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| committer | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-07-10 21:57:42 -0700 |
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diff --git a/79072-0.txt b/79072-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1e49f7e --- /dev/null +++ b/79072-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16542 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79072 *** + + + + +Transcriber’s Notes: + + Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ + in the original text. + Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. + Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs. + Deprecated spellings have been preserved. + Typographical and punctuation errors have been silently corrected. + + + + +[Illustration: GEORGE WASHINGTON.] + + + + + THE + VOTER’S TEXT BOOK, + + COMPRISING A COLLECTION OF THE MOST IMPORTANT + DOCUMENTS AND STATISTICS, + CONNECTED WITH THE + POLITICAL HISTORY OF AMERICA, + + COMPILED FROM OFFICIAL RECORDS, WITH + BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL SKETCHES. + + BY JAMES M. HIATT. + + INDIANAPOLIS, IND.: + ASHER, ADAMS & HIGGINS. + 1868. + + Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, + by ASHER, ADAMS & HIGGINS, + + In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States, + for the District of Indiana. + + STEREOTYPED AT THE FRANKLIN TYPE FOUNDRY, CINCINNATI. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE. + Formation of the Original Union 5 + Population of the United States at Decennial Periods 6 + Declaration of Independence 7 + Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union 13 + Constitution of the United States, and Amendments 23 + Washington’s Addresses 41 + Missouri Compromise of 1820 65 + Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 66 + Kansas and Nebraska Act of 1854 73 + Ordinance of 1787 86 + Amnesty Proclamation 94 + Proposed Crittenden Compromise 97 + Emancipation Proclamation 99 + Letter Explaining the same 101 + Proclamation of Andrew Jackson 106 + History of each of the States 130 + Life of Washington 157 + Electoral Votes for 1st and 2d terms 158 + Life of John Adams 161 + Electoral Votes for 3d term 162 + Life of Jefferson 164 + Electoral Votes for 4th and 5th terms 166 + Life of Madison 168 + Electoral Votes for 6th and 7th terms 170 + Life of Monroe 172 + Electoral Votes for 8th and 9th terms 174 + Life of John Q. Adams 176 + Electoral Votes for 10th term 178 + Life of Jackson 179 + Electoral Votes for 11th and 12th terms 181 + Life of Van Buren 183 + Electoral Votes for 13th term 185 + Life of Harrison 186 + Electoral Votes for 14th term 188 + Life of Tyler 190 + Life of Polk 192 + Electoral Votes for 15th term 194 + Life of Taylor 195 + Electoral Votes for 16th term 197 + Life of Fillmore 198 + Life of Pierce 200 + Electoral Votes for 17th term 202 + Life of Buchanan 203 + Electoral Votes for 18th term 207 + Life of Lincoln 208 + Electoral Votes for 19th and 20th terms 214 + Life of Johnson 216 + Chronological Record of the Rebellion 219 + Pay of Officers of the United States, Civil and Military 269 + Schedule of Stamp Duty 280 + The Civil Rights Bill 289 + Constitutional Amendment (proposed) 293 + The Military Government Bill 295 + Supplement to the same, and Amendment 297 + History of the National Banks 301 + History of Finances, Loans, Bonds, Legal-Tender Notes, etc. 318 + Statistical View of the States, etc. 328 + Platforms of the Parties for 1860 and 1864 331 + Life of General U. S. Grant 341 + Tenure-of-Office Bill 345 + Impeachment 348 + Chicago Platform of 1868 369 + Life of Schuyler Colfax 371 + Democratic Platform 375 + Hon. Horatio Seymour 378 + Gen. Francis Preston Blair, Jr. 380 + + + + +FORMATION OF THE ORIGINAL UNION. + + +On Monday, the 5th of September, 1774, there were assembled at +Carpenter’s Hall, in the city of Philadelphia, a number of men who had +been chosen and appointed by the several colonies in North America +to hold a Congress for the purpose of discussing certain grievances +imputed against the mother country. This Congress resolved, on the next +day, that each colony should have one vote only. On Tuesday, the 2d +July, 1776, the Congress resolved, “That these United Colonies are, and +of right ought to be, Free and Independent States,” etc., etc.; and on +Thursday, the 4th July, the whole Declaration of Independence having +been agreed upon, it was publicly read to the people. Shortly after, +on the 9th September, it was resolved that the words “United Colonies” +should be no longer used, and that the “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” +should thenceforward be the style and title of the Union. On Saturday, +the 15th November, 1777, “Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union +of the United States of America” were agreed to by the State delegates, +subject to the ratification of the State legislatures severally. Eight +of the States ratified these articles on the 9th July, 1778; one on the +21st July; one on the 24th July; one on the 26th November of the same +year; one on the 22d February, 1779; and the last one on the 1st March, +1781. Here was a bond of union between thirteen independent States, +whose delegates in Congress legislated for the general welfare, and +executed certain powers so far as they were permitted by the articles +aforesaid. The following are the names of the Presidents of the +Continental Congress from 1774 to 1788: + + Peyton Randolph, Virginia 5th Sept., 1774. + Henry Middleton, South Carolina 22d Oct., 1774. + Peyton Randolph, Virginia 10th May, 1775. + John Hancock, Massachusetts 24th May, 1776. + Henry Laurens, South Carolina 1st Nov., 1777. + John Jay, New York 10th Dec., 1778. + Samuel Huntingdon, Connecticut 28th Sept., 1779. + Thomas McKean, Delaware 10th July, 1781. + John Hanson, Maryland 5th Nov., 1781. + Elias Boudinot, New Jersey 4th ” 1782. + Thomas Mifflin, Pennsylvania 3d ” 1783. + Richard Henry Lee, Virginia 30th ” 1784. + Nathaniel Gorham, Massachusetts 6th Jan., 1786. + Arthur St. Clair, Pennsylvania 2d Feb., 1787. + Cyrus Griffin, Virginia 22d Jan., 1788. + +The seat of government was established as follows: At Philadelphia, +Pa., commencing September 5, 1774, and May 10, 1775; at Baltimore, +Md., December 20, 1776; at Philadelphia, Pa., March 4, 1777; at +Lancaster. Pa., September 27, 1777; at York, Pa., September 30, 1777; +at Philadelphia, Pa., July 2, 1778; at Princeton, N. J., June 30, 1783; +at Annapolis, Md., November 26, 1783; at Trenton, N. J., November 1, +1784; and at New York City, N. Y., Jan. 11, 1785. + +On the 4th March, 1789, the present Constitution, which had been +adopted by a convention and ratified by the requisite number of States, +went into operation. + + POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES AT DECENNIAL PERIODS. + ------+------------+---------------------------------+------------ + | | Colored Persons. | + Cens’s| White +---------+-----------+-----------+ Total + Years.| Persons. | Free. | Slave. | Total. | Population. + ------+------------+---------+-----------+-----------+------------ + 1790 | 3,172,464 | 59,466 | 697,897 | 757,363 | 3,929,827 + 1800 | 4,304,489 | 108,395 | 893,041 | 1,001,436 | 5,305,925 + 1810 | 5,862,004 | 186,446 | 1,191,364 | 1,377,810 | 7,239,814 + 1820 | 7,861,937 | 238,156 | 1,538,038 | 1,776,194 | 9,638,131 + 1830 | 10,537,378 | 319,599 | 2,009,043 | 2,328,642 | 12,866,020 + 1840 | 14,195,695 | 386,303 | 2,487,455 | 2,873,758 | 17,069,453 + 1850 | 19,553,068 | 434,495 | 3,204,313 | 3,638,808 | 23,191,876 + 1860 | 26,964,930 | 487,970 | 3,953,760 | 4,441,730 | 31,443,322 + ======+============+=========+===========+===========+============ + + + + + DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. + + IN CONGRESS, TUESDAY, JULY 4, 1776. + + +Agreeably to the order of the day, the Congress resolved itself into +a committee of the whole, to take into their further consideration +the Declaration; and, after some time, the President resumed the +chair, and Mr. Harrison reported that the committee had agreed to a +declaration, which they desired him to report. (The committee consisted +of Jefferson, Franklin, John Adams, Sherman, and R. R Livingston.) + +The Declaration being read, was agreed to, as follows: + + A DECLARATION + + BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF + AMERICA, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED. + +When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one +people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with +another, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and +equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle +them, a decent respect for the opinions of mankind requires that they +should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. + +We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created +equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable +rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of +happiness. That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted +among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; +that, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these +ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to +institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, +and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most +likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will +dictate that governments long established should not be changed for +light and transient causes; and, accordingly, all experience hath shown +that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, +than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are +accustomed. But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing +invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under +absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off +such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. +Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies, and such is +now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems +of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a +history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having, in direct +object, the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States. To +prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world: + +He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome and necessary for +the public good. + +He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing +importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should +be obtained; and, when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend +to them. + +He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large +districts of people unless those people would relinquish the right of +representation in the legislature—a right inestimable to them, and +formidable to tyrants only. + +He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, +uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, +for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his +measures. + +He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly for opposing, with +manly firmness, his invasions on the rights of the people. + +He has refused, for a long time after such dissolutions, to cause +others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of +annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise, +the State remaining, in the meantime, exposed to all the danger of +invasion from without, and convulsions within. + +He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for +that purpose, obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; +refusing to pass others to encourage their emigration hither, and +raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands. + +He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent +to laws for establishing judiciary powers. + +He has made judges dependent on his will alone for the tenure of their +offices and the amount and payment of their salaries. + +He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of +officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance. + +He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies, without the +consent of our legislature. + +He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, +the civil power. + +He has combined, with others, to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign +to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent +to their acts of pretended legislation: + +For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us; + +For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment, for any murders +which they should commit on the inhabitants of these States; + +For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world; + +For imposing taxes on us without our consent; + +For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury; + +For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses; + +For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring +province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging +its boundaries, so as to render it at once an example and fit +instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these colonies; + +For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and +altering, fundamentally, the powers of our governments; + +For suspending our own legislature, and declaring themselves invested +with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. + +He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his +protection, and waging war against us. + +He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coast, burnt our towns, and +destroyed the lives of our people. + +He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries +to complete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun, +with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the +most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized +nation. + +He has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken captive on the high seas, +to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their +friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands. + +He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored +to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian +savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction, +of all ages, sexes, and conditions. + +In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress, +in the most humble terms; our repeated petitions have been answered +only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by +every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free +people. + +Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have +warned them, from time to time, of attempts made by their legislature +to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them +of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have +appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured +them, by the ties of our common kindred, to disavow these usurpations, +which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. +They, too, have been deaf to the voice of justice and consanguinity. +We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our +separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in +war—in peace, friends. + +We, therefore, the representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, +in GENERAL CONGRESS assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the +World for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the +authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and +declare, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, FREE +AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they are absolved from all allegiance to +the British crown, and that all political connections between them and +the State of Great Britain, is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and +that, as _FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES_, they have full power to levy +war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do +all other acts and things which INDEPENDENT STATES may of right do. +And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the +protection of DIVINE PROVIDENCE, we mutually pledge to each other, our +lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. + +The foregoing Declaration was, by order of Congress, engrossed, and +signed by the following members: + + JOHN HANCOCK. + + _New Hampshire._ + + JOSIAH BARTLETT, + WILLIAM WHIPPLE, + MATTHEW THORNTON. + + _Massachusetts Bay._ + + SAMUEL ADAMS, + JOHN ADAMS, + ROBERT TREAT PAYNE, + ELBRIDGE GERRY. + + _Connecticut._ + + ROGER SHERMAN, + SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, + WILLIAM WILLIAMS, + OLIVER WOLCOTT. + + _Rhode Island._ + + STEPHEN HOPKINS, + WILLIAM ELLERY. + + _New York._ + + WILLIAM FLOYD, + PHILIP LIVINGSTON, + FRANCIS LEWIS, + LEWIS MORRIS. + + _New Jersey._ + + RICHARD STOCKTON, + JOHN WITHERSPOON, + FRANCIS HOPKINSON, + JOHN HART, + ABRAHAM CLARK. + + _Pennsylvania._ + + ROBERT MORRIS, + BENJAMIN RUSH, + BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, + JOHN MORTON, + GEORGE CLYMER, + JAMES SMITH, + GEORGE TAYLOR, + JAMES WILSON, + GEORGE ROSS. + + _Delaware_. + + CÆSAR RODNEY, + GEORGE READ, + THOMAS M’KEAN. + + _Maryland._ + + SAMUEL CHASE, + WILLIAM PACA, + THOMAS STONE, + CHARLES CARROLL, OF CARROLL’N. + + _Virginia._ + + GEORGE WYTHE, + RICHARD HENRY LEE, + THOMAS JEFFERSON, + BENJAMIN HARRISON, + THOMAS NELSON, JUN., + FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE, + CARTER BRAXTON. + + _North Carolina._ + + WILLIAM HOOPER, + JOSEPH HEWES, + JOHN PENN. + + _South Carolina._ + + EDWARD RUTLEDGE, + THOMAS HEYWARD, JUN., + THOMAS LYNCH, JUN., + ARTHUR MIDDLETON. + + _Georgia._ + + BUTTON GWINNETT, + LYMAN HALL, + GEORGE WALTON. + +[Illustration: JOHN ADAMS.] + + + + + ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION + AND + PERPETUAL UNION BETWEEN THE STATES. + + The Articles of Confederation reported July 12, ’76, + and debated from day to day, and time to time, for two + years; were ratified July 9, ’78, by 10 States; by + New Jersey, on the 26th of November of the same year; + and by Delaware, on the 23d of February following. + Maryland, alone, held off two years more, acceding to + them March 1, ’81, and thus closing the obligation. The + following are the Articles: + +_To all whom these Presents shall come, We, the undersigned Delegates +of the States affixed to our names, send greeting_—Whereas, the +Delegates of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, +did, on the 15th day of November, in the year of our Lord, 1777, and +in the Second Year of the Independence of America, agree to certain +Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the States of New +Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, +Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, +Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, in the words +following, viz.: + + “_Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union + between the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, + Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, + New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, + Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and + Georgia._” + +ARTICLE 1. The style of this Confederacy shall be “The United States of +America.” + +ARTICLE 2. Each State retains its sovereignty, freedom, and +independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by +this confederation expressly delegated to the United States in Congress +assembled. + +ARTICLE 3. The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league +of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security +of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding +themselves to assist each other against all force offered to, or +attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, +sovereignty, trade, or any other pretense whatever. + +ARTICLE 4. The better to secure and perpetuate mutual friendship and +intercourse among the people of the different States in this Union, +the free inhabitants of each of these States—paupers, vagabonds, and +fugitives from justice excepted—shall be entitled to all privileges +and immunities of free citizens in the several States; and the people +of each State shall have free ingress and regress to and from any +other State, and shall enjoy therein all the privileges of trade and +commerce, subject to the same duties, impositions, and restrictions, as +the inhabitants thereof respectively, provided that such restriction +shall not extend so far as to prevent the removal of property, imported +into any State, to any other State of which the owner is an inhabitant; +provided, also, that no imposition, duties or restriction shall be laid +by any State on the property of the United States, or either of them. + +If any person guilty of or charged with treason, felony, or other high +misdemeanor in any State, shall flee from justice, and be found in +any of the United States, he shall, upon demand of the Governor, or +executive power of the State from which he fled, be delivered up and +removed to the State having jurisdiction of his offense. + +Full faith and credit shall be given in each of these States, to the +records, acts, and judicial proceedings of the courts and magistrates +of every other State. + +ARTICLE 5. For the more convenient management of the general interest +of the United States, Delegates shall be annually appointed, in such +manner as the legislature of each State shall direct, to meet in +Congress on the first Monday in November, in every year, with a power +reserved to each State, to recall its Delegates, or any of them, at +any time within the year, and to send others in their stead, for the +remainder of the year. + +No state shall be represented in Congress by less than two, nor by more +than seven members; and no person shall be capable of being a Delegate +for more than three years in any term of six years; nor shall any +person, being a Delegate, be capable of holding any office under the +United States, for which he, or another for his benefit, receives any +salary, fees or emolument of any kind. + +Each State shall maintain its own Delegates in any meeting of the +States, and while they act as members of the Committee of the States. + +In determining questions in the United States, in Congress assembled, +each State shall have one vote. + +Freedom of speech and debate in Congress shall not be impeached or +questioned in any court or place, out of Congress, and the members +of Congress shall be protected in their persons from arrests and +imprisonments, during the time of their going to and from, and +attendance on Congress, except for treason, felony, or breach of the +peace. + +ARTICLE 6. No State, without the consent of the United States in +Congress assembled, shall send an embassy to, or receive an embassy +from, or enter into any conference, agreement, alliance or treaty with +any King, Prince, or State; nor shall any person holding any office +of profit or trust under the United States, or any of them, accept of +any present, emolument, office or title of any kind whatever from any +King, Prince, or Foreign State; nor shall the United States in Congress +assembled, or any of them, grant any title of nobility. + +No two or more States shall enter into any treaty, confederation or +alliance whatever between them, without the consent of the United +States in Congress assembled, specifying accurately the purposes for +which the same is to be entered into, and how long it shall continue. + +No State shall lay any imposts or duties which may interfere with any +stipulations in treaties, entered into by the United States in Congress +assembled, with any King, Prince or State, in pursuance of any treaties +already proposed by Congress, to the Courts of France and Spain. + +No vessels of war shall be kept up in time of peace by any State except +such number only, as shall be deemed necessary by the United States in +Congress assembled, for the defense of such State, or its trade; nor +shall any body of forces be kept up by any State, in time of peace, +except such number only, as in the judgment of the United States in +Congress assembled, shall be deemed requisite to garrison the forts +necessary for the defense of such State; but every State shall always +keep up a well-regulated and disciplined militia, sufficiently armed +and accoutred, and shall provide and have constantly ready for use, in +public stores, a due number of field-pieces and tents, and a proper +quantity of arms, ammunition, and camp equipage. + +No State shall engage in any war without the consent of the United +States in Congress assembled, unless such State be actually invaded by +enemies, or shall have received certain advice of a resolution being +formed by some nation of Indians to invade such a State, and the danger +is so imminent as not to admit of a delay, till the United States +in Congress assembled can be consulted: nor shall any State grant +commissions to any ships or vessels of war, nor letters of marque or +reprisal, except it be after a declaration of war by the United States +in Congress assembled, and then only against the Kingdom or State, +and the subjects thereof, against which war has been so declared, and +under such regulations as shall be established by the United States +in Congress assembled, unless such State be infested by pirates, in +which case vessels of war may be fitted out for that occasion, and kept +so long as the danger shall continue, or until the United States in +Congress assembled shall determine otherwise. + +ARTICLE 7. When land forces are raised by any State for the common +defense, all officers of, or under the rank of colonel, shall be +appointed by the legislature of each State respectively, by whom such +forces shall be raised, or in such manner as such State shall direct, +and all vacancies shall be filled up by the State which first made the +appointment. + +ARTICLE 8. All charges of war, and all other expenses that shall be +incurred for the common defense or general welfare, and allowed by the +United States in Congress assembled, shall be defrayed out of a common +treasury, which shall be supplied by the several States, in proportion +to the value of all land within each State, granted to or surveyed for +any person, as such land and the buildings and improvements thereon +shall be estimated according to such mode as the United States in +Congress assembled, shall, from time to time, direct and appoint. +The taxes for paying that proportion shall be laid and levied by the +authority and direction of the legislatures of the several States +within the time agreed upon by the United States in Congress assembled. + +ARTICLE 9. The United States in Congress assembled shall have the sole +and exclusive right and power of determining on peace and war, except +in the cases mentioned in the 6th article—of sending and receiving +embassadors—entering into treaties and alliances, provided that no +treaty of commerce shall be made whereby the legislative power of the +respective States shall be restrained from imposing such imposts and +duties on foreigners, as their own people are subjected to, or from +prohibiting the exportation or importation of any species of goods +or commodities whatsoever—of establishing rules for deciding in all +cases what captures on land or water shall be legal, and in what +manner prizes taken by land or naval forces in the service of the +United States shall be divided or appropriated—of granting letters of +marque and reprisal in times of peace—appointing courts for the trial +of piracies and felonies committed on the high seas and establishing +courts for receiving and determining finally appeals in all cases of +captures, provided that no member of Congress shall be appointed a +judge of any of the said courts. + +The United States in Congress assembled shall also be the last resort +on appeal in all disputes and differences now subsisting or that +hereafter may arise between two or more States concerning boundary, +jurisdiction, or any other cause whatever; which authority shall always +be exercised in the manner following:—Whenever the legislative or +executive authority or lawful agent of any State in controversy with +another shall present a petition to Congress, stating the matter in +question, and praying for a hearing, notice thereof shall be given +by order of Congress, to the legislative or executive authority of +the other State in controversy, and a day assigned for the appearance +of the parties by their lawful agents, who shall then be directed to +appoint, by joint consent, commissioners or judges to constitute a +court for hearing and determining the matter in question: but if they +can not agree, Congress shall name three persons out of each of the +United States, and from the list of such persons each party shall +alternately strike out one, the petitioners beginning, until the +number shall be reduced to thirteen; and from that number not less +than seven, nor more than nine names, as Congress shall direct, shall +in the presence of Congress be drawn out by lot, and the persons whose +names shall be so drawn or any five of them, shall be commissioners +or judges, to hear and finally determine the controversy, so always +as a major part of the judges who shall hear the cause shall agree +in the determination: and if either party shall neglect to attend at +the day appointed, without showing reasons which Congress shall judge +sufficient, or being present shall refuse to strike, the Congress +shall proceed to nominate three persons out of each State, and the +Secretary of Congress shall strike in behalf of such party absent or +refusing; and the judgment and sentence of the court to be appointed, +in the manner above prescribed, shall be final and conclusive; and if +any of the parties shall refuse to submit to the authority of such +court, or to appear or defend their claim or cause, the court shall, +nevertheless, proceed to pronounce sentence or judgment, which shall in +like manner be final and decisive, the judgment or sentence and other +proceedings being in either case transmitted to Congress and lodged +among the acts of Congress for the security of the parties concerned: +provided that every commissioner, before he sits in judgment, shall +take an oath, to be administered by one of the judges of the Supreme +or Superior Court of the State where the cause shall be tried, “well +and truly to hear and determine the matter in question, according to +the best of his judgment, without favor, affection, or hope of reward:” +provided also that no State shall be deprived of territory for the +benefit of the United States. + +All controversies concerning the private right of soil claimed under +different grants of two or more States, whose jurisdictions as they +may respect such lands, and the States which passed such grants, +are adjusted; the said grants or either of them being at the same +time claimed to have originated antecedent to such settlement of +jurisdiction, shall, on the petition of either party to the Congress +of the United States, be finally determined as near as may be in the +same manner as is before prescribed for deciding disputes respecting +territorial jurisdiction between different States. + +The United States in Congress assembled shall also have the sole +exclusive right and power of regulating the alloy and value of +coin struck by their own authority, or by that of the respective +States—fixing the standard of weights and measures throughout the +United States—regulating the trade and managing all affairs with +the Indians, not members of any of the States; provided that the +legislative right of any State within its own limits be not infringed +or violated—establishing or regulating post-offices from one State +to another, throughout all the United States, and exacting such +postage on the papers passing through the same as may be requisite +to defray, the expenses of the said office—appointing all officers +of the land forces, in the service of the United States, excepting +regimental officers—appointing all the officers of the naval forces, +and commissioning all officers whatever in the service of the United +States—making rules for the government and regulation of the said land +and naval forces, and directing their operations. + +The United States in Congress assembled shall have authority to appoint +a committee, to sit in the recess of Congress, to be denominated “A +Committee of the States,” and to consist of one delegate from each +State; and to appoint such other committees and civil officers as may +be necessary for managing the general affairs of the United States, +under their direction—to appoint one of their number to preside; +provided that no person be allowed to serve in the office of president +more than one year in any term of three years—to ascertain the +necessary sums of money to be raised for the service of the United +States, and to appropriate and apply the same for defraying the +public expenses—to borrow money, or emit bills on the credit of the +United States, transmitting every half year to the respective States +an account of the sums of money so borrowed or emitted—to build and +equip a navy—to agree upon the number of land forces, and to make +requisitions from each State for its quota, in proportion to the +number of white inhabitants in such State; which requisition shall be +binding; and thereupon the legislatures of each State shall appoint the +regimental officers, raise the men, and clothe, arm, and equip them in +a soldier-like manner, at the expense of the United States; and the +officers and men so clothed, armed, and equipped, shall march to the +place appointed, and within the time agreed on by the United States +in Congress assembled; but if the United States in Congress assembled +shall, on consideration of circumstances, judge proper that any State +should not raise men, or should raise a smaller number than its quota, +and that any other State should raise a greater number of men than the +quota thereof, such extra number shall be raised, officered, clothed, +armed, and equipped in the same manner as the quota of such State, +unless the legislature of such state shall judge that such extra number +can not be safely spared out of the same; in which case they shall +raise, officer, clothe, arm, and equip as many of such extra number as +they judge can be safely spared. And the officers and men so clothed, +armed, and equipped, shall march to the place appointed, and within the +time agreed on by the United States in Congress assembled. + +The United States in Congress assembled shall never engage in a war, +nor grant letters of marque and reprisal in time of peace, nor enter +into any treaties or alliances, nor coin money, nor regulate the value +thereof, nor ascertain the sums and expenses necessary for the defense +and welfare of the United States, or any of them, nor emit bills, nor +borrow money on the credit of the United States, nor appropriate money, +nor agree upon the number of vessels of war to be built or purchased, +or the number of land or sea forces to be raised, nor appoint a +commander-in-chief of the army or navy unless nine States assent to the +same; nor shall a question on any other point, except for adjourning +from day to day, be determined, unless by the votes of a majority of +the United States in Congress assembled. + +The Congress of the United States shall have power to adjourn to any +time within the year, and to any place within the United States, so +that no period of adjournment be for a longer duration than the space +of six months, and shall publish the journal of their proceedings +monthly, except such parts thereof relating to treaties, alliances, +or military operations, as in their judgment require secrecy and the +yeas and nays of the delegates of each State on any question shall be +entered on the journal when it is desired by any delegate; and the +delegates of a State, or any of them, at his or their request, shall +be furnished with a transcript of the said journal, except such parts +as are above excepted, to lay before the legislatures of the several +States. + +ARTICLE 10. The committee of the States, or any nine of them shall be +authorized to execute, in the recess of Congress, such of the powers +of Congress as the United States in Congress assembled, by the consent +of nine States, shall, from time to time, think expedient to vest them +with; provided that no power be delegated to the said committee; for +the exercise of which, by the Articles of Confederation; the voice of +nine States in the Congress of the United States assembled is requisite. + +ARTICLE 11. Canada, acceding to this confederation and joining in the +measures of the United States, shall be admitted into, and entitled to +all the advantages of this union; but no other colony shall be admitted +into the same unless such admission be agreed to by nine States. + +ARTICLE 12. All bills of credit emitted, moneys borrowed, and +debts contracted by, or under the authority of Congress, before +the assembling of the United States, in pursuance of the present +confederation, shall be deemed and considered as a charge against the +United States—for payment and satisfaction whereof, the said United +States and the public faith are hereby solemnly pledged. + +ARTICLE 13. Every State shall abide by the determinations of the +United States in Congress assembled on all questions which, by this +confederation, are submitted to them. And the articles of this +confederation shall be inviolably observed by every State, and the +union shall be perpetual; nor shall any alteration at any time +hereafter be made in any of them, unless such alteration be agreed to +in a Congress of the United States, and be afterward confirmed by the +legislatures of every State. + +_And Whereas_, It hath pleased the Great Governor of the World to +incline the hearts of the legislatures we respectively represent in +Congress, to approve of and to authorize us to ratify the said Articles +of Confederation and perpetual union. Know Ye that we, the undersigned +delegates, by virtue of the power and authority to us given for that +purpose, do, by these presents, in the name and in behalf of our +respective constituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm each +and every of the said Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union, +and all and singular the matters and things therein contained. And +we do further solemnly plight and engage the faith of our respective +constituents, that they shall abide by the determinations of the United +States in Congress assembled on all questions which, by the said +confederation, are submitted to them. And that the articles thereof +shall be inviolably observed by the States we respectively represent, +and that the union shall be perpetual. In witness whereof we have +hereunto set our hands in Congress. Done at Philadelphia, in the State +of Pennsylvania, the 9th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1778, and +in the 3d year of the Independence of America. + + + + + CONSTITUTION + OF THE + UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + + We, the People of the United States, in order to form a + more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic + tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote + the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty + to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish + this Constitution for the United States of America: + + + ARTICLE I. + +SECTION 1. All the legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in +a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and +House of Representatives. + +SEC. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members +chosen every second year by the people of the several States; and the +electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for +electors of the most numerous branch of the State Legislature. + +No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the +age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United +States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State +in which he shall be chosen. + +Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several +States which may be included within this Union, according to their +respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole +number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term +of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other +persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after +the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within +every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law +direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every +thirty thousand, but each State shall have at least one Representative; +and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire +shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island +and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New +Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia +ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three. + +When vacancies happen in the representation from any State, the +Executive authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such +vacancies. + +The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other +officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment. + +SEC. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two +Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six +years; and each Senator shall have one vote. + +Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first +election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three +classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated +at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the +expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration +of the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen, every second year; +and if vacancies happen by resignation, or otherwise, during the +recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make +temporary appointments until the next meeting of the Legislature, which +shall then fill such vacancies. + +No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of +thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and +who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State for which +he shall be chosen. + +The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the +Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided. + +The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President +_pro tempore_, in the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall +exercise the office of President of the United States. + +The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When +sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When +the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall +preside; and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of +two-thirds of the members present. + +Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to +removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office +of honor, trust or profit under the United States; but the party +convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, +trial, judgment and punishment, according to law. + +SEC. 4. The times, places, and manner of holding elections for +Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the +Legislature thereof; but the Congress may, at any time, by law make or +alter such regulations, except as the places of choosing Senators. + +The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such +meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by +law appoint a different day. + +SEC. 5. Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns, +and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall +constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn +from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of +absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as each House +may provide. + +Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish +its members for disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of +two-thirds, expel a member. + +Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to +time publish the same, excepting such parts as may, in their judgment, +require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either House +on any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be +entered on the journal. + +Neither House, during the session of Congress, shall, without the +consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any +other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting. + +SEC. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation +for their services, to be ascertained by law and paid out of the +treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, +felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their +attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going to +and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either +House, they shall not be questioned in any other place. + +No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he was +elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the +United States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof +shall have been increased during such time, and no person holding any +office under the United States shall be a member of either House during +his continuance in office. + +SEC. 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of +Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments +as on other bills. + +Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the +Senate, shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President +of the United States: If he approve, he shall sign it; but if not, he +shall return it, with his objections, to that House in which it shall +have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their +Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, +two-thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be +sent, together with the objections, to the other House, by which it +shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that +House, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both +Houses shall be determined by yeas and nay, and the names of the +persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the Journal +of each House respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the +President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been +presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he +had signed it, unless the Congress, by their adjournment, prevent its +return; in which case it shall not be a law. + +Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the Senate +and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of +adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; +and before the same shall take effect, shall be approved by him; or, +being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two-thirds of the Senate +and House of Representatives, according to the rules and limitations +prescribed in the case of a bill. + +SEC. 8. The Congress shall have Power— + +To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the debts +and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United +States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout +the United States; + +To borrow money on the credit of the United States; + +To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several +States, and with the Indian tribes; + +To establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the +subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States; + +To coin money, regulate the value thereof and of foreign coin, and fix +the standard of weights and measures; + +To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and +current coin of the United States; + +To establish post-offices and post-roads; + +To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for +limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their +respective writings and discoveries; + +To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court; + +To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, +and offenses against the law of nations; + +To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules +concerning captures on land and water; + +To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use +shall be for a longer term than two years; + +To provide and maintain a navy; + +To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval +forces; + +To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the +Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions; + +To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia, and +for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of +the United States, reserving to the States respectively the appointment +of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to +the discipline prescribed by Congress; + +To exercise exclusive legislation, in all cases whatsoever, over +such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of +particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of +the Government of the United States, and to exercise like authority +over all places purchased by the consent of the Legislature of the +State in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, +arsenals, dock-yards, and other needful buildings; and + +To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying +into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by +this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any +department or officer thereof. + +SEC. 9. The migration or importation of such persons as any of +the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be +prohibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred +and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not +exceeding ten dollars for each person. + +The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, +unless when, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may +require it. + +No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. + +No capitation, or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in proportion +to the census or enumeration hereinbefore directed to be taken. + +No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any State. + +No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or revenue +to the ports of one State over those of another; nor shall vessels +bound to or from one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties +in another. + +No money shall be drawn from the treasury but in consequence of +appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of the +receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from +time to time. + +No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no +person holding any office of profit or trust under them shall, without +the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, +or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign State. + +SEC. 10. No State shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or +confederation; grant letters of marque or reprisal; coin money; emit +bills of credit; make any thing but gold and silver coin a tender in +payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law +impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility. + +No State shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts or +duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary +for executing its inspection laws; and the net produce of all duties +and imposts, laid by any State on imports or exports, shall be for the +use of the treasury of the United States; and all such laws shall be +subject to the revision and control of the Congress. + +No State shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty of +tonnage, keep troops, or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any +agreement or compact with another State, or with a foreign power, or +engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as +will not admit of delay. + + +ARTICLE II. + +SECTION 1. The Executive Power shall be vested in a President of the +United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of +four years, and, together with the Vice-President, chosen for the same +term, be elected as follows: + +Each State shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof +may direct, a number of electors equal to the number of Senators and +Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress; but +no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or +profit under the United States, shall be appointed an elector. + +(The electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by ballot +for two persons—of one at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same +State with themselves. And they shall make a list of all the persons +voted for, and of the number of votes for each; which list they shall +sign and certify, and transmit, sealed, to the seat of the Government +of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The +President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House +of Representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then +be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the +President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors +appointed; and if there be more than one who have such majority, and +have an equal number of votes, then the House of Representatives shall +immediately choose by ballot one of them for President; and if no +person have a majority, then from the five highest on the list the said +House shall, in like manner, choose the President. But, in choosing the +President, the votes shall be taken by States, the representation from +each State having one vote. A quorum for this purpose shall consist of +a member or members from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of +all the States shall be necessary to a choice. In every case, after the +choice of the President, the person having the greatest number of votes +of the electors shall be the Vice-President. But if there should remain +two or more who have equal votes, the Senate shall choose from them by +ballot the Vice-President.[1]) + +[1] This clause has been repealed and annulled by the 12th amendment. + +The Congress may determine the time of choosing the electors, and the +day on which they shall give their votes; which day shall be the same +throughout the United States. + +No person, except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United +States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be +eligible to the office of President; neither stall any person be +eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of +thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United +States. + +In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his +death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties +of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President; +and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, +resignation, or inability, both of the President and Vice-President, +declaring what officer shall then act as President; and such officer +shall act accordingly until the disability be removed, or a President +shall be elected. + +The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services a +compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during +the period for which he shall have been elected; and he shall not +receive within that period any other emolument from the United States, +or any of them. + +Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the +following oath or affirmation: + + “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully + execute the office of President of the United States, and + will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and + defend the Constitution of the United States.” + +SEC. 2. The President shall be Commander-in-Chief of the Army and +Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several States +when called into the actual service of the United States; he may +require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of +the Executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of +their respective offices; and he shall have power to grant reprieves +and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of +impeachment. + +He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, +to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senate present concur; +and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the +Senate, shall appoint Embassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, +Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United +States whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and +which shall be established by law; but the Congress may by law vest +the appointment of such inferior officers as they think proper in the +President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments. + +The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen +during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions, which shall +expire at the end of their next session. + +SEC. 3. He shall, from time to time, give to the Congress information +of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration +such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on +extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them; and, +in case of disagreement between them with respect to the time of +adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper; +he shall receive Embassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take +care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the +officers of the United States. + +SEC. 4. The President, Vice-President, and all Civil Officers of the +United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and +conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. + + +ARTICLE III. + +SECTION 1. The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in +one Supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from +time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the Supreme and +inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and +shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation, +which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. + +SEC. 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in Law and +Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, +and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority; to +all cases affecting Embassadors, other public Ministers, and Consuls; +to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; to controversies +to which the United States shall be a party; to controversies between +two or more States; between a State and citizens of another State; +between citizens of different States; between citizens of the same +State claiming lands under grants of different States; and between +a State, or the citizens thereof, and foreign States, citizens, or +subjects. + +In all cases affecting Embassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, +and those in which a State shall be a party, the Supreme Court shall +have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, +the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and +fact, with such exceptions and under such regulations as the Congress +shall make. + +The trial of all crimes, except in cases of Impeachment, shall be by +jury; and such trial shall be held in the State where the said crimes +shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the +trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have +directed. + +SEC. 3. Treason against the United States shall consist only in +levying war against them, or adhering to their enemies, giving them +aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the +testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in +open Court. + +The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but +no Attainder of Treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, +except during the life of the person attainted. + + +ARTICLE IV. + +SECTION 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each State to the +public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other State. +And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such +acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof. + +SEC. 2. The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges +and immunities of citizens in the several States. + +A person charged in any State with treason, felony, or other crime, +who shall flee from justice, and be found in another State, shall, on +demand of the executive authority of the State from which he fled, be +delivered up, to be removed to the State having jurisdiction of the +crime. + +No person held to service or labor in one State, under the laws +thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or +regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall +be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may +be due. + +SEC. 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but +no new State shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any +other State; nor any State be formed by the junction of two or more +States or parts of States without the consent of the Legislatures of +the States concerned, as well as of the Congress. + +The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules +and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging +to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so +construed as to prejudice any claims of the United States, or any +particular State. + +SEC. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union +a republican form of Government, and shall protect each of them against +invasion; and on application of the Legislature, or of the Executive +(when the Legislature can not be convened), against domestic violence. + + +ARTICLE V. + +The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem it +necessary, shall propose amendments to the Constitution, or, on the +application of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, +shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either +case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this +Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of +the several States, or by conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the +one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; +_Provided_, that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one +thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first +and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that +no State, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage +in the Senate. + + +ARTICLE VI. + +All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adoption +of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States, +under this Constitution, as under the Confederation. + +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, +any thing in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary +notwithstanding. + +The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members +of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial +officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall +be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution; but no +religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office +or public trust under the United States. + + +ARTICLE VII. + +The ratification of the conventions of nine States shall be sufficient +for the establishment of this Constitution between the States so +ratifying the same. + +DONE in convention, by the unanimous consent of the States present, +the seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand +seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of the Independence of the United +States of America the twelfth. In Witness whereof, we have hereunto +subscribed our names. + + GEO. WASHINGTON, + _Pres’t and Deputy from Virginia._ + + _New Hampshire._ + JOHN LANGDON, NICHOLAS GILMAN. + + _Massachusetts._ + NATHANIEL GORHAM, RUFUS KING. + + _Connecticut._ + WM. SAML. JOHNSON, ROGER SHERMAN. + + _New York._ + ALEXANDER HAMILTON. + + + _New Jersey._ + WIL. LIVINGSTON, DAVID BREARLEY, + WM. PATERSON, JONA. DAYTON. + + _Pennsylvania._ + + B. FRANKLIN, THOMAS MIFFLIN, + ROBT. MORRIS, GEO. CLYMER, + THO. FITZSIMONS, JARED INGERSOLL, + JAMES WILSON, GOUV. MORRIS. + + _Delaware._ + GEO. READ, GUNNING BEDFORD, JUN’R, + JOHN DICKINSON, RICHARD BASSETT. + JACO. BROOM, + + _Maryland._ + JAMES M’HENRY, DAN. OF ST. THOS. JENIFER. + DANL. CARROLL, + + _Virginia._ + JOHN BLAIR, JAMES MADISON, JR. + + _North Carolina._ + WM. BLOUNT, RICH’D DOBBS SPAIGHT. + HU. WILLIAMSON, + + _South Carolina._ + J. RUTLEDGE, CHARLES COTESWORTH PINCKNEY, + CHARLES PINCKNEY, PIERCE BUTLER. + + _Georgia._ + WILLIAM FEW, ABR. BALDWIN. + + Attest: WILLIAM JACKSON, _Secretary_. + +[Illustration: THOMAS JEFFERSON.] + + +ARTICLES, + + In addition to, and amendment of, the Constitution of + the United States of America, proposed by Congress, + and ratified by the Legislatures of the several + States, pursuant to the fifth article of the original + Constitution. + + +ARTICLE I. + +Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, +or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom +of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to +assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. + + +ARTICLE II. + +A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free +State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be +infringed. + + +ARTICLE III. + +No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house, without +the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be +prescribed by law. + + +ARTICLE IV. + +The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, +and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be +violated, and no warrant shall issue but upon probable cause, supported +by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be +searched, and the persons or things to be seized. + + +ARTICLE V. + +No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous +crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in +cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in +actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person +be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life +or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness +against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without +due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use +without just compensation. + + +ARTICLE VI. + +In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a +speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district +wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have +been previously ascertained by law and to be informed of the nature and +cause of the accusation to be confronted with the witnesses against +him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, +and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. + + +ARTICLE VII. + +In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed +twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no +fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the +United States, than according to the rules of the common law. + + +ARTICLE VIII. + +Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor +cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. + + +ARTICLE IX. + +The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights, shall not be +construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. + + +ARTICLE X. + +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. + + +ARTICLE XI. + +The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to +extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against +one of the United States by citizens of another State, or by citizens +or subjects of any foreign State. + + +ARTICLE XII. + +The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by ballot +for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not +be an inhabitant of the same State with themselves; they shall name +in their ballot the person voted for as President, and in distinct +ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make +distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and all persons +voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, +which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the +seat of government of the United States, directed to the President +of the Senate:—The President of the Senate shall, in presence of +the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates, +and the votes shall then be counted; The person having the greatest +number of votes for President shall be the President, if such number +be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no +person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest +numbers, not exceeding three, on the list of those voted for as +President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately by +ballot the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall +be taken by States, the representation from each State having one; a +quorum for this shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds +of the States, and a majority of all the States shall be necessary +to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a +President, whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before +the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall +act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional +disability of the President. The person having the greatest number of +votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number +be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if no +person have a majority, then, from the two highest numbers on the list, +the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose +shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a +majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no +person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President, shall be +eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. + + +ARTICLE XIII. + +“SECTION 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a +punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, +shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their +jurisdiction. + +“SECTION 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this Article by +appropriate legislation, approved February 1, 1863.” + + * * * * * + +The Constitution was adopted on the 17th of September, 1787, by the +convention appointed in pursuance of the Resolution of the Congress +of the Confederation, of the 21st February, 1787, and ratified by the +conventions of the several States, as follows: + + By Convention of Delaware 7th December, 1787 + ” ” Pennsylvania 12th December, 1787 + ” ” New Jersey 18th December, 1787 + ” ” Georgia 2d January, 1788 + ” ” Connecticut 9th January, 1788 + ” ” Massachusetts 6th February, 1788 + ” ” Maryland 28th April, 1788 + ” ” South Carolina 28th May, 1788 + ” ” New Hampshire 21st June, 1788 + ” ” Virginia 26th June, 1788 + ” ” New York 26th July, 1788 + ” ” North Carolina 21st November, 1789 + ” ” Rhode Island 29th May, 1790 + +The first ten of the Amendments were proposed on the 25th September, +1789, and ratified by the constitutional number of States on the +15th December, 1791; the eleventh, on the 8th January, 1798; and the +twelfth, on the 25th September, 1804; and the thirteenth, on the ——, +186-. + + + + +WASHINGTON’S ADDRESSES. + + +There were not many occasions during his public career that Washington +was called upon to exercise his abilities as a writer or an orator; +but when such occasion did occur, he always acquitted himself with +a degree of perspicuity and modesty which may be said to have been +characteristic of himself alone. The addresses which follow mark, as +it were, four distinct epochs in the history of this unexampled man: +the first, when he accepted the command of the armies by which our +national independence was achieved; the second, when he surrendered +his commission, after having driven the foes of freedom from his +beloved country; the third, when he assumed the responsible duties of +President, in which office his high qualities for civil government +were as conspicuous as had been his military talents in the field; and +fourth, when he resigned his great trust and took leave of the people +in his imperishable “Farewell Address,” an inestimable legacy, which +can not be too frequently conned by every American who values his +birthright. + + +WASHINGTON’S ELECTION AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. + +On the 15th of June, 1775, Washington was unanimously elected by +Congress to “command all the Continental forces raised, or to be +raised, for the defense of American liberty,” and when he appeared in +his place the next day, the President of that body acquainted him with +his election, in a well-timed address, “and requested that he should +accept of that employment;” to which Washington replied as follows: + + “MR. PRESIDENT: Though I am truly sensible of the + high honor done me, in this appointment, yet I feel great + distress, from consciousness that my abilities and military + experience may not be equal to the extensive and important + trust: However, as the Congress desire it, I will enter upon + the momentous duty, and exert every power I possess in their + service, and for support of the glorious cause. I beg they + will accept my most cordial thanks for this distinguished + testimony of their approbation. + + “But lest some unlucky event should happen, unfavorable + to my reputation, I beg it may be remembered, by every + gentleman in the room, that I, this day, declare, with the + utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to the command + I am honored with. + + “As to pay, sir, I beg leave to assure the Congress, + that, as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me + to accept this arduous employment, at the expense of my + domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any + profit from it. I will keep an exact account of my expenses. + Those, I doubt not, they will discharge, and that is all I + desire.” + + +WASHINGTON’S RESIGNATION OF HIS COMMISSION. + +The War of the Revolution having terminated auspiciously, Washington +took leave of his officers and army at New York, and repaired to +Annapolis, Md., where Congress was then in session. On the 20th of +December, 1783, he transmitted a letter to that body, apprising them +of his arrival, with the intention of resigning his commission, and +desiring to know whether it would be most agreeable to receive it in +writing or at an audience. It was immediately resolved that a public +entertainment be given him on the 22d, and that he be admitted to an +audience on the 23d, at 12 o’clock. Accordingly, he attended at that +time, and, being seated, the President informed him that Congress were +prepared to receive his communications. Whereupon he arose, and spoke +as follows: + + “MR. PRESIDENT: The great events on which my + resignation depended having at length taken place, I have + now the honor of offering my sincere congratulations to + Congress, and of presenting myself before them, to surrender + into their hands the trust committed to me, and to claim the + indulgence of retiring from the service of my country. + + “Happy in the confirmation of our independence and + sovereignty, and pleased with the opportunity afforded the + United States of becoming a respectable nation, I resign + with satisfaction the appointment I accepted with + diffidence: a diffidence in my abilities to accomplish + so arduous a task; which, however, was superseded by a + confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the support of the + supreme power of the Union, and the patronage of Heaven. + + “The successful termination of the war has verified the + most sanguine expectations; and my gratitude for the + interposition of Providence, and the assistance I have + received from my countrymen, increases with every review of + the momentous contest. + + “While I repeat my obligations to the army in general, I + should do injustice to my own feelings not to acknowledge, + in this place, the peculiar services and distinguished + merits of the gentlemen who have been attached to my + person during the war. It was impossible the choice of + confidential officers to compose my family should have been + more fortunate. Permit me, sir, to recommend, in particular, + those who have continued in the service to the present + moment, as worthy of the favorable notice and patronage of + Congress. + + “I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last + act of my official life by commending the interests of our + dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, and those + who have the superintendence of them to his holy keeping. + + “Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from + the great theater of action, and bidding an affectionate + farewell to this august body, under whose orders I have so + long acted, I here offer my commission, and take my leave of + all the employments of public life.” + + +WASHINGTON’S INAUGURAL ADDRESS. + +In accordance with previous arrangements, General Washington met +Congress in New York, on the 30th of April, 1789, for the purpose of +being inaugurated as the first President of the United States. The oath +of office having been administered by the Chancellor of the State of +New York, in presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, the +President delivered the following Inaugural Address: + +“_Fellow-citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives_: + + “Among the vicissitudes incident to life, no event could + have filled me with greater anxieties than that of which the + notification was transmitted by your order, and received + on the 14th day of the present month. On the one hand, I + was summoned by my country, whose voice I can never hear + but with veneration and love, from a retreat which I had + chosen with the fondest predilection, and, in my flattering + hopes, with an immutable decision, as the asylum of my + declining years—a retreat which was rendered every day more + necessary, as well as more dear to me, by the addition of + habit to inclination, and of frequent interruptions in my + health, to the gradual waste committed on it by time. On the + other hand, the magnitude and difficulty of the trust to + which the voice of my country called me, being sufficient to + awaken, in the wisest and most experienced of her citizens, + a distrustful scrutiny into his qualifications, could not + but overwhelm with despondency one who, inheriting inferior + endowments from nature, and unpracticed in the duties of + civil administration, ought to be peculiarly conscious of + his own deficiencies. In this conflict of emotion, all I + dare aver is, that it has been my faithful study to collect + my duty from a just appreciation of every circumstance + by which it might be affected. All I dare hope is, that + if, in executing this task, I have been too much swayed + by a grateful remembrance of former instances, or by an + affectionate sensibility to this transcendent proof of + the confidence of my fellow-citizens, and have thence too + little consulted my incapacity as well as disinclination + for the weighty and untried cares before me, my error + will be palliated by the motives which misled me, and its + consequences be judged by my country, with some share of the + partiality in which they originated. + + “Such being the impressions under which I have, in obedience + to the public summons, repaired to the present station, it + would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official + act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who + rules over the universe—who presides in the councils of + nations—and whose providential aids can supply every + human defect, that his benediction may consecrate to + the liberties and happiness of the people of the United + States—a government instituted by themselves for these + essential purposes—and may enable every instrument employed + in its administration to execute with success the functions + allotted to his charge. In tendering this homage to the + Great Author of every public and private good, I assure + myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my + own; nor those of my fellow-citizens at large, less than + either. No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore + the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more + than the people of the United States. Every step by which + they have advanced to the character of an independent + nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of + providential agency; and in the important revolution just + accomplished in the system of their united government, the + tranquil deliberations, and voluntary consent of so many + distinct communities, from which the event has resulted, can + not be compared with the means by which most governments + have been established without some return of pious + gratitude, along with an humble anticipation of the future + blessings which the past seem to presage. These reflections, + arising out of the present crisis, have forced themselves + too strongly on my mind to be suppressed. You will join + with me, I trust, in thinking that there are none under + the influence of which the proceedings of a new and free + government can more auspiciously commence. + + “By the article establishing the executive department, it + is made the duty of the President ‘to recommend to your + consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and + expedient.’ The circumstances under which I now meet you, + will acquit me from not entering into that subject farther + than to refer to the great constitutional charter under + which you are assembled, and which, in defining your powers, + designates the objects to which your attention is to be + given. It will be more consistent with those circumstances, + and far more congenial with the feelings which actuate me, + to substitute, in place of a recommendation of particular + measures, the tribute that is due to the talents, the + rectitude, and the patriotism which adorn the characters + selected to devise and adopt them. In these honorable + qualifications I behold the surest pledges that as, on one + side, no local prejudices or attachments, no separate views, + nor party animosities, will misdirect the comprehensive and + equal eye which ought to watch over this great assemblage + of communities and interests; so, on another, that the + foundations of our national policy will be laid in the + pure and immutable principles of private morality; and the + preëminence of free government be exemplified by all the + attributes which can win the affections of its citizens, + and command the respect of the world. I dwell on this + prospect with every satisfaction which an ardent love + for my country can inspire; since there is no truth more + thoroughly established than that there exists in the economy + and course of nature an indissoluble union between virtue + and happiness—between duty and advantage—between the + genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy and the + solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity; since we + ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of + Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards + the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself + has ordained; and since the preservation of the sacred + fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model + of government are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as + finally, staked on the experiment intrusted to the hands of + the American people. + + “Besides the ordinary objects submitted to your care, it + will remain with your judgment to decide how far an exercise + of the occasional power delegated by the fifth article + of the Constitution is rendered expedient at the present + juncture by the nature of objections which have been urged + against the system, or by the degree of inquietude which + has given birth to them. Instead of undertaking particular + recommendations on this subject, in which I could be guided + by no lights derived from official opportunities, I shall + again give way to my entire confidence in your discernment + and pursuit of the public good; for, I assure myself, that + while you carefully avoid every alteration which might + endanger the benefits of an united and effective government, + or which ought to await the future lessons of experience, a + reverence for the characteristic rights of freemen, and a + regard for the public harmony, will sufficiently influence + your deliberations on the question, how far the former can + be more impregnably fortified, or the latter be safely and + advantageously promoted. + + “To the preceding observations I have one to add, + which will be most properly addressed to the House of + Representatives. It concerns myself, and will, therefore, + be as brief as possible: When I was first honored with a + call into the service of my country, then on the eve of an + arduous struggle for its liberties, the light in which I + contemplated my duty required that I should renounce every + pecuniary compensation. From this resolution I have in no + instance departed, and, being still under the impressions + which produced it, I must decline, as inapplicable to + myself, any share in the personal emoluments which may be + indispensably included in a permanent provision for the + executive department, and must accordingly pray that the + pecuniary estimates for the station in which I am placed + may, during my continuance in it, be limited to such actual + expenditures as the public good may be thought to require. + + “Having thus imparted to you my sentiments, as they have + been awakened by the occasion which brings us together, + I shall take my present leave, but not without resorting + once more to the benign Parent of the human race, in humble + supplication, that since he has been pleased to favor + the American people with opportunities for deliberating + in perfect tranquillity, and dispositions for deciding + with unparalleled unanimity on a form of government for + the security of their Union and the advancement of their + happiness, so his Divine blessing may be equally conspicuous + in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations, and the + wise measures, on which the success of this government must + depend.” + + + + +WASHINGTON’S FAREWELL ADDRESS. + + +_Friends and Fellow-Citizens_: + +The period for a new election of a citizen to administer the Executive +Government of the United States being not far distant, and the time +actually arrived when your thoughts must be employed in designating the +person who is to be clothed with that important trust, it appears to +me proper, especially as it may conduce to a more distinct expression +of the public voice, that I should now apprise you of the resolution I +have formed, to decline being considered among the number of those out +of whom a choice is to be made. + +I beg you, at the same time, to do me the justice to be assured that +this resolution has not been taken without a strict regard to all the +considerations appertaining to the relation which binds a dutiful +citizen to his country; and that, in withdrawing the tender of service, +which silence in my situation might imply, I am influenced by no +diminution of zeal for your future interest; no deficiency of grateful +respect for your past kindness, but am supported by a full conviction +that the step is compatible with both. + +The acceptance of, and continuance hitherto in, the office to which +your suffrages have twice called me, have been a uniform sacrifice +of inclination to the opinion of duty, and to a deference for what +appeared to be your desire. I constantly hoped that it would have +been much earlier in my power, consistently with motives which I was +not at liberty to disregard, to return to that retirement from which +I had been reluctantly drawn. The strength of my inclination to do +this, previous to the last election, had even led to the preparation +of an address to declare it to you; but mature reflection on the then +perplexed and critical posture of our affairs with foreign nations, and +the unanimous advice of persons entitled to my confidence, impelled me +to abandon the idea. + +I rejoice that the state of your concerns, external as well as +internal, no longer renders the pursuit of inclination incompatible +with the sentiment of duty or propriety; and am persuaded, whatever +partiality may be retained for my services, that, in the present +circumstances of our country, you will not disapprove my determination +to retire. + +The impressions with which I undertook the arduous trust were +explained on the proper occasion. In the discharge of this trust, I +will only say that I have with good intentions contributed toward the +organization and administration of the Government the best exertions +of which a very fallible judgment was capable. Not unconscious in the +outset of the inferiority of my qualifications, experience, in my own +eyes—perhaps still more in the eyes of others—has strengthened the +motives to diffidence of myself; and every day the increasing weight +of years admonishes me more and more, that the shade of retirement +is as necessary to me as it will be welcome. Satisfied that if any +circumstances have given peculiar value to my services, they were +temporary, I have the consolation to believe that, while choice and +prudence invite me to quit the political scene, patriotism does not +forbid it. + +In looking forward to the moment which is intended to terminate the +career of my public life, my feelings do not permit me to suspend the +deep acknowledgment of that debt of gratitude which I owe to my beloved +country for the many honors it has conferred upon me; still more for +the steadfast confidence with which it has supported me; and for the +opportunities I have thence enjoyed of manifesting my inviolable +attachment, by services faithful and persevering, though in usefulness +unequal to my zeal. If benefits have resulted to our country from +these services, let it always be remembered to your praise, and as an +instructive example in our annals that, under circumstances in which +the passions, agitated in every direction, were liable to mislead; +amid appearances sometimes dubious, vicissitudes of fortune often +discouraging; in situations in which, not unfrequently, want of success +has countenanced the spirit of criticism—the constancy of your support +was the essential prop of the efforts, and a guarantee of the plans, +by which they were effected. Profoundly penetrated with this idea, I +shall carry it with me to my grave, as a strong incitement to unceasing +vows, that Heaven may continue to you the choicest tokens of its +beneficence; that your union and brotherly affection may be perpetual; +that the free Constitution, which is the work of your hands, may be +sacredly maintained; that its administration, in every department, +may be stamped with wisdom and virtue; that, in fine, the happiness +of the people of these States, under the auspices of liberty, may be +made complete by so careful a preservation and so prudent a use of this +blessing as will acquire to them the glory of recommending it to the +applause, the affection, and the adoption of every nation which is yet +a stranger to it. + +Here, perhaps, I ought to stop; but a solicitude for your welfare, +which can not end but with my life, and the apprehension of danger +natural to that solicitude, urge me, on an occasion like the +present, to offer to your solemn contemplation, and to recommend to +your frequent review, some sentiments which are the result of much +reflection, of no inconsiderable observation, and which appear to me +all-important to the permanency of our felicity as a people. These +will be afforded to you with the more freedom, as you can only see in +them the disinterested warnings of a parting friend, who can possibly +have no personal motive to bias his counsel; nor can I forget, as an +encouragement to it, your indulgent reception of my sentiments on a +former and not dissimilar occasion. + +Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your +hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm +the attachment. + +The unity of government which constitutes you one people, is also now +dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar in the edifice +of your real independence—the support of your tranquillity at home, +your peace abroad, of your safety, of your prosperity, of that very +liberty which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to foresee that, +from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be +taken, many artifices employed, to weaken in your minds the conviction +of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress +against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be +most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) +directed, it is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate +the immense value of your National Union to your collective and +individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and +immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak +of it as of the palladium of your political safety and prosperity; +watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing +whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can, in any event, be +abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every +attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to +enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts. + +For this you have every inducement of sympathy and interest. Citizens +by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right +to concentrate your affections. The name of _American_, which +belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just +pride of patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local +discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same +religion, manners, habits, and political principles. You have, in a +common cause, fought and triumphed together; the independence and +liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels and joint efforts—of +common dangers, sufferings and successes. + +But these considerations, however powerfully they address themselves +to your sensibility, are greatly outweighed by those which apply more +immediately to your interest; here every portion of our country finds +the most commanding motives for carefully guarding and preserving the +union of the whole. + +The North, in an unrestrained intercourse with the South, protected +by the equal laws of a common government, finds, in the productions +of the latter, great additional resources of maritime and commercial +enterprise, and precious materials of manufacturing industry. The +South, in the same intercourse, benefiting by the agency of the North, +sees its agriculture grow and its commerce expand. Turning partly into +its own channels the seamen of the North, it finds its particular +navigation invigorated; and while it contributes, in different ways, +to nourish and increase the general mass of the national navigation, +it looks forward to the protection of a maritime strength to which +itself is unequally adapted. The East, in like intercourse with the +West, already finds—and in the progressive improvement of interior +communication by land and water, will more and more find—a valuable +vent for the commodities which it brings from abroad or manufactures at +home. The West derives from the East supplies requisite to its growth +and comfort; and what is, perhaps, of still greater consequence, it +must, of necessity, owe the secure enjoyment of indispensable outlets +for its own productions, to the weight, influence, and the future +maritime strength of the Atlantic side of the Union, directed by an +indissoluble community of interest as one nation. Any other tenure by +which the West can hold this essential advantage, whether derived from +its own separate strength, or from an apostate and unnatural connection +with any foreign power, must be intrinsically precarious. + +While, then, every part of our country thus feels an immediate and +particular interest in UNION, all the parts combined can not fail +to find, in the united mass of means and efforts, greater strength, +greater resource, proportionately greater security from external +danger, a less frequent interruption of their peace by foreign nations; +and what is of inestimable value, they must derive from union an +exemption from those broils and wars between themselves, which so +frequently afflict neighboring countries, not tied together by the +same government; which their own rivalship alone would be sufficient +to produce, but which opposite foreign alliances, attachments, and +intrigues would stimulate and embitter. Hence, likewise, they will +avoid the necessity of those overgrown military establishments, which, +under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which +are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty; in +this sense it is that your union ought to be considered as a main prop +of your liberty, and that the love of the one ought to endear to you +the preservation of the other. + +These considerations speak a persuasive language to every reflecting +and virtuous mind, and exhibit the continuance of the Union as a +primary object of patriotic desire. Is there a doubt, whether a common +government can embrace so large a sphere? Let experience solve it. +To listen to mere speculation, in such a case, were criminal. We are +authorized to hope, that a proper organization of the whole, with +the auxiliary agency of governments for the respective subdivisions, +will afford a happy issue to the experiment. It is well worth a fair +and full experiment. With such powerful and obvious motives to Union, +affecting all parts of our country, while experience shall not have +demonstrated its impracticability, there will always be reason to +distrust the patriotism of those who, in any quarter, may endeavor to +weaken its bands. + +In contemplating the causes which may disturb our Union, it occurs, as +a matter of serious concern, that any ground should have been furnished +for characterizing parties by geographical discriminations—Northern +and Southern, Atlantic and Western—whence designing men may endeavor +to excite a belief that there is a real difference of local interests +and views. One of the expedients of party to acquire influence within +particular districts, is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other +districts. You can not shield yourself too much against the jealousies +and heart-burnings which spring from these misrepresentations; they +tend to render alien to each other those who ought to be bound together +by fraternal affection. The inhabitants of our western country have +lately had a useful lesson on this head; they have seen in the +negotiation of the Executive, and in the unanimous ratification by the +Senate, of the treaty with Spain, and in the universal satisfaction +at that event throughout the United States, a decisive proof how +unfounded were the suspicions propagated among them of a policy in the +General Government, and in the Atlantic States, unfriendly to their +interests in regard to the Mississippi; they have been witnesses to +the formation of two treaties—that with Great Britain, and that with +Spain—which secure to them every thing they could desire in respect to +our foreign relations, toward confirming their prosperity. Will it not +be their wisdom to rely for the preservation of these advantages on the +Union by which they were procured? Will they not henceforth be deaf +to those advisers, if such there be, who would sever them from their +brethren, and connect them with aliens? + +To the efficacy and permanency of your Union, a Government for the +whole is indispensable. No alliance, however strict between the parts, +can be an adequate substitute; they must inevitably experience the +infractions and interruptions which all alliances, in all time, have +experienced. Sensible of this momentous truth, you have improved upon +your first essay, by the adoption of a Constitution of Government +better calculated than your former for an intimate Union, and for the +efficacious management of your common concerns. This Government, the +offspring of our own choice, uninfluenced and unawed, adopted upon +full investigation and mature deliberation, completely free in its +principles, in the distribution of its powers, uniting security with +energy, and containing within itself a provision for its own amendment, +has a just claim to your confidence and your support. Respect its +authority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in its measures, are +duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims of true liberty. The basis of +our political systems, is the right of the people to make and to alter +their constitutions of Government; but the Constitution which at any +time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole +people, is sacredly obligatory upon all. The very idea of the power and +the right of the people to establish Government, presupposes the duty +of every individual to obey the established Government. + +All obstructions to the execution of the laws, all combinations and +associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design +to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation +and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive to this +fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize +faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force, to put in +the place of the delegated will of the nation the will of a party, +often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; +and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to +make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and +incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent +and wholesome plans, digested by common counsels, and modified by +mutual interests. + +However combinations and associations of the above description may now +and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time +and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and +unprincipled men, will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, +and to usurp for themselves the reins of Government; destroying, +afterward, the very engines which had lifted them to unjust dominion. + +Toward the preservation of your Government, and the permanency of +your present happy state, it is requisite, not only that you steadily +discountenance irregular oppositions, to its acknowledged authority, +but also that you resist, with care, the spirit of innovation upon +its principles, however specious the pretexts. One method of assault +may be to effect, in the forms’ Constitution, alterations which will +impair the energy of the system, and thus to undermine what can not be +directly overthrown. In all the changes to which you may be invited, +remember that time and habit are at least as necessary to fix the +true character of Governments as of other human institutions; that +experience is the surest standard by which to test the real tendency of +the existing constitution of a country; that facility in changes, upon +the credit of mere hypothesis and opinion, exposes to perpetual change, +from the endless variety of hypothesis and opinion; and remember, +especially, that for the efficient management of your common interests, +in a country so extensive as ours, a Government of as much vigor as +is consistent with the perfect security of liberty, is indispensable. +Liberty itself will find in such a Government, with powers properly +distributed and adjusted, its surest guardian. It is, indeed, little +else than a name, where the Government is too feeble to withstand the +enterprises of faction, to confine each member of the society within +the limits prescribed by the laws, and to maintain all in the secure +and tranquil enjoyment of the rights of person and property. + +I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, +with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical +discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn +you, in the most solemn manner, against the baneful effects of the +spirit of party generally. + +This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having +its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under +different shapes, in all Governments, more or less stifled, controlled, +or repressed; but in those of the popular form it is seen in its +greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy. + +The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the +spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which, in different +ages and countries, has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is +itself a frightful despotism. But this leads, at length, to a more +formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which +result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose +in the absolute power of an individual; and, sooner or later, the +chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than +his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own +elevation on the ruins of public liberty. + +Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind, (which, +nevertheless, ought not to be entirely out of sight,) the common and +continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it +the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. + +It serves always to distract the public counsels, and enfeeble the +public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded +jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosities of one part +against another; foments, occasionally, riot and insurrection. It opens +the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated +access to the Government itself, through the channels of party +passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to +the policy and will of another. + +There is an opinion that parties, in free countries, are useful checks +upon the administration of the Government, and serve to keep alive +the spirit of liberty. This, within certain limits, is probably true; +and in Governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with +indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those +of the popular character, in Governments purely elective, it is a +spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain +there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. +And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by +force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be +quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a +flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume. + +It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking, in a +free country, should inspire caution in those intrusted with its +administration to confine themselves within their respective +constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of one department, to +encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate +the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever +the form of Government, a real despotism. A just estimate of that love +of power, and proneness to abuse it which predominates in the human +heart, is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position. The +necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, +by dividing and distributing it into different depositories, and +constituting each the guardian of public weal, against invasions by +the others, has been evinced by experiments, ancient and modern, some +of them in our own country, and under our own eyes. To preserve them +must be as necessary as to institute them. If, in the opinion of the +people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers +be, in any particular, wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in +the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change +by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument +of good, it is the customary weapon by which free Governments are +destroyed. The precedent must always greatly overbalance, in permanent +evil, any partial or transient benefit which the use can, at any time, +yield. + +Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, +religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that +man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these +great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties +of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, +ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all +their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be +asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, +if the sense of religious obligation _desert_ the oaths which are the +instruments of investigation in the courts of justice? And let us +with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained +without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined +education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both +forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of +religious principles. + +It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary +spring of popular Government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or +less force to every species of free Government. Who, that is a sincere +friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the +foundation of the fabric? + +Promote, then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the +general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a +Government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public +opinion should be enlightened. + +As a very important source of strength and security, cherish public +credit. One method to preserve it is to use it as sparingly as +possible; avoiding occasions of expense by cultivating peace, but +remembering also that timely disbursements, to prepare for danger, +frequently prevent much greater disbursements to repel it; avoiding, +likewise, the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning occasion of +expense, but by vigorous exertions in time of peace to discharge the +debts which unavoidable wars may have occasioned, not ungenerously +throwing upon posterity the burden which we ourselves ought to bear. +The execution of these maxims belong to your representatives, but it +is necessary that public opinion should coöperate. To facilitate to +them the performance of their duty, it is essential that you should +practically bear in mind, that toward the payment of debts there must +be revenue; that to have revenue there must be taxes; that no taxes +can be devised which are not more or less inconvenient and unpleasant; +that the intrinsic embarrassment inseparable from the selection of +the proper objects (which is always a choice of difficulties) ought +to be a decisive motive for a candid construction of the conduct of +the Government in making it, and for a spirit of acquiescence in the +measures for obtaining revenue, which the public exigencies may at that +time dictate. + +Observe good faith and justice toward all nations; cultivate peace and +harmony with all; religion and morality enjoin this conduct: and can +it be that good policy does not equally enjoin it? It will be worthy +of a free, enlightened, and, at no distant period, a great nation, +to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a people +always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence. Who can doubt +that, in the course of time and things, the fruits of such a plan +would richly repay any temporary advantages which might be lost by a +steady adherence to it? Can it be that Providence has not connected +the permanent felicity of a nation with its virtue? The experiment, at +least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human nature. +Alas! is it to be rendered impossible by its vices? + +In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more essential than +that permanent inveterate antipathies against particular nations, +and passionate attachment for others, should be excluded; and that, +in place of them, just and amicable feelings toward all should be +cultivated. The nation which indulges toward another an habitual +hatred, or an habitual fondness, is, in some degree, a slave. It is a +slave to its animosity or its affection, either of which is sufficient +to lead it astray from its duty and its interest. Antipathy in one +nation against another, disposes each more readily to offer insult and +injury, to lay hold of slight causes of umbrage, and to be haughty and +intractable when accidental or trifling occasions of dispute occur. +Hence frequent collisions, obstinate, envenomed, and bloody contests. +The nation, prompted by ill-will and resentment, sometimes impels to +war the Government contrary to the best calculations of policy. The +Government sometimes participates in the national propensity, and +adopts, through passion, what reason would reject; at other times it +makes the animosity of the nation subservient to projects of hostility, +instigated by pride, ambition, and other sinister and pernicious +motives. The peace often, sometimes perhaps the liberty, of nations has +been the victim. + +So, likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation to another produces +a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the +illusion of an imaginary common interest, in cases where no real common +interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, +betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the +latter, without adequate inducement or justification. It leads also +to concessions to the favorite nation of privileges denied to others, +which is apt doubly to injure the nation making the concessions; by +unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained, and by +exciting jealousy, ill-will, and a disposition to retaliate in the +parties from whom equal privileges are withheld; and it gives to +ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens (who devote themselves to the +favorite nation) facility to betray, or sacrifice the interest of their +own country, without odium, sometimes even with popularity; gilding +with the appearance of virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable +deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good the +base or foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation. + +[Illustration: JAMES MADISON.] + +As avenues to foreign influence, in innumerable ways, such attachments +are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened and independent +patriot. How many opportunities do they afford to tamper with domestic +factions, to practice the art of seduction, to mislead public opinion, +to influence or awe the public councils! Such an attachment of a small +or weak, toward a great and powerful nation, dooms the former to be the +satellite of the latter. + +Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to +believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be +_constantly_ awake; since history and experience prove that foreign +influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government. But +that jealousy, to be useful, must be impartial, else it becomes the +instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of a defense +against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation, and excessive +dislike for another, cause those whom they actuate to see danger only +on one side, and serve to veil, and even second the arts of influence +on the other. Real patriots, who may resist the intrigues of the +favorite, are liable to become suspected and odious; while its tools +and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people to surrender +their interests. + +The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is, +in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little +political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed +engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us +stop. + +Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a very +remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, +the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, +therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by +artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the +ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities. + +Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue +a different course. If we remain one people, under an efficient +Government, the period is not far off when we may defy material +injury from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude +as will cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon, to +be scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, under the +impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard +the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our +interest, guided by justice, shall counsel. + +Why forego the advantages of such a peculiar situation? Why quit our +own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with +that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the +toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice? + +It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any +portion of the foreign world; so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty +to do it; for let me not be understood as capable of patronizing +infidelity to existing engagements. I hold the maxim no less applicable +to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best +policy. I repeat it, therefore, let those engagements be observed in +their genuine sense. But, in my opinion, it is unnecessary, and would +be unwise to extend them. + +Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, on +a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary +alliances for extraordinary emergencies. + +Harmony and a liberal intercourse with all nations, are recommended +by policy, humanity, and interest. But even our commercial policy +should hold an equal and impartial hand; neither seeking nor granting +exclusive favors or preferences; consulting the natural course of +things; diffusing and diversifying, by gentle means, the streams of +commerce, but forcing nothing; establishing, with powers so disposed, +in order to give trade a stable course, to define the rights of our +merchants, and to enable the Government to support conventional rules +of intercourse, the best that present circumstances and mutual opinions +will permit, but temporary, and liable to be, from time to time, +abandoned or varied, as experience and circumstances shall dictate; +constantly keeping in view, that it is folly in one nation to look for +disinterested favors from another; that it must pay, with a portion +of its independence, for whatever it may accept under that character; +that by such acceptance it may place itself in the condition of having +given equivalents for nominal favors, and yet of being reproached with +ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater error than to +expect, or calculate upon, real favors from nation to nation. It is +an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to +discard. + +In offering to you, my countrymen, these counsels of an old and +affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong and +lasting impression I could wish—that they will control the usual +current of the passions, or prevent our nation from running the course +which has hitherto marked the destiny of nations—but if I may even +flatter myself that they may be productive of some partial benefit, +some occasional good, that they may now and then recur to moderate +the fury of party spirit, to warn against the mischief of foreign +intrigues, to guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism, +this hope will be a full recompense for the solicitude for your welfare +by which they have been dictated. + +How far, in the discharge of my official duties, I have been guided +by the principles which have been delineated, the public records, and +other evidences of my conduct, must witness to you and the world. To +myself the assurance of my own conscience is, that I have at least +believed myself to be guided by them. + +In relation to this still subsisting war in Europe, my proclamation of +the 22d of April, 1793, is the index to my plan. Sanctioned by your +approving voice, and by that of your Representatives in both Houses +of Congress, the spirit of that measure has continually governed me, +uninfluenced by any attempts to deter or divert me from it. + +After deliberate examination, with the aid of the best lights I +could obtain, I was well satisfied that our country, under all the +circumstances of the case, had a right to take—and was bound in duty +and interest to take—a neutral position. Having taken it, I determined, +as far as should depend upon me, to maintain it with moderation, +perseverance, and firmness. + +The considerations which respect the right to hold this conduct, it is +not necessary on this occasion to detail. I will only observe that, +according to my understanding of the matter, that right, so far from +being denied by any of the belligerent powers, has been virtually +admitted by all. + +The duty of holding a neutral conduct may be inferred, without any +thing more, from the obligation which justice and humanity impose +on every nation, in cases in which it is free to act, to maintain +inviolate the relations of peace and amity toward other nations. + +The inducements of interest, for observing that conduct, will best be +referred to your own reflections and experience. With me, a predominant +motive has been to endeavor to gain time to our country to settle +and mature its yet recent institutions, and to progress, without +interruption, to that degree of strength and consistency which is +necessary to give it, humanly speaking, the command of its own fortunes. + +Though in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am +unconscious of intentional error, I am, nevertheless, too sensible of +my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many +errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech the Almighty to +avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I shall also carry +with me the hope, that my country will never cease to view them with +indulgence; and that, after forty-five years of my life dedicated to +its service with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities +will be consigned to oblivion, as myself must soon be to the mansions +of rest. + +Relying on its kindness in this, as in other things, and actuated by +that fervent love toward it which is so natural to a man who views +in it the native soil of himself and his progenitors, I anticipate, +with pleasing expectation, that retreat in which I promise myself to +realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst +of my fellow-citizens, the benign influence of good laws under a free +Government—the ever-favorite object of my heart—and the happy reward, +as I trust, of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers. + + GEORGE WASHINGTON. + UNITED STATES, 17th September, 1796. + + + + +MISSOURI COMPROMISE OF 1820. + + +When Missouri applied for admission into the Union, a proposition +was started in Congress to prohibit the introduction of slavery into +the new State. This had the effect of arraying the South against the +North—the slaveholding against the non-slaveholding States—and the +whole subject of slavery became the exciting topic of debate throughout +the country. The question was finally settled by a _Compromise_, which +tolerated slavery in Missouri, but otherwise prohibited it in all the +territory of the United States north and west of the northern limits of +Arkansas. + +As the principle then settled has often since been the prolific source +of much sectional controversy and angry debate, and as it is desirable +that every one should be familiar with the _real_ provisions of the +act by which Missouri was admitted, we have concluded to insert here +so much of the law as is necessary to a full understanding of the +subject. All the sections, except the following, relate entirely to the +formation of the Missouri territory, in the usual form of territorial +bills: + +“SEC. 8. That in all that territory ceded by France to the United +States, under the name of Louisiana, which lies north of thirty-six +degrees and thirty minutes north latitude, not included within the +limits of the State contemplated by this act, slavery and involuntary +servitude, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the +parties shall be duly convicted, shall be, and is hereby, forever +prohibited. _Provided always_, That any person escaping into the +same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed, in any State or +Territory of the United States, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed +and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or service as +aforesaid.” + + + + +FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW OF 1850. + + An Act to amend, and supplementary to, the Act entitled, + “An Act respecting Fugitives from Justice, and persons + escaping from the Service of their Masters,” and + approved February 12, 1793. + + +_Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United +States of America in Congress assembled_, That the persons who have +been, or may hereafter be, appointed Commissioners, in virtue of any +Act of Congress, by the Circuit Courts of the United States, and who, +in consequence of such appointment, are authorized to exercise the +powers that any justice of the peace, or other magistrate of any of +the United States, may exercise in respect to offenders for any crime +or offense against the United States, by arresting, imprisoning, or +bailing the same, under, and by virtue of, the thirty-third section +of the act of the twenty-fourth of September, seventeen hundred and +eighty-nine, entitled, “An Act to establish the judicial courts of the +United States,” shall be, and are hereby, authorized and required to +exercise and discharge all the powers and duties conferred by this Act. + +SEC. 2. That the Superior Court of each organized Territory of the +United States shall have the same power to appoint Commissioners to +take acknowledgments of bail and affidavits, and to take depositions +of witnesses in civil causes, which is now possessed by the Circuit +Court of the United States; and all Commissioners who shall hereafter +be appointed for such purposes by the Superior Court of any organized +Territory of the United States shall possess all the powers, and +exercise all the duties, conferred by law upon the Commissioners +appointed by the Circuit Courts of the United States for similar +purposes, and shall moreover exercise and discharge all the powers and +duties conferred by this Act. + +SEC. 3. That the Circuit Courts of the United States, and the Superior +Courts of each organized territory of the United States, shall, from +time to time, enlarge the number of Commissioners with a view to afford +reasonable facilities to reclaim fugitives from labor, and to the +prompt discharge of the duties imposed by this Act. + +SEC. 4. That the Commissioners above named shall have concurrent +jurisdiction with the Judges of the Circuit and District Courts of +the United States, in their respective circuits and districts within +the several States, and the Judges of the Superior Courts of the +territories severally and collectively; in term time and vacation; and +shall grant certificates to such claimants, upon satisfactory proof +being made, with authority to take and remove such fugitives from +service or labor, under the restrictions herein contained, to the State +or Territory from which such persons may have escaped or fled. + +SEC. 5. That it shall be the duty of all marshals and deputy marshals +to obey and execute all warrants and precepts issued under the +provisions of this act when to them directed; and should any marshal +or deputy marshal refuse to receive such warrant, or other process, +when tendered, or to use all proper means diligently to execute the +same, he shall, on conviction thereof, be fined in the sum of one +thousand dollars, to the use of such claimant, on the motion of such +claimant, by the Circuit or District Court for the district of such +marshal; and after the arrest of such fugitive, by such marshal or +his deputy, or while at any time in his custody, under the provisions +of this act, should such fugitive escape, whether with or without the +assent of such marshal or his deputy, such marshal shall be liable, on +his official bond, to be prosecuted, for the benefit of such claimant, +for the full value of the service or labor of said fugitive in the +State, Territory, or district whence he escaped; and, the better to +enable said Commissioners, when thus appointed, to execute their +duties faithfully and efficiently, in conformity with the requirements +of the Constitution of the United States, and of this Act, they are +hereby authorized and empowered, within their counties respectively, +to