American politics (non-partisan) from the beginning to date : $b embodying a history of all the political parties, with their views and records on all important questions. Great speeches on all great issues, and tabulated history and chronological events.Cooper, Thomas V. (Thomas Valentine)
History
American politics (non-partisan) from the beginning to date : $b embodying a history of all the political parties, with their views and records on all important questions. Great speeches on all great issues, and tabulated history and chronological events.
Cooper, Thomas V. (Thomas Valentine)
Political parties -- United States; United States -- Politics and government
Mr. Clemens, in adjourning the meeting, said he would tell the
Alabamians how their state was got out of the Union. “In 1861,” said Mr.
C., “shortly after the Confederate Government was put in operation, I
was in the city of Montgomery. One day I stepped into the office of the
Secretary of War, General Walker, and found there, engaged in a very
excited discussion, Mr. Jefferson Davis, Mr. Memminger, Mr. Benjamin,
Mr. Gilchrist, a member of our Legislature from Loundes county, and a
number of other prominent gentlemen. They were discussing the propriety
of immediately opening fire on Fort Sumter, to which General Walker, the
Secretary of War, appeared to be opposed. Mr. Gilchrist said to him,
‘Sir, unless you sprinkle blood in the face of the people of Alabama
they will be back in the old Union in less than ten days!’ The next day
General Beauregard opened his batteries on Sumter, and Alabama was saved
to the Confederacy.”
When the news flashed along the wires that Sumter had been fired upon,
Lincoln immediately used his war powers and issued a call for 75,000
troops. All of the northern governors responded with promptness and
enthusiasm; but this was not true of the governors of the southern
states which at that time had not seceded, and the Border States.
We take from McPherson’s admirable condensation, the evasive or hostile
replies of the Governors referred to, and follow it with his statement
of the military calls and legislation of both governments, but for the
purposes of this work omit details which are too extended.
REPLIES OF SOUTHERN STATE GOVERNORS TO LINCOLN’S CALL FOR 75,000 TROOPS.
Governor BURTON, of Delaware, issued a proclamation, April 26,
recommending the formation of volunteer companies for the protection of
the lives and property of the people of Delaware against violence of any
sort to which they may be exposed, the companies not being subject to be
ordered by the Executive into the United States service, the law not
vesting him with such authority, but having the option of offering their
services to the General Government for the defence of its capital and
the support of the Constitution and laws of the country.
Governor HICKS, of Maryland, May 14, issued a proclamation for the
troops, stating that the four regiments would be detailed to serve
within the limits of Maryland or for the defence of the capital of the
United States.
Governor LETCHER, of Virginia, replied that “The militia of Virginia
will not be furnished to the powers of Washington for any such use or
purpose as they have in view. Your object is to subjugate the southern
States, and a requisition made upon me for such an object—an object, in
my judgment, not within the purview of the Constitution or the act of
1795—will not be complied with. You have chosen to inaugurate civil war,
and having done so we will meet it in a spirit as determined as the
Administration has exhibited toward the South.”
Governor ELLIS, of North Carolina, replied April 15:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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