A Constitutional View of the Late War Between the States; its Causes, Character, Conduct, and Results

862 Pages·1868·31.772 MB·English

by  Alexander Hamilton Stephens

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A
CONSTITUTIONAL VIEW
OF THE LATE
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES;
ITS
CAUSES, CHARACTER, CONDUCT AND RESULTS.
PRESENTED IN A
SERIES OF COLLOQUIES
AT LIBERTY HALL.
BY
ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.
Timeschangeandmenoften change with them,but principles never!
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
NATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY,
PHILADELPHIA, PA.; CINCINNATI, OHIO; ST. LOUIS, MO.;
BOSTON,MASS.; ATLANTA, GA.
ZEIGLER, MOCURDY & Co.,
CHICAGO, ILL.; ST. LOUIS, MO.
Entered according to Act ofCongress,in the year 1870, by
J. R. JONES,
IntheClerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for
the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
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457
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DEDICATION.
TO
The Memory of those whose lives in the late War
between the States were sacrificed, either in Battle, in
Hospital, in Prison, or elsewhere — in defence of the
Sovereign Right of Local Self-government, on the part
ofthe Peoplesofthe several Statesofthe Federal Union;
and in defence of those Principles upon which that
Union was established, and on which alone, it, or any
other Union of the States, can be maintained consis
tently with the preservation of Constitutional Liberty
throughout the Country — this Volume is most solemnly,
and sacredly dedicated ! While others are, to-day, strew
ing flowers upon their graves, this oblation, with like
purpose and kindred emotions, is thus contributed by the
Author, to the same hallowed shrine!
Liberty Hall,
Crawfordville, Ga.,
26th April, 1870.
5
Tuis
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.. To Face TitlePage.
GUSTAVE T. BEAUREGARD.... Page 39
ROBERT TOOMBS.... 66 109
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS. 243
ABRAHAM LINCOLN (WithAutograph Letters). 266
JEFFERSON DAVIS... 340
ROBERT E. LEE.... 392
JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON..... 66 471
ULYSSES S. GRANT..... 66 596
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.. 7
COLLOQUY XIII.
BRIEF RECAPITULATION OF THE ARGUMENT- SOVEREIGNTY AND PARA
MOUNT AUTHORITY DISCUSSED BY MR. STEPHENSANDPROF, NORTON
-SOVEREIGNTY NOT DIVISIBLE BUT SOVEREIGN POWERS ARE — THE
WAR SPRUNGFROM A CONFLICTOFPRINCIPLES- SLAVERYOR LEGAL
SUBORDINATION OFTHEBLACK RACE THEIMMEDIATE ANDEXCITING
QUESTION WHICH BROUGHTTHE PRINCIPLESIN CONFLICT--SLAVERY
ASITEXISTEDATTHESOUTHCONSIDEREDWHICHSIDEINAUGURATED
THEWAR DISCUSSEDBYMR. STEPHEN ANDJUDGEBYNUM - WARNOT 11
THE OBJECT OF THE CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES - FALL OF FORT ATS
SUMTER-SOUTHCAROLINA ASA SOVEREIGN STATEHAD A RIGHT TO
DEMANDITSPOSESSSION-BREACH OF FAITH BY NORTHERN CONFED
ERATES- EVIDENCE DEMANDEDBYMAJORHEISTER- PROOFSADDUCED
SOUTHERN STATESEVERTRUE TO THE CONSTITUTION - WHICHSIDE 1,00
RESPONSIBLE FOR THEWARDISCUSSED. 17
COLLOQUY XIV.
A NEWTURN IN THE DISCUSSION --NORTHERN STATES DEFENDED BY
. VE
JUDGEBYNUM-SLAVERYWITHITSAGGRESSIONS REVIEWEDBY HIM
THREE-FIFTH CLAUSE IN THECONSTITUTION-MISSOURI COMPACT
ITSREPEAL- ACQUISITIONOF LOUISIANA,FLORIDA ANDTEXAS- LAWS
OFSOUTH CAROLINA IMPRISONING NORTHERN SEAMEN-TREATMENT
OFMR. HOARIN CHARLESTON - JUDGE CHASE'S PROPOSITION-SECES
BION ACONSPIRACY TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT— CONCOCTED
ATWASHINGTON-DEFENCEOFNORTHERNSTATESREPLIED TO BYMR.