appoint, in writing under their hands, any one or more suitable +persons, from time to time, to execute all such warrants and other +process as may be issued by them in the lawful performance of their +respective duties; with authority to such Commissioners, or the persons +to be appointed by them, to execute process as aforesaid, to summon and +call to their aid the bystanders, or _posse commitatus_ of the proper +county, when necessary to insure a faithful observance of the clause +of the Constitution referred to, in conformity with the provisions of +this Act; and all good citizens are commanded to aid and assist in the +prompt and efficient execution of this law whenever their services may +be required, as aforesaid, for that purpose; and said warrants shall +run, and be executed by said officers, anywhere in the State within +which they are issued. + +SEC. 6. That when a person held to service or labor in any State or +Territory of the United States has heretofore or shall hereafter escape +into another State or Territory of the United States, the person or +persons to whom such service or labor may be due, or his, her, or their +agent or attorney, duly authorized by power of attorney, in writing +acknowledged and certified under the seal of some legal officer or +Court of the State or Territory in which the same may be executed, may +pursue and reclaim such fugitive person, either by procuring a warrant +from some one of the Courts, Judges, or Commissioners aforesaid, of +the proper circuit, district, or county, for the apprehension of such +fugitive from service or labor, or by seizing and arresting such +fugitive where the same can be done without process, and by taking or +causing such person to be taken forthwith before such Court, Judge, or +Commissioner, whose duty it shall be to hear and determine the case of +such claimant in a summary manner; and, upon satisfactory proof being +made, by deposition or affidavit in writing, to be taken and certified +by such Court, Judge, or Commissioner, or by other satisfactory +testimony, duly taken and certified by some Court, Magistrate, Justice +of the Peace, or other legal officer authorized to administer an oath +and take depositions under the laws of the State or Territory from +which such person owing service or labor may have escaped, with a +certificate of such magistracy, or other authority as aforesaid, with +the seal of the proper Court or officer thereto attached, which seal +shall be sufficient to establish the competency of the proof, and with +proof, also by affidavit, of the identity of the person whose service +or labor is claimed to be due as aforesaid, that the person so arrested +does in fact owe service or labor to the person or persons claiming him +or her, in the State or Territory from which such fugitive may have +escaped as aforesaid, and that said person escaped, to make out and +deliver to said claimant, his or her agent or attorney, a certificate +setting forth the substantial facts as to the service or labor due +from such fugitive to the claimant, and of his or her escape from the +State or Territory in which such service or labor was due to the State +or Territory in which he or she was arrested, with authority to such +claimant, or his or her agent or attorney, to use such reasonable force +and restraint as may be necessary, under the circumstances of the case, +to take and remove such fugitive person back to the State or Territory +whence he or she may have escaped as aforesaid. In no trial or hearing +under this Act shall the testimony of such alleged fugitive be admitted +in evidence; and the certificates in this and the first [fourth] +section mentioned shall be conclusive of the right of the person or +persons in whose favor granted to remove such fugitive to the State +or Territory from which he escaped, and shall prevent all molestation +of such person or persons by any process issued by any Court, Judge, +Magistrate, or other person whomsoever. + +SEC. 7. That any person who shall knowingly and willingly obstruct, +hinder, or prevent such claimant, his agent or attorney, or any person +or persons lawfully assisting him, her, or them, from arresting such +a fugitive from service or labor, either with or without process as +aforesaid, or shall rescue or attempt to rescue such fugitive from +service or labor from the custody of such claimant, his or her agent or +attorney, or other person or persons lawfully assisting as aforesaid, +when so arrested pursuant to the authority herein given and declared, +or shall aid, abet, or assist such person so owing service or labor as +aforesaid, directly or indirectly, to escape from such claimant, his +agent or attorney, or other person or persons legally authorized as +aforesaid; or shall harbor or conceal such fugitive so as to prevent +the discovery and arrest of such person, after notice or knowledge +of the fact that such person was a fugitive from service or labor as +aforesaid, shall, for either of said offenses, be subject to a fine +not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprisonment not exceeding +six months, by indictment and conviction before the District Court +of the United States for the district in which such offense may have +been committed, or before the proper court of criminal jurisdiction, +if committed within any one of the organized Territories of the United +States, and shall moreover forfeit and pay, by way of civil damages +to the party injured by such illegal conduct, the sum of one thousand +dollars for each fugitive so lost as aforesaid, to be recovered as +aforesaid, to be recovered by action of debt in any of the District +or Territorial Courts aforesaid, within whose jurisdiction the said +offense may have been committed. + +SEC. 8. That the marshals, their deputies, and the clerks of the said +District and Territorial Courts, shall be paid for their services the +like fees as may be allowed to them for similar services in other +cases; and where such services are rendered exclusively in the arrest, +custody, and delivery of the fugitive to the claimant, his or her agent +or attorney, or where such supposed fugitive may be discharged out of +custody for the want of sufficient proof as aforesaid, then such fees +are to be paid in the whole by such claimant, his agent or attorney; +and in all cases where the proceedings are before a Commissioner, he +shall be entitled to a fee of ten dollars in full for his services in +each case, upon the delivery of the said certificate to the claimant, +his or her agent or attorney; or a fee of five dollars in cases where +the proof shall not, in the opinion of such Commissioner, warrant such +certificate and delivery, inclusive of all services incident to such +arrest and examination, to be paid in either case by the claimant, +his or her agent or attorney. The person or persons authorized to +execute the process to be issued by such Commissioner for the arrest +and detention of fugitives from service or labor as aforesaid shall +also be entitled to a fee of five dollars each for each person he or +they may arrest and take before any such Commissioner, as aforesaid, +at the instance and request of such claimant, with such other fees +as may be deemed reasonable by such Commissioners for such other +additional services as may be necessarily performed by him or them, +such as attending at the examination, keeping the fugitive in custody, +providing him with food and lodging during his detention and until +the final determination of such Commissioner; and, in general, for +performing such other duties as may be required by such claimant, his +or her attorney or agent, or Commissioner in the premises. Such fees to +be made up in conformity with the fees usually charged by the officers +of the courts of justice within the proper district or county, as near +as may be practicable, and paid by such claimants, their agents or +attorneys, whether such supposed fugitives from service or labor be +ordered to be delivered to such claimants by the final determination of +such Commissioner or not. + +SEC. 9. That, upon affidavit made by the claimant of such fugitive, +his agent or attorney, after such certificate has been issued, that he +has reason to apprehend that such fugitive will be rescued by force +from his or her possession before he can be taken beyond the limits +of the State in which the arrest is made, it shall be the duty of the +officer making the arrest to retain such fugitive in his custody, and +to remove him to the State whence he fled, and there to deliver him to +said claimant, his agent or attorney. And, to this end, the officer +aforesaid is hereby authorized and required to employ so many persons +as he may deem necessary to overcome such force, and to retain them in +his service so long as circumstances may require. The said officer and +his assistants, while so employed, to receive the same compensation +and to be allowed the same expenses as are now allowed by law for +transportation of criminals, to be certified by the Judge of the +district within which the arrest is made, and paid out of the treasury +of the United States. + +SEC. 10. That when any person held to service or labor in any State or +Territory, or in the District of Columbia, shall escape therefrom, +the party to whom such service or labor may be due, his, her, or +their agent or attorney, may apply to any court of record therein, or +Judge thereof in vacation, and make satisfactory proof to such court, +or Judge in vacation, of the escape aforesaid, and that the person +escaping owed service or labor to such party. Whereupon the court +shall cause a record to be made of the matters so proved, and also a +general description of the person so escaping, with such convenient +certainty as may be; and a transcript of such record authenticated +by the attestation of the clerk and of the seal of the said court, +being produced in any other State, Territory, or District in which +the person so escaping may be found, and, being exhibited to any +Judge, Commissioner, or other officer authorized by the law of the +United States to cause persons escaping from service or labor to +be delivered up, shall be held and taken to be full and conclusive +evidence of the fact of the escape, and that the service or labor of +the person escaping is due to the party in such record mentioned. +And upon the production, by the said party, of other and further +evidence, if necessary, either oral or by affidavit, in addition to +what is contained in the said record of the identity of the person +escaping, he or she shall be delivered up to the claimant. And the +said Court, Commissioner, Judge, or other person authorized by this +Act to grant certificates to claimants of fugitives, shall, upon +the production of the record and other evidences aforesaid, grant +to such claimant a certificate of his right to take any such person +identified and proved to be owing service or labor as aforesaid, which +shall authorize such claimant to seize or arrest and transport such +person to the State or Territory from which he escaped: _Provided_, +That nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring the +production of a transcript of such record as evidence as aforesaid. +But, in its absence, the claim shall be heard and determined upon other +satisfactory proofs competent in law. + +_Approved September 18, 1850._ + +[The above law was repealed by the 38th Congress, 1864.] + + + + +KANSAS AND NEBRASKA ACT OF 1854. + +An Act to Organize the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas. + + +_Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United +States of America in Congress assembled_, That all that part of the +territory of the United States included within the following limits, +except such portions thereof as are hereinafter expressly exempted +from the operations of this Act, to wit: beginning at a point on the +Missouri River where the fortieth parallel of north latitude crosses +the same; thence west on said parallel to the east boundary of the +Territory of Utah on the summit of the Rocky Mountains; thence on +said summit northward to the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude; +thence east on said parallel to the western boundary of the Territory +of Minnesota; thence southward on said boundary to the Missouri River; +thence down the main channel of said river to the place of beginning, +be, and the same is hereby, created into a temporary government by +the name of the Territory of Nebraska; and when admitted as a State +or States, the said Territory, or any portion of the same, shall be +received into the Union with or without slavery, as their Constitution +may prescribe at the time of their admission: _Provided_, That nothing +in this Act contained shall be construed to inhibit the Government +of the United States from dividing said Territory into two or more +Territories, in such manner and at such times as Congress shall deem +convenient and proper, or from attaching any portion of said Territory +to any other State or Territory of the United States: _Provided, +further_, That nothing in this Act contained shall be construed to +impair the rights of person or property now pertaining to the Indians +in said Territory, so long as such rights shall remain unextinguished +by treaty between the United States and such Indians, or to include any +Territory which, by treaty with any Indian tribe, is not, without the +consent of said tribe, to be included within the Territorial limits or +jurisdiction of any State or Territory; but all such Territory shall be +excepted out of the boundaries, and constitute no part of the Territory +of Nebraska, until said tribe shall signify their assent to the +President of the United States to be included within the said Territory +of Nebraska, or to affect the authority of the Government of the United +States to make any regulations respecting such Indians, their lands, +property or other rights, by treaty, law, or otherwise, which it would +have been competent to the Government to make if this Act had never +passed. + +SEC. 2. That the executive power and authority in and over said +Territory of Nebraska shall be vested in a Governor, who shall hold +his office for four years, and until his successor shall be appointed +and qualified, unless sooner removed by the President of the United +States. The Governor shall reside within said Territory, and shall be +commander-in-chief of the militia thereof. He may grant pardons and +respites for offenses against the laws of said Territory, and reprieves +for offenses against the laws of the United States, until the decision +of the President can be made known thereon; he shall commission all +officers who shall be appointed to office under the laws of the said +Territory, and shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed. + +SEC. 3. That there shall be a Secretary of said Territory, who shall +reside therein, and hold his office for five years, unless sooner +removed by the President of the United States; he shall record and +preserve all the laws and proceedings of the Legislative Assembly +hereinafter constituted, and all the acts and proceedings of the +Governor in his executive department; he shall transmit one copy of the +laws and journals of the Legislative Assembly within thirty days after +the end of each session, and one copy of the executive proceedings and +official correspondence semi-annually, on the first days of January +and July in each year, to the President of the United States, and two +copies of the laws to the President of the Senate and to the Speaker +of the House of Representatives, to be deposited in the libraries of +Congress; and, in case of the death, removal, resignation, or absence +of the Governor from the Territory, the Secretary shall be, and he is +hereby duly authorized and required to execute and perform all the +powers and duties of the Governor during such vacancy or absence, or +until another Governor shall be duly appointed and qualified to fill +such vacancy. + +SEC. 4. That the legislative power and authority of said Territory +shall be vested in the Governor and a Legislative Assembly. The +Legislative Assembly shall consist of a Council and House of +Representatives. The Council shall consist of thirteen members, having +the qualifications of voters, as hereinafter prescribed, whose term of +service shall continue two years. The House of Representatives shall, +at its first session, consist of twenty-six members, possessing the +same qualifications as prescribed for members of the Council, and whose +term of service shall continue one year. The number of Representatives +may be increased by the Legislative Assembly, from time to time, in +proportion to the increase of qualified voters: _Provided_, That the +whole number shall never exceed thirty-nine; an apportionment shall +be made as nearly equal as practicable, among the several counties +or districts, for the election of the Council and Representatives, +giving each section of the Territory representation in the ratio of +its qualified voters as nearly as may be. And the members of the +Council and of the House of Representatives shall reside in, and be +inhabitants of, the district or county, or counties, for which they may +be elected respectively. Previous to the first election, the Governor +shall cause a census or enumeration of the inhabitants and qualified +voters of the several counties and districts of the Territory, to +be taken by such persons and in such mode as the Governor shall +designate and appoint; and the persons so appointed shall receive a +reasonable compensation therefor. And the first election shall be +held at such times and places, and be conducted in such manner, both +as to the persons who shall superintend such election and the returns +thereof, as the Governor shall appoint and direct; and he shall at +the same time declare the number of members of the Council and House +of Representatives to which each of the counties or districts shall +be entitled under this Act. The persons having the highest number +of legal votes in each of said Council districts for members of the +Council, shall be declared by the Governor to be duly elected to the +Council; and the persons having the highest number of legal votes for +the House of Representatives, shall be declared by the Governor to be +duly elected members of said House: _Provided_, That, in case two or +more persons voted for shall have an equal number of votes, and in case +a vacancy shall otherwise occur in either branch of the Legislative +Assembly, the Governor shall order a new election; and the persons +thus elected to the Legislative Assembly shall meet at such place and +on such day as the Governor shall appoint; but thereafter, the time, +place, and manner of holding and conducting all elections by the +people, and the apportioning the representation in the several counties +or districts to the Council and House of Representatives, according to +the number of qualified voters, shall be prescribed by law, as well as +the day of the commencement of the regular sessions of the Legislative +Assembly: _Provided_, That no session in any one year shall exceed the +term of forty days, except the first session, which may continue sixty +days. + +SEC. 5. That every free white male inhabitant, above the age of +twenty-one years, who shall be an actual resident of said Territory, +and shall possess the qualifications hereinafter prescribed, shall be +entitled to vote at the first election, and shall be eligible to any +office within the said Territory; but the qualifications of voters, and +of holding office, at all subsequent elections, shall be such as shall +be prescribed by the Legislative Assembly: _Provided_, That the right +of suffrage and of holding office shall be exercised only by citizens +of the United States and those who shall have declared on oath their +intention to become such, and shall have taken an oath to support the +Constitution of the United States and the provisions of this act: _And +provided, further_, That no officer, soldier, seaman, or marine, or +other person in the army or navy of the United States, or attached to +troops in the service of the United States, shall be allowed to vote or +hold office in said Territory, by reason of being on service therein. + +SEC. 6. That the legislative power of the Territory shall extend to all +rightful subjects of legislation consistent with the Constitution of +the United States and the provisions of this Act; but no law shall be +passed interfering with the primary disposal of the soil; no tax shall +be imposed upon the property of the United States; nor shall the lands +or other property of non-residents be taxed higher than the lands or +other property of residents. Every bill which shall have passed the +Council and House of Representatives of said Territory, shall, before +it become a law, be presented to the Governor of the Territory; if he +approve, he shall sign it; but if not, he shall return it, with his +objections, to the House in which it originated, who shall enter the +objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. +If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of that House shall agree +to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to +the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if +approved by two-thirds of that House, it shall become a law. But in all +such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and +nays, to be entered on the journal of each House respectively. If any +bill shall not be returned by the Governor within three days (Sundays +excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be +a law in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Assembly, by +adjournment, prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law. + +SEC. 7. That all township, district, and county officers, not herein +otherwise provided for, shall be appointed or elected, as the case may +be, in such manner as shall be provided by the Governor and Legislative +Assembly of the Territory of Nebraska. The Governor shall nominate, +and, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council, +appoint all officers not herein otherwise provided for; and in the +first instance the Governor alone may appoint all said officers, who +shall hold their offices until the end of the first session of the +Legislative Assembly; and shall lay off the necessary districts for +members of the Council and House of Representatives, and all other +officers. + +SEC. 8. That no member of the Legislative Assembly shall hold, or be +appointed to any office which may have been created, or the salary or +emoluments of which shall have been increased, while he was a member, +during the term for which he was elected, and for one year after the +expiration of such term; but this restriction shall not be applicable +to members of the first Legislative Assembly; and no person holding a +commission or appointment under the United States, except postmasters, +shall be a member of the Legislative Assembly, or shall hold any office +under the government of said Territory. + +SEC. 9. That the judicial power of said Territory shall be vested in +a Supreme Court, District Courts, Probate Courts, and in Justices of +the Peace. The Supreme Court shall consist of a Chief Justice and two +Associate Justices, any two of whom shall constitute a quorum, and +who shall hold a term at the seat of government of said Territory +annually, and they shall hold their offices during the period of four +years, and until their successors shall be appointed and qualified. +The said Territory shall be divided into three judicial districts, +and a District Court shall be held in each of said districts by one +of the Justices of the Supreme Court, at such times and places as +may be prescribed by law; and the said Judges shall, after their +appointments, respectively reside in the district which be assigned +them. The jurisdiction of the several courts herein provided for—both +appellate and original—and that of the Probate Courts and of Justices +of the Peace, shall be limited by law: _Provided_, That Justices of the +Peace shall not have jurisdiction of the matter in controversy when the +title or boundaries of lands may be in dispute, or where the debt or +sum claimed shall exceed one hundred dollars; and the said Supreme and +District Courts, respectively, shall possess chancery as well as common +law jurisdiction. Each District Court, or the judge thereof, shall +appoint its clerk, who shall also be the register in chancery, and +shall keep his office at the place where the Court may be held. Writs +of error, bills of exception, and appeals, shall be allowed in all +cases from the final decisions of said District Courts to the Supreme +Court, under such regulations as may be prescribed by law; but in no +case removed to the Supreme Court shall trial by jury be allowed by +said Court. The Supreme Court, or the Justices thereof, shall appoint +its own clerk, and every clerk shall hold his office at the pleasure +of the Court for which he shall have been appointed. Writs of error +and appeals from the final decision of said Supreme Court shall be +allowed, and may be taken to the Supreme Court of the United States +in the same manner and under the same regulations as from the Circuit +Courts of the United States, where the value of the property, or the +amount in controversy, to be ascertained by the oath or affirmation of +either party, or other competent witness, shall exceed one thousand +dollars; except only that in all cases involving title to slaves, the +said writs of error or appeals shall be allowed and decided by the said +Supreme Court, without regard to the value of the matter, property, or +title in controversy; and except also that a writ of error or appeal +shall also be allowed to the Supreme Court of the United States, from +the decisions of the said Supreme Court created by this act, or of any +judge thereof, or of the District Courts created by this Act, or of any +judge thereof, upon any writ of _habeas corpus_, involving the question +of personal freedom: _Provided_, That nothing herein contained shall +be construed to apply to or affect provisions of the “Act respecting +fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their +masters,” (approved February 12, 1793,) and the “Act to amend and +supplementary to the aforesaid Act,” (approved September 18, 1850;) +and each of the said District Courts shall have and exercise the same +jurisdiction in all cases arising under the Constitution and laws of +the United States as is vested in the Circuit and District Courts of +the United States; and the said Supreme and District Courts of the said +Territory, and the respective judges thereof, shall and may grant writs +of _habeas corpus_ in all cases in which the same are granted by the +judges of the United States in the District of Columbia; and the first +six days of every term of said courts, or so much thereof as shall be +necessary, shall be appropriated to the trial of causes arising under +the said Constitution and laws; and writs of error and appeal in all +such cases shall be made to the Supreme Court of said Territory, the +same as in other cases. The said clerk shall receive, in all such +cases, the same fees which the clerks of the District Courts of Utah +Territory now receive for similar services. + +SEC. 10. That the provisions of an Act entitled “an Act respecting +fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their +masters,” (approved February 12, 1793,) and the provisions of the Act +entitled “an Act to amend, and supplementary to the aforesaid Act,” +(approved September 18, 1850,) be, and the same are hereby, declared to +extend to and be in full force within the limits of said Territory of +Nebraska. + +SEC. 11. That there shall be appointed an attorney for said Territory, +who shall continue in office for four years, and until his successor +shall be appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by the +President, and who shall receive the same fees and salary as the +attorney of the United States for the present Territory of Utah. There +shall also be a marshal for the Territory appointed, who shall hold +his office for four years, and until his successor shall be appointed +and qualified, unless sooner removed by the President, and who shall +execute all processes issuing from the said courts when exercising +their jurisdiction as Circuit and District Courts of the United States; +he shall perform the duties, be subject to the same regulations and +penalties, and be entitled to the same fees as the marshal of the +District Court of the United States for the present Territory of Utah, +and shall, in addition, be paid two hundred dollars annually as a +compensation for extra services. + +SEC. 12. That the Governor, Secretary, Chief Justice, and Associate +Justices, Attorney, and Marshal, shall be nominated, and—by and with +the advice and consent of the Senate—appointed by the President of +the United States. The Governor and Secretary, to be appointed as +aforesaid, shall, before they act as such, respectively take an oath +or affirmation before the District Judge or some Justice of the Peace +in the limits of said Territory, duly authorized to administer oaths +and affirmations by the laws now in force therein, or before the +Chief Justice or some Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the +United States, to support the Constitution of the United States, and +faithfully discharge the duties of their respective offices, which said +oaths, when so taken, shall be certified by the person by whom the same +shall have been taken; and such certificates shall be received and +recorded by the said Secretary among the executive proceedings; and the +Chief Justice, and Associate Justices, and all other civil officers +in said Territory, before they act as such, shall take a like oath or +affirmation before the said Governor or Secretary, or some Judge or +Justice of the Peace of the Territory, who may be duly commissioned +and qualified, which said oath or affirmation shall be certified and +transmitted by the person taking the same to the Secretary, to be by +him recorded as aforesaid; and afterward, the like oath or affirmation +shall be taken, certified, and recorded in such manner and form as +may be prescribed by law. The Governor shall receive an annual salary +of two thousand five hundred dollars. The Chief Justice and Associate +Justices shall receive an annual salary of two thousand dollars. The +Secretary shall receive an annual salary of two thousand dollars. The +said salaries shall be paid quarter-yearly, from the dates of the +respective appointments, at the treasury of the United States; but +no such payment shall be made until said officers shall have entered +upon the duties of their respective appointments. The members of the +Legislative Assembly shall be entitled to receive three dollars each +per day during their attendance at the sessions thereof, and three +dollars each for every twenty miles’ travel in going to and returning +from the said sessions, estimated according to the nearest usually +traveled route; and an additional allowance of three dollars shall be +paid to the presiding officer of each House for each day he shall so +preside. And a chief clerk, one assistant clerk, a sergeant-at-arms, +and door-keeper may be chosen for each House; and the chief clerk +shall receive four dollars per day, and the said other officers three +dollars per day, during the session of the Legislative Assembly; but +no other officer shall be paid by the United States: _Provided_, That +there shall be but one session of the Legislature annually, unless, +on an extraordinary occasion, the Governor shall think proper to call +the Legislature together. There shall be appropriated, annually, the +usual sum, to be expended by the Governor, to defray the contingent +expenses of the Territory, including the salary of a Clerk of the +Executive Department; and there shall also be appropriated, annually, +a sufficient sum, to be expended by the Secretary of the Territory, +and upon an estimate to be made by the Secretary of the Treasury of +the United States, to defray the expenses of the Legislative Assembly, +the printing of the laws, and other incidental expenses; and the +Governor and Secretary of the Territory shall, in the disbursement of +all moneys intrusted to them, be governed solely by the instructions +of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, and shall, +semi-annually, account to the said Secretary for the manner in which +the aforesaid moneys shall have been expended; and no expenditure +shall be made by said Legislative Assembly for objects not specially +authorized by the Acts of Congress making the appropriations, nor +beyond the sums thus appropriated for such objects. + +SEC. 13. That the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Nebraska +shall hold its first session at such time and place in said Territory +as the Governor thereof shall appoint and direct; and at said first +session, or as soon thereafter as they shall deem expedient, the +Governor and Legislative Assembly shall proceed to locate and establish +the seat of government for said Territory at such place as they may +deem eligible; which place, however, shall thereafter be subject to be +changed by the said Governor and Legislative Assembly. + +SEC. 14. That a delegate to the House of Representatives of the United +States, to serve for the term of two years, who shall be a citizen of +the United States, may be elected by the voters qualified to elect +members of the Legislative Assembly, who shall be entitled to the same +rights and privileges as are exercised and enjoyed by the delegates +from the several other Territories of the United States to the said +House of Representatives; but the delegate first elected shall hold +his seat only during the term of the Congress to which he shall be +elected. The first election shall be held at such time and places, +and be conducted in such manner as the Governor shall appoint and +direct; and at all subsequent elections the times, places, and manner +of holding the elections shall be prescribed by law. The person having +the greatest number of votes shall be declared by the Governor to be +duly elected, and a certificate thereof shall be given accordingly. +That the Constitution, and all the laws of the United States which are +not locally inapplicable, shall have the same force and effect within +the said Territory of Nebraska as elsewhere within the United States, +except the eighth section of the act preparatory to the admission +of Missouri into the Union, (approved March 6, 1820,) which, being +inconsistent with the principle of non-intervention by Congress with +slavery in the States and Territories—as recognized by the legislation +of 1850, commonly called the Compromise Measures—is hereby declared +inoperative and void; it being the true intent and meaning of this act +not to legislate slavery into any Territory or State, nor to exclude +it therefrom, but to leave the people thereof perfectly free to form +and regulate their domestic institutions in their own way, subject only +to the Constitution of the United States: _Provided_, That nothing +herein contained shall be construed to revive or put in force any law +or regulation which may have existed prior to the act of March 6, 1820, +either protecting, establishing, prohibiting, or abolishing slavery. + +SEC. 15. That there shall hereafter be appropriated, as has been +customary for the territorial governments, a sufficient amount, to be +expended under the direction of the said Governor of the Territory of +Nebraska, not exceeding the sums heretofore appropriated for similar +objects, for the erection of suitable public buildings at the seat +of government, and for the purchase of a library, to be kept at the +seat of government, for the use of the Governor, Legislative Assembly, +Judges of the Supreme Court, Secretary, Marshal, and Attorney of said +Territory, and such other persons, and under such regulations, as shall +be prescribed by law. + +SEC. 16. That when the lands in said Territory shall be surveyed under +the direction of the Government of the United States, preparatory +to bringing the same into market, sections numbered sixteen and +thirty-six, in each township in said Territory, shall be, and the +same are hereby, reserved for the purpose of being applied to schools +in said Territory, and in the States and Territories hereafter to be +erected out of the same. + +SEC. 17. That, until otherwise provided by law, the Governor of said +Territory may define the judicial districts of said Territory, and +assign the judges who may be appointed for said Territory to the +several districts; and also appoint the times and places for holding +courts in the several counties or subdivisions in each of said judicial +districts by proclamation, to be issued by him; but the Legislative +Assembly, at their first or any subsequent session, may organize, +alter, or modify such judicial districts, and assign the judges, and +alter the times and places of holding the courts, as to them shall seem +proper and convenient. + +SEC. 18. That all officers to be appointed by the President, by and +with the advice and consent of the Senate, for the Territory of +Nebraska, who, by virtue of the provisions of any law now existing, or +which may be enacted during the present Congress, are required to give +security for moneys that may be intrusted with them for disbursements, +shall give security, at such time and place, and in such manner as the +Secretary of Treasury may prescribe. + +[Illustration: JAMES MONROE] + +SEC. 19. That all that part of the territory of the United States +included within the following limits, except such portions thereof as +are hereinafter expressly exempted from the operations of this act, +to wit: beginning at a point on the western boundary of the State of +Missouri, where the thirty-seventh parallel of north latitude crosses +the same; thence west on said parallel to the eastern boundary of New +Mexico; thence north on said boundary to latitude thirty-eight; thence +following said boundary westward to the east boundary of the Territory +of Utah, on the summit of the Rocky Mountains; thence northward on +said summit to the fortieth parallel of latitude; thence east on said +parallel to the western boundary of the State of Missouri; thence south +with the western boundary of said State to the place of beginning, be, +and the same is hereby, created into a temporary government by the name +of the Territory of Kansas; and when admitted as a State or States, the +said Territory, or any portion of the same, shall be received into the +Union with or without slavery, as the Constitution may prescribe at the +time of their admission: _Provided_, That nothing in this Act contained +shall be construed to inhibit the Government of the United States from +dividing said Territory into two or more Territories, in such manner +and at such times as Congress shall deem convenient and proper, or +from attaching any portion of said Territory to any other State or +Territory of the United States: _Provided, further_, That nothing in +this Act contained shall be so construed as to impair the rights of +persons or property now pertaining to the Indians in said Territory, +so long as such rights shall remain unextinguished by treaty between +the United States and such Indians, or to include any Territory which, +by treaty with any Indian tribe, is not, without the consent of said +tribe, to be included within the territorial limits or jurisdiction of +any State or Territory; but all such territory shall be excepted out +of the boundaries, and constitute no part of the Territory of Kansas, +until said tribe shall signify their assent to the President of the +United States to be included within the said Territory of Kansas, or +to affect the authority of the Government of the United States to make +any regulation respecting such Indians, their lands, property, or +other rights, by treaty, law, or otherwise, which it would have been +competent to the government to make if this act had never passed. + +[With the single exception of the location of the seat of government +for Kansas at Fort Leavenworth, provided for in section 31, the ensuing +sixteen sections, relative to the organization and government of the +Territory, are precisely similar to the sections already recited, +providing for the government of Nebraska Territory. The final section +of the act, which has a general reference to both Territories, is as +follows:] + +SEC. 37. _And be it further enacted_, That all treaties, laws, and +other engagements made by the Government of the United States with +the Indian tribes inhabiting the Territories embraced within this +act, shall be faithfully and rigidly observed, notwithstanding any +thing contained in this act; and that the existing agencies and +superintendencies of said Indians be continued, with the same powers +and duties which are now prescribed by law, except that the President +of the United States may, at his discretion, change the location of the +office of superintendent. + + + + +ORDINANCE OF 1787. + + +IN CONGRESS, JULY 13, 1787. + +An Ordinance for the government of the territory of the United States, +north-west of the river Ohio. + +_Be it ordained_, by the United States in Congress assembled, that +the said Territory, for the purpose of temporary government, be one +district; subject, however, to be divided into two districts, as future +circumstances may, in the opinion of Congress, make it expedient. + +_Be it ordained_, by the authority aforesaid, that the estates both +of resident and non-resident proprietors in the said Territory, +dying intestate, shall descend to, and be distributed among their +children, and the descendants of a deceased child in equal parts; the +descendants of a deceased child or grand-child, to take the share of +their deceased parent, in equal parts, among them, and where there +shall be no children or descendants, then in equal parts to the next +of kin, in equal degree; and among collaterals, the children of a +deceased brother or sister of the intestate shall have, in equal parts, +among them, their deceased parent’s share; and there shall in no case +be a distinction between kindred of the whole and half blood; saving +in all cases to the widow of the intestate her third part of the real +estate for life, and one-third part of the personal estate; and this +law relative to descents and dower shall remain in full force until +altered by the Legislature of the district. And until the Governor and +judges shall adopt laws as hereinafter mentioned, estates in the said +territory may be devised or bequeathed by wills in writing, signed and +sealed by him or her, in whom the estate may be (being of full age), +and attested by three witnesses; and real estates may be conveyed by +lease or release, or bargain and sale, signed, sealed, and delivered by +the person, being of full age, in whom the estate may, and attested by +two witnesses, provided such wills be duly proved, and such