannot emit circulating paper: how then can it authorize this to +be done by a State corporation, which is the mere creature of a State +law? The State cannot authorize its _Governor_ to issue such paper: how +then can it direct a _cashier_, deriving all his power only from a State +law, to do the same thing? _Qui facit per alium, facit per se_, and this +fundamental maxim of law and reason is violated when a State does +through any instrumentality, created by it, what the State cannot do +itself. + +It is true that a majority of the Supreme Court of the United States, in +11 Peters 257, did decide that the Bank of the Commonwealth of Kentucky +did not violate that clause of the Constitution forbidding States to +'emit bills of credit,' but Justice Story, in his dissenting opinion, +said: 'When this cause was formerly argued before this court, a majority +of the judges who then heard it were decidedly of opinion that the act +of Kentucky establishing this bank was unconstitutional and void, as +amounting to an authority to emit bills of credit, for and on behalf of +the State, within the prohibition of the Constitution of the United +States. In principle, it was thought to be decided by the case of Craig +_v._ the State of Missouri (4 Peters 410). Among that majority was the +late Chief Justice Marshall.' This decision, then, in the case of the +Bank of Kentucky, is overthrown, _as an authority_, by the fact that it +was against the decision of the Supreme Court in a former case, and +against the opinion of a majority of the court in that very case before +the death of Chief Justice Marshall. In delivering the opinion of the +court in the Missouri case (4 Peters 410), Chief Justice Marshall +defined what is that _bill of credit_ which a _State cannot emit_. He +says: 'If the prohibition means anything, if the words are not empty +sounds, it must comprehend the emission of _any paper medium_ by a State +Government, for the purpose of _common circulation_.' And he also says: +'Bills of credit signify a _paper medium_, intended to _circulate_ +between individuals, and between Government and individuals, for the +ordinary purposes of society.' That the notes of the Bank of Kentucky +came within this definition and decision, is clearly stated by Justice +Story. In that case also it was expressly decided, that if the issues be +unconstitutional, _the notes given for the loan of them_ ARE VOID. It is +said, however, that the bills are issued by a bank, not by the State; +but the bank is created by the State, and authorized by the State to +issue these notes, to circulate as money. In the language of Chief +Justice Marshall, in this case, 'And can this make any real difference? +Is the proposition to be maintained that the Constitution meant to +prohibit names and not things?' On this subject, Justice Story says: +'That a State may rightfully evade the prohibitions of the Constitution +by acting through the _instrumentality of agents_ in the evasion, +instead of acting in its _own direct name_, is a doctrine to which I can +never subscribe,' etc. I am conscious that Justice Story also said in +the same case, _arguendo_: 'the States may create banks as well as other +corporations, upon _private capital_; and, SO FAR AS THIS PROHIBITION IS +CONCERNED, may rightfully authorize them to issue bank bills or notes as +currency, subject always to the _control of Congress_, whose powers +extend to the _entire regulation of the currency of the country_.' It +will be observed, that Justice Story gives no opinion as to whether the +issues of such banks are constitutional, whether they conflict or not +with the power of Congress to regulate coin or commerce. He only says +(and the limitation is most significant), they do not violate the +prohibition as to bills of credit (from which I dissent); but he does +declare that to Congress belongs '_the entire regulation of the +currency_.' Now this power must rest on the authority of Congress to +regulate coin and commerce. But these powers, we have seen, were not +concurrent, but _exclusive_; and, in the language of Chief Justice +Marshall, in delivering the unanimous opinion of the Supreme Court in +the case before quoted from 4 Wheaton 193, as to any such power that +'should be exercised _exclusively_ by Congress, the subject is as +_completely_ taken from the State Legislature as if they had been +_forbidden to act on it_.' All then who agree that Congress has 'the +entire regulation of the currency,' must admit that all banks of issue +incorporated by States are unconstitutional, not because such issues are +bills of credit, but because they violate the exclusive authority of +Congress to regulate commerce, coin, and its value. I repeat, that while +this question has never been adjudicated by the Supreme Court, yet, if +their decision in fourth and ninth Wheaton is maintained, such bank +issues are clearly unconstitutional. It is clear, also, whatever may be +the case of bank issues, based only 'upon private capital,' or, in the +language of Judge Story, 'if the corporate stock, and that only by the +charter, is made liable for the debts of the bank,' yet, if the bank +issues are based on the 'funds' or 'credit' of the State, such issues do +violate the prohibition against bills of credit. Such bank issues, then, +as are furnished and countersigned by State officers, acting under State +laws, and are secured by the deposit with the State of its own stock, +are most clearly unconstitutional. + +In No. 44 (by Hamilton) of the _Federalist_, the great contemporaneous +exposition of the Constitution (prepared by Hamilton, Madison, and Chief +Justice Jay of the Supreme Court of the United States), it is said: 'The +same reasons which show the necessity of denying to the States the power +of regulating coin, prove with equal force that they ought not to be at +liberty to substitute a paper medium instead of coin.' Such was the +opinion of the two great founders of the Constitution (Hamilton and +Madison), and its first judicial expositor, the eminent Chief Justice +Jay. Justice Story quotes and approves this remarkable passage, and says +'that the prohibition was aimed at a _paper medium_ which was intended +to _circulate as money_, and to that alone.' + +In his message of December 3, 1816, President Madison, referring +expressly to a _bank_ and _paper_ medium, said: 'It is essential that +the nation should possess a currency of equal value, credit, and use, +wherever it may circulate. The Constitution has entrusted Congress +_exclusively_ with the power of _creating_ and _regulating_ a currency +of that description.' + +This rebellion proves the awful danger of State violations of the +Federal Constitution. The rebellion is the child of State usurpation, +State supremacy, State allegiance, and State secession. And now the +Government is paralyzed financially, in its efforts to suppress the +rebellion, by a question as to State banks, depreciating the currency, +and State banks based on State stocks. The Government wishes a currency, +not redundant, and to borrow money to save the Union. But one State +says, we have placed all our surplus money in State banks, and another +State (as in the case of New York) says, we have based the circulation +of these banks, mainly on our own State bonds, and you must do nothing +which will injuriously affect their value. It is true the Union is in +danger, but are not the credit of State banks and State bonds of higher +value than the Union? The State first, the Union afterwards. Our +paramount duty is to our State, and that to the Union is subordinate. +Why, this is the very language of rebellion--the echo of South Carolina +treason. But it is not the language of the Constitution, which declares +that "This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall +be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be +made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law +of the land: and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, +anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary +notwithstanding." + +The _supremacy_ then, is with the Federal Constitution and laws; +otherwise there could be no uniformity or nationality. And does New York +suppose that she can tear down the temple of the Union, and that the +principal pillar which supported the arch will stand firm and erect? No! +if the Union falls, New York will only be the most conspicuous among the +broken columns. + +But New York knows that the path of interest is that of honor and of +duty. It is the Union only that has made her great. It is the +concentration by the Union of interstate and international commerce in +her great city, that was consummating its imperial destiny. Before the +Union of 1778 and 1787, New York city was the village of Manhattan: +destroy the Union, and she will again become little more than the +village of Manhattan. The trident of the ocean, the sceptre of the +world's commerce would fall from her grasp, and London be left without a +rival. Deprive the Government of the power to regulate commerce, and the +fall of New York will be as rapid as her rise. Each State then, as +before the Constitution, would control its own commerce, and the +railroads and canals of New York would cease to be the vehicles of the +trade of the nation and of the world. Each State, as under the old +Confederacy, would force commerce into her own ports by prohibitory or +discriminating statutes. No, when New York takes from the Union the +exclusive control of commerce, she commits suicide. One uniform +regulation of commerce, and one uniform currency, are more essential to +the prosperity of New York than to that of any other State. New York +represents interstate and international commerce. There are concentrated +our imports and exports, and there three fourths of our revenue is +collected. There, if the Union endures, must be the centre of the +commerce of the nation and of the world. If the rebellion succeeds, the +separation of the East and West is just as certain as that of the North +and South. Discord would reign supreme, and States and parts of States +become petty sovereignties, mere pawns, to be moved on the political +chess board by the kings and queens of Europe. + +As New York has derived the greatest benefits from the Union, so would +she suffer most from its fall. It is New York to whom the Union +transferred the command of her own commerce, and ultimately that of the +world. It is New York to which England looks as the future successful +rival of London, and it is New York at whom England chiefly aims the +blow in desiring to overthrow the Union. The interest of New York in the +price of bank or State stock is insignificant compared with her still +greater stake in the success of the Union. Indeed, if the Union should +fall, State and bank stock and all property will be of little value, and +bank debts will generally become worthless. + +But if the war continues, we have seen that a redundant and depreciated +currency would increase our expenditures $408,800,000 per annum. This +would require a like addition to our annual tax, of which the share of +New York would be over $50,000,000, and the share of every other State +in like proportion to its population. + +By Treasury Table 35, the stocks, State and Federal, held by the New +York banks in 1860, was $29,605,318, the circulation $28,239,950, and +the capital $111,821,957. Thus it appears that the increased tax to be +paid _annually_ by New York, as the consequence of a redundant and +depreciated currency, would be nearly double her whole bank circulation, +and that thirteen months of this increased tax to be paid by the nation, +would largely exceed the whole capital of all the banks of the United +States in 1860. (Census Table 35.) These are the frightful results of an +irredeemable, redundant, and depreciated currency. + +Such a course, on the part of a Government, which must make large +purchases, resembles that of an individual who wishes to buy largely on +his own credit and paper, but depreciates it so much as to compel him to +pay quadruple prices, the result being bankruptcy and repudiation. + +There is great hope in the fact that New York takes no contracted view +of this great question. She knows that her imperial destiny is +identified with the fate of the Union. Realizing this great truth, she +has more troops in the field than any other State, she has expended more +money and more blood than any other State to suppress this rebellion, +and she will never array State stocks or State banks in hostility to the +safety of the Union. + +And what of Pennsylvania, that glorious old Commonwealth, so many of +whose noble sons, cut off mostly in the morning of life, now fill graves +prepared by treason? Is she to become a border State, and her southern +boundary the line of blood, marked by frowning forts, by bristling +bayonets, by the tramp of contending armies, engaged in the carnival of +slaughter, and revelry of death? Is New England to be re-colonized, and +the British flag again to float over the chosen domain of freedom? What +of the small States, deprived of the secured equality and protective +guarantees of the Constitution, to be surely crushed by more powerful +communities? What of the West? Is it to be cut off from the seaboard, +and rendered tributary to the maritime power? What of the States of the +Pacific? Are they to lose the great imperial railways destined, under +the Union, to connect them with the valley of the Mississippi and the +Atlantic? But alas! why look at any of the bleeding and mutilated +fragments, when all will be involved in a common ruin? + +May a gracious Providence give us all, the wisdom to discern what is +best for our beloved country, in this her day of fearful trial, and the +courage and patriotism to adopt whatever course is best calculated to +save us from impending ruin! + + + + +A TRIP TO ANTIETAM. + + +The great battle of the Antietam had been fought, and a veteran army was +gathered around Harper's Ferry recruiting for fresh campaigns. Here was +a chance to see a battle field and warriors to be celebrated for all +time. From childhood up we have been taught history; and all history, +except some few dry constitutional treatises, has been accounts of great +commanders, of the marches and retreats of bronzed soldiers, of empires +won by the sword, of dynasties established by conquests. Our hymn book, +our clergymen, and our Bible have exhorted us to be soldiers of the +cross, to buckle on our armor, and to fight the good fight, even when +turning the other cheek when smitten on the one. Now this opportunity to +see actual history, a battle field, and veteran troops, and great +leaders whose names are to be household words, could not be resisted; +so, taking a couple of blankets apiece, and a few clothes, and money +wherewith to pay our way, we started by rail for Baltimore, and thence +for the army. + +Around Baltimore were several regiments. Those that we visited were of +the recent levies, and were improving fast in discipline and drill. They +were placed in strong positions to prevent a rebel attack from the west, +and to command the city. The stars and stripes floated over houses in +all parts of the town. We met a little company of boys seven miles out +playing soldier, with the star-spangled banner, a cheering sign of the +loyalty of the place. + +At Baltimore my friend and I took seats in the car for Harper's Ferry. +The train was crowded with a most miscellaneous set of passengers, +officers of all grades, from general with stars to second lieutenant +with plain bands, common soldiers, sutlers, Jews, and country people. +Some of the Jews, after a time, became the most noisy part of the crowd, +and belied their proverbial reputation for shrewdness by imbibing from +bottles, which they circulated very freely, becoming very talkative, and +most decidedly drunk. The most interesting companion we met was a member +of the Maryland House of Representatives, a very sensible man, and of +course a strong Unionist. He did not approve of the President's +emancipation proclamation; thought it would alienate Union men in the +Border States, and made other objections to it. He informed us that his +negroes were of no profit to him; that the proclamation had made them +believe they would all be free; that they did pretty much what they +chose; and that Maryland would have to accede to the President's advice +to the Union Border States to emancipate their slaves and receive +compensation for so doing. + +The railroad, after leaving the Relay House, runs along the Patapsco +river, amid most beautiful scenery. We passed numerous trains with +Government stores--one of baggage cars fitted up with rough seats and +crowded inside and on the top with a regiment of Uncle Sam's bluecoats, +cheering and singing as new troops only do. There were no signs of the +devastations of war until we approached the Monocacy river. During their +campaign in Maryland, the rebels at one time made this river their line +of defence: it was supposed that they would make here a stand against +McClellan's advance from Washington. They had burnt the woodwork of the +bridge, twisted the long iron rods of the structure to one side, +destroyed all the railroad building, engines, and cars they could lay +hands on, and had done everything to retard our force. A new bridge had +now been recently built, over which we were obliged to pass slowly. +Immediately after leaving the river, the road branched, one track +leading to Frederick, then an immense hospital containing seven thousand +wounded soldiers, the other keeping on and striking the Potomac at the +Point of Rocks. We saw soldiers and sentries at several places, but were +surprised that we did not see more. The road keeps close to the river +for some miles to Harper's Ferry. On the other side the ground was +frequently occupied by the enemy's pickets; the difficulty of +approaching the river being the only impediment to the shelling of +trains on our side. The Potomac was unusually low; there had been a long +season of dry, beautiful weather, rendering it fordable in many places. + +At the Point of Rocks we enter upon the mountains of the Blue Ridge, and +the railroad winds in the deep valley worn by the river, amid the most +picturesque and beautiful scenery. The canal is between the railroad and +river: its locks had been destroyed and the water drained out by the +rebel hordes; for it is a great artery of life to Washington, and +invaluable to an army encamped along its borders, furnishing +economically the transportation of the great supplies necessary for the +soldiers' subsistence. At this time it seemed of no use except as a +depository for the carcasses of dead horses. + +With the exception of this dismal empty canal, there were very few signs +of the ravages of the armies which had lately swept through these +charming valleys. A few miles from Harper's Ferry, by the side of the +railroad, were great hayricks, and the barns were full to overflowing. +As we approached Sandy Hook, a village of a few houses on the north side +of the Potomac, about a mile from Harper's Ferry, we saw on the road, +which ran close to the railroad track, thousands of the blue-bodied, +white-topped army wagons. In the most crowded thoroughfare of London one +would not see so many teams. From this neighborhood the great army of +the Potomac drew the most of its supplies. The ninth army corps was +moving this day to its camp, two or three miles northward; and part of +its cannon, their brazen throats still tarnished by sulphurous smoke, +added to the throng. It is surprising how large a portion of the army is +composed of these baggage trains, and of the camp followers, teamsters, +servants, and sutlers. A regiment of infantry, under the little shelter +tents is crowded, into a small space; but the bulky baggage trains cover +much ground. We spent the best part of a day, in going to and returning +from the army, in the neighborhood of a small wayside tavern in this +little village of Sandy Hook, with no other amusement than watching the +moving of the teamsters, chatting with stray officers and soldiers, and +seeing what may be called the back-stair life of the army. And we wish +here to protest against the abuse which has been so abundantly heaped +upon the teamsters: we found them, as a class, a respectable body of +men, quite skilful in the management of their animals, comparing well +with those in the same occupation in our great cities: there was +certainly not so much swearing, and not so much abuse of their mules and +horses, as one sees in New York. I remember their kind attention to me, +some days afterward, when, in my impatience to get by a long train of +teams filling up a little country road, I had imprudently urged my horse +on to a ledge of rocks, where he, not being an old warhorse, hesitated, +slipped, and fell flat on his side, among the mules of one of the +wagons; and, as the horse, with my leg under him, was rolling to recover +himself, the anxiety of the teamsters as to whether I was hurt, and then +as to my horse, a fine animal, who had cut himself a little on the +rocks. Their proffered assistance was very different from the oaths I +should have met under similar circumstances in some Northern cities. + +The army wagons are large, with great white cotton coverings, and +generally drawn by six mules: the driver, usually a colored man, rides +the first nigh mule, and has _one_ rein, called the 'jerky rein,' +running over the head of the mule before him, through a ring fastened to +his headstall, and dividing on the back of the leader, and fastening to +his bit. The mule is directed to one side or another by the driver +twitching the rein and shouting. There were some few wagons driven from +the box, but in all these cases that we noticed, the animals were +horses, four in number, and their drivers were white. The mules and +horses were generally in good condition, and quite a contrast to those +in the cavalry service, which, even in a crack regiment, like the sixth +regular, presented a most sorry appearance of overwork and terribly hard +usage. The baggage trains and camp followers are a necessary portion of +every army, and its efficiency depends in a great measure upon the +perfect organization of this essential part. In the French army this +organization is carried to a high degree of perfection. A small army of +ten or twenty thousand men can get along with a fewer proportional +number of followers, as it lives more upon the country, than a great +army of one hundred thousand. + +Every regiment has its own baggage wagons to carry its tents, cooking +apparatus, officers' mess chests, and personal baggage. At the beginning +of the war, each of the Massachusetts regiments was fitted out with from +fifteen to twenty-four wagons. A recent United States regulation has +limited the number to six for one regiment. The personal baggage of the +regiments, however, forms a small part of the great transportation of an +army. The spare ammunition is no small matter; every cannon having a +supply of round shot, shell, canister, and grape: all these may be +needed by each piece in a battle, as the shot used depends upon the +distance of the foe. A full regiment of infantry may fire in one battle +sixty thousand rounds of ammunition, weighing nearly three tons. The +pontoon trains, the baggage of the staff, the forage for the horses of +the artillery and of the generals, field officers, and their staffs, the +food of the army, and the food and forage for this further army of camp +followers--all have to be transported. The cavalry are expected to +forage for their horses from off the country; all the rest have to be +provided for. To carry the subsistence of a regiment of nine hundred men +for one day, requires one of the six-mule teams: for a march of twenty +days there must be twenty wagons. One will see from this that, next to +the general, the quartermaster has the great post of responsibility. He +has to see that all the supplies are obtained and forwarded to the right +place. He commands all these countless wagons with their teamsters. It +is also his duty, when on the march, to pick out the camp, unless the +general may take it from out of his hands. The army, as a general thing, +will not fight well unless it is well fed and well cared for. To assist +him, the quartermaster has his necessary clerks, for he carries on a +large business, with Uncle Sam as his principal, and he must account to +him for every pound of coffee, bacon, flour, and hay, barrel of vinegar, +keg of nails, tent or tent pin that he receives, and finally return +them, or tell him satisfactorily where they have gone, and produce his +vouchers; or he and his bondsmen must pay their value. All this is done +by system and rule: there are mounted wagonmasters to look out for every +small string of wagons, and some sort of discipline prevails among these +non-enlisted men. A great army must be a moving city, capable of +subsisting itself in the uncultivated and desert regions through which +it often passes. Every cavalry soldier carries his spare horseshoes and +nails; and every cavalry regiment and every battery of artillery has its +own forge, tools, and materials for shoeing its horses and making +repairs: even the quartermaster's train must have its blacksmiths and +their supplies. + +In travelling down the Rhone during the Crimean war, I was vainly trying +to make out the meaning of the letters on the military button of an +officer sitting before me; when one of his companions, who happened to +be at my side, a well-educated, intelligent man, good-naturedly informed +me that they indicated that the wearer belonged to the bureau of the +post. He and several others on the boat had been educated for this +branch of the service at a military school in Paris, and were en route +for the sole purpose of taking charge of this department. We have not +arrived at this perfection; for ours, after all, in many respects, is an +army of volunteers; but still a messenger had to go every day to +Washington for the letters of the army corps, and the telegraph and its +wires travel with the camp. The officers' servants alone, in an army of +a hundred and fifty thousand men, number more than the thirty-nine +hundred soldiers the city of Boston has to raise for her proportion of +the levy of nine-months men. The number of servants and horses of an +officer depends upon his rank; he draws subsistence for the number +allowed to him. A mere cavalry captain can draw for and usually has two +horses. His horses and trappings, his mess, must be cared for by others; +and hence the thousands of servants that must go with the thousands of +officers. + +But let us pass from this, which is common to every army, and proceed on +our journey. The easily pulverized, light, clayey soil around Sandy Hook +was raised in huge clouds by the countless wagons and the hoofs of the +horses of the squads of cavalry officers, couriers, and wagonmasters. +The little tavern was once, the old woman who kept it assured us, +surrounded by a pretty fence, and a garden with grass and flowers: now +the fence was half gone, and to its pickets were tied the horses of +officers, quartermasters, baggagemasters, and orderlies, and the flowers +were trampled into light dust. The provisions in the house had been +eaten by hungry travellers, who were supplied with very scanty fare, and +were thankful to get that. The old woman, having dealt out to us the +little she had left, for which she demanded most abundant compensation, +amused us with her tales. Her house had been alternately the home of +Unionists and rebels. It was not many days since divisions of rebels had +gone by and encamped there, both before and after the surrender of +Harper's Ferry. The shells fired in that fight had passed over her +tavern. Her description of the hungry, tired troopers, arriving in the +evening, and surrounding the house, the men falling down asleep under +their horses' bellies, horses and men packed in together as thick as a +swarm of bees, was quite graphic. Her accounts of her conversations with +the great rebel leaders were interesting, but I feared were apocryphal, +as she ended by assuring us that General Lee had to sleep supperless on +her woodpile. If it were not for this last tale, kind reader, you would +have been entertained with the conversations of the great chiefs of +rebeldom, as related by a reliable witness. We did hear from her, and +from officers who saw the rebel soldiers at Harper's Ferry, of the +pitiable condition of some of the infantry, of their naked, bleeding +feet, and their gaunt looks. Our landlady affirmed that we could not +find a dog in the neighborhood; for they had gone before the rebel +hordes in the way that such flesh disappears before the Chinese and +Pacific Islanders. It is probably true that at times they were hard +pressed for food, and many badly off for shoes; but we were told by +officers who saw the dead at Antietam that, though not so well shod as +our men, they were shod, and they had provisions in their haversacks. +The rebels have flour dealt out to them as rations on the march, and +they have to cook it. Our troops have hard biscuit, called 'tack;' it is +made in squares, and some which was fresh was very good; but it often +comes to the regiments with maggots. This is not so much objected to; +but when, in addition, it is mouldy, the men grumble. By the side of the +fresh tack were some Sandy Hook veteran biscuit, that had been through +the Peninsular campaign, and had come last from Harrison's Landing; the +outside of the boxes was enough to condemn them, and the commissary was +saying that he must get Uncle Sam's inspector-general to examine and +pass upon them. When we saw this hard, mouldy old tack, we appreciated +the joke of the Western boys, who declared they found the date of the +baking on their biscuit in the letters 'B. C.,' 'Before Christ.' The +luxury of soft bread is prized by the troops. Near Baltimore, where the +38th Massachusetts were stationed for some weeks, nice ovens were built, +after the fashion of the French army, and fresh bread, meats, and the +Yankee Sunday beans cooked. With the army in the field this cannot be +done, but the ovens could have been built during the weeks our soldiers +were resting on the banks of the Potomac. Our troops at this time were +fed on the hard tack and fresh beef; and some of the men in a camp near +Sharpsburg complained of the want of salt provisions. This seemed +unreasonable, until we heard that they had no salt, the long distance it +had to be teamed being the excuse given for the unpardonable want of it. +This hard tack is doing one good thing: it is giving the men white +teeth; you can tell an old soldier by his polished ivory; his teeth +approach the appearance of the Italian and Swiss peasantry, who also +chew hard bread. Reader, did you ever try to work your way through the +hard loaf of the peasant's fare? The army regulations require tooth +brushes for the men; it is supposed that the proper use keeps off ague +and disease; still many regiments were without one to a company. + +But to return to our old woman at the little tavern of Sandy Hook. She +had tales, too, of our officers. That morning she had seen our +handsomest and our most splendid-looking general--in appearance the +ideal of the brigand of the romance--Burnside, riding by, with his +black, tall, army felt hat, without plume or gilt eagle, brim turned +down, his dark blue blouse covered with dust. 'Why,' said she, 'he +looked, in his dusty blue shirt, with two old tin dippers strung by the +handle at his belt, like any farmer; but I suppose he had some better +clothes.' Her lament for the gallant fellows who had fallen by disease, +torn by the cannon shot, or struck by the deadly rifle ball; for the +sufferings of the poor, sick, lame, and mutilated soldiers; and her +solemn asseverations that there was something wrong in the hearts of the +leaders on both sides, to permit this suffering and loss of so many good +men, was truly touching. We could not reason it out with her; logic had +to give place to her pathetic lamentation. I do not, however, intend to +keep my readers so long a time at this little wayside inn as I was; and +will pass on to Harper's Ferry, a mile beyond. + +But before we part, we certainly should not fail to notice a modern +addition to the camp follower that Napoleon did not have in his grand +armies--the newsboy--the omnipresent, the irrepressible gamin of the +press. New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, all had +contributed their quota, and what a glorious harvest they were reaping! +Baltimore _Americans_, at five cents each; New York _Heralds_, +_Tribunes_, and _Times_, at ten cents; and everything sold early. One +little fellow was strutting around with a pair of spurs on, and styled +himself 'colonel;' the others he introduced as his staff. The day's work +was over, and larking had begun. I found the spurs were for use. The +colonel had bought an old condemned brute, which his companions were +trying to buy at the advanced price of ten dollars. The camps were at a +distance, from two miles upward, and a mounted boy could bring his wares +to market first. And so the whole afternoon every rider of a +particularly bad horse was pestered by an offer of five or ten dollars, +from a throng of dirty, noisy, scampish ragamuffins. Later in the +evening, the guard went by with some three or four of the boys, for once +without a grin on their faces, under arrest. We asked the colonel, who +had the reputation of being an honest fellow, what was the matter with +his suite. He only replied that it was hard times for newsboys, if that +was the way things were going; and walked off, clanking his long spurs +over the stones. + +The railroad and road from Sandy Hook to Harper's Ferry run under the +Maryland Heights, the rocks having been blasted away for a passage. The +railroad bridge had been rebuilt, not permanently, but so that trains +could again cross. Lower down the river were the remains of the pontoon +bridge destroyed by the rebels. Higher up on the other side of the +railroad was a new pontoon bridge, built on boats, painted with Uncle +Sam's light blue color. Farther up, the wagons were fording the stream. +As you crossed the pontoon bridge, you came directly to the little stone +engine house, with its belfry, where John Brown held the power of the +great State of Virginia at bay. All else of the Government buildings are +in ruins. The long lines of brick and stone walls blackened by fire, and +the picturesque broken arches of the engine-house windows, were a fit +greeting to one's entrance upon the ruined grandeur of the Old Dominion. +Through the clouds of dust and the noise and confusion of the village +upon the hill rising immediately above the river, we rode, noting the +signs of the recent contest, or looking down on the blue Potomac, +flowing peacefully below. One large brick house had a breach in the +basement story large enough for us to ride in, caused by some bursting +shell. Dead horses still lay in the road; the tailpiece of a broken +cannon was yet there. As we emerged out of the dust at the top of the +hill beyond, toward the afternoon sun, rose Bolivar Heights, and the +innumerable white tents of General Sumner's large army corps. The +soldiers were out for drill or dress parade. The distant sounds of the +bands and bugles and drums, sometimes succeeding each other, then +mingling together, fell softened but constantly on the ear, and +everywhere was the gleam of the declining sun on glistening sword or +bright musket barrel. Behind us to the east, and beyond the Shenandoah, +which flowed at the foot of the village, arose the high Loudon +Mountains; on the north, on the other side of the Potomac, were the +Maryland Heights, with the road to Sharpsburgh and Williamsport winding +along its wooded base. The tops of these mountains were lighted up and +wreathed with the smoke of the fires kindled to destroy the thick woods +that might afford shelter to approaching enemies. It was most charming +mountain scenery. We enjoyed the view long, but had to turn our backs at +last; and as we recrossed the pontoon bridge we wiped off from the soles +of our feet a large portion of the sacred soil of Virginia. Yes, the +sacred soil of Virginia, the mother of presidents, the home of +Washington, Patrick Henry, Jefferson, and Madison, and of how many +others famous in our history. O Virginia, what a contrast is there now! +the blood of thy boasted chivalry struggling manfully stains the ground; +thy soil is ground to powder under the heel of the hated mudsils of the +North; thy fertile plains and beautiful valleys are trodden down by +armed men; the fierce contest, and desolation and want have come to +every household; and the cry arises for thy sons that are not! + +The headquarters of Gen. McClellan were two or three miles north of +Knoxville, a little village on the Potomac, about three miles below +Harper's Ferry. The day that we were there, the General was absent on +his way to meet Mrs. McClellan, and though the telegraph wires ran to +headquarters, nothing was there known of the foray Stuart had begun +early that morning from Hancock, in the rear of our forces; not till +evening, and until his arrival at Chambersburg did the news arrive. If +the telegraph wires had been laid, or the signal corps so stationed as +to have given warning of the inception of this movement, these bold +rebels could not have advanced so far, but would have been compelled to +retreat as they came. Between the General's headquarters and the river +were the famous sixth cavalry of regulars and some batteries of +artillery. He had no guard in the direction of Pennsylvania toward the +northeast, where Stuart's cavalry passed on their way to the Potomac. +The camp itself was not well placed, and was soon changed. In going from +it we rode through a most beautiful country by the side of an officer of +the sixth cavalry, and listened to his enthusiastic account of scouting +in front of our lines, in the footsteps of the retreating enemy, over +the very roads we were travelling safely and without concern; and yet we +were not many miles from the foe, and within reach of the marvellous +flight of the minie ball, which some lurking rifleman might aim from the +other side of the Potomac. These cavalry soldiers and horses have had a +terribly hard time of it. The horses of the sixth were more broken down +and thinner than in the artillery or baggage trains. Two squadrons had +lately been part of the force sent on a reconnoisance to Leesburg; and +upon the return of our troops it had been the duty of our companion, +then in command, to bring up the rear and drive in the infantry +stragglers. Some two hundred had fallen out of the ranks from mere +exhaustion. To leave any of these soldiers behind would be giving them +up as prisoners, and affording the enemy the opportunity of obtaining +information which it was of the utmost importance for the safety of the +expedition to keep back. The troopers had therefore to drive them on +with their swords--not a pleasant duty, when the poor fellows were faint +and used up by fatigue--still it must be done. This service creates +quite a dislike between the two arms. The infantry man hates the +horseman, and the cavalry man despises the foot soldier. At this time +straggling was quite prevalent: we saw on byroads many who had left the +ranks, almost invariably having thrown away their arms, and subsisting +on plunder. The cavalry were scouring the roads for them, and were +bringing them in as prisoners for punishment. This sixth cavalry, like +all the old regiments which had been through the Peninsular campaign and +the disastrous retreat under Pope, was frightfully reduced in numbers: +only three hundred and seventy were around the standards out of the +eleven hundred who first took the field. Many had fallen on picket or +been cut off singly, more by disease, but alike doing their duty, +unmentioned and unnoticed. A larger number were yet suffering from +overwork and sickness; and the regiment would in time recruit to seven +hundred, from men now disabled, if there should be no more casualties. + +A few days in camp, in a good-sized tent--none of the two-feet-high +shelter affairs--in pleasant summer weather, is, on the whole, something +new and exhilarating. The ground, to be sure, is rather hard, +particularly when you have no straw; and a soldier's table is not always +the most luxurious in the world. Now that we are safe, dry, and warm, at +home, we can venture to declare that we were very unfortunate in losing +the sensation of going without food, of sleeping in the mud and in the +rain--our arms girded on--any moment to be aroused by the whistle of +the bullet or the roll of the drum calling us to the deadly strife. + +To us, however, it was all _couleur de rose_. In the early morn, at +break of day, it was not the crow of the cock, or the jarring rattle of +the wheels of the city baker or milkman, but the reveille that waked us +from our martial dreams. The drum of the infantry, the bugles of the +cavalry and artillery would begin; some early riser would rouse up his +regiment; then another would take it up; until the call had gone through +every corps. The old staid rub-a-dub of the English drummer is giving +place to the stirring French rat-a-plan. And there was one band that +generally led off in a splendid style. They did beat their drums lively +and sharply. Not being obliged to be up with the sun and cook our own +breakfast, we generally contrived to get a little more sleep. After +breakfast, the bands were playing for guard-mounting; and we sat gazing +down into the valley from our tent upon the large army corps encamped +below. We were on the western slope of the Blue Ridge, through whose +gaps not many days before, a few miles farther north, Franklin had +successfully fought his way. Still farther up, Burnside, with Reno and +Hooker under him, had at South Mountain driven the enemy in--that battle +which came to us so welcome, the first victory after Pope's disasters, +and the retreat from the Peninsula. The valley below us was Pleasant +Valley. The opposite side to our tent was a short spur of the Blue +Ridge; the southern extremity of which is the Maryland Heights, so well +known in the history of the surrender of Harper's Ferry. The valley +between is fertile and highly cultivated, full of mountain springs and +brooks, emptying into one stream of sufficient size to turn the wheels +of a large mill; the water is delicious; the prevailing limestone does +not reach this valley. In the morning before the army moved there, the +little river was clear as crystal; at night it was changed into an +opaque white color, a stream of soapy water; a pleasing witness to the +cleanliness of our men. There were no clothes lines, however, but many +of the washers were so scantily off for clothing that they put their +garments on to dry. The farmhouses in the valley are mostly of stone. It +is a most charming and beautiful place, and appropriately called +'Pleasant Valley.' The farmers are prosperous; and the land so rich that +it sells for the high price of seventy and eighty dollars an acre. The +mountains rising on the sides of the valley are thickly wooded; and in +the cultivated fields between were crowded the tents of the ninth army +corps. With the exception of one or two new regiments who had wall +tents, the soldiers were under little shelter tents, of which each man +carries a piece. The infantry were encamped in divisions and brigades; +the cavalry generally picketed along a fence; the horses and men, except +the officers, without shelter. The encampments of the artillery and +cavalry with their horses, forges, and wagons, covered much ground; but +the infantry were thickly crowded together; and it was surprising to see +how many men a small encampment would turn out. + +In the afternoon came drills, sometimes of regiments, sometimes of +brigades, and the unfailing dress parade. There were a few regiments of +new levies just arrived, a thousand strong; all provided with overcoats, +and looking finely in their new, clean clothes--quite a contrast to the +old soldiers. In one of the old regiments on brigade drill we saw an +officer, probably a sergeant, in a checked knit undervest, his neck and +part of his arms bare--commanding a company. A sentry on guard before +the quarters of the general in command, had great holes in both elbows +of his dirty jacket, and his shoes were untied. The brigades were +generally of five regiments, a new regiment being one, and composing +fully two fifths of the line. It is not wholly, however, by the +casualties of the battle or the greater losses from exposure, overwork, +and disease, that the regiments are diminished. If a good blacksmith is +found, he is detailed to the forge; others are detached as ambulance +drivers, or as hospital attendants or clerks. This thins the ranks of +the old regiments. It is surprising, however, to see how much better the +veterans will bear exposure than men coming fresh from home. The old +regiments were frightfully diminished by disease on the Peninsula; but I +saw very few that could not rally more men than the 35th Massachusetts, +that had been out of the State only a little over a month. They had but +three hundred men of the original thousand. They left Washington without +their knapsacks; and had marched without even the shelter tents, +officers and men alike bivouacking on the ground, wearing the same +clothes without a change. The long marches, the exposures, the +excitement of battle, and the unaccustomed food had disabled four +hundred men; some of them undoubtedly never strong enough to have +enlisted, and who should have been rejected by the examining surgeons. +The old regiments, who had gradually been hardened to this life, and who +had learned to thrive on the soldier's fare, lost comparatively few in +this way. + +The brigade drills and the manoeuvres in line were not so well +executed as we expected. There was no practice in firing at a mark; +probably from a want of ammunition. From accounts of officers on the +field of battle, it certainly is the case in our army that some of the +fresh soldiers will fire in the air, and even close their eyes. The +Hythe system, as now taught in the English army, and among the rifle +clubs, makes excellent marksmen; and the greater part of the instruction +is without the use of powder. It is a pity it cannot be more extensively +introduced in our army. + +One does not expect to find the same training before the enemy as in the +great French camps of instruction. It was my good fortune to visit the +camp of a portion of the great Crimean army. The privates, besides their +military drill, were exercised in running, leaping, fencing, and boxing; +and some sergeants were teaching dancing. I followed a regiment of the +chasseurs of Vincennes to their field of drill. For an hour or two they +went through different manoeuvres by the bugle, performing many of the +movements at the double quick. Then came a rest; as soon as that was +ordered, the fine band of the regiment came forward and struck up a +lively dance, to the tune of which several of the privates amused and +refreshed themselves by waltzing round the field. + +Returning, however, to our picturesque camp in this charming valley. +There was no more striking scene than when darkness came on and the +thousand camp fires and lights in the tents were all in sight. The rail +fences, bought by the thoughtful quartermaster, and paid for as an army +supply, were used as fuel; a truly considerate act, for a quartermaster +can buy fuel for the army, but he cannot pay damages done to property. +This same ground, now covered by our troops, had been camped over by +Lee's army; who had also used the fences, not even paying for them in +the worthless Confederate scrip. Soon after dark, the bright lights of +the signal corps appeared on the mountain north of the Maryland Heights, +and messages were sent to McClellan's headquarters. Flags are used in +the day, and at night lanterns. The signal officer has two lights; they +are held one above the other, the lower one being stationary; moving the +upper light to the right means number one; moving the light to the left, +number two; moving first to the right and then to the left, number +three; by lowering the upper light in front of the under one, a fourth +signal is given; and so on. There are about five numbers; and by the +different combinations of these five numbers, there is made a great +number of signals, which can be read by the officers who have the key. +The mode is much the same as that used by our mercantile marine with +their signal flags. The signals are given very rapidly, and a few +minutes suffice for the sending of the messages. + +Evening is the time for talk around the camp fires; and the conversation +often turns upon our rebellious brethren. Among our regular officers you +meet the classmates and old companions in arms of the rebels, and hear +of little traits and peculiarities that only intimate acquaintances can +relate. Civilians who had known General Lee at Washington, have spoken +of him as very formal, and rather pompous in his manner, giving the +impression that he was a man of more show and pretence than abilities. +We learned here, however, that, in Texas, or California, where he was +for a long time before he took his high position on Scott's staff, he +was famous for marching his men without the usual encumbrances of +baggage, on the most severe expeditions against the Indians, in the snow +and cold of the winter. Stonewall Jackson has always been famed for his +peculiarities. When a young man, he was possessed with the idea that he +was in danger of having his limbs paralyzed, and he would pump on his +arm for many minutes, counting the strokes, and annoyed beyond measure +by the interruptions of his companions breaking up his count. Our +officers, both regular and volunteer, who have been in actual battle, +have a great respect for the rebel leaders and soldiers; they speak very +highly of their drill, and believe that straggling exists to a less +extent among them, in battle, than with us. From the rebel newspapers I +should doubt whether this is the case. One thing we have not considered, +which has given the rebels a great advantage in this contest. It is the +large number of military colleges in the South; not like our few private +schools at the North, but well-endowed academies. In the summer of 1860, +immediately before the election of Lincoln, I visited the military +academy at Lexington, Virginia. It was supported at the expense of the +State, with two hundred and more pupils, coming from the different +counties in proportion to their population. They were practised in the +actual firing of cannon and mortars; and every afternoon were drilled as +infantry for about two hours, much of the time at the double quick. The +principal was a graduate of West Point; and he was assisted by a +respectable board of instructors. A good civil and military education, +after the mode of instruction at West Point, was afforded to the +students. This institution had been in existence for years; and one can +readily appreciate the advantage that Virginia has in this war from the +graduates of this school. Alabama and several other of the Southern +States have similar colleges; while we at the North have been obliged to +educate all our volunteer officers by actual service. + +The morning Stuart with his cavalry left Chambersburg, we rode forth for +the battle field of the Antietam. We noticed the disappearance of some +of the camps of the infantry brigades. We knew of the patrolling of the +cavalry along the road we were pursuing, and found the picket guards +farther out, and passes and countersigns necessary where before we went +unchallenged. We were several hours in getting to the battle field, and +stopped to get some refreshments at a large brick farmhouse, where the +battle on the left began. The hospital flag was still flying over the +building, though no patients had been there for a day or two. +Twenty-seven died in that one farmhouse from wounds received in that +bloody fight. On the night of the battle, cows, sheep, poultry, and +fences disappeared before our cold and hungry troops. But since then, +though the house was in the neighborhood of several camps, the old lady +and her daughters, who alone were at home, had been undisturbed, except +by the small pilferings of stragglers. + +The great battle has been so well described by the correspondents of the +newspaper press, and by those who were over the field before we were, +that I shall only mention a few incidents to which our attention was +called. The principal contest was on the right, west of the Antietam +river. Here Hooker with his army corps began the battle, and fought so +long and splendidly. Both armies crowded their forces to this part of +the field. Sumner, whose troops had been with their belts on since three +in the morning, brought up his large corps, drawn up in three columns, +forty paces apart, to reenforce Hooker's hard-pressed soldiers, who were +retreating before the fresh and overwhelming reenforcements of the +enemy. In less than an hour, the whole of Sumner's corps was swept back, +broken and entirely routed, and never appeared in the field again; the +column in the rear not being in position to fire a gun, but losing as +many men as those in front. + +The manner in which General Sumner brought his troops into action has +been severely criticized, even by officers of his own corps; whether +justly or not, it is difficult to decide. No commander was more confided +in by his soldiers than Sumner. 