STEPHENS AT LENGTH-LAWS OF SOUTI CAROLINA VINDICATED
THREE-FIFTHSCLAUSE OFTHECONSTITUTION REVIEWED- CAUSESAB
SIGNEDBYCONVENTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA FORSECEDING CAUSES
FOR SECESSION ASSIGNEDBY MR. TOOMBSIN UNITED STATESSENATE.. 54
LA
COLLOQUY XV.
REPLY OFMR. STEPHENSTO JUDGE BYNUM CONTINUED MISSOURICOM
PROMISE, SO-CALLED, CONSIDERED — MR. BUCHANAN'S STATEMENT IN
REFERENCETO, REVIEWED- MR. CLAY'S POSITION IN REFERENCETO,
STATED- NEVER REGARDED AS A COMPACT BY THE CENTRALISTS
MISSOURIWASNOTADMITTED UNDERIT-THEPRINCIPLEON WHICHIT
WASBASEDUTTERLY REPUDIATEDBYEVERYNORTHERN STATE - MANY
INTERESTINGFACTSCONNECTED WITHITEXHIBITED. 131
vi
CONTENTS. vii
COLLOQUY XVI.
REPLY TO JUDGE BYNUM CONTINUED-- COMPROMISEOF1850--FULL EX
POSITIONOFTHISNEVERBEFOREGIVEN - EXCITEMENTOFTHESESSION
--ELECTION OF SPEAKER IN THE HOUSE- POSITION OFAPORTION OF
SOUTHERNWHIGS- SPEECHES OFMR. TOOMBS— THE SENATE AT THAT
TIME --POSITION OF MR. CLAY, MR. WEBSTER, AND MR. CALHOUN
YR.CLAY'SOMNIBUSBILL - PRINCIPLE ESTABLISHED BY COMPROMISE
OF 1850, WAS THE ABANDONMENT OF TERRITORIAL DIVISION BE
TWEENTHETWOGREATSECTIONSOF THE UNION AND THE AFFIRM
ANCE OF THE PRINCIPLE OF NOCONGRESSIONAL RESTRICTION UPON
ANY PORTION OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN - THIS PRINCIPLE ENDORSED
BYBOTHTHEGREATPARTIESANDBYTHEPEOPLEOFTHESTATESINTHE
ELECTIONOFMR.PIERCEIN 1852.................................................... 176
COLLOQUY XVII.
DISCUSSION CONTINUED COMPOSITION OFSENATEIN1854— LEGISLATION
OF THAT YEAR- NO REPEAL OF MISSOURI COMPROMISE- IT WAB
CARRYING OUT THE PRINCIPLE ESTABLISHED IN 1850- CLAMOR OF
RESTRICTIONISTS- KANSAS WAR OF 1856—-TRIUMPH OF THE PRIN
CIPLE OF1850BY THEELECTIONOFMR. BUCHANAN - HISDEPARTURE
FROM THIS PRINCIPLE THE PROXIMATE CAUSE OF SUBSEQUENT
TROUBLES, 241
COLLOQUY XVIII.
THEDISCUSSIONTAKES ANOTHER NEW TURN-MAJOR HEISTER ASKS A
QUESTION WHICH PUTS MR. STEPHENS IN A NEW ATTITUDE OF
DEFENCE- REASONS GIVEN WHY HE DID NOT FAVOR SECESSION AS
AREDRESSOFWRONGSCORRESPONDENCEWITH MR. LINCOLN CALLED
FOR AND PRODUCED- CHARLESTON AND BALTIMORE CONVENTIONS
THE NEW PLANK INTHE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM - MILLEDGEVILLE
UNION SPEECH THE UNION PLATFORM IN SECESSION CONVENTION
SPEECH INTHAT CONVENTION- IRREPRESBIBLE CONFLICT DOCTRINE
CONSIDERED. 263
.............................................................
COLLOQUY XIX.
CONSIDERATIONOFTHEMAINBUBJECTREBUMED - ACTIONOF THEOTHER
SECEDING STATES BEFORE THE FALL OF SUNTER REVIEWED THE
CONVENTION OF GEORGIA- HER ORDINANCE OF SECESSION - COURSE
OFTHE UNION MEN OF THE STATE- OTHER ORDINANCES OF THIS
CONVENTION - ACTION OF OTHER SECEDING STATES SIMILAR - THE
CONGRESSOFMONTGOMERY- PROVISIONAL AND PERMANENT CONSTI.