conveyances +be acknowledged, or the execution thereof duly proved, and be recorded +within one year after proper magistrates, courts, and registers shall +be appointed for that purpose, and personal property may be transferred +by delivery, saving, however, to the French and Canadian inhabitants, +and other settlers of the Kaskaskias, Saint Vincents, and the +neighboring villages, who have heretofore professed themselves citizens +of Virginia, their laws and customs now in force among them, relative +to descent and conveyance of property. + +_Be it ordained_, by the authority aforesaid, that there shall be +appointed, from time to time, by Congress, a Governor, whose commission +shall continue in force for the term of three years, unless sooner +revoked by Congress; he shall reside in the district and have a +freehold estate therein, in one thousand acres of land, while in the +exercise of his office. There shall be appointed, from time to time, +by Congress, a Secretary, whose commission shall continue in force for +four years, unless sooner revoked; he shall reside therein, and have +a freehold estate therein, in five hundred acres of land, while in +the exercise of his office; it shall be his duty to keep and preserve +the acts and laws passed by the Legislature, and the public records +of the district, and the proceedings of the Governor in his executive +department, and transmit authentic copies of such acts and proceedings, +every six months, to the Secretary of Congress. There shall also be +appointed a court, to consist of three judges, any two of whom to form +a court, who shall have a common law jurisdiction, and reside in the +district, and have each therein a freehold estate in five hundred acres +of land, while in the exercise of their offices; and their commissions +shall continue in force during good behavior. + +The Governor and judges, or a majority of them, shall adopt and +publish in the district such laws of the original States, criminal +and civil, as may be necessary, and best suited to the circumstances +of the district, and report them to Congress, from time to time, +which laws shall be in force in the district until the organization +of the General Assembly therein, unless disapproved by Congress; but +afterward, the Legislature shall have authority to alter them as they +shall think fit. + +The Governor, for the time being, shall be commander-in-chief of the +militia, appoint and commission all officers in the same, below the +rank of general officers. All general officers shall be appointed and +commissioned by Congress. + +Previous to the organization of the General Assembly, the Governor +shall appoint such magistrates and other civil officers, in each +county or township, as he shall find necessary for the preservation +of the peace and good order in the same. After the General Assembly +shall be organized, the powers and duties of magistrates and other +civil officers shall be regulated and defined by the said Assembly; +but all magistrates and other civil officers, not herein otherwise +directed, shall, during the continuance of this temporary government, +be appointed by the Governor. + +For the prevention of crimes and injuries, the laws to be adopted +or made, shall have force in all parts of the district, and for the +execution of process, criminal and civil, the Governor shall make +proper divisions thereof; and shall proceed, from time to time, as +circumstances may require, to lay out the parts of the district in +which the Indian titles shall have been extinguished, into counties and +townships, subject, however, to such alterations as may hereafter be +made by the Legislature. + +So soon as there shall be five thousand free male inhabitants, of full +age, in the district, upon giving proof thereof to the Governor, they +shall receive authority, with time and place, to elect representatives +from their counties or townships, to represent them in the General +Assembly; _Provided_, That for every five hundred free male inhabitants +there shall be one representative, and so on progressively with the +number of free male inhabitants, shall the right of representation +increase, until the number of representatives shall amount to +twenty-five, after which the number and proportion of representatives +shall be regulated by the Legislature; _Provided_, That no person +be eligible or qualified to act as a representative, unless he shall +have been a citizen of one of the United States three years and be +a resident in the district, or unless he shall have resided in the +district three years, and in either case shall likewise hold in +his own right, in fee simple, two hundred acres of land within the +same; _Provided_, also, that a freehold in fifty acres of land in +the district, having been a citizen of one of the States, and being +resident in the district, or the like freehold and two years’ residence +in the district, shall be necessary to qualify a man as an elector of a +representative. + +The representative thus elected, shall serve for the term of two years, +and in case of the death of a representative, or removal from office, +the Governor shall issue a writ to the county or township for which he +was a member, to elect another in his stead, to serve for the residue +of the term. + +The General Assembly, or Legislature, shall consist of the Governor, +Legislative Council, and a House of Representatives. The Legislative +Council shall consist of five members, to continue in office five +years, unless sooner removed by Congress, any three of whom to be +a quorum, and the members of the Council, shall be nominated and +appointed in the following manner, to wit: as soon as representatives +shall be elected, the Governor shall appoint a time and place for them +to meet together, and, when met, they shall nominate ten persons, +residents in the district, and each possessed of a freehold in five +hundred acres of land, and return their names to Congress, five of +whom Congress shall appoint and commission to serve as aforesaid; and +whenever a vacancy shall happen in the Council, by death or removal +from office, the House of Representatives shall nominate two persons +qualified as aforesaid, for each vacancy, and return their names to +Congress, one of whom Congress shall appoint and commission for the +residue of the term; and every five years, four months at least before +the expiration of the time of service of the Council, the said House +shall nominate ten persons qualified as aforesaid, and return their +names to Congress, five of whom Congress shall appoint and commission +to serve as members of the Council five years, unless sooner removed. +And the Governor, Legislative Council, and House of Representatives, +shall have authority to make laws in all cases for the good government +of the district, not repugnant to the principles and articles in this +ordinance established and declared. And all bills having passed by +a majority in the House, and by a majority in the Council, shall be +referred to the Governor for his assent; but no bill or legislative act +whatever, shall be of any force without his assent. The Governor shall +have power to convene, prorogue, and dissolve the assembly, when in his +opinion it shall be expedient. + +The Governor, Judges, Legislative Council, Secretary, and such other +officers as Congress shall appoint in the district, shall take an oath +or affirmation of fidelity, and of office—the Governor before the +President of Congress, and all other officers before the Governor. As +soon as a Legislature shall be formed in the District, the Council and +House, assembled in one room, shall have authority, by joint ballot, +to elect a delegate to Congress, who shall have a seat in Congress, +with the right of debating, but not of voting, during this temporary +government. + +And for extending the fundamental principles of civil and religious +liberty, which form the basis whereon these republics, their laws and +constitutions, are elected; _to fix and establish those principles as +the basis of all laws, constitutions, and governments, which_ FOREVER +_hereafter shall be formed in the said Territory_; to provide also for +the establishment of States, and for their admission to a share in the +Federal Council on an equal footing with the original States, at as +early periods as may be consistent with the general interest: + +_It is hereby ordained and declared_, by the authority aforesaid, that +the following articles shall be considered as articles of compact +between the original States and the people and States in the said +Territory, and forever remain unalterable, unless by common consent; +viz.: + +ARTICLE I. No person, demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly +manner, shall ever be molested on account of his mode of worship or +religious sentiments in the said Territory. + +ART. II. The inhabitants of the said Territory shall always be entitled +to the benefit of the writ of _habeas corpus_ and of the trial by jury; +of a proportionate representation of the people in the Legislature, +and of judicial proceedings according to the course of the common law; +all persons shall be bailable unless for capital offenses, where the +proof shall be evident, or the presumption great; all fines shall be +moderate, and no cruel or unusual punishments shall be inflicted; no +man shall be deprived of his liberty or property but by the judgment of +his peers or the law of the land; and should the public exigencies make +it necessary for the common preservation to take any person’s property, +or to demand his particular services, full compensation shall be made +for the same; and, in the just preservation of rights and property, +it is understood and declared, that no law ought ever to be made, or +have force in the said territory, that shall, in any manner whatever, +interfere with or affect private contracts or engagements, _bona fide_, +and, without fraud, previously formed. + +ART. III. Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good +government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of +education shall forever be encouraged. The utmost good faith shall +always be observed toward the Indians; their lands and property shall +never be taken from them without their consent; and in their property, +rights, and liberty, they never shall be invaded or disturbed, unless +in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in +justice and humanity shall, from time to time, be made, for preventing +wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with +them. + +ART. IV. The said Territory, and the States which may be formed +therein, shall forever remain a part of this Confederacy of the United +States of America; subject to the Articles of Confederation,[2] and to +such alterations therein as shall be constitutionally made; and to all +the acts and ordinances of the United States in Congress assembled, +conformable thereto. The inhabitants and settlers in the said Territory +shall be subject to pay a part of the Federal debts contracted, or to +be contracted, and a proportional part of the expenses of government, +to be apportioned on them by Congress, according to the same common +rule and measure by which apportionments thereof shall be made on +the other States; and the taxes for paying their proportion shall be +laid and levied by the authority and direction of the Legislatures +of the District, or Districts, or new States, as in the original +States, within the time agreed upon by the United States in Congress +assembled. The Legislatures of those Districts, or new States, shall +never interfere with the primary disposal of the soil by the United +States in Congress assembled, nor with any regulations Congress may +find necessary for securing the title in such soil to the _bona fide_ +purchasers. No tax shall be imposed on lands the property of the United +States; and in no case shall non-resident proprietors be taxed higher +than residents. The navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and +St. Lawrence, and the carrying places between the same, shall be common +highways, and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the said +Territory as to the citizens of the United States, and those of any +other States that may be admitted into the confederacy, without any +tax, impost, or duty therefor. + +[2] This ordinance was drawn up before the Constitution was formed. + +ART. V. There shall be formed in the said Territory not less than +three, nor more than five States; and the boundaries of the States, +as soon as Virginia shall alter her act of session and consent to +the same, shall become fixed and established as follows, to wit: The +western State shall be bounded by the Mississippi, the Ohio, and Wabash +Rivers; a direct line drawn from the Wabash and Post Vincents due north +to the territorial line between the United States and Canada, and by +the said territorial line to the Lake of the Woods and Mississippi. +The middle State shall be bounded by the said direct line, the Wabash +from Post Vincents to the Ohio, by the Ohio, by direct line drawn due +north from the mouth of the Great Miami to the said territorial line, +and by said territorial line. The eastern State shall be bounded by +the last mentioned direct line, the Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the said +territorial line; _Provided_, however, and it is further understood and +declared, that the boundaries of these three States shall be subject so +far to be altered, and, if Congress shall hereafter find it expedient, +they shall have authority to form one or two States in that part of the +said Territory which lies north of an east and west line drawn through +the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan; and whenever any of +the said States shall have sixty thousand free inhabitants therein, +such States shall be admitted, by their delegates, into the Congress +of the United States, on an equal footing with the original States in +all respects whatsoever; and shall be at liberty to form a permanent +constitution and State government; _Provided_, the constitution and +government so to be formed shall be republican, and in conformity to +the principles contained in these articles; and, so far as it can be +consistent with the general interest of the confederacy, such admission +shall be allowed at an earlier period, and when there may be a less +number of free inhabitants in the State than sixty thousand. + +ART. VI. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in +the said Territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereof +the party shall have been duly convicted; _Provided_, always, that any +person escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully +claimed in any of the original States, such fugitive may be lawfully +reclaimed and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or +service as aforesaid. + +_Be it ordained_, by the authority aforesaid, that the resolutions of +the 23d of April, 1784, relative to the subject of this ordinance, be, +and the same are hereby repealed, and declared null and void. + + NOTE.—By this ordinance, Virginia ceded to the + United States the territory now composing the States of + Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan, making + the ordinance the fundamental law of these States. + + + + +AMNESTY PROCLAMATION. + + +_By the President of the United Slates of America_: + +WHEREAS, The President of the United States, on the 8th day of +December, 1863, and on the 26th day of March, 1864, did, with the +object of suppressing the existing rebellion, to induce all persons +to return to their loyalty and to restore the authority of the United +States, issued Proclamations offering amnesty and pardon to certain +persons who had directly or by implication engaged in said rebellion, +and + +WHEREAS, Many persons who had so engaged in the said rebellion, have, +since the issue of said Proclamation, failed or neglected to take the +benefits offered thereby; and whereas, many persons who have been +justly deprived of all claim to amnesty and pardon thereunder by reason +of their participation directly or by implication in said rebellion, +and continued hostile to the Government of the United States since the +date of said Proclamation, now desire to apply for and obtain amnesty +and pardon; to the end, therefore, that the authority of the Government +of the United States may be restored, and that peace, order, and +freedom may be established. + +I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do proclaim +and declare that I hereby grant to all persons who have directly +or indirectly participated in the existing rebellion, except as +hereinafter excepted, amnesty and pardon, with the restoration of all +the rights of property, except as to slaves, except in cases where +legal proceedings under the laws of the United States, providing for +the confiscation of property of persons engaged in the rebellion, +have been instituted; but on the condition, nevertheless, that every +such person shall take and subscribe the following oath, which shall +be registered for permanent preservation, and shall be the tenor and +effect of the following, to wit: + +“I do solemnly swear or affirm, in the presence of Almighty God, that +I will henceforth faithfully defend the Constitution of the United +States and the Union of the States thereunder; and that I will in like +manner abide by and faithfully support all laws and proclamations which +have been made during the existing rebellion, with reference to the +emancipation of slavery, so help me God.” + +The following classes of persons are excepted from the benefits of this +proclamation: + +_First_—All who are, or shall have been, pretended civil or diplomatic +officers or otherwise, domestic or foreign agents of the pretended +Confederate Government. + +_Second_—All who left judicial stations under the United States to aid +the rebellion. + +_Third_—All who shall have been military or naval officers of said +pretended Confederate Government above the rank of Colonel in the Army, +or Lieutenant in the Navy. + +_Fourth_—All who left seats in the Congress of the United States to aid +the rebellion. + +_Fifth_—All who resigned or tendered the resignation of their +commissions in the Army or Navy of the United States, to evade the duty +in resisting the rebellion. + +_Sixth_—All who have engaged in any way in treating otherwise than +lawfully as prisoners of war, persons found in the United States +service, as officers, soldiers, seamen, or in other capacities. + +_Seventh_—All persons who have been or are absentees from the United +States for the purpose of aiding the rebellion. + +_Eighth_—All military or naval officers in the rebel service who were +educated by the Government in the military academy at West Point, or in +the United States Naval Academy. + +_Ninth_—All persons who hold the pretended offices of Governors of +States in insurrection against the United States. + +_Tenth_—All persons who left their homes within the jurisdiction and +protection of the United States and passed beyond the Federal military +lines into the so-called Confederate States for the purpose of aiding +the rebellion. + +_Eleventh_—All persons who have engaged in the destruction of the +commerce of the United States upon the high seas, and all persons who +have made raids into the United States from Canada, or been engaged in +destroying the commerce of the United States upon the lakes and rivers +that separate the British Provinces from the United States. + +_Twelfth_—All persons who, at the time when they seek to obtain the +benefits hereof, by taking the oath prescribed, are in military, naval +or civil confinement or custody, or under bond of the military or naval +authorities, or agents of the United States, as prisoners of war, or +persons detailed for offenses of any kind, either before or after the +conviction. + +_Thirteenth_—All persons who have voluntarily participated in said +rebellion, and the estimate value of whose taxable property is over +$20,000. + +_Fourteenth_—All persons who have taken the oath of Amnesty as +prescribed in the President’s Proclamation, December 28th, 1863, or +the Oath of Allegiance to the Government of the United States since +the date of said Proclamation, and who have not thenceforward kept and +maintained the same inviolate. Provided that special application may +be made to the President for pardon by any person belonging to the +excepted class, and such clemency will be liberally extended as may +be consistent with the facts, and the peace and dignity of the United +States. The Secretary of State will establish rules and regulations +for administering and recording said Amnesty Oath, so as to insure its +benefits to the people, and guard the Government against fraud. + +[Illustration: SEAL] + +IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal +of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington, +this 29th day of May, A. D. 1865, and of the Independence of the United +States, the eighty-ninth. (Signed.) + + By the President: ANDREW JOHNSON. + W. H. SEWARD, _Secretary of State_. + + + + +PROPOSED CRITTENDEN COMPROMISE. + + +At the commencement of the Congressional session of 1860, the +portentous clouds of civil war, gathering and blackening in the +southern horizon of our national sky, filled the hearts of the stoutest +patriots with the most gloomy apprehensions, and cast a melancholy +shadow over every Union-loving soul throughout the country, somewhat +akin to that which hovers over an affectionate son or daughter, upon +the approaching dissolution of a cherished, devoted mother. The +following compromise, offered by Senator Crittenden, December 19, 1860, +is one of the many measures proposed in Congress for adjusting the +difficulties of that period: + +_Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives_, That the +following articles be proposed and submitted as an amendment to the +Constitution, which shall be valid as a part of the Constitution, when +ratified by the conventions of three-fourths of the people of the +States: + +1st. In all the territory now or hereafter acquired, north of 36° 30′, +slavery, or involuntary servitude, except for the punishment of crime, +is prohibited; while in all the territory south of that, slavery is +hereby recognized as existing, and shall not be interfered with by +Congress, but shall be protected as property by all the departments of +the territorial government during its continuance. All the territory +north or south of said line, within such boundaries as Congress may +prescribe, when it contains a population necessary for a member of +Congress, with a Republican form of government, shall be admitted into +the Union on an equality with the original States, with or without +slavery, as the Constitution of the State shall prescribe. + +2d. Congress shall have no power to abolish slavery in the State +permitting it. + +3d. Congress shall have no power to abolish slavery in the District +of Columbia while ′t exists in Virginia and Maryland, or either; nor +shall Congress at any time prohibit the officers of Government, or +members of Congress, whose duties require them to live in the District +of Columbia, bringing slaves there and using them as such. + +4th. Congress shall have no power to hinder the transportation of +slaves from one State to another, whether by land, navigable river, or +sea. + +5th. Congress shall have the power, by law, to pay any owner the +full value of any fugitive slave, in all cases where the marshal is +prevented from discharging his duty by force or rescue, made after +arrest. In all such cases the owner shall have the power to sue the +county in which the rescue or violence was made; and the county shall +have the right to sue the individuals who committed the wrong, in the +same manner as the owner would sue. + +6th. No future amendment or amendments shall affect the preceding +article; and Congress shall never have power to interfere with slavery +within the States where it is permitted. + + + + +EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION. + + +_Whereas_, On the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our +Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was +issued by the President of the United States, containing among other +things the following, to wit: + +That, on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord, one +thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves +within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof +shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, +thenceforth and forever free, and the Executive Government of the +United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, +will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, or any of +them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom. + +That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by +proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in +which the people therein respectively shall then be in rebellion +against the United States, and the fact that any State, or the people +thereof, shall on that day be in good faith represented in the +Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto, at elections +wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such States shall have +participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, +be deemed conclusive evidence that such State and the people thereof +are not then in rebellion against the United States. + +Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, +by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief of the Army +and Navy of the United States, in time of actual armed rebellion +against the authority and Government of the United States, and as a +fit necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this +first day of January, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight +hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do, +publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days from the +day of the first above-mentioned order, and designate, as the States +and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively are this +day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit: +Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, except the parishes of St. Bernard, +Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James, Ascension, +Assumption, Terre Bonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin and Orleans, +including the city of New Orleans. Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, +Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, except the +forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties +of Berkeley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess +Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth, and +which excepted parts are, for the present, left precisely as if this +proclamation were not issued. + +And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order +and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated +States and parts of States are, and henceforward, shall be free; and +that the Executive Government of the United States, including the +military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the +freedom of said persons. + +And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain +from all violence, unless in necessary self-defense; and I recommend +to them that, in all cases, when allowed, they labor faithfully for +reasonable wages. + +And I further declare and make known that such persons of suitable +condition will be received into the armed service of the United States, +to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man +vessels of all sorts in said service. + +And upon this, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted +by the Constitution upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate +judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God. + +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of +the United States to be affixed. + +[Illustration: SEAL] + +Done at the City of Washington, this first day of January, in the year +of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the +Independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh. + + By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN. + WILLIAM H. SEWARD, _Secretary of State_. + + LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT EXPLAINING THE + EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION. + +The following letter, written in August, 1863, in answer to an +invitation to attend a meeting of unconditional Union men held in +Illinois, gives at length the President’s views at that time on his +Emancipation Proclamation: + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, August 26th, 1863. + +MY DEAR SIR: Your letter inviting me to attend a mass-meeting of +unconditional Union men, to be held at the capitol of Illinois on the +third day of September, has been received. It would be very agreeable +to me to thus meet my old friends at my own home, but I can not just +now be absent from this city so long as a visit there would require. +The meeting is to be of all those who maintain unconditional devotion +to the Union; and I am sure my old political friends will thank me for +tendering, as I do, the nation’s gratitude to those other noble men +whom no partisan malice or partisan hope can make false to the nation’s +life. There are those who are dissatisfied with me. To such I would +say, You desire peace, and you blame me that you do not have it. But +how can we attain it? There are but three conceivable ways: First, to +suppress the rebellion by force of arms. This I am trying to do. Are +you for it? If you are, so far we are agreed. If you are not for it, +a second way is to give up the Union. I am against this. If you are, +you should say so, plainly. If you are not for force, nor yet for +dissolution, there only remains some imaginable compromise. I do not +believe that any compromise, embracing the maintenance of the Union, is +now possible. All that I learn leads to a directly opposite belief. The +strength of the rebellion is its military—its army. The army dominates +all the country and all the people within its range. Any offer of +any terms made by any man or men within that range, in opposition to +that army, is simply nothing for the present, because such man or men +have no power whatever to enforce their side of a compromise, if one +were made with them. To illustrate: Suppose refugees from the South +and peace men of the North get together in convention, and frame +and proclaim a compromise embracing a restoration of the Union; in +what way can that compromise be used to keep General Lee’s army out +of Pennsylvania? General Meade’s army can keep Lee’s army out of +Pennsylvania, and, I think, can ultimately drive it out of existence. +But no paper compromise, to which the controllers of Lee’s army are not +agreed, can at all affect that army. In an effort at such compromise we +would waste time, which the enemy would improve to our disadvantage, +and that would be all. A compromise, to be effective, must be made +either with those who control the rebel army, or with the people, first +liberated from the domination of that army by the success of our army. +Now, allow me to assure you that no word or intimation from the rebel +army, or from any of the men controlling it, in relation to any peace +compromise, has ever come to my knowledge or belief. All charges and +intimations to the contrary are deceptive and groundless. And I promise +you that if any such proposition shall hereafter come, it shall not be +rejected and kept secret from you. I freely acknowledge myself to be +the servant of the people, according to the bond of service, the United +States Constitution, and that, as such, I am responsible to them. +But, to be plain: You are dissatisfied with me about the negro. Quite +likely there is a difference of opinion between you and myself upon +that subject. I certainly wish that all men could be free, while you, +I suppose, do not. Yet I have neither adopted nor proposed any measure +which is not consistent with even your view, provided you are for the +Union. I suggested compensated emancipation; to which you replied that +you wished not to be taxed to buy negroes. But I have not asked you to +be taxed to buy negroes, except in such way as to save you from greater +taxation, to save the Union exclusively by other means. + +You dislike the Emancipation Proclamation, and perhaps would have it +retracted. You say it is unconstitutional. I think differently: I think +that the Constitution invests the Commander-in-Chief with the law of +war in time of war. The most that can be said, if so much, is, that the +slaves are property. Is there—has there ever been—any question that, +by the law of war, property, both of enemies and friends, may be taken +when needed? And is it not needed whenever taking it helps us, or hurts +the enemy? Armies, the world over, destroy enemies’ property when they +can not use it; and even destroy their own to keep it from the enemy. +Civilized belligerents do all in their power to help themselves or hurt +the enemy, except a few things regarded as barbarous or cruel. Among +the exceptions are the massacre of vanquished foes and non-combatants, +male and female. But the proclamation, as law, is valid, or is not +valid. If it is not valid, it needs no retraction; if it is valid, +it can not be retracted, any more than the dead can be brought to +life. Some of you profess to think that its retraction would operate +favorably for the Union. Why better after the retraction than before +the issue? There was more than a year and a half of trial to suppress +the rebellion before the proclamation was issued, the last one hundred +days of which passed under an explicit notice that it was coming, +unless averted by those in revolt returning to their allegiance. The +war has certainly progressed as favorably for us since the issue of the +proclamation as before. I know as fully as one can know the opinion of +others, that some of the commanders of our armies in the field, who +have given us our most important victories, believe the emancipation +policy and the aid of colored troops to be the heaviest blows yet +dealt to the rebellion, and that at least one of these important +successes could not have been achieved when it was but for the aid of +black soldiers. Among the commanders holding these views are some +who have never had any affinity with what is called abolitionism or +with “Republican party politics,” but who hold them purely as military +opinions. I submit their opinions as being entitled to some weight +against the objections often urged, that emancipation and arming the +blacks are unwise as military measures, and were not adopted as such +in good faith. You say that you will not fight to free negroes. Some +of them seem to be willing to fight for you—but no matter. Fight +you, then, exclusively, to save the Union. I issued the proclamation +on purpose to aid you in saving the Union. Whenever you shall have +conquered all resistance to the Union, if I shall urge you to continue +fighting, it will be an apt time then for you to declare that you will +not fight to free negroes. I thought that, in your struggle for the +Union, to whatever extent the negroes should cease helping the enemy, +to that extent it weakened the enemy in his resistance to you. Do you +think differently? I thought that whatever negroes can be got to do as +soldiers, leaves just so much less for white soldiers to do in saving +the Union. Does it appear otherwise to you? But negroes, like other +people, act upon motives. Why should they do any thing for us if we +will not do any thing for them? If they stake their lives for us, they +must be prompted by the strongest motive, even the promise of freedom. +And, the promise being made, must be kept. The signs look better. The +Father of Waters again goes unvexed to the sea. Thanks to the great +North-west for it. Not yet wholly to them. Three hundred miles up they +met New England, Empire, Keystone, and Jersey, hewing their way right +and left. The Sunny South, too, in more colors than one, also lent a +hand. On the spot, their part of the history was jotted down in black +and white. The job was a great national one, and let none be blamed who +bore an honorable part in it; and, while those who have cleared the +great river may well be proud, even that is not all. It is hard to say +that any thing has been more bravely or better done than at Antietam, +Murfreesboro, Gettysburg, and on many fields of less note. Nor must +Uncle Sam’s web-fleet be forgotten. At all the waters’ margins they +have been present—not only on the deep sea, the broad bay, and the +rapid river, but also up the narrow, muddy bayou; and, wherever the +ground was a little damp, they have been, and made their tracks. Thanks +to all. For the great republic—for the principles by which it lives and +keeps alive—for man’s vast future—thanks to all. Peace does not appear +so far distant as it did. I hope it will come soon, and come to stay; +and so come as to be worth keeping in all future time. It will then +have proved that among freemen there can be no successful appeal from +the ballot to the bullet, and that they who take such appeal are sure +to lose their case and pay the cost. And then there will be some black +men who can remember that, with silent tongue, and clenched teeth, and +steady eye, and well-poised bayonet, they have helped mankind on to +this great consummation; while I fear that there will be some white +men unable to forget that, with malignant heart and deceitful speech, +they have striven to hinder it. Still, let us not be over-sanguine of +a speedy final triumph. Let us be quite sober. Let us diligently apply +the means, never doubting that a just God, in His own good time, will +give us the rightful result. + + Yours, very truly, A. LINCOLN. + + + + +PROCLAMATION OF ANDREW JACKSON. + + +_The President of the United States to the nullifiers of South +Carolina_: + +WHEREAS, A convention assembled in the State of South Carolina have +passed an ordinance, by which they declare, “that the several acts +and parts of acts of the Congress of the United States, purporting to +be laws for the imposing of duties and imposts on the importation of +foreign commodities, and now having actual operation and effect within +the United States, and more especially,” two acts for the same purposes +passed on the 29th of May, 1828, and on the 14th of July, 1832, “are +unauthorized by the Constitution of the United States, and violate the +true meaning and intent thereof, and are null and void, and no law,” +nor binding on the citizens of that State or its officers; and by the +said ordinance, it is further declared to be unlawful for any of the +constituted authorities of the State or of the United States to enforce +the payment of the duties imposed by the said acts with the same State, +and that it is the duty of the Legislature to pass such laws as may be +necessary to give full effect to the said ordinance: + +AND, WHEREAS, By the said ordinance, it is further ordained that in +no case of law or equity decided in the courts of said State, wherein +shall be drawn in question the validity of the said ordinance, or of +the acts of the Legislature that may be passed to give it effect, or of +the said laws of the United States, no appeal shall be allowed to the +Supreme Court of the United States, nor shall any copy of the record be +permitted or allowed for that purpose; and that any person attempting +to take such appeal shall be punished as for a contempt of court: + +And, finally, the said ordinance declares that the people of South +Carolina will maintain the said ordinance at every hazard; and that +they will consider the passage of any act, by Congress, abolishing or +closing the ports of the said State, or otherwise obstructing the free +ingress or egress of vessels to and from the said ports, or any other +act of the Federal Government to coerce the State, shut up her ports, +destroy or harass her commerce, or to enforce the said act otherwise +than through the civil tribunals of the country, as inconsistent with +the longer continuance of South Carolina in the Union, and that the +people of the said State will thenceforth hold themselves absolved +from all further obligation to maintain or preserve their political +connection with the people of the other States, and will forthwith +proceed to organize a separate government and do all other acts and +things which sovereign and independent States may of right do. + +AND, WHEREAS, The said ordinance prescribes to the people of South +Carolina a course of conduct in direct violation of their duty as +citizens of the United States, contrary to the laws of their country, +subversive of its Constitution, and having for its object the +destruction of the Union—that Union, which, coeval with our political +existence, led our fathers, without any other ties to unite them +than those of patriotism and a common cause, through a sanguinary +struggle to a glorious independence—that sacred Union, hitherto +inviolate, which, perfected by our happy Constitution, has brought +us, by the favor of Heaven, to a state of prosperity at home, and +high consideration abroad, rarely, if ever, equaled in the history +of nations. To preserve this bond of our political existence from +destruction, to maintain inviolate this state of national honor and +prosperity, and to justify the confidence my fellow-citizens have +reposed in me, I, ANDREW JACKSON, President of the United States, have +thought proper to issue this, my PROCLAMATION, stating my views of +the Constitution and laws applicable to the measures adopted by the +Convention of South Carolina, and to the reasons they have put forth +to sustain them, declaring the course which duty will require me to +pursue, and, appealing to the understanding and patriotism of the +people, warn them of the consequences that must inevitably result from +an observance of the dictates of the convention. + +Strict duty would require of me nothing more than the exercise of +those powers with which I am now, or may hereafter be invested, for +preserving the peace of the Union, and for the execution of the laws. +But the imposing aspect which opposition has assumed in this case, by +clothing itself with State authority, and the deep interest which the +people of the United States must all feel in preventing a resort to +stronger measures, while there is a hope that any thing will be yielded +to reasoning and remonstrance, perhaps demand, and will certainly +justify, a full exposition to South Carolina and the nation of the +views I entertain of this important question, as well as a distinct +enunciation of the course which my sense of duty will require me to +pursue. + +The ordinance is founded, not on the indefeasible right of resisting +acts which are plainly unconstitutional, and too oppressive to be +endured; but on the strange position that any one State may not only +declare an act void, but prohibit its execution—that they may do this +consistently