'He has risen from the ranks, and been +through all the grades of the service,' 'He knows how to treat his men,' +were expressions constantly heard. General Hooker's reputation as a +fighting general was admitted everywhere; his _coup d'oeil_ of the +battle field was represented as most excellent. + +It was also on the right that the desperate fighting in the woods and +the deadly struggle at close quarters in the cornfield with such fearful +loss of life took place. An officer who was on the battle fields of +Magenta and Solferino, says that the scene here was much more horrible. +Many spoke of the scenes they saw with a shudder. They could not throw +off the impression made by the masses of wounded and dead; the wounded +often lying neglected and helpless under the dead, sometimes crushed to +death by the wheels of our own artillery. + +Our left at Antietam was far off from the right: in these days of guns +of long range the line of battle is longer than it was formerly. At +Waterloo the English occupied a front of less than two miles. In this +battle ours was about four miles. In the battle of Solferino the +engagement extended for eighteen miles. + +The contest on the left was fought by General Burnside with only one +army corps, the ninth. The battle at this place was a most gallant +affair, but has excited less attention than the bloody fight on the +right. In the dusty, tiresome march through Maryland, in the skirmishes +in and around Frederick, during the glorious hearty welcome our troops +received in that old town, the advance, consisting of both Hooker's and +Reno's army corps, had been commanded by Burnside. With them he had +fought the successful and brilliant battle of South Mountain, coming to +us so gratefully after the disastrous repulse and retreat of Pope. Reno +had unfortunately fallen, and General Burnside took command of his +corps: it was his old force from North Carolina, increased by General +Cox's Kanawha troops, and some new regiments, in all a little short of +twenty thousand men. On the morning of the battle, Burnside took his +station on the east side of the Antietam, in a field overlooking the +country on the other side of the river. The gathering of his staff to +their breakfast brought the shells of the enemy in their midst, and +compelled a change of position to the rear of some haystacks. On the +same hill was placed a formidable battery of rifled cannon, throwing +twenty-pound shot, commanded by Lieutenant Benjamin, of the regular +artillery. The guns are so heavy that they each have eight horses to +drag them, and the caissons have six. There was unfortunately a short +supply of ammunition, and the battery was fired slowly during the day. +The guns were well placed and served, and aimed with wonderful accuracy. +Shells were planted in two of the enemy's ammunition carts, blowing them +to pieces; and the fire of cannon was so hot that it compelled a rebel +battery two miles off, coming down a road to get into position, to wheel +round and gallop over the hill. Proud, indeed, were the Lieutenant's men +of their exploits on that day, and wonderful stories they told of their +famous battery. + +The Antietam in front of Burnside was deep, not fordable, flowing in the +bottom of a charming valley, and overshadowed by trees. There was a +solid stone bridge over it, with three arches, rising picturesquely in +the centre, with stone parapets on the sides, the parapets spreading at +both ends of the structure. One would almost imagine that it was an old +Italian bridge transported to our wooden-building land. The side of the +valley held by the rebel troops rises sharply, not densely wooded, but +covered by large trees thickly placed, as in an old English park. Along +the top of this ridge ran a solid stone wall, thicker and of heavier +stones than any we saw in the neighborhood. Where the wall ended rifle +pits had been dug. Behind the massive trunks, and in the branches of the +old trees, behind this wall and in the pits, were crowded the +sharpshooters of the rebels. The ascent from the bridge out of the +valley on the enemy's side, was too steep for a straight road up the +ridge. If ever a bridge could be defended, that should have been; the +only disadvantage the rebels were under was that they could not sweep it +with artillery. + +Our left had vainly attempted to cross the bridge; twice had they been +repulsed. On the right our troops were hard pressed; much of the ground +gained in the morning had been lost; Hooker was wounded, Sumner's corps +routed, Mansfield killed, and his corps beaten back. Then McClellan +ordered Burnside to take the bridge, and hold it at any cost. Burnside +sent some troops farther down the river, where it was fordable. He +called up one of his old brigades that had been with him in North +Carolina, saying, if any brigade could take the bridge, that one would. +It was composed of the 51st New York, 51st Pennsylvania, 21st +Massachusetts, and a Rhode Island regiment; on their colors were +inscribed, 'Roanoke,' 'Newbern,' two of our most glorious victories. +With these veteran troops was the 35th Massachusetts, a new regiment +that had left home only a month before, but who nobly did their part. +Down went the 51st Pennsylvania in column in the advance, at the run, +shouting and crowding and firing as they hurried across the bridge, +bringing down the rebels from the trees, suffering themselves, but never +halting. They crossed and deployed on the other side. Next came the 35th +Massachusetts, over the bridge, up the valley, then forming in line of +battle on the top of the small hill commanding the stream. The enemy +were drawn up before them, quite a distance off, on the top of the next +hill. Every inch of ground between was commanded by the rebel fire; but +our brave fellows charged on up this hill, driving the foe before them: +they did not halt there, for another still higher hill, which could now +for the first time be seen farther on, rose up before them. Nothing +daunted, they followed up their charge, and drove the enemy from this +hill, and took this most commanding position. There they halted, close +to Sharpsburg, almost in the rear of the rebels. Some of our troops even +penetrated to Sharpsburg itself, and were taken prisoners. A short +distance farther would have cut off the enemy's direct retreat to the +Potomac. Rebel troops were seen hurrying on the road to the river. Our +men were now fired upon by artillery, and attacked by fresh bodies of +infantry coming up, as the enemy say in their account, from Harper's +Ferry. Our brave fellows, however, stood their ground, waiting for +reenforcements, which Burnside called for. But McClellan, unfortunately, +dared not throw in his reserves; his object had probably been gained in +making a diversion from the hard contested field on our right. Our +gallant fellows had to stand there unsupported until their ammunition +gave out; they fired their sixty rounds of ammunition, collecting all +they could from their dead and wounded comrades, and then began to +retreat. Benjamin's battery of artillery was also short of ammunition, +and could not support them. Our brave boys only retreated to the next +hill, not to the hill above the Antietam, and then lay on their arms +during the night, and there they stayed during the next day, expecting +the order to advance. + +Little mounds of earth, covering fallen heroes, point out the course of +our soldiers all the way from this side of the Antietam to the top of +the farthest hill. Here our men were so much more exposed than the +rebels that our loss was greater than theirs. On the right the rebel +loss was much the larger. + +In the battle beyond the river, the Hawkins Zouaves, another of the +regiments distinguished in North Carolina, captured a rebel battery at +the point of the bayonet. In the rebel account we are told how the brave +General Toombs, with a whole brigade, retook the battery and defeated +this single regiment, which they magnify into an immense force. + +General McClellan, with all his knowledge and great skill and success in +defensive warfare, as shown in his Peninsular campaign, after our defeat +at Gaines's Mill, is wanting in the rapidity of comprehension and +audacity which are necessary components of the highest military talent. +He waits for too many chances, and fears any risk. + +In the battle of Antietam, he had fifteen thousand fresh men under Fitz +John Porter in the centre. The enemy had probably used their last +soldier, for the correspondent of the Charleston _Courier_, who has +given the best rebel account of the battle, impliedly states that they +had no reserves left. Ignorant of our unused troops, he laments the want +of a few more rebel men, and says, that if only five thousand of their +stragglers, who were on the way to Winchester, had been present, a most +decisive rebel victory would have been obtained. If McClellan had added +Fitz John Porter's reserve to Burnside's soldiers, he would have had +nearly thirty-five thousand men flanking the enemy, already beaten, and +threatening their retreat across the Potomac. Who knows what those fresh +men might not have done? Many think that the doubtful victory would have +ended in the most brilliant decided success, and the stone bridge of +Antietam would have stood in history by the side of Arcola and Lodi. But +let us be thankful for what we did achieve: never should the nation +forget how a retreating, discouraged, defeated, demoralized, and even +mutinous army, that had suffered terribly in killed and wounded, and +lost prisoners and large numbers of cannon and material, was again +reformed, and marched triumphantly against a victorious foe; achieved on +Sunday the brilliant victory of South Mountain, and on Wednesday fought +the bloody fight of Antietam. There we captured cannon, small arms, and +standards, and lost none. Many have forgotten that ever since spring the +rebels have boasted that the war was to be carried within our territory; +that they had begun this programme; and that General Lee in entering +Maryland had issued a boasting proclamation, promising to redeem it from +a hated tyranny. If he had succeeded, and defeated McClellan, as he had +beaten Pope between Manassas and Washington, we had no reinforcements or +forts to prevent his march to Philadelphia. McClellan's presence stirred +the common soldier as Napoleon's did, and it was this unbounded +enthusiasm which he excited, that saved the nation when he took command +at Washington. I know of nothing that made me more indignant than the +folly of some ladies who, among his soldiers on the Potomac, decried and +denounced him as an imbecile. What treachery can be worse than the +attempt to destroy the confidence of the soldiers in their leader, when +their lives depend upon his judgment and skill, and there can be only +dejection and despair when that judgment and skill are doubted. + +Upon our return from the battle field to Pleasant Valley, we heard that +orders to McClellan to advance had come from Washington. The only +answers to inquiries when the advance would take place, were ominous +shakings of the head or shrugs of the shoulders, which were indicative +of anything but belief in a speedy movement. We also heard of the +appointment of General Burnside to the command of three army corps, the +precursor of a greater command yet to come. We have in our new +commander-in-chief a general who has an implicit belief that our cause +is just, and a trust in Providence that he will make the just cause +victorious. In General McClellan we had also a general who believed in +Providence, and who has always shown great reverence in his writings. +General McClellan is reticent. You can, however, tell somewhat of the +opinion of the head of the house from his children; and judging from the +tone of belief among the General's military family, from that long delay +after Antietam, it was pretty evident that in his opinion the South +cannot be subdued, and that the question between us was a matter of +boundary. With General Burnside we have no such belief. His faults, if +they are faults, are those of the bold general, not of the Fabian order. +At Newbern he brought at once into the fight every soldier he had, not +keeping one in reserve; and he gained the battle by his audacious +policy. And it is the wonder to this day of every one who has been over +the battle field, that the enemy should have been beaten. With all this +boldness, he is a modest man; twice before having refused the chief +command: once when it was offered to him at the time Pope was appointed; +again when McClellan took it before Washington. Of a commanding figure, +every inch a soldier, one cannot look upon him and his kindly eye +without instant admiration. His modest way of riding among the men, +alone or attended by a single orderly, will make him beloved by our +republican soldiers. He was so then, and 'Old Burn,' as they familiarly +called him, was everywhere heartily received. By the way, McClellan's +nickname on the Peninsula was 'George,' and not 'Little Mac,' as is +generally supposed. + +General Burnside, we believe, is a good judge of men. The generals he +selected for his North Carolina expedition, though previously unknown, +and but captains in the service, have already distinguished themselves +and justified his choice. General Foster, now commanding the department +of North Carolina, has shown himself an able, active general. All who +have been connected with him, speak highly of him. Though not a +Massachusetts man, he has a peculiar penchant for Massachusetts troops: +he was first at Annapolis, and picked out for the first brigade the +Massachusetts soldiers. Recently, through the Governor, he has obtained +some eight or ten more regiments, and in some way or other he has the +crack ones. + +General Reno, who was Burnside's second brigadier, has made a reputation +that will live forever in his country's history. At the battle of +Roanoke the little general, but a month before a captain of ordnance, +stood up fearlessly in the swamp amid his men, when they were lying down +by his direction, and coolly gave his orders and encouraged them, +entirely regardless of the balls flying round him on every side. In +Pope's retreat, and amid disaster and defeat, he acquired new reputation +by his skill, energy, and daring. A Virginian by birth, he was truly a +loyal man; and, unlike some generals of our army corps, obeyed orders, +and did all that could be done for the country and the general in +command. His testimony that Pope's dispositions were good, if he had +only been obeyed, should weigh much in that general's favor. After the +victory of South Mountain, he was reconnoitring the enemy, when he fell +by a random shot, which came, so those who were in the action say, from +some soldier of our force. Lyon, Kearny, Reno, gone! Have we three such +men left? + +General Park, an accomplished soldier, who particularly distinguished +himself at the battle of Newbern, was General Burnside's third +brigadier. The country will feel renewed confidence from his remaining +with our new commander as chief of staff. + +On the morning we left the camp, a squad from a new regiment just +arrived had been detailed for the guard at headquarters; one of the +sentries was smoking his pipe as he marched up and down; another, who +should have been patrolling his beat, was seated on the ground, cleaning +his musket with a piece of wash leather he pulled from his pocket. The +General was not near to stop these unsoldierly occupations. We came to +the opinion that the boys in that regiment had never been to a country +muster; but they were stout fellows and looked like fight. + +At Sandy Hook, on the day of our return, we had to wait until nine in +the evening for the train to Baltimore. Stuart's cavalry had been over +the road in the morning, making their escape into Virginia. They dared +not stay to do mischief; our forces were at all the important points. +Considering the immense supplies in the rear of the army, Stuart did +very little harm; his eight hundred fresh horses were not worth the risk +he ran. If he could have seized our supplies at Monocacy Station, and +burnt the bridge there, he would have inflicted a serious loss upon the +army. The nature of his raid seemed well understood, and there was no +apprehension then of the enemy's holding the railroad; for the train +from Baltimore had passed over the restored rails a few hours after the +retreating troopers. At every important point we found soldiers, and +near Frederick we were glad to hear that seven of the sick troopers, +used up by their hard service, had fallen behind and been taken. We +learned that General Pleasanton with some of our cavalry was in pursuit, +and there were several stories about an engagement: the firing of cannon +had been heard. General Pleasanton at that time was held in very little +esteem, and seemed to have particularly disgusted those who had served +under him, and was often cited as an example of McClellan's lack of +judgment in men. He appears since to have acquired a newspaper +reputation for ability and energy. I only hope that it is deserved, and +that the opinions we heard so often were not well founded. + +We arrived at the Baltimore depot at four in the morning amid a rain, +and found it occupied by some one or two thousand soldiers, standing and +sitting about in their blue overcoats with their arms stacked. Not a +carriage could be obtained, and so, shouldering our bag in military +fashion, we marched for the Eutaw House. At the door was stationed a +guard, marking it as the headquarters of Major-General Wool. We passed +by unchallenged; in our bag, however, we had rebel ammunition: a loaded +shell fired at our men as they were crossing the stone bridge at +Antietam. Fortunately the fuse had gone out, and it remained a trophy +for one of the despicable Down-East Yankees. We heard the old General +was still the centre of attraction to the pretty secesh ladies who had +friends or relatives in durance vile in Fort McHenry. The veteran hero, +though rich, wears a uniform that shows the marks of service. That, +however, does not prevent the constant presents of delicious fruit and +beautiful flowers, and invitations to drive to the fort, from those +bewitching belles of Baltimore: whereat some strong Union people grumble +loudly. + + + + +AMERICAN DESTINY. + +II. + + +The law under consideration is exemplified in the social, industrial, +and political development of the United States. There is a manifest +difference, however, between the history of our civilization and that of +Europe, though not in the least affecting the integrity of the law. The +people of our nation were not derived directly from a rude and primitive +condition, as were those of the Old World. The history of our +civilization is, in its origin, coordinate with European civilization in +the seventeenth century, after modern intellect had been fairly aroused, +and the national organizations had been quite fully developed. The chaos +and barbarism which the history of European civilization presents, and +the play of antagonizing forces through the long period of centuries, +resulting in some degree of political order and unity, does not belong, +except as an introduction, to the history of American civilization. Ours +is a branch from the European, after it had been growing for several +hundred years. + +During the period which intervened between the Declaration of American +Independence and the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, +there was no formal and permanent bond of union between the several +States; it was provisional,--they were held together by outside pressure +and a common interest in the cause of independence. The settlement of a +general government for all the States was a crisis, not only in the +affairs of this country, but of the whole civilized world, as we believe +the future will most fully reveal. To the responsible statesmen of that +day, this was a period of intense solicitude, such as we can realize +only by an effort of mind to place ourselves in their situation, and +bring before us the magnitude of the objects to be attained, and the +difficulties to be overcome. There was then, as now, a diversity of +interests to be harmonized; but there was one interest, which, in its +political relations, requires to be characterized by a stronger term +than that of 'diversity.' Between chattel slavery and free labor there +is 'irrepressible' antagonism, and there could be no real union--no +blending of the twain; but the gulf was bridged, under the pressure of +necessity, as the wisdom of the times could best devise. It was, indeed, +well done. Union was the great object to be accomplished--it was the +highest, the most comprehensive principle that could enter into the +motives of political action--it was even a necessity of the current +civilization, and must needs subordinate all minor principles and +interests; and we owe a debt of gratitude to those who so nobly wrought +this glorious Union out of colonial chaos and isolation. + +The instrument of this Union has been characterized by well-meaning, +but one-idea minds, as a 'covenant with death, and an agreement with +hell,' simply because it effected the union of free with slave States. +This method of characterizing the Constitution of our country--as noble +a document for its time and place as the world has ever seen--can well +be excused, since it has no doubt been done in utter obliviousness of +the importance of the principle of political unitization. The original +consummation of this Union was a great step in political progress; it +was an achievement of the master principle of political movement; and +God wills that no part of the advantage then gained in the struggle of +Destiny shall ever be given up! + +But while unity is thus exemplified in the history of our Government, +the phenomenon of differentiation is also manifest. The functions of +government have greatly multiplied since its first organization; the +'division of labor' process has been going on, and new departments and +bureaus have been established. While I write, the expediency of another +department, that of agriculture, is being agitated in Congress. The +Department of the Interior has been quite recently created, and new +bureaus in this department, and in others, are being created from time +to time, by act of Congress, to meet new wants in the administration of +our Government. And what is true in this respect of the General +Government is, also, true of the State Governments; for there, too, do +we find the development of new functions, and the creation of new +official organs to execute the same. + +This growth of the country at large, from which these new demands on the +Government arise, is to be seen very distinctly in the industrial and +educational elements of society. While these interests increase in +magnitude and variety, and the people are becoming more concerned +therein, the Government assumes a responsibility in regard thereto, +which can only be discharged by the multiplication of the administrative +appliances. These new governmental activities arise from the popular +will, as moulded and expressed through the more intelligent and +enterprising of its actors. They choose to have it so. It is found +convenient, in the promotion of certain general interests, to appeal to +a power which is presumed to embody the elements of order and authority +in the execution of its will. In the construction of railroads and +telegraphs, capitalists must cooperate with the Government in relation +to questions of right, which, in many cases, can only be settled by a +regularly constituted tribunal. State agricultural societies appeal to +State Governments for cooperation, and when received, the industrial +interests of the country are advanced thereby. We all know what State +Governments have done for the cause of education. Sections of country +which would at this hour have been in a state of almost semi-barbarism +have--thanks to our educational policy--been redeemed from their +prejudices against intelligence and education, and been made to step +into line with the advancing columns of civilization. The same +civilizing influences, precisely, have been brought to bear, by the +active part which Government has taken in the improvement of all the +means of travel, trade, and the transmission of intelligence. The +intelligent and active few have thus advanced the interests of the many. +In districts of country which have been without the channels of commerce +except in a very rude condition, and where the enterprise of the people +was inadequate to their improvement, the Government has reached out its +strong arm and redeemed them from their primitive rudeness, thereby +promoting the physical condition, the enlightenment, and the culture of +the people. There are plenty of instances on record, in which +improvements of this kind--of roads, for example--have been made against +the will and in spite of the opposition of the people most to be +benefited thereby; and had they not been related under the same +government to communities more intelligent and enterprising than +themselves, they would have remained in an isolated and semi-barbarous +condition. + +Now, while we readily discern the increase in the objects and in the +machinery of government, we cannot so readily discern the abatement of +governmental interference with the private affairs of the individual, as +in governments of longer standing. There has not been time for great +changes in this respect; and then, in the earliest legislation of our +country there was comparatively so little that was obnoxious to +individual freedom, that there has been less occasion for the change in +question. The Blue Laws of Connecticut are proverbial for their +intermeddling with private life. There has been no change in this +respect so marked since the organization of our Government as there was +before; but so far as there has been any, it is in favor of the +exemption of the individual, in ordinary times, from legal interference. +The entire atmosphere of American society is becoming more liberal as +general education advances; and this, in turn, acts upon the legislative +and executive functions of the Government, to make the laws and the +execution of the same more acceptable to a cultured people. The 'Maine +Law,' earnest and benevolent as it was in purpose, and to all seeming so +obviously founded in the right of society to protect itself, could not +be sustained against this tendency in government to let the individual +alone in the affairs of his private life. + +We have observed that there is a concentration of different industrial +and commercial functions in different sections of the country, whereby +these sections become dependent upon each other, and the unity of the +whole, to a certain extent, made inevitable. Now, we insist that +political economy and the greatest well-being of all require that the +political jurisdiction should, as far as possible, be commensurate with +that commercial, industrial, and social dependence which works itself +out to a large degree of fulfilment in spite of the obstructions +interposed by the contractedness and isolation of political +organization. + +As we have seen, this dependence of one industrial section upon another, +and of one commercial centre upon another, as the result of commercial +and industrial specialization, is becoming more and more marked as a +development of human progress. All this increases the need for more +extensive political organization, while at the same time it makes it +possible. + +It will readily be perceived that since industrial and commercial +development is necessitating dependence and unity, it is equally true +that the natural varieties of soil and climate are, also, conditions of +like dependence and unity. When these diversities of soil in different +sections are fully developed, and the exchange of products readily made +through improved commercial facilities, and human wants multiplied by +means of civilized culture, agricultural specialization creates the +demand, not for political division and isolation, but for more extensive +organization. That New England manufactures is no reason that she should +separate her government from that of the other States, but just the +reverse. That the Middle States are more distinctively a mining region, +and the great West agricultural, is no reason that their general +government should be distinct, but precisely the reverse. That the South +produces cotton, rice, and sugar, is no reason for her seceding from the +Union, but exactly the reverse. These diversified interests, we repeat, +create interrelation and dependence, unitizing the commercial and +industrial polity; and the political organization should, as far as +possible, be coextensive therewith. There are physical necessities which +prevent the formation and maintenance of a comprehensive political +organization in the earlier stages of civilization, but these never have +obtained in the United States, and every hour's improvement carries us +farther beyond them. + +All the results of a progressive civilization are constantly +complicating the dependence and interrelation of various sections of our +country. Roads, railroads, canals, and lines of telegraph, by their +connections and intersections, are so many bonds of union between the +various districts of our country--so many bonds of union between the +various States of the confederacy--and forbid its dissolution. Even +Nature conspires with civilization to the same end. The great valleys +and rivers running north and south are so many natural ties, which the +most incorrigible perverseness, on the part of man, could alone prevent +from performing the office to which they seem so happily adapted in the +play of the civilized elements. + +As we have seen in our brief view of Europe, greater political +unitization has been the result of growth in civilization. In the United +States, all natural, commercial, and industrial bonds of union are +becoming more fully developed. This evinces the direction of progress. + +What, in the light of this view, are we to think of the doctrine of +'secession'?--of secession, that political dogma of recent development, +which, if made practical, would destroy all political unity of greater +compass than a State--a State, the idol of Southern political worship. +It would break any confederacy into fragments, and prevent the +consummation of those great unities which an advancing civilization +demands. This doctrine of 'secession' would remand us back to the +condition of affairs in Europe during the twelfth century, before +commerce, the Crusades, and the waking up of intelligence had commenced +the movement of national organization. The Southern States have a +barbarian institution in their midst, but, not satisfied with that, they +would inaugurate the practical operation of a new political doctrine, +which must introduce still another element of barbarism, and interpose +an additional obstacle to the progress of civilization. Shall this be? +It is opposed to the political tendency of the times; and the common +sense of mankind should forbid the acceptance of a political solecism in +the organization of government, which virtually annuls the unity and +integrity of the government itself. + +There are crises, however, in human development, when the movement is +rapidly set forward; and others, when it may be as suddenly arrested or +thrown back, requiring long periods to regain the lost ground, +preparatory to a new advance. Our Union, only a brief while since, +appeared to be upon the point of irreparable rupture; the division of +this great Union into minor geographical districts, like the European +monarchies, seemed to be imminent. The determination of the South to +secede; a large portion of the influential press at the North pleading +their cause; Buchanan favoring secession; many in the North, then, and +for a long time previous, in favor of a 'peaceable separation;' +but--thanks to the blind impetuosity of 'Southern chivalry'--with the +fall of Sumter, and the inauguration of the war, the only hope for this +Union revived! Wicked or foolish people have said that the bombardment +of Sumter was the death-knell of the Union;--we believe it was just the +reverse;--as the turning point of a great crisis, it signalled the birth +of a new era. It threw the trimming and temporizing politicians of the +North off their old tracks, and tore their platforms from under them; +their antipathies were suddenly neutralized; their prejudices vanished; +they were unexpectedly floating anew on the sea of public sentiment; the +opinions of influential men were subject to a new ordeal; and the views +of many an entire clique, faction, and party were revolutionized in a +day. Northern pride was wounded; Anglo-Saxon energy was aroused; there +was a demand for determination and 'pluck,' and the result is known to +all. Secession, in the Free States, was suddenly transformed; there was +a grand uprising for the vindication of a great principle of political +development; and nearly a million of armed men of all parties are now in +the field; and God grant that they may be able to overcome the abettors +of a barbarian policy! + +But if the cause of patriotism and civilization should fail in this +struggle, what will be the consequences? Standing armies, stronger +governments, leagues, and ruptures, internecine wars, European +interference. Let this division of our once happy country be consummated +now, and there can be no reunion for ages. The Southern nation +recognized by European Governments, treaties and alliances formed, and +we are involved in European complications through which the separation +will be perpetuated. And this disunion made permanent, others will +develop themselves, and in time be consummated. It is the interest of +the reigning dynasties in Europe to see our nation dismembered: the +South would be our rival; and we should not have power to enforce union +hereafter. When a politico-geographical weakness is developed along the +Rocky Mountains, the Pacific States will not be without ambitious +demagogues to attempt the establishment of an independent organization +on the Pacific. Another fracture may be developed along the Alleghanies, +and the great agricultural West may set up for itself among the nations. +New England may be seized with a like madness, and unworthily aspire to +a separate national existence. With all these petty nations on this +continent, there must be standing armies, leagues, and complications, as +in Europe. Diplomacy, with its intrigues, and wars to maintain the +'balance of power,' will make up the great body of national history and +absorb those energies which should be employed in advancing the means of +human well-being. + +But we will not speculate upon probabilities so remote. We will presume +the success of rebellion, and one nation south, another north. The evil +would still be very great. There must be armed thousands maintained by +the two Governments to be ready for war at any moment. Two such nations, +even if both were free, and still less with slavery in one of them, +could not exist by the side of each other without frequent broils and +collisions. Standing armies exhaust the resources of nations and retard +the progress of civilization by a double result. They withdraw +able-bodied men from the productive energies of the country, and are at +the same time a tax upon the industrial forces which remain. The +enormous daily expense of the present war must give us some idea of the +cost of maintaining a standing army of two or three hundred thousand men +even in times of peace. This has done a great deal to retard the +progress of Europe; and that we, as a nation, have heretofore been free +from this encumbrance, is doubtless one of the reasons why we have made +such rapid strides in so much that makes a nation great and happy. But +standing armies imply war, and the international wars of Europe have +done much to exhaust her resources and paralyze her prosperity. Guizot +says--and we may see it in history for ourselves--that 'for nearly three +centuries, foreign relations form the most important part of history.' +Foreign relations, wars, treaties, alliances, alone occupy the attention +and fill the page of history. Sad result of the political divisions of a +continent! Unhappy fruits of maintaining the balance of power among +neighboring nations! Let this continent be warned! And now is the +crisis when this warning needs most to be heeded. And even if this +critical juncture should be safely passed, we have need to guard against +others, and these truths should be universally recognized as elements of +our national preservation. We may profit by the shipwreck of others, to +avoid the rock on which they split. There are causes clearly discernible +in the history of Europe, for the divisions of that continent, which do +not now, and never have obtained here. Her political institutions were +developed out of the chaos of barbarism, and she had to unite smaller +jurisdictions into larger ones; and she did this as well as the status +of civilization would permit at the period when national organization +was effected. + +The facilities of intercourse between a people, for the transmission of +intelligence, for travel and transportation--those accompaniments of +civilization which bring remote sections of country near each other and +bind them together; the resemblance or the difference of languages +spoken; the antipathies, prejudices, sympathies of the peoples--all +these are elements which go to determine the geographical extent of a +nation. Original difference of language, local prejudices, the want of +civilization, contributed to limit the European nationalities to the +small extent of territory which, for the most part, they occupy. These +causes have not operated against us. Local distinctions on account of +language do not even obtain here. There are no real causes to contract +the geographical boundaries of our Government; while, on the other hand, +the constant increase of facilities for the commercial and social +intercourse of one section with another, and the specializations of the +agricultural, manufacturing, and commercial interests, in the creation +of dependence between different sections of the country, demand, in the +name of science, common sense, justice, and the good of the people, that +this Government shall remain one and undivided. + +We cannot, therefore, afford to allow the present or any other rupture +to become permanent, and entail upon ourselves and our children all the +disadvantages and calamities incident thereto. It would not be wise to +prepare the political stage of this country for the reenaction of the +tragedies of Europe. Better any sacrifice than this. Even if we should +lose great battles, or if European interference should threaten, it +would be better to rally the people anew even to the raising and +equipment of millions of men, and sustain the war at this enormous cost, +rather than entail division and its necessary calamities on the future +political life of this continent. This war is costing immensely in men +and property; but if, thereby, the integrity of the Union can be +maintained, it will be an economy both in men and means, if only a brief +period of the future be taken into the account. We are often reduced to +a choice of evils. War is a great evil, but it may prevent others still +greater. The indiscriminate arming of slaves and the spread of +incendiary fires would be great calamities, but nevertheless +justifiable, if the only means of selfdefence, or of preventing still +greater and more enduring calamities. But there need be no violation of +the ethics of war, no infringement of the rights of humanity. The North +is strong in its natural resources, strong in the justice of its cause: +it has risen to vindicate the cardinal law of civilization, and by this +shall it conquer. There appeared to Constantine a vision of the cross, +with the motto, 'By this conquer.' Science has descended in these last +days to dwell among mankind. In her hand is a scroll which she unfolds +before the nations, and they read, 'Unity, the consummation of social +and political destiny.' Thereupon, turning to our nation in the hour of +trial, she says: 'The time is approaching when the principle of +unitization must sweep a wider circle, and you are chosen to inaugurate +this new era in the destiny of nations. Thus far you have done well; be +true to the work so happily begun; carry it unflinchingly through this +ordeal, and you will be the greatest Power for good upon the earth. +There must be an extension of political organization--a widening of the +sphere of political unity; and through your example and influence will +the nations be gathered into a larger fold.' And pointing to the scroll, +she adds: 'Let 'Union' be eternally your motto; by this conquer!' + +If we should apply no other than a superficial interpretation to +history, overlooking the great laws by which development proceeds, and +thence conclude that the world is to follow doggedly in the footsteps of +the past, we should anticipate a future far less beautiful in grand +results than Destiny has in store for the generations to come. + +Are we to have the Empire of Rome or of Charlemagne over again? In the +Roman Empire there were no common interests; no representation; no +communication among the people; no intersection of the country by the +networks of roads--only great military roads leading from province to +province; no specialization of industrial and commercial interests; no +civilized dependence of one part on another; no natural ties as yet +developed to their real significance between the several countries of +the Roman Empire: it was held together by the strong and despotic arm of +Rome. The Empire of Charlemagne embraced the territory of Middle and +Western Europe, inhabited by barbarous peoples, isolated, warlike, and +speaking different languages; there were none of the civilized bonds of +union; only the genius of Charlemagne held them together; and upon his +death the huge fabric he had reared naturally fell to pieces. The +Spanish Empire is but another instance showing that geographical and +other elements of disconnection must not overbalance those which relate +remote sections to each other, and bind them together in a common +interest, else dissolution will be the result. In respect to the United +States, all these conditions are reversed. Every interest in the natural +course of development points to union--demands union, and, in the +triumph of justice, shall have union. + +Is there anything in the way of this union? Is there a morbid growth--a +cause of irritation and disease tending to dissolution? Then, it must be +removed. Is ambitious and reckless demagoguism to be apprehended? Then +educate the people and diffuse science. But is there not still a worse +devil to be cast out? Where slavery is, you cannot educate the people, +you cannot diffuse science; and without enlightenment there can be no +political justice, since unprincipled demagogues will sway all political +destiny. Slavery cannot always exist side by side with freedom; it is +the natural enemy of union, the enemy of civilization. Prominent +secession leaders have admitted that slavery is the cause of this war, +boasting at the same time that the confederate constitution is founded +on a scientific distinction of races. Without slavery there could be no +sufficient motive for the independent national existence of the South. +Had there been no slavery, there had been no civil war. This is, at the +present time, the political significance of the institution. There is no +safety but in its extinction--so far at least as the border Slave States +are concerned, in order to overthrow its power in the United States +Senate, to enlarge the sympathies of freedom, and weaken and +circumscribe the chances for revolutionary movements which slavery will +be ready at any critical moment to precipitate against the Union. + +If we have not misinterpreted the law of development, slavery, as it +exists in this country, is a morbid political condition, a social +disease, which stands in the way of the natural course of social +evolution. In this law, therefore, is written the doom of slavery. The +enlightened world will not always permit it to blast the fair field of +civilization by its poisonous presence. + +There is a law of human movement by which predominating conditions +extend and perpetuate themselves, overcoming those which are weaker and +on the wane. We observed this in our brief survey of the feudal system. +Freedom is now in the ascendant, and slavery must go down. And since +secession is the child of slavery, and both at war with the cardinal +principles of progressive civilization, it is meet that both should fall +together. + +This war may not directly extinguish slavery, and it may; we do not see +the end. But if not directly, we believe the war is, nevertheless, +indirectly setting those forces into action which will eventually +extinguish the institution. If the 'confederacy' should be destroyed, +as, if not saved by foreign intervention, it certainly will be, slavery, +if not already dead, will be pent up, and, in that case, will soon die +by its own hands. + +Immediate interests control us more than those which are remote; +interests which affect ourselves, more than those which affect our +descendants. Citizens of the Southern States, to save a petty individual +interest, are nursing in the bosom of society a malignant canker, which, +if let alone, must one day, in the inevitable course of destiny, eat +into its vitals. Heroic treatment will alone meet the demands of the +case. It must be a surgical operation that will penetrate to the very +roots of the invading tumor. + +The salvation of the South itself, as well as of the Union, hangs upon +the extinction of slavery. Indeed, the South has far more interest than +the North in the restoration of political health as the condition of +political union; and she would see it so, if slavery had not made her +blind. The elimination of slavery would, in the end, be clear gain to +her, while she would reap equally with the North the advantages of +union, and escape the disadvantages and calamities which, as we have +seen, must inevitably follow in the wake of confirmed disunion. + +The writer of this article bases his opposition to slavery solely upon +politico-scientific grounds; he urges the recognition of a great law of +human development, that its bearings on human destiny may be fairly +seen, and human endeavor more wisely directed to the achievement of the +end 'so devoutly to be wished.' The discussion of American Destiny in +all its ramifications would involve the discussion of the ultimate fate +of the negro race on this continent; but that is not within the range of +our present purpose. We have aimed only to indicate the law of +development from the simple to the complex, over which a necessary unity +at length prevails; to show that this law obtains in the political as in +all other realms; to insist that political unity should enlarge its area +as facilities for intercommunication permit, and the interrelation of +industrial, commercial, and social interests demand; that the +jurisdiction of the political unity should correspond to the extension +of general interests, so far as may be possible in the face of physical +necessities not yet overcome in the progress of civilization. We would +apply the doctrine more especially to the present crisis in American +affairs, to enable us to realize that all our sacrifices to maintain the +Union are fully warranted by the great principle of human development +which is involved in the contest. + +If we have rightly interpreted history and the law, these sacrifices are +justified by a double consideration. The first, which is negative--to +avoid the entanglements, broils, and conflicts of neighboring nations, +and the consequent exhaustion of the resources of civilization, through +which its progress would necessarily be retarded; the second, which is +positive--to maintain a vast political organization on this continent in +accordance with the demands of a higher civilization, as the only sure +guarantee for the integrity of the 'Monroe doctrine,' and the +accomplishment of a great political mission, by reacting upon Europe, +and leading her isolated and fragmentary nationalities into a higher +unity, involving order, authority, and the economy of power. + +It is the selfish interest of the crowned heads of the little nations of +Europe to maintain things as they are, with a principality and a palace +for each puppet of royalty. Hence their costly machinery for maintaining +the 'balance of power.' There may have been a use for this in the +ignorance of the masses, when the extension of sovereignty was often but +the increase of despotism; but there is no such need in the advanced +culture of the people and the progress of civilization. Formerly there +was no public sentiment; but, with the rise of civilized methods, it +became developed, and it has gradually enlarged its sphere, till, as a +writer on dynamical physiology remarks, 'we now hear of the public +opinion of Europe.' (Draper.) And we believe that, before this public +sentiment, thrones are doomed to topple, and sceptres and diadems to +fall, to make way for the more liberal and comprehensive political +organizations of an advancing and triumphant civilization. And herein +appears a glimpse of the political mission of the American Union, +destined itself to become still more comprehensive in the inevitable +fluctuation and change of the political elements. It is a hackneyed +theme that all the natural features of our country, its mountains, +rivers, valleys, lakes, are on a grand scale; it is, therefore, meet +that we should lead the civilized world in the movement of political +unity. + +When Russia shall have more completely filled up the measure of her +civilization, and general intelligence shall have secured the liberty of +the subject, and laid forever the ghost of political absolutism, it may +become the mission of the younger nation to infuse new life into the +political system of Europe. With such a nation on the East, and a great +continental policy well advanced in the Western World, Middle and +Western Europe could hardly maintain its present divided, discordant, +and consequently feeble condition: there must be union then, if not +before. With Europe thus united, having outgrown the diplomatic +intrigues and exhausting wars of jealous and ambitious rulers, the dream +of 'universal peace' may realize the inauguration of its fulfilment, and +civilization come to have a meaning which, as yet, is folded up in the +bosom of prophecy--the clearer prophecy, we believe, of science and +history. We are confident that the prestige of the past and the earnest +of the future are for us and our cause; that our nation will not be torn +to pieces and sunk to the dead level of political imbecility, but will +victoriously avouch the integrity of American unity, and gradually gain +the advance in the grand march of civilization, and lead the nations for +hundreds of years to come! + +We may well be proud that we are Americans, and that our lot is cast in +these times. Let us never abase our position by the least approach to +ignoble compromise; let us shrink from no responsibility; but acquit +ourselves as becomes an intelligent people conscious of a noble +destiny! + + + + +THE BIRTH OF THE LILY. + + + The Rose had bloomed in Eden. Odors new + Entranced the groves; and iridescent birds, + At this new birth of beauty, sudden rose + In richest chorus, bearing up the balm + Upon their beating wings. The bee had learned + The place of golden sweets, the butterfly + Loved well to dream within those crimson folds, + And Eve had made a garland delicate, + Of feathery sprays and leaves and drooping bells, + And placed the Rose, the queen of bloom, above + The centre of her brow. Thus she bound up + The golden ripples that fell down and broke + O'er her white breast, hiding the bosom buds, + That never yet had yielded up their sweets + To the warm pressure of an infant's lip. + And Eve had bent above the glassy lake, + Smiling upon her picture, pressing close + The soft cheek of the Rose upon her own, + And praising God for beauty and for life. + + But now a morn had come more strangely dear + Than Eden yet had known. The sleeping wind + Woke not to stir the fringes of the lake, + Nor shook the odors from the scented plant. + A silver, misty wreath closed fondly down + Above the waveless tide. The insect world + Lay waiting in the leaves, as though a spell + Had hushed Creation; yet expectant thrills + Ran through the silence, for the loaded air + Grew lighter, purer, and the recent Rose + Drooped her proud head in meekness, and the face + Of heaven flushed with burning brilliancy, + Above some coming wonder. + + One by one + The beasts and birds of Paradise came down, + With noiseless movement, to the water's edge, + And waited on the margin. Creatures huge, + With honest, liquid eyes, and those that stepped + With cushioned feet and feathered footfall, stole + About the brink, with all the tribe that gave + The forest life. The serpent reared its crest, + Not yet polluted with the valley's dust, + And stood like one with royal gems encrowned; + While beast, and bird, and serpent turned to gaze + Upon each other with inquiring eyes, + And half-bewildered glance. + + Then last of all + Came Eve with Adam to the circling rim, + Her fingers grasping roses, and her lip + All beautiful with Love's own witchery. + She stood and noted with admiring look + The strength of Adam's form, the expansive chest, + The sloping muscle, and the sinew knit, + The firm athletic limb, and every grace + Combined and joined in that first, perfect man. + Then Eve, grown humble in her wondrous love + Of Adam's beauty, knelt upon the turf, + While her long hair fell down in shining waves, + And pressed her lip upon his dew-washed feet: + Then with her agitated fingers broke + The foxglove pitcher from the stem, and stooped + To fill it up for him; but quickly drew + Her pearl-white hand away from the still lake, + And held it o'er her heart, with such a look + Of awe and mystery, as if a spell + Was on the water, that she dared not break. + + So all was hushed and waiting; when, behold! + A flash of gold shot from the silver East, + A gush of new perfume spread through the grove, + The Rose drooped lower, and the impatient birds, + Loosed from restraint, sang in a strain refined + Of dulcet clearness, such as those young bowers + Had never heard before. The beast crouched down + Upon the velvet turf, the serpent's crown + Flashed richer splendor, and the angel-guard + Whose fearful sword gleamed by the Tree of Life, + His very plumes were tremulous with joy. + + Then Eve looked o'er the swelling wave, and, lo! + The lake was overspread with blooming stars, + Or snowy golden-centred cups, that rocked + And spilled the choicest incense. Adam cried, + 'The Lily;' but the sweet voice at his side, + Grown tremulous and faint with overjoy, + Could only whisper, 'Purity.' Then quick, + With restless hands, she culled the floral star-- + Queen of the wave--emblem of innocence, + And hung it in the lion's matted mane, + And twined it round the serpent's glittering neck; + Thus humoring her fancy in the play + Till half the morning hours had slipped and gone. + Then, startled by the voice she loved so well, + She left the sport, the creatures, and the flowers, + And hastened back with Adam to the trees + Where God was walking in the solemn shade. + O mother frail, thou hast not known a tear! + Thy spirit, clothed in simple innocence, + Wears the true garb of bliss. Not yet thy hour + Of sorrow and departure; nor the pangs + And mystery of motherhood are thine! + And yet, weak one! some day, because of thee, + God's love shall give a Saviour to the world! + + + + +WAS HE SUCCESSFUL? + + 'Do but grasp into the thick of human life! Every one _lives_ + it--to not many is it _known_; and seize it where you will, it is + interesting.'--GOETHE. + + 'SUCCESSFUL.--Terminating in accomplishing what is wished or + intended.'--WEBSTER's _Dictionary._ + + +_PART SECOND._ + + 'I have been young and now I am old, and I bear my testimony that I + have never found thorough, pervading, enduring morality with any + but such as feared God--not in the modern sense, but in the old + child-like way. And only with such, too, have I found a rejoicing + in life--a hearty, victorious cheerfulness, of so distinguished a + kind that no other is to be compared with it.'