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words often uttered, injuries inflicted, insults offered, naturally germinated and grew into deeds of violence and blood. Dragons' teeth had been plentifully sown and they started up armed men. And yet multitudes, at the time, were so ignorant of the prevalent sectional feelings and purposes, that, in surprise, they asked, "What are they fighting for?"

The people of the two sections of the country, are, to a large extent, ignorant of each other, and hence, in their estimate of each other's institutions, they are misled by illusions of the imagination.

For the purpose of distributing information among the people, this volume, which might be entitled "HISTORICAL COLLEC TIONS," is offered to various classés of readers.

I. To all, whether North or South, who are ignorant of the political history of the United States, and who have not an opportunity of referring to original sources.

II. To all, whether North or South, who have strong sectional prejudices.

III. To all, whether North or South, who wish for the restoration and the preservation of the Union.

IV. To all, whether North or South, who wish to understand the causes of the war between the sections.

V. To all, whether North or South, who value the prosperity of the country more than they do the success of their party. VI. To all, whether North or South, who believe that merely defeating the armies of the Southern States will bring back the Union.

VII. To all, whether North or South, who wish to understand the constitutional relations between the States and the Federal Government.

VIII. To all, whether North or South, whose hearts, not limited by party or section, are large enough to embrace the interests of the whole country, and of all the States.

The final issue of the sectional controversy lies in the future, beyond the ken of mortal vision, wrapped up in the hollow of God's mysterious hand. He only, who presides over the destiny of nations, "sees the end from the beginning." But though thus limited in vision, man can gather from the past the lessons of wisdom for his guidance in the future. And may we not indulge the pleasing hope that the people of the States, gathering wisdom from the mistakes of the past, in the sectional controversy, may become qualified to enjoy, in the long future, the blessings of union under the FEDERAL CONSTITUTION?

W. C. F.

NEW YORK, 1862.

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Luther Martin's letter, with the opinions of Johnson, Ellsworth, Hamilton, and
Madison and others on State rights and military coercion,

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Mr. Jefferson elected by the States voting in Congress assembled,

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Contemporaneous views of Northern men, John Lowell, Gouverneur Morris, De-

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