with the Constitution—that the true construction of that +instrument permits a State to retain its place in the Union, and yet be +bound by no other of its laws than those it may choose to consider as +constitutional. It is true, they add, that to justify this abrogation +of law, it must be palpably contrary to the Constitution; but it is +evident, that to give the right of resisting laws of that description, +coupled with the uncontrolled right to decide what laws deserve that +character, is to give the power of resisting all laws. For, as by the +theory, there is no appeal, the reasons alleged by the State, good +or bad, must prevail. If it should be said that public opinion is a +sufficient check against the abuse of this power, it may be asked why +it is not deemed a sufficient guard against an unconstitutional act +of Congress? There is, however, a restraint in this last case, which +makes the assumed power of a State more indefensible, and which does +not exist in the other. There are two appeals from an unconstitutional +act passed by Congress—one to the judiciary, the other to the people +and the States. There is no appeal from the State decision in theory, +and the practical illustration shows that the courts are closed against +an application to review it, both judges and jurors being sworn to +decide in its favor. But reasoning on this subject is superfluous, +when our social compact, in express terms, declares that the laws of +the United States, its Constitution, and treaties made under it, are +the supreme law of the land; and, for the greater caution, adds “that +the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any thing in the +Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.” +And it may be asserted, without fear of refutation, that no Federal +Government could exist without a similar provision. Look for a +moment to the consequence. If South Carolina considers the revenues +unconstitutional, and has a right to prevent their execution in the +port of Charleston, there would be a clear constitutional objection to +their collection in every other port, and no revenue could be collected +anywhere; for all imposts must be equal. It is no answer to repeat, +that an unconstitutional law is no law, so long as the question of its +legality is to be decided by the State itself; for every law operating +injuriously upon any local interest will be, perhaps, thought, and +certainly represented, as unconstitutional; and, as has been shown, +there is no appeal. + +[Illustration: JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.] + +If this doctrine had been established at an earlier day, the +Union would have been dissolved in its infancy. The excise law in +Pennsylvania, the embargo and non-intercourse law in the eastern +States, the carriage tax in Virginia, were all deemed unconstitutional, +and were more unequal in their operation than any of the laws now +complained of; but fortunately none of those States discovered that +they had the right now claimed by South Carolina. The war into which we +were forced to support the dignity of the nation and the rights of our +citizens, might have ended in defeat and disgrace instead of victory +and honor, if the States who supposed it a ruinous and unconstitutional +measure, had thought they possessed the right of nullifying the act by +which it was declared, and denying supplies for its prosecution. Hardly +and unequally as those measures bore upon several members of the Union, +to the legislatures of none did this efficient and peaceable remedy, as +it is called, suggest itself. The discovery of this important feature +in our Constitution was reserved to the present day. To the statesmen +of South Carolina belongs the invention, and upon the citizens of that +State will unfortunately fall the evils of reducing it to practice. + +If the doctrine of a State veto upon the laws of the Union carries with +it internal evidence of its impracticable absurdity, our constitutional +history will also afford abundant proof that it would have been +repudiated with indignation had it been proposed to form a feature in +our Government. + +In our colonial state, although dependent on another power, we very +early considered ourselves as connected by common interest with +each other. Leagues were formed for common defense, and, before the +Declaration of Independence, we were known in our aggregate character +as the United Colonies of America. That decisive and important step +was taken jointly. We declared ourselves a nation by a joint, not by +several acts, and when the terms of our Confederation were reduced to +form, it was that of a solemn league of several States, by which they +agreed that they would collectively form one nation for the purpose of +conducting some certain domestic concerns and all foreign relations. In +the instrument forming that Union is found an article which declares +that “every State shall abide by the determination of Congress on all +questions which, by that Confederation, should be submitted to them.” + +Under the Confederation, then, no State could legally annul a decision +of the Congress, or refuse to submit to its execution; but no provision +was made to enforce these decisions. Congress made requisitions, but +they were not complied with. The Government could not operate on +individuals. They had no judiciary, no means of collecting revenue. + +But the defects of the Confederation need not be detailed. Under +its operation we could scarcely be called a nation. We had neither +prosperity at home nor consideration abroad. This state of things +could not be endured, and our present happy Constitution was formed, +but formed in vain, if this fatal doctrine prevails. It was formed +for important objects that are announced in the preamble made in the +name and by the authority of the people of the United States, whose +delegates framed, and whose conventions approved it. The most important +among those objects, that which is placed first in rank, on which all +others rest, is, “to form a more perfect Union.” Now, is it possible +that even if there were no express provision giving supremacy to the +Constitution and laws of the United States—can it be conceived, that an +instrument made for the purpose of “forming a more perfect Union” than +that of the Confederation, could be so constructed by the assembled +wisdom of our country as to substitute for that Confederation a form of +government dependent for its existence on the local interest, the party +spirit of a State, or of a prevailing faction in a State? Every man of +plain, unsophisticated understanding, who hears the question, will give +such an answer as will preserve the Union. Metaphysical subtlety, in +pursuit of an impracticable theory, could alone have devised one that +is calculated to destroy it. + +I consider, then, the power to annul a law of the United States, +assumed by one State, incompatible with the existence of the Union, +contradicted expressly by the letter of the Constitution, unauthorized +by its spirit, inconsistent with every principle on which it was +founded, and destructive of the great object for which it was formed. + +After this general view of the leading principle, we must examine the +particular application of it which is made in the ordinance. + +The preamble rests its justification on these grounds: It assumes, +as a fact, that the obnoxious laws, although they purport to be laws +for raising revenue, were in reality intended for the protection of +manufactures, which purpose it asserts to be unconstitutional; that the +operation of these laws is unequal; that the amount raised by them is +greater than is required by the wants of the Government; and, finally, +that the proceeds are to be applied to objects unauthorized by the +Constitution. These are the only causes alleged to justify an open +opposition to the laws of the country, and a threat of seceding from +the Union, if any attempt should be made to enforce them. The first +virtually acknowledges that the law in question was passed under a +power expressly given by the Constitution to lay and collect imposts; +but its constitutionality is drawn in question from the motives of +those who passed it. However apparent this purpose may be in the +present case, nothing can be more dangerous than to admit the position +that an unconstitutional purpose, entertained by the members who assent +to a law enacted under constitutional power, shall make the law void: +for how is that purpose to be ascertained? How often may bad purposes +be falsely imputed—in how many cases are they concealed by false +professions—in how many is no declaration of motive made? Admit this +doctrine, and you give to the States an uncontrolled right to decide, +and every law may be annulled under this pretext. If, therefore, the +absurd and dangerous doctrine should be admitted, that a State may +annul an unconstitutional law, or one that it deems such, it will not +apply to the present case. + +The next objection is, that the laws in question operate unequally. +This objection may be made with truth to every law that has been or +may be passed. The wisdom of man never yet contrived a system of +taxation that would operate with perfect equality. If the unequal +operation of a law makes it unconstitutional, and if all laws of that +description may be abrogated by any State for that cause, then indeed +is the Federal Constitution unworthy the slightest effort for its +preservation. We have hitherto relied on it as the perpetual bond of +our Union. We have received it as the work of the assembled wisdom of +the nation. We have trusted to it as the sheet anchor of our safety in +the stormy times of conflict with a foreign or domestic foe. We have +looked to it with sacred awe as the palladium of our liberties, and +with all the solemnities of religion have pledged to each other our +lives and fortunes here, and our hopes of happiness hereafter, in its +defense and support. Were we mistaken, my countrymen, in attaching +this importance to the Constitution of our country? Was our devotion +paid to the wretched, inefficient, clumsy, contrivance which this new +doctrine would make it? Did we pledge ourselves to the support of an +airy nothing—a bubble, that must be blown away by the first breath +of dissatisfaction? Was this self-destroying, visionary theory, the +work of the profound statesmen, the exalted patriots, to whom the task +of constitutional reform was intrusted? Did the name of Washington +sanction, did the States deliberately ratify such an anamoly in the +history of fundamental legislation? No. We were not mistaken. The +letter of this great instrument is free from this radical fault; its +language directly contradicts the imputation; its spirit—its evident +intent, contradicts it. No, we did not err! Our Constitution does not +contain the absurdity of giving power to make laws, and another power +to resist them. The sages whose memory will always be reverenced, have +given us a practical, and, as they hoped, a permanent constitutional +compact. The Father of his Country did not affix his revered name to +so palpable an absurdity. Nor did the States, when they severally +ratified it, do so under the impression that a veto on the laws of the +United States, was reserved to them, or that they could exercise it by +implication. Search the debates in all their conventions, examine the +speeches of the most zealous opposers of federal authority, look at +the amendments that were proposed; they are all silent—not a syllable +uttered, not a vote given, not a motion made, to correct the explicit +supremacy given to the laws of the Union over those of the States, or +to show that implication, as is now contended, could defeat it. No, we +have not erred! The Constitution is still the object of our reverence, +the bond of our Union, our defense in danger, the source of our +prosperity in peace; it shall descend as we received it, uncorrupted, +by sophistical construction, to our posterity, and the sacrifices of +local interest, of State prejudices, of personal animosities, that were +made to bring it into existence, will again be patriotically offered +for its support. + +The two remaining objections made by the ordinance to these laws, +are that the sums intended to be raised by them are greater than are +required, and that the proceeds will be unconstitutionally employed. + +The Constitution has given, expressly, to Congress the right of raising +revenue, and of determining the sum the public exigencies will require. +The States have no control over the exercise of this right, other than +that which results from the power of changing the representatives who +abuse it, and thus procure redress. Congress may, undoubtedly, abuse +this discretionary power; but the same may be said of others with +which they are vested. Yet this discretion must exist somewhere. The +Constitution has given it to the representatives of all the people, +checked by the representatives of the States and by the executive +power. The South Carolina construction gives it to the legislature +or the convention of a single State, where neither the people of the +different States, nor the States in their separate capacity, nor the +chief magistrate elected by the people, have any representation. +Which is the most discreet disposition of the power? I do not ask +you, fellow-citizens, which is the constitutional disposition; that +instrument speaks a language not to be misunderstood. But if you were +assembled in general convention, which would you think the safest +depository of this discretionary power in the last resort? Would you +add a clause giving it to each of the States, or would you sanction +the wise provisions already made by your Constitution? If this should +be the result of your deliberations when providing for the future, are +you, can you be ready to risk all that we hold dear to establish, for +a temporary and a local purpose, that which you must acknowledge to be +destructive, and even absurd, as a general provision? Carry out the +consequences of this right vested in the different States, and you must +perceive that the crisis your conduct presents at this day would recur +whenever any law of the United States displeased any of the States, and +that we should soon cease to be a nation. + +The ordinance, with the same knowledge of the future that characterizes +a former objection, tells you that the proceeds of the tax will +be unconstitutionally applied. If this could be ascertained with +certainty, the objection would, with more propriety, be reserved for +the law so applying the proceeds, but surely can not be urged against +the laws levying the duty. + +These are the allegations contained in the ordinance. Examine them +seriously, my fellow-citizens; judge for yourselves. I appeal to you +to determine whether they are so clear, so convincing, as to leave +no doubt of their correctness; and even if you should come to this +conclusion, how far they justify the reckless, destructive course +which you are directed to pursue. Review these objections, and the +conclusions drawn from them, once more. What are they? Every law, then, +for raising revenue, according to the South Carolina ordinance, may be +rightfully annulled, unless it be so framed as no law ever will or can +be framed. Congress has the right to pass laws for raising a revenue, +and each State has a right to oppose their execution—two rights +directly opposed to each other; and yet is this absurdity supposed +to be contained in an instrument drawn for the express purpose of +avoiding collisions between the States and the General Government, by +an assembly of the most enlightened statesmen and purest patriots ever +embodied for a similar purpose. + +In vain have these sages declared that Congress shall have power to +lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises; in vain have +they provided that they shall have power to pass laws which shall be +necessary and proper to carry those powers into execution; that those +laws and that Constitution shall be the “supreme law of the land, and +that the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any thing in the +Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.” +In vain have the people of the several States solemnly sanctified +these provisions, made them their paramount law, and individually +sworn to support them whenever they were called on to execute any +office. Vain provision! ineffectual restrictions! vile profanation +of oaths! miserable mockery of legislation! if the bare majority of +the voters in any one State may, on a real or supposed knowledge of +the intent with which a law has been passed, declare themselves free +from its operation—say here it gives too little, there too much, and +operates unequally—here it suffers articles to be free that ought +to be taxed—there it taxes those that ought to be free—in this case +the proceeds are intended to be applied to purposes which we do not +approve—in that the amount raised is more than is wanted. Congress, it +is true, is invested by the Constitution with the right of deciding +these questions according to their sound discretion; Congress is +composed of the representatives of all the States, and of all the +people of all the States; but we, part of the people of one State, to +whom the Constitution has given no power on the subject, from whom it +has expressly taken it away—we, who have solemnly agreed that this +Constitution shall be our law—we, most of whom have sworn to support +it—we now abrogate this law, and swear, and force others to swear that +it shall not be obeyed; and we do this, not because Congress have no +right to pass such laws—this we do not allege—but because they have +passed them with improper views. They are unconstitutional from the +motives of those who passed them, which we can never with certainty +know; from their unequal operation, although it is impossible, +from the nature of things, that they should be equal; and from the +disposition which we presume may be made of their proceeds, although +that disposition has not been declared. This is the plain meaning of +the ordinance, in relation to laws which it abrogates for alleged +unconstitutionality. But it does not stop there. It repeals, in +express terms, an important part of the Constitution itself, and of +laws passed to give it effect, which have never been alleged to be +unconstitutional. The Constitution declares that the judicial powers +of the United States extend to cases arising under the laws of the +United States; and that such laws, the Constitution and treaties, shall +be paramount to the State Constitutions and laws. The judiciary act +prescribes the mode by which the case may be brought before a court of +the United States by appeal, when a State tribunal shall decide against +this provision of the Constitution. The ordinance declares that there +shall be no appeal, makes the State law paramount to the Constitution +and laws of the United States, forces judges and jurors to swear that +they will disregard their provisions, and even makes it penal in a suit +to attempt relief by appeal. It further declares that it shall not be +lawful for the authorities of the United States, or of that State, to +enforce the payment of duties imposed by the revenue laws within its +limits. + +Here is a law of the United States, not even pretended to be +unconstitutional, repealed by the authority of a small majority of the +voters of a single State. Here is a provision of the Constitution, +which is solemnly abrogated by the same authority. + +On such expositions and reasonings, the ordinance grounds not only an +assertion of the right to annul the laws, of which it complains, but to +enforce it by a threat of seceding from the Union, if any attempt is +made to execute them. + +This right to secede is deduced from the nature of the Constitution, +which they say is a compact between sovereign States, who have +preserved their whole sovereignty, and therefore are subject to no +superior; that because they made the compact, they can break it, when, +in their opinion, it has been departed from by other States. Fallacious +as this course of reasoning is, it enlists State pride, and finds +advocates in the honest prejudices of those who have not studied the +nature of our government sufficiently to see the radical error on which +it rests. + +The people of the United States formed the Constitution, acting through +the State Legislatures in forming the compact, to meet and discuss +its provisions, and acting in separate conventions when they ratified +those provisions; but the terms used in its construction show it to +be a government in which the people of all the States collectively +are represented. We are _one people_ in the choice of President and +Vice-President. Here the States have no other agency than to direct +the mode in which the votes shall be given. The candidates having a +majority of all the votes are chosen. The electors of a majority of +States may have given their votes for one candidate, and yet another +may be chosen. The people, then, and not the States, are represented in +the executive branch. + +In the House of Representatives there is this difference: that +the people of one State do not, as in the case of President and +Vice-President, all vote for the same officers. The people of all +the States do not vote for all the members, each State electing only +its own Representatives. But this creates no national distinction. +When chosen, they are all Representatives of the United States, +not representatives of the particular State from whence they +come. They are paid by the United States, not by the State; nor +are they accountable to it for any act done in the performance of +their legislative functions; and however they may, in practice, as +it is their duty to do, consult and prefer the interests of their +particular constituents, when they come in conflict with any other +partial or local interest, yet it is the first and highest duty of a +Representative of the United States to promote the general good. + +The Constitution of the United States, then, forms a _government_, not +a league; and whether it be formed by compact between the States, or +in any other manner, its character is the same. It is a government in +which all the people are represented, which operates directly on the +people individually, not upon the States; they retained all the power +they did not grant. But each State having expressly parted with so many +powers, as to constitute jointly with the other States a single nation, +can not, from that period, possess any right to secede, because such +secession does not break a league, but destroys the unity of a nation; +and any injury to that unity is not only a breach, which would result +from the contravention of a compact, but it is an offense against the +whole Union. To say that any State may at pleasure secede from the +Union, is to say that the United States are not a nation; because +it would be a solecism to contend, that any part of a nation might +dissolve its connection with the other parts, to their injury or ruin, +without committing any offense. Secession, like any other revolutionary +act, may be morally justified by the extremity of oppression; but +to call it a constitutional right is confounding the meaning of the +terms; and can only be done through gross error, or to deceive those +who are willing to assert a right, but would pause before they made a +revolution, or incur the penalties consequent on a failure. + +Because the Union was formed by compact, it is said the parties to that +compact may, when they feel themselves aggrieved, depart from it; but +it is precisely because it is a compact that they can not. A compact +is an agreement or binding obligation. It may, by its terms, have +a sanction or penalty for its breach, or it may not. If it contains +no sanction, it may be broken, with no other consequences than moral +guilt; if it have a sanction, then the breach incurs the designated or +implied penalty. A league between independent nations generally has no +sanction other than a moral one; or, if it should contain a penalty, +as there is no common superior, it can not be enforced. A government, +on the contrary, always has a sanction, express or implied; and, in +our case, it is both necessarily implied and expressly given. An +attempt, by force of arms, to destroy a government, is an offense, by +whatever means the constitutional compact may have been formed; and +such government has the right, by the law of self-defense, to pass acts +for punishing the offender, unless that right is modified, restrained, +or resumed by the constitutional act. In our system, although it is +modified in the case of treason, yet authority is expressly given to +pass all laws necessary to carry its powers into effect; and, under +this grant, provision has been made for punishing acts which obstruct +the due administration of the laws. + +It would seem superfluous to add any thing to show the nature of that +Union which connects us; but as erroneous opinions on this subject +are the foundation of doctrines the most destructive to our peace, I +must give further development to my views on this subject. No one, +fellow-citizens, has a higher reverence for the reserved rights of the +States than the magistrate who now addresses you; no one would make +greater personal sacrifices or official exertion to defend them from +violation; but equal care must be taken to prevent, on their part, an +improper interference with, or resumption of, the rights they have +vested in the nation. The line has not been so distinctly drawn as to +avoid doubts, in some cases, of the exercise of power. Men of the best +intentions and soundest views may differ in their construction of some +parts of the Constitution; but there are others on which dispassionate +reflection can leave no doubt. Of this nature appears to be the assumed +right of secession. It rests, as we have seen, on the alleged undivided +sovereignty of the States, and on their having formed, in this +sovereign capacity, a compact, which is called the Constitution, from +which, because they made it, they have the right to secede. Both of +these positions are erroneous, and some of the arguments to prove them +so have been anticipated. + +The States severally have not retained their entire sovereignty. It +has been shown that, in becoming parts of a nation, not members of a +league, they surrendered many of their essential parts of sovereignty. +The right to make treaties, declare war, levy taxes, exercise exclusive +judicial and legislative powers, were, all of them, functions of +sovereign power. The States, then, for all these purposes, were no +longer sovereign. The allegiance of their citizens was transferred, +in the first instance, to the Government of the United States; they +became American citizens, and owed obedience to the Constitution of the +United States, and to laws made in conformity with the powers it vested +in Congress. This last position has not been, and can not be, denied. +How, then, can that State be said to be sovereign and independent whose +citizens owe obedience to laws not made by it, and whose magistrates +are sworn to disregard those laws when they come in conflict with +those passed by another? What shows conclusively that the States can +not be said to have reserved an undivided sovereignty is, that they +expressly ceded the right to punish treason—not treason against their +separate power, but treason against the United States. Treason is an +offense against sovereignty, and sovereignty must reside with the +power to punish it. But the reserved rights of the States are not less +sacred because they have, for their common interest, made the General +Government the depository of these powers. + +The unity of our political character (as has been shown for another +purpose) commenced with its very existence. Under the royal government +we had no separate character; our opposition to its oppressions +began as _united colonies_. We were the United States, under the +Confederation, and the name was perpetuated, and the Union rendered +more perfect by the Federal Constitution. In none of these stages did +we consider ourselves in any other light than as forming one nation. +Treaties and alliances were made in the name of all. Troops were raised +for the joint defense. How, then, with all these proofs, that, under +all changes of our position, we had, for designated purposes, and with +defined powers, created national governments; how is it that the most +perfect of those several modes of union should now be considered as a +mere league, that may be dissolved at pleasure? It is from an abuse +of terms. “Compact” is used as synonymous with “league,” although the +true term is not employed, because it would at once show the fallacy of +the reasoning. It would not do to say that our Constitution was only a +league; but it is labored to prove it a compact (which in one sense it +is), and then to argue that, as a league is a compact, every compact +between nations must, of course, be a league, and that from such an +engagement every sovereign power has a right to recede. But it has been +shown that, in this sense, the States are not sovereign, and that even +if they were, and the national Constitution had been formed by compact, +there would be no right in any one State to exonerate itself from its +obligations. + +So obvious are the reasons which forbid this secession, that it is +necessary only to allude to them. The Union was formed for the benefit +of all. It was produced by mutual sacrifices of interests and opinions. +Can those sacrifices be recalled? Can the States, who magnanimously +surrender their title to the territories in the West, recall the grant? +Will the inhabitants of the inland States agree to pay the duties that +may be imposed, without their assent, by those on the Atlantic or the +Gulf for their own benefit? Shall there be a free port in one State, +and onerous duties in another? No one believes that any right exists, +in a single State, to involve the others in these and countless other +evils contrary to the engagements solemnly made. Every one must see +that the other States, in self-defense, must oppose it, at all hazards. + +These are the alternatives that are presented by the convention: A +repeal of all the acts for raising revenue, leaving the Government +without the means of support, or an acquiescence in the dissolution +of our Union by the secession of one of its members. When the first +was proposed, it was known that it could not be listened to for a +moment. It was known, if force was applied to oppose the execution +of the laws, that it must be repelled by force; that Congress could +not, without involving itself in disgrace and the country in ruin, +accede to the proposition; and yet, if this is not done on a given +day, or if any attempt is made to execute the laws, the State is, +by the ordinance, declared to be out of the Union. The majority of +a convention, assembled for the purpose, have dictated these terms, +or rather this rejection of all terms, in the name of the people of +South Carolina. It is true that the Governor of the State speaks of +the submission of their grievances to a convention of all the States, +which, he says, they “sincerely and anxiously seek and desire.” Yet +this obvious and constitutional mode of obtaining the sense of the +other States, on the construction of the Federal compact, and amending +it if necessary, has never been attempted by those who have urged the +State on to this destructive measure. The State might have proposed to +call for a general convention of the other States; and Congress, if +a sufficient number of them concurred, must have called it. But the +first magistrate of South Carolina, when he expressed a hope that, “on +a review by Congress and the functionaries of the General Government +of the merits of the controversy,” such a convention will be accorded +to them, must have known that neither Congress, nor any functionary +of the General Government, has authority to call such a convention, +unless it be demanded by two-thirds of the States. This suggestion, +then, is another instance of the reckless inattention to the provisions +of the Constitution with which this crisis has been madly hurried on; +or of the attempt to persuade the people that a constitutional remedy +has been sought and refused. If the Legislature of South Carolina +“anxiously desire” a general convention to consider their complaints, +why have they not made application for it in the way the Constitution +points out? The assertion that they “earnestly seek” it is completely +negatived by the omission. + +This, then, is the position in which we stand. A small majority of the +citizens of one State in the Union have elected delegates to a State +convention; that convention has ordained that all the revenue laws +of the United States must be repealed, or that they are no longer a +member of this Union. The Governor of that State has recommended to +the Legislature the raising of an army to carry the secession into +effect, and that he may be empowered to give clearances to vessels in +the name of the State. No act of violent opposition to the laws has +yet been committed, but such a state of things is hourly apprehended; +and it is the intent of this instrument to proclaim, not only that +the duty imposed on me by the Constitution “to take care that the +laws be faithfully executed,” shall be performed to the extent of the +powers already vested in me by law, or of such others as the wisdom +of Congress shall devise and intrust to me for that purpose, but to +warn the citizens of South Carolina, who have been deluded into an +opposition to the laws, of the danger they will incur by obedience +to the illegal and disorganizing ordinance of the convention; to +exhort those who have refused to support it to persevere in their +determination to uphold the Constitution and laws of their country; and +to point out to all the perilous situation into which the good people +of that State have been led, and that the course they are urged to +pursue is one of ruin and disgrace to the very State whose rights they +affect to support. + +Fellow-citizens of my native State, let me not only admonish you, as +the First Magistrate of our common country, not to incur the penalty of +its laws, but use the influence that a father would over his children +whom he saw rushing to certain ruin. In that paternal language, with +that paternal feeling, let me tell you, my countrymen, that you are +deluded by men who are either deceived themselves, or wish to deceive +you. Mark under what pretenses you have been led on to the brink of +insurrection and treason, and on which you stand! First, a diminution +of the value of your staple commodity, lowered by over-production in +other quarters, and the consequent diminution in the value of your +lands, were the sole effect of the tariff laws. + +The effect of those laws was confessedly injurious, but the evil +was greatly exaggerated by the unfounded theory you were taught to +believe, that its burdens were in proportion to your exports, not to +your consumption of imported articles. Your pride was roused by the +assertion that a submission to those laws was a state of vassalage, +and that resistance to them was equal, in patriotic merit, to the +opposition our fathers offered to the oppressive laws of Great Britain. +You were told that this opposition might be peaceably—might be +constitutionally made; that you might enjoy all the advantages of the +Union, and bear none of its burdens. Eloquent appeals to your passions, +to your State pride, to your native courage, to your sense of real +injury, were used, to prepare you for the period when the mask, which +concealed the hideous features of disunion, should be taken off. It +fell, and you were made to look with complacency on objects which, not +long since, you would have regarded with horror. Look back to the arts +which have brought you to this state—look forward to the consequences +to which it must inevitably lead! Look back to what was first told +you as an inducement to enter into this dangerous course. The great +political truth was repeated to you, that you had the revolutionary +right of resisting all laws that were palpably unconstitutional and +intolerably oppressive; it was added that the right to nullify a law +rested on the same principle, but that it was a peaceable remedy! +This character which was given to it, made you receive, with too much +confidence, the assertions that were made of the unconstitutionality +of the law and its oppressive effects. Mark, my fellow-citizens, that, +by the admission of your leaders, the unconstitutionality must be +_palpable_, or it will not justify either resistance or nullification! +What is the meaning of the word _palpable_, in the sense in which it is +here used? that which is apparent to every one; that which no man of +ordinary intellect will fail to perceive. Is the unconstitutionality +of these laws of that description? Let those among your leaders who +once approved and advocated the principle of protective duties, answer +the question; and let them choose whether they will be considered as +incapable, then, of perceiving that which must have been apparent to +every man of common understanding, or as imposing on your confidence, +and endeavoring to mislead you now. In either case, they are unsafe +guides in the perilous path they urge you to tread. Ponder well on +this circumstance, and you will know how to appreciate the exaggerated +language they address to you. They are not champions of liberty, +emulating the fame of our revolutionary fathers; nor are you an +oppressed people, contending, as they repeat to you, against worse than +colonial vassalage. + +You are free members of a flourishing and happy Union. There is no +settled design to oppress you. You have, indeed, felt the unequal +operation of laws which may have been unwisely, not unconstitutionally +passed; but that inequality must necessarily be removed. At the very +moment when you were madly urged on to the unfortunate course you +have begun, a change in public opinion had commenced. The nearly +approaching payment of the public debt, and the consequent necessity +of a diminution of duties, had already produced a considerable +reduction, and that, too, on some articles of general consumption in +your State. The importance of this change was underrated, and you are +authoritatively told that no further alleviation of your burdens were +to be expected at the very time when the condition of the country +imperiously demanded such a modification of the duties as should +reduce them to a just and equitable scale. But, as if apprehensive +of the effect of this change in allaying your discontents, you were +precipitated into the fearful state in which you now find yourselves. + +I have urged you to look back to the means that were used to hurry +you on to the position you have now assumed, and forward to the +consequences it will produce. Something more is necessary. Contemplate +the condition of that country of which you still form an important +part. Consider its Government, uniting in one bond of common interest +and general protection so many different States—giving to all their +inhabitants the proud title of American citizens; protecting their +commerce; securing their literature and their arts; facilitating their +intercommunication; defending their frontiers, and making their names +respected in the remotest parts of the earth. Consider the extent of +its territory; its increasing and happy population; its advance in +arts, which render life agreeable; and the sciences, which elevate +the mind! See education spreading the lights of religion, morality, +and general information into every cottage in this wide extent of our +Territories and States! Behold it as the asylum where the wretched +and the oppressed find a refuge and support! Look on this picture of +happiness and honor, and say: “_We, too, are citizens of America!