--JACOBI. + + +CHAPTER I. + +The first part of this narrative naturally closes with the termination +of our hero's career at Burnsville, and his establishing himself as a +resident of New York. + +Up to this period, he has had no great difficulty in making his conduct +consistent with his religious professions. He certainly has striven with +a species of conscientiousness to do so, and we repeat, he has achieved +his object. + +Now, however, he is embarking on a very different sea from the quiet, +placid waters of his village life. Here, Hiram Meeker, you will +encounter many and frequent temptations to _do_ wrong. For you are soon +to commence on your "own account," and then you must prepare for that +mortal struggle, in which none, without the grace of God to aid them, +can come off victors. + +Hiram understands this: that is, he has been educated to believe it. +Surely he enjoys saving grace. Who more constant at church and evening +meetings; who prays longer and more vigorously than he? + +Let me repeat that Hiram has a strong desire to enter the kingdom of +Heaven, and thinks that all the chances are in favor of his doing so. +But this desire is of the same nature as his wish to become rich. It is +founded on the determination to promote the fortunes of the individual +_me_, here and hereafter. It leads him to treat as a _principle_ the +statement of _fact_, that "honesty is the best policy;" and his policy +is--Self. He can practically master the theory of cause and effect as to +what is going on _here_. And since he believes he will secure a good +position in the world to come by strict observance of the "ordinances," +he considers himself all right _there_. + +It is with entire complacency, then, that Hiram Meeker sets sail in New +York. He is young, and, as the word goes, handsome; with good health, +strong nerves, an enduring frame, and excellent constitution. He is well +educated, and has a remarkable capacity for affairs, with sufficient +experience in business to qualify him for any mercantile career he +chooses to enter on. Moreover, in all the relations of life, he +professes to be governed by the highest possible principle--Christian +principle; and claims to be, indeed really is, at least theoretically, a +believer in the truths of our holy religion. Why is it, then, reader, +you have already taken such a prejudice against Hiram? For I know, as it +were instinctively, that you are prejudiced against him. Indeed, I +confess that in preparing his history for the press, I have +unconsciously permitted certain comments to creep in, indicating my own +feelings toward the young man. But, in fact, I could not help it, +especially when I came to narrate Hiram's course toward Sarah Burns. + +But here in New York, I begin to feel a painful interest for young +Meeker. He is at the "parting of the ways." Up to now, there has been no +great strain on his moral sense, while he has not been altogether +insensible to humanizing influences. He has been thus far in the service +of others, and had wisdom enough to understand it was best for him to +serve with fidelity. Thus, his sense of duty did not conflict with his +interests, and he won golden opinions from all. + +Probably, when he left Burnsville, but one person thoroughly knew +him--that person was Sarah Burns. For it is given to those whose hearts +are honestly _devoted_, in time to learn and fully comprehend the nature +of the hearts brought in contact with theirs. + +The young ladies universally recalled their delightful flirtations with +Hiram with a sort of pleasurable regret, in which no angry feelings +toward him were mingled. Even Mary Jessup looked back with a sentimental +sigh, but not with any feeling of bitterness, to the period when she was +so happy with "young Meeker, boarding at their house." The Hawkins girls +still severally had their secret hopes in the future. [As to the widow +Hawkins, I cannot say.] But nobody understood the young man except Sarah +Burns. _He_ knew that, and when he drove away from her door, he felt he +was _found out_. + +I am getting from my subject, which is Hiram's dangerous situation, now +that he has reached New York. One thing much to be regretted is that he +has resolved, at least for the present, to adjure society, in his entire +devotion to his main purpose. This is an alarming feature. For +notwithstanding, in his intercourse with the sex, he had sought entirely +his own pleasure, still it was not without its qualifying influences. +His mind was diverted from a perpetual thought of how he should get +rich, and nature (I mean the nature common to us all) was permitted to +have a certain sway. + +When Hiram stepped foot in the metropolis, he cut off these diverting +elements. He decided, and he had long and carefully considered it, that +in the strife in which he was soon to enter, he should require all his +time, all his faculties. For this reason, he determined to accept Mr. +Eastman's offer of board and lodging at his house, albeit his wife was +shrewish and generally disagreeable. He no longer permitted the gay +throng in Broadway to move his nerves or excite his senses. And thus all +these secondary impulses and emotions and sentiments yielded to the one +main controlling purpose. + +Yes, Hiram Meeker, I feel a painful interest in your situation. I see +that, once entered on your career, there will be no departure or +deviation or pause in it. As in metal poured into the mould, which, +while it remains in a fluid state, is capable of being converted into +other forms, but which, after a time, fixes and becomes +unchangeable,--so, in the life of every human being, there is a period +when the aims and purposes are fixed and the character is settled +forever. With some, this comes earlier, with others later; but it comes +inevitably to all of us. + +It seems to me Hiram is fast approaching this epoch, and this is why my +interest in him becomes painful. For after this--but I will not +anticipate. + + +CHAPTER II. + +The first thing which Hiram undertook after getting settled at his +boarding place, was to decide what church to attend. This was a matter +which required a great deal of deliberation, and week after week he +visited different churches of his own faith. + +Mr. Bennett, with his family, went to an Episcopal church. He took the +liberty, one day, of flatly advising his cousin to cut Presbyterianism, +and go with him. + +'The fact is, Hiram, I can't stand the blue lights; they make a +hypocrite of you, or a sniveller. Now, I don't profess to be a good +person, but I think, after all, my neighbors know about where to find +me. As to the Episcopalians, they give us good music, good prayers, and +short sermons. They don't come snooping about to find out whether you go +sometimes to the theatre, or if any of your family practise the damnable +sin of dancing at parties. They mind their own business, and leave you +to mind yours.' + +'What _is_ their business?' asked Hiram. + +Mr. Bennett, taken a little aback, hesitated a moment; then he replied, +'Why, to preach and read the service, and perform church duties +generally.' + +'Well,' said Hiram, 'I always thought it was a part of a minister's duty +to look after the spiritual welfare of every one of his church, and to +visit the families, and converse with all the members.' + +'You forget you're not in the country, where everything is got up on an +entirely different basis,' replied Mr. Bennett. 'You won't find much +'pastoral' work here, even among the blue lights. They confine +themselves to preaching brimstone sermons from the pulpit and at evening +lectures, and giving orders about the management of your family and +mine, taking care that nobody shall enjoy anything if they can help it. +If you go to see a play, it is a plunge into Tophet; if you permit your +child to tread a quickstep to a lively tune, both you and your child are +fit subjects for the wrath to come.' + +'I rather think you are mistaken when you say the Episcopalians approve +of the theatre and late parties, and so forth,' retorted Hiram. 'I have +been told by two or three of that persuasion, that the clergy object +decidedly to all these things.' + +'Gammon, Hiram--gammon for the country market. I tell you, I know that +we can do just what we please in the way of 'rational amusement,' as our +clergyman calls it, and your people can't, and I advise you to come over +to the liberal side.' + +Hiram shook his head. + +'Well, if you won't, I recommend Dr. Pratt. He, I understand, permits a +little fun occasionally; then he makes use of our prayers, commits them +to memory, you know; and latterly has put on a gown, and has a little +boy to open the door of his pulpit. I advise you to go there.' + +'Thank you,' said Hiram; 'but I don't think I should relish that kind of +a man. I prefer something decided one way or the other.' + +'Then take Dr. Chellis, he's your chap. Boanerges! a regular son of +thunder. Egad, I believe he _does_ visit every soul of his flock--keeps +them straight. The other evening he was invited to a little gathering at +the house of a new comer in his congregation--he always accepts +invitations, and they say he is very fond of oysters and chicken salad, +though he drinks nothing but cold water;--well, it happened the young +folks wanted to get up a quadrille, began to arrange it innocently +enough before his face and eyes. Thereupon he jumped up in a huff, and +flung himself out of the house, and the next Sunday delivered an extra +blast on the 'immoral tendencies of the dance.' + +'That's the man for me,' said Hiram, firmly. + +Mr. Bennett regarded his protege with a keen, inquisitive glance, with a +view to fathom him, if possible. It would seem that the result was +unsatisfactory, for after a moment he exclaimed, 'Well, I confess I +don't exactly see through you. It may be one sort of thing; it may be +another; but I can't say which.' + +'It is a very simple matter, Mr. Bennett. I was brought up strictly, and +believe in my bringing up.' + +'All right, if you mean it.' + +'I do mean it. Besides, now that I have come to New York to reside, +where I shall be subjected to the numerous temptations of a city life, I +shall need more than ever to be under the preaching of just such a man +as you describe Dr. Chellis to be.' + +'Oh, don't; that is coming it too strong; now I think I _do_ understand +you. But, Hiram, drop all that sort of thing. If you want to join +Chellis's church, join it; but talk your cant to the marines.' + +Hiram was angry, but he said nothing. + +'You must not be vexed, Hiram. You know I want to do you all the good I +can. Recollect, if you are smart, you have much to learn yet. Let me +have your confidence, and I will advise you according to my experience. +If you really like severe preaching, you can't do better than go in for +the Doctor. He has the richest congregation in New York. Allwise, Tenant +& Co., Starbuck & Briggs, Daniel Story. Those are names for you; +South-street men, too, in your line. They are the pillars of Chellis's +church; good men and true, if they are blue lights. Besides, there are +lots of pretty girls--tight little Presbyterian saints, with plenty of +cash. Their fathers can buy and sell Dr. Pratt's congregation and mine +together. Yes, you are right; I wonder I did not think of it. Go in for +Chellis.' + +Hiram was still silent. His heightened color and severe expression +showed how little he relished Mr. Bennett's conversation. + +Nothing is so disagreeable to a person whose nature is not thoroughly +genuine, but who claims to act from proper motives, as to have another +take it for granted he is not doing so. + +He did not forget a word that Mr. Bennett had said, though. Indeed, he +recovered his equanimity so far as to thank him for his suggestions, +and, wishing him good-day, he started for his place in South street. + +Mr. Bennett watched the young man as he walked up the street (the +conversation occurred in the doorway of H. Bennett & Co.'s +establishment), and until he had turned the corner. 'Deep, very deep,' +he muttered as he stepped inside. 'He'll be 'round one of these days, or +I am mistaken.' + +Meanwhile Hiram continued on his way to the store, his cheeks burning +under the influence of Mr. Bennett's plain talk, but sensibly alive to +the description of Dr. Chellis's church. + +'Allwise, Tenant & Co., eh? and Starbuck & Briggs (Hiram had been but a +few weeks in New York, and already had learned to pay that almost +idolatrous deference to great commercial names which is a leading +characteristic of the town); that will do. Plenty of rich girls,'--his +heart began to beat quick,--'plenty of rich girls. That's the place for +me.' + +Strange, in this soliloquy he said nothing about the spiritual +advantages to be derived under the preaching of so noted a divine as Dr. +Chellis. Yet Hiram really liked strong preaching and severe discipline. +For he never appropriated any of the denunciations. Feeling perfectly +safe himself, it gratified him to hear the awful truths severely +enforced on the outsiders. + +We see, however, from this little conversation with himself, what was +uppermost in Hiram's mind. Subsequent inquiries, carefully made of +various persons, fully confirmed the statement of Mr. Bennett as to +these little particulars in relation to Dr. Chellis's church and +congregation. + +Dr. Chellis himself was a person of extraordinary ability, great purity +of character, and great zeal. At this period he was about sixty years of +age, but he possessed the earnestness and energy of a young man. His +congregation were very much attached to him, and it is true he exercised +over them a remarkable influence. Many people sneered, accusing them of +'being led by the nose by their minister.' They were led, it is true, +but not in that way: rather by their understanding and their affections. +For, strict and stern and severe as the 'old Doctor' appeared to be, it +was the _sin_ he thundered against, not the individual. And those who +were brought in more intimate contact with him, declared that he was, +after all, a kind, tender-hearted man. + +His church were devoted to him. The majority were a severe, toilsome, +self-denying company--too much so, perchance; but of that I dare hazard +no opinion: God knows. Like their minister, sincere, indulging in no +cant; without hypocrisy, practising in the world during the week the +principles they professed on Sunday to be governed by; a church +deserving to be honored for its various charities (it gave twice as much +as any other in the city), for the personal liberality of its members +when called on to join in public or private subscriptions, and for the +exalted influence they exerted in affairs generally. + +Into such a church, and among such a people, Hiram Meeker proposes to +introduce himself. + + * * * * * + +His first move was to call on Dr. Chellis without any introduction, and +present his credentials from the church in Burnsville, as well as an +excellent letter from his minister, certifying particularly as to his +religious character and deportment. He thought by going as an +unsophisticated youth from the country he would make a better impression +and more strongly commend himself to the Doctor's sympathy than in any +other way. + +I think, however, that Hiram's call was rather of a failure. He had no +ordinary man to deal with. Dr. Chellis had not only a profound knowledge +of human nature, but a quick insight into its various peculiarities. He +could classify individuals rapidly; and he read Hiram after fifteen +minutes' conversation. + +The latter, not accustomed to men of the Doctor's calibre, found himself +wanting in his usual equanimity. His familiar role did not serve, he +could see that, and for once his resources failed him. + +For the Doctor did not appear to be specially interested when Hiram, +apropos of nothing, except as a last card, undertook, in a meek, +saint-like manner, to give him an account of his early conviction of sin +and subsequent triumphant conversion. Indeed, if the truth must be told, +the worthy divine gave evident symptoms--to speak plainly--of being +bored before Hiram's story was half finished! The latter was not slow to +see this, and he found it difficult to rally. + +At length he gave the Doctor an opportunity to speak, by bringing his +personal narrative to a close. + +'You have no acquaintances in the city?' + +'I think I may say none, except in business; and my object in selecting +such a church as yours is to keep up the same degree of piety which I +humbly trust I maintained in my village home.' + +[Pretty well, Hiram, pretty well--but you have an old head to deal +with, and an honest heart: be careful.] + +'To do that,' replied the Doctor, gravely, 'you must not look back to +what you were, or thought you were. Be sure you are in danger when you +feel complacent about yourself.' + +These were awful words to Hiram, and from such a severe, grave, +dignified old man. + +'In danger!' That was something new. 'Of what?' Why, no thought of a +possibility of danger had crossed young Meeker's mind since the day he +joined the church in Hampton. + +He sat quite still, uncertain what reply to make. + +He was interrupted by the tones of the Doctor's voice--tones which were +modified from their previous severity. + +'I will take your letter,' he said, 'and at the next communion, which +will take place in about six weeks, you will be admitted to membership.' + +'I should like to have a class in the Sunday school,' said Hiram, +breathing more freely. + +'If you will speak next Sunday to Mr. Harris, the superintendent,' +replied the Doctor, 'he will furnish you with one. There is a demand for +teachers just at present, I heard him say.' + +Dr. Chellis rose, as if Hiram had taken up enough of his time. Our hero +could but do the same. He bowed and left the room. + +'A pretty sort of minister that,' exclaimed he between his teeth, as he +quitted the house. 'Pious! no more pious than my boot. Never listened to +a word I said. I know he didn't. Is it possible I must sit under this +man's preaching? I see now what cousin Bennett meant by things being got +up on an entirely different basis here from what they are in the +country. I should think they were. But there is Allwise, Tenant & Co., +Daniel Story. I may trust myself with such names [he did not say with +such _men_]. Ah! h'm--h'm--lots of pretty girls, with plenty of cash. +I'll try it. Anyhow, it stands number one. No mistake about that! + + +CHAPTER III. + +Hiram soon learned a lesson. He discovered there were people in New York +just as quickwitted, as keen, and as shrewd as he was himself. This did +not alarm him. Not a bit. He was only the more ready to appreciate the +truth of Mr. Bennett's remark, that he had yet much to learn. + +'I see it,' quoth Hiram. 'The city gets the best of everything, by the +natural course of supply and demand. Yes, it gets the best beef and +mutton and fowls, and fruits and vegetables, and on the same principle +it commands the best men. Well, I like this all the better. It was dull +business in Burnsville, after all, with nobody to compete with. Give me +New York!' + + * * * * * + +In the store of Hendly, Layton & Gibb, Hiram saw and conversed with +shipmasters who were familiar with every port in the world. The reader +will recollect, at school he had devoted himself to mercantile +geography. Thus he had located in his mind every principal seaport, and +had learned what was the nature of the trade with each. The old sea +captains were amazed at the pertinence of Hiram's questions, and with +the information he possessed on topics connected with their business. +They could scarcely understand it. It gave them a great respect for the +'fellow,' and Hiram speedily became a favorite with them all. He used to +like to go on board their ships, and chat with them there, whenever he +found time. Do not suppose these were mere pleasure excursions. Hiram +Meeker was forming his opinion of each one of these captains. For in his +mind's eye he saw some of them in _his_ employ; but which? that was the +question. So by mingling with them, he learned much of the mechanical +part of commerce, and he discovered, besides their different characters, +who were competent and honest, and who were not altogether so. + +Hiram also spent a good deal of his time conversing with Eastman, with +whom he boarded. He got the latter's ideas of business and about the men +they daily encountered, and Eastman could furnish a fund of valuable +information, based on long experience. + +Hiram all this time was indefatigable. He watched the course of trade. +He endeavored to discover the secret of the success of the great South +street houses. He worked, he pondered, and yet all the time served +Hendly, Layton & Gibb with fidelity. Eastman became attached to him. +Mrs. Eastman said the man did not give her half the trouble she +expected. So you see, in certain quarters, Hiram was as popular as ever. + +Meantime he had secured a seat in and joined Dr. Chellis's church. He +duly presented himself at the Sunday school and obtained a fine class. +From that time he never missed a service on Sunday, nor a lecture, or +prayer meeting, or other weekly gathering. He even attended a funeral +occasionally, in his zeal to 'wait' on all the ordinances. He was, +however, exceedingly modest and unobtrusive. He did not seek to make +acquaintances, but no one could help noticing his punctilious regularity +and decorum. I have remarked that Hiram determined to cut off what had +been a great source of pleasure--society; but he still paid the same +attention to his personal appearance as before. After a while questions +began to be asked: 'Who is this new comer, so constant, so devout, and +so exemplary?' + +'What a fine-looking fellow! I wonder who he is?' whispered Miss Tenant +to Miss Stanley, one morning, as our hero passed their seats (they both +had classes) to take his place with his Sunday school pupils. + +'I don't know, I am sure,' replied her friend. + +'I can't find any one who does. Do you know, _I_ think he is real +handsome?' + +'So do I, if he would only lift his head up and look people in the face; +he is as bashful as a sheep.' + +'My little brother is in his class, and he says they all like him so +much. He takes such an interest in his pupils.' + +'Then I should think you could find out something about him.' + +'No: his name is Meeker; that's all any one seems to know.' + +'Funny name; I don't like it.' + +'Nor I. Still, we won't condemn him for his name. Besides, I like his +face?' + +'Hush!' + +Here the conversation of the two young people was interrupted by the +rapping of the superintendent, and the services of the school commenced. + +If young ladies of the importance of Miss Tenant and Miss Stanley begin +to talk about Hiram, you may be certain it will spread through the +school and into the church. _He_ knew what was going on--of course he +did; but only took still greater pains with his personal appearance, and +became more shy and reserved and assiduously devout. + +The elders of the church could not help noticing him. + +The young ladies noticed him. + +Heads of families observed his exemplary deportment. + +Who could he be? + +Dr. Chellis, meantime, did not lose sight of his new communicant. They +frequently met, and Hiram was always greeted, if not with cordiality, +yet kindly. Strange to say, contrary to his habit, the Doctor neglected +or omitted to enter into conversation with Hiram on religious topics. He +felt a repugance to doing so which he could not explain. Everything +seemed so praiseworthy in Hiram's conduct, that one would suppose the +worthy divine would like to engage him in conversation, as the Rev. Mr. +Chase used to do at Burnsville. But a certain aversion prevented it. + +When applied to for information about Hiram, the Doctor could say +nothing, for he knew nothing; and so the mystery, for a mystery the +young ladies determined to make of it, increased. + +At last a rumor was circulated that Hiram had been disappointed in a +love affair. A mischief-loving girl detailed it to Miss Tenant, whose +interest in the young Sunday school teacher gradually grew stronger, and +it soon became a well-authenticated piece of history. + + * * * * * + +During this time a species of intimacy was growing up between Hiram +Meeker and Hill. An odd companionship, you will say; but they seemed to +get along very well together. The latter, as you may remember, was a +wild, reckless fellow. He had his good traits, though. There was nothing +mean in his composition, but much that was impulsive and generous. He +never laid up a penny, and was always in debt. It was this unfortunate +habit which had kept him so long at Joslin's. He had got in advance of +his salary, and he would not quit till it was made up. When he left +there, he succeeded in getting a place in a large wine and liquor house; +for Hill's acquaintance was extensive, and in those days of +extraordinary 'drumming,' in which he was a great proficient, his +services were valuable. It was through Hill, as I have said, that Hiram +got his place at Hendly's, and after that he was in the habit of looking +in nearly every day on him toward the close of business hours. + +I cannot precisely explain by what species of fascination this poor +fellow was attracted to Meeker. Doubtless it originated in the +triumphant resistance which the latter opposed to Hill's attempt on him +at their first acquaintance, and his complete victory over and +discomfiture of Benjamin Joslin, for whom Hill entertained a supreme +contempt. There was a mystery about the sources of Hiram's power which +completed the charm, and made Hill his willing subject, and afterward +slave. + +But what did Hiram want of Hill? That would appear more difficult to +answer. He certainly did want something of him. For he encouraged his +coming often to see him, and talked with him a great deal. He even lent +him occasionally small sums of money. I repeat, what a droll +companionship! Hill, a swearing, drinking, godless scapegrace. Meeker, a +quiet, exemplary, religious, laborious young man. + +Perhaps it was the rule by which opposites are attracted to each other. + +Perhaps it was something else. + +On the whole, I am inclined to think it was something else, on Hiram's +part at least. I believe he acted, with respect to Hill, as he did with +respect to everybody--from carefully considered motives. We shall see, +perhaps, by and by, how this was. + +Eastman used to wonder that Hiram should tolerate Hill's society. To be +sure, he himself had a sort of family regard for him. But his presence +always annoyed him. He even expressed his surprise to Hiram, who replied +by making use of the moral argument. He was sorry for the poor fellow. +He hoped to do him some good. Possibly he might be able to bring him +under better influences. Certainly Hill would not harm _him_, while, on +the contrary, he (Hill) might be benefited. + +Hiram did not tell the truth. + +Really, if he had dared to stop and inquire of himself, he would be +forced to acknowledge that he did _not_ want Hill to be different from +what he was. Then he would not serve his purpose. To be sure, sometimes, +when Hill permitted an extra strong oath to escape his lips, Hiram would +fidget and look uneasy, and beg his visitor to break himself of such a +wicked habit. But the secret of Hiram's power did not lie in his _moral_ +influence certainly, for Hill's habit of swearing did not improve, +indeed it grew worse. + +In this way passed our hero's first year in New York. + + + + +NULLIFICATION AND SECESSION. + + +We publish the principal part of the speech of Hon. R. J. Walker, +against nullification and secession, made at the great Union meeting at +Natchez, Mississippi, on the first Monday of January, 1833. We republish +this speech from the Natchez _Mississippi Journal_ of that date. Upon +that speech, Mr. Walker became the Union candidate for Senator of the +United States from Mississippi against Mr. Poindexter, a Calhoun +nullifier and secessionist. After a three years' contest of unexampled +violence, Mr. Walker was elected on the 8th of January, 1836. So +distinct was the issue, that the Legislature of Mississippi declared +nullification and secession to be treason. The contest was conducted by +Mr. Walker by speeches in every county, with the banner of the Union +waving over him, and to the music of our national airs. + +We republish this speech now because it preceded Mr. Webster's great +reply to Calhoun, and because its arguments are applicable to the +present contest. This speech drew out Gen. Jackson's celebrated letter, +heretofore published, in favor of Mr. Walker; and the speech received +the cordial approval of ex-President Madison. By reference to the +Washington city _Globe_ of the 12th August, 1836, it will be found that, +in conversation with Mr. Ingersoll, 'Mr. Madison spoke very freely of +nullification, which he altogether condemned, remarking that Mr. Walker, +of the Senate, in a speech he had made on some occasion, was the _first +person_ who had given to the public what he (Mr. Madison) considers the +true view of Mr. Jefferson's language on that subject.' Mr. Webster gave +the Whig arguments against nullification and secession, Mr. Walker the +democratic; but they both arrived at the same conclusions: + +Never, fellow citizens, did I rise to address you with such deep and +abiding impressions of the awful character of that crisis which involves +the existence of the American Union. No mortal eye can pierce the veil +which covers the events of the next few months, but we do know that the +scales are now balancing in fearful equipoise, liberty and union in the +one hand, anarchy or despotism in the other. Which shall preponderate, +is the startling question to which we must all now answer. Already one +bright, one kindred star is sinking from the banner of the American +Union, the very fabric of our government is rocking on its foundations, +one of its proudest pillars is now moving from beneath the glorious +arch, and soon may we all stand amid the broken columns and upon the +scattered fragments of the Constitution of our once united and happy +country. Whilst then we may yet recede from the brink of that precipice +on which we now stand, whilst we are once more convened as citizens of +the American Union, and have still a common country, whilst we are yet +fondly gazing, perhaps for the last time, upon that banner which floated +over the army of Washington, and living beneath that Constitution which +bears his sacred name, let us at least endeavor to transmit to +posterity, unimpaired, that Union, cemented by the blood of our +forefathers. The honorable gentleman who has preceded me, in opposition +to the resolutions submitted for your consideration, tells us that he +was nursed in the principles of '76 and '98--that these are the +principles of Carolina, and that they ought to be maintained. Let me +briefly answer, that the humble individual who now addresses you is the +son of a soldier of the Revolution, and that from the dawning of +manhood, from his first vote to his last, at all times, and upon all +occasions, he has supported and will support the principles of +democracy, and the doctrines of '76 and '98. But it was under the banner +of the Union that the whigs of '76 and '98 achieved their glorious +triumphs; and is that the standard now unfurled by the advocates of +nullification? It is true, we find nullification declared in the +Kentucky resolutions to be a rightful remedy--but nullification by whom? +by a single State? no--by those sovereignties the several States, in the +mode prescribed by the Constitution, by a declaratory amendment +annulling the power under which the law was passed. This would be a +remedy in fact; for it would operate equally on all the States; but can +the same act of Congress be constitutional in one State, and +unconstitutional in another? South Carolina declares the Tariff +unconstitutional--Kentucky declares it valid; is it nullified or not? is +it void or valid? The South Carolina theory gives to each State, of +itself, the unlimited power to pronounce ultimate judgment against the +validity of any act of Congress. If so, the Tariff must be valid in +Kentucky, and void in South Carolina. Yet if the Carolina ordinance, +nullifying the Tariff, be valid in that State, it is valid in every +other State, and Carolina may introduce foreign imports, once landed in +her own State, into every other State, free of all duty; for, by the +Constitution, 'no tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from +any State.' What then becomes of the ultimate judgment of Kentucky? +Nullified by a single State; and that is the nullification of South +Carolina, by which she can constitutionally, and as a member of the +Union, repeal any act of Congress she may deem invalid, and prescribe +her will for law throughout the limits of every other State. The +Constitution of the Union would then be this: _Be it enacted_, that the +American Congress shall possess such powers only as South Carolina +believes they may lawfully exercise; and the whole American people be +thus subjected to the government of the ordinances of a single State. Is +this democracy? The truth is, every act of Congress is intrinsically +void or valid, from its repugnance to or consonance with the provisions +of the American Constitution; nor can the judgment of a State render +void an act of Congress which is constitutional, or render valid an act +of Congress which is unconstitutional. Would the judgment of a single +State have rendered the alien and sedition law constitutional, or the +last war unconstitutional, or would the Supreme Court of the Union have +been compelled to render opposite judgment in a case brought before +them, declaring the citizen of Massachusetts bound to oppose, and of +Virginia to support either of these laws, as their respective States had +pronounced contradictory judgments upon them? Suppose Massachusetts had +not only declared the last war unconstitutional, but had passed an +ordinance requiring her citizens to resist the war, to prostrate and +oppose the armies of the Republic, and to aid a tyrant's myrmidons in +driving the steel deeper into the bosoms of our bleeding countrymen; +would the ordinance be constitutional, or would not the acts it required +to be performed be treason against the Government of the Union? + +It is said a State cannot commit treason; no, but its citizens may; nor +would they be rightfully acquitted because sustained by the judgment of +a single State. If each State possesses an equal right to pass ultimate +judgment upon any act of Congress, and two States enact ordinances +directly contradictory to the same law, do they not, like the meeting of +equal forces in mechanics, nullify each other? or must the same law be +enforced in one State and disregarded in the other? Not without +violating the Constitution; for if New York pronounces the Tariff valid, +and South Carolina declares it void, and suits are instituted in each +State on bonds given for the payment of duties on imports introduced +into each, must the duties be collected in one State, but not in the +other? This would be to set at open defiance those clauses of the +Constitution which declare that all imposts 'shall be uniform throughout +the United States,' and that 'no preference shall exist in the +collection of revenue in the ports of one State over those of another.' +Upon an appeal from the decisions by the Federal district courts of New +York and Carolina, in the suits on the bonds for these duties, how would +the Supreme Court of the Union decide the question? by enforcing the +payment of the bonds given in Carolina? No; for that State had exercised +the right of ultimate judgment, and pronounced the law invalid; would +the court decide against the validity of the bond given in New York? No; +for that State, in exercising its equal right of pronouncing ultimate +judgment, had declared that the law was valid. Or would they enforce the +payments of the duties in New York and not in South Carolina? This, we +have seen, would violate both the clauses of the Constitution last +quoted. The only remaining judgment would be, to disregard the edict of +a single State, and to enforce the payment of the duties in both States, +or in neither, as the act of Congress might or might not be repugnant to +the provisions of the Constitution. If Kentucky and Virginia thought +they possessed the power in regard to the alien and sedition laws now +claimed by Carolina in regard to the Tariff, where is the ordinance +nullifying those laws? Or would they be nullified by resolutions +expressing only the judgment and opinion of the Legislature in regard to +the constitutionality of the law, as if the Legislature, one department +only of the Government of a single State, could annul all the laws of +the Union? Even South Carolina does not urge a doctrine so monstrous, +for she declares this can be done solely by the 'delegates' of the State +in 'solemn convention.' South Carolina finds, then, in the practice of +Virginia and Kentucky, no warrant for the doctrine of nullification. She +finds neither ordinance, nor test oaths, nor standing armies, nor packed +juries, nor secession, or threats of secession, from the Union. They +find Mr. Jefferson in that great emergency protesting against 'a +scission of the Union,' in any event; and the ordinance of South +Carolina would have received his unqualified abhorrence. But, if we are +asked to surrender the principles which alone can preserve the Union, on +the assumed authority of Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison, of Kentucky and +of Virginia--why do not the advocates of nullification tell us that Mr. +Jefferson, in 1821, as appears by his printed memoirs, emphatically +denied the right of a State to _veto_ an act of Congress; and Mr. +Madison, a surviving founder of the Constitution, and framer of the +Virginia resolutions, unequivocally denounces the doctrine of +nullification? And are they not safer guides than Messrs. McDuffie, +Calhoun, and Hamilton, the former of whom wrote and published in 1821, +and the latter deliberately sanctioned, in a laudatory preface, a series +of essays, denouncing this very doctrine of nullification as the +'_climax_ of political heresies'? Why do not those who would look to +Kentucky and Virginia as the only safe expositors of the Constitution +inform us also, that the great and patriotic commonwealth of Kentucky is +indignantly repelling the charge that nullification ever was sustained +by her authority? Why do they not point to the unanimous resolution of +the Virginia Legislature in 1810, declaring in the very case of a +nullification, by a law of Pennsylvania, of a power of the General +Government, that the Supreme Court of the Union is the tribunal, +'already provided by the Constitution of the United States, to decide +disputes between the State and Federal' authorities?' (See 'Sup. Rev. +Code of Virginia,' page 150.) These resolutions, directly affirming the +supremacy of the judgment of the Supreme Court of the Union over the +laws and judgment of a State, were adopted by Virginia within a few +months after the promulgation by that tribunal of its decree enforcing +the authority of the Union against the nullifying edict of a sovereign +State. Virginia did more: she not only affirmed the power of this +tribunal, and sanctioned its decree, but spoke of it in terms of the +highest eulogy, and scouted indignantly the proposition of Pennsylvania +to vest the right of deciding questions of disputed power and +sovereignty in some other tribunal than the Supreme Court of the Union. +The same proposition was treated with the open or silent contempt of +every State in the Union, South Carolina among the number; and +Pennsylvania receded, though she had passed a law commanding the +Governor of the State to prevent by an armed force the execution of the +process emanating under the authority of the Constitution of the +Union--though she placed her act upon the same ground as Carolina, that +the power exercised in that case had never been granted by the +Constitution to any department of the General Government. Thus ended +nullification in the keystone of the arch of the Union. That State, +which has ever sustained the Democracy of the South, in the election of +Jefferson, of Madison, and Monroe, and the cheering voice of whose +public meetings first called out as a candidate for the presidency the +patriot Chief Magistrate who now upholds the banner of the Union, +submitted to the law of the Union. And is nullification constitutional +in Carolina, but unconstitutional in Pennsylvania? Is the one a +_sovereign_ and the other a _subject_ State? Shall the one submit to the +laws of the Union, and not the other? Why, sir, if the people of +Pennsylvania could sustain a distinction so odious, the very shades of +their ancestors would rise from the battlefields of the Revolution, from +Paoli and Germantown, and call their children bondmen of Carolina, +vassals and recreant slaves! I speak not now of the whiskey +insurrection, when, at the order of Washington, the militia of Virginia +and of other States moved against the people of Western Pennsylvania, +under the command of the Governor of Virginia and Carolina, and the +nation approved the deed; but I speak of the period, during the +presidency of Mr. Jefferson, when the State of Pennsylvania passed a law +nullifying the powers of the General Government, under her reserved +right to construe the Constitution at her pleasure, when she was +compelled to yield to the laws of the Union, and her armed force, +assembled by her Governor under an edict of the State, was ineffectual. +Nullification was condemned by Jefferson and Madison, by Virginia and +Carolina, and the people of the Union; and must one State nullify and +not another? No, sir; all or none of the States must submit to the +supremacy of the Government of the Union; and if Carolina can +successfully resist that Government, will any other State submit to a +power which is thus insulted, disgraced, defied, and overthrown by the +edict of a single State, and which acts and exists only by its +permission? No, sir; one successful example of practical nullification +by a State destroys the Union; for it demonstrates that the Government +of the Union has no power to execute its laws, or preserve its +existence--_that it is not a government_, or that its powers are written +in sand, to be swept away by the first angry surge of passion that beats +over them. Such was the prediction of the despots of Europe, too soon to +be fulfilled if the fatal ordinance of Carolina is sustained, and the +flag of the Union struck down by the imperious mandate of a single +State. Let us, then, now teach those despots, who, pointing with +exultation to our dissensions, and anticipating our downfall, proclaim +that man is incapable of self-government, that the Union can and shall +be preserved, that we know that 'Union and Liberty are inseparable,' +that the name and privileges of American citizens are entwined with the +very ligaments of our hearts, that they are our birthright, the glorious +inheritance purchased by the blood of our forefathers, and never to be +surrendered by their sons; that we will all rally round the banner of +our country and sustain it, upon the ocean, on the land, in war and in +peace, against foreign or domestic enemies; or, if it must fall, it will +be upon the graves of Americans preferring death in its defence to life +without it, when the iron chains of despotism would bind them as slaves +to that soil which they would tread only as freemen. + +It is said that the Government of the Union is but a league formed by +sovereign States. Did the States form it as governments? if so, which or +all of the departments of any State subscribed or ratified the compact? +or could the government of any State change the organic law, unless by a +power given them by the Constitution, or surrender the sovereign +attributes of power, and unite the people in a new government with other +confederates? No; the government cannot abolish or change its form or +transfer its powers to another government: this highest act of +sovereignty can only be performed by the people of a State; and it was +by the people of every State, acting in convention as separate and +distinct communities, that the Constitution was ratified and rendered +binding upon the people of all the States; and, in the language of Mr. +Jefferson, the Government thus formed was 'authorized to act immediately +on the people and by its own officers.' Was it then a league only? No, +it was what its framers, the people, as we have seen, and not the +governments of all the States, called it, a 'Constitution'--a +'Government;' and it is an overthrow of fundamental principles to say +that a 'constitution,' a 'government,' which is made 'the supreme law' +in all the States, could be created by any power less than the people of +the several States, but as the people of the States, and not in their +aggregate capacity. Whatever may be the theories of the advocates of +consolidation on the one hand, or nullification on the other, this is +certainly a true history of the manner in which the Government of the +Union was formed. The Constitution itself expressly declares that it +could be created only by 'the ratifications of the conventions of the +States;' and this Constitution was expressly rendered 'the supreme law +of the land,' 'anything in the constitution or laws of any State to the +contrary notwithstanding,'--as if the government of a State could render +their own constitution subordinate to another constitution. A return +then having taken place, in forming the Constitution, to the people of +all the States, as the primary fountain of power, they might have vested +all their sovereignty, or but a part of it, in one government; and they +might have given, in either event, the same power which exists in +ordinary governments of enforcing its laws when sustained as +constitutional by all its departments, subject only to the natural +rights of the people to revolutionize the government in case of +intolerable oppression. Certain important powers and attributes of +sovereignty the people of the States gave to this new government. They +made this government 'supreme' in the exercise of its powers in all the +States. They gave this government the sole power 'to declare war.' Did +the State then remain an absolute sovereign in that respect, and with +absolute power to judge if the object of the war was constitutional, and +annul the declaration? This new government had the sole power to lay and +_collect_ 'duties on imports;' did each State remain an absolute +sovereignty in this respect, and with absolute powers to judge if the +object of the duties was constitutional, and annul the law? The General +Government was the only sovereign as regards these powers; but a single +State, having none of these powers, is made the absolute judge whether +they can or cannot be exercised: then no powers have yet been granted to +the General Government by any State, if each possesses the right to +interdict the exercise of any of these powers. But, could this General +Government exist without the authority to give one uniform effect to the +execution of its powers in all the States? Created with all the organs +of a government, legislative, judicial, and executive, may it enact, but +not expound, or enact and expound, but not execute? Must it stop at the +boundary of each State, and ask what power it possesses, and act upon +the contradictory responses of each State? Must it possess one set of +powers in one State, and another and wholly opposite set of powers in +another State? May it lay a tariff in one State, and not in another, and +yet this tariff required to be uniform in every State? Is it one +constitution, and susceptible of one only true construction, or +twenty-four constitutions, with twenty-four various and contradictory +constructions, and all right, because all pronounced by absolute +sovereigns exercising the uncontrolled power of ultimate judgment? Has +it any powers, and what are they? Will Mississippi submit this question +to Massachusetts or Carolina, or is a government created whose powers +cannot be ascertained? Must anarchy govern? Can there be no decision, or +is that of a single State, or of a small minority of the States, to +sweep away the legislation of a majority, or two thirds of the States? +According to the new theory, each State has the constitutional power in +the first instance, and one fourth in the last resort, to judge what +powers each State may exercise, and the other States must submit. Now, +this is impossible, where the legislation of the two States is +contradictory; and, if possible, is not a mere negative, but a positive +power. It is a government without limitation of power, in a single +State, aided by one fourth of the States--a government by which the +minority may control the majority in all cases whatsoever. Thus, +Carolina frames any law or ordinance she thinks she may lawfully do in +the exercise of her reserved rights. She gives clearances for vessels, +for instance, to introduce all imports free of all duties. When once +introduced into Carolina, she has, or claims and exercises the right +under the Constitution of introducing these imports free of all duties +into every other State in the Union. Two thirds of the States have +passed an act of Congress imposing certain duties on foreign imports: as +separate States they can pass no such laws, having surrendered that +power in the Constitution of the Union. Can Carolina compel them to +receive all foreign imports free of all duties? Yet she says this is one +of her reserved rights, and she may forever constitutionally exercise +it, in defiance of an act of Congress passed by two thirds of the +States. Such a government would be an oligarchy of the most odious and +detestable character. The right of the people of any State, or of any +portion of them, to meet intolerable oppression by revolution is +certain; but, in Mr. Jefferson's rough draught of the Kentucky +resolutions (now attempted to be substituted for his deliberate +conclusions as contained in the resolutions themselves), does he +advocate nullification by a single State as a _constitutional_ remedy, +by a State remaining in the Union and submitting only to such laws as it +deemed valid. No; it was not as a _constitutional_, but as a 'NATURAL +right,' that Mr. Jefferson spoke of nullification by the people of a +State. I say the people, for Mr. Jefferson well knew that the '_natural_ +right' of a State to nullify, as an artificial body politic, would be a +contradiction in terms. This '_natural_ right' is a _personal_, as +contradistinguished from a _State_ right; it is inalienable--it is +neither given nor reserved by constitutional compacts--it exists in +citizens of every State, the minority as well as the majority, and not +in the government of any one State. But the exercise of this right is +_revolution_--it is a declaration of independence--it is _war_, and +appeals to the sword as its umpire. Let no State, then, claim to stand +on the basis of the Constitution of the Union, while stripping it of its +vital powers, or setting up its will for law. No, the ordinance of +Carolina is not a peaceful, constitutional remedy: it is a nullification +of the Government itself, sweeping away its revenues, its courts, and +its officers; it is a repeal of the Union; it is despotic; it is +revolutionary; it is belligerent; it is a declaration of war or separate +independence. It looks beyond a repeal of the Tariff; for, whether the +Tariff be repealed or not, it asks to engraft the doctrine of +nullification as a permanent feature of the Constitution, applicable in +every case in which any State may deem any act of Congress +unconstitutional. Then each one of the States may take up the volumes +containing all the acts of Congress, and repeal them all by one sweeping +edict of nullification; for there is no limitation to the exercise of +the power but her own will. It is said no State will abuse the power; +but if a majority of the States, by their representatives in Congress, +may abuse delegated powers, is there no danger that one of these same +States, by their representatives at home, may mistake the nature of +their powers, and endanger the Union by a usurpation of power? Or do the +same people, and voting at the same period in any State, elect men to +Congress who will violate, and to the councils of the State, who will +uniformly preserve the Constitution? A State declared the last war +unconstitutional: must the war be nullified, or, by the new theory, +suspended, till, by a slow and tedious process, its constitutionality be +affirmed by three fourths of the States? But, in the mean time, all +hostile operations must cease, our army be disbanded, our navy recalled, +and no further supplies decreed of money, ammunition, or men. And when +one State thus nullifies any act of Congress, she is not required to be +sustained by the vote of any other State: the one fourth are only +required to refuse to act--to remain neutral--if they consider the act +of Congress inexpedient, although they believe it constitutional. +Suppose the New-England States, after the war was pronounced +unconstitutional by a single State, had refused to call a convention to +amend the Constitution, or, if called, to grant the disputed power; then +the war must have been abandoned, the minority must govern, and our +country be disgraced, our seamen permitted to be pressed from the very +decks of our vessels into foreign service, and the maritime despotism of +Britain established without even a struggle in defence of our liberties. +Shall opposition to the Tariff betray us into the support of doctrines +so utterly subversive of the Constitution, and inconsistent with the +existence of any government of the Union? + +Once this power was threatened to be assumed by Massachusetts, now by +South Carolina, and how and by what State it will next be exercised, or +what vital power it may next strike from the Constitution, it is +impossible to predict; but, if permitted in one State, it will be +exercised by all, till not a vestige remains of the Constitution of the +Union. Suppose the Tariff repealed by Congress, nullification may annul +the repealing law. Louisiana may, in the exercise of her right of +ultimate judgment, declare that the repealing law is unconstitutional, +upon the pretext that it destroys rights vested by the first law and +violates the plighted faith of the Government, insist on the collection +of duties under the first law, pass her ordinance, array her State +officers against those of the Union, and thus destroy the commerce of +Mississippi, and of all the Western States, or compel the collection of +the present duties. Or she may say that, if Congress possesses no power +to lay duties which will operate an incidental protection, Louisiana +possesses the reserved right of imposing duties for that purpose; that +each State possessed it before it became a member of the Union; that +duties for revenue only can be collected by the General Government, and +that the residuary power to lay duties for protection is one of the +powers of a sovereign State; that she will exercise it, and impose +protecting duties on imports, and thus we shall have various and +conflicting State tariffs from Maine to Louisiana (the very object which +the Constitution was designed to prevent); but if Louisiana alone adopt +the measure, the commerce of the West is prostrate at her feet. + +It is in the name of liberty and to protect minorities, that +nullification professes to act; while in its first ordinance it sweeps +away the dearest rights of a large minority of the people of Carolina, +and binds the freedom of conscience in adamantine chains. It deprives +American citizens of that last and hitherto sacred refuge from +oppression, a trial by an impartial jury, and requires the very judges +upon the bench and jurors within the box to be sworn to condemn the +unhappy man whose only crime was this: that he claimed the Government of +the Union as his birthright, and acknowledged the duty of obedience to +its laws. Such are the opening scenes of nullification; and, if not +arrested, where or how will the drama close? In all the horrors of civil +war. Turn your eyes upon the scenes of the French Revolution, and behold +them about to be reacted within the limits of a sister State. Already +nullification calls upon its twelve thousand bayonets; friend is rising +against friend, and brother against brother, under the banner of +Carolina on the one side, of the Union on the other; the inflammable +materials are ready, the spark approaches, the explosion may soon take +place, and the genius of liberty, rising in anguish from the +bloodstained fields of Carolina, spread her pinions, and wing her way +forever from a world, on one side of whose waters despotism reigns +triumphant, and, upon the other, anarchy, with one foot upon the scroll +of the Declaration of American Independence, and with the other upon the +broken tablet of the Constitution of the Union, shall wave that sceptre, +whereon shall be inscribed the motto, never to be effaced: 'Man is +incapable of self-government.' Yes, this is the best, the brightest, the +last