TUTIONS- ELECTION OF PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
CONFEDERACY- MR. DAVIS'S INAUGURAL- COMMISSIONERS SENT TO
WASHINGTON - CORRESPONDENCEWITHMR. SEWARD - EFFECT OFTHE
BREACHOFFAITE" ASTO SUMTERANDTHEINAUGURATION OF THE
WARUPON THESOUTHERNPEOPLE................... 310
viii CONTENTS.
COLLOQUY XX.
CHARACTER OF THE WAR DISCUSSED BY JUDGE BYNUM AND MR.
STEPHENS- CONSIDERATION OF MAIN SUBJECT RESUMED-CONDITION
OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHERN STATESON THE
ELECTION OF MR. LINCOLN BEFORETHE FALL OF SUMTER - EFFECT
OF THE PROCLAMATION OF 15TH APRIL - THIS PROCLAMATION AND
SUBSEQUENT ONES REVIEWED - THEIR USURPATIONS EXHIBITED
SECESSION OF VIRGINIA - CONVENTION WITH CONFEDERATE STATES
GENERAL LEE - SECESSION OF ARKANSAS, TENNESSEE, AND NORTH
CAROLINA - USURPATIONSOFMR. LINCOLNDISCUSSED- JUDGEBYNUM'S
DEFENCEANDMR.STEPHENS'SREPLY.................... 360
COLLOQUY XXI.
CHARACTER OF THEWAR-NEITHER REBELLION NOR CIVIL WAR, BUT
WAR BETWEEN STATES-CONDUCT OF THE WAR ON BOTH SIDES AS
IT PROGRESSED - ACTION OF CONFEDERATE CONGRESS-ACTION OF
FEDERAL CONGRESS- SUBJECT OF PRISONERS- PRIVATEERS--MR.
STEPHENS'S OPINIONOF MR. LINCOLN DRAWN OUT BY PROF. NORTON
-DISCUSSION BETWEEN JUDGE BYNUM AND MR. STEPHENS IN RELA
TIONTO MR. LINCOLN ANDHISACTS- DANTON - ROBESPIERRE - CÆSAR
-HAZAEL-MR. ANDREW JOHNSON'S RESOLUTION AND SPEECH IN
U.S. SENATE - MEETING OF CONFEDERATECONGRESSAT RICHMOND
MR. DAVIS'S MESSAGE-GENERAL JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON-EVENTSTO
THE CLOSEOFPROVISIONALGOVERNMENT, ANDORGANIZATIONUNDER
PERMANENTCONSTITUTION-COMMISSION TOEUROPE - TRENT AFFAIR
-EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS- CONVENTIONS WITH MISSOURI AND
KENTUCKY... ............................................. 425
COLLOQUY XXII.
DISCUSSION TAKES NEW ANDVARIOUS TURNS- DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
MR. DAVIS AND MR. STEPHENS INQUIRED INTO BY PROF. NORTON
FULL EXPOSITION GIVEN - DIFFERED ON INTERNAL AS WELL AS
EXTERNAL POLICY-BUTNEVER WAS ANYPERSONALBREACH OR FEUD
BETWEENTHEM - TREATMENTOFPRISONERSDISCUSSED-THECONFED
ERATESNOTRESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUFFERINGSATANDERSONVILLE
OR ELSEWHERE - POSITION OF MR. STEPHENSUPON THISSUBJECT, AB
WELL AS THE POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT TOWARDS THE PEOPLE
OF THE NORTHERN STATES- PROGRESS OF EVENTS IN BOTH A
MILITARY AND A POLITICAL POINT OF VIEW DURING THE SECOND
AND EARLY PART OF THE THIRD YEAR OF THE WAR - GLANCE AT
THE BATTLES OF ELKHORN, SHILOH, “ STONEWALL" JACKSON'S
VALLEY CAMPAIGN-THE SIX DAYS' FIGHTING AROUND RICHMOND,
CEDAR RUN, SECOND MANASSAS, HARPER'S FERRY, FREDERICKSBURG,
PERRYVILLE, MURFREESBORO, CHANCELLORSVILLE, AND THE SIEGE
OF VICKSBURG- GLANCE AT POLITICAL EVENTS DURING THE SAME
TIME- THE CONDITION OF NORTHERN SENTIMENT PRODUCED BY MR.