_ +Carolina is one of these proud States—her arms have defended—her +best blood has cemented this happy Union!” And then add, if you can, +without horror and remorse, “this happy Union we will dissolve; this +picture of peace and prosperity we will deface; this free intercourse +we will interrupt; these fertile fields we will deluge with blood; +the protection of that glorious flag we renounce; the very name of +Americans we discard.” And for what, mistaken men—for what do you +throw away these inestimable blessings? for what would you exchange +your share in the advantages and honor of the Union? For the dream of +separate independence—a dream interrupted by bloody conflicts with +your neighbors, and a vile dependence on a foreign power. If your +leaders could succeed in establishing a separation, what would be your +situation? Are you united at home—are you free from the apprehension of +civil discord, with all its fearful consequences? Do our neighboring +republics, every day suffering some new revolution, or contending with +some new insurrection—do they excite your envy? But the dictates of a +high duty obliges me solemnly to announce that you can not succeed. The +laws of the United States must be executed. I have no discretionary +power on the subject—my duty is emphatically pronounced in the +Constitution. Those who told you that you might peaceably prevent their +execution, deceived you—they could not have been deceived themselves. +They know that a forcible opposition could alone prevent the execution +of the laws, and they know that such opposition must be repelled. +Their object is disunion; but be not deceived by names; disunion, by +armed force, is _treason_. Are you really ready to incur its guilt? +If you are, on the heads of the instigators of the act be the dreadful +consequences—on their heads be the dishonor, but on yours may fall +the punishment; on your unhappy State will inevitably fall all the +evils of the conflict you force upon the government of your country. +It can not accede to the mad project of disunion, of which you would +be the first victims—its First Magistrate can not, if he would, avoid +the performance of his duty; the consequences must be fearful to you, +distressing to your fellow-citizens here, and to the friends of good +government throughout the world. Its enemies have beheld our prosperity +with a vexation they could not conceal—it was a standing refutation of +their slavish doctrines, and they will point to our discord with the +triumph of malignant joy. It is yet in your power to disappoint them. +There is yet time to show that the descendants of the Pinckneys, the +Sumters, the Rutledges, and of the thousand other names, which adorn +the pages of your revolutionary history, will not abandon that Union, +to support which so many of them fought, and bled, and died. + +I adjure you, as you honor their memory—as you love the cause of +freedom, to which they dedicated their lives—as you prize the peace of +your country, the lives of its best citizens, and your own fair fame, +to retrace your steps. Snatch from the archives of your State the +disorganizing edict of its convention—bid its members to re-assemble, +and promulgate the decided expressions of your will to remain in the +path which alone can conduct you to safety, prosperity, and honor. +Tell them that, compared to disunion, all other evils are light, +because that brings with it an accumulation of all. Declare that you +will never take the field unless the star-spangled banner of your +country shall float over you; that you will not be stigmatized when +dead, and dishonored and scorned while you live, as the authors of the +first attack on the Constitution of your country. Its destroyers you +can not be. You may disturb its peace—you may interrupt the course of +its prosperity—you may cloud its reputation for stability; but its +tranquillity will be restored, its prosperity will return, and the +stain upon its national character will be transferred, and remain an +eternal blot on the memory of those who caused the disorder. + +Fellow-citizens of the United States! The threat of unhallowed +disunion—the names of those once respected, by whom it is uttered—the +array of military force to support it—denotes the approach of a crisis +in our affairs, on which the continuance of our unexampled prosperity, +our political existence, and perhaps that of all free governments, +may depend. The conjuncture demanded a free, a full, and explicit +enunciation, not only of my intentions, but of my principles of action: +and as the claim was asserted of a right by a State to annul the +laws of the Union, and even to secede from it at pleasure, a frank +exposition of my opinions in relation to the origin and form of our +government, and the construction I give to the instrument by which it +was created, seemed to be proper. Having the fullest confidence in the +justness of the legal and constitutional opinion of my duties, which +has been expressed, I rely, with equal confidence, on your undivided +support in my determination to execute the laws—to preserve the Union +by all constitutional means—to arrest, if possible, by moderate but +firm measures, the necessity of a recourse to force; and, if it be the +will of Heaven, that the recurrence of its primeval curse on man for +the shedding of a brother’s blood should fall upon our land, that it be +not called down by any offensive act on the part of the United States. + +Fellow-citizens! the momentous case is before you. On your undivided +support of your Government depends the decision of the great question +it involves, whether your sacred Union will be preserved, and the +blessings it secures to us as one people shall be perpetuated. No +one can doubt that the unanimity with which that decision will be +expressed, will be such as to inspire new confidence in republican +institutions, and that the prudence, the wisdom, and the courage which +it will bring to their defense will transmit them unimpaired and +invigorated to our children. + +May the Great Ruler of Nations grant that the signal blessings with +which He has favored ours, may not, by the madness of party or personal +ambition, be disregarded and lost; and may His wise providence bring +those who have produced this crisis to see their folly, before they +feel the misery of civil strife, and inspire a returning veneration +for that Union, which, if we may dare to penetrate His designs, He has +chosen as the only means of attaining the high destinies to which we +may reasonably aspire. + +In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the United States to be +hereunto affixed, having signed the same with my hand. + +Done at the city of Washington, this 10th day of December, in the year +of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, and of the +Independence of the United States the fifty-seventh. + + By the President: ANDREW JACKSON. + EDWD. LIVINGSTON, _Secretary of State_. + + + + +HISTORY OF THE STATES. + + +VIRGINIA. + +“The Old Dominion,” so distinguished as being the native State of +the Father of American Liberty, and the “Mother of Presidents,” +really seemed at one time, to be peculiarly favorable to the birth +and development of statesmen. It has furnished no less than five +Presidents, among whom are Washington, Monroe, Madison, and Jefferson. +It was the first Colony, on the Continent, settled by the English. In +1607, a company formed under the patronage of James I, obtained a grant +to make settlements in America, between the 34th and 38th degrees of +north latitude. In May, 1607, a colony of one hundred and five persons, +under direction of this company, arrived off the coast of South +Virginia. Their intention had been to form a settlement on Roanoke, +now in North Carolina; but being driven north by a violent storm, they +discovered and entered the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. Passing up this +bay they named its capes—Henry and Charles—in honor of the king’s two +sons. They were commanded by Capt. Christopher Newport, an experienced +and distinguished navigator. Passing up James River, they arrived at a +peninsula, upon which they landed and established Jamestown. + +After promulgating a code of laws which had been formed by the London +company, Capt. Newport sailed for England, leaving the colony under the +care of Capt. John Smith, whose subsequent relations to the settlement +became so important, and without whose efforts the enterprise would +doubtless have proved a failure. The colonists seem to have been very +poorly adapted to the labor required at their hands. Too many of them +were _gentlemen_, and came, it appears, only to enrich themselves by +gathering gold, which, they had heard, was very abundant. + +Through a series of difficulties, which it is rarely the lot of man +to encounter, this colony progressed; the settlers awhile quarreling +among themselves, and awhile contending against savages and famine, for +bare existence, until the period of the Revolution, in which it was +one of the first colonies to take active part, furnishing to the young +republic many of its most efficient military chieftains and statesmen. +It ratified the Constitution June 26, 1788. After the Revolution its +course was for many years one of great prosperity. But, unfortunately, +the year 1861 found the majority of its statesmen arrayed against the +Government, on the side of secession, and on the 15th of April, 1861, +she seceded from the Union. On the 17th of June, 1861, all the counties +lying between the Alleghany Mountains and the Ohio River, were, by a +convention held at Wheeling, declared independent of the old State +government, and were organized into a new State, called West Virginia, +which remains loyal. The capital of the old State was selected as the +seat of government of the so-called Confederate States of America. + + +MASSACHUSETTS. + +Massachusetts was settled in the year 1620, by the Puritans. These +people, having been severely persecuted in England, had previously +taken refuge in Holland; but for various reasons they determined, +after remaining in Holland a season, to emigrate to the New World. +Unfortunately, they started at a very unpropitious season of the year, +arriving at New England in the winter. The severity of the climate, +their scarcity of food at times, operated seriously against their +comfort and progress. It is said that they were frequently threatened +with starvation. At one time the entire company had but one pint of +Indian corn, which being divided equally among them, allowed to each +person eight grains. But, unlike the early settlers of Virginia, +they were all working men, and good economists. From the time of the +landing at Plymouth, up to 1691, this first settlement was known as the +Plymouth Colony. Meantime, another settlement had been formed, styled +the Massachusetts Colony. Both were for some years under the control +of a London company. In 1691, Massachusetts and Plymouth Colonies +were united, and thenceforward their history is one. The people of +Massachusetts were, during the early part of their colonial existence, +sorely vexed, at times, by the Indians, especially by the Pequods. +They, unfortunately, had imbibed, during their own persecutions, too +much of the spirit of conscription, and, although themselves refugees +from religious bigotry, sullied much of their history prior to the +Revolution by punishing what they called heresy in the Quakers and +Baptists. During 1774 and 1775, Massachusetts took a very prominent +part in favor of colonial rights, and was the first State to manifest +the spirit of resentment toward Great Britain. Its history during the +War for Independence is one of glory. It adopted the Constitution June +6, 1788. + + +NEW HAMPSHIRE. + +This State was a part of Massachusetts up to the year 1680. It was, +however, settled in 1624, the first settlement being formed at Dover +by the English. In 1680, it was erected into a separate colony, and +its first legislative assembly met this year. John Mason was its first +Governor. It suffered severely from Indian wars, and its progress, +during the first years of its existence, was slow. In 1742 it contained +only six hundred persons liable to taxation. Its first Constitution +was formed in 1683. It suffered from the effects of an insurrection +in 1686, although prior and subsequent to this affair, it seems to +have been one of the most peaceful and quiet of the colonies. It +is distinguished for its excellent pastures, towering hills, and +fine cattle. The White Mountains are the highest in New England. +It took a prominent and active part in the Revolution. It ratified +the Constitution June 21, 1788, since which time it has been highly +prosperous. Its present population is 326,073. Its course during the +rebellion has been highly commendable. + +[Illustration: ANDREW JACKSON.] + + +MARYLAND. + +In 1632, Sir George Calvert (Lord Baltimore) visited America, explored +a tract of country lying on the Chesapeake Bay, belonging to what was +then called South Virginia, and returned to England to procure a grant +for it. But before the patent was made out, he died, and it was given +to his son Cecil. The province was named by King Charles I, in the +patent, in honor of his Queen, Henrietta Maria. A part of the province +appears to have been included in the grant made some time afterward to +William Penn, and to have caused much contention between the successors +of Penn and Baltimore. + +In March, 1634, Leonard Calvert, the brother of Cecil, arrived at the +mouth of the Potomac River, bringing with him two hundred emigrants, +most of whom were Roman Catholic gentlemen. Leaving the vessel, he +ascended in a pinnace as far as Piskataqua, an Indian village nearly +opposite Mount Vernon. The Indian Sachem gave him full liberty +to settle there if he chose; but not deeming it safe, he began a +settlement lower down on a branch of the Potomac, at the Indian town of +Yoacomoco. The settlement was called St. Mary’s. + +Maryland made a very fortunate beginning. The colonists arrived in time +to make a crop for that year. Their neighbors in Virginia supplied them +with cattle, and protected them in great part from the Indians, while +their own kind and consistent course materially promoted their happy +relations with the savages. + +The charter which had been granted them was very liberal—ceding to +them the full power of legislation, without any interference on the +part of the Crown. In 1635, they made laws for their government, which +were somewhat modified in 1639. In 1650, they had an upper and lower +legislative assembly, as had their Virginia neighbors. + +Ten or twelve years after its settlement, Maryland was disturbed by an +insurrection, headed by one Clayborne; but this difficulty was soon +settled. It played a conspicuous part in the Revolution, and adopted +the Constitution April 28, 1788. Its progress has been fair, its +present population being 687,049. Its geographical position and the +mixed political character of its people caused it to assume a rather +dubious attitude at the commencement of the rebellion of 1861. Some of +its best statesmen, however, were among the most uncompromising friends +of the Union. + + +NEW YORK. + +Captain Henry Hudson, the famous voyager, discovered what is now New +York, together with a considerable extent of territory contiguous to +it, in the year 1609. Although an Englishman by nativity, Hudson was +at this time employed by the Dutch, (Hollanders) who, consequently, +claimed the territory. Meantime the English set up a claim to it, as +being part of North Virginia. They also claimed it on account of Hudson +being an Englishman. The Dutch, however, determined to hold it, and in +1610 opened a trade with the natives at Manhattan Island, on the spot +where the city of New York now stands. They erected a fort on or near +the site of Albany, named the country in general, New Netherlands, and +the station at Manhattan, New Amsterdam. The Dutch retained the country +until the year 1664. + +It seems that, up to this time, they claimed not only the present +territory of New York, but also that of Connecticut and New Jersey. +The liberal governments of the surrounding colonies stood in great +contrast with the despotic one imposed by the Dutch Government upon +their American colonists. And when, in 1664, the English squadron +dispatched by James, Duke of York, with instructions to take possession +of the province of New Netherlands, appeared before New Amsterdam, +the inhabitants were willing to capitulate without resistance. Peter +Stuyvesant, their Governor, and an able executive, made vain efforts +to rouse them to defense, and was forced to surrender. The English +Government was now acknowledged over the whole of New Netherlands, the +capital receiving the name of New York, as well as the province. From +this time forward to the Revolutionary War, New York remained in the +hands of the English, and was under the control of a very arbitrary +succession of Governors. The progress of the colony was steady, in +numbers, wealth, and civilization. It took an active part in the +Revolution, and adopted its Constitution July 26, 1788. After this it +outstripped every other State in the Union in every thing pertaining +to wealth and greatness, save education, in which matter no State can +compare with Massachusetts. At the commencement of the great Rebellion, +this noble State showed herself truly worthy to be ranked as the Empire +State. She has furnished the Government more money than any other +State. Her population is 3,880,735. + + +CONNECTICUT. + +In the year 1633, the Puritans of Massachusetts, having heard very +flattering reports of the valley of Connecticut, resolved to make an +effort to settle it. Accordingly, a company of them sailed for the +Connecticut River, taking with them the frame of a house. Meantime the +Dutch, claiming the territory as theirs, built a fort on the river +where Hartford now stands, to prevent the emigrants from passing up. +The Yankees, however, with that steady perseverance which has always +marked their course, proceeded on their way, paying no attention to +the Dutch fort, whose only demonstration was an unexecuted threat to +fire on the emigrants if they passed it. Landing where Farmington +River enters the Connecticut, they founded the town of Windsor. Other +settlements were subsequently formed at Westerfield, Hartford, and +Watertown. The first general court was held at Hartford, in the year +1636. The province suffered severely from the depredations of the +Pequod Indians, with which tribe a great and decisive battle was +ultimately fought on the river Mystic, in the year 1636.[3] During +this year the towns of Windsor, Hartford, and Wethersfield, met in +convention and formed a Government, electing John Haynes the first +Governor of the colony. + +[3] This battle resulted in the destruction of the Pequod tribe. + +Its course from this period forward was one of great prosperity. It +stood in the front rank during the war for Independence, and in no case +was ever known to flinch from duty. It ratified the Constitution June +9, 1788. Its present population is 460,147. + +At the commencement of the Rebellion, in 1861, its voice was for the +Union and the Government of the Fathers. Its aid in behalf of freedom +has been earnest and efficient. + + +RHODE ISLAND. + +In June, 1636, Roger Williams, an earnest, enthusiastic advocate of +religious liberty in the broadest sense, having been banished by the +Puritans of Massachusetts from that colony, went to what is now known +as Rhode Island, purchased the present site of Providence of the +Narragansett Indians, and founded a colony, of which he was at once +pastor, teacher, and father. He donated land to any whom he thought +worthy, and Providence Plantation, as it was long called, became an +asylum for persecuted Christians of all denominations, especially the +Baptists. The first settlement in Rhode Island proper, was formed +by William Codington, in the year 1636. Up to 1640, the citizens of +Rhode Island made their own laws in general convention. But, in 1644, +Roger Williams, with the aid of Gov. Vane, of Massachusetts, procured +a charter for two settlements, under the name of Rhode Island and +Providence Plantations. The Constitution framed under this charter +was a good one; and lasted until the year 1818. For many years the +legislative assembly of this colony met twice a year. + +Rhode Island is distinguished as the smallest State in the Union. It +did noble service in the war for Independence, but did not, for some +reason, adopt the Constitution till the 29th of May, 1790. It has been +a highly prosperous State; is distinguished for its good schools and +large manufactories. + +At the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, it stepped nobly forward +in defense of the Government, sending its own Governor to Washington at +the head of a regiment of volunteers. Its population is 174,620. + + +NEW JERSEY, + +At first, formed a part of the Dutch province of New Netherlands. +But soon after the latter came into the hands of the English, the +Territory of New Jersey was transferred to Lord Berkley and Sir George +Carteret, by the Duke of York. The first permanent settlement was +formed at Elizabethtown, in 1664, by emigrants from Long Island. Philip +Carteret arrived in the colony in 1665, and became its first Governor. +The province had very little trouble with the Indians. Many emigrants +from New England and New York soon arrived, and for a series of years +the colony advanced in prosperity. It enjoyed the blessings flowing +from a liberal form of government. + +In the year 1685, the Duke of York became the King of England, under +the title of James II, and disregarding his former pledges, assumed, +in 1688, the government of New Jersey, placing it under the control of +Sir Edmund Andros, whom he had already made Governor of New York and +New England. This state of things was terminated by the revolution in +England, but left New Jersey for years in a very precarious condition. +In 1702, its proprietors having resigned their claims, it became a +royal province, and was united to New York. In 1738 it became again +a separate province, and so continued until the Revolution, in which +it took a very active part in favor of liberty. It ratified the +Constitution December 18, 1787. Thenceforward its career has been +a highly prosperous one. Its strength has been put forth to aid in +crushing the great Rebellion. Population 672,075. + + +DELAWARE. + +Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, formed a plan of establishing +colonies in America as early as the year 1626. But as he died on the +field of Leutzen, during the German war in 1633, without carrying +his scheme into effect, his minister took it up, and employed Peter +Minuets, the first Governor of New Netherlands, to carry it into +effect. In 1638, a small Swedish colony arrived under the direction +of Minuets, and settled on Christian Creek, near the present town of +Wilmington. Notwithstanding the remonstrances of the Dutch Government +of New Netherlands, who claimed the territory, the Swedes continued +to extend their settlements from this time until they preëmpted all +the territory from Cape Henlopen to the falls of the Delaware. At this +time the colony was called New Sweden. In 1651, Governor Stuyvesant, +to check the aggressive movements of the Swedes, built a fort near the +present site of New Castle, of which the Swedes afterward obtained +possession by stratagem. Enraged at this movement, the Government of +Holland ordered Stuyvesant to reduce the Swedes to submission, which +he speedily accomplished with six hundred men, in 1655. The province +was soon after annexed to New Netherlands. Delaware was, after it fell +into the hands of the English, included in the grant made to William +Penn, in 1692. It remained attached to Pennsylvania till 1691, when +it was allowed a separate government. It was reunited to Pennsylvania +in 1692. In 1703, it was again separated, having its own legislature, +though the same Governor presided over both colonies. The ancient forms +of the government were preserved through the revolutionary struggle. It +ratified the Constitution December 7, 1787. + +Its position, at the commencement of the rebellion of 1861, was +somewhat dubious. It being a northerly slave State, was somewhat +divided as to where its interests lay. It, however, finally came out +somewhat decidedly for the Union, although its entire strength has not +been exerted against the rebellion. Its population is 112,216. + + +THE CAROLINAS. + +In the year 1563, the coast of Carolina was explored, and named after +Charles IX, of France. The first attempt to settle it was made by the +celebrated and accomplished Sir Walter Raleigh, in 1585, twenty-two +years before the settlement of Jamestown, and thirty-five years before +the Puritans landed at Plymouth. This effort failed, on account of the +incapacity of the Governor appointed by Raleigh, and the ill-behavior +of the colonists toward the natives. + +The first successful attempt was made sometime between 1640 and 1650, +under the direction of Governor Berkley. The settlement was made in +Albemarle County, by a few Virginia planters. In 1663, a large tract +of land, lying between the 30th and 36th degrees of north latitude, +having the Atlantic Ocean for its eastern boundary, was conveyed by +Charles II, to Lord Clarendon and associates, under whose auspices a +settlement was made near the mouth of Cape Fear River, in the year +1665, by emigrants from Barbadoes. Sir James Yeomans was appointed +Governor. A settlement was made at Port Royal, South Carolina, in +1670; and in 1671, a few persons located at what was then called Old +Charleston, which place was abandoned in 1680, and the foundation of +the present city of Charleston laid, several miles nearer the sea. + +All the various settlements here mentioned went under the general name +of Carolina, until 1571, when a division was made, and the northern +and southern portions were called by their distinctive names, North +and South Carolina. These States were the scenes of many revolutionary +tragedies. South Carolina, in particular, although the home of Sumter, +and Marion, and Rutledge, was replete with tories, (royalists) who +spared no efforts to annoy the infant Republic, and play into the hands +of the British Government. South Carolina ratified the Constitution +May 23, 1788, but threatened to break the compact in 1832, and was +only prevented by the stern will of President Jackson. After this the +State did nothing worthy of note until December 20, 1860, when it +seceded from the Union, taking the lead in the great Rebellion. Present +population 703,708. + +North Carolina ratified the Constitution November 21, 1789, and seceded +from the Union May 21, 1861. Population 992,622. + + +PENNSYLVANIA. + +The Old Keystone State, and one of the most wealthy and prosperous +in the Union, was settled by the Quakers, under the direction of Wm. +Penn, at Philadelphia, in the year 1682. The founder of this colony +showed himself a philosopher, a philanthropist, a thorough political +economist, at the very commencement of his labors. He put the province +under the government of a Council of Three and a House of Delegates, +chosen by the freemen, who, according to his arrangement, were all +those who acknowledged the existence of one God. He pursued such a +course with the natives as won their confidence and esteem. No Quaker +was ever murdered by an Indian; and to this day the “sons of Wm. Penn” +are everywhere respected by the savage. The treaty Penn made with +the Indians was never violated. In framing the colonial government, +he provided for the largest religious liberty, allowing every one +to worship according to the dictates of his own conscience. Up to +1684, Delaware, as before mentioned, was included in Penn’s grant. +But about this time he procured a new charter, more strictly defining +the rights and limits of Pennsylvania, and Delaware was detached. +For seventy years prosperity smiled upon this colony, during much +of which time Penn was, according to the historian, its governor, +magistrate, preacher and teacher. It was troubled with no Indian wars +till 1754, when Penn’s example and teachings began to be forgotten. The +population, owing to a considerable influx from Sweden, Germany, and +some other countries, began, at a later date, to assume a more varied +aspect; and when the colonies rebelled against the mother country, +Pennsylvania contained sufficient “fighting” material to lend valuable +assistance to the cause of liberty. + +She adopted the Constitution December 12th, 1787, since which time her +increase in wealth, and advancement in general improvement has been +almost without a parallel. Her vast coal fields and rich iron mines +constitute a source of eternal wealth. Upon the breaking out of the +rebellion of 1861, her position in favor of the Union was well defined. + +Her population is 2,906,115. + + +GEORGIA. + +General James Oglethorpe, and a company of twenty-one others, received, +in the year 1732, from George II, of England, a grant for all the land +between the Savannah and the Altamaha Rivers. In January, 1733, a +company of one hundred and fourteen men, women, and children, arrived +at Charleston, S. C., destined for Georgia. They were kindly treated +by the Charlestonians, and were greatly assisted by them in their +labor of forming a colony. The first laws made for the province by the +twenty-two grantees, prohibited the importation of rum, trade with +the Indians, and the use of negroes. They also provided that lands +should go back to the original owners in case the purchaser had no +male heirs. Although the first, second, and third of these provisions +were undoubtedly wholesome, the fourth was highly objectionable, and +tended very much to retard the progress of the colony. In the year +1740, General Oglethorpe, as commander-in-chief of the forces in +Georgia, at the head of two thousand men, invaded Florida with the +intention of forcibly annexing it to Georgia; but he was soon repelled +from the territory, and returned home bootless. The Spanish, in turn, +with two sail of vessels and three thousand men, invaded Georgia in +1742, and were likewise forced to return home thwarted. The progress +of this colony was for many years very slow; the people manifesting +that indolence and indifference which is still too prominent a +characteristic of Georgians. It was mainly on the side of freedom +during the revolution. + +It ratified the Constitution January 9th, 1788. Since the Revolution, +the State has manifested but little life as compared with its sisters, +and its secession from the Union, May 19th, 1861, was followed by +speedy ruin. + + +VERMONT. + +The territory of which this State is composed began to be settled in +the year 1731, but was for some years considered as a part of New +Hampshire. It was also claimed at one time by New York, and a contest +arose between that State and New Hampshire, which was adjusted by the +King of England in a manner by no means satisfactory to the settlers. +The result was a quarrel between Vermont and the Crown, in which the +Green Mountain Boys, led by Col. Ethan Allen, resisted the officers +of justice, as well as the New York militia, who were called out to +sustain them. + +The province appears not to have had even a territorial government +until 1777, at which time a convention of delegates met at Westminster, +and declared themselves an independent State, under the name of New +Connecticut. Previous to this time, however, they had rendered material +aid to the Revolution. In May, 1755, Col. Allen, at the head of two +hundred and seventy men, reduced Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point, +and thus became complete masters of Lake Champlain. During the whole +period of the Revolution the State did good service in the cause of +liberty, although it remained independent. Some time subsequent to its +declaration of independence its name was changed to Vermont. As it was +not one of the original States, it did not ratify the Constitution, +but, upon application, was admitted to the Union during the second +session of Congress, in the year 1791. It has been a highly prosperous +State, and added much to the luster of the Union in its palmy days +of peace. It fully sustained its Revolutionary reputation at the +commencement of the Rebellion of 1861. Its population is 315,098. + + +KENTUCKY + +Was settled, in the year 1775, by Daniel Boone and a number of +associates from North Carolina. The trials and adventures of these +hardy pioneers, and especially those of Boone, constitute one of +the most romantic leaves in the history of the West. For over two +years, previous to 1775, Boone was busily employed in surveying +Kentucky, building roads and forts. One of the latter he erected at +Boonesborough; to which place he removed his family, in 1775. Boone +said that his wife and daughter were the first white women who ever +stood on the banks of the Kentucky River. For a number of years after +Boone’s settlement, he and his associates experienced many difficulties +with the natives—Boone’s daughter being at one time captured by +the Indians, though shortly afterward rescued by her father. But, +notwithstanding the difficulties with the savages, the young territory +grew rapidly in population and wealth, and on June 1st, 1792, was +admitted to the Union. Having a fertile soil, and affording excellent +pasturage, she has far outstripped most of her slaveholding sisters in +general improvement. + +Her position for some time after the commencement of the Rebellion +was by no means promotive of her prosperity. Owing to her attempt +to observe strict neutrality, she became the scene of many guerrilla +outrages, and has suffered, perhaps, more than any other State during +the struggle. + +Her population is 1,115,684. + + +TENNESSEE. + +Was, for some time, a part of North Carolina. It was made a territorial +government in the year 1790, and was admitted into the Union in 1796. +The first permanent white inhabitants of Tennessee went there, in +the year 1775, and built Fort Louden, now in Blount County. They +were, in 1760, attacked by the savages, and two hundred persons were +massacred. But, in 1767, the natives were reduced to submission by +Colonel Grant, and a treaty was made with them, which encouraged +emigration. Settlements were formed on Holston River in 1765, which, +although frequently attacked by the Indians, made very fair progress. +Colonel John Sevier, with the Tennessee militia and a few Virginia +soldiers, gained a decisive victory over the savages, and, from this +time forward, though more or less harassed by the Indians, the progress +of the State, in population and improvement, was rapid. North Carolina +gave up the Territory in 1789, and, in 1790, Congress recognized it +as a separate province. It has great extent of territory, and, up to +1861, was considered as among the greatest of the agricultural States. +At this time, however, it was seduced by the voice of the siren, +Secession, and on the 24th of June, 1861, formally seceded from the +Union. It should be stated, however, in justice to the State, that the +eastern portion of it was generally loyal, and was only dragged out of +the Union by force. It has, since the Rebellion, been readmitted into +the Union. + + +OHIO. + +Ohio was admitted to the Union on the 29th of November, 1802, the +State containing, at the time, 72,000 inhabitants—2,000 more than +was required in order to its admission. It was settled in the spring +of 1788, one year after it, with a vast additional extent of +North-western territory, had been ceded, by Virginia, to the United +States. + +The year 1788 was a famous year for emigration. It witnessed the +passage of no less than 20,000 persons down the Ohio River. The company +which settled Ohio consisted of forty persons, under General Rufus +Putnam. They built a stockade fort at Marietta, of sufficient strength +to resist the attacks of the natives, cleared several acres of ground, +and planted a crop. They were joined by twenty additional families in +the autumn. Both these companies were New England people. + +For a number of years they were not troubled by the savages, nor +did any of their number trouble the Indians, except in one or two +instances. The earliest settlers of Cincinnati arrived there, about +twenty in number in 1790. Until the year 1795, the attempts made to +settle most parts of Ohio were attended with great difficulties, +on account of Indian wars. Marietta, however, formed an exception +to this rule. After the great victory which General Wayne achieved +over the savages during Washington’s administration, the population +increased rapidly. Unembarrassed by any centralizing or aristocratic +institutions, possessed of the finest natural resources, and vitalized +by an enterprising population, Ohio, after its admission into the +Union, made an advancement of which any State might well be proud. In +population it is the third State in the Union, numbering 2,390,502. + +At the breaking out of the Rebellion, Ohio took its position staunchly +for the Union, and has done much during the war for the restoration of +the authority of the Government over the seceded States. + + +LOUISIANA. + +Was ceded by Spain to France in the year 1802, and was bought by the +United States of the latter power, in 1803, at a cost of $15,000,000. +Governor Clayborne took possession of it the same year. It was settled +by the French, at Iberville, in 1699, and was admitted into the Union +April 8th, 1812. It is an important State, in that it holds the keys +of entrance to the mouth of the Mississippi. In the year 1860, nearly +one-half of its population was slave. It seceded from the Union on the +26th of January, 1861. Its population in 1860 was 708,002. It has been +a very forward State in the great Rebellion. + + +INDIANA. + +About the year 1690, a French settlement, the first in Indiana, was +made at Vincennes, that place being within the territory claimed, at +that time, by the French, upon priority of discovery by La Salle. +Indiana was long the residence of various Indian tribes, and the +theater of Indian wars. By the terms of the treaty of the peace of +1763, it, with the rest of the North-western Territory, was ceded to +Great Britain. It was still claimed by the Indians, but, by various +treaties, extensive tracts were obtained for settlement. The Indians, +however, retained possession of many parts of the State up to the year +1812, and to that portion known as the Indian Reserve, even later. It +was erected into a Territory in 1809, and on the 11th of December, +1816, was admitted into the Union. Its population—1,350,428, in the +year 1860—is an indication of its progress. In the matter of education, +Indiana is somewhat behind some of her Western sisters, but her efforts +in behalf of the Government during the great Rebellion shall halo her +future with glory. + + +MISSISSIPPI. + +The territory comprising the present States of Mississippi and Alabama +having been divided, that portion lying next the river was, in 1817, +admitted into the Union as a State, under the name Mississippi, while +the eastern portion was organized as a Territory, and named Alabama. +The whole of this territory was explored, first by Ferdinand De Soto, +and afterward by La Salle. It suffered greatly during the wars of the +Natchez Indians. The Choctaws, for a long time, retained possession +of the northern portion of it, and were, to some extent, civilized. +Mississippi was settled by the French, in 1716, at Natchez. Its +population—791,305—shows fair progress. On the 9th of January, 1861, it +went the way of the seceding States, since which time, its course, like +theirs, has been downward. + + +ILLINOIS. + +This most thriving and prosperous State came into the Union on the 3d +of December, 1818. Until 1809 it was a part of Indiana, at which time +it became a separate territory, and so remained till received into +the Union. This State has been little disturbed by civil divisions or +by Indian wars. Its most serious troubles arose from the appearance, +within its borders, of the Mormons, in 1838, and from attempts made to +curb their irregularities. This singular people, believing themselves +to be ill-treated, assembled to the number of 700, under their leaders, +in a remote part of the State, and proposed fighting for their rights. +But a body of three hundred troops marched against and captured them. +The whole sect was ultimately reduced to submission, and banished +the State. It was explored by La Salle, and settled by the French at +Kaskaskia,[4] in 1720. Its growth has been immense. Its population, in +1860, was 1,711,951. Its history has been one of the most glorious of +the loyal States during the great Rebellion. + +[4] Kaskaskia, the first capital of Illinois, is located on Kaskaskia +River, and is the present site of Vandalia. + + +ALABAMA + +Was admitted to the Union on the 14th of December, 1819. It has a deep, +rich soil, and in many places a healthful climate. It remained till +the Revolution a mere hunting-ground of the savages. From the peace +of 1783 to 1802 it was claimed by Georgia, and lands were sold to +settlers and speculators accordingly. In the year 1802, Georgia ceded +all her western territory to the United States for $1,250,000. In 1800, +the present State of Alabama became a part of Mississippi Territory, +from which it was separated when Mississippi became a State. It +was settled, in 1711, at Mobile, by the French, being a part of the +territory explored by La Salle in his Mississippi tour. It formally +seceded from the Union, January 11, 1861. + + +MAINE. + +In the year 1638, the same year in which New Haven was settled, +Ferdinand Gorges procured a charter of the King of England for all +the lands from the borders of New Hampshire, on the south-west, to +Sagadahoc, on the Kennebeck River, on the north-east, under the name +of the Province of Maine. It remained a separate province till 1652, +when it became a part of Massachusetts. Various attempts were made, +between 1785 and 1802 to form it into an independent State; but these +efforts failed. In 1819 a large majority of the people were in favor of +separating from Massachusetts. A convention was called, a Constitution +prepared and adopted, and, in 1820, Maine was received into the Union. +It is, by no means, an agricultural State, but its extensive fisheries +and great lumber trade have greatly enriched it, and its progress in +morality has, perhaps, been superior to that of any other State. It is +the only State in the Union that has an efficient prohibitory liquor +law. It proved itself true to the Government in 1861, and there is no +danger of its ever ceasing to be so. + +It was settled in 1625, at Bristol, by the English. Its population is +628,279. + + +MISSOURI. + +This great, though crippled, State was admitted into the Union on the +10th of August, 1821. It, with all the territory then belonging to the +United States, west of the Mississippi, was included in the purchase of +Louisiana, made in 1803. Louisiana afterward was divided into Orleans +Territory, Louisiana proper, and Missouri Territory. In 1819, Missouri +Territory was divided into Arkansas, on the south, and Missouri on the +north; and it was about this time that the latter took the requisite +steps toward framing a State Constitution. It will be remembered that +this is the State, the discussion of the propriety of the admission of +which raised such a storm in Congress in 1820. + +Being a border slave State, it was nearly equally divided on the +question of secession in 1861, and thus, like Kentucky, has been +overrun by both Southern and Northern troops during the Rebellion, and +has been the scene of much bloodshed and ruin. It was settled in 1764, +at St. Louis, by the French. Its population is 1,182,012. + + +FLORIDA. + +The Peninsular States, discovered and explored by Ponce de Leon, a +voyager with Columbus, and whose name was suggested to the discoverer +by the abundance and beauty of its wild flora, was, from 1512 to 1819, +with the exception of the interval between 1763 and 1783, a province +of Spain. The first attempt to settle it was made in the year 1565, +at St. Augustine, which is said to be the oldest town in America, by +the Spaniards. This effort was attended with many difficulties, the +colonists contending, for the first few years, alternately with the +horrors of savage warfare and famine, at times being forced to subsist +on roots and acorns. In 1819 it was transferred to the United States +by treaty, which treaty was, after much delay, ratified by Spain, and +with still more delay by the United States. Possession of the colony +was granted the Government in July, 1821. The territory contained, in +1840, a population of 54,477, and on the 3d of March, 1845, became a +State, and was received into the Union. Florida was the theater of the +Seminole war, which cost the United States so much blood and treasure. +It went the way of the seceding States, January 7th, 1861. Florida, +like the Indian’s gun, has “cost more than she has come to.” Her +population in 1860, was 140,425. + + +ARKANSAS. + +This State lies South of Missouri, and was once attached to it. It +has a fine climate and prolific soil. The first settlement of whites +within its limits was made at Arkansas Post, in the year 1685. The +earlier inhabitants were French. Its progress, for many years, was very +slow. It was not till about the year 1829 that the tide of emigration +began to flow from the Atlantic States in that direction. Little Rock, +the early seat of government and the present capital, was laid out +in the year 1820, during which year the first steamboat ascended the +Arkansas River. The boat was eight days in going from New Orleans to +the village of Arkansas—a distance of scarcely one hundred miles above +the mouth of the Arkansas River. The State once contained the remnants +of several powerful tribes of Indians. By a treaty made between the +Cherokees and the United States, the former agreed to give up all +their lands east of the Mississippi River, and to retire to a region +guaranteed to them in the present State of Arkansas. + +The State was admitted into the Union on the 15th of June, 