experiment of self-government: universal _freedom_ or universal +_bondage_ is staked on the result of the success or failure of the +American Union; and as it shall be maintained and perpetuated, or broken +and dissolved, the light of liberty shall beam upon the hopes of +mankind, or be forever extinguished, amid the scoffs of exulting tyrants +and the groans of a world in bondage. Rising, then, above all minor +considerations, and lifting our souls to the contemplation of that lofty +eminence on which Heaven itself has vouchsafed to place the American +people, as the only guardians of the hopes and liberties of mankind, let +us act as becomes the depositaries of that sacred fire which burns on +the altars of the American Union, and resolve that this Union shall be +preserved, all whole and inviolate, as we received it from the hands of +our forefathers. + +But, if nullification is not a constitutional remedy, we are told that +_secession_ is; and a few, who deny the one, admit the other; and our +venerable chief magistrate (Jackson) has been proclaimed as a +Federalist, because he denies the right of secession; and many of his +supporters, although some may not concur in every argument by which he +arrives at his conclusions, but concur in the conclusions themselves, +are visited with a similar denunciation. Sir, the President is one of +the fathers and founders of the Democratic party--one of its earliest +and most steadfast supporters, in defeat and triumph, in war and in +peace, in sunshine and in storm. In the Senate of the United States he +voted against the alien law, and was a zealous advocate of the +principles which resulted in the election of Mr. Jefferson, and the +great political revolution of 1800; and if any one man has done more to +support all the just rights of the States than General Jackson, that man +is not known to me. It is now nearly ten years since I had the honor to +propose the name of this illustrious patriot to the first meeting of a +portion of the Democracy of Pennsylvania as a candidate for the +presidency, and I will not hear him denounced as a Federalist without, +at least, an effort in his defence. Who made the right of secession as a +constitutional right of every State an article in the creed of the +Democratic party, and by what authority? By what reasoning is +nullification denounced, and secession supported, as a constitutional +remedy? If there be any real difference, the former is check, and the +latter a check-mate, to the movements of the Government of the Union. +The same reasoning demonstrates the fallacy of nullification or +secession, with equal clearness and certainty. A State cannot nullify a +law of the Union, because the _Constitution_ and _laws_ of the State are +made _subordinate_ to the Constitution and laws of the Union, by a +compact to which the people of each State were one party, and bound +themselves to the people of all the other States, as the other party. +One State cannot change the compact, or any of its terms or provisions, +yet it may rescind the compact at pleasure! It would be abuse of +language to call such an instrument a _compact_, because it would be +obligatory upon none. Without the constitutional right to nullify a law +of Congress by the ultimate judgment of the State against it, how could +the constitutional power of secession arise? It is said, from a +violation of the Constitution of the Union by the General Government; +but if a State has not, as the opponents of nullification admit, any +right to pass ultimate judgment on the constitutionality of an act of +Congress, how can it make the supposed violation of the Constitution by +the General Government the basis of the act of secession? The preamble +of the ordinance on which the State would rest its act of secession, by +asserting the unconstitutionality of an act of Congress, would be swept +away by the non-existence of a power in a single State to pronounce +ultimate judgment upon the acts of the Government of the Union; and the +preamble and ordinance of secession would fall together. Thus, when +Carolina, in her ordinance, first declares certain acts of Congress +unconstitutional, and proceeds, with the same ordinance, to +nullification first, and then to secession, we deny her constitutional +right to nullify or secede for the same reason; because the right +declared by her ordinance to render an act of Congress unconstitutional +by the judgment of a single State is a usurpation of power. Governor +Hayne, of Carolina, in his late proclamation, inquires if that State was +linked to the Union 'in the iron bonds of a perpetual Union.' These +bonds were not of iron, or Carolina would have never worn them, but they +are the enduring chain of peace and Union. One link could not be severed +from this chain, united in all its parts, without an entire dissolution +of all the bonds of union; and one State cannot dissolve the union among +all the States. Yet Carolina admits this to be the inevitable +consequence of the separation of that State; for, in the address of her +convention, she declares that 'the separation of South Carolina would +inevitably produce a _general dissolution of the Union_.' Has the +Government of the Union no power to _preserve itself from destruction_, +or must we submit to a 'general dissolution of the Union' whenever any +one State thinks proper to issue the despotic mandate? It was the +declared object of our ancestors, the hope of their children, that they +had formed 'a PERPETUAL Union.' The original compact of Carolina with +her sister States, by which the confederacy was erected, is called +'Articles of Confederation and _perpetual_ Union.' In the thirteenth +article of this confederacy, it is expressly declared that 'the Union +shall be _perpetual_;' and in the ratification of this compact, South +Carolina united with her sister States in declaring: 'And we do further +solemnly plight and engage the faith of our respective constituents' +that 'the Union _shall be perpetual_;' and may she now withdraw this +pledge without a violation of the compact? By the old confederacy, then, +the Union was _perpetual_; and the declared object of the Constitution +was to form 'a more perfect Union' than that existing under the former +confederacy. Now, would this Union be more perfect under the new than +the old confederacy, if by the latter the Union was perpetual, but, +under the former, limited in its duration at the will of a single State? + +The advocates of secession claim the constitutional power for each State +to annul, not only any law which the State may deem unconstitutional, +but to abolish the Constitution itself as the law of the State. Now, by +this Constitution, Carolina granted certain powers to the General +Government: may she constitutionally alter or revoke the grant, in a +manner repugnant to the provisions of that Constitution? That instrument +points out the mode in which it may be changed or abrogated, and by +which the several States may assume all or any of the powers granted to +the General Government, namely, by the conjoint action of three fourths +of the States. What, then, are the powers reserved to the State? The +ninth article of the Constitution of the Union declares that 'the powers +not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited +by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the +people.' Then the powers delegated to the United States were not +reserved to the States or to the people. What is the meaning of the +clause 'or to the people,' as contradistinguished from 'the States'? +Does it mean that any of this mass of undefined powers, but embracing +all not granted to the General Government, was reserved to the people of +the United States in the aggregate? Then there would exist, and does now +exist, a consolidated despotism. No, it was to the _people_ of each +State the reservation was made. Then it follows, as a necessary +consequence, that none of the powers granted to the General Government +were reserved either to the States or the people of any State. That is, +so far as the people of any one State had granted, by their own separate +constitution, to the State government any powers not delegated to the +General Government, the government of the State might exercise these +powers, and so far as any of these undelegated powers were not granted +to the State government, by the people of the State, they were reserved +to the people of each State. Now, one of the powers reserved to the +people of each State is to change their form of State government, and +resume the powers granted by it. But we have seen that neither the +government or people of a State could resume 'the powers delegated to +the United States,' because it was not one of the rights reserved to +either. What! I am asked, cannot the people of a State abolish their +form of government? Yes, in two modes: one in accordance with the +Constitution, and the other by a revolution. Could the people of +Carolina or Mississippi change or abolish their State constitution, +except in the mode prescribed by that instrument, unless by a +revolution? And the same power, the people of Carolina, that formed for +them their State constitution, ratified and rendered obligatory upon +them the Constitution of the Union; and can the one and not the other be +abolished, except by a revolution, in any other mode than that +prescribed by the Constitution? No; the people of Carolina, and of all +the States, as distinct communities, in ratifying the Constitution of +the Union, rendered it binding upon the people of every State, by the +declaration that 'this Constitution shall be the supreme law of the +land, and that the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, +anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary +notwithstanding.' Here we see the distinction between the State and the +people of the State again recognized and confirmed, and the 'State,' by +its 'laws,' and the people of the State, by the formation of a +constitution, expressly prohibited from arresting the operation of the +Constitution of the United States, as 'the supreme law of the land,' 'in +every State.' If Carolina secede, she must form a constitution, by which +she will assume the powers granted to the General Government, and vest +them in the government of the State. Here she would be met by the former +act of the people of Carolina, declaring that they had abandoned the +power to form for themselves a constitution by which the Constitution of +the Union would cease within their limits to be 'the supreme law of the +land.' Nor did the framers of the Constitution mean to say only that the +then existing Constitutions of the States ratifying the compact should +be subordinate to the Constitution of the Union; for then, also, only +the existing laws of any State were required to be subordinate to the +Constitution of the Union; but both are placed on the same basis. The +power of a State to nullify by its laws, or secede by forming a new +constitution, are both denied in the same clause and sentence of the +American Constitution. The language is clear, that the Constitution of +the Union shall be 'the supreme law of the land,' and 'binding in every +State,' 'anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the +contrary notwithstanding.' The terms are '_shall be_;' it is the +language of command, it is prospective, it was binding when subscribed, +now, and forever. Or, was Carolina never bound by this compact, and +might she, the very day after it was ratified by her people, disregard +it altogether, secede, and establish a constitution directly repugnant +to the Constitution of the Union? If so, written constitutions are worse +than useless; they are not obligatory, there is no penalty for their +violation; obedience to them cannot be enforced; there is no government +but that of opinion, fluctuating and uncertain, undefined and +undefinable, which is paramount to the fundamental law. This is what the +_despots of Europe_ call our government, and why they _predict_ its +downfall--a prediction now in the course of fulfilment, if these +anarchical principles can be recognized as the doctrines of the +Constitution. + +There is no difference between the doctrines or acts of Jefferson and +Jackson on this subject. Both admit nullification or secession as a +revolutionary measure; and the new doctrine of suspending a law by a +nullifying edict finds not the remotest support from Mr. Jefferson. In +his celebrated draught of the Kentucky resolutions, so much relied on by +Carolina, we have seen, he speaks of these powers of the people of any +State as 'a _natural_ right,' and so is revolution; and the cases to +which he refers are such as render a revolution unavoidable, namely, if +Congress pass an act 'so palpably against the Constitution as to amount +to an undisguised declaration that the compact is not meant to be the +measure of the powers of the General Government.' Is there now such a +case? if there is, revolution is justifiable. Why then ask any other +remedy than revolution for a case where revolution would be unavoidable? +And SECESSION IS REVOLUTION. But did Mr. Jefferson mean to say that +whenever any State should place its laws or Constitution, by +nullification or secession, in opposition to the laws of the General +Government, that the power of the General Government must not be +exerted? The very reverse. The act of Congress of the 3d of March, +1807, signed and approved by Mr. Jefferson as President, expressly +authorizes the President of the United States to 'employ such part of +the land and naval force of the United States as may be necessary' to +execute 'the laws of the United States.' Does this mean, as General +Hayne tells us in his proclamation, to execute the laws against +insurgents not sustained by any law of the State? No; this act was +passed at the very time when Pennsylvania was proceeding, by virtue of a +law of the State, to execute, by an armed force, the mandate of the +State in opposition to the mandate of the Federal authorities; and the +officer of Pennsylvania, acting under the mandate of the Governor and a +positive law of the State, was condemned for executing a law of the +State opposed to the mandate of the General Government, and only escaped +punishment by the pardon of President Madison: and thus falls the very +basis of the doctrine of nullification. Here is a commentary by Messrs. +Jefferson and Madison, demonstrating their entire concurrence with our +present Chief Magistrate. And, if any further evidence of Mr. +Jefferson's views were wanting, it is to be found in his letters, +already referred to, protesting against a separation of the Union, and +denying the right of a State to '_veto_' an act of Congress; and in many +other letters to be found in his memoirs, insisting upon the power even +of the old confederacy to exercise 'COERCION over its delinquent +members,' the States. 'Compulsion,' he says, 'was never so easy as in +our case, where a single frigate would levy on the commerce of a State +the deficiency of its contributions; nor more safe than in the hands of +_Congress_, which has _always_ shown that it would wait, as it ought to +do, to the last extremities, before it would exercise any of its powers +which are disagreeable.' Here, then, we find Mr. Jefferson most +distinctly admitting the power of Congress under the old, as in 1807 he +admitted under the present confederacy, to _compel a State_ by FORCE to +obey the laws of the Union. Why, then, is General Jackson denounced as a +tyrant, for doing that which his oath and the Constitution compel him to +do? Suppose any State, by its ordinance, should arrest the passage of +the mail through their limits, upon the pretext that the law was +unconstitutional; the acts of Congress place at the disposal of the +President the militia of any one or all of the States, or 'the land or +naval force of the United States', to _execute the law of the Union in +every State, by whomsoever resisted or opposed_. The Constitution and +his oath command him to execute the laws; he must execute them, and the +mail must pass on, though the edict of a single State should attempt to +arrest it by nullification or secession. Such, too, was the opinion of +Mr. Jefferson; and that illustrious patriot would have laid his head on +the block, and blessed the hand that severed it from his body, rather +than sever the Union by the promulgation of the doctrines now ascribed +to him. What are the consequences of this right of a State to secede +from the Union?--this right of revolution, without the power of the +General Government to _preserve the Union_? Any one State may arrest, +to-morrow, the mail of the Union, and its passage from State to State, +and refuse it a passage forever. Pennsylvania, a central State, may +separate the North from the South, prevent all intercommunication, +render our country a republic divided and indefensible. Louisiana, +purchased by taxes imposed upon the people of all the States, may secede +and establish a separate and independent government, lay protective or +prohibitory imposts on the imports and exports of this State and of the +West, carried through her ports and the outlets of the Mississippi. She +might say, I will protect my own cotton planters, by prohibitory duties +on the cotton of Mississippi or the West, or the imports designed to be +exchanged for it, shipped through my ports or through the outlet of the +Mississippi: it is my interest to do so; for thus I can deprive the +cotton planters of Mississippi and the West of a market; thus compel +them to abandon the culture of that staple, and sell my own cotton at a +higher price. Louisiana asserts no such doctrines; but, if she did, +could Mississippi, could the West admit them? and, in the last resort, +would not the Government _force_ a passage for our imports and exports +by the _sword_? Yes; for as well might you take the heart from the human +body and bid it live, as sever Louisiana from the States that border on +the Mississippi, and bid these States to prosper. No; Louisiana holds +the outlet of that stream through which the life blood of their commerce +and industry must forever flow; and we never could admit her right to +secede from the Union, and dictate the terms on which we should use the +outlet of that stream, whose banks were destined by heaven itself as the +residence of a united people. Not only Louisiana, but State by State +that borders on the Atlantic or the Gulf, might secede, seclude the West +from the ocean, and render them the tributaries of the seaboard States, +by laying prohibitory duties on their imports and exports. Could we +submit to this? _Not while the West contained a gun to use, or a man to +shoulder it._ + +And may Carolina secede and establish an independent government? Did she +establish her own independence? No, it was achieved by the arms and +purchased by the blood of Americans, with the banner of the Union +floating over them. I know the valor of Carolina, that, man to man, she +is invincible; but, unaided and alone, she would have fallen in the +Revolution. She would have fallen gloriously, her soil would have drunk +the blood of her children; but still she must have fallen in the unequal +contest. When Carolina was made the battlefield of the Revolution, from +the very rock of Plymouth and the heights of Bunker Hill, from +Pennsylvania, from Virginia, American citizens flew to her rescue. Side +by side with Carolina's sons they marched beneath the banner of the +Union; they fought, they conquered; Carolina was redeemed from bondage, +but upon her many and well-fought fields was mingled the blood and +repose the ashes of our common ancestors, the pledges of our Union in +victory and in death. + +Shades of these departed patriots! arise, and say to the sons of +Carolina, it was the Union that made you free. Without it, you would yet +be subjects, colonial vassals, and slaves; without it, the chains are +now forging that will bind you to the thrones of despots. And could we +stand with folded arms, and behold the Union dissolved? Could we see the +seventeen thousand freemen of Carolina, who cling with the grasp of +death to the banner of the Union, deprived of their privileges as +American citizens, proscribed, disfranchised, expelled from all offices, +civil and military, driven by glittering bayonets from the bench and the +jury box, tried and convicted by judges and jurors sworn to condemn, +attainted as traitors, torn from the last embraces of wives and +children, consigned to the scaffold or the block, or immured within the +walls of a dungeon, where the light of heaven or liberty should never +visit them, with no consolation but their patriotism, and no companions +but their chains? And, gracious Heaven, for what? Oh! Liberty, when was +thy sacred temple profaned by deeds like this? Thy martyrs suffered only +for clinging to the banner of the American Union. And could we see them +torn from around that sacred banner, and move not to their rescue? No; +the glow that beams on every countenance, the patriot's answer that +speaks from every throbbing breast, proclaims that, as in '76 our +fathers marched to free their sires from tyrants' power, so would their +children go, to save from death or bondage Carolina's friends of +union--with them, beneath the standard of our common country, to die or +conquer. + +Citizens of Mississippi, to you the address of the nullifying convention +of Carolina makes a special appeal. It asks, if Carolina secedes from +the Union, 'Can it be believed that Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and +even Kentucky would continue to pay a tribute of fifty per cent. upon +their consumption to the Northern States for the privilege of being +united to them, when they could receive all their supplies through the +ports of South Carolina, without paying a single cent for tribute?' To +this question, Georgia has already answered, by expressing her +'abhorrence' of the doctrine of nullification, her firm resolve to +adhere to the Union. Tennessee has made the same response. Kentucky, in +a voice of thunder, answers, _No_, we will preserve the Union as it is. +And will Mississippi receive the bribe thus offered to dissolve the +Union? What is it? The privilege of exchanging our exports for imports +free of duty, in the ports of Carolina; and then would Carolina pay the +taxes to raise and maintain an army, or a navy, and protect our +commerce? But if she could, nature pronounces the project impracticable. +Our commerce must flow through the outlet of the Mississippi; and how +would our exports reach the ports of Carolina--how would our imports +thence be received? Through the outlet of the Mississippi? No, that +outlet and its ports would then be in the hands of Louisiana--in that +event, to us a hostile foreign government, from which we had severed +ourselves. For let it not be forgotten that Louisiana is not even +invited to join this new confederacy; and if she were, is announcing her +unalterable determination to adhere to the Union as it is. Then, through +the outlet of the Mississippi our commerce could not be carried on with +the ports of Carolina; for Louisiana, as we have seen before, would meet +and stop our exports and imports with prohibitory duties. Would we move +up the Mississippi or Ohio to reach the ports of Carolina, or any other +market? There we would find the confederates from whom we had severed; +we would find a foreign government, and prohibitory duties would exclude +our access to Carolina's ports in that direction. How would we reach +them? The only other route, if Georgia and Alabama would grant the boon +for Carolina's benefit, would be to pass through those States by land to +Charleston, with our cotton, and return by land with the imports +received in exchange. A trip of one thousand miles by wagon road with +cotton! The entire value of the crop would not pay for its +transportation. Is this the proposition of Carolina? What is the only +commerce we could carry on with her? By abandoning the culture of cotton +upon our fertile lands, for the benefit of Carolina, and our planters +all becoming drovers of horses, mules, and cattle, to exchange for her +imports, and return with them, packed on the number unsold of our mules +and horses. And are these the benefits for which we are asked to +dissolve the Union, and place the channel of the Mississippi above and +below, and its outlet, in the hands of a foreign government, denying a +passage ascending or descending, to our imports or exports, and +excluding us from the ocean altogether? If Carolina's scheme were +practicable, Mississippi would not sell the Union for dollars and cents; +but though the scheme might be beneficial to Carolina, by stopping the +culture of cotton on our fertile soil, to the people of this State it is +ruin immediate and inevitable. The remedy Carolina proposes to us for +the Tariff, is worse than the disease. The disease is not mortal--it is +now in a course of cure; but Carolina's remedy is death--it is suicide; +for the _dissolution of the Union is political suicide_. + +A Southern convention is proposed, of the States of North and South +Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. If +the object be a confederacy of these States, without Louisiana and the +Western, Middle, and Northern States, if patriotism, or love for the +Union were insufficient to restrain us from attempting this fatal +measure, we have seen that it would blast forever the fortunes of the +planters of Mississippi. But what States will unite in this convention? +Georgia has disavowed the act of the self-constituted, self-elected +minority convention that acted in her name. The history of Virginia +speaks in the voice of indignant rebuke to all those States that +assemble sectional conventions. North Carolina, unassuming, but +steadfast in support of the Union, will enter into no such convention. +Alabama, if her public meetings and journals and her chief magistrate +speak the voice of the State, will send no delegates. Tennessee, brave +and patriotic, devoted to the Union, and sustaining its banner in war +and in peace, meets the proposition with a decided refusal. I imagine, +then, our delegates would return without finding this Southern +convention. I am opposed to all sectional conventions. We have had one +such convention, and, whatever the secret motives of its members may +have been, the very fact that it was a sectional convention, that it was +believed to be convened to calculate the value of the Union, that it was +supposed to have in view an Eastern confederacy, has sealed the doom of +its members and projectors. And when the calm shall follow the storm, a +similar fate awaits all who will go into this Southern convention. I +trust there never will be another partial convention, Northern, +Southern, Eastern, or Western; for, whether assembled at Hartford or +Columbia, they are equally dangerous to the Union of the States. They +create and inflame geographical parties. Could the North, assembled in +convention, have that full knowledge of the situation and wants of the +people of the South, as to legislate for them, and propose ultimatums to +which the South must submit, or leave the Union? Could the South possess +that full knowledge of the situation and wants and interests of the +people of all the other States, as to enable them to dictate the terms +on which the Union should be governed or dissolved? No; it is only in a +meeting of all the States, in Congress or convention, that that +knowledge of the wants and interests of all, and that fusion of +sentiment and opinion, and spirit of concession, can exist, in which the +Constitution was framed, and all its powers should be exercised. + +If we hold Southern conventions, then will there be Northern, Eastern, +and Western conventions, and they will overthrow the Union. Partial +confederacies will first be formed, and then, as Mr. Jefferson most +truly tells us, would speedily follow the formation of a separate and +independent government by each State. What is it we are asked to +abandon, and for what? That Union which ushered in the morn of American +Liberty, and gave birth to the Declaration of Independence; which +carried our armies victoriously through the storms of the Revolution and +the last war, and now waves triumphantly in every sea, the kindred +emblem of our country's glory. It gave us Washington--it gave us +liberty, and bears our name aloft among the nations of the earth. It is +our only rampart in war--our only safeguard in peace, and under its +auspices we declared, achieved, maintained, and can alone preserve our +liberties. It is the only basis of our solid and substantial interests, +and the last star of hope to the oppressed of every clime. Shall we +calculate its value? No! for we will not estimate the value of +liberty--and 'liberty and union are inseparable.' Dissolve this Union, +and let each State become, as Mr. Jefferson truly tells us it would, a +separate government, could we preserve our liberties? Where would be the +army and navy and seamen of the State of Mississippi? how to be +procured, and how to be maintained and paid? Where would be her +ambassadors and treaties, her commerce--and through what ports and by +whose permission would she ship her exports or introduce her imports? +Who would respect her flag, who recognize her as a nation--and how would +she punish aggressions upon her rights, on the ocean or the land? No, +fellow citizens; the President truly tells us that 'separate +independence' is a 'dream'--a dream from which we would wake in bondage +or in death. But, if disgraced abroad, what would be our situation at +home, as separate bordering and hostile States--and how long could we +remain in peace and concord? The voice of history tells us--the +bloodstained fields of our sister republics of America proclaim, that +disunion would be the signal for WAR--a war of conquest, in which the +weak would fall before the power of the strong; and upon the ruins of +this now happy Union might arise the darkest despotism that ever crushed +the liberties of mankind, for it would be established and could only be +maintained by the bayonet. Perhaps, while yet the civil war should rage +with doubtful issue, while exhausted and bleeding at every pore, that +sanguinary alliance of despots, combined to crush the liberties of man, +would send its armies to our shores. Under what standard would we rally +to preserve our liberty? There would be no Union--without it there would +be no strength; and those who, united, could defy the world in arms, +divided would be weak and powerless. Such are the ultimate results of +disunion. Let us take the first step, and all may be lost forever. That +step is nullification by Carolina, then her secession--then, as she +truly tells us in her address, 'the separation of South Carolina would +inevitably produce a general dissolution of the Union.' And shall +Carolina dissolve the Union? No; the liberties of all the States are +embarked together, and if one State withdraw her single plank, the +national vessel must go down to rise no more, and shipwreck the hopes of +mankind. Let us then adjure the people of Carolina, by the ties of our +common country and common kindred--by the ruin and disgrace which civil +war will bring upon the victors and vanquished--by the untried horrors +of those scenes to which disunion must conduct, to repeal her ordinance, +and not to force upon us that dread alternative, in which we must +support the flag of our country, or surrender our Union and liberty +without a struggle: that we cannot, we will not, we dare not, surrender +them; and, if forced to draw the sword to defend our liberties, the +motto will gleam on every blade: 'The Union shall be preserved.' For +were it abandoned, life would not be a blessing, but a curse; and +happiest would those be whose eyes were closed in death ere they beheld +the horrors of those scenes to which with viewless and rapid strides we +seem to hasten. Well, fellow citizens, may our hearts be wrung with +sorrow on this occasion, in looking back to what we were, and forward to +what we may soon be. Well may the tears unbidden start, for they are the +tears that patriots shed over the departing greatness of our once +united, but now distracted and unhappy country. + + + + +THE SIOUX WAR. + + +Compared with the great storm of rebellion which has darkened and +overspread our whole national sky, the Indian war on our northwestern +frontier has been a little cloud "no bigger than a man's hand;" and yet, +compared with similar events in our history, it has scarcely a parallel. +From the days of King Philip to the time of Black Hawk, there has hardly +been an outbreak so treacherous, so sudden, so bitter, and so bloody, +as that which filled the State of Minnesota with sorrow and lamentation, +during the past summer and autumn, and the closing scenes of which are +even now transpiring. We were beginning to regard the poetry of the +palisades as a thing of the past, when, suddenly, our ears were startled +by the echo of the warwhoop, and the crack of the rifle, and our hearts +appalled by the gleam of the tomahawk and the scalping knife, as they +descended in indiscriminate and remorseless slaughter, on defenceless +women and children on our border. + +In the year 1851, the Sisseton, Wahpeton, M'dewakanton and Wahpekuta +bands of Dacotah or Sioux Indians by treaty ceded to the United States, +in consideration of certain annuities to be paid them, all their lands +within the present limits of the States of Iowa and Minnesota, excepting +a reservation set apart for their habitation and use, embracing a narrow +strip along the southern side of the Minnesota River, of about ten miles +in width and one hundred and fifty in length. To this reservation these +four bands removed their people, numbering some seven thousand souls, of +whom, perhaps, twelve hundred were warriors. During the eleven years +which have elapsed since this treaty was made, they have lived there, +the State of Minnesota being meanwhile peopled by the whites with +unparalleled rapidity, and the Indians seeing flourishing and populous +settlements springing up all about them. With but a single interruption, +peace and amity has existed between the two races; missions, schools, +and to some extent, agriculture, have been established among them; and a +large number of halfbreeds, springing from marriages between white +traders and Sioux women, have formed, apparently, a link of +consanguinity and interest, which, aided by the influence and laws of +civilization, would hereafter prevent any trouble or bloodshed on the +part of the savages. + +One single and very grave interruption to these peaceful relations has, +however, occurred. In March, 1857, Inkpadutah, a Wahpekuta Dacotah, with +a small band of followers, committed a terrible massacre near Spirit +Lake, in the northwestern corner of Iowa, slaying fifty persons, and +carrying away four women into captivity, two of whom were, after some +months, ransomed and restored to their friends, the other two having +been previously murdered by their captors. But Inkpadutah and his band +were outlaws, driven away by their own people for creating internal +dissensions; and although the perpetrators were never properly pursued +and punished, it was not thought that the outrage had been countenanced +by the rest of the nation, or that any danger existed of similar acts on +their part. + +The cause of the recent outbreak cannot, perhaps, be absolutely +determined; the manner of its beginning is more easily traced. It must +be understood that, for the purpose of receiving their annuities, the +Indians, at a certain period every summer, come down from their hunting +grounds to the two Agencies, one at Redwood, near Fort Ridgely, and the +other at Yellow Medicine. It is the custom to keep a certain quantity of +provisions at these Agencies to feed them during these visits, and also +to sometimes send them supplies during times of great want and scarcity +of game in winter. Unfortunately, they came last year much earlier than +common, and before they had received their usual notification from the +Agent, that the annuities were awaiting them. In addition, as if all the +accidents were destined to be adverse, the session of Congress was very +long, the Appropriation Bill, which included the Indian appropriations, +did not pass until the day before the adjournment, and the immense +pressure of business on the Departments, and the great difficulty of +obtaining coin, all occasioned long and unusual delays. The coin, +$71,000 in silver (Indians understand silver coin, and will scarcely +take any other), was finally shipped by express from the sub-treasury in +New York city, on the 12th of August, reached St. Paul on the 16th, and +was immediately despatched by private conveyance to Yellow Medicine, via +Fort Ridgely, at which latter place it arrived on the 18th. + +The Indians came down to the Agency at Yellow Medicine about the middle +of July, to the number of four thousand, men, women, and children. Here +they remained in waiting some three weeks. Provisions, in small +quantities, were given to them, but for so large a number of mouths the +rations were scanty. This supply, with the few wild ducks and pigeons +which they could shoot from time to time, the little flour they were +able to buy on credit from the trading houses, and the half-grown +potatoes they stole from the fields, enabled them to eke out a scanty +subsistence. + +As might be readily imagined, this state of things bred great +discontent. On the morning of the 4th of August, a large number of +Indians came over from their encampment, and some on horseback, and some +on foot, with guns and hatchets, rushed to the door of the warehouse, +cut it down, and commenced carrying out bags of flour. The few soldiers +who were stationed at the Agency, were, as well as the Agent and +employes, taken completely off their guard by this movement; but in a +short time they recovered themselves; got a field piece loaded and +turned upon the crowd, and sent a squad of soldiers to the warehouse. At +these preparations, the Indians desisted; but the military force was too +small to make more than a formal demonstration. The pile of flour taken +out of the warehouse had not been carried away, and while the soldiers +prevented this being done, the Indians placed a guard to hinder its +being recovered by the whites. Thus they stood during the remainder of +the day, in an attitude of mutual defiance, yet neither party was +willing to inaugurate hostilities. The next morning, when the Indians +again as usual flocked down to the Agency, a couple of arrests were +promptly made by the guard. This had the effect of driving them all back +to their camps. Almost immediately afterward they struck their tents, +and removed to a distance of from two to four miles. This was looked +upon at the Agency as a war movement, and all possible defensive +preparations were at once made. Some of the women were sent away, guns +and pistols were loaded, field pieces and troops were placed in +position, and pickets were thrown out. Everything looked like war. Still +there had been no actual bloodshed. Through the mediation of Rev. Mr. +Riggs, who had long resided among them as a missionary, peaceful +counsels finally prevailed with the Indians. Thirty-six of the chiefs +met the Agent in council, smoked the pipe of peace, acknowledged their +offence, and expressed their sorrow and shame at its occurrence. Three +days afterward another council was held, in which they agreed to receive +certain rations, and promised to induce their people to move away until +the annuity money should arrive. The Agent, on his part, forgave their +trespass, and promised to send for them as soon as he should be prepared +to make their payment. So confident was he that the arrangement was +amicable and satisfactory, that he went soon afterward to St. Paul on +business, leaving his family at the Agency. + +Things remained in this condition until Sunday, the 17th of August, +1862. On that day, four young Indians, belonging to Little Six's band, +went to the house of Mr. Jones, at Acton, Meeker county, Minnesota. As +they evinced an unfriendly disposition, Mr. Jones locked his house, and +with his wife, went to the house of Mr. Howard Baker, a near neighbor, +where he was followed by the Indians. They proposed to go out and shoot +at a mark, but after leaving the house, suddenly turned and fired upon +the party, mortally wounding Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Mr. Baker, and a Mr. +Webster. Mrs. Baker, with a young child, concealed herself in the cellar +and escaped. The Indians then returned to Jones' house, which they broke +into, killing a young woman who had been left there. This was the first +bloodshed of the war. + +Up to this time there seems to have been no deliberate preparation, no +concerted arrangement for the outbreak against the whites. There was +excitement and discontent among the Indians on account of hunger, the +delay of their payment, and the real or supposed wrongs and frauds +committed by white traders and officials; but no organized hostile +movement had been agreed on. They knew that a great war was in progress +between the whites; that armies were being raised, and the country was +being drained of men. All this was known and discussed among them. There +are also grave suspicions, and not without considerable show of +evidence, that rebel emissaries, Indians or half breeds from the +Missouri border, had been among them fomenting the discord and urging +war. + +When these four young men returned on the 18th to their band, which was +then with others at the Sioux Agency at Redwood, the recital of their +murders created the most intense excitement among the Indians. They +became infuriated at the idea of bloodshed. Before the whites were aware +that trouble was brewing, Little Six's, Little Crow's, Grey Iron's, and +Good Road's bands of M'dewakantons, and a part of the Lake Calhoun band, +gathered around the buildings, and, with a general rush and yell, +massacred the whites, some twenty-five in number, robbed and plundered +the stores, and laid the whole place in ashes. + +The party who were conveying the annuity money to the Agency, reached +Fort Ridgely on the afternoon of the same day, and there learned that +the outbreak had taken place. A garrison of about seventy-five men was +in the fort at the time the news of the massacre reached it, and Captain +Marsh, taking fifty of them, proceeded toward the Agency, fifteen miles +up the river. In the evening twenty-one of the men returned, to tell +that the detachment had fallen into an ambush, and that all the others, +including the captain, were either killed or drowned. + +The Indians seem to have at once despatched messengers with the news of +these hostilities to the bands at the Upper Sioux Agency, at Yellow +Medicine. The chiefs there immediately called their followers into +council. About one hundred Sissetons, Wahpetons, and thirty young +Yanktons, were present. The council was stormy, and divided in +sentiment; the Sissetons urging the killing and robbing of the whites, +saying the M'dewakantons had already gone so far that they could not +make matters worse, and that, as the whites would inflict punishment +upon all alike, the best thing to be done was to kill them and take +their goods. The Wahpeton chiefs, though willing to rob the whites, +insisted on sparing their lives, and sending them off with their horses +and wagons across the prairies. + +About one fourth of the Sioux, previous to these events, had, through +the efforts of the Government and missionaries, renounced their savage +life, and adopted the customs of civilization. They had cut off +the hair, discarded the blanket, adopted the civilized costume, +and undertaken to live by the cultivation of the earth, instead +of the chase. One of the chiefs who joined in this reform was +An-pe-tu-to-ke-ca, or Other-Day, an Indian of more than ordinary +intelligence and ability. He had been much among the whites, and was a +convert to Christianity. Some years previous, while he was at Washington +city with a delegation of his tribe, a rather good-looking white woman, +who had lost caste in society, fell in love with him, married him, and +followed him to his Indian home in Minnesota. + +Other-Day took part in this deliberation. He arose and addressed the +council, warning them against the consequences of the attack they were +meditating. They might succeed in killing a few whites, he told them, +but extermination or expulsion would be their fate if they did. But his +pacific arguments produced no effect. Toward evening, the Yanktons, +Sissetons, and a few of the Wahpetons rose from the council, and moved +toward the houses of the whites, to prepare for the attack. All the +afternoon the Indians had been busy taking their guns to the blacksmith +shop to have them repaired, which the unsuspecting smith, being told +they were going on a buffalo hunt, had done. + +Other-Day now left the council, took his wife and his gun, and went to +warn the whites of the impending danger. They had, up to this time, +known nothing whatever of the council. At his suggestion, sixty-two +persons assembled in one of the Agency buildings, gathered their arms, +and prepared to defend themselves. Part of the farmer Indians assisted +Other-Day in standing guard round the house that night, part of them +guarded the house of Rev. Mr. Riggs, their old missionary, to whom they +were very much attached, and another part joined the insurgents. + +Small bands of hostile Indians were seen prowling around the house +during the night, and by the next morning it was nearly surrounded. At +daybreak, several shots were fired near the warehouses, some distance +away, and then a triumphant yell was heard from the Indians as they +broke into the stores and killed the inmates. At this, the savages who +had prowled around the house during the night ran off to the scene of +the riot to share in the booty; and even the farmer Indians who had +stood guard for the whites, excepting only Other-Day, followed them. + +Other-Day now advised the whites to make their escape, and offered to +pilot them out of danger. They were at first inclined to doubt his +faithfulness; but in their extremity, finally consented to follow him. +While the hostile Indians were occupied in the work of plundering the +stores and warehouses, the whites managed to collect three two-horse +wagons, and two buggies, and placing as many of the women and children +as they could in these, the party, sixty-two persons in all, started off +in a direction opposite to the usually travelled route. They reached and +forded the Minnesota River, eluded pursuit, and after a three days' +march of great severity and privation, under the faithful and successful +guidance of Other-Day, they arrived at a place of safety. True among the +treacherous, he should be gratefully remembered, and liberally rewarded +and protected for the remainder of his life, by the people of Minnesota +and the Government of the United States. When he reached St. Paul, after +the escape, he wrote the following, in answer to the many questions +asked him: + + "I am a Dakota Indian, born and reared in the midst of evil. I grew + up without the knowledge of any good thing. I have been instructed + by Americans, and taught to read and write. This I found to be + good. I became acquainted with the Sacred Writings, and there + learned my vileness. At the present time, I have fallen into great + evil and affliction, but have escaped from it; and with fifty-four + men, women, and children, without moccasins, without food, and + without a blanket, I have arrived in the midst of a great people, + and now my heart is glad. I attribute it to the mercy of the Great + Spirit. + + An-pe-tu-to-ke-ca. + (Other-Day.)" + + + +Another party of about forty persons escaped from the vicinity of Yellow +Medicine, under the guidance of the missionary, Rev. Mr. Riggs, who was +also warned and aided by a few of the farmer Indians. + +Having thus successfully attacked and destroyed the Lower Agency, at +Redwood, and the Upper Agency, at Yellow Medicine, and having obtained +large supplies of arms and ammunition from the stores and warehouses +they sacked at these points, part of the Indians divided into small +marauding bands, and scoured the country, attacking and murdering +isolated settlers, burning houses, and stealing horses and cattle; but +the larger portion remained together, and, under the leadership of +Little Crow, planned further attacks. + +Fifteen miles below the Lower Agency, on the north bank of the +Minnesota, is Fort Ridgely; and twenty miles below the fort, on the +southern bank of the river, is the town of New Ulm, which, as its name +indicates, is mainly populated by German settlers. Early in the +afternoon of Tuesday, August 19th, a party of citizens from New Ulm, +returning from a neighboring village, where they had gone to aid in +recruiting volunteers for the Union army, were fired upon from an ambush +by a number of mounted Indians, and several of them killed. Those who +escaped had barely time to get back to New Ulm and give the alarm before +the Indians advanced upon the town, and began firing at long range upon +the distressed and panic-stricken inhabitants, who were huddled +together, in helpless confusion, in a few of the more protected houses. +Fortunately, a squad of eighteen armed men from one of the lower +counties had arrived there an hour or two previous. Only six of the +number had good guns; but they immediately organized themselves, and +went forward to meet the savages. By dint of determined coolness and +bravery, they held the Indians at bay, killing several of them, until, +seeing the town reenforced by another small party of mounted whites, the +savages retreated. The fight lasted two or three hours, and a number of +the Germans were killed. + +Beaten back from New Ulm, the Indians retraced their course up the +river, and being joined by other bands, a concerted and deliberate +attack was next made on Fort Ridgely. Like too many of our frontier +forts, it is a fort only in name. Situated on a projecting spur of the +river bluff, it is almost completely encircled by deep and wooded +ravines, the edges of which are within a stone's throw of the buildings. +A long, two story stone building with an ell, standing in the centre, +and a number of log and frame houses ranged around it in an irregular +circle, with several barns and outhouses beyond them, constitute what is +called the fort, but what is really only barracks for a small number of +troops. + +When on Monday Captain Marsh left the fort to quell the disturbances at +the Agency, only about twenty-five soldiers remained to protect it. +After his party was cut up in ambush, only twenty-one, wounded and all, +returned. Luckily, however, on Tuesday, two detachments of +reenforcements, of about fifty men each, reached the garrison in safety. +On the other hand, from the beginning of the outbreak, the women and +children of the surrounding country who had escaped massacre, sometimes +a whole family, sometimes only a single member--now a mother, and then a +child--fresh from the scenes of savage violence and blood, had been +fleeing to the fort for safety, until the number had been swelled to +some three hundred. Six cannon, a few old condemned muskets, and +considerable supplies of provisions were fortunately in the fort. Such +hurried preparations for defence as could be, were soon made. Small +squads of Indians were seen prowling about during Monday and Tuesday, +but they were promptly scattered by a shell from the howitzer, +accurately planted by the veteran artillery sergeant who was in charge +of the guns. + +At a quarter past three o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, about three or +four hundred Indians, led by Little Crow, advanced under cover of the +woods and ravines to the attack of the garrison. It was a complete +surprise, the first announcement being a deadly volley through one of +the north entrances into the parade ground of the fort. For a moment +there was uncontrollable confusion and alarm among the whites, and had a +storming assault immediately followed, the fort must have fallen. The +garrison, however, quickly rallied, manned the guns, and poured a steady +fire on their assailants. The Indians, as usual, took shelter behind +every available cover--trees, ravines, outhouses, high grass and +logs--the whites directing their return shots as best they could. In +this way, a brisk fusilade was kept up until half-past six o'clock in +the evening. A number of the outbuildings were fired by the enemy, but +the flames did not reach the fort. The houses that remained nearer the +fort were destroyed by the garrison after the enemy withdrew. The +garrison lost twelve or fifteen men killed and wounded in this +engagement. + +A night of terrible anxiety and suspense succeeded, but there was no +further disturbance. On the next day, Thursday, two more attacks, each +lasting about half an hour, were made, one at nine o'clock in the +morning, and the other at six in the evening, but they were much feebler +than the previous one, and easily repulsed. + +The final and most desperate attack occurred on Friday, the +twenty-second. The garrison was engaged in strengthening its defences, +when, at one o'clock in the afternoon, the sentinel saw at two miles +distance great numbers of Indians approaching on horseback. As they +neared the fort they dismounted, and advancing from three different +points under cover of the ravines, where the shells from the field +pieces could do them but little damage, they opened a terrible fire on +the garrison. But the previous two days' siege had steadied the nerves +of the whites, and they received the onslaught coolly, reserving their +fire until they could obtain a fair view of the enemy, and do effective +execution. The "big guns," of which Indians stand in so great dread, +were also well served. The fight raged all the afternoon, from two until +half past six o'clock. Once the savages pressed up so near that the +halfbreeds in the fort could distinguish the shout of the chiefs +ordering a charge for the purpose of capturing the guns. It was a +concerted movement; a feint to draw the fire of the field pieces, and an +immediate rush was made to secure them before they could be reloaded. +But the old artillery sergeant was not to be trapped; he reserved the +fire of his own gun, and when the storming party emerged into open view, +he planted a shell among them which sent them howling back to their +shelter. At nightfall the savages reluctantly gave up the siege and +retired, carrying away a considerable number of killed and wounded. +Those in the fort escaped miraculously; only one man being killed, and +three or four slightly wounded. + +The next morning, Saturday, the Indians were seen again approaching the +fort, apparently to renew the attack; but it was soon discovered they +were withdrawing, to wreak their thwarted vengeance on the devoted town +of New Ulm. In the interim since the first attack, the town had been +reenforced by about one hundred volunteers, and had also been put in a +partial state of defence. Fire, murder, and pillage marked the way of +the savages toward it; the garrison noted their approach by the clouds +of smoke which the burning dwellings of the settlers sent up to heaven. + +The Indians reached and again attacked New Ulm, on Sunday morning at +about eleven o'clock. The commanding officer of the whites had placed +pickets, and a considerable part of his force to support them, along the +outer edge of the town toward the foe; but so fierce and impetuous was +the attack, that the whites were forced back into the town at the first +onset of the enemy, giving them possession of several of the outer +buildings, from which they pushed their further operations. But the +garrison soon rallied, and obstinately held their ground. Finding +themselves so unexpectedly held at bay, the Indians, who were to the +windward, set fire one after another to the buildings they held, thus +literally burning their way into the town. All day long this continued. +Toward evening, the whites found they had been forced back, inch by +inch, by the fire and smoke and the swift leaden messengers of death, +until nearly one half of the town was lost; but they rallied once more, +made a vigorous charge on the foe, and drove them out. At this the +Indians withdrew, forming themselves into three parties, and camped a +short distance off, making the night hideous with fiendish yells and the +horrid music of their war dances. During the night the garrison +retreated into a still smaller and more defensible part of the town, +committing the rest to flames. A brief demonstration was made by the +enemy on the following morning, but finding the whites so well posted, +they finally abandoned the contest and withdrew. The whites, exhausted +and cut up, joyfully welcomed a cessation of hostilities. During the day +they evacuated the town, bringing off what remained of the garrison in +safety. In this battle they lost ten killed, and about fifty wounded, +while the Indians lost about forty. They were seen to haul off four +wagon loads of dead. + +The events thus far narrated cover a period of nine days, and, though +forming the principal ones, were by no means the only events of that +brief time. The contagion of murder, arson, and rapine spread over the +whole area of country on which the Indians lived and roved, embracing a +district one hundred miles in width by two hundred in length. Fort +Abercrombie, situated at the upper end of this vast tract, was +surrounded and besieged, as Fort Ridgely at the lower end had been. +Throughout the intermediate region, scattering parties of the savages +appeared in the isolated villages and settlements, spreading death and +desolation. Local conditions exaggerated and heightened the horrors of +the insurrection. The population of Minnesota, and particularly of these +exposed regions, unlike that of the lower Western States, whose +settlers, trained in border warfare, were familiar with savage craft and +cruelty, and inherited the prowess and spirit of daring adventure which +possessed Daniel Boone, was largely made up of foreign emigrants, +Germans, French, Norwegians, and Swedes. They were unaccustomed to +danger, and unused to arms. They had lived for years in confidence and +daily intercourse with the Indians. Engaged in the absorbing labor of +building and providing their new homes, they were without guns or other +weapons of defence. Still worse, the war for the Union had called into +its ranks a large proportion of their young, active, and able-bodied +men, and left only the women and children to gather the harvest and +guard the hearthstone. Upon their heads this storm burst suddenly, and +with a terror which deprived them of all courage and resource to resist +it. Emboldened by the feeble opposition they met, and maddened by the +carnival of blood in which they rioted, the savages indulged in +cruelties and barbarities too horrible to recount in detail. The +Governor of Minnesota, in a special message to the Legislature of the +State, thus paints them: + + 'Infants hewn into bloody chips of flesh, or nailed alive to door + posts to linger out their little life in mortal agony, or torn + untimely from the womb of the murdered mother, and in cruel mockery + cast in fragments on her pulseless and bleeding breast; rape + joined to murder in one awful tragedy; young girls, even children + of tender years, outraged by their brutal ravishers, till death + ended their shame and suffering; women held in captivity to undergo + the horrors of a living death; whole families burned alive; and as + if their devilish fury could not glut itself with outrages on the + living, its last efforts exhausted in mutilating the bodies of the + dead; such are the spectacles, and a thousand nameless horrors + besides, which their first experience of Indian war has burned into + the brains and hearts of our frontier people.'