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CONTENTS.

IMINARY CHAPTER.-History of former Conspiracies.....

CORICAL SUMMARY OF EVENTS, from November 6th, 1860, to December 27th, 1860......

DIVISION I.

PAGE.

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XXXIII. Proceedings of Congress Contin-

ued. Twelfth Week. The Vol-

unteer Bill. Exciting Debates.

The Seven Steam Sloops of War.

Offensive Attitude of the Vir-

ginia Members. Growing Firm-

ness of the Republicans. Mails

Discontinued in the Seceded

States. Singular Opposition.
Speeches of Wilson and Others. 421

XXXIV. Report of the Special Committee

on the Navy. List of the United

States Naval Force, and its Dis-
position, January 16th. Secre-
tary Toucey's Complicity with
the Enemies of the Government.
The Resignations. The Minor-
ity Report of Mr. Branch...... 440
XXXV. The Peace Convention. Its Pro-
ceedings up to Adjournment,
February 27th.

Adoption of

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XXXIX. Condition of Affairs

Last Week of Mr. I

Term. Mr. Lincoln'

The Virginia Convent

Tyler with his Mask

Missouri State Conve

Buchanan's Message
ations for the Ina
Hostile Attitude of tl

erate Government...

XL. State of Feeling in Eur
January and Februar
ing American Affairs
XLI. The Spirit of Violenc
South. Evidences of
ized Moral Sentime
Repudiated Debts and
towards Creditors.
mond Whig's Confe
Brutal Alabama
Numerous Cases of
and Persecution of

ed" Persons. The

Civilization of that

Terror

XLII. The Final Issue Mr.

and his Errors......

INTRODUCTION.

THE unexampled prosperity of the United States of America has been pronounced one of the wonders of modern civilization. As the "Great Republic," it has stood apart and above all other Governments of Christendom. The vastness of its territory, the freedom of its laws, the extent of its intelligence, and the spirit of progress which animated its people, all have contributed to arrest a world's attention--to command a world's respect. Guaranteeing to every citizen liberty of conscience and speech-to every press the utmost freedom of expression--to every individual perfect protection of property and immunity from oppression of person or possessions-the Constitution of the United States had so grown in the esteem of Christian men, of all lands, as to be regarded in the light of a Gospel of Government. Animated by its spirit, guided by its system, secure under its allpervading powers, the country had so perfected in material greatness as to astonish economists, and to challenge the admiration even of Monarchs. Here. Liberty had its perfect embodiment. Here Humanity stood forth in its dignity and truth. Here Intelligence became the birthright of each and all. Here Peace reigned supreme; while, over boundless leagues of hills, vallies, plains, rivers, and lakes, the jubilate of a happy people went up ́ ceaselessly. To be an American was an honor above titles of nobility or stars of an Emperor's approbation.

Circumstances, potent enough to change all this to dissever the bonds of union among the States-to repudiate a Constitution which embodied so much wisdom, and liberty, and happiness—to arrest the progress and paralyze the energy of the country-to banish peace, and sound the alarums of war throughout the land-to marshal twice five hundred thousand Americans on the field in fratricidal strife, might well excite astonishment in the dullest brain, and alarm the friends of liberal ideas throughout the world.

Never, since the revolt of Lucifer, has there been a more causeless rebellion against a justly-constituted and beneficent Government. Never has civilization known a more reckless abuse of its prerogatives to demoralize and cripple its own development. In the height of its prosperity, the "Great Democratic Experiment" is arrested by a mere faction of unscrupulous men, through whose efforts, aided by the weakness of a Chief Magistrate, the country is humiliated in its pride, abased in its glory, and made to feel a weight of woe which it will take generations to forget.

The circumstances of this gigantic conspiracy it will not take generations to fathom. Great revolutions, like those recorded of Europe during the fifteenth, and sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries, had their origin in causes so remote, and their results were so ramified to society and Governments, that, even to this day, their story is not wholly told. But, in the American Pro-Slavery Rebellion, there are no long trains of circumstances, no widely diffused and deeply-seated causes of discontent, growing and developing through a series of years, until the final open resort to arms. Were it thus, its History could not now be written. It sprung up almost in a day, against the wishes, the demands, the hopes, of those

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