.... + +A wild panic ensued. Those who escaped the tomahawk and scalping knife +fled in consternation and dismay, abandoning their little earthly all, +leaving their cattle astray on the prairies, and their crops uncut and +ungathered in the fields; some fleeing with such precipitation as to +leave their food untouched on the table, where but a moment before it +had been spread for the daily repast. Women and children wandered for +days in the woods, subsisting on nuts and berries. Every road was lined +with fugitives, and all the villages were crowded with their surrounding +population. The refugees poured by hundreds into the city of St. Paul, +situated from eighty to one hundred and fifty miles from the scenes of +the outbreak; and many, who were able to do so, embarked on the first +departing steamers, and hurried away from the State. It is estimated +that ten large and flourishing counties were almost completely +depopulated. + +It so happened that a portion of the volunteers recruited for the Union +army had not yet been ordered out of the State. Though poorly equipped +and supplied, they were at once sent into the field against the Indians, +and they served as a nucleus around which the irregular organizations +could rally. Every old gun, pistol, knife, or other weapon was cleaned +up; every pound of powder and lead was bought and distributed; and +horses were impressed by military authority, with which to extemporize +cavalry companies. The surrounding States promptly sent what aid they +could in men, guns, and cartridges. The Governor by proclamation +authorized the formation of companies of scouts and rangers in the +threatened neighborhoods. Very soon after the outbreak, Colonel H. H. +Sibley, an experienced frontiersman, having a thorough knowledge of +Indian habits and character, was on the march against them, with about +one thousand men. The General Government augmented these forces as +rapidly as possible, and sent Major-General Pope to assume command of +the Indian Department. + +Hearing of Colonel Sibley's approach, Little Crow retreated to Yellow +Medicine, taking with him a large baggage train of plunder, and about +one hundred white prisoners, chiefly women and children, whom he had +captured at different places, and whom, with a few exceptions, they did +not specially maltreat, but compelled to labor at camp drudgery. + +Colonel Sibley pushed on with his forces, sending in advance a cavalry +detachment, which reached and relieved Fort Ridgely on the 27th of +August, after it had been besieged for nine days. He himself arrived at +that post with the remainder of his troops on the following day. On the +31st, he sent out a detachment of two companies, one mounted, a fatigue +party of twenty men, and seventeen teams and teamsters, to reconnoitre +the neighboring settlements and to bury the dead. They proceeded to the +Minnesota river opposite the Lower Agency, and found and buried sixteen +corpses the first day. The next day they continued their search, finding +and burying fifty-four. That night they encamped on the open prairie, +near the upper timber of the Birch Coolie creek, three miles from the +Lower Agency. At about four o'clock of the next morning, September 2, +one of their sentinels shouted, "Indians!" and almost immediately, a +shower of balls rained upon the camp. From this first fire, and during +the confusion attending it, the detachment suffered severely. They soon, +however, gained the shelter of their wagons, and from behind them and +the piles of dead horses which literally covered the ground, they +returned a vigorous fire upon their assailants, meanwhile digging a +rifle pit as they fought. It was a fierce morning's battle, and the foe, +in largely superior numbers, had nearly surrounded and captured them +when reenforcements arrived. So hot was the attack, that one of the +tents was found to have one hundred and forty bullet holes through it. + +The boldness and severity of this attack, demonstrated to Colonel Sibley +the necessity for an increase of force and very cautious movements, and +accordingly he fell back to the neighborhood of Fort Ridgely. Anxious +also to obtain the release of the white prisoners in Little Crow's camp, +and fearing that if he won a decided success in battle they would be +murdered, he determined to resort to negotiation. He therefore wrote the +following note and left it fastened to a stake, on the ground where the +last battle had taken place: + + 'If Little Crow has any propositions to make to me, let him send a + halfbreed to me, and he shall be protected in and out of my camp. + + H. H. SIBLEY, + Col. Com. Military Expedition.' + + + +A day or two afterward, two halfbreeds came into his camp under a flag +of truce, bringing a note signed 'Little Crow, his mark,' excusing and +justifying his attack on the whites. Colonel Sibley replied, 'Little +Crow, you have murdered many of our people without cause. Return me the +prisoners under a flag of truce, and I will talk with you like a man.' +After the lapse of a few days, another message came from Little Crow, +stating that he had one hundred and fifty-five prisoners, and asking +what he could do to make peace. Colonel Sibley replied that his young +men had been committing more murders, and that was not the way to make +peace. + +Having learned from several sources that serious dissensions had broken +out in the Indian camp, and having also received the needed +reenforcements, Colonel Sibley left Fort Ridgely on the 12th of +September, and marched up the Minnesota river to Wood Lake, near Yellow +Medicine, arriving there on the 22d following. Little Crow was encamped +in the vicinity with his braves. The savages, however, had become +demoralized, and he could no longer control them. Little Crow desired to +make an attack that night, but his opponents told him in council that if +he was a brave Indian he would fight the white man by daylight. +Accordingly, next morning he attacked Colonel Sibley's forces with three +hundred of his warriors, the others refusing to join in the fight. After +a sharp two-hours' battle the Indians were completely routed, losing +thirty killed, and a proportionate number of wounded. The whites lost +four killed, and forty wounded. + +This battle substantially ended the war. The Indians retreated, and the +whites pursued them to Lac Qui Parle. Four days afterward, a camp of +about one hundred and fifty lodges of Indians and halfbreeds separated +from Little Crow's party, met Colonel Sibley in council, surrendered +themselves, and formally delivered up to him ninety-one white prisoners, +and over one hundred halfbreeds, whom they had obtained. Other parties +came in afterward, surrendering themselves unconditionally, until +between two and three thousand Indians, of all sexes and ages, were in +the hands of the troops as prisoners of war. A military commission was +appointed to try the ringleaders and worst offenders, and over three +hundred of them were convicted and sentenced to death. Before this paper +is printed, some, at least, of these, will have expiated their crimes on +the gallows. Little Crow, with a small but desperate band of followers, +succeeded in making his escape to Devil's Lake in Dakota Territory. + +The future disposition of the Indians of the State of Minnesota is one +of the most perplexing minor questions of the day. In their present +location, the feud of race engendered by the insurrection will only die +with the generation that witnessed its beginning. Humanitarian impulses +and humanitarian duties are forgotten in the fierce thirst for private +vengeance. With one voice, the people of that State demand the removal +or threaten the extermination of their dangerous neighbors. But whither +shall they go? The swallowing tides of civilization encompass them on +the east, the north, and the south; and the only other avenue, the west, +is guarded by the gaunt wolf starvation. + +It is proposed by some to colonize them on the island of Isle Royale, in +Lake Superior; by others, to purchase some small West India island, and +transport them there, where tropical nature will feed them without +expense to the Government. Perhaps the more practical measure would be +to gather all that remains of the red race within the United States into +one Territory, to establish a more thorough guardianship over them, and +to subject them to a stricter and more absolute government, which should +compel them to assume gradually the duties and customs of civilized +life. + + + + +'DEAD!' + + + With chilling breath it comes: + Again--and yet again! on every gale, + America! from thy great battle field! + Our hearts are hushed, and desolate our homes-- + Our lids are heavy, and our cheeks are pale-- + While thus we yield + Our loved ones up to thee! + + Dead! dying at their posts! + The young, the noble, and the loving ones! + The widow's all! the gray-haired father's hope-- + All thine, my country! take the treasured hosts: + Hold in thy faithful keeping all thy sons! + We give them up-- + To thee and liberty! + + Oh, keep our honored dead + Within the folds of thy great-pulsing heart! + Entwine their memory with thy polished lore: + Cherish the sacred dust above _their_ bed + Who sprang to shield thee from the traitor's dart! + Bless evermore + The dead who died for thee! + + Silent the teardrops fall + Down the pale mother's cheek at close of day; + For sorrow sitteth at the widow's gate: + Dark are the shadows gathered on the wall, + And where the mourner bendeth low to pray-- + No more to wait + The coming of her free! + + For thee--'dear native land!' + What precious hopes are severed one by one! + What hearts lie crushed and sick by 'hope deferred!' + How many dear ones, stretched along the sand, + Bleed out their lives beneath a blighting sun-- + With but a word-- + 'Mother!' for plaint or prayer! + + Shall they be vainly shed-- + The blood and tears that wash our stricken soil? + Bringing no healing with their torrent streams? + Vain the long requiem for the noble dead-- + Vain all the agony and all the toil-- + The soldier's dreams-- + The patriot's thought and care? + + No! float upon the winds! + Flag of my country! let thy stars give light + To nations of the earth! proclaim afar + The end of tyrant rule that madly binds + Our millions down beneath a fearful blight! + Float--_every star_! + We have not one to spare! + + + + +A MERCHANT'S STORY. + + 'ALL of which I saw, and part of which I was.' + + +CHAPTER IX. + +After dinner, we rode over my friend's plantation. It contained about +twelve hundred acres, mainly covered with forest trees, but with here +and there an isolated patch of cleared land devoted to corn and cotton. +A small tributary of the Trent formed its northern boundary, and +bordering the little stream was a tract of three hundred acres of low, +swampy ground, heavily timbered with cypress and juniper. Tall old +pines, denuded of bark for one third of their height, and their white +faces bearded with long, shining flakes of 'scrape turpentine,' crowned +the uplands; and scattered among them, about a hundred well-clad, +'well-kept' negro men and women were shouting pleasantly to one another, +or singing merrily some simple song of 'Ole Car'lina,' as with the long +scrapers they peeled the glistening scales from the scarified trees, or, +gathering them in their aprons, 'dumped' them into the rude barrels +prepared for their reception. Preston had a kind word for each one that +we passed--a pleasant inquiry about an infirm mother or a sick child, or +some encouraging comment on their cheerful work; and many were the +hearty blessings they showered upon 'good massa,' and many their +good-natured exclamations over 'de strange gemman dat sells massa's +truck.' + +'He'm de kine, 'ou gals,' shouted an old darky, bent nearly double with +age, who, leaning against one of the barrels, was 'packing down' the +flakes as they were emptied from the aprons of the women: 'He'm de kine, +I tell by him eye; de rocks doan't grow fass ter dat gemman's pocket!' + +'Well, they don't, uncle,' I replied, tossing him a half-dollar piece, +and throwing a handful of smaller coin among the women. A general +scramble followed, in which the old fellow nimbly joined, shouting out +between his boisterous explosions of merriment: + +'Dis am de sort, massa; dis am manna rainin' in de wilderness--de Lord's +chil'ren lub dis kine--it'm good ter take, massa, good ter take.' + +'Good as black jack, eh, uncle?' I inquired, laughing, for I saw certain +lines about his shrunken mouth, and underneath his sunken eyes, which +told plainly he was rather too familiar with that delicious compound of +strychnine and whiskey. + +'Yas, massa, good as black Jack; dat's my name, massa, dat's my +name--yah, yah,' and he turned his face, wet with merry tears, and +distended in an uncommonly broad grin, up to mine. In a moment, however, +his eye caught Preston's. His broad visage collapsed, his distended +mouth shrank to a very diminutive opening, and his twinkling eyes +assumed a peculiarly stolid expression, as he added, in a deprecatory +tone: + +'No, massa Robert, not so good as black jack; not so good as dat--'ou +knows I doan't keer fur him; you knows I doan't knows him no more, massa +Robert.' + +'I know you never knew him,' replied Preston, playing on his name. 'He's +a hardened old sinner. He has sinned away the day of grace, I'm sure. +But you know better than to ask presents of strangers. Give it back to +the gentleman at once.' + +An indescribable expression stole over the old negro's visage as he +thrust his hand through his thin, frosty wool, looked pleadingly up at +his master's face, and, seeing no signs of relenting there, slowly and +reluctantly opened his palm and offered me the money. + +'No, no, Preston, let him keep it; it won't do him any harm,' I said. + +'No more'n it woan't, good massa, not a morsel ob harm,' exclaimed the +darky, his small eyes twinkling again with pleasurable anticipation, and +his broad face widening into its accustomed grin: 'I woan't take nary a +drop, massa Robert, nary a drop!' + +'Well,' said his master, 'you can keep it if you'll promise not to drink +it all to-morrow. So much whiskey would spoil your prayer at the +meeting.' + +'So it 'ould, massa Robert; so much as dat; but Jack allers prays de +stronger fur a little, massa Robert, jess a little--it sort o' 'pears +ter warm up a ole man's sperrets, and ter fotch all de 'votion right +inter him froat.' + +'I suppose it does; all the devotion you ever feel. You're an old +sinner, Jack, past praying for, I fear,' replied Preston, +good-naturedly, turning his horse to go. + +'Not pass prayin' fur 'ou, massa Robert, not pass dat, an' ole Jack +neber will be, nudder--not so long as he kin holler loud 'nuff fur de +Lord ter yere. 'Ou may 'pend on dat, massa Robert, 'ou may 'pend on +dat.' + +As we rode away, I asked Preston if the old black led the services at +the negro meetings. + +'Yes, I am obliged to let him. He was formerly the plantation preacher, +and, with all his faults, the blacks are much attached to him. A small +rebellion broke out among them, five years ago, when I displaced him, +and put Joe into the pulpit. I compromised the difficulty by agreeing +that Jack should lead in prayer every Sunday morning. They think he has +a gift that way, and _you_ would conclude the day of Pentecost had come, +if you should hear him when he is about half-seas-over.' + +'Then he does pray better for a little whiskey?' + +'Yes, a mug of 'black jack' helps him amazingly--it gives him the real +power.' + +After a two hours' circuit of the plantation, we halted in the vicinity +of the distilleries, which stood huddled together on the bank of the +little stream of which I have spoken. There were three of them, each of +thirty barrels' capacity--an enormous size--and they were neatly set in +brick, and enclosed in a substantial framed structure, which was +weatherboarded and coated with paint of a dark brown color. Near the +only one then in operation were several large heaps of flake turpentine, +three or four hundred barrels of rosin, and a vast quantity of the same +material scattered loosely about and mixed with broken staves, worn-out +strainers, and the _debris_ of the rosin bins. Pointing to the confused +mass, I said to my host: + +'I've half a mind to turn missionary. I feel a sort of call to preach to +you Southern heathen.' + +'I wish you would,' he rejoined, laughing; 'you'd give me a chance to +laugh at your sermons, as you have laughed at mine.' + +'No, you wouldn't laugh. I'd make you _feel_ way down in your pocket. +I'd have but one sermon and one text, and that would be: 'Gather up the +fragments, that nothing be lost.' You Southern nabobs do nothing but +waste--you waste enough in one day to feed the whole North for a week. +It's a sin--the unpardonable sin--for you know better.' + +'Well, it _is_ wrong, but how can we help it? We can't make the negroes +anything but what they are--shiftless and careless of everything but +their own ease.' + +'I don't know about that. I think such a man as Joe ought to be able to +manage them.' + +'Joe! Well, he can't. He's all drive, and negroes are human beings; they +should be treated kindly.' + +We had approached the front of the still, and were fastening our horses +to the trunk of a tree, when we heard loud voices issuing from the other +side of the enclosure. + +'Her'm what I owes you--now pack off ter onst, and don't neber show your +face on dis plantation no more,' said a voice, which I at once +recognized as that of 'boss Joe.' + +'I shan't pack off till I'm ready, you d--d black nigger, I've been +bossed 'bout by ye long 'nuff. Clar out, and 'tend ter yer own 'fairs,' +rejoined another voice, which had the tone of a white man's. + +'I reckon _dis_ am my 'fair, and I shan't leff you git drunk and burn up +no more white rosum yere; so take yerseff off. Ef you don't, I'll make +you blacker nor I is.' + +'Put your hand on me, and I'll take the law on ye, _shore_,' returned +the white man. + +'Pshaw, you drunken fool, do you s'pose dese darkies would tell on _me_? +Ef dey would, dar word ain't 'lowed in de law; so you trabble. I don't +keer ter handle you, but I shill ef you don't leab widin five minutes.' + +What might have followed will not go down in history, for just then +Preston and I, emerging from around the corner of the building, appeared +in view of the belligerents. The native--a respectable specimen of the +class of poor whites--stood in a defiant attitude before the still-fire, +while Joe was seated on a turpentine barrel near, quietly noting the +time by a large silver watch which he held in his hand. He kept on +counting the minutes, and gave no heed to his master's approach, till +Preston said: + +'Joe, what's to pay?' + +'Nuffin, master Robert, 'cept I'se 'scharged dis man, and he say he +won't gwo.' + +'Do as Joseph bids you,' said Preston, turning to the white man, 'take +your pay and go at once.' + +The man stammered out a few words with a cringing air, but the planter +cut him short with: + +'I want no explanations. If you can't satisfy Joseph, you can't satisfy +me.' + +The native then leisurely took down a ragged coat that hung from one of +the timbers, counted over a small roll of bank notes which Joe gave him, +and meekly left the still-house. + +Joe and his master devoted the next half hour to piloting me over the +distilleries. I commented rather freely on the sad waste of valuable +produce which was scattered about, and on the bad economy of keeping +three 'stills' to do the work of one. + +'It might have done years ago,' I remarked, 'before your trees ran to +'scrape,' and when they yielded enough 'dip' to keep all the stills +busy; but now they are eating you up. You have fully four thousand +dollars idle here. Sell them, Preston--that amount would help you out of +debt.' + +'Dat's what I tells master Robert, Mr. Kirke, but he sort o' clings to +ole tings, _sar_,' said Joe, in the free, familiar tone usual with him. + +'But _you_ do just as badly, Joe,' I replied. 'You let these darkies +waste more than they eat, and you keep four here to do the work of +three. You are no better than your master.' + +'Only half so good, Mr. Kirke,' rejoined the black, showing a set of +teeth which a dentist might have used for a door plate; 'only _half_ so +good, 'case I'se only half white. But, if master Robert 'ould leff me +handle de whip, I'd show him suffin'! I reckon de int'rest 'ouldn't be +ahind den.' + +'Why? don't you let Joe whip the negroes?' I asked Preston. + +'No, not now; I did, till some years ago, when he almost killed one of +them, and came near getting me into serious trouble. He could manage +them well enough without whipping, if he'd curb his impetuous temper a +little.' + +'But I does curb it, master Robert, and it tain't ob no use. Dey knows I +_can't_ whip 'em, an' dey don't keer fur de starvin', or de tyin' up, or +de talkin' to in de meetin'. Dey don't mind fur nuffin' but de whip, an' +a little ex'cise wid dat does a nigger good when he'm right down +'fractory. And you has 'lowed, master Robert, dat I warn't so much ter +blame in dat 'fair ob Black Cale.' + +'Well, perhaps you weren't. It's a good story, Kirke; did I ever tell it +to you?' + +'No; I'd be glad to hear it.' + +'Come, Joe,' said his master, good-naturedly, 'you can tell it better +than I. You know it by heart.' + +'Well, master, if you says so,' replied Joe; and as we seated ourselves +in a semicircle on some rosin barrels, the black proceeded to give the +following illustration of the working of free and slave institutions: + +'Well, you see, Mr. Kirke, de darky's name wus Black Cale, an' he wus a +raised up 'long wid me by de ole gemman--dat am master Robert's +gran'fer. He wus allers a hard-bitted, 'fractory darky, but he wus +smart, awful smart, and could do a heap ob work when a minded to; but he +wusn't a minded to bery of'en, an' ole master used to hab ter flog +him--flog him bery hard. Well, finarly, de ole gemman grow'd tired ob +doin' so much ob dat, an' he call Cale ter him one day, an' he say: + +''Cale, you'se a likely nigger, an' I _don't_ like ter flog you so much. +Now, I'll leff you hire you' time, an' gwo down ter Newbern, an' shirk +fur you'seff.' + +'Ole master knowed Cale wus habin' a bad 'fect on de oder darkies, an' +he 'lowed 'twould be cheap leffin' him gwo ef he didn't get a picayune +fur him. Well, Cale, he took ter dat ter onst, an' he 'greed to gib ole +master one fifty a year fur his time; an' so he put off ter Newbern. +Well, ebery ting gwo on right smart till de ole gemman die. Cale, he +work hard, pay master ebery year, and sabe up quite a heap. Well, ole +master die widout a will, an' all de property gwo ter de two sons; dat +am master James an' master Thomas--he war master Robert's fader. Now +master James he neber lib'd on de plantation, so he sold all his half ob +de nigs to master Thomas, an' put all de 'vails inter his bisness down +dar ter Mobile, whar he am now, doin' a heap in de cotton way. But he +didn't sell his half ob Cale, 'case master Thomas wouldn't buy him, +nohow. Well, dey owned Cale tugedder fur a spell, an' Cale he work on +right smart, till one day master James come home, and he tells master +Thomas dat on de way he'd a stopped at Newbern, and sole his half ob +Cale ter Cale heseff, fur five hundred dollar, and giben him de free +papers. Well, den Cale he want to buy de oder half ob heseff ob master +Thomas, an' master Thomas he offer to take de same money; but Cale say +de oder half not wuth so much as de fust, an' dat he wouldn't gib only +two fifty.' + +'Not worth so much--why not?' I asked. + +'Why, Cale say 'case he could do what he like wid de free half, and he +reckoned he shouldn't be quite so 'sponsible _den_ fur de slave half,' +and here Joe broke into a merry fit of laughter, in which Preston +joined. + +'Well, master Thomas an' Cale couldn't 'gree 'bout de buyin', but Cale +promise to gib seventy-five dollar a year fur de use ob master's half, +an' he gwo off agin ter Newbern. Den de time gwo by fur a yar or two, +but master neber git nary dime out ob Cale fur his half. Cale would say +dat only half ob him wus free, an' de oder half wasn't 'sponsible, and +couldn't pay its debts, nohow. Finarly, master, seein' he couldn't git +nuffin out ob Cale, only offers ob two fifty fur de oder half--and _dat_ +he wouldn't take, nohow--sent me down to Newbern to sort o' mediate +'tween Cale an' he. Well, I coaxed Cale to 'gree to wuck one monfh for +heseff and de oder monfh fur massa, and I come home; but it warn't ob no +use; Cale would wuck, but massa neber seed a fip ob de pay. Finarly, +af'er he'd a gone on dat way 'bout ten yar, stowin' 'way what he arned +whar nobody could fine it, an' allers off'rin' two fifty fur de oder +half ob heseff, master Thomas he die, and master Robert he come ter lib +on de plantation. Den master Robert axed me what he should do wid Cale, +and I tole him to take de two fifty, and leff him gwo. But he say, 'no,' +dat he wouldn't sell him fur dat, nohow.' And here the black looked +slyly at his master, and a merry twinkle came into his eyes. 'Well, den, +I tole master Robert dat I tought I could fix Cale ef he'd leff me +manage him jess as I like. He 'greed to dat, an' I gwoes down to +Newbern, an' makes Cale come home, an' den I say to him: + +''Now, Cale, you stay yere, an' gwo to wuck. Ebery monfh you wuck fur +me, an' ebery oder monfh you wuck fur you'seff, an' when you wuck fur +you'seff I pay you so much fur ebery barr'l ob dip, an' so much fur +ebery barr'l ob scrape, an' so much fur ebery day when you wuck roun'; +an' I makes you pay so much fur what you lib on. Well, Cale, he 'gree to +dat. He wuck de fust monfh fur heseff, an' he _did_ wuck--he done twice +so much as any hand on de plantation; but de next monfh, when he wuck +fur _me_, he don't do nuffin but lay 'bout, an' git drunk. I stood dat +till de monfh wus up--fur I neber did take ter whippin' de nigs, an' +master Robert know dat--an' den w'en Cale wus clean sober, I tied him up +to gib him a floggin'. Well, w'en he wus a stripped, an' I was jess +gwine to lay on de lashes, Cale say to me, says he: + +''Look a yere, 'ou Joe, 'ou may whip massa's half ob dis nig jess so +long as 'ou likes, but ef 'ou put de lash onter _my_ half, I'll take de +law on 'ou. I will, shore.' + +'Dat sot me a tinkin'; fur de fac wus, I'd nary right to flog _his_ +half; but den it 'curred ter me dat none but darkies wus roun', an' so I +tought I had him, _shore_. Well, I puts on de lashes, an' he keeps a +tellin' me he'd hab de law on me, which make me sort o' 'zasparated, +till I put 'em on right smart, an' at lass he gib in. Well, w'en I'd a +got him a feelin' 'bout right, an' wus only jess puttin' de lass blows +on to finish up makin' a decent nigger ob him, master Robert he come up, +and when he seed de blood a runnin' down his back, he say Cale had been +whipped 'bout 'nough, and I must stop. Cale turned up missin' dat night, +an' got off to Newbern; an' shore 'nuff, de next evenin', long 'bout +dark, de sherrif he rode up to de house wid a writ fur master Robert fur +habin' made 'salt an' batt'ry on one collud man, called Caleb Preston, +an' he pulled out a suspeny dat make massa Robert witness agin heseff! +ha! ha! You see Cale wus smart; he know'd master Robert b'longed to de +Baptist meeting, an' wouldn't lie fur all de niggers in Jones county; so +he had him dar, ha! ha!' + +Here Joe for some minutes was unable to continue the narrative. His +merriment was contagious. I laughed till my sides were sore, and Preston +enjoyed the story quite as much as I did. + +'Well, what was the end of it?' I asked. + +'Only, master Robert hed to be toted off to Newbern dat night, git bail +or sleep in de jail, and de next mornin', af'er de nig hed a hed ten +yars' use ob heseff fur nuffin, master Robert hed to do what _he'd_ a +said, an' his fader afore him hed said, dey neber would do--dat is, take +two fifty fur de oder half ob Cale! Ha! ha! De next time I gwoes to +Newbern I hunt Cale up, an' I tell him he must study fur de law, shore; +an' dat ef he done it, I know'd master Robert would pay de 'spences, out +ob lub to de country.' + +The negroes who were attending the still had dropped their work to +listen to Joe's story, and at its close guffawed in a chorus that made +the woods ring. Hearing it, Joe sprang to his feet, shouting out: +'Yere--'bout you' wuck dar; leff me kotch you eavesdroppin' on gemmen +agin, an' I'll gib you what I gabe Cale. 'Bout you' wuck, I say.' They +turned nimbly to their tasks, and Joe resumed his seat. + +'I see the moral of that story, Preston,' I said, when the negro had +concluded. + +'What is it?' + +'That a darky may be as smart as a white man. Cale outwitted you.' + +'Well, he did,' he replied, laughing; 'but that isn't the moral: it is +that flogging never accomplishes its object.' + +'I'm not so sure of that. Joe had brought Cale to terms, 'made a decent +nigger on him,' when you, unluckily, interfered.' + +'It ain't so much de floggin' on 'em, Mr. Kirke,' said Joe, 'as dar +knowin' dat you _will_ do it ef dey desarve it. Dar ain't a darky on de +plantation dat don't know master Robert an' de good missus 'ould rader +be flogged demselves dan flog dem; an' dat wucks bad, Mr. Kirke, sorry +bad;' and the negro shook his head with a grave, thoughtful air. + +'Tell me, Preston,' I said, after a slight pause, 'how is it that your +neighbor Dawsey, with only seventy-five negroes, sends us more produce +than you do with a hundred and fifty?' + +'Simply because he treats his hands like brutes, while I treat mine like +men.' + +'I hope you'll take no offence,' I replied, 'but it appears to me there +must be some other reason. He has only _half_ your number.' + +'Well, I will tell you how he and I manage, and you can judge for +yourself. Dawsey has seventy-five slaves; forty child-bearing women, +twenty men, and fifteen children under five years. The sixty adults are +all prime hands. They are given daily tasks, which they cannot possibly +do in less than fifteen hours, leaving them only nine hours out of the +twenty-four for eating, sleeping, feeding their children, and the waking +rest necessary to working people. He never whips them on a week day, +because it wastes working time, but makes Sunday a general flogging +season. He has two women where he has one man, and each woman is +expected to bear a child a year. If she doesn't, she is sold. They are +made to work in the field till the labor pains are on them; and they are +allowed only two weeks' rest after confinement. Three of them have borne +children in the woods this season. He keeps only one nurse for the +fifteen children, and as soon as each child is five years old--the age +at which it can be legally sold away from its mother--it is disposed of +to the traders. In addition, three of these women are his own mistresses +and they are expected to have children as fast as the others. He serves +their children like the rest; that is, rears them to the age of five, +and then sells them as he would so many hogs.' + +'My God!' I exclaimed, 'he's a monster.' + +'There are different opinions about that. Dawsey passes for a jovial +good fellow; keeps open house for his friends; spends money freely at +the elections, and two years ago 'got religion' at a camp meeting. He +merely regards his slaves as chattels, and manages his plantation in +perhaps the only way that is profitable in an old section of country +like this.' + +'And how is it with you? How do you manage?' I asked. + +'Leff _me_ tell, master Robert,' said the black, smiling. 'I knows all +de 'ticulars 'bout dat.' + +'Well, go on,' said Preston, laughing, 'but don't be too hard on _me_.' + +'We hab,' continued the black, 'countin' me in, a hundred an' fifty-one +darkies, all in fam'lies--faders, mudders, children, and some on 'em +gran'faders and gran'mudders,'most all born on de plantation, an' some +on 'em livin' on it fur forty, fifty, sixty, an' seventy yar. Out ob +dese, we hab only forty-two full hands, 'case some ob de wimmin dat come +in de ages fur full wuck am sickly, puny tings, only fit fur house wuck +or nussin'. From de whole I gits equal to fifty-four full hands. +'Cordin' to master Robert's direction, I gib 'em easy ten-hour tasks; +but suffin' or anoder turn up 'most ebery day, so dat 'bout half on 'em +don't do full wuck, an' I reckon dey don't make, on de whole, more'n +'bout nine hour a day. So you see, Cunnel Dawsey, he hab sixty, an' he +wuck em fifteen hour a day; we hab only fifty-four, an' we wuck 'em nine +hour a day; an' 'cordin' to my 'rithmetic, dat would make de Cunnel turn +out 'bout twice as much truck as we does.' + +'And you have twice as many mouths to feed as he,' I remarked; 'and the +result is he makes money, while you--' + +'Lose nigh onter two thousand a year, Mr. Kirke, an' hab done it ebery +yar fur five yar, eber since master Robert come on to de plantation, an' +gwo to workin' on human principles, as he calls 'em.' + +This was said in so sad and regretful a tone, that, in spite of the +serious manner of both the black and his master, I laughed heartily. +When my merriment had somewhat subsided, I said: + +'Joe, what would you do to mend this state of affairs?' + +'It can't be mended if we stay in dis ole country, an' wuck 'cordin' to +master Robert's notion.' + +'Then you mean to say you can't apply humane principles to slave labor, +in an old district of country, and make money?' + +'Yes,' said Preston, rising and pacing up and down in the small +semi-circle formed by the rosin barrels, 'that is what he means to say, +and it is true.' + +'Then how do the majority of turpentine planters in this section make +money? They _do_ make it, that is certain.' + +'By overworking their hands, as Dawsey does. All may not be as severe +with them as he is, but all overwork them, more or less,' replied +Preston. + +'I don't know 'bout dat, master Robert, twelve and eben firteen hour a +day neber hurt a prime hand, if he hab good feed. + +'Well, it is six o'clock, and supper must be in waiting,' said Preston, +drawing out his watch; 'we'll talk more on this subject to-night. Joe, +bring the books up to the house this evening. Mr. Kirke has promised to +look into our affairs, and I shall need you.' + +'Yas, master Robert,' replied the black; and, mounting the horses, +Preston and I rode off to the mansion. + + +CHAPTER X. + +Mrs. Preston and master Joe were on the piazza awaiting us, and in the +doorway we were met by the younger children. Preston lifted one of them +upon his shoulder, and taking another in his arms, led the way to the +supper room. However disturbed might be my friend's relations with the +outer world, all was peace by his cheerful fireside. No man was ever +more blessed in his home. His children were intelligent, loving, and +obedient; his wife was one of those rare women--seen nowhere more often +than in the South--who, to a cultivated mind and polished manners, add +the more homely accomplishments of a good housewife. It is years since +she laid aside the weary cares of her plantation home, and entered on +the higher duties of another life; but her gentle words are still as +fresh in my memory, her kindly image as warm in my heart, as on that +autumn day, when she placed her hand in mine for the last time, and +spoke the last 'God bless you' which was to fall on my ears from her +lips on this side of the grave. She was a perfect woman--a faithful +mistress, a loving wife, a devoted mother. Anticipating every want of +her husband, cheerfully instructing her children, overseeing every +detail of her household, meting out the weekly allowance of the negroes, +visiting daily the cabins of the sick and the infirm, and with her own +hand dispensing the soothing cordial or the healing medicine,--or, when +all medicine failed, bending over the lowly bed of the dying, and +pointing him to the 'better home on high,'--she was a ministering +angel--a joy and a blessing to all about her. She wore no costly silks, +no diamonds on her fingers, or jewels in her hair; but she was arrayed +in garments all rich and beautiful with human love. She knew +nothing--cared nothing--about the right or the wrong of slavery; but +cheerfully and prayerfully, never wearying and never doubting, she went +on in the lowly round of duties allotted her, leaning lovingly on the +arm of the GOOD ALL-FATHER, and looking steadfastly to HIM for guidance +and support. And, truly, she had her reward. 'Her children rose up and +called her blessed; her husband, also, and he praised her.' + +Supper was soon over, when my hostess rose and conducted me to the +library. That apartment was in an L, detached from the mansion, and +communicating with it by a covered passage way. It was plainly +furnished, but had a cosy, homelike appearance. Its four walls were +lined with books, some standing on end, some resting on their sides, and +some leaning negligently against each other; and over the massive centre +table were scattered open volumes, old newspapers, and unfinished +manuscripts, in most delightful confusion. A half dozen old-fashioned +chairs straggled about the floor, as if they did not know exactly what +to do with themselves, and a score of old worthies--their faces white as +chalk, and their long hair and beards powdered with a whole generation +of dust, looked complacently down from the top of the bookshelves. Dust +was on the table, on the chairs, on the floor, on the ceiling, and on +the musty old volumes ranged along the walls, and dust everywhere told +unmistakably that no profane hand ever disturbed the dusty repose which +reigned in the apartment. + +Two or three oaken logs, supported on bright brass andirons--the only +bright things in the room--were blazing cheerfully on the broad +hearthstone; and drawing our chairs near, we sat down before them. + +'May I come in?' said master Joe, thrusting his head in at the +half-closed doorway. + +'No, my son,' answered his father; 'Mr. Kirke and I are to talk over +business matters.' + +'Do let him come, Robert,' said Mrs. Preston; 'he is old enough to learn +something of such affairs.' + +The lad entered, and seating himself on a low stool by the side of his +mother, and burying his head in her lap, was soon fast asleep. + +'This room, Mr. Kirke,' said the lady, 'is sacred to Robert and the +dust. I beg you will not think I have the care of it.' + +'Oh no, madam; it is plain that a _man_ has exclusive dominion here; but +your husband has been away from it for some time.' + +'That does not account for the dust; it hasn't been stirred for a +twelve-month;' and after a pause, she added, a thin moisture glistening +in her eyes, 'I have not yet thanked you, sir, for saving Phyllis and +the children from the clutches of that wretched trader.' + +'No thanks are requisite, madam. It was a mere matter of business; we +are in the practice of making advances to our consignors.' + +'Nevertheless we thank you, sir; Robert and I will ever be grateful for +it.' + +'Do not speak of it, madam; I would be glad to serve you to a much +greater extent.' + +The lady made no reply, and a rather embarrassing silence followed for +some minutes, when I said: + +'Preston, Joe is a remarkable negro; I think I never met one so +intelligent and well informed.' + +'He _is_ very intelligent,' he replied; 'he has fine natural abilities.' + +'It is a pity Nature gave him so dark a skin, and made him a--slave.' + +'Not a _pity_, Mr. Kirke,' rejoined Mrs. Preston; 'Nature, or rather +God, always puts us in our right places. Joseph is more useful where he +is than he would be anywhere else.' + +'I understood him that he was raised on the plantation,' I added. + +'Yes,' replied my host; 'my grandfather bought his mother, who is a +native African, when she was a girl; she was a favorite house-servant, +and Joe was born in a room over where we are sitting. This building was +then all there was of the mansion.' + +'And how did he pick up so much information?' + +'The old gentleman, who gave little heed to either law or gospel, taught +them both to read and write.' (Years after the date of this conversation +I learned that Joe was the son of that lawless, graceless old +gentleman.) 'And Joe, when a boy, read everything he could lay his hands +on. Since I brought my library here, he has devoured about half of the +books in it. He devotes every night, from eight o'clock to twelve, to +reading.' + +'I am surprised that with so much reading he uses so entirely the negro +dialect.' + +'But he does not. In common conversation he expresses himself in it, for +it is the dialect in which a black does his ordinary thinking; but let +him get upon an elevated subject, as he does frequently in his sermons, +and you will hear words as strong, pure, and simple as any found in the +Bible, flow from him like a stream.' + +'Does he preach every Sunday?' + +'Yes; I usually catechize the people in the morning, and he preaches in +the evening.' + +'But do you learn all your negroes to read?' + +'No, the law does not allow it. I teach them to repeat the catechism, +texts of Scripture, and passages from good books, and I explain these to +them.' + +'And Joe is your overseer?' + +'Not exactly that. My father made him overseer about thirty years ago, +but the law requires a white man in that situation; and when I took +charge of the plantation, the neighbors made a clamor about my having a +black. The result was, I 'whipped the devil round the stump,' by hiring +a white distiller, and _calling_ him 'overseer.' I let Joe, however, +'oversee' him, as you have seen to-day.' + +A rap came then at the door, and master Joe, springing up, ushered the +subject of our conversation into the room. He held his hat in his hand, +and had under his arm a couple of account books. + +'This is Joseph the First,' said the lad, taking the black by the +coat-tail, and bowing gravely to me. + +'And you are Joseph the Second, eh?' I said, laughing. + +'Yas, sar, he'm dat 'stinguished gemman,' replied the negro, stroking +affectionately the lad's head; 'and he don't dishonor de name, sar. He'm +de true blue, dyed in de wool.' + +'He was named for Joseph,' said the lady, smiling kindly on the black. +'Bring up a chair, Joseph.' + +'Tank you, missus,' and the negro seated himself by the fire, between +Preston and me. + +'You have brought the documents, I see, Joe; let me look at them,' I +said, reaching out my hand for the books. + +'Yas, sar, and dey'm all written up till a week back. I reckon _you_ kin +pick 'em out, Mr. Kirke, dough master Robert he say he don't understand +my way ob keepin' 'em.' + +I opened the books, and any man of business will appreciate my surprise +to find them kept by 'double entry.' Cotton, corn, and turpentine had +each its separate account, and at a glance I could see how much had been +made or lost by the production of each staple. The handwriting was plain +and bold, and the general appearance of the ledger compared favorably +with that of a much larger one I knew of, which was the pride of an +experienced bookkeeper. + +'Why, Joe, I'm astonished,' I exclaimed with unaffected gratification; +'you write like a schoolmaster.' + +A flush, which would have been a blush on a lighter skin, overspread the +negro's face, as he replied: + +'I don't hab practice 'nuff, Mr. Kirke, to write bery well.' + +'Practice!' said Preston, 'he has constant practice; he writes the love +letters of all the darkies in the district.' + +'It am so, dat's a fac, sar', said Joe, a quiet humor twinkling in his +eye. 'One ob Cunnel Dawsey's folk came to me tother day--his wife had +been sold down Souf, an' he wanted to say to har, dat dough ribers rose, +and mountins run atween 'em, he'd neber hab nuffin to do wid no oder +'ooman--so he come to me, and I wrote de letter; an' when I'd a put in +all de ribers, an' de mountins, an' eber so many runs, an' thought I'd +done it right smart, I read it ober to him, but he say he sort o' +reckoned it warnt quite done up 'pletely, not 'xactly 'cluded; an' he +'sisted dat I muss 'sert a pose scrip, axin' her to ''scuse de bad +writin'.'' + +'And you did it?' + +'Yes, sar, I done it.' + +'Well, Joe, the important thing just now, is how much you owe. Give me a +slip of paper, and let me put these balances together.' + +'I'se done dat, Mr. Kirke; here dey am,' and he handed me a correctly +drawn-up statement, showing Preston's exact liabilities. I glanced over +it, compared it with the footings in the ledger, and said: + +'I see by this, Preston, that you owe seventeen hundred dollars, +floating debt; twelve hundred dollars, interest on your mortgage, and +are overdrawn five hundred dollars on our house.' + +'Yes, so Joe makes it, and I reckon he's correct.' + +'But dar'm de six hunderd you 'cepted fur master Robert, de oder day, in +Newbern--dat ain't counted in,' said Joe. + +'Well, all told, it's four thousand, besides the note I have given for +Phyllis. What do you calculate on to pay it, Preston?' + +'I don't know. How can we pay it, Joe?' + +'We moight sell de two stills, and some ob de hosses; I reckon dey'd be +'nuff,' replied the black; 'but de raal trubble, master Robert, am +what's cummin'; we'm gwine ahind ebery day, 'case we lose money on ebery +crop ob turpentine. Nuffin pay now but de corn and de cotton, and we +don't raise 'nuff ob dem to do no good.' + +I turned to the ledger, and found that it showed what the black said to +be true--corn and cotton had made a handsome profit, but turpentine had +'paid a loss.' + +'That is because your trees are old, and now yield scarcely anything but +scrape,'[1] I said. + +'Yas, sar, and 'case dey am so thin like, sense we cleaned out de pore +ones, dat it take a hand long time to git 'round 'mong 'em.' + +'Why not drop turpentine, and cut shingles from the swamp? You've a +fortune in those cypress trees.' + +'My negroes are not accustomed to swamp work--it would kill them,' +replied Preston. + +'Mr. Kirke,' said Joe,--'you'll take no 'fence, master Robert, if I says +dis?' + +'No, go on,' said his master. + +'De ting am right in a nutshell, an' jess so clar as apple jack: we owes +a heap; we'se gittin' inter debt deeper an' deeper ebery yar; we lose +money workin' de ole trees; we hain't got no new ones; an', dar's no use +to talk,--master Robert _won't_ put de hands inter de swamp. What, den, +shill we do?' + +Avoiding the darky's question, I said: 'I never before understood why +slavery is so clamorous for new fields. I see now--it can draw support +only from the virgin soil. It exhausts an old country: like the locusts +of Egypt, it blasts the very face of the earth!' + +'That is true,' replied Preston; 'but Joe has stated the case correctly, +_What shall we do?_' + +'One of two things. Sell your plantation and negroes, or take your hands +to a new section, where you can raise virgin turpentine.'[2] + +'I cannot sell my negroes--they were all raised with me; and the +plantation--it was my ancestors', over a hundred years ago. I would move +the hands to a new section, but I have not the means to buy land.' + +'Ay, dar's de rub, as Shakspeare say,' said Joe, with a pleasant humor, +intended, I thought, to cheer his master, whose face was clouding over +with grave thought; 'dat's de ting dat spile de 'gestion ob de king; and +in him sleep, such dreams do come ob suffin' better'n dis, some +undiscobered country, whar de virgin trees weep tears so white as +crystal, and turn to gole de moment dey'm barrled up, dat--' + +'Come, Joe, that'll do,' said his master, laughing; 'don't give us any +more, or you'll murder _us_, as well as Shakspeare.' + +'You don't 'preciate dat great man, master Robert,' rejoined Joe, also +laughing. + +'No, I don't--not just now.' + +'If you could satisfy your outside creditors that things were likely to +go better with you in future, could you put off the payment of the three +thousand dollars for a time?' I asked. + +'I reckon I could--nearly all of it,' replied Preston. + +'Well, then, I'll make you a proposition. Buy ten thousand acres on the +line of the Manchester railroad. It is finished to Whitesville, and you +can buy land within twenty miles of that station, at seventy-five cents +an acre. We'll advance the twenty per cent. you'll have to pay down, and +five hundred dollars more to start you there, and hold the deed of the +land to secure us. Ship your produce to us, and agree to forfeit the +land, if, at the end of three years, you have not paid all the original +advance. Move your stills, and your able-bodied men and women there, +leaving the old and the young negroes here to raise corn and cotton. +_Hire_ fifty more prime hands, and put Joe over the whole, with +unlimited power to work them to death if he pleases.' + +Preston leaned his head on his hand, as if bewildered. He seemed not to +understand me, but Joe's face lighted as if a stream of electricity were +playing under his dark skin. Mrs. Preston was the first to speak. Rising +and taking my hand, she said: 'Robert will do it, Mr. Kirke; and how can +we ever thank you enough for your generous--your _noble_ conduct toward +us? You have taken a weary load off our hearts.' + +'It is a simple business transaction, madam; I expect to make money by +it. I insist on your husband's consigning his produce to us, and I shall +require the forfeit of the land and the improvements, if he does not pay +our advances within three years.' + +'We kin pay 'em in _one_ year, an' you knows it, sar!' exclaimed Joe, +springing to his feet, and almost dancing around the room. 'Come, master +Robert, look up, an' tell 'im we'll do it, for ole Joe'll make de chips +fly as you neber seed 'em fly afore.' + +Preston looked up, and a tear rolled down his face, as he said, 'I thank +you, my friend. I need not say more.' + +'You need not say _that_; only buy the land, and make Joe autocrat of +the new plantation, and your bacon is cured.' + +'Joe'll show you how bacon am cured, Mr. Kirke, an' he'll name his fuss +boy af'er you--_shore_!' shouted the black, grinning all over. + +'He can safely promise that,' said the lady, laughing through her tears; +'for Aggy is fifty, and never had a child.' + +A half-hour's conversation over the details of the proposed arrangement +followed; then Joe rose, and taking the account books under his arm, +bade us 'good evenin'.' As he was leaving the room, I asked, 'Do you +preach to-morrow?' + +'Yas, sar, an' I'se gwine home to study ober de sermon. You'll come dar, +sar? You won't har no raal preachin', 'less master Robert feel de +sperrit move, fur de Lord don't gib de black man de tongue he gib de +white.' + +'I'm not sure of that; but I'll be there. Good night.' + +'Good night, sar, an' de Lord bless you.' + +When he had gone, I said to Preston: 'You have admitted me to your +confidence, my friend, and asked my advice; therefore, I think you will +pardon me, if I make you a few business suggestions.' + +'Most certainly, and I shall be guided by what you say.' + +'With a hundred hands in those thick woods, Joe will turn out a vast +amount of produce. His ambition is excited with the idea of being his +own master, and he will coin money for you; but you need to be prudent. +You owe a mortgage of twenty thousand dollars--and mortgage debts are +the worst in the world. Your plantation and negroes may be worth three +times the amount, but they are in jeopardy so long as it exists. If it +were called in on you suddenly, you couldn't pay it--your property would +be sacrificed--everything might be lost. Now, I would suggest that you +sell, at once, your three hundred acres of swamp land, all your surplus +live stock and materials, and appropriate the proceeds to paying your +floating debt, and reducing the mortgage.' + +'And we might reduce our family expenses, Robert,' said his wife; 'we +have too many house-servants. We could hire out five or six of them in +Newbern. And Joseph's schooling costs us five hundred dollars a year; he +might come home--_I_ could teach him.' + +'You would take too much on yourself, Lucy,' replied her husband. 'You +are not strong, and you can't spare a single servant.' + +'How many have you?' I asked. + +'Nine,' said Preston. + +'For a family of two adults and three children?' + +'It strikes you as too many, Mr. Kirke,' said the lady, 'and it _is_. It +is our Southern way; but every additional servant makes additional work +for the mistress.' + +'I think you are right, madam,' I replied; 'a Northern lady that you +know of, takes care of me, Frank, the two young children, and a large +house, with only two servants and an errand boy; and she never has +anything to do after two o'clock in the day.' + +'But you have the Irish; they are better house-servants than our blacks; +and you can discharge them if they won't work,' said Preston. + +'I would rather have Phyllis than any servant I ever saw at the North. +With her, the cook, and one more, I will promise to get on beautifully,' +remarked his wife. + +Preston gave her a look of indescribable tenderness and affection. What +the negro trader had said to me, gave me a key to the thoughts that were +passing in his mind. His wife's trust in him was so great, that she was +willing to again admit into her family the woman who had made him +forget, through long years, the promises he made her in their youth! +Truly, the angel of perfect love and forgiveness makes its earthly home +in the breast of woman. + +Preston's voice quivered as he replied: 'I--I appreciate what you +say--Lucy. Do as you think best.' + +'But, madam,' I said, 'I think you are really taking too much on +yourself--the care of the children will be a great tax on your +strength. Would it not be better to employ a governess to instruct them? +What is now expended on Joe would pay a competent person.' + +'What do you say to that, Joe?' asked his father; 'would you like to +come home, and have a woman teacher?' + +'I'd like to do what mother wants me to,' said the lad, putting his arms +about her neck, and kissing her. + +'You're a good boy, Joseph,' said his mother. + +'But, you'll let me keep the pony, won't you, father?' said the lad. + +'Yes, my son, and if you learn well, you shall go with uncle James when +you're fifteen.' + +Shortly afterward we separated for the night. + + +CHAPTER XI. + +On a gentle knoll, a few hundred yards from the negro quarters, and in +the midst of a grove of pines, whose soft brown tassels covered the +ground all around it, stood the negro meetinghouse. It was built of +unhewn logs, its crevices chinked with clay, and was large enough to +seat about two hundred persons. Though its exterior resembled a +backwoods barn, its interior had a neat and tasteful appearance. +Evergreen boughs hid its rough beams and bare shingled roof, and long +wreaths of pine leaves hung in graceful festoons from its naked walls +and narrow windows. On the two sides of a wide aisle, which served to +separate the sheep on the right hand from the goats on the left, were +long rows of benches, with hard board bottoms, and rough open backs, and +beyond them, divided from the rest of the interior by a rustic railing, +was the 'family pew,' an enclosure about twelve feet square, neatly +carpeted, and furnished with half a dozen arm chairs. Opposite to this +was a platform elevated three steps from the floor, and on it stood a +rustic settee, a large easy chair, and a modest desk covered with green +baize, and decorated with small sprigs of evergreen. On this desk rested +a large Bible. + +The enormous seashell which served as a bell to this 'house of prayer,' +was sending its last blast in long echoes through the old trees, when, +with Mrs. Preston and the children, I elbowed an opening through the +thick group of grinning Africans that blocked the doorway, and 'worked a +passage' down the crowded aisle to the family enclosure. Seating myself +in one of its cane-bottomed seats, I glanced around on the assemblage. +Such a gathering of woolly heads I had never seen. Every plantation +within a circuit of five miles had sent in a representation, till the +benches, the aisle, the small area around the pulpit, and the open space +near the doorway, were all densely packed. On the left, the men, in +gaudy cravats and many-colored waistcoats, were chatting merrily +together, and enjoying themselves as heartily as a parcel of Yankees at +a clambake; and on the right, the women, in red and yellow turbans, and +flaming shawls and neckerchiefs, were bobbing about and flaunting their +colors, like so many dolphins sporting in the sunshine. Preston was +seated in the lone chair at the back of the pulpit, and Boss Joe and +Black Jack occupied the settee near him. The latter shortly rose to open +the services, and, in a moment, a deep silence fell on the noisy +multitude. The old preacher had carefully combed his thin wool into a +pyramid on the top of his head, and he looked, dressed in glossy black +pants, longtailed blue coat, ruffled shirt, and high shirt collar, like +a stuffed specimen at an exhibition of wax figures. Stepping rather +unsteadily to the front of the platform, he flourished his red cotton +bandanna, and spreading his huge claws over the large Bible, said: + +'Dear bred'rin, leff us begin de worship ob de Lord by singin': + + 'From all dat dwell below de skies + Leff de Creator's praise arise.'' + +A half dozen darky fiddlers at the left of the pulpit tuned their +strings, and then the whole assemblage rose and burst into that grand +old hymn. As its last echoes were dying away, Joe got up, and opening +the large Bible, read, in a clear, mellow voice, a portion of the one +hundred and nineteenth Psalm. When he had concluded, the old darky again +came forward. + +Gazing complacently around on the audience for a moment, he drawled out: +'My bred'rin, leff us raise our hearts to de Lord.' The whole +congregation then kneeled, and Jack, closing his eyes, clenching his +hands together, and throwing his head back, until his nose came nearly +on a line with the roof of the building, 'lifted up his voice' and +prayed. + +After the fashion of very many white preachers, he began by telling the +Lord all about Himself; all He had ever done, and all He is going to do; +how long He had lived, and how long He is going to live; how great He +is--'taller dan de mountin's, and bigger dan de seas.' How He made the +world in six days, and then, 'gittin' tired, rested on de sevenfh;' How +He formed man out of the dust of the ground, and then out of his rib +formed woman; how the woman tempted the man, and he fell, and how woman +has 'raised Cain' on the earth ever since. How He sent the flood, and +how Noah builded the ark; how Noah axed all the wild 'critters' into it, +and how they all came in two by two, and how Noah and the wild beasts +lay down lovingly together, till the 'wet spell' was over. How He chose +the Jews--a meaner race than the 'pore whites'--to be his peculiar +people; and how that proves His boundless love and unlimited goodness; +'fur no oder man in all creashun would hab taken _dem_ folks up, no +how.' How Moses, when he came down from the Mount, 'stumbled and broke +de law; and how 'ebery one of us dat hab come inter de worle sense, hab +stumbled and broke de law, 'case he did,' How Noah, though he was a +white man, and had a white wife, begat a black son; and how that black +son was a great sinner, and how all his descendants have taken after +him, and been mighty big sinners ever since. + +Then he described the sinners, particularly the black sinners present; +and if half of what he said was true, every one of them deserved to be +sold 'down Soufh,' and kept on cold hominy and hoecake all the rest of +his days. + +The prayer was a strange mixture of absurdity, presumption, and +profanity, and I felt relieved to hear his long 'amen,' and to see Joe +rise and again approach the pulpit. + +Requesting some one present to raise a few of the windows (I took +occasion, afterward, to thank him for that very considerate thought), +Joe opened the Bible, and said: 'My friends, I am gwine to talk ter you +from de tex, 'An' dey drew an' lifted up Joseph out ob de pit, an' sold +Joseph to the Ishmaelites fur twenty pieces ob silver, an' dey brought +Joseph inter Egypt.' + +'You all knows,' he continued, 'de story ob Joseph an' his bred'rin; how +dey wus raised up by dar fader Jacob in a wile country, whar dar warn't +no schools, an' no 'telligence, an' no larnin'; and how his fader lub'd +Joseph more dan all ob his bred'rin, an' make fur him a coat ob many +colors. But p'raps you don't know dat de Lord lub Joseph a great sight +better'n his fader did, an' 'case He lub him so, dat He hardened de +hearts ob his bred'rin agin him, till dey sole him to de Ishmaelites--de +slavetraders ob dem days, to be taken down inter Egypt. An' p'raps you +don't know dat Egypt wus a great country, whar dar wus schools, an' +churches, an' great libraries ob books, an' all manner ob sciences; an' +dat Joseph wus made de lord ob all dat country, an' dat finarly he got +his fader, an' his bred'rin, an' dar wifes, an' all dar little ones, to +come down dar, an' stay; whar, dough de tasks war sometimes hard, an' +dey hed to 'arn dar bred by de sweat ob dar brow, dey could git +knowledge an' larnin'. An' p'raps, too, you don't know dat de chil'ren +ob Israel, who war de chil'ren ob Joseph an' his bred'rin, when dey'd +staid down dar in Egypt de 'pointed time, war taken by de Lord inter de +lan' ob Canaan, which was a lan' 'flowin' wid milk and honey;' and dat +dey war gib'n dat lan' far dar possession. Now, my friends,' and he +paused and looked around on the congregation, 'de story ob Joseph am de +story ob de brack man; _he_ hab been taken out ob de pit; _he_ hab been +sole fur twenty pieces ob silver; _he_ hab been brought inter Egypt, +an', bless de Lord, _he_ am bound fur de lan' ob Canaan. + +'He hab been taken out ob de pit. A pit, my friends, am a dark place, +whar de sun neber shine, an' de light neber come; an' Africa, de country +whar our faders an' our gran'faders come from--am a pit; fur de darkness +cobers dat lan', an' gross darkness de people dareof. Dey hab no +cloes--dey lib in cabins made ob clay, an' in holes in de groun'--dey +kill an' eat one anoder, an' dey'm allers at war wid one anoder. But de +white man he gwoe dar, an' he buy 'em fur twenty pieces ob +silver--dat's' zactly de price--twenty silver dollars--dey pay dat fur +'em up ter dis day--dem pore, ign'rant folks won't take nuffin' but +silver. Well, de white man buy 'em, and he fotch 'em to dis country, +which am like de lan' ob Egypt, full ob schools, ob churches, ob +larnin,' an' ob all manner ob good tings. Shore, we hab to wuck hard +har; some ob us hab to bear heaby burdens, an' to make bricks w'en dey +gib us no straw to make 'em wid; but we am in de lan' ob Egypt, whar we +hab knowledge ob de Lord; whar de gospil am preach to us, an' whar we +kin fine out de rode to de lan' ob Canaan. (To be shore, we karn't all +larn out ob de books; but book larnin' neber make a man, no how.) Yas, +my friends, yere we kin fine out de road to de lan' ob Canaan; an' do ye +know what dat lan' ob Canaan, dat'm waitin' fur de brack man, am? Do ye +'spose it am a lan' whar de days am hot, an' de nights am cole; whar +we'll hoe de cotton, an' gader de turpentine, an' cut de shingles in de +swamp? whar we'll wuck till we drop down; whar we'll hunger an' furst? +whar de fever will burn in our veins, an' de nager will rattle our bones +as de corn am rattled in de hopper? No, my friends, 'tain't no lan' like +dat! It am de habitation on high, de city builded ob de Lord, de +eberlasting kingdom founded by de Eternal God, who made heaben an' +'arth, de sea, an' all dat in dem is! Oh, tink ob dat, my friends, an' +hab courage! Tink ob dat when you'm a faint an' a weary, an' leff you' +hearts be glad, an' you' souls rejoice in hope. Fur dat lan' ain't +'spressly fur de white man--it am fur de brack man, too; an' ebery one +ob us, eben de brackest, kin git to it ef we'll jess foller der road--ef +we'll jess do our duty, bear meekly our burdens, an' lean humbly on de +arm ob de Lord. I knows it am so, my friends. I _knows_ it am so, fur de +oder night, when de deep sleep fell upon me, I dreamed a dream. I fought +dar come to my cabin, an' stood aside ob my bed, a great white angel, +wid feet dat touch de 'arth, but wid head dat reach unto de heabens. He +wore raiment shinin' like silver, an' on his head wus a girdle ob stars. +His face wus dazzlin' as de sun, an' his eyes war like flamin' fire. He +look at me, an' he say: 'Joseph, come up hither!' He reach out his hand +an' he lift me up--above de 'arth--above de clouds--above de stars--'way +up to de high heabens, whar am de sperrits ob just men made perfect, who +hab been redeemed from among men, who hab gone fru great tribulation, +whose garments hab been washed clean in de blood ob de Lamb! 'Dis,' he +say, 'am de city ob de livin' God, de heabenly Jerusalem, whose +foundations am saffomires, whose walls am silver, whose streets am gold, +whose houses am jewels an' all precious stones! Here de sun neber sets. +Here de storm an' de hurricane neber come, an' here, Joseph, am a +dwellin' prepared fur you--'here, ef you'm faithful an' 'bedient, you +shill come when you' wuck on de 'arth am ober!' + +The speaker had been gradually warming with his subject till he uttered +this last sentence, when his voice trembled, his face glowed, and his +upturned eye seemed gazing on the ineffable glories of the land he was +describing. A stillness like that of death fell on the assemblage, and +the simple blacks, hanging breathlessly on his words, looked up to where +Joe's hand was pointing, as if they too had caught the vision on which +his eyes were feasting. In a moment, he continued: + +'I looked round, an' I saw dat beautiful city; I breafed its air; I +walked its streets; I hard its music--de neber endin' song which its +countless people send up to de throne ob de Great Father; an' I say to +de angel: 'Do brack folks lib yere? Kin _dey_ come to dis beautiful +country?' an' he say: You shill see.' Den he lead me fru dose shinin' +streets, out inter de open fiel's whar war pleasant pastures, greener +dan any on de 'arth, an' still waters, dat sparkle in de sun, jess like +missus' diamonds in de light ob de fire.' (I did not know that Mrs. +Preston wore diamonds--she certainly had not worn them in my presence.) +'He lead me out till we come to a great woods, whar fount'ins war +playin', an' birds war singin', an' flowers war growin', an' de air wus +full of fragrance; an' dar I seed a great crowd ob people gadered +togeder, a listenin' to one dat wus a talkin' to 'em. Dar wus Ab'ram, +an' Isaac, an' Jacob,--dar wus Moses, an' Joseph, au' Samuel--dar wus +David, an' Solomon, an' de prophets--dar wus Paul, an' John, an' +Peter,--dar wus 'most all de great an' good men who hab libed in de +worle; an' dar too, right aside ob de one dat wus speakin', wus de +blessed Saviour, wid de woun' in his side, an' de print ob de nails in +his hands. An' who do you tink wus a talkin' dar, to all dem great +people? Who do you tink wus fought good 'nuff to stan' by de side ob de +blessed Saviour? It wus a brack man! It wus a brack man, who, down yere +had been ole, an' lame, an' blind, an' ob no account--so no account he +wouldn't sell fur nuffin'. He wus tellin' dem great folks ob de great +lub ob de Lord to him, an' dar tears rolled down as dey hard him. He +tole 'em how he use to lib in Car'lina--how he wus a slave; how he'd +'most nuffin' to eat; how he wus wucked in de swamp; how, 'fore de sun +rose, an' 'way inter de night, he use to stan' in de mud an' de water, +till his bones war sore, his heart wus weary, his soul wus faint. How +his massa flog him, 'cause he couldn't wuck no more, till de blood run +down his back, an' it wus a ridged like de ploughed groun'. How his wife +wus whipped to death afore his bery eyes; how his chil'ren--all 'cept +one--war sole 'way from him; how dat one 'bused him, an' flogged him, +an' tormented him, till he wus jess ready to die. How, when his hair wus +white, his body wus bent, his strength wus gone, an' he was ole, an' +lame, an' blind, his massa drove him 'way, and make him shirk fur +himseff. How he beg in de roads; how he sleep in de woods; in de cole +an' de rain, till a good gemman take him in, gib him a bed, tend to his +wants, an' pray ober him when he die. He tole 'em all dat; but he say +dat fru it all, he hab peace; fru it all, de Lord wus good to him; fru +it all, he felt His lub in his heart; fru it all, de blessed Redeemer +wus wid him; fru it all, he knowed dat mercy an' salvation am in de +heabens! An' DEY AM DAR! Dey took him 'way, 'way from de 'arth; 'way +from his suffrin's an' his sorrers down yere, to joy, an' peace, an' +rest up dar. Up dar, whar all great an' good men call him brudder--whar +de Lord Jehobah call him son, an' whar de blessed Saviour will leff him +stan' at his right hand, foreber and eber. An' he, my friends, wus a +BRACK MAN! An' who do you 'spose he wus? Who do you 'spose he wus?' + +He paused for a moment as he repeated the question, and then, in a slow, +impressive manner, continued: + +'It wus ole Cale--Cunnel Dawsey's Cale; an' dat good gemman dat take him +in and pray ober him when he die--wus _my_ master--yas, bless de Lord, +he wus MY master!' + +As Joe uttered these last words, Preston bowed his head, his wife sobbed +aloud, and the black people gave out a low cry, as sad as the wail which +their own mourners breathe over the dead. Fixing his eyes on a tall, +stalwart negro in the audience, the preacher continued: + +'An' he wus _you_' fader, Jake! You fader, who, when he wus down yere, +you 'bused, an' persecuted, an' treated like a dog, but who up dar am +fought worthy to stand at de Saviour's right hand! I _knows_ it wus him, +fur I seed him, I talked wid him, an' he gabe me suffin' to tell you. +Stand up now, an' yere what he hab to say.' + +The black man's face assumed a dogged expression; he moved uneasily on +his seat, but showed no inclination to rise. In a firm, imperious tone, +Joe again called out to him: + +'Stand up, I say! Folks like you' fader am now, don't talk to sech as +you when dey'm sittin' down: stand up, or I'll gib you what Cunnel +Dawsey neber gabe you in all you' life.' + +The negro reluctantly rose. Every eye was fixed upon him as Joe +continued: + +'He ax me to say to you, Jake, dat he lubs you--lubs you bery much--dat +he fully an' freely furgibs you fur all de wrong you eber done him; fur +all de tears an' de sorrer you eber cause him. And he say to me: 'Tell +Jake dat I'se been down dar an' seed him. I'se seed how he shirk his +wuck; how he 'buse his wife an' chil'ren; how he hate his massa, an' +mean to kill him--(dough his massa am hard on him, 'tain't no 'scuse fur +dat). How he swar, an' lie, an' steal, an' teach all de oder brack folks +to do de same. How he'm no fought ob his soul; no fought ob dyin'; no +fought ob whar he'm gwine when de Lord's patience am clean worn out wid +him. Tell him dat ef he gwo on dis way, he'll neber see his ole fader no +more; neber see his ole mudder, an' his little brudders, who am up yere, +too, no more; neber come to dis fine country, but be shet out inter +outer darkness, whar am weepin' an' wailin' an' knashin' ob teeth. Oh! +tell him dis, an 'treat him, by all his fader's keer fur him when he wus +a chile; by all his lub fur him now; by all de goodness ob de Lord, who +hab borne wid him fru all dese long years, to turn round--to turn round, +NOW, an' sot his face towards dis blessed country, whar he kin hab joy +foreber! Tell him, too, dat ef he'll do dis, dat his ole fader'll leab +his happy home an' come down dar an' holp him; holp him at his wuck; +holp him to bar ebery load; gib him strength when he'm weak; hole up his +feet when he'm weary; watch ober him day and night, all de time, till +he'm ready to come up yere, an' lib wid de Saviour foreber! Tell him--' + +Joe paused, for a wild cry echoed through the building, and the negro +fell in strong convulsions to the floor. + +A scene of indescribable excitement and confusion followed, during which +the black was carried out, and, more dead than alive, laid upon the +ground. When quiet was somewhat restored, Preston made a short and +feeling prayer, and then, after giving out a hymn, he dismissed the +congregation with the usual benediction. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: 'Scrape' is the turpentine gathered from the face of the +pine. On old trees, the yearly incision is made high above the boxes, +and the sap, in flowing down, passes over and adheres to the previously +scarified surface. It is thus exposed to the sun, which evaporates the +more volatile and valuable portion, and leaves only the hard, which, +when manufactured, is mostly rosin. 'Scrape' turpentine is only about +half as valuable as 'dip.'] + +[Footnote 2: "Virgin" Turpentine is twice as valuable as "Dip."] + + + + +THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE REBELLION. + +II. + + +The sturdy oak which is not prostrated by the storm that assails it is +made thereby to take deeper hold, and to draw the sustenance for a +larger growth from the torn and loosened soil into which it has +opportunity to thrust new roots and tendrils. Reinvigorated by the +resisted violence, its branches shoot upward to the skies and extend +themselves laterally with majestic breadth. It gradually gains strength +and becomes so firmly rooted in its place that it bids defiance to the +repeated tempests vainly striving to overthrow it, and stands for +centuries, sublime in its unconquerable might and proud endurance. Our +noble Union, fiercely assailed in its early maturity, before its +strength has been fully developed, now bends before the hurricane of +civil war, swaying to and fro with fearful and threatening movements at +every paroxysm of the tremendous blast. We look on with intense agony of +suspense, to see whether it will stand the terrible ordeal, and outlive +the unexampled convulsion of social elements in which its strength and +endurance have been so sorely tested. Instinctively we know that if it +survive the present momentous crisis, successfully resisting the attack +of the enemy which assails it so furiously, its foundations will be +immensely strengthened, and its power of resistance in future dangers +will be indefinitely augmented. Prolonged and permanent existence, with +assured security and repose, will be the best and most indisputable +result of its triumph. Though shaken and torn by the deadly assault, and +to a certain extent deprived of its usual resources, in the very effort +of resistance it will have put forth new connections, which returning +peace will multiply and strengthen. The immense demand on its energy and +enterprise will have aroused all its slumbering capacities and +stimulated them to the highest point of exertion. Under the necessity of +self-preservation, the nation will have been fully awakened to a sense +of its gigantic power, which, when employed in the benign pursuits of +peace, will be sufficient speedily to restore its prosperity to even +more than former splendor. The resources of our broad domain are so +unbounded, and the courage and persistence of our people so indomitable, +that even the sacrifices and losses of so great a war will make no +serious impression on the destined career of this youthful and growing +nation. So long as the vigor and elasticity of the popular force is not +absolutely overpowered and suppressed, the reaction will only be so much +the stronger for all the mighty pressure which has been placed upon it. +Returning strength, so invigorated and redoubled by repose, will enable +the people to bear the burden patiently, and within a comparatively +brief period to throw it off entirely; and then they will bound forward +with renewed energy in that race of unexampled progress which has been +sadly interrupted, but not by any means wholly arrested. + +If peace had continued, and especially if no civil war had occurred to +desolate our country, the labors of the population would have been +directed chiefly to the increase of wealth, and to the improvement which +always accompanies material prosperity. It would be a monstrous error to +say that the interruption of these occupations has not been a calamity +of the most serious character. Yet is it not altogether unmixed with +good. Indeed, it is by no means certain that, in the circumstances +which gave rise to the war, there was not an actual necessity, of a +moral nature, which made it on the whole advantageous to arouse the +nation to this gigantic strife, and thus to exchange its ordinary +struggle for wealth into a combat for a momentous principle. Is it +questionable whether, in every case, the establishment of such a +principle is not the most important of all objects, and whether every +other pursuit and occupation ought not to be made secondary to it? In +the sacrifices and sufferings which a nation undergoes for the sake of +asserting an important moral or political truth, there is always a +wholesome virtue that in some measure redeems the brutality and violence +which are the inseparable accompaniments of all wars, and which +peculiarly characterize the history of civil wars, in every age and +country. It is not merely the elevated and unselfish sentiment of +patriotism, as known in former ages, and expressed in the noble +sentiment, _dulce et decorum est pro patria mori_, which, engenders +lofty impulses and nourishes the rugged virtues of the soldier in the +heart; but the still higher sentiment of love for humanity and universal +freedom--a sentiment wholly unknown in what are called the heroic +ages--sanctifies the labors, the wounds, and the glorious death of the +martyrs who struggle and fall in such a contest. Men have often fought +and willingly died in the cause of their country, regardless of the +merits of the controversy between the opposing parties. There is a +certain manliness and devotion to others in this species of patriotism, +which commands respect and admiration; and this feeling of approbation +rises still higher when the cause of the nation is undeniably just, and +the self-sacrificing patriot is giving his life for the purchase of +liberty to his country. But the highest and noblest of all exhibitions +is that in which the sacrifice is made for the good of the race--for +principles in which all men are alike interested, and in which the +martyr can claim no peculiar advantage to himself or to his own branch +of the human family. The nation which accepts war for such a cause, and +wages it with all her means and energies, exhibits a moral grandeur +which, in spite of misfortune, has a saving power, capable of overcoming +and compensating all calamities, of whatever nature and extent. That +nation cannot be overthrown--not unless the laws of the Most High +himself can be subverted, and the right be made permanently to succumb +to the wrong. Let it be understood, however, that this assertion is made +only with reference to wars which are essentially defensive; for no +nation has the right to propagate even the best and noblest principles +by the power of the sword. In our case, it is true, other motives concur +in moving the nation to this tremendous struggle. Not merely the rights +and interests of an inferior, degraded, and suffering race appeal to our +humanity; but the unity and greatness of our country, its influence +abroad, and its success and prosperity at home, are all involved. It is +one of many instances in which the best and highest impulses of our +nature are reenforced by the dictates of the noblest and most elevated +of human interests--the interests of a nation, of a continent, yea, of +the world itself; for our gates are still open to the ingress of our +brothers from abroad, and our immense and fertile domain, as well as our +priceless institutions, are freely offered to their participation. + +But, aside from the principles involved in the war, there are results of +an interesting character springing from it, which are well worthy the +attention of the statesman and the patriot. Two very opposite effects +are produced on the minds of the men engaged in such a contest as this, +or, indeed, in any contest of arms whatever, when it assumes the +proportions of a regular war. The volunteering of our young men of all +classes, in numbers so immense, is an extraordinary phenomenon. These +soldiers by choice, many of them educated and intelligent, and impelled +by deliberate considerations of principle, willingly undergo the hard +labor of military training, of marches and campaigns, and the still more +trying inactivity of life in camps and fortresses, in new and unfriendly +regions and climates. They fearlessly face death in every ghastly form, +on the battle field, by exposure in all seasons, by physical exhaustion, +and by the most dreadful contagious diseases. They devote themselves +unreservedly to the great cause, and in doing so exhibit the noblest +spirit of self-sacrifice, and that on the grandest scale presented in +history. Fortitude and courage, contempt of the most appalling dangers, +disregard of suffering and privation, wounds, mutilation, and lingering +death--these are the habits of soul which our citizen soldiers +cultivate, and which tend to strengthen and harden the character, and to +give it great moral force. The great qualities thus nurtured in the +bosom of the multitudes destined soon to return to peaceful life will +assuredly make a powerful impression on the whole society, which must be +thoroughly pervaded with the manly virtues thence destined to be infused +into it. Every man who has been conspicuous for his soldierly conduct +and for the faithful performance of duty will be an object of general +respect, though he may have passed unscathed through the fiery ordeal; +while every maimed and wounded citizen will be regarded as bearing on +his person, in his honorable scars and deficient limbs, the decorations +which exalt and ennoble him in the eyes of his countrymen. Many a +chivalrous deed will be recounted with pride and satisfaction, and +handed down to immortality by the pen of history and poetry, and by the +pencil and chisel of art. Even the undistinguished services of those who +have fought in the war for the Union, and who have passed unchallenged +through the fiery ordeal, will be cherished by their children, and +transmitted to their remoter posterity with patriotic pride and +pardonable self-satisfaction. Thus the glory of noble deeds in this +memorable war will everywhere shed its lustre on the national character, +and will tend to stimulate the loftiest virtues in the present and +succeeding generations. + +But, on the other hand, the unavoidable dissipation of military life, +the vices of the camp, the brutality and want of moral sensibility +engendered by the necessity of slaughter and the horrible ravages of +war, will tend largely to counteract the good results already noted. +Those who may be nobly disdainful of their own sufferings, will +sometimes be even more regardless of the sufferings of others; and +perhaps sometimes, with the natural perversion of human passion effected +by civil war, will seek to avenge their own misfortunes by ungenerous +rigor and cruelty toward all within their power, suspected of favoring +the enemy only in thought or sentiment. Even this imperfect +discrimination is too often altogether omitted, and innocent loyalty is +made to suffer losses and severities which ought never to be visited on +non-combatants, even though they be of the enemy. The fearful disregard +of human life, and of the accumulations of human labor in the shape of +property, which marks the movements of our armies in almost all +quarters, and even distinguishes the conduct of some of our high +officials, constitutes one of the most serious evils which attend the +contest, and which will leave their natural consequences as a permanent +injury to the nation. The record of these misdeeds, now disregarded in +the hurry and excitement of the conflict, will hereafter confront us +with terrible effect. The bad acts themselves will long continue to bear +fruit after their kind, and to scatter the seeds of vice over the land. +Such drawbacks, however, accompany more or less all great military +operations, no matter how sacred the cause in which armies are engaged. +Yet, we fear, no such example of generous and unselfish devotion to a +holy cause can be found in our present experience as was exhibited by +the French people in their violent and bloody revolution of 1789. The +mercenary spirit has largely infected the military as well as the civil +agencies of our Government. But a people struggling for great principles +are compelled to use such instruments as may be at its command; and if +the material of armies and their connections in civil life be often of a +character to be degraded rather than elevated by the employments and +experiences of war, it is nevertheless certain that these bad effects do +not always, perhaps not generally, outweigh and overpower the good. + +History does not present another example of large armies made up of such +men as those who now constitute the defenders of the Union. For +intelligence and moral worth, they are unsurpassed by the masses of any +population in the civilized world, and certainly they are far superior +in all respects to those usually constituting the armies of other +nations. To our shame and regret, there are certainly some exceptions to +this statement; but these are comparatively few, and mostly confined to +those who have not enjoyed the full advantage of our noble system of +universal education. In many instances, the best young men in the land +have gone into the army as privates; while in the rural districts and +from the Western States, the very bone and sinew of the population--the +sober, steady, intelligent, industrious, and prosperous part of the +people--have taken up arms in the cause of the Union, from a deliberate +approval of the policy of the war on our part, and from the noblest and +most unselfish motives of patriotism. The preponderance of such men in +our armies evidently makes them, on the whole, susceptible to the good, +rather than to the bad influences of war. Reflection, self-respect, +rational views of the causes and objects of the war, and elevated +motives of action, cannot fail to bring those who possess these +qualities all the benefits of self-denial, of patriotic labor willingly +expended, and of sacrifices made and sufferings endured in a good and +noble cause. The mental cultivation and moral training of the American +citizen constitute a shield, from whose solid and polished surface the +missiles of temptation, which easily penetrate other defences, usually +glance or rebound with harmless effect. The carnage of the battle field, +the bombardment and capture of cities, and the ravages of armies, +marching or in camp, which too often harden the hearts and blunt the +sensibilities of the ordinary soldier, have no such effect, or, at +least, a much less effect, in this particular, on the minds of humane +and educated men. Hence we may fairly anticipate that the influence of +this war on the men who compose the army, and who must sooner or later +return to the occupations they have temporarily left, will be of a far +better character than that of any war ever hitherto waged in any part of +the world. No such conditions have ever heretofore existed in reference +to any great national contest. Our immense volunteer army, so largely +composed of intelligent and respectable men--men who are fully capable, +and entitled by their votes, to influence the great measures of war or +peace--presents a spectacle new and wholly unexampled in history; and +the consequences of our contest to the moral and social condition of the +people will be correspondingly unusual and important. We may safely +assume from these considerations that the good will preponderate over +the bad. + +There is, however, another species of influence of a more questionable +character, which is worthy of consideration in any attempt to anticipate +the consequences of this extraordinary rebellion. The nature of our +institutions renders them accessible to popular impulses at very brief +intervals of time; and it may well be expected, that, after the +conclusion of the war, especially if it be successful, a sentiment +nearly universal will prevail in favor of the elevation of the men who +have been conspicuous in the military service. There will be a +disposition to reward the successful soldier with civic honors, and to +place the conduct of the Government in the hands of men who have +exhibited only a capacity to lead and handle armies. The power of the +military men will in this way be prolonged. Doubtless, a great soldier +may be expected to show large executive abilities, and with proper +experience may well be intrusted with the management of the highest +offices in our country. There are times and occasions, of which the +present is a most memorable instance, when the peculiar capacities of a +great military leader would be of infinite service to the cause of +freedom and humanity, provided, at the same time, he should possess +undoubted integrity and patriotism, without any mixture of bad ambition. +A Washington, or a Jackson, in the Presidential chair at the +commencement of this rebellion, would have been of inestimable value to +our country, outweighing the importance of mighty armies and countless +treasure; for the value both of men and money, in such emergencies, +depends wholly on the skill and wisdom with which they are used and +directed. If God had vouchsafed us one grand will to control the human +tempest now raging around us, our noble country would have been saved +from many calamities and much disgrace, such as will require hard labor +and heavy sacrifices to overcome. + +It is not, therefore, the probability that military men may frequently +be elevated to high office that need give any apprehension to the lover +of his country. But it is the almost certain prevalence of a blind and +undistinguishing sentiment of caste, which will seek to control the +elections in favor of the soldier under all circumstances, whether fit +or unfit for the position sought. We are likely to have soldiers in all +the executive offices, soldiers in the diplomatic service, in the +legislative halls, and even on the bench. The danger is that the popular +enthusiasm in favor of those who have served in the war will go to the +extent of substituting gallantry and good conduct in the field for those +very different qualifications demanded in responsible civil stations. A +wound received, or a limb lost, will, in many instances, constitute a +stronger recommendation for political preferment than long experience, +coupled with ability and high character. This disposition to reward +those who have faithfully served the country in time of war is an +amiable characteristic of the American people, and proves that, in this +particular at least, republics are not ungrateful. But it is clear, at +the same time, that the public gratitude, thus turned into political +channels, may be productive of great evil, by lowering the character of +the men employed in performing public functions of importance. Already +the results of our elective system have become the subject of intense +anxiety in the minds of reflecting men. Notwithstanding the extensive +provision made for the education of our people, of the universality and +efficiency of which we justly boast, an almost equal extension of the +elective franchise has not tended to improve the wisdom of the popular +choice, or the character and qualifications of the men selected in +latter times to fill high public offices. So seriously is this truth +felt, that it is now a political problem of the first importance to +devise some means by which the frequent elections in our country may be +made to work more certainly and uniformly to the elevation of good and +able men, who now too often shun rather than seek employment in the +national service. If this indispensable improvement cannot be +accomplished, our institutions are in danger of falling into contempt, +as exhibiting no very great advance on the old modes of hereditary +designation of political functionaries. The party machinery of the +present day, adapted chiefly to the purpose of availability and the +means of securing success at all hazards, is mostly responsible for the +degeneracy which unquestionably characterizes the public men of this +day, in comparison with those who in former times filled the same high +stations. In view of these facts, it may be that the military regime +about to be ushered in as a consequence of the great existing war, will +of itself be an improvement, since it must be acknowledged there is some +merit in the devotion and sacrifices of those who fight the battles of +the Union, while it is notorious that corrupt political parties too +frequently select and reward their leaders without regard to merit at +all. + +It may be said that there is inconsistency and contradiction in the +views presented, inasmuch as the claim for remarkable intelligence and +superiority in the rank and file of the army would imply too much +patriotism and self-sacrifice to admit of the consequences suggested. +But we must remember the immense numbers of our army, its large +proportion to the whole population, the _esprit de corps_ so naturally +engendered in such a body, and the powerful influence it may wield by +turning the scale in our inveterate and often nicely balanced partisan +contests. We must also take into consideration that well known principle +of human nature, as old as government itself, which seems to impel all +men possessing irresponsible power to abuse it, and employ it for their +own selfish advantage. This is peculiarly the case with _classes_ which +gain ascendency, as such, over the other parts of the community. +Political parties in our country will surely not fail to seek alliance +with the citizen soldiers at the close of the war, and to secure success +by all the arts and devices which can be made available to that end. But +let us hope the good sense and patriotism of our young men, their +moderation and self-control, will be as conspicuous in future political +campaigns, as in those more glorious ones which are yet destined to +overthrow our enemies and restore our inestimable Union to its former +greatness. + +But it is not our purpose to confine these remarks to the loyal States +and the Union armies; nor is it at all paradoxical to extend them to the +region and the population controlled by the rebel government. Every good +citizen, having confidence in the supremacy of right and the destiny of +our country, anticipates the reunion of the States at the conclusion of +the war. The bulk of the Southern army must likewise return to society, +and carry with it such influence as it may derive from the peculiar +character of its cause, the motives by which it is animated, and the +acts, good or bad, noble or mean, which it may perform. It cannot be +denied that the soldiers of the rebel army have exhibited the highest +personal qualities, of daring courage, skilful enterprise, patient +endurance, and the most indomitable perseverance, under difficulties +apparently insuperable. Their cause is bad. The impartial judgment of +mankind will pronounce it so, when the passions of the hour shall have +completely subsided. But the masses of the Southern people evidently do +not take this view of the war they are waging against the Government +which has so long protected them, and under which they have acquired all +the strength they are now ungratefully using to overthrow it. They have +been artfully misled into the belief that they are engaged in a war +altogether defensive--that they are fighting _pro aris et focis_--in +short, that they have given themselves up to the holiest work which any +people can ever be called on to undertake. Doubtless, in frequent +instances, and sometimes among considerable populations, different +sentiments prevail and have been entertained from the beginning. A +glimmering of the truth may occasionally dawn on the minds of those who +went into the contest with entire confidence in the justice of their +cause. But on the whole it is vain to deny the sincerity and the deep +convictions of the Southern people. Nothing less than these could have +sustained them in the appalling difficulties of their position. No +people ever conducted a more brilliant and successful defensive war +against the vast odds, on land and sea, with which they have had to +contend. Let us be sufficiently magnanimous to confess the truth, +unpleasant though it be, and acknowledge that they have hitherto +outmanaged us in the general conduct of the war. They have exhibited an +earnestness and determination, a gallantry and devotion, worthy of the +highest purposes that ever call forth the energy of struggling nations. +It is vain to say they are compelled by a military despotism; for, +however strong and arbitrary their government may be, it evidently rests +upon the support of the people, and it could never continue the present +contest against popular disaffection at home joined with the mighty +invading armies of the Union. + +What then are to be the results of great efforts and sacrifices in a +cause which, though we believe it to be bad, they consider holy? Are +their chivalrous deeds to be less ennobling to the character of Southern +men, than similar ones, springing from like motives, on the part of our +armies? It is the motive which gives character to all actions, and +mistake or error of the most perverse kind, when arising from honest +conviction, cannot alter the merit of what is done or suffered. If it be +said that the assumed convictions of the Southern people are incredible, +it is only necessary to look back a few centuries, in order to see the +whole Christian world entertaining sentiments equally abhorrent to the +enlightened conscience of the present day. The universal participation +in the slave trade, and the horrible persecutions for religious heresy, +which everywhere prevailed, are sad evidences of the possibility of +indulging the most disastrous errors with perfect sincerity. Besides, if +we consider how great a diversity of opinion prevails among the people +of the loyal States, on the subject of the rebellion and its causes, it +will require no great degree of credulity to induce the belief that the +Southern people are impelled by deep convictions in their present +struggle. + +Failure and defeat on their part will cast the usual discredit on the +cause which is overthrown; and in this case we do not entertain a doubt +that ultimately the right will prevail, and that the discomfiture and +disgrace will fall where justice would require. Men will be deeply +mortified to find themselves utterly overcome, and all their brave deeds +and their magnanimous sacrifices and sufferings expended in a failing +and a bad cause. It will be their great misfortune that serious +reflection and conviction should come to them only after these great +events, and when it is too late to recall them. But it is the peculiar +characteristic of contests like this, that they do eventually make clear +the subjects of dispute in which they originate. All the wranglings of +politicians, and all the learning and logic of contending theologians in +divided churches, could never accomplish the speedy and thorough +decision of contested questions which will follow this tremendous war. +Bold and extra-constitutional expedients necessarily grow out of the +prevailing violence. They will soon test the possibility of measures +which are too great for ordinary times, and will push the existing +tendencies toward fundamental change into sudden and premature +development. + +Physical strength and success in war are by no means fair tests of truth +and principle; but in the present contest, such is the condition of our +country and the character of its relations with the civilized world +that, if the Union shall be restored to its former integrity, the result +will give strong evidence of the righteousness of our cause. Such are +the temptations to foreign interference, and such the evident +disposition of the ruling dynasties in some powerful nations to destroy +the influence and example of this great republic, as well as to break +down her rivalry in commerce and manufactures, that nothing but a holy +cause, appealing to the moral sense of mankind, could prevent the +natural alliance between despotism abroad and the kindred system in the +South which seeks to establish its tyranny on the ruins of our +Government. Besides, the diverging systems of policy in the two sections +have carried on their struggle for more than a quarter of a century, +under conditions which make it demonstrable that their present +inequality of strength and means is the direct consequence of these +divergencies. Their long-continued emulation, passing through all the +stages of envy, hatred, and political contention, has finally culminated +in bloody civil war; and from the peculiar circumstances of the case, +the termination of the contest, if the parties be left to themselves, +will fully and fairly test the physical strength and moral force of the +contending principles. The better principle, by virtue of its superior +growth, will overthrow the worse and weaker one, which has relatively +declined in power throughout all the long contest between the two. +Enlightened convictions will grow up as the mighty conflict subsides; +and institutions will be modified in conformity with the truths which +are destined to appear through the blaze and smoke of battle. + +Heaven forbid that we should confound moral distinctions, and place +treason and rebellion on the same footing with patriotic devotion to the +cause of Union and liberty. Political and moral errors, however innocent +in intention, stand on the same footing, as to their consequences, with +all other violations of natural law. They bring retribution inevitable; +nor can the blind and ignorant partisan of wrong entirely escape the +shame of his misconduct, on the ground of erroneous judgment. But let us +not arrogate to ourselves a superiority of virtue, which in reality we +have no just right to claim. Are we sure that, even on our side, which +we consider that of truth and humanity, all our individual motives are +up to the level of the great principles involved? Are we not rather, to +some extent, the blind instruments of social causes, stronger than our +own will, and while seeming to follow the inclination of our own +enlightened minds, are we not impelled by passion and ambition in the +inevitable direction indicated, and even necessitated, by the +circumstances surrounding us? Are not similar influences operating on +the Southern mind, and forcing it, with a compulsion equally inexorable, +into the fatal current of civil war? With the masses on both sides, this +is undoubtedly true. Whole communities do not engage in such disastrous +strife in mere wantonness and wicked advocacy of a bad cause. Either +their judgment is distorted, or their passions aroused to such an extent +as to render them utterly blind to the true nature of the principles +involved, and to make them believe they are acting, under the strongest +provocation, for the defence of their honor, their interests, and their +acknowledged rights. Every liberal mind will readily concede the +existence of these sentiments and motives. + +But suppose the war ended by the overthrow of the rebellion and the +restoration of the Federal authority: what is to be the effect in those +States which have been the theatre of the great conspiracy, whence have +issued all the mighty armies which have assailed so fiercely the +Constitution and Government of our fathers? Will the men who have shed +their blood freely to destroy the Union ever again be brought to sustain +it with sincerity and zeal? Can they be expected to acknowledge their +profound error, and receive again heartily to their affections and +willing obedience the authority which they have so haughtily spurned and +sought to smite with utter destruction? This is a momentous question. It +is the most important which can be presented to the country at the +moment of its anticipated triumph, when the fearful clash of arms is +about to subside and give place to the serious labor of conciliation and +reconstruction. To conquer the rebellion will be, at least, to make all +its aims utterly hopeless. Failure and disaster will be forever stamped +upon the ideas on which the revolution has been founded, and they, with +their inspiration, good or bad, will be permanently overthrown, together +with the men who have used them so efficiently for the inauguration and +continuance of this tremendous strife. There is wonderful power in the +success of an idea, as there is a corresponding influence in the utter +overthrow of its physical manifestations and efforts. A cause rendered +hopeless by defeat ceases to sustain the passions which it has excited, +under the influence of which it has made itself respectable and +powerful. If it be founded in truth and right, it will have within +itself the elements of resuscitation, and it can never become altogether +hopeless. But if it have no such basis of substantial truth, its failure +once is for all time. The hearts of men cannot long cling to such a +cause. Its traditions even become odious, and the effort will be to +ignore and forget its incidents, and to escape the discredit of having +participated in its ambitious struggles. + +But to conquer the rebellion is not to subjugate the South. This is a +distinction of the utmost importance in attempting to estimate the +consequences of the great struggle. So far from the subjugation of the +Southern people resulting, in any contingency, the success of the Union +arms must be their regeneration and redemption. To overthrow the +confederate government will be only to relieve the people from its +grasp, and to reinstate them in the rights and liberties which they have +hitherto enjoyed. A combination of force, fraud, and self-delusion has +sustained the power of the rebel dynasty, and enabled it to wield the +influence and authority of the whole people of the seceding States, with +some few remarkable exceptions. To break up this combination will do +more than merely defeat a hostile power: it will, in effect, annihilate +the whole vicious organization, and leave its elements free to engage in +other combinations, more in accordance with right, and better calculated +to secure success and prosperity. It is not unreasonable to anticipate +that they will eventually resume their former relations with the Federal +Government, as most conducive to these ends. There are some men, perhaps +one whole class, who can never escape the responsibility of all the +overwhelming evils and calamities which the war has brought upon the +South. The cordial acquiescence of these can hardly be anticipated; but +their power will be completely destroyed, and the people may well be +expected to disregard their murmurs and complaints. Indeed, it is not +altogether unlikely that an injured and exasperated people may turn on +the authors of their ruin, and wreak upon them a fearful vengeance, so +far, at least, as to ostracize and banish them forever from the land +they have blighted and destroyed. The masses of the people, holding few +or no slaves, though involved in the war by force of the general +delusion into which they have been artfully inveigled, will not consider +themselves responsible for its consequences; they will rather look on +themselves as the victims of designing men, who, for selfish purposes, +have partly seduced and partly impelled them into the perils and +disasters of a gigantic but fruitless rebellion. This state of feeling +will leave the minds of the Southern people in a condition to estimate +fairly their own relations to the rebellion, and their obligations to +the Union, which again calls them, with paternal tenderness, to its +generous confidence and magnanimous protection. They will have no cause +for apprehension that their restoration to good fellowship and perfect +equality will not be complete and free from all unfriendly reservations. + +But this influence will not operate on those alone who have few or no +slaves, comprehending the great mass of whites: it will exert itself +more notably on the large body of slaves themselves. This is an element +in the calculation which, humble though it be, cannot be overlooked +without great error in the results. A fundamental change will take place +in the condition of the blacks. They will be emancipated, either +gradually and safely, or with violent precipitation, with all its evils +and disasters. Yet, however the decree may come, whether by the sudden +blow of military power, or by the free and cheerful cooperation of the +States and their people, the measure itself will be plainly the result +of the rebellion, as met by the firm and noble stand assumed by the +Federal Government, and maintained at so great a cost of treasure and of +precious lives. The Government which, out of civil war and chaotic +strife, brings such advantages--out of calamity and danger educes such +blessings of security and progress will be entitled to the unbounded +gratitude of those who will be the chief gainers by its policy. But +experience will soon teach the whites that they will be equal gainers in +the end; and, in time, we may justly expect not only their cheerful +acquiescence, but their renewed allegiance and ardent support to the +Federal authorities. + + + + +MOTTOES FOR CONTRACTORS. + + + When you contract for boots and shoes, + Be not contracted in your views. + + When you agree to clothe the body, + Expand your soul and flee from shoddy. + + No soul the difference can see + 'Twixt chico-rye and chicoree. + + 'Tis wise to feed the soldier well: + For reason _why_--see Dante's 'Hell.' + + + + +SUNSHINE IN THOUGHT.[3] + + +The genial pen of Mr. Leland has found an attractive theme in the title +of this curious and suggestive volume. Without the formality of an +inexorable system, it is written from the impulses of a large and +sympathetic nature, more accustomed to the acute observation of details +than to exact and rigid generalizations, but sending free and +penetrating glances beneath the surface of social life, and presenting a +variety of sagacious hints and comments, often admirable for their +quaint, original illustrations, and seldom destitute of an important +ethical bearing and significance. + +In the composition of this work, Mr. Leland has aimed at the defence of +that view of life which combines a cheerful earnestness of purpose with +manly energy of action, as opposed to the melancholic, whining, +lachrymose spirit, which has been affected by certain popular modern +poets, and, through their vicious example, has been cherished as one of +the essential qualities of genius. Of this style of character Mr. Leland +has not the slightest degree of tolerance. Its manifestations are all +abominable in his eyes, and unsavory in his nostrils. He cannot endure +its presence; he regards its exercise as a nuisance: its permission in +the plan of a kindly Providence is a mystery. + +The influence of a morbid melancholy, whether affected or genuine, in +the literature of the United States, is justly a matter of surprise and +lamentation with the author. The American mind, as he remarks, has +doubtless a strong tendency to humor. It delights in the expression of a +mischievous irony or good-natured sarcasm. The querulous wailings which +are the stock in trade of a certain class of writers are unnatural and +discordant sounds. We should expect rather a serene and cheerful melody +from a young and brave-hearted race, which is in intimate relations with +the external world. Instead of this, we have sucked in with the milk of +our Puritan mothers a forlorn and sorrowful spirit. We celebrate our +festivals with a sad countenance. We attempt to make merry by singing +dismal psalms. We weave our woes into poetry, and expand our +wretchedness in plaintive declamations. + +This is a wide departure from the genius of Christianity, as well as +from the healthy instincts of humanity. In the first ages after Christ, +the newborn element of thought was a pure and beautiful spring, bubbling +up from the moss-grown ruins of the temple of heathendom. A hopeful, +joyous tone is indicated in the symbols of the early faith preserved in +the Vatican. It contained the germ of republican freedom and of a benign +and beneficent civilization. But it was driven by political convulsions +toward the East, and returned in the melancholy robes of the dreamy and +morbid oriental. It learned from Indian fakirs that laughter was a sin, +that misery was meritorious, that the hatred of beauty and joy was a +virtue in the sight of Heaven. The early Christians were imbued with the +sentiment of moral grandeur and loveliness; they represented Christ our +Lord as the fair ideal of humanity; but a darker age decreed that his +form should be meagre and homely--misled by those pagan Syrian pictures, +which still disfigure the churches in Russia, and whose original may be +found in the avatars of violence, modified by old Persian influence. +From the seventh to the twelfth century, the tendency to asceticism was +rampant. Beauty was proscribed as a temptation of the devil; deformed +and crooked limbs were ranked among the beatitudes; even dirt was +apotheosized, and, as a consequence, millions of men were mowed down by +unheard-of forms of disease. Humanity did not submit to this rule of +austerity and torture without a struggle. There was often a brave, +vigorous resistance. A lively protest was uttered in the joyous strains +of the troubadours and minnesingers. The glad spirit of nature could not +be wholly suppressed, and from amid the social oppressions of the times +sweet voices fell upon the ear, celebrating the praises of woman, the +love of beauty, and the joyousness of life. + +But, according to our author, none of the great names in literature have +ever proclaimed the evangel of cheerfulness in all its health and +purity. The world as yet has never been fit to receive it. Years may +pass before it will be fully unfolded. Society is still in its earliest +March spring. The fresh winds which blow are still wild and chill; the +nights are long and dreary; and during these gloomy hours, the ancient +crone still relates horrible legends to believing ears. If the elder or +wiser ones only half believe them, most of the listeners still shiver at +their weird, grotesque poetry, and when they make new songs for +themselves, the old demoniac strains still linger on the air, showing +the origin of their earliest lays. + +In order to illustrate the lack of true joyousness in the literature of +the world, Mr. Leland takes a rapid survey of some of the most +distinguished writers in ancient and modern times. Aristophanes, he +maintains, did not possess the genuine element in question. Allowing the +claims of the great satirist to genius, he had not reached the perennial +springs of cheerfulness in the depths of the human soul. In his gayest +arabesques, we trace the eternal line of life, but the deep, monotonous +echo of death is always nigh. He still had the sorrows which grieve the +strong humorist of every age. He could not escape the deep woe of seeing +social right and human happiness trodden under foot by tyranny; and +folly and ignorance, pain and sorrow were the great foundation stones on +which the gay temple of Grecian beauty was built. For every free citizen +who wandered through the groves of the Academy, holding high converse +with Plato, and revelling in the enjoyment of the divinest beauty in +nature and art, there was an untold multitude of slaves and barbarians, +into whose lives was crowded every element of bitterness. + +But surely, the great sage of humor, glorious Father Rabelais, of later +days, was an exception to the prevailing rule of joyousness in +literature? Not at all, contends our author. To the young mind which +hungers for truth and joy, there is something irresistibly fascinating +and persuasive in the jolly philosophy and reckless worldly wisdom of +Rabelais. But after all, it will not do. It is anything but attainable +by most of the world. It demands good cheer and jovial company. But it +dies out in the desert, and is stifled among simple, vulgar associates. +Rabelais believed that he sacrificed to freedom, when he only worshipped +fortune. He went through the world, familiar with the ways of princes +and peers, priests and peasants, travelling in many lands, exhausting +the resources of art and learning, seeing through the sins and shams and +sorrows of life, and laughing at everything, like a good-natured, +large-hearted Mephistopheles. But he had never learned the true +philosophy of joyousness in the sincere love of nature, the deep phases +of humanity, and the affluence and purity of strong affection. + +Nor do we find a better specimen in the renowned English humorists, +Sterne and Swift. The former closely follows his French prototype in +grotesque fancies: he abounds in tender and delicate pathos, though in +the highest degree artificial and forced; but do we ever arise from +reading him, like a giant refreshed by wine? Sterne, in fact, has even +less of the true philosophy of life than Rabelais. He affords no +stimulant to joyous, healthy action, awakens no impulse to gladden life, +or to make sorrow less and hope greater. It may be all very touching, +very comic, very ingenious, but it is not healthy or joyous. And Swift? +An immense fund of laughter, doubtless, had the witty Irish dean; but as +little claim to be a joyous writer as the prophet Jeremiah, or the +author of 'Groans from the Bottomless Pit.' The men who have been spoken +of dealt largely in satire and humor; but joyousness deals in infinitely +more. Mirth and laughter are all very well, but they are not all in all. +Cheerfulness requires something more than a well-balanced Rabelaisian +nonchalance in adversity and a keen relish for all pleasure. + +The relation of Christianity to the theme of the volume presents a +delicate, and, it may be thought, a dangerous topic of discussion, for a +so decidedly secular pen as Mr. Leland's; but he touches upon it with +freedom and boldness, though with frankest sympathy and reverence for +the great Spirit, whose religion is the most significant fact in the +history of the world. 'I must confess,' says he, 'that even regarded +from a material and historical point alone, that is a poor, cowardly +soul, which does not feel the deepest earnestness of truth in +acknowledging the Wonderful One, Jesus Christ, as the Lord and Saviour +of the whole world.' His sublime soul, profound, universal, loving +beyond all power of human conception, introduced a new era for humanity. +Under his teaching, philosophy became indeed truly divine, for it became +infinite, and was thrown open to all. He first of all opened the +consolations of free thought, of freedom from old superstition, of love, +and strength, and inward joy, to the whole race of mankind. No narrow +limits of sect or caste or nationality cramped him, the first great +Cosmopolite. We cannot sufficiently admire the infinite adaptability, +the universal knowledge of humanity, the boundless sympathy with man, +which are everywhere manifest in the original Christian philosophy of +life. What a depth of meaning in the symbolic bread and wine, typical of +the life which flows through eternity and all its changes, of human love +and birth and death, of bounteous, beautiful nature, with its +continually renewed strength--the whole given, not in funereal guise, +not with sombre fasting, but as a joyous feast. + +The New Testament abounds in symbols, parables, and proverbs, taken from +ancient tradition, but beautifully woven into a purer faith, which +taught that the healthy joys of life, and all knowledge of divine truth, +should be given not to a few kings or priests, a few favored with +initiation into divine mysteries, as of old, but to the whole world; for +the spirit of Christianity was identical with the genius of +republicanism. As taught by our Lord Jesus Christ, it was eminently +healthy, brave-hearted, and joyous. It did not commend celibacy, nor +excess of fasting, nor too long prayers, nor righteousness overmuch. It +did not approve of a plethora of outward goods, while the culture of our +highest faculties was neglected. It condemned all excess of care, even +in our daily duties, at the expense of that 'better part' which +distinguishes us from mere ants or bees. It gave no warrant for the +dismal dirges and melancholy groans which are raised in its name, by men +whom Jesus would have been the first to reprove. 'It was a religion of +life and of beauty, of friendship and temperate mirth, of love, truth, +and manliness; one which opposed neither feasting at weddings nor "going +a fishing."' + +The temptation to find a refuge from the evils of life in active +exertion, instead of cultivating the sources of joy in our own nature, +is the subject of an ingenious and striking chapter. In a land, where +enjoyment in many minds is connected with a sense of sin, it is +doubtless better that the overflowing energy of character, which is a +trait of the population, should seek vent in the excitements of labor, +than in poisonous liquors, horse races, politics, and the gaming table. +Where the natural support of life is wanting, partial methods of relief +may be employed. He who can no longer swallow, may gain an imperfect +nourishment by means of baths, or artificial transmission. So, the grim +and hardened soul, which has lost the support of inward cheerfulness, +may find strength in work, merely for the sake of work. But it is a +fraud upon humanity to educate men solely as industrious animals. Hives +are beautiful, honey is sweet, and wonderful is the cunning structure of +the cell; but society is not a hive, nor the people bees. The day is +dawning when it will be understood that cheerful songs are as essential +to genuine manhood as work; that labor is not to be borne as a curse, +with sighs and groans; but combined with mental culture, will become +capable of self-support, and will supply its own enthusiasm. + +The great problem of the age is the union of beauty with practical uses. +In their highest forms, art and science blend and become identical, just +as the Beautiful and the Good assimilate, as we trace them to their +source in Truth. While art becomes more practical, it loses none of its +beauty. In the infancy of science, it was mainly devoted to the +illustration of the fanciful and ornamental. Even architecture, in the +early ages, looked less to permanent comfort than to artistic effect. +But everything now tends to realization. Poetry and art fall in with +this influence of the age. Science is every day taking man away from the +purely ideal, the morbid and visionary; from the fond fancies of old +eras, and leading him to facts and to nature. + +Mr. Leland never becomes formal or spiritless in the treatment of his +favorite topics, and often rises to a high degree of enthusiastic +eloquence. Witness the following noble appeal in behalf of a cheerful +earnestness in the cultivation of literature and art: + + Young writer, young artist, whoever you be, I pray you go to work + in this roaring, toiling, machine-clanking, sunny, stormy, + terrible, joyful, commonplace, vulgar, tremendous world in + _downright earnest_. By all the altars of Greek beauty themselves, + I swear it to you; yes, by all that Raphael painted and Shakspeare + taught; by all the glory and dignity of all art and of all Thought! + you will find your most splendid successes not in cultivating the + worn-out romantic, but in _loving_ the growing Actual of life. + Master the past if you will, but only that you may the more + completely forget it in the present. He or she is best and bravest + among you who gives us the freshest draughts of reality and of + Nature. It lies all around you--in the foul smoke and smell of the + factory, amid the crash and slip of heavy wheels on muddy stones, + in the blank-gilt glare of the steamboat saloon, by the rattling + chips of the faro table, in the quiet, gentle family circle, in the + opera, in the six-penny concert, the hotel, the watering-place, on + the prairie, in the prison. Not as the poor playwright and little + sensation-story grinder see them, not as the manufacturers of + Magdalen elegies and mock-moral and mock-philanthropical tales skim + them, but in their truth and freshness as facts, around and through + which sweep incessantly the infinite joys and agonies, the dreams + and loves and despair of _humanity_. Heavens! is not LIFE as + earnest and as mysterious and as well worth the fierce grapple of + GENIUS, here and _now_, in this American nineteenth century, as it + ever was under the cedars of Italy, the olives of Greece, or the + palms of Morning Land? Are there not as much, or more vigor and + raciness in the practical souls of the multitude and in their + never-ending strife with Nature, as among the spoiled and dainty + darlings of fortune and among the nerveless, mind-emasculated + Victims of Society who sing us their endless Miserere from the + Sistine chapels of fashionable novels? You know there is, and if + you watch the time, you may see that it is the warm truth from real + life, which is most eagerly read and which goes most directly to + the hearts of all. Never yet in history was there an age or a + country so rich in great ideas, in great developments, or which + offered such copious material to the writer as these of ours. Be + bold and seize it with a strong hand. Those who are to live after + us will wonder as we now do of the great eras of the past, that + there were so few on the spot to picture them. Yet, why speak of + _great_ scenes, when humanity and Nature are always great--great in + small things even, far beyond our utmost power of apprehension? + Forget the spirit of the past, live in the present, and thus--and + thus only--you will secure a glorious and undying reward in the + future. + +The fault of this volume, in the eyes of many readers, will be a certain +confusion in the arrangement of the matter, and the want of sufficient +expansion in the development of some of its leading suggestions. But it +must be judged as the earnest utterances of a poet, rather than a grave +didactic treatise. With the purpose which the author had in view, a +spice of rhapsody is no defect. He presents a beautiful example of the +smiling wisdom of which he is such an eloquent advocate. He has an +intuitive sense of the genial and joyous aspects of life, and has no +sympathies to waste on the victims of 'carking care' or morbid +melancholy. A more complete exposition of the conditions of cheerfulness +in the nature of man, would furnish materials for an interesting volume; +but it belongs more properly to an ethical or philosophical discourse. +We will not complain of the author for not doing what he has not +attempted--for what he had no inward call or outward occasion; what he +could not have accomplished but at the sacrifice of much which +constitutes the charm and grace of the present work; while we cordially +thank him for this endeavor to speak a cheering word in behalf of the +joyousness of life, and to spread 'sunshine in the shady place.' + + R. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 3: SUNSHINE IN THOUGHT. By CHARLES GODFREY LELAND. 12mo, pp. +197. New York: Geo. P. Putnam.] + + + + +HOW THEY JESTED IN THE GOOD OLD TIME. + + +There is nothing which contributes so much to ease social intercourse as +the jest. In comparison with it, the proverb is only a humble +subordinate, and song itself, with all its power, but a weak influence. +Yet the song and the proverb boast a critical literature, while the +brief compendiums of merriment which never die, which, once written, +live through every age, and force their way through every penetrable +language, are undoubtedly less studied than any other popular medium of +feeling. + +What is a jest? It is as little worth the while to try to define its +nature, as it is to analyze wit. We all know that the world laughs, and +what it laughs at, and what the droll saws, anecdotes, rhymes, quips, +and facetiae are, which give fame to a Bebel, or a Frischlin, a Tom +Brown, and a Joseph Miller. Leave labored analysis to the philosophers, +contenting ourselves with remarking that a jest is a laugh candied or +frozen in words, and thawed and relished in the reading or utterance. +And laughter? When a man is too lazy to think out an idea, and yet too +active to dreamily _feel_ it, he laughs. When he catches its leading +points, and yet realizes that behind them remains the incomprehensible +or incongruous, he settles it for the nonce with a smile. Hence it comes +that we laugh so seldom with all our heart, a second time over a jest. +It has been _comprehended_; the mystery, the sense of contradiction and +incongruity, has vanished--we may revive it in others, and laugh +electrically with them; but the first piquant gusto of _its_ spice is +gone forever. + +Yet the jest, like the proverb, acquires a value by becoming current. +It often illustrates an opinion or an experience, and when it is much +worn, it may still gain a new point, by being brought into illustrative +relation with some event or idea. Esop's fables, or any fables, are, +after all, only good jokes in a narrative form, which owe their fame +simply to their boundless capacity for application. Sidney Smith's story +of Mrs. Partington, who tried to mop out the Atlantic, was a jest, and +so too was Lady Macbeth's 'cat i' the adage,' who wanted fish, yet would +not wet her paws, and let 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would.' _Something_ +of our old enjoyment of a joke for the first time, always lingers around +it, and we gladly laugh again--for, 'old love never quite rusts out.' +And there are many jests, which, owing to their boundless variety of +application, always come before us in a new light. Such are those which +illustrate character. Woe to the man among the vulgar, who once becomes +the scape-goat of a story on the subject of a joke-anecdote which 'shows +him up.' Woe in truth, if it grow to a nickname--for then he, of all +persons, learns that there are jests which never lose their sting. + +Some jests have been progressive--they have been re-made to suit the +times. Diogenes, when asked which wine he preferred, replied, 'That of +other people.' An Englishman answered to the same question, 'The O. P. +brand,' referring the initials not only to Other People, but also to the +far-famed Old Particular stamp which marked certain rare varieties--or, +as others explain it, to 'Old Port.' The Scholastikos of Hierocles, +having a house for sale, carried a brick around as a sample--a modern +story says that a commander when asked of what material his +fortifications were built, called up his troops, and said: +'There!--every man's a brick.' Here we have the 'living walls' of the +Romans--two old stories blended into one, and the whole greatly +strengthened by a modern slang expression. When thus changed to suit the +times, jests, instead of growing old, rather grow new again. Not +unfrequently, a single joke becomes, in this manner, the parent of +scores of others. I think that it is Mr. Wendell Phillips, who, in a +lecture on Lost Arts, declares that there were never yet more than +twenty-five original 'good stories,' and that all of those now current +may be traced back to them. In a certain sense, the assertion is true; +but it is a mistake to confound the result of a cause with the cause +itself, and an error to declare the descendant to be one and the same +with the ancestor. Max Muller has proved that hundreds of words of the +most different meanings descend from the same root, and, in like manner, +we might show, if the traditional links were supplied, that the last +'good one' current at Washington, originated at the court of King +Pharaoh. Let no one laugh, for Chaucer's Clerke of Oxforde's Tale was +for years told, with Daniel Webster and Henry Clay as the heroes, and we +have even met with a bold Southron who '_knew_ that it was true of +them!' + +In this connection it is worth while to observe that even the slang +phrases of the day, which are popular, partly because they _save trouble +in thinking_, and partly because the vulgar mind, like the vulgar ear, +finds a relief or pleasure in monotony--are not unfrequently of ancient +origin. The current expression, 'a high old time,' occurs in a Latin +jest, given in an old German-Latin jest-book, which, as its preface +asserts, consists entirely of a reprint from still older works. +'Henricus,' it says, 'was begged to make at a wedding (_Hoch +zeit_--literally, 'high time') a wedding song, and complied with the +following: + + 'Iste vetus Juvenis Socius prius ad stationem arripit + Atque _altum tempus_ habere cupit.'[4] + +The expression is better in its old form, since _altum_ means both high +and old. Those who have laughed at the instance in 'Ferdinand Count +Fathom,' of the Dutchman, who boasted that his brother had written a +great book of poetry as thick as a cheese, may find its original +'motive' in an anecdote given in the same work. + + 'A peasant going to a lawyer, begged him to undertake a case for + him, to which the man of law assenting, began to refer to and read + in a very small book. But the peasant, who saw many large folios in + the study, touched the advocate on the arm and said: + + 'Sir--please read some in a _great_ book also, for this is + certainly a big case which I have brought to you.' + +Everybody knows the story of the fortune hunter who commanded his +servant to duplicate in the affirmative, when he should be in +conversation, all his assertions. 'I have a fine farm,' said he. 'Faith, +ye mane ye have two on thim,' interpolated his Irishman; and so it went +on, until the master admitted that he had a cork leg. '_Two_ false ligs, +_an' ye know it_,' cried out the man. This is somewhat varied and +enlarged from the old story as given in the _Facetiae_ of Bebel, in which +the nobleman, remarking to his lady-love that he was 'a little out of +sorts,'--'_dixit ille, se pallidulum parumque infirmum_,' was +interrupted by his servant with: 'And no wonder, since you suffer with +such a terrible and incurable quotidian disease!'[5] + +If all stories and jests are to be traced to a few originals, perhaps +the many eccentric tales of Jack on horseback may be found in a very old +anecdote of a certain _Venetus insuetus ac nescius equitare_--a Venetian +unaccustomed to and ignorant of riding, who, when mounted on horseback, +having inadvertently spurred the animal, exclaimed, as it reared and +plunged: + +'Lord! the waves of the sea are nothing to those on land,'--thinking +that the leaping of his steed was caused by a sudden storm! The +anecdotes of absent-mindedness may find a prototype in a very old +monk-Latin anecdote of a certain doctor who went riding '_cum Palatino +Rheni_,' with the Prince Palatine, and who, on being told that he had no +breeches on, replied: '_Credebam, o princeps, mihi famulum ea +induisse._' 'I thought, oh prince, that my valet had put them on!' +Domine Sampson and the magistrate who appeared un-breeched before +General Washington, are both anticipated in these absent small-clothes. + +Many of the capital extravagances contained in 'Baron Munchausen' are +borrowed literally from the old Latin jest-books. The incident of the +wild pig which led about by its tail a blind wild boar, so that when the +former was slain the latter was taken home by simply giving it the tail +to hold, is of very respectable antiquity--as is also the story of the +horse cut in two--attributed by Bebel to a locksmith. The locksmiths, he +tells us in the parenthesis, are the boldest of Major Longbows. + +There are many jests current in all languages, quizzing the vanity of +humble persons suddenly raised to some small dignity. 'Neebors, I am +still but a mon,' remarked the Scotchman, who became mayor.[6] Perhaps +their type is latent in the '_De rustica praefecti uxore_--the village +magistrate's wife,--which runs as follows: + + 'When a certain man had been made a prefect of a small village, he + bought his wife a new fur garment (_melotam_). She, proud of her + finery and full of her new honor, entered church, _capite elato et + superbo_, with her head raised, just as all the congregation rose + to their feet, when the Gospel was to be read. When she, thinking + it to be in her honor, and recollecting her former condition, said: + Sit still! I have not forgotten that I was once poor!' + +A very great proportion of the shrewd retorts and witty replies +attributed to great men are very old. 'What do you think of soldiers +who can endure such wounds?' remarked Napoleon, when, showing a +frightfully scarred grenadier to an Englishman. 'What does your majesty +think of the men who gave the wounds?' was the reply. It is essentially +the remark of Louis the Bavarian, who, on enlisting four soldiers famed +for incredible bravery, and observing that they were scarred from head +to foot, said to them: 'Ye are brave fellows; but I had rather see the +men _a quibus tot vulnera accepistis_--from whom ye received so many +wounds.' The number of witty retorts and droll stories associated with +the names of Talleyrand, Piron, Voltaire--in fact, to a certain degree, +of almost all great men--is so great as to almost persuade the reader +who wanders in the neglected field of ancient humor, that no man of the +later centuries was ever capable of a single witty and original thought. +It is not long since I met with an anecdote, stating that Alexandre +Dumas, who had a very unattractive wife, one day surprised a gentleman +in the act of tenderly embracing her. In a compassionate and astonished +tone the novelist exclaimed: 'Poor man! why do you act so? I am sure +that nobody could have compelled you to it against your will.' '_Eh! +monsieur, qui est-ce qui vous y obligeait?_' The jest is 'old as the +hills'--it was old before Dumas was born. So, too, with the amusing bit +of naivete attributed to an English duchess, who, to express her +deeply-seated religious prejudices, declared that she would sooner have +a dozen Protestant husbands than one Catholic. The same point is +expressed as follows, in a very witty but extremely wicked collection of +facetiae of the seventeenth century:[7] + + Displicet, insignis, mihi Clericus ordo puella + Inquit et est valde gens odiosa mihi. + Malo decem certe me consociare colonis, + Unicum Clero quam coiisse velim. + +Sir Isaac Newton, and I know not how many other philosophers, have been +made to learn by a current story how to bear coals--literally. A learned +man, it is said, being asked by a little girl for a live coal, offered +to bring her a fire shovel. 'It is not necessary,' replied the child, +and having laid cold ashes on her palm, she placed a glowing ember on +them and bore it away safely. 'With all my wisdom,' said the sage, 'I +should never have thought of that!' The jest is of mediaeval +antiquity--possibly pre-Latin--it was in later days, however, versified +by Schurrias--an extremely aged and dying woman being substituted for +the learned man. + + 'Nam nuda poteris ignea ferre manu? + Parva puella refert: mater, perizomate prunas + Portabo flammae ne nocuisse queant. + Quid facies igitur, Anus inquit? Serviet hicce + Mi cinis, illa refert; quo super hasce feram. + Mox exclamat Anus: disco, moriorque profecto. + En disco moriens quae latuere senem: + _O, ich lern und stirb_!' + +A very great number of the 'good stories' current at the present day +with new names and faces, are to be found in the works of Rabelais, and +in the _Moyen Parvenir_, now generally attributed to him. It is almost +needless to say that few of these were however original with the great +French humorist. We find them in the Macaronics of Merlin Coccaius, and +in scores of older authorities. Still it must be borne in mind that a +similarity does not always establish an identity. There are few persons +who cannot cite some droll instance of a sharper or greedy fellow, who, +expecting an undeserved reward for some sham service, has found himself +drolly overreached. So Rabelais dresses up for us anew the fable of the +woodman, who, having lost his hatchet, and wearied Jupiter with prayers +for its recovery, was tempted by Mercury with a golden hatchet, and +asked if it were the missing article. He answering 'No,' received the +precious one for reward. Which being made known, excited great hopes +among his neighbors of becoming rich by the same means: + + 'Ha, ha! said they--was there no more to do but to lose a hatchet + to make us rich? Now for that; it is as easy as ----, and will + cost us but little. Are then at this time of the year the + revolutions of the heavens, the constellations of the firmament and + aspects of the planets such that whosoever shall lose a hatchet, + shall immediately grow rich? Ha, ha, ha! by Jove you shall even be + lost and it please you, my dear hatchet! With this they all fairly + lost their hatchets out of hand. The devil of a one that had a + hatchet left; he was not his mother's son that did not lose his + hatchet. No more was wood felled or cleared in that country, + through want of hatchets. Nay, the Aesopian apologue even saith, + that certain petty country gents of the lower class who had sold + the Woodman their little mill and little field to have wherewithal + to make a figure at the next muster, having been told that his + treasure was come to him by this only means, sold the only badge of + their gentility, their swords, to purchase hatchets to go lose + them, as the silly clodpates did, in hopes to gain store of chink + by that loss. + + 'You would have truly sworn they had been a parcel of your petty + spiritual usurers, Rome-bound, selling their all, and borrowing of + others to buy store of mandates,--a penny-worth of a new-made pope. + + 'Now they cried out and brayed, and prayed and bawled, and invoked + Jupiter: 'My hatchet! my hatchet! Jupiter, my hatchet! on this + side, my hatchet! on that side, my hatchet! ho, ho, ho, ho, + Jupiter, my hatchet!' The air round about rung with the cries and + howlings of these rascally losers of hatchets. + + 'Mercury was nimble in bringing them hatchets; to each offering + that which he had lost, as also another of gold, and a third of + silver. + + 'Every _he_ was still for that of gold, giving thanks in abundance + to the great giver Jupiter; but in the very nick of time, that they + bowed and stooped to take it from the ground, whip, in a trice, + Mercury chopped off their heads, as Jupiter had commanded; and of + heads thus cut off the number was just equal to that of the lost + hatchets.' + +This is but a small portion of the fable as amplified by Rabelais; but +what is cited illustrates the _accretive_ power of a jest when it +involves a principle of general application. The same idea--that of +roguery rewarded according to the letter--is involved in an anecdote, +which tells us that a certain alchemist having dedicated to Pope Leo the +Tenth a book containing the whole art of making gold, received as +recompense a great empty purse, with the words: 'If thou canst make +gold, thou art far richer than I; but herein is a purse wherein thou +mayest put thy gold.' + +In the German _Lallenbuch_, as well as other works, we find the story of +the stupid fellow who, coming to the banks of a river, waited long and +in vain until the water should all have rolled by. It is given in the +following form in a very droll collection of jests:[8] + + 'Rustici cujusdam filius a patre in proximam urbem missus, quum ad + flumen aliquod pervenisset, diu dum integrum deflueret, sicque + transitum praeberet, expectans, tandem ubi continuo aquam fluere + vidit, domum reversus est, de eo quod sibi accidisset, parentibus + conquestus.' + +But the story was old, centuries before the monks--for even Horace sums +it up in two verses as one quotes a well-known popular proverb: + + 'Rusticus exspectat dum defluat amnis: at ille + Labitur et labetur in omne volubilis aevum.' + + 'The clown awaits until the flood be gone: + It glides and whirls for ages ever on.' + +The reader has probably heard of the apocryphal twelfth commandment, +'Mind your own business.' Possibly its existence was suggested by the +discovery of the _first_, told as follows in the _Democritus Ridens_. + + 'A certain soldier being asked by his pastor what was the first + commandment given by GOD, replied, 'Thou shalt not eat!' At which + answer the priest inquiring what he meant, received for reply that + this was the first command to our first parents relative to the + apple. _Quo audito, Pastor conticuit!_ Which having heard, the + priest was silent.' + +Of the same family or parentage is the modern story of the clergyman +who, wishing to preach against the extravagant head-dresses worn by the +women of his congregation, took for a text, 'Top knot come down!' +referring for his authority to Matthew xxiv. 17. In like manner a not +over-learned brother is said to have expounded Genesis, chap. xxii. v. +23, as follows: 'These eight Milcah bear.' This shows us, my brethren, +what hard times they had of old, when it took eight on 'em to milk a bar +(and I 'spose get mighty little at that), when nowadays my darter kin +milk a cow with nary help, as easy as look at her.' + +Every one has heard of the Irishman crossing the brook. 'Sure, Paddy, if +ye carry me, don't I carry the barrel of whiskey, an' isn't that fair +and aiquil?' It is differently told in one of the old Latin jest books, +where a certain Piero, pitying his weary jackass, which bore a heavy +plough, took the latter on his own shoulders, and mounting the donkey, +said: '_Nune procedere poteris, non enim tu sed ego aratrum +fero_,'--'Now you may go along, for not you but I now bear the plough.' +Not a few of the jokes given to modern Irishmen originated centuries ago +in other countries than theirs. The reader may recall the advice given +by an Emeralder to another at a tavern, when the latter found that his +boiled egg was ready to hatch. 'Down wid it, Murphy, ye divil, before +the landlord comes in and charges ye for a _chicken breakfast_!' The +same occurs as an old Latin joke, with this difference, that, in the +latter, the companion, when the breakfast was over, required that the +chicken eater should pay the reckoning for both. '_Ni facis, dicam +cauponi de pullo quem pro ovo absumpsisti, et solves largius._' 'Unless +you do, I will tell the landlord of the chicken which you ate for an +egg, and _then_ see what a bill you'll have to pay.' + +The Germans of the present day have a story of a certain Englishman who, +on being told that his coat was burning, politely replied: 'What the +devil business is that of yours? I have seen your coat burning this half +hour, and never bothered myself about it.' Tom Brown tells us of a +roguish boy who said to a traveller, warming his feet at a fire: 'Take +care, sir, or you'll burn your spurs!' 'My boots! you mean,' quoth the +traveller. 'No, sir, I mean your spurs; your boots be burned already.' +But the best form of the joke is given by Erasmus in his Adages, as +follows: + + 'A certain traveller in Holland lay so near the fire that his cloak + was scorched. Which being observed by a guest, he said to the + sleeper, 'Here--I want to tell you something!' To which the other + replied: 'If it is bad news, put it off, for I don't wish to hear + any in company where all should be jolly. _Post convivium, inquit, + seria_--'save up the sorrow until after supper.' And when they had + merrily supped, 'Now,' said he, 'I am ready to hear it.' Then the + other showed him and immense hole in his cloak, and he began to + rage that he had not been warned of it in time. 'I wished to do + so,' replied the guest meekly, 'but you forbade me.' + +The witty sayings of men about to be executed are numerous, but are in +many cases far from being original or authentic. During the horrors of +the French Revolution, when men 'became so accustomed to death that they +lost all respect for it,' it became the fashion to make a jest with the +last breath, and it is said that a volume of these sayings was collected +and published. In the _Democritus Ridens_, already referred to, under +the head of _Jocus sub necem_, the author gives several anecdotes, more +than one of which has been attributed in modern times to some noted +criminal: + + 'Those condemned to death are not infrequently so excited and + confused as to lose their wits and joke most improperly. As an + example, take that man who, when standing on the scaffold, said + with a smile to the judge who was present: 'I wonder, old fellow, + that you with such a turned-up nose can see anything!' + + 'Another when about to die asked for a parting cup. A goblet of + beer was brought, from which he carefully blew away the froth, + saying that it was 'unhealthy and conducive to the gravel.' + + 'Another on the way to the gallows, seeing a crowd hastening + forward, said to them: 'There is no need of hurrying, children; + even though you go as slowly as I, for depend upon it, the thing + will not come off till I get there.' + + 'Another on quitting the prison, turning to his jailor, said + privately: 'You needn't keep the house open beyond the usual time + this evening on my account, for I shall not return.'' + + 'Another is said, when about to be shipwrecked, to have called for + salt meat. And being asked why? replied: 'Because I shall soon have + to drink more than I ever did in all my life.' _O ridiculos et o + insanos homunculos!_ adds the old writer: 'O foolish and mad worms + of men who could thus joke at the very opening instant of + eternity!'' + +This last instance of dying recklessness has been used by Rabelais as +one of the jests of Panurge. Much like it is the anecdote to the effect +that in a storm at sea, when the sailors were all at prayers, expecting +every moment to go to the bottom, a passenger appeared quite +unconcerned. The captain asked him how he could be so much at his ease +in this awful situation. 'Sir,' said the passenger, 'my life is +insured.' + +Somewhat allied to this spirit of blindness was the remark of the Greek +to his slave during a terrible storm at sea. Seeing the latter weeping, +he exclaimed, 'Why are you so troubled--I give you your freedom?' And +allied to it is the well-known epigram: + + 'It blew a hard storm and in utmost confusion + The sailors all hurried to get absolution; + Which done, and the weight of the sins they confessed + Was conveyed, as they thought, from themselves to the priest: + To lighten the ship and conclude their devotion, + They tossed the poor parson souse into the ocean.' + +One of the coarse jokes current with the last generation was that of a +sailor who, when a duke with his lady was on board ship, and all +expected soon to be lost, asked the mate if he had ever lain with a +duchess? The other answering in fear and trembling, 'no,' was told by +the reckless fellow: 'Well, we shall all have that pleasure soon.' The +ship, however, was saved, and the sailor being asked by the duke what he +meant by his insulting remark, replied: 'At the bottom of the sea, your +grace, we all lie low in death together.' And he was pardoned. It is +remarkable that in all ages wit has been suffered to save men when +better qualities would perhaps be of no avail. + +We may class with these jests of men _in articulo mortis_ the droll +story told by Bebelius, to the effect that a certain duke having caught +a miller in the act of stealing, asked his victim as he stood beneath +the gallows, to swear by his faith if he believed that there was on +earth a single man of his calling who was honest. To which the miller +stoutly swore that to his knowledge there was not one who was not a +greater thief than himself. 'If that be the case,' replied his judge, +'go in peace and live while you may, for I had rather be robbed by you +than by some more rapacious rascal of your trade.' + +An excellent illustration of the fact that old stories are frequently +revamped to suit new times and men, may be found in the following +'original,' also given by Bebelius, as _Pulchrum factum cujusdam militis +Tubigentis_--a fine deed of a certain soldier of Tuebingen: + + 'Conrad Buhel of Tuebingen, distinguished by his bravery among the + captains of Caesar Maximilian in the Hungarian campaign, was, once + in camp, lying on the straw and expecting no evil, when there + entered another soldier to whom Conrad had done an injury. Who, + when he found him thus lying on his back, said with that noble + magnanimity characteristic of the German mind: 'Wert thou not lying + helpless, I would stab thee with my sword!' To which Conrad + replied: 'Wilt thou do me no injury until I stand up and am ready + for fight?' 'Not I,' replied his foe, 'for I hold it base to strike + an unarmed man.' 'Then,' replied Conrad, 'I shall lie still all + night.' But on the next day he transfixed the other with his + spear.' + +The same story is told of an eminent Irish lawyer, who had offended the +client of a rival pleader. 'Will ye get up till I bate yees?' 'An' would +ye strike a man lying down?' 'Divil a bit!' 'Then I'll jist go to slape +again.' In the modern stories the foes are reconciled--in the old camp +incident all is fierce and characteristic of the bloody feuds of the +middle ages, and the final murder of the great-hearted enemy strikes us +with a pang. The _sed postri die alterum cuspide transfixit_ seems +brutal and ungenerous; but the event, whether literally true or feigned, +had no such discord to the readers of those days. It was more essential +to establish the thorough bravery of Conrad, than to reward the +magnanimity of his foe. Truly, the history of jests is the history of +civilization. + +In relation to this transmission of the renown of stories of the olden +times to lawyers of the later day, we may cite the well-known incident +of the honest criminal who, travelling alone on foot, was met by Sir +Matthew Hale, and in answer to the questions of the latter, admitted +that he was going to a distant court to be tried for his life. The same +noble truthfulness is beautifully set forth in the following, _Pulchra +historia simplicis praetoris et furis_, or 'Fine Story of a +Simple-hearted Superintendent and Thief.' + + 'My lord of Stoeffel, of that free and excellent nobility which + are called barons, had a superintendent of his serfs. And he, when + a certain man was accused of theft, and condemned by him to the + torture of the cross (_ad crucis tormentum damnasset_), with rustic + simplicity sent the criminal to the church that he might confess + his sins, first taking his word that he would return after + confession. So he entered the shrine, confessed, and not heeding + the privilege of ecclesiastical immunity (i. e., the right of + sanctuary), 'whereby he might have escaped, kept his faith with the + superintendent (_fidem praetori servavit_), and again returning + underwent extreme punishment. And this I knew from my boyhood, that + he went up to the place of punishment with such alacrity, that it + would seem as if he truly desired death. But many curses were + lavished on the priest to whom he confessed, because he did not + warn the imprudent man not to quit the bounds of ecclesiastical + freedom!' + +There is a whole ballad--nay, a whole history of the middle ages in this +story; for among thousands I can recall none as perfectly characteristic +of the times. The absolute aristocratic control of the life of a white +slave; its abuse by transferring it to the arbitrary will of an upper +servant; the blind devotion to feudal service shown in the fidelity of +the poor serf, the horrible cruelty of his punishment; and finally, the +cowardly supple fawning of the local priesthood, who were always either +worms or dragons in their relations to the nobility, are all set forth +here in a few lines. + +I have said that the eminent lawyers of modern times are greatly favored +in the inheritance of old jokes. Judge Jeffries, we are told, in +examining an old fellow with a long beard, told him he supposed he had a +conscience quite as long as that natural ornament of his visage. 'Does +your lordship measure consciences by beards?' said the man; 'that is +strange, seeing you yourself are shaven.' Among the monk-Latin tales +there is one to the effect that a certain _pater_, priding himself on +his beard, was informed that in a convent of he-goats he certainly +deserved to be abbot. The same story, re-made into a gross form, is +current in this country, and attributed to an eminent Virginia +politician. In the _Antidotum Melancholiae_ (Frankfort, 1667), it is +given in the form of an evidently very old Latin rhyme: + + 'Si bene barbatum faceret sua barba beatum, + Nullus in hoc circo fuerit felicior hireo.' + +There is a modern story current in America, which is often +circumstantially narrated, of some individual wearing a fine beard or +'whiskers,' and who is said to have sold them to a vulgar practical +joker, who had one shaved off, but suffered the other to remain for a +long time on the face of his victim, annoying him meantime with +inquiries as to 'my whisker.' It is the true type of a great number of +stories which originated in the Southern and South-Western United +States, the point of which almost invariably turns on vexing, grieving, +or maltreating some victim, who is an inferior as regards wit, fortune, +or physique. It is worth remarking that the only really original and +characteristic class of jokes which the slave States originated are +strongly marked with that cruelty and vulgarity which naturally attend +the morbidly vain and semi-civilized man, who is so unfortunate as to +have inferiors by fortune entirely in his power. I would ask the reader +in confirmation of this to simply turn over the large collection of +'Georgia Major' and 'Simon Suggs' tales, which, emanating from the +South, have contributed so much to brutalize and vulgarize the humorous +tendencies of that portion of the more Northern public which reads them. + +But to return to the story of the half shaven beard. It also is a very +old one, being told in its original form as _Barba deceptus +Judaeus_--'The Jew deceived by a beard,' and is as follows: + + 'A nobleman of Frankfort, while being shaved in a barber's shop, + was summoned by a Jew to whom he owed money. But at the request of + his debtor the Jew consented to forego the arrest until the + nobleman's beard should be shaved. Upon which the latter departed + unshorn, and ever remained so.' + +The old story--Jews, Cogots, serfs, negroes--the outwitting, +persecuting, and swindling some outlawed class of poor helpless victims, +who have been made worse than they should be by oppression. This +anecdote--like that of the free lance Conrad--is a sad epitome of the +middle ages, and to us of the present day, it rings like a curse on the +olden time, in the form of a diabolical jest. It is, however, bitterest +of all, to find the oppressed--as in the stories illustrating mere +_feudal_ fidelity,--so utterly degraded as to actually take part with +their oppressors and with the foes of humanity, against their own +rights. So, in this present struggle with that incarnation of evil, and +of the old devilish feudal oppression, the Confederate South, we are +still pained to find among its adherents men, who, having been socially +trampled on in Europe, seek, by sheer force of slavish habit, masters to +lord it over them here. There is but one type of man who is more +pitiable--it is he who is recreant to the great cause of freedom for the +sake of--money! + +A brutal and disgraceful jest-story, which stands in close relation to +this last, is that of _Detrimentum barbae propter Sanctos_;' or, 'losing +a beard for the saints,' which runs as follows: + + 'A Hebrew contending with a Catholic, affirmed there were more + Jewish saints in Heaven than Christian. It was thereupon agreed + that each should name his saints in turn, and as he named, pluck a + hair from the beard of his adversary. + + 'Abraham,' said the Jew, and plucked a hair. + + 'Saint Peter,' said the Christian. + + 'Isaac.' + + 'Saint Paul.' + + And so they kept up their litanies, until the 'Christian,' + exclaiming: 'Saint Ursula and the Eleven Thousand Virgins!' tore + out the whole beard of the Jew by the roots, to the great laughter + of all standing around.' + +It would matter but little, that a fanatical and brutal crowd of the +middle ages had laughed at seeing 'only a Jew' disgraced and dripping +with blood, to point a scurvy jest. But, I confess that it struck me as +singular, when I once found this story in a memoir, set down as having +been narrated by an eminent Christian philosopher (now not long dead), +as a capital thing. Granting its humor, is it worth while to inquire if +he would have enjoyed it as much, had the Jew torn out the beard of the +Christian in the name of the thousands who had been martyred for the +faith of Israel? + +The jokes of the middle ages on the subject of the beard, were +numerous--it was a favorite ornament, as we may judge from the fact that +Eberhard, the far-famed old warlike duke, sung in more than one poem by +Uhland, is always spoken of in the old stories, as _noster princeps +barbatus_, 'our bearded prince,' or, more familiarly, simply as 'our +bearded one.' One of the table problems of the day was, '_Potestne +probari mulierem quandam habuisse barbam?_'--'Can it be proved that any +woman ever had a beard?' The answer to which, was, 'Yes--when Judith +bore the head of Holofernes.' It was singular that such a question could +have been agitated, when the legends of the saints contained the story +of the bearded saintess of the Tyrol--a converted ballet-dancer, who was +thus rendered hideous in accordance with her prayer, that she might be +made so repulsive as to frighten away all lovers. And yet Mr. Barnum's +Bearded Lady had a husband! + +Jokes ridiculing red beards and heads were common in the old time; +probably because a popular tradition declared that Judas, 'the arch +rascal,' was so marked by nature. The anecdote of the good clergyman who +never laughed but once in church, and that was, when he saw a youth +trying to light a cigar, or warm his hands at a certain ruddy poll, +finds its prototype in one of the old Latin stories: + + 'Our country people are wont to say, when they see a red-headed + man; 'he would make a bad chimney-sweeper.' And when the reason is + asked, they say: 'when his head came out of the chimney the country + folks would think it was fire, and would ring the bells, assemble + from every direction, and cause all the riot and trouble incident + to a conflagration.' + +It is worth noting in this connection, that the prejudice against red +hair is rapidly being forgotten among cultivated persons, and is far +from being what it was within the memory of man. The vulgar, who are the +last to abandon an absurdity, still retain a few jokes on the subject; +but these will probably be as unintelligible in time, as would be the +jests of the middle ages on the _rufa tunica_, or red frock. The +boorishness and cruelty of 'the good old times,' are strongly reflected +in the following, which a scholar of the fifteenth and sixteenth +centuries was not ashamed to record of himself: + + 'When lately during Lent, in the year 1506, we had several guests, + among them a rustic from Weilsberg, who wore a long red beard. I + asked him why he did so? and he replied, 'out of grief for the + death of his father-in-law.' To which I replied: 'All wrong, for + red is a color suited to rejoicing'--at which remark all the guests + present began to laugh immoderately. But he with his rustic + simplicity, being made ashamed, answered: 'Yes, sir--that is very + true, and yet I assure you that I feel as sorrowful in this red + beard as any other man does in his black one.' + +The man who does not--though three and a half centuries lie +between--sympathize with the sad, honest simplicity of the poor +red-bearded mourner, must be as gross and heartless as was the narrator +of the incident. It gives one, indeed, strange subject for reflection, +to pause among these old trifles of a by-gone day; jotted down for +passing time in a rude age, and yet preserved so clearly, cut and +freshly colored in the modern time! Conrad Buehel, the free lance, and +his enemy--the red-bearded mourner, the Baron von Stoeffel and his +praetor, with the simple minded thief, and timid priests, and the genial +but coarse scholar, Bebelius himself, were all real men in their day, +who might have passed away without the slightest link to bind their +names or natures to an after age--and now they live in a jest! Still +they live--and it may be that when the page which you now peruse, O +reader, shall be as old as the yellow leaves of the sixteenth century +volume now before me, some one may revive them again. It is something to +be near a scholar now and then, for no one knows who once crosses his +path, but that he too may be noted down, to be borne by an anecdote +across stormy centuries, into ages all unlike our own. No man ever yet +died out of a printed book. + +Many a happy thought dashed off by a modern writer, is only the adroit +plagiarism of an old joke, 'But oh, the Latin!' says Heinrich Heine, in +describing his boyish sorrows to a lady--'Madame, you can really have no +idea of what a mess it is. The Romans would never have found time to +conquer the world, if they had been first obliged to learn Latin. Lucky +dogs! they already knew in their cradles the nouns ending in _im_.' This +is a very adroit theft from the _Epistolarum Obscurorum Virorum_, +attributed to Von Huetten and others, in which a stupid monk, having +argued with Erasmus, writes as follows to his master: + + 'Then our host, who is a good scholar, began to talk of poetry, and + greatly praised JULIUS CAESAR in his writings and deeds. Now when I + heard this I was specially delighted that I had read so much, and + that I had heard you lecture on poetry in Cologne, and I said: + 'Since you speak of poetry, I can no longer keep quiet, and I tell + you plainly that I do not believe that CAESAR wrote those + commentaries; and I strengthened my assertion with this argument: + 'He who has his business in war and in constant labors, cannot + learn Latin. Now, CAESAR was always in wars or in great toils, + therefore he could not be erudite, or learn Latin.' I think, + however, that SUETONIUS wrote those Commentaries, for I never saw + any writer whose style so much resembles that of CAESAR, as does + that of SUETONIUS.' + +Who has not heard the story of the hackney coachman, who, at the end of +the day, was wont to divide his gains into 'half for master and half for +me,' when the whole should have been given to the proprietor? Or of the +American public functionary, who said that his annual gains were 'one +thousand dollars salary, besides the cheatage and stealage?' Both seem +to me to be foreshadowed in the following '_Sacerdotis jocus non +illepidus_'; + + 'A certain priest named FYSILINUS who begged for a convent of Saint + Sebastian, being asked what his annual salary was, replied: 'Twenty + gold crowns!' 'Little enough!' answered the other. To which + FYSILINUS replied: 'Various, however, are the emoluments of + mortals; for I have also what is given to me, and what I steal. And + very good is Saint Sebastian, who, whatever division I make with + him, is always silent and contented.' + +It is worth noting that this story and thousands which bore much more +severely on the priests, were current for centuries before the +Reformation. There were many anecdotes of this priest, all to his +discredit, many of which were attributed, at a later day, to other +unworthy monks. Among these, a very dull one is interesting, as +connecting him with Eberhard, 'our bearded prince,' already referred to. +Having begged of this truly noble man a benefice, Eberhard, who was +aware of his character, replied: 'If I had a thousand vacant, you should +not have the least of them.'--'_Si mille, inquit, mihi beneficia, ego +minimum tibi non conferrem._' To which Fysilinus impudently replied: +'And if I should hold divine service a thousand times, I would never +bear you in mind, nor pray once for your salvation.' + +I have attempted in the foregoing remarks to set forth, or rather +illustrate, the manner in which modern jests have flown directly or +indirectly, from those of earlier generations; and have, in so doing, +called attention to a rare and curious class of humorous books, which +have been but little cited for more than two centuries. The principal +point which I would most gladly make clear, is the fact that in +literature and the history of culture, there are two classes of critics: +the ultra-modern and the ultra-conservative, both of whom are in the +wrong. The one cries that every flash of genius is new, and that an old +jest is an old abomination--the other vows that there is nothing new +under the sun, and that every good story is hidden away, in all its +excellence, somewhere in the storehouse of the past. Examination is, +however, like Pietro D'Abano, always a _Conciliator_. We find the +original _thema_ in the past, often reduced to the careless illustration +of some principle or characteristic common to all humanity; but when we +follow it down to the present, it becomes varied, improved, and enlarged +into whole groups and families of new anecdotes, poems, jests, or +proverbs; any single member of which is, perhaps, better than the +original. + +The history of jests can, in turn, be made to furnish an extremely vivid +and curious history of the social conditions of men, and their changes +from the earliest ages--not to be surpassed in value by that of any +other peculiarities. In nothing is a man so much himself as in his +humor. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 4: Erneuerte und vermehrte Lustige Gesellschaft (_Comes +facundus in via pro vehiculo_), von JOHANN PETRO DE MEMEL, Zippelzerbst +im Droembling. Im Jahr, 1657.] + +[Footnote 5: _Facetiarum_ HENRICI BEBELII, Poetae. Tuebingen, A.D., 1542. +Date of Preface, 1506.] + +[Footnote 6: Peter Cunningham's last Book, p. 45.] + +[Footnote 7: _Hortuli amoeni, viridis et elegantis floribus Historicis +et Poeticis_, &c. BALTHASARI SCHNURII. Rotenburg. 1637.] + +[Footnote 8: _Democritus Ridens: sive Narrationum Ridicularum Centuria._ +_Selecta_ JOHANNI PETRO LANGIO. _Ulmae, anno 1667._] + + + + +LITERARY NOTICES. + + + An historical research, respecting the Opinions of the Founders of + the Republic on Negroes as Slaves, as Citizens, and as Soldiers. + Read before the Massachusetts Historical Society, August 14, 1862. + By GEORGE LIVERMORE. Boston: John Wilson & Son. 1862. + + +Within the past two years we have met with two pamphlets referring to +the negro question during the days of the Revolution--the one being a +reprint with comments of the celebrated Laurens letter,[9] the other +containing information as to the part taken by blacks in the +struggle.[10] We inferred from these works that much remained to be +told, and find our surmise verified by an examination of the neatly +printed octavo of 215 pages, now before us, in which is given a mass of +information, fully establishing the fact that the negro played no mean +part in the army of the Revolution, and, we may add, suggesting the +reflection that he may only need proper encouragement to do as much, +again, unless he should have strangely deteriorated from the original +stock of his ancestry. Such a work as this, thorough and full of plain +facts, telling their own story, was greatly needed, and we congratulate +all who are interested in the future of this country on its appearance. +Published under the auspices of the Massachusetts Historical Society, +and warmly approved by EDWARD EVERETT and the venerable JOSIAH QUINCY, +the work in question possesses, of course, the highest claim to +consideration as a well written and perfectly digested _resume_ of its +subject. It is curious to observe, from its documentary proofs, how +fully the slave-holding arguments of the present day were once negatived +by the experience of the past; and it is almost bitterly amusing that +men can learn so little from experience, and that in one generation the +dense clouds of ignorance should gather so thickly over a subject of the +most vital importance to the country. + +From this work we may learn that 'no language of radical reformers in +recent times surpasses in severity the honest utterances' of the first +men of the Revolution on the subject of slavery. It is worth knowing +what Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, Laurens, Pinckney, Randolph, Sherman, +and a host of others said--to realize that slavery was regarded by them +as a curse; and it is grievous to learn that 'circumstances,' local +feuds, and bewildering side-issues should have interfered to prevent +'abolition' at a time when it might have been safely carried out. The +vast amount of historical research on this subject, and its results, are +well set forth by Mr. Livermore; and had his work been limited to these +chapters alone, it should have won him a distinguished place among those +who have cast a light as of life upon the obscure difficulties which now +beset the great question. More encouraging and extremely interesting is +that second portion of the work which gives the opinions of the founders +of the republic respecting negroes as soldiers, and facts establishing +their military ability. That the first fight of the Revolution should +have been led by a negro, who was its first martyr, is of itself deeply +significant: so is the fact that the most remarkable incident at Bunker +Hill--the death of Pitcairn--was due to the bullet of a brave black +soldier. With the exception of the two Tory States, Georgia and South +Carolina, blacks, _slave_ blacks, were enlisted from all the States in +great numbers, and fought well. It is remarkable that in the beginning +the same absurd objections to employing them were raised as those which +still abound in our 'Democratic' press; and it was not, indeed, until +forced by stern experience and dire need, that 'the States' found out +the folly of their prejudice. + +All of these data in the history of slavery, and with them several of +minor importance, are remarkably well set forth in the present volume, +which may fairly claim to be the first work on the subject ever +published--the 'Historical Notes' already referred to having been +suggested, as we are told, by Mr. Livermore himself, and forming an +_avant courier_ to the 'Historical Research.' It is needless to say that +we commend it with our whole heart to all who would study the question +of negro slavery from the beginning in this republic, and know, what few +do, the extent and importance of the early troubles on the subject, or +settle for themselves the greatly vexed question whether negroes, when +treated as men, will or will not fight. It is all there. + + + LIKE AND UNLIKE. By A. S. ROE. New York: Carleton. Boston: A. K. + Loring. + +Mr. Roe's novels are of the manufactured kind. Like those of many others +who are in the business, they give the impression that they are easily +written, and might possibly be turned out by a machine, had invention +progressed a little farther than it has. Still his _pieces de +manufacture_ are very good of their kind, and sell very well--like the +moral romances in China, which are disposed of by weight and in +fragments, in such vast quantities, and which are so entirely a matter +of mere pastime that the authors never think it worth while to affix +their names to them. _Like and Unlike_ may be safely intrusted by the +most fastidious aunt to the most unsophisticated of nieces--and it is +not unlikely that the niece would greatly enjoy its perusal. It is by no +means devoid of interest, and indicates in many particulars that +familiarity with the press which preserves any work of its nature--so +far as style is concerned--from harsh judgment. There are better +books--but certainly there are thousands which are much worse. + + + TITAN. From the German of JEAN PAUL FRIEDRICH RICHTER, by CHARLES + T. BROOKS. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1863. + +To many men JEAN PAUL has always been the greatest of German writers, +however they might protest their preference for some other idol. CARLYLE +knows and names GOETHE as the intellectual culmination of the past +age--and yet shows in every sentence the influence of The Only One, with +very barren traces indeed of The Old Heathen; reminding us of those +devotees who profess a faith in GOD, but manifest it in the worship of +some congenial saint. At the present day, Richter, instead of being +overrated, is neglected. Already thirty years ago HAUFF bewailed that +his works were not taken from public libraries; and yet it is as true as +ever that he is, if not the greatest of German writers, at least the +most German among the great ones of his fatherland. And it is here that +the drawback lies--he carried to such excess all the peculiarities of +his very peculiar country, and was a giant of grotesqueness. No one can +really know German literature who knows not Jean Paul. + +The work before us is Richter's masterpiece, which cost him ten years of +labor. We could sum up of his other writings some thousand or two of +pages which we read with more pleasure; yet still commend 'Titan' as the +best beginning and ending for those who intend to go through all of +Richter's writings. It is a romance _sui generis_--in the world, and yet +most unworldly--full of unusual characters set forth in more unusual +language--refreshing and delightful to the initiate, and most wearisome +to commonplace minds. As regards the merit of the translation, we can +only say that, having compared the first hundred pages with the +original, we find them admirably and accurately rendered, and presume, +of course, that the remainder is equally excellent. Will not Mr. Brooks +at some future time give us a translation of Richter's _Vorschule der +AEsthetik_, a work sadly needed by some of our art-critics? + + + LINES LEFT OUT; or, Some of the Histories left out in 'Line upon + Line.' New York: Harper & Brothers. 1863. + +A juvenile work with an extremely awkward title; 'Line upon Line' having +been a collection of Bible stories, adapted to the capacity of children, +of which book the present volume is a continuation. While we credit the +author for the best intentions, we must, however, suggest that it would +have been better in every instance had the original text been given as +well as the paraphrase, unless, indeed, it be assumed that the Bible is +unfit for children to read, or above their comprehension. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 9: A South Carolina Protest againt Slavery. New York: G.P. +Putnam. 1861.] + +[Footnote 10: Historical Notes on the Employment of Negroes in the +American Army of the Revolution. By GEORGE H. MOORE. New York: Charles +T. Evans. _Vide_ also THE CONTINENTAL MONTHLY, May, p. 324, vol. i.] + + + + +EDITOR'S TABLE. + + +Another month of these most eventful times has passed by with mingled +good and evil fortune, and we still find 'that great mystery, the +American Republic,' strong and in good hope, careering in headlong +speed, with accelerated motion, adown the great torrent of history. It +is natural enough--yet it is still most unreasonable--that there should +be so many who believe that every eddy and whirl should be its +death-struggle or its final dart into the deep calm sea of safety. With +every battle lost or won there are thousands who despair or +exult--forgetting that, come what may, the cause of human progress is +_never backward_, and that we might as soon hope to recall the middle +ages as build up into prosperity the 'patriarchal' old slave South. + +Every rebel's slave is free. Free on paper, if you will--theoretically +free; but is _that_ nothing? How many years will slavery, or the +Southern system in its integrity, exist side by side with a rapidly +growing free country no longer recognizing the existence of 'the +institution?' How many months, in fact, _when_ we shall have and +hold--as we are absolutely determined to do--the whole west bank of the +Mississippi and the confederate ports; which, by the way, _should_ have +all been secured at the outset at _any cost_? Let us win or lose in the +field, we shall still, thanks to our fleet, hem them in. And will not +_that_, with mere waiting, prove a complete victory? Whatever financial +crises may be before the North, it will ever possess, in spite of the +most terrible sufferings, its enormous recuperative power, and its old +ability for hard work. But how is the exhausted, ruined South to arise, +save through Northern aid? Will its poor whites labor in factories? They +are expected to form a permanent standing army. The negroes? The day of +slavery is passing away rapidly. Let the South gain battles, if it +will--they are only defeats in disguise; and in the long run it will be +found that God willed this war to be long and bitter, that by it the +last stronghold of the wrongs of man might be the more thoroughly +exhausted. + + * * * * * + +THE GOLDEN ROD. + + Upon the waves that rise and die + Along the banks of Severn's river, + Amidst the blue of broken sky, + I saw thy half-drawn image quiver + In changing gleams of golden light, + Now broadly spread, now vanished quite. + + Late Golden Rod! in thought I deem + I still shall find thee swaying there, + As if some naiad of the stream + Gave to the wind her yellow hair, + Or, leaning o'er the margin, sought + The restless shape the waters wrought. + + Though swaying, yet in quietude, + Thy beauty touched my very soul, + Like the calm eye of womanhood, + In stillness keeping all control. + And lo! as under sudden spell, + Thy presence shadowed all the dell. + + The valley took October's crown, + I found thy glory still the same; + The sumach flung his red leaves down, + And lit his winter crest of flame; + The early elm and maple gave + Their burden to the patient wave. + + I sought thee in the later year, + I sought, but found thee there no more; + Only a rigid stalk and sere + A withered head in silence bore, + Or swung, responsive to the sigh + Of the stray wind that passed it by. + + Now Severn's banks in snow are still, + And Severn's stream is hushed and pale; + The sun shines on the whitened hill, + And glows like summer in the dale; + And yet I come, and half in gloom + And half in joy recall thy bloom. + + * * * * * + +Reader--do you want + +SOMETHING NEW FOR DINNER? + +It is not necessary to refer to a cook book to know what an excellent +fish is the sheep's-head; you may find it in Noah Webster's large +dictionary, where it is described as "the Sargus Ovis of Mitchell; +esteemed delicious food"; or, you can find it in market. + +Mr. Withers was married to a lovely young lady who once worked an entire +piano cover with worsted. They had commenced housekeeping but a few +months, when one morning the husband informed his wife that he should +invite a friend to dine with him that day. + +Mrs. Withers was in despair at this announcement, but she smiled and hid +her grief; or at least her grief, in the shape of a Celtic cook, was at +that time not to be seen, being employed in the kitchen, where she had +invited two of her friends to "come in and ate." + +Mr. Withers went down town; his wife then gave directions to the cook, +Biddy O'Shaughshenny by name, to buy a sheep's-head, beef, game, and so +forth. + +'By the way, Bridget, have you ever cooked a sheep's-head before?' + +'A shape's hid is it? Then I'm thinking, ma'am, I've cooked the likes of +them minny a time and oft in the owld counthry when I bided with Mister +Maginnis the grate counsillor in Dublin. I did.' + +This was sufficient: Mrs. Withers was relieved of all care, and soon +wended her way out shopping and making calls, until nearly the dinner +hour. Home came Mr. Withers and friend, an Englishman by the name of +Molesworth, with keen appetites. The dinner was served; oysters and soup +finished, the waiter brought on a large dish covered. + +'Ha, what have we here?' asked Withers, the husband. + +'Something new, my dear,' answered Withers, the wife. 'I knew they were +in season, and I ordered it for a surprise.' + +Withers lifted the cover! + +There WAS a sheep's head--with horns on. + +However a Sheep's Head is like a turbot--for a turbot--according to +Albert Smith's account of the Frenchman learning English--is not unlike +a _tire-botte_ (or a boot-jack) which _has_ horns. Is'nt _that_ a +frantic conciliation of differences, and one which might have done honor +to Petrus d'Abano, the Conciliator, himself? + + * * * * * + +There are many conscientious men whose consciences tear at the first +pull--as is shown 'in the subsequent:' + +CONSCIENTIOUS. + +DEAR CONTINENTAL: Perhaps the following incident will cause a smile to +ripple the good-natured features of some of your readers:--In the county +of M----, the Draft Commissioner held an extra appeal for the +'conscientious men.' Now, in said county, there dwelt one Barney Mullen, +who, not being exempted at the first appeal, on 'non-citizenship' +grounds, was in 'great tribulation' in regard to the approaching draft. +Some wag persuaded him to attend the second 'hearing,' telling him to +swear that he was conscientious, and he would get his exemption papers. +So Barney was at hand at the 'appointed time and place,' At last, 'it +came to pass' that he got a hearing, and the Commissioner asked him what +he had to say for himself. + +'Shure, it's consyintious I am, an' exempted I want to be.' + +The Commissioner had not forgotten Barney, so, to humor his whim, asked +him if he would take the affidavit, having first read that paper to him. + +'Afther David, the divil! It's me exemption papers I'm afther,' he +replied. + +'Have you conscientious scruples against fighting?' asked the +Commissioner. + +'Och, it's the schrupils an' dhrams both I have. I get 'em bad, too, yer +honor.' + +'Well, Barney,' said 'his honor'--putting the same question to him that +he asked all others who offered the conscientious plea (and who always +gave an affirmative answer)--'if your wife was being murdered, would you +stand by a silent spectator?' + +'Divil a silent spectator! D'yees take me fer a haythen? Be the howly! +show me the scallywag that would harrum a hair o' the ole 'oman's hid, +an' I'd give him sich a pelt on the gob, that he would think he'd got +forninst a horse's hoof!' + +'Then we can't exempt you, Mr. Mullen.' + +'Mither ov Moses!' exclaimed Barney, as he left the room, 'not exempt a +man because he wouldn't shtand by an' see the 'ole 'oman murdered!' + + * * * * * + +We are indebted to a friend--who is requested to call again--for the +following from + + PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1862. + + DEAR CONTINENTAL: + +Did you ever study the language of signs? + +I have--and a queer language it is. It is divided into two great +families. + +The first is of street signs. + +The second of signs manual, optical, and otherwise by gesture +sign-ificant. + +An excellent illustration of this latter class was witnessed lately in a +police court of this city. I give it as narrated to me by a friend. + +A deaf mute, whose banged and battered face spoke for itself, lately +appeared before a local magistrate to complain of the sufferings +inflicted upon him by certain iniquitarians to ye court unknown. + +'He's deaf and dumb as a nadder, your honor,' remarked the solemn +policeman who introduced the silent man. 'But he kin tell his story +bully.' + +And he did. + +Striking an attitude the dumb one pointed to his bruises, and then +struck out one, two and three _a la_ Heenan, to signify that his sorrows +had been caused by a pugilistic attack. + +The court nodded its perfect comprehension of the business thus far. + +Raising the two fingers of his left hand, the mute bowed them up and +down, so that they seemed to be human beings with solidified legs, +making salaams to the court. + +The court nodded. + +Then the two fingers precipitated themselves fiercely against the +forefinger of the right hand, which at once fell down, and was danced +upon and bumped in a variety of ways by the inhuman digits of the +sinister party. + +The court nodded. It understood that the dumb man had been attacked by +two persons. + +But who were the two? + +Elevating the forefinger of the left hand, the plaintiff first pointed +to its face--or the place most suggestive of one, and then pressed his +own nose flat. + +The court nodded. One of the assaulters had been flat-nosed. + +'A nigger, your honor!' exclaimed the constable in breathless +admiration. + +Raising the second finger the dumb man after a second crossed his two +forefingers, and made upon his breast the sign of the cross. It was +catholically done. + +The court nodded. + +'An Irishman, your honor!' exclaimed the constable, who like the +complainant argued very promptly from religion to nationality. An +Irishman and a nigger--and I'll find out in ten minutes all about it.' + +And he did--a warrant was issued, and the guilty men punished. + +"Thus he by gestes made knowne hys sufferance." + + Yours devoted, + JOT. + + * * * * * + +IN THE BATTLE. + + The drums are beat, the trumpets blow, + The black-mouthed cannon bay the foe, + Dark bristling o'er each murky height, + And all the field is whirled in fight. + + The long life in the drowsy tent + Fades from me like a vision spent;-- + I stand upon the battle's marge, + And watch the smoking squadron's charge. + + Behold one starry banner reel + With that wild shock of steel on steel; + And ringing up by rock and tree + At last the cry that summons me. + + I hear it in my vibrant soul, + Deep thundering back its counter roll; + And all life's ore seems newly wrought + In the white furnace of my thought. + + No dream that made my days divine + But flashes back some mystic sign; + And every shape that erst was bright + Sweeps by me garmented in light. + + High legends of immortal praise, + Brows of world heroes bound with bays, + The crowned majesties of Time + Rise visioned on my soul sublime. + + Dear living lips of love and prayer + Come chanting through the blackened air; + And eyes look out of marble tombs, + And hands are waved from churchyard glooms. + + "Charge! charge!" at last the captain's cry! + We pant, we speed, we leap, we fly; + I feel my lifting feet aspire, + As I were born of wind and fire! + + On! on! where wild the battle swims, + On! on! no shade my vision dims; + Transcendent o'er yon smoky wreath, + I see the glory of great Death! + + Come flashing blade, and hissing ball! + I give my blood, my breath, my all, + So that on yonder rocking height + The stars and stripes may wave to-night! + + * * * * * + +Our Art writer is awakened. Listen to him. + +DEAR CONTINENTAL: You were kind enough to inform me that you would be +much obliged if I would let you know if there was anything stirring in +the world of Art. + +The last thing which stirred in my world--I mean in my workshop in the +Studio Building--was a German of the carpenter persuasion. At least he +had a side pocket, and folding two-feet rule, with a shaving on his left +curl. + +'Bees you a poor-trait bainter?' he inquired. + +'Truly I am!' I replied. + +'I wants you to baint de likeness to my fader.' + +'With pleasure. Bring him here.' + +'Yas--see now, dat is not bossiple. He lies geburied in the purying +crount in Stuttgart in Shermany.' + +'Well, have you a photograph of him?' + +'_Nichtss_ photograb.' + +'Or a bust?' + +_Nichts_ pust.' + +'Or a drawing?' + +'_Nichts_ trawing.' + +'Or an engraving?' + +'_Nichts_ craving.' + +'Well, then--what have you got?' + +'I got _dis_ dings.' + +Saying this, he brought forth a small book, greatly worn, which he +slowly opened, and unfolded from it a broad leaf, adorned with German +emblems, and cragged pot-hook inscriptions which looked like lager-bier +signs. + +'What is that?' + +'Dis is mein fader's passport. Look ant readt! Plue eyes, proun hair, +round _kinn_, pig mouf--und all dat, so fort. He hafe a goot deal of +exbression like mine.' + +(Where this latter could have been I could not imagine.) + +'Yas--und he wear a plue gote.' + +'Oh--a _goatee_, I suppose, on his chin?' + +'No. It was a plue gote on his pack. He hafe a peard like mein, und look +like mein. Put mein fader was a more older man dan me.' + +'Ah, indeed!' + +'Yas. Baint him mit a piple on a taple, und mit a girl on his hands.' + +'_What!!_' + +'Yas--mine leetle daughter. I prings her here to be colored.' + +It was a bold thing to do; but on this small capital I went to work, and +succeeded. At least, Jacobus Kirchelheimer said so--and _he_ ought to +know, for he was a first-rate fellow, and sent me over and above the +price agreed upon, a dozen bottles of Rudesheimer. A suspicion seemed +indeed to haunt his mind that the portrait resembled himself much more +than it did the late Herr Kirchelheimer, _pere_,--but he speedily found +comfort in the following reflection: + +'Ven I kits to be more older it will do shoost as goot for mine bicture +as for de old one.' + +It wasn't very self-flattering--that of hoping to resemble the Old One; +but I said nothing. And no more at present from + + Yours truly, + POPPY OYLE. + + * * * * * + +JAMES BUCHANAN--not satisfied with hoping for the parings of a +nomination to the Senate after having eaten the Presidential apple, has +pushed his impudence so far as to attempt to vindicate FLOYD from the +charge of stealing, although the theft was by FLOYD self-confessed and +gloried in. This is proving more than the record. What will FLOYD say +for BUCHANAN? + + The Raven said: 'Of birds I know, + The very whitest is the Crow.' + + The Crow declared: 'While birds endure, + The Raven will be whitest, sure!' + + The Raven said: 'I do believe + The Crow knows not what 'tis to thieve.' + + The Crow inquired: 'Who ever heard + The Raven was a stealing bird? + + 'He calls himself a thief, I know, + But I can prove it is not so.' + + The Raven swore by wet and dry, + The Crow was never known to lie. + + The Crow swore out by hot and cold, + The Raven's word was good as gold. + + The Crow flew o'er an old oak tree; + 'Caw me,' he croaked, '_and I'll caw thee_.' + +It is an old story, and one which will last while rogues endure--be they +broken-down politicians, craving, like Buchanan, a little more paltry +notoriety, or any other variety of the great family of the Dishonest. +And they will go their way adown the road of time and into history, +properly brandmarked. The truth ever comes to light. + +'And that isn't all--either.' For even as we write, the following is +handed us by a friend: + + Take, oh, take his pen away, + That so feebly runs on paper; + Keep him quiet, or he'll play + Other trait'rous prank and caper. + Why apologize for treason, + Or for stealing give a reason? + + Hide, oh, hide his pens and ink; + Try to keep him silent: do! + Would you let him lower sink, + He'd defend the Devil too. + Keep him silent, let him be: + He has _not_ escaped Scott-free. + +Not he--nor the opinion of the whole world, either. There--let him +go--_his_ place in the future is at any rate decided on. And yet the +vindicator of Floyd intends, we are told, to vindicate himself! + + * * * * * + +A late 'horrible and agonizing execution' of two murderers in cultivated +and Christian England was witnessed by one hundred thousand +people!--according to the London _Times_. In the first-class English +journals a large space is always devoted to police reports, in which the +vilest and most vulgar criminal cases are always given in full detail, +to gratify the almost universal British craving for filth and cruelty. A +drunken vagabond cannot maim his wife but all England must know all +about it. Let it be borne in mind that while English writers are never +weary of speaking of the blackguardism of the American press, nine +tenths of our journals abandoned many years ago the abominable practice +of regularly publishing police cases; and that, making every allowance, +English newspapers at present publish on an average ten times as much +demoralizing matter as the American. + + * * * * * + +We clip the following from the Boston _Post_: + + 'Speaking of the heathen names reminds the London Athenaeum of what + M. Salverte says with respect to that fairest of the heroines in + that poem for all spring time, "Lalla Rookh." Everybody, in his + happy turn, has been in love with that lady of the peerless + enchantments: perhaps they will be taken a little aback when they + hear that before the lord of the East gave her the name of + Nourmahal, 'Light of the Harem,' or, in the later excess of his + love, Nourdjihan, 'Light of the World,' she was known to her family + and friends as Mher-ul-Nica, or, in equivalent Saxon, the + 'Strapping Wench;' and that this 'tallest of women,' of whom it is + said her lover, Djihanguyr, + + ----preferred in his heart the least ringlet that curl'd + Down her exquisite neck, to the throne of the world, + + only became the light of his harem by the process of cutting the + throat of her first husband. If this annotation, to be made in all + copies of the poem, do not wring all charm out of the names by + which the poet's lady is known to fame, then fiction again will + prove stronger than fact.' + +'And _that_ isn't all, either.' For _Noor-Mahal_, albeit conventionally +used as Light of the Harem, _does_ mean Light of the Workshop in Arabic. +We shouldn't in the least wonder if the lady in question, in her earlier +and better-behaved days, had been chief engineer of a sewing machine at +two shillings a day. However, we set that down to her credit side. + + * * * * * + +READER--you have travelled? If so, did you ever suffer from too much +landlord? + +The last time we were at Mackinaw, we had our boots blackened, our +clothes 'swept,' and our cigars diminished by a very funny halfbreed +named Pierre, and noticed that when more cigars than usual were taken, +we were always sure of receiving an extra amount of attention from him +in the way of sweeping, brushing, and small talk. + +'Mossu, how you lak Detroit?' + +'I like it very well.' + +'Zat fust-rate 'otel, ze Fiddle House; ze landlord he maks var' big fuss +over ze grand persons as come zere--var' big fuss. Mamselle GRANDROSE +she var splendid danseuse, she 'ave ze grande attentions: Madame COLSON +she grande _chanteuse_ 'ave ze grand care. Ah, bote zere comes zere +oncet ze MARQUIS DE CHOUXFLEURS, zen you should see zat landlord; he +bows and he smiles, and he rons round all ze time, viz, 'Musshoe ze +Markiss, vat you lak for to eat, for to drink, for to sleeps? can I do +somesings fore you. At lass ze Marquis he call for his bill, and he goes +for to leave ze hotel. Zen ze landlord he comes to ze door, and he bows, +and he smiles, and he robs his hands togezzer, and says he: + +'Musshoe ze Markiss, _bone voyyaidge_;' (you see he spiks ze French var' +bad;) 'I hope you have been satisfy wiz my ho-tel?' + +Zen ze Marquis smiles var' moch pleasaunt, and viz ze air off grand +seigneur he lokes down on ze landlord and spiks slowlee: + +'Ze eat is var' good, ze sleep is not so var' bad, bote I 'ave notice +one sing--zere is entairely TOO MOCHE LANDLORD!' + +In American hotels, as strangers declare, unless one be acquainted, the +complaint is apt to be of too _little_ landlord. Then--oh, _then_, 'all +goes as it does with a divinity in France,' as the European proverb hath +it--that is to say, very Paradisiacally indeed. Which reminds us of a +letter on the coming of the Millennium, from a friend who declares it to +be his conviction that those who are afraid of the immediate realization +of this consummation devoutly to be wished for, may lay aside their +apprehensions, since it is evident that nothing of the kind is to come +off _this_ year at least. + +'Of which, dear CONTINENTAL friend, there can be no doubt, albeit there +may be somewhat pity. For I have lang syne awaited a millennium and a +golden age, and, when FERNANDO WOOD was kicked out of the mayoralty into +Coventry, hailed it as the beginning. Now, however, the old serpent +lifts his head--Fernando has gone to Congress, and the devil is let +loose again for a little season--to give seasoning by his sin to the +great sea of gruel of excessive virtue with which the world is +inundated. Oh for the wings of a dove, to be 'out of this'--cut loose +from all such 'carryin's on,' and fairly calm in some silent Lubberland +or Atlantis fairy realm of peace! + + 'Where, with glasses ever clinking, + The gentles, ever drinking + To their lady loves in winking, + Cry aloud _in jubilo_; + And the jolly plump old president + Calls out to every resident, + And, when they answer, says he meant + To pledge _in gaudio_: + + 'Where the bells all day are ringing, + Where the world is ever singing, + And the roasted ducks fly winging + Their way into your mouth: + Where doors are never banging, + Where tongues are never clanging, + Where the peach and grape while hanging + Turn _all_ sides toward the south: + + 'Where you find no foolish fussing, + Where you hear no oaths or cussing, + Where the babies need no nussing, + But in smiles or sleep are found: + Where they all own herds and flockses, + Where we get in no 'bad boxes,' + And where all the paradoxes + Are made straight, or else come round. + + 'O land so sweet and sunny! + O land of milk and money! + O land of peach and honey! + O land withouten peer! + O land of good society! + O land of great variety! + And genial sobriety, + Oh, would that thou wert here! + + 'Or that I were 'over yonder!' + Free to rest and free to ponder, + Free to print, and free to wander + 'Mid the maidens short and tall! + On 'the other side of Jordan,' + Where all is tuned accordin' + 'To your leastest wish, my lord,' in + Every matter, great and small! + +'Knowest thou, O Editor LELAND, of aught such, _where the board is +cheap_? Answer, I pray ye, forthwith. _Sono stancato._' + +Not we. When we hear of it, O friend, we will take passage for two--by +the first boat. + + * * * * * + +A FRIEND communicates to us the following: + +'PLATO, I think, PYTHAGORAS, I guess, and FO-HI, as I suppose--to judge +from his eight KUA--believed that all knowledge was capable of +mathematical representation. + +'I don't know Miss Brown,' quoth a lady lately, in my hearing, 'she +isn't in my Circle.' + +'And I don't know her,' added Miss Black, 'for she doesn't live in my +Square--and I never visit out of it.' + +Dr. HOLMES has, however, declared that a person may be known by +Triangulating the descent from the grandfather down. + +From all of which I should judge that to mathematically set forth the +knowledge of any person, it would be necessary to draw that slightly +paradoxical figure popularly described as a triangular square with round +corners! + + Q.E.D. + + * * * * * + +Yes--we think we see it. Square--corner--tri--Here, Thomas--carry it off +and have it set up. It's all right, we suppose. Somebody will find it +out, at any rate. Let us continue by singing the following genial +'Soldier's Song,' which hath the good ring of the good old time, and +which has just come to hand: + + * * * * * + +SOLDATENLIED. + + The wide world is the soldier's home, + His comrades are his kin; + His palace-roof the welkin dome, + The drum his mandolin. + He gives to air + All thought of care, + And trolls his serenade + To fiery Mars, + The king of stars, + That never love betrayed. + + The banner is the soldier's bride, + The love of bold and brave; + His wedding feast, the battle tide; + His marriage bed, the grave. + Where bullets sing, + Death's leaden wing, + Light as a dancing feather, + When hero falls, + To glory's halls, + Wafts life and love together. + + * * * * * + +A teacher of the truly 'genial' stamp--that is to say one who takes +delight, in exercising his or her genius, and in awakening that of the +pupil is, we fear, a rarity; as much even in Art, as in any other branch +of education. We believe, however, that we may claim as an exception +Mrs. ELIZA GREATORIX of this city, whom we believe to be honestly and +earnestly interested in her calling as an instructor in drawing, and one +who endeavors to make Art 'a living language by educating the eye +through the intelligence.' The method which she pursues is that of +drawing from objects, beginning with Harding's series of blocks, and +thereby accustoming both eye and hand to greater accuracy than can be +acquired from copying the usual plane surface pictures, which in most +cases makes of the pupil a mere facsimilist. Mrs. GREATORIX may be found +at Studio 12, No. 204, Fifth Avenue. + + * * * * * + +A WORD FOR THE TIMES. + + There ne'er was harm in anything, + But it came by misgoverning: + For one word of evil guiding + May lose a kingdom or a king! + A sound truth this which all can feel + From the romance of Sir Greye Stele. + Ye rulers all who bear the bell, + Weigh it, I pray you, wisely, well. + + * * * * * + +In this world nothing is constant save inconstancy. Nature changes all +things, night and morn, and when she puts on again her former semblance, +still it is only a semblance, and never the very same. Young +ladies--when your lovers vow to be true forever to love--you may believe +them; but whether they will be eternally true to you, admits of +reflection. Such at least seems to have been the life-philosophy of him +who penned the following poem: + +BY THE STREAM. + + Oh water that ever art roving! + O fountain that never canst move! + Oh fancy--some new flame still loving! + O heart, ever constant to love! + + The waterfall rustled and glistened, + Till it seemed like a musical flame, + And I lay and I looked and I listened + Till the nymph of the waterfall came. + + It was no Undine or Lurley + (Though I thought her as beautiful still) + That came in the evening early-- + But a bare-footed maid from the mill. + + The pitcher too frequently laden + Must break and be lost at the worst, + But the young heart, when full of a maiden, + Of the twain will be broken the first. + + But the pitcher, when cracked by a tumble, + Must be laid, till repaired, on the shelf, + While the heart, although shattered and humble, + Will be mended in time by itself. + + And we vowed that we loved--but with laughter, + And we kissed with our feet in the brook; + She left me--my whistle rung after, + To win from the maid a last look. + + And months have flown by since I missed her, + For afar with another she's flown; + And now I wait here for her sister, + To vow that I've loved her alone. + + Oh water that ever art roaming! + Oh fountain that never canst move! + Oh fancy--some new flame still loving! + Oh heart ever constant to--love! + +Sing it, reader, 'if thou canst sing.' A lady friend assures us that it +goeth well unto voice and pianoforte. + + * * * * * + +YE JOLLIE POACHER. + + 'Twas I that kept a shoddy mill + In starving Lancashire; + And shaved the Yankees shamefully + For many and many a year. + + The mill is stopped, I'm raving mad, + As from the _Times_ you hear; + Oh it's my delight to bark and bite + At all times of the year. + + * * * * * + + The + Continental Monthly. + +The readers of the CONTINENTAL are aware of the important +position it has assumed, of the influence which it exerts, and of the +brilliant array of political and literary talent of the highest order +which supports it. No publication of the kind has, in this country, so +successfully combined the energy and freedom of the daily newspaper with +the higher literary tone of the first-class monthly; and it is very +certain that no magazine has given wider range to its contributors, or +preserved itself so completely from the narrow influences of party or of +faction. In times like the present, such a journal is either a power in +the land or it is nothing. That the CONTINENTAL is not the +latter is abundantly evidenced _by what it has done_--by the reflection +of its counsels in many important public events, and in the character +and power of those who are its staunchest supporters. + +Though but little more than a year has elapsed since the +CONTINENTAL was first established, it has during that time +acquired a strength and a political significance elevating it to a +position far above that previously occupied by any publication of the +kind in America. In proof of which assertion we call attention to the +following facts: + +1. Of its POLITICAL articles republished in pamphlet form, a +single one has had, thus far, a circulation of _one hundred and six +thousand_ copies. + +2. From its LITERARY department, a single serial novel, "Among +the Pines," has, within a very few months, sold nearly _thirty-five +thousand_ copies. Two other series of its literary articles have also +been republished in book form, while the first portion of a third is +already in press. + +No more conclusive facts need be alleged to prove the excellence of the +contributions to the CONTINENTAL, or their _extraordinary +popularity;_ and its conductors are determined that it shall not fall +behind. Preserving all "the boldness, vigor, and ability" which a +thousand journals have attributed to it, it will greatly enlarge its +circle of action, and discuss, fearlessly and frankly, every principle +involved in the great questions of the day. The first minds of the +country, embracing the men most familiar with its diplomacy and most +distinguished for ability, are among its contributors; and it is no mere +"flattering promise of a prospectus" to say that this "magazine for the +times" will employ the first intellect in America, under auspices which +no publication ever enjoyed before in this country. + +While the CONTINENTAL will express decided opinions on the +great questions of the day, it will not be a mere political journal: +much the larger portion of its columns will be enlivened, as heretofore, +by tales, poetry, and humor. In a word, the CONTINENTAL will be +found, under its new staff of Editors, occupying a position and +presenting attractions never before found in a magazine. + + +TERMS TO CLUBS. + + Two copies for one year, Five dollars. + Three copies for one year, Six dollars. + Six copies for one year, Eleven dollars. + Eleven copies for one year, Twenty dollars. + Twenty copies for one year, Thirty-six dollars. + + PAID IN ADVANCE + +_Postage, Thirty-six cents a year_, to be paid BY THE +SUBSCRIBER. + +SINGLE COPIES. + +Three dollars a year, IN ADVANCE. _Postage paid by the +Publisher_. + + JOHN F. TROW, 50 Greene St., N. Y., + PUBLISHER FOR THE PROPRIETORS. + +[Illustration: pointing finger] As an Inducement to new subscribers, the +Publisher offers the following liberal premiums: + +[Illustration: pointing finger] Any person remitting $3, in advance, +will receive the magazine from July, 1862, to January, 1864, thus +securing the whole of Mr. KIMBALL'S and Mr. KIRKE'S new serials, which +are alone worth the price of subscription. Or, if preferred, a +subscriber can take the magazine for 1863 and a copy of "Among the +Pines," or of "Undercurrents of Wall Street," by R. B. KIMBALL, bound in +cloth, or of "Sunshine in Thought," by CHARLES GODFREY LELAND (retail +price, $1. 25.) The book to be sent postage paid. + +[Illustration: pointing finger] Any person remitting $4.50, will receive +the magazine from its commencement, January, 1862, to January, 1864, +thus securing Mr. KIMBALL'S "Was He Successful? "and Mr. KIRKE'S "Among +the Pines," and "Merchant's Story," and nearly 3,000 octavo pages of the +best literature in the world. Premium subscribers to pay their own +postage. + + + * * * * * + + +[Illustration: THE FINEST FARMING LANDS WHEAT CORN COTTON FRUITS & +VEGETABLES] + +EQUAL TO ANY IN THE WORLD!!! + +MAY BE PROCURED + +At FROM $8 to $12 PER ACRE, + +Near Markets, Schools, Railroads, Churches, and all the blessings of +Civilization. + +1,200,000 Acres, in Farms of 40, 80, 120, 160 Acres and upwards, in +ILLINOIS, the Garden State of America. + + * * * * * + +The Illinois Central Railroad Company offer, ON LONG CREDIT, the +beautiful and fertile PRAIRIE LANDS lying along the whole line of their +Railroad. 700 MILES IN LENGTH, upon the most Favorable Terms for +enabling Farmers, Manufacturers, Mechanics and Workingmen to make for +themselves and their families a competency, and a HOME they can call +THEIR OWN, as will appear from the following statements: + +ILLINOIS. + +Is about equal in extent to England, with a population of 1,722,666, and +a soil capable of supporting 20,000,000. No State in the Valley of the +Mississippi offers so great an inducement to the settler as the State of +Illinois. There is no part of the world where all the conditions of +climate and soil so admirably combine to produce those two great +staples, CORN and WHEAT. + +CLIMATE. + +Nowhere can the Industrious farmer secure such immediate results from +his labor as on these deep, rich, loamy soils, cultivated with so much +ease. The climate from the extreme southern part of the State to the +Terre Haute, Alton and St. Louis Railroad, a distance of nearly 200 +miles, is well adapted to Winter. + +WHEAT, CORN, COTTON, TOBACCO. + +Peaches, Pears, Tomatoes, and every variety of fruit and vegetables is +grown in great abundance, from which Chicago and other Northern markets +are furnished from four to six weeks earlier than their immediate +vicinity. Between the Terre Haute, Alton & St. Louis Railway and the +Kankakee and Illinois Rivers, (a distance of 115 miles on the Branch, +and 136 miles on the Main Trunk,) lies the great Corn and Stock raising +portion of the State. + +THE ORDINARY YIELD + +of Corn is from 60 to 80 bushels per acre. Cattle, Horses, Mules, Sheep +and Hogs are raised here at a small cost, and yield large profits. It is +believed that no section of country presents greater inducements for +Dairy Farming than the Prairies of Illinois, a branch of farming to +which but little attention has been paid, and which must yield sure +profitable results. Between the Kankakee and Illinois Rivers, and +Chicago and Dunleith, (a distance of 56 miles on the Branch and 147 +miles by the Main Trunk,) Timothy Hay, Spring Wheat, Corn, &c., are +produced in great abundance. + +AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. + +The Agricultural products of Illinois are greater than those of any +other State. The Wheat crop of 1861 was estimated at 35,000,000 bushels, +while the Corn crop yields not less than 140,000,000 bushels besides the +crop of Oats, Barley, Rye, Buckwheat, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, +Pumpkins, Squashes, Flax, Hemp, Peas, Clover, Cabbage, Beets, Tobacco, +Sorgheim, Grapes, Peaches, Apples, &c., which go to swell the vast +aggregate of production in this fertile region. Over Four Million tons +of produce were sent out the State of Illinois during the past year. + +STOCK RAISING. + +In Central and Southern Illinois uncommon advantages are presented for +the extension of Stock raising. All kinds of Cattle, Horses, Mules, +Sheep, Hogs, &c., of the best breeds, yield handsome profits; large +fortunes have already been made, and the field is open for others to +enter with the fairest prospects of like results. Dairy Farming also +presents its inducements to many. + +CULTIVATION OF COTTON. + +The experiments in Cotton culture are of very great promise. Commencing +in latitude 39 deg. 30 min. (see Mattoon on the Branch, and Assumption +on the Main Line), the Company owns thousands of acres well adapted to +the perfection of this fibre. A settler having a family of young +children, can turn their youthful labor to a most profitable account in +the growth and perfection of this plant. + +THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD + +Traverses the whole length of the State, from the banks of the +Mississippi and Lake Michigan to the Ohio. As its name imports, the +Railroad runs through the centre of the State, and on either side of the +road along its whole length lie the lands offered for sale. + +CITIES, TOWNS, MARKETS, DEPOTS. + +There are Ninety-eight Depots on the Company's Railway, giving about one +every seven miles. Cities, Towns and Villages are situated at convenient +distances throughout the whole route, where every desirable commodity +may be found as readily as in the oldest cities of the Union, and where +buyers are to be met for all kinds of farm produce. + +EDUCATION. + +Mechanics and working-men will find the free school system encouraged by +the State, and endowed with a large revenue for the support of the +schools. Children can live in sight of the school, the college, the +church, and grow up with the prosperity of the leading State in the +Great Western Empire. + + * * * * * + +PRICES AND TERMS OF PAYMENT--ON LONG CREDIT. + + 80 acres at $10 per acre, with interest at 6 per ct. annually + on the following terms: + + Cash payment $48 00 + + Payment in one year 48 00 + " in two years 48 00 + " in three years 48 00 + " in four years 236 00 + " in five years 224 00 + " in six years 212 00 + + + 40 acres, at $10 00 per acre: + + Cash payment $24 00 + + Payment in one year 24 00 + " in two years 24 00 + " in three years 24 00 + " in four years 118 00 + " in five years 112 00 + " in six years 106 00 + + * * * * * + + Number 15. 25 Cents. + + + THE + + CONTINENTAL + + MONTHLY. + + + DEVOTED TO + + Literature and National Policy. + + + MARCH, 1863. + + + NEW YORK: + + JOHN F. TROW 50 GREENE STREET + + (FOR THE PROPRIETORS). + + HENRY DEXTER AND SINCLAIR TOUSEY. + + WASHINGTON, D.C.: FRANCK TAYLOR. + + + + +CONTENTS.--NO. XV. + + + Turkey. A. Comte, Jr., 257 + + False Estimations, 274 + + The Blue Handkerchief, 276 + + Gold, 279 + + Last Words. Ingoldsby North, 282 + + Parting. Edward S. Rand, Jr., 288 + + A Merchant's Story. By the author of 'Among the Pines,' 289 + + The Captain of '63 to his Men. Mary E. Nealy, 315 + + The Vision of the Monk Gabriel. Eleanor C. Donnelly, 316 + + The Century of Inventions. Charles G. Leland, 318 + + The Lady and her Slave, 330 + + For and Against, 334 + + European Opinion. Hon. F.P. Stanton, 340 + + The Huguenots. Hon. G.P. Disosway, 348 + + Montgomery in Secession Time, 354 + + The Union. By Hon. Robert J. Walker, 366 + + The Soldier's Burial, 373 + + Literary Notices, 374 + + Editor's Table, 379 + + +'SUNSHINE IN THOUGHT,' by Charles Godfrey Leland, one of the editors of +this magazine, has just been issued by Charles T. Evans. + + +'MY SOUTHERN FRIENDS,' by the author of 'Among the Pines,' will be +published in book form, by Carlton, 448 Broadway, about March 1st. + + * * * * * + +ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by JAMES R. +GILMORE, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United +States for the Southern District of New York. + + +JOHN F. TROW, PRINTER. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Continental Monthly, Vol. 3 No 2, +February 1863, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONTINENTAL MONTHLY *** + +***** This file should be named 26077.txt or 26077.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/0/7/26077/ + +Produced by Joshua Hutchinson and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by Cornell +University Digital Collections) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/26077.zip b/26077.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..482f207 --- /dev/null +++ b/26077.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a615640 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #26077 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26077) |