1836. It +seceded May 6th, 1861, and has since been the retreat of guerrillas, +and the scene of some sanguinary battles. + + +MICHIGAN. + +Was admitted into the Union January 26th, 1837. It had the requisite +population (60,000) before this, but there were some difficulties +in the way of its admission. In 1837 it contained 200,000; in 1840, +212,267, and in 1850, 851,470. The territory, when first discovered by +the whites, contained a tribe of Indians called Hurons by the French, +and Iroquois by the Indians themselves. Many of them were converted to +Christianity, by the untiring labors of Catholic missionaries, as early +as 1648. It was not, however, till 1670 that the French took possession +of the territory. It was a portion of the extensive tract explored by +the assiduous, daring La Salle. Its progress, while it belonged to the +French, was very slow. It was not until 1763, when, by treaty, it was +ceded to Great Britain, that much was done in the way of civilizing +and improving it. Comparatively little, in fact, was done until 1783, +when the territory was ceded by England to the United States. Until +1800 it was, for purposes of Government, considered a part of the +Great North-western Territory. After Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois had +been severally detached, the remainder, in 1805, became a distinct +territory, the first Governor of which was General Hull, by appointment +of President Jefferson. Michigan suffered much from the war of 1812. +For about two years nearly the whole territory was the theater of +sanguinary conflicts. It was exposed to the barbarity of the enemy and +their Indian allies. Since then, however, its enterprising inhabitants +have brought it up to a degree of improvement which few States of its +age can boast. Its strength was offered the Government in 1861, and it +continues as well as it began. Its population, in 1860, was 749,113. + + +IOWA. + +This State derives its name from the Indians. It was included in the +Louisiana purchase. It was first settled at Dubuque, by the French, +in the year 1686. This settlement, however, does not seem to have +been permanent, nor productive of any real good to the territory. In +1833 Burlington was settled by emigrants from the eastern States. It +formed a part of Missouri from 1804 to 1821, when it was included in +Michigan Territory. It subsequently belonged to Wisconsin Territory. It +was admitted into the Union March 3d, 1845. It is a highly prosperous +State, having a vast extent of rich soil and excellent pasturage. +It is faithful to the Union; placed itself in the front rank at the +commencement of the Rebellion. + + +TEXAS. + +The territory of Texas was explored by Ponce de Leon and La Salle. +After Mexico became independent of Spain, a grant which had been +made to Moses Austin, a native of Connecticut, comprising a large +tract of this province, was confirmed by the new Republic; and, being +transferred by Moses Austin, at his death, to his son, Stephen, was +subsequently enlarged by a further grant. Emigration from the United +States was encouraged, and in 1830 nearly ten thousand Americans +were settled in Texas. The prosperity of these inhabitants excited +the jealousy of Mexico, and under the administration of Santa Anna, +an unjust, oppressive policy was adopted toward Texas. Remonstrance +proving useless, the people of the territory declared themselves +independent. The revolution began in 1835, by a battle at Gonzales, in +which five hundred Texans defeated over one thousand Mexicans. Other +engagements followed, the result of which was the dispersion of the +Mexican army. Santa Anna now redoubled his efforts, and appearing in +March, 1835, with a force of eight thousand men, several bloody battles +followed. On the 21st of April, having under his immediate command one +thousand and five hundred men, he was met by General Sam. Houston, +with eight hundred men, and totally defeated, on the banks of the San +Jacinto. Santa Anna himself was captured the next day in the woods, +when he acknowledged the independence of Texas, though the Mexican +Congress refused to ratify the act. Active hostilities, however, were +now abandoned, and the independence of Texas was acknowledged by the +United States, Great Britain, and other European countries. It was in +this condition of things that Texas was annexed to the United States. +On the 24th of December, 1845, it was admitted into the Union, which +act was ratified by the Texan Legislature, July 4th, 1846. But Mexico, +still regarding Texas as a revolted province, refused to acknowledge +the validity of this measure. The result was a war between Mexico and +the United States, which terminated on the 2d of February, 1848, in a +treaty by which the latter power, in consideration of the payment of a +debt of $3,500,000, due from Mexico to the citizens of Texas, acquired +New Mexico, Texas, and California. The progress of Texas from this time +till the eve of the great Rebellion, was almost unprecedented, no less +than twenty-five thousand Germans having emigrated to that State in +five years’ time. These, however, owing to the jealousy aroused against +them by their having demonstrated the superiority of free labor, +even in a slave State, were obliged to migrate to Mexico in the year +1860. By this and other oppressive acts on the part of the advocates +of slavery, Texas, purchased by the blood and treasure of the United +States, was driven into the whirlpool of secession, March 4th, 1861. +Its population, in 1860, was 604,215. The first settlement within its +borders was made by the Spaniards, at St. Antonia de Bexar, in 1690. + + +WISCONSIN. + +Was admitted into the Union May 29th, 1848. It was a part of the +extensive territory ceded by France to Great Britain in the treaty of +1763. At the close of the Revolution it was given up by Great Britain +to the United States. It was erected into a territory in 1836, the +portion now forming the State of Iowa being detached in 1838. Its +natural resources are extraordinary, the climate being very healthful, +and the soil unsurpassed in fertility. It was settled in the year 1669, +at Green Bay, by the French. It is thoroughly loyal to the Union. In +1860, it had a population of 775,881. + + +MINNESOTA. + +Lies north of Iowa, and extends to the Canadian boundary. On the +north-east it touches Lake Superior, and, to the west, is bounded by +Dakotah Territory. It comprises the head waters of the Mississippi, +and abounds in rivers and lakes, teeming with fish. Its soil is highly +prolific, and its forests are among the finest in the world. Its name +is derived from Minnisotah, the Indian name of St. Peter’s River. +Primarily discovered by La Salle, it, for some years, belonged to the +French, and at a very early period was traversed by their traders and +soldiers. It was ceded to Great Britain by the treaty of 1763, and +to the United States at the peace of 1783. It received a territorial +government in 1849, and was admitted into the Union in May, 1858. It +has still, within its borders, several bands of the Chippewas, with +whom considerable trouble has been experienced since the breaking out +of the rebellion. It is, however, a thrifty, growing State, and is +thoroughly loyal. It was settled in 1846, at St. Paul, by emigrants +from the eastern States. + + +OREGON. + +Was admitted into the Union in the year 1859. It, primarily, included +Washington Territory, and, with the latter, comprised the extensive +tract lying between the British Possessions, on the north, and +California, on the south; the Rocky Mountains, on the east, and the +Pacific Ocean, on the west. The coasts of this region were discovered +by the Spaniards in the 16th century. In 1792, Capt. Grey, of Boston, +discovered and entered the Columbia River, and thus the United States +acquired the right of sovereignty over the territory. The exploration +of the country from the Missouri to the Columbia, by Lewis and Clark, +government appointees, in 1804-5-6, strengthened this claim. The +British, however, laid claim to the northern part of the territory, +which gave rise to a threatening dispute between Great Britain and +the United States. But the difficulty was adjusted by a treaty in +1846, establishing the boundary of 49°, north latitude. The State +still contains the Flathead, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Shoshane, and +other tribes of Indians, who are, for the most part, in the savage +state, though the Christian missionaries have done much in the way of +civilizing a portion of them. The furs of this region, those of the +badger, beaver, bear, fisher-fox, lynx, martin, mink, muskrat, etc., +have long been a great source of revenue. + +The American fur companies established trading posts in Oregon at an +early period, that of Astoria being founded in 1810, under the auspices +of the late John Jacob Astor, of New York. It was settled, at Astoria, +by emigrants from the Eastern States, in the year 1811. Its population +amounted to 52,465 in 1860. + + +KANSAS. + +About the development of this young State cluster some of the most +important events of American history. Its territorial organization, +by the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, in 1854, reopened the +agitation of the slavery question, which seeming to have acquired fresh +vigor and virulence from the sleep it had enjoyed under the Missouri +Compromise, thoroughly aroused the old animosities between the pro +and antislavery elements of our national politics. From 1854 to 1857 +it was the theater of political tragedies, the bare mention of which +may well put the blush of shame upon even the most fool-hardy partisan; +and the historian has well said that these dire afflictions might have +been expected when the bill organizing Kansas Territory was passed. +No sooner was it decided that this territory was open alike to the +abolitionist and the slave-holder, than the Emigrant Aid Societies +of New England and the pro-slavery organizations of the South began +pouring streams of settlers into it of opposite political views, +entertaining the most hostile feelings, each party toward the other; +and, as the legitimate result, came a civil war, which lasted about +two years, and which, in some of its incidents would have shamed even +savages. + +The Territory made application to Congress, in 1857, for a place in +the Union, but the Constitution under which it asked admission (the +one framed at Lecompton) was known to be a fraudulent affair, and +hence Kansas was rejected. The discussion of this Constitution caused +a permanent division of the Democratic party. The Constitution was +rejected by the people of Kansas by a majority of 10,000. Kansas +was, however received into the Union, in 1861, under a free State +Constitution, formed at Topeka. + + +CALIFORNIA. + +Was admitted into the Union on the 7th of September, 1850. The alarming +discussion which occurred upon the question of admission was what gave +rise to the compromise measures of 1850, popularly styled the _Omnibus +Bill_. The measures are presented in detail in another part of this +work. + +General Fremont, with a small but dauntless band of rangers, conquered +California in 1846, having defeated, on frequent occasions, vastly +superior forces of Mexicans. Its resources as a farming country early +attracted attention. But when, in February, 1848, it was published +that gold in quantities had been found on a branch of the Sacramento, +the swarm of emigrants which rushed in, comprising representatives +from every State in the Union, and from nearly all the nations of +Europe, was almost incalculable. From a small village, San Francisco +was rapidly inflated to a large city. In many places towns sprang up +like mushrooms. Owing to the fact that its population had been thrown +hastily together, from so many places, and in consequence of the want +of a government, California was, for some time, the scene of many dark +crimes and hideous outrages. Never was the want of wholesome legal +restraint more keenly felt than here. The Constitution of California +was framed by a convention of delegates in 1849. It took a firm stand +for the Union in 1861. The first settlement, within its limits, was +made at San Diego, by the Spanish, in 1764. It furnishes annually to +the Government, seventy to eighty millions of dollars in gold. + + +WEST VIRGINIA. + +On Virginia’s passing the ordinance of secession, mass meetings were +immediately held in West Virginia, to take into consideration the best +means of preserving their allegiance to the United States. A convention +of nearly five hundred delegates assembled there early in May, 1861, +which declared the ordinance of secession to be null and void, and +elected delegates to a general convention, to meet at Wheeling, to +devise such measures as the welfare of the people might demand. On the +20th of August, 1861, the convention passed an ordinance to provide +for the formation of a new State out of a portion of the territory of +Virginia. In compliance with its provisions, delegates were elected +to a constitutional convention, which assembled at Wheeling, November +26, 1861, which proceeded to draft a Constitution, which was submitted +to the people on the first Thursday of April, 1862. The vote in favor +was 18,862; that against 514. On the 31st of December, 1862, Congress +passed an act admitting West Virginia into the Union on an equal +footing with the original States, in all respects whatever, allowing +them three members in the House of Representatives of the United +States. On the 1st of November, 1862, the State had furnished to the +Federal Army nearly 20,000 men. + + +NEVADA. + +This Territory having formed a State Constitution, under an enabling +act previously passed by Congress, was admitted as a member of the +Federal Union, on an equal footing with the original States. The +State convention was held at so late a period of the year, that it +was necessary to telegraph the Constitution to Washington, in order +that it might be received there in time to secure the admission of +the State previous to the Presidential election. Immediately upon its +reception, President Lincoln issued a proclamation, dated October +31st, A. D. 1864, in which he “declared and proclaimed that the said +State of Nevada is admitted into the Union, on an equal footing with +the original States,” etc. The vote of the State at the Presidential +election, in 1864, was 16,420—of which Mr. Lincoln received 9,826, +and General McClellan 6,594. Majority for Mr. Lincoln, 3,232. This +new State is probably the richest in the Union in respect to mineral +resources. No region in the world is richer in argentiferous leads. +Her silver mines are her great source of wealth. The Washoe region +maintains the preëminence in these mineral resources. + + +NEBRASKA. + +Nebraska was organized into a Territory in 1850. The first settlers +were Americans. In the last few years it has increased in wealth +and population more rapidly than any of the adjoining States or +Territories. Probably the chief cause of this has been occasioned by +the Pacific Railroad passing directly through the State from east to +west. It is impossible, at the present time, to estimate the advantage +it will be to the State in developing its resources. The value of its +minerals in the western portion of the State is incalculable. It has +fair prospects of becoming one of the richest mineral and agricultural +States in the Union. Omaha, the capital, is a city of considerable +commercial importance, being located at the junction of the Missouri +River and the Pacific Railroad. In 1866, the Territory applied for +admission into the Union, but, on account of the word “white” being +used in its Constitution, it was rejected. The word was then stricken +out, after which it was admitted, February, 1867—the bill for admission +having been passed over the President’s veto. + +[Illustration: MARTIN VAN BUREN.] + + + + +GEORGE WASHINGTON, + +THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. + + +The most exemplary character, perhaps, that ever adorned any era in +history, and who received in his life-time the noble appellations of +“the Founder of a Republic,” and “the Father of his Country,” was +born in the county of Westmoreland, Virginia, on the 22d of February, +1732. His early instruction was domestic and scanty, but full of good +discipline and sound principles; and as his father died when he was +only ten years old, he had no subsequent opportunities for acquiring +a thorough literary or scientific education. However, as his mind +was naturally mathematical and philosophical, he prepared himself +to be useful to his fellow-citizens as a civil engineer; and as the +country was wild, and much of it then unsurveyed, he occasionally +found agreeable and profitable employment in surveying different parts +of his native State. He also directed much of his attention to the +science of arms, in the use of which every young man was instructed, +in order to repel the incursions of the Indians, who were often led on +by skillful Frenchmen. At the age of nineteen, he was appointed one of +the adjutant-generals of Virginia, which gave him the rank of major, +and soon after he was advanced to a colonelcy, and sent by Governor +Dinwiddie to the Ohio with dispatches to the French commander, who was +erecting fortifications from Canada to New Orleans, in violation of +existing treaties. The Governor was so much pleased with the faithful +discharge of this duty, that he ordered his journal, which extended +to only eighty days, to be printed; but, small as it was, it afforded +evidence of great sagacity, fortitude, and a sound judgment, and firmly +laid the foundation of his future fame. + +In the spring of 1755, Washington was persuaded to accompany General +Braddock as an aid, with the rank of Colonel, in his disastrous +expedition against Fort Du Quesne; and had his advice been followed on +that occasion, the result would have been different. + + ELECTORAL VOTES FOR + PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. + +_Election for the First Term, commencing March 4, 1789, and terminating +March 3, 1793._ + + ===+====================+====+====+==+==+==+==+==+==+==+==+==+=== + | | | | | | | | | | | | | + A | STATES. | B | C | D| E| F| G| H| J| K| L| M| N + | | | | | | | | | | | | | + ---+--------------------+----+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--- + 5 | New Hampshire | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | + 10 | Massachusetts | 10 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | + 7 | Connecticut | 7 | 5 | 2| | | | | | | | | + 6 | New Jersey | 6 | 1 | | 5| | | | | | | | + 10 | Pennsylvania | 10 | 8 | | | 2| | | | | | | + 3 | Delaware | 3 | | | 3| | | | | | | | + 6 | Maryland | 6 | | | | | 6| | | | | | + 10 | Virginia | 10 | 5 | | 1| 1| | 3| | | | | + 7 | South Carolina | 7 | | | | 1| | | 6| | | | + 5 | Georgia | 5 | | | | | | | | 2| 1| 1| 1 + ----+--------------------+----+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+---- + 69 | Whole No. Electors | 69 | 34 | 2| 9| 4| 6| 3| 6| 2| 1| 1| 1 + | Majority 35 | | | | | | | | | | | | + ====+====================+====+====+==+==+==+==+==+==+==+==+==+==== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = George Washington, of Virginia. + (C) = John Adams, of Massachusetts. + (D) = Samuel Huntington, of Connecticut. + (E) = John Jay, of New York. + (F) = John Hancock, of Massachusetts. + (G) = F R. H. Harrison, Maryland. + (H) = George Clinton, of New York. + (J) = John Rutledge, of South Carolina. + (K) = John Milton, of Georgia. + (L) = James Armstrong, of Georgia. + (M) = Edward Telfair, of Georgia. + (N) = Benjamin Lincoln, of Massachusetts. + +The first Congress under the Constitution was convened at the “Federal +Hall,” situated at the head of Broad, fronting on Wall street, (where +the Custom House now stands,) in the city of New York, on the first +Wednesday, being March 4, 1789—Senators and Representatives having been +elected from the eleven States which had ratified the Constitution; +but, owing to the absence of a quorum, the House was not organized till +the 1st of April, and, for a like reason, the Senate was not organized +till the 6th; when the latter body “proceeded by ballot to the choice +of a President, for the sole purpose of opening and counting the +[electoral] votes for President of the United States.” John Langdon, +of New Hampshire, was chosen President _pro tem._ of the Senate, and +Samuel Alyne Otis, of Massachusetts, Secretary; after which, proper +measures were taken to notify the successful individuals of their +election. + +George Washington took the oath of office, as President, and entered +upon his duties April 30, 1789. + +(For his Inaugural Address, see p. 41.) + +John Adams, Vice-President, entered upon his duties in the Senate April +21, 1789, and took the oath of office June 3, 1789. + +_Election for the Second Term, commencing March 4, 1793, and +terminating March 3, 1797._ + + ===+=========================+=====+=====+=====+=====+=== + | | | | | | + A | | B | C | D | E | F + | | | | | | + | STATES. | | | | | + ---+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+--- + 6 | New Hampshire | 6 | 6 | | | + 16 | Massachusetts | 16 | 16 | | | + 4 | Rhode Island | 4 | 4 | | | + 9 | Connecticut | 9 | 9 | | | + 3 | Vermont | 3 | 3 | | | + 12 | New York | 12 | | 12 | | + 7 | New Jersey | 7 | 7 | | | + 15 | Pennsylvania | 15 | 14 | 1 | | + 3 | Delaware | 3 | 3 | | | + 8 | Maryland | 8 | 8 | | | + 21 | Virginia | 21 | | 21 | | + 4 | Kentucky | 4 | | | 4 | + 12 | North Carolina | 12 | | 12 | | + 8 | South Carolina | 8 | 7 | | | 1 + 4 | Georgia | 4 | | 4 | | + ----+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+--- + 132 | Whole No. of Electors | 132 | 77 | 50 | 4 | 1 + | Majority 67 | | | | | + ===+=========================+=====+=====+=====+====+==== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = George Washington, of Virginia. + (C) = John Adams, of Massachusetts. + (D) = George Clinton, of New York. + (E) = Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia. + (F) = Aaron Burr, of New York. + +George Washington, re-elected President, took the oath of office for a +second term, and entered upon his duties March 4, 1793. + +John Adams, re-elected Vice-President, took the oath of office, and +entered upon his duties in the Senate December 2, 1793. + +After the expiration of his second Presidential term, Washington +retired to the tranquil shades of Mount Vernon, fondly indulging the +hope that the remainder of his days would be peacefully enjoyed in his +much cherished home; but these pleasing anticipations were not allowed +to remain long undisturbed. In 1798 the conduct of the French Directory +and its emissaries led to frequent difficulties with this country, +which were calculated to provoke a war; and the opinion was universally +entertained that he who had formerly so well acquitted himself, must +be again called to the command of our armies. Accordingly, early in +July, the rank and title of “Lieutenant-General and Commander-in-Chief +of all the armies raised, or to be raised, in the United States,” was +conferred upon him; and the Secretary of War, Mr. McHenry, immediately +waited upon him to tender the commission. In a letter to President +Adams, accepting this “new proof of public confidence”, he makes a +reservation that he shall not be called into the field until the army +is in a situation to require his presence, and adds: “I take the +liberty also to mention, that I must decline having my acceptance +considered as drawing after it any immediate charge upon the public, +and that I cannot receive any emoluments annexed to the appointment, +before entering into a situation to incur expense.” + +Three years afterward (1758) Washington commanded the Virginians in +another expedition against the fort, which terminated successfully. At +the close of this campaign he left the army, and was soon after married +to Mrs. Martha Custis (the widow of Colonel Daniel Parke Custis), whose +maiden name was Dandridge, and whose intelligent and patriotic conduct, +as wife and widow, will ever be gratefully remembered in American +annals. + +In 1759, he was elected to the House of Burgesses, and continued to +be returned to that body, with the exception of occasional intervals, +until 1774, when he was sent to represent Virginia in the Continental +Congress. His well-tempered zeal and military skill, which enabled him +to suggest the most proper means for national defense, if the country +were urged to extremities, soon fixed all eyes upon him, as one well +qualified to direct in the hour of peril; and accordingly, after the +first scene of the revolutionary drama was opened at Lexington and +Concord, and an army had concentrated at Cambridge, he was, on the 15th +of June, 1775, unanimously appointed Commander-in-Chief of the American +forces. The self-sacrificing spirit which governed his future course is +too well known to require any elucidation. + +After bringing the war to a successful termination, he hastened to +Annapolis, where Congress was then in session, and on the 23d of +December, 1783, formally resigned his commission. + +In May, 1787, he was elected to the Convention which met at +Philadelphia for the purpose of forming a Constitution, and was at once +called upon to preside over its deliberations. After that admirable +instrument was adopted by the people, he was unanimously elected the +first President of the United States for four years; at the expiration +of which he was unanimously reëlected for a second term. + +On the 12th of December, 1799, he was seized with an inflammation in +the throat, which grew worse the next day, and terminated his life on +the 14th, in the 68th year of his age. + + + + +JOHN ADAMS, + +THE SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, + + +And whose fame as a patriot and statesman is imperishable, was born +at Braintree, Massachusetts, October 19, 1735. He early displayed +superior capacity for learning, and graduated at Cambridge College with +great credit. After qualifying himself for the legal profession, he +was admitted to practice in 1761, and soon attained that distinction +to which his talents were entitled. From the commencement of the +troubles with Great Britain, in 1769, he was among the most active +in securing the freedom of his country. Being elected to the first +Continental Congress, he took a prominent part in all the war measures +that were then originated, and, subsequently, suggested the appointment +of Washington as commander-in-chief of the army. He was one of the +committee which reported the Declaration of Independence, in 1776, and +the next year visited France, as commissioner, to form a treaty of +alliance and commerce with that country. Although the object had been +accomplished before his arrival, his visit had, otherwise, a favorable +effect on the existing position of affairs; and he was afterward +appointed to negotiate a treaty of peace with Great Britain, which, +after many laborious and fruitless efforts, was finally accomplished +in 1783. In 1785, he was sent to England as the first minister from +this country, and, on his return, was elected first Vice-President, in +which office he served two terms, and was then, in 1797, elected to +succeed Washington as President. Many occurrences tended to embarrass +his administration and to render it unpopular; but it is now generally +admitted to have been characterized by patriotism and vigor equal +to the emergencies which then existed. His political opponents, +however, managed to defeat his reëlection, and he was succeeded in +the Presidency by Mr. Jefferson, in 1801; after which he retired to +his farm at Quincy, where his declining years were passed in the +gratification of his unabated love for reading and contemplation, +and where he was constantly cheered by an interesting circle of +friendship and affection. The semi-centennial anniversary of American +Independence (July 4, 1826) was remarkable, not merely for the event +which it commemorated, but for the decease of two of the most active +participants in the measures by which independence was achieved. On +that day, Adams and Jefferson were both gathered to their fathers, +within about four hours of each other, “cheered by the benediction of +their country, to whom they left the inheritance of their fame and the +memory of their bright example.” + +_Election for the Third Term, commencing March 4, 1797, and terminating +March 3, 1801._ + + ===+================+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+==+==+== + | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | + | STATES. | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | J | K | L | M| N| O + ---+----------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+-- + 6 |New Hampshire | 6 | | | | | 6| | | | | | | + 16 |Massachusetts |16 | | 13| | | 1| | | 2| | | | + 4 |Rhode Island | 4 | | | | | 4| | | | | | | + 9 |Connecticut | 9 | | 4| | | | 5| | | | | | + 4 |Vermont | 4 | | 4| | | | | | | | | | + 12 |New York |12 | | 12| | | | | | | | | | + 7 |New Jersey | 7 | | 7| | | | | | | | | | + 15 |Pennsylvania | 1 | 14| 2| 13| | | | | | | | | + 3 |Delaware | 3 | | 3| | | | | | | | | | + 11 |Maryland | 7 | 4| 4| 3| | | | | | | | | 2 + 21 |Virginia | 1 | 20| 1| 1| 15| | | 3| | | 1| | + 4 |Kentucky | | 4| | 4| | | | | | | | | + 12 |North Carolina | 1 | 11| 1| 6| | | | | | 3| 1| | + 8 |South Carolina | | 8| 8| | | | | | | | | 1| + 4 |Georgia | | 4| | | | | | 4| | | | | + 3 |Tennessee | | 3| | 3| | | | | | | | | + ---|----------------+---+---+---+-------+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+-- + 139|No. of Electors.| 71| 68| 59| 30| 15| 11| 5| 7| 2| 3| 2| 1| 2 + |Majority 70 | | | | | | | | | | | | | + ===+================+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+===+==+==+== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = John Adams, of Massachusetts. + (C) = Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia. + (D) = Thos. Pinckney, of South Carolina. + (E) = Aaron Burr, of New York. + (F) = Samuel Adams, of Massachusetts. + (G) = Oliver Ellsworth, of Connecticut. + (H) = John Jay, of New York. + (J) = George Clinton, of New York. + (K) = S. Johnston, of North Carolina. + (L) = James Iredell, of North Carolina. + (M) = Geo. Washington, of Virginia. + (N) = C. C. Pinckney, of South Carolina. + (O) = John Henry, of Maryland. + +John Adams, elected President, took the oath of office, and entered +upon his duties, March 4, 1797. + +Thomas Jefferson, elected Vice-President, took the oath of office, and +entered upon his duties in the Senate, March 4, 1797. + +The administration of Mr. Adams encountered the most virulent +opposition, both domestic and foreign. France, still in the confusion +following her revolution, made improper demands on our country, which +not being complied with, she commenced seizing American property on +the high seas. Our people, taking different sides, were about equally +divided—some approving and others deprecating the course pursued by +France. Letters of marque and reprisal were issued by our government, +and a navy was raised with surprising promptitude. This had the desired +effect, peace being thereby secured; and the aggressor was taught that +the Americans were friends in peace, but were not fearful of war when +it could not be honorably averted. + +The Indians on our western frontiers also caused much trouble; but at +length, being severely chastised by General Wayne, they sued for peace, +which was granted in 1795. + +In 1800 the seat of government was removed from Philadelphia to +Washington City, which had been designated by Washington, under a law +of Congress, as the most central situation. + +As has been noticed elsewhere, Mr. Adams deemed it prudent, in the +early part of his administration, when impending difficulties with +France seemed to render war inevitable, to offer Washington the +commission of Lieutenant-General and Commander-in-Chief of the army, +which he accepted as a matter of duty, and held until his death, but +fortunately never found it necessary to take the field. + + + + +THOMAS JEFFERSON, + +THE THIRD PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, + + +Was born at Shadwell, Albemarle County, Virginia (near Monticello, the +seat where he died), April 13, 1743. He was educated at William and +Mary’s College, and graduated with distinction when quite young. He +was a great lover of learning, and particularly of natural philosophy. +With the celebrated George Wythe, he commenced the study of the law, +and became a favorite pupil. Mr. Jefferson was never distinguished as +an advocate, but was considered a good lawyer. Soon after he came to +the bar he was elected a member of the House of Burgesses, and, in that +body, was duly appreciated for his learning and aptitude for business. +He at once took fire at British oppression, and, in 1774, he employed +his pen in discussing the whole course of the British ministry. The +work was admired, and made a text book by his countrymen. In June, +1775, he took his seat in the Continental Congress, from Virginia. +In that body he soon became conspicuous, and was considered a firm +friend of American liberty. In 1776, he was chosen chairman of the +committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence. This instrument +is nearly all his own, and was sanctioned by his coadjutors, with +few alterations. In 1778, Mr. Jefferson was appointed embassador to +France, to form a treaty with that government, but ill-health prevented +his accepting this office. He succeeded Patrick Henry, in 1779, as +Governor of Virginia, and continued in that station two years. In 1781 +he composed his notes on Virginia. In 1783 he was sent to France to +join the ministers of our country, Mr. Adams and Dr. Franklin. In 1785 +he succeeded Dr. Franklin as embassador, and continued performing the +duties of that office for two years, when he retired, and returned +home. In 1789 he was made Secretary of State, under Washington, in +which situation he was highly distinguished for his talents. This +station he resigned in 1793, and retired to private life. In 1797 he +was elected Vice-President of the United States, and took his seat as +President of the Senate, on the following 4th of March. In 1801, he +was President of the United States, which office he held for eight +years. After completing his second term, he retired to private life, +in which he spent his days in philosophical pursuits, until the 4th +of July, 1826, when he expired, just fifty years after penning the +Declaration of Independence. His course was one of his own. Never lived +there a politician who did more than Thomas Jefferson to bring his +fellow-citizens to his own opinions. + +_Election for the Fourth Term, commencing March 4, 1801, and +terminating March 3, 1805._ + + ====+===================+=====+=====+=====+=====+==== + A | STATES. | B | C | D | E | F + ----+-------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+---- + 6 | New Hampshire | | | 6 | 6 | + 16 | Massachusetts | | | 16 | 16 | + 4 | Rhode Island | | | 4 | 3 | 1 + 9 | Connecticut | | | 9 | 9 | + 4 | Vermont | | | 4 | 4 | + 12 | New York | 12 | 12 | | | + 7 | New Jersey | | | 7 | 7 | + 15 | Pennsylvania | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | + 3 | Delaware | | | 3 | 3 | + 10 | Maryland | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | + 21 | Virginia | 21 | 21 | | | + 4 | Kentucky | 4 | 4 | | | + 12 | North Carolina | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | + 3 | Tennessee | 3 | 3 | | | + 8 | South Carolina | 8 | 8 | | | + 4 | Georgia | 4 | 4 | | | + ----+-------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+---- + 138 | No. of Electors | 73 | 73 | 65 | 64 | 1 + | Majority 70 | | | | | + ====+===================+=====+=====+=====+=====+==== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia. + (C) = Aaron Burr, of New York. + (D) = John Adams, of Massachusetts. + (E) = C. C. Pinckney, of South Carolina. + (F) = John Jay, of New York. + +The electoral vote for Thos. Jefferson and Aaron Burr being equal, no +choice was made by the people, and on the 11th of February, 1801, the +House of Representatives proceeded to the choice of President in the +manner prescribed by the Constitution. On the first ballot eight States +voted for Thos. Jefferson, six for Aaron Burr, and the votes of two +States were divided. The balloting continued till the 17th of February, +when the thirty-fifth ballot, as had all previously, resulted the same +as the first. After the thirty-sixth ballot, the Speaker declared that +the votes of ten States had been given for Thos. Jefferson, the votes +of four States for Aaron Burr, and the votes of two States in blank; +and that, consequently, Thomas Jefferson had been elected for the term +of four years. + +Thomas Jefferson, thus elected President, took the oath of office, and +entered upon his duties, March 4, 1801. + +In his inaugural address, Mr. Jefferson used the following memorable +expression: “We have called by different names brethren of the same +principle. We are all republicans: we are all federalists. If there +be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union, or to change +its republican form, let them stand, undisturbed, as monuments of the +safety with which ERROR OF OPINION MAY BE TOLERATED, WHERE REASON IS +LEFT FREE TO COMBAT IT.” + +Aaron Burr, elected Vice-President, took the oath of office, and +entered upon his duties in the Senate, March 4, 1801. + +_Election for the Fifth Term, commencing March 4, 1805, and terminating +March 3, 1809._ + + ====+=========================+===========+=========== + | | PRESID’T. | V. PRES’T. + A | STATES. +-----+-----+-----+----- + | | A | B | C | D + ----+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+----- + 7 | New Hampshire | 7 | | 7 | + 19 | Massachusetts | 19 | | 19 | + 4 | Rhode Island | 4 | | 4 | + 9 | Connecticut | | 9 | | 9 + 6 | Vermont | 6 | | 6 | + 19 | New York | 19 | | 19 | + 8 | New Jersey | 8 | | 8 | + 20 | Pennsylvania | 20 | | 20 | + 3 | Delaware | | 3 | | 3 + 11 | Maryland | 9 | 2 | 9 | 2 + 24 | Virginia | 24 | | 24 | + 14 | North Carolina | 14 | | 14 | + 10 | South Carolina | 10 | | 10 | + 6 | Georgia | 6 | | 6 | + 5 | Tennessee | 5 | | 5 | + 8 | Kentucky | 8 | | 8 | + 3 | Ohio | 3 | | 3 | + ----+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+----- + 176 | Whole No. of Electors | 162 | 14 | 162 | 14 + | Majority 89 | | | | + ====+=========================+=====+=====+=====+===== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia. + (C) = Charles C. Pinckney, of South Carolina. + (D) = George Clinton, of New York. + (E) = Rufus King, of New York. + +Thomas Jefferson, elected President, took the oath of office for a +second term, and entered upon his duties March 4, 1805. + +George Clinton, elected Vice-President, took the oath of office, and +entered upon his duties in the Senate, March 4, 1805. + +Among the most important acts of Mr. Jefferson’s administration was the +purchase of Louisiana from France for $15,000,000, which territory was +surrendered to our Government in December, 1803. + +In November, 1808, the celebrated “ORDERS IN COUNCIL” were issued +by the British Government, which prohibited all trade with France +and her allies; and, as a retaliatory measure, in December following +Bonaparte issued his “MILAN DECREE,” interdicting all trade with +England and her colonies—thus subjecting almost every American vessel +on the ocean to capture. In requital for these tyrannous proceedings, +and that England and France might both feel their injustice, Congress +decreed an embargo; but as this failed to obtain from either power an +acknowledgment of our rights, and was also ruinous to our commerce with +other nations, it was repealed in March, 1809. + + + + +JAMES MADISON, + +THE FOURTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, + + +Was born in Orange County, Virginia, March 16, 1751. His studies, +preparatory to entering Princeton College, were pursued under the most +favorable circumstances, he being provided with the most accomplished +instructors, and he graduated with high honor in 1771. On returning +to Virginia, he zealously commenced the study of the law, which he +subsequently abandoned for political life. + +In 1776, he was elected to the General Assembly of Virginia, and from +this period, for more than forty years, he was continually in office, +serving his State and his country in various capacities, from that of a +State Legislator to that of President. + +In 1778, he was elected by the Legislature to the executive council +of the State, where he rendered important aid to Henry and Jefferson, +Governors of Virginia, during the time he held a seat in the council; +and by his probity of character, faithfulness in the discharge of duty, +and amiableness of deportment, he won the approbation of these great +men. In the winter of 1779-80, he took his seat in the Continental +Congress, and became immediately an active and leading member, as the +journal of that body abundantly testifies. + +In 1784-5-6, he was a member of the Legislature of Virginia. In +1787, he became a member of the Convention held in Philadelphia, for +the purpose of preparing a Constitution for the Government of the +United States. Perhaps no member of that body had more to do with the +formation of that noble instrument, the Constitution of the United +States of America, than Mr. Madison. + +It was during the recess between the proposition of the Constitution +by the Convention of 1787, and its adoption by the States, that that +celebrated work, “The Federalist,” made its appearance. This is known +to be the joint production of Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James +Madison. The same year he was elected to Congress, and held his seat +until the Continental Congress passed away among the things that were. +He was a member of the State Convention of Virginia which met to adopt +the Constitution, and on the establishment of the new Congress under +the Constitution, he was chosen a member, retaining his seat until the +close of Washington’s administration. + +In 1801, as one of the presidential electors, he had the gratification +of voting for his illustrious friend Jefferson, who immediately +offered him a place in his cabinet, which was accepted. Accordingly, +he entered on the discharge of his duties as Secretary of State, which +duties he continued to perform during the whole of Mr. Jefferson’s +administration, and on the retirement of that great statesman, in 1809, +he succeeded to the Presidency, in which office he served two terms. + +Mr. Madison then retired to his peaceful home in Virginia, where he +passed the remainder of his days in favorite pastimes, loved by the +many and respected by all, until the 28th of June, 1826, when the +last survivor of the framers of our Constitution was gathered to his +fathers, full of years and glory. + +_Election for the Sixth Term, commencing March 4, 1809, and terminating +March 3, 1813._ + + ===+=========================+==============+======================= + | | PRESIDENT. | VICE-PRESIDENT. + A | STATES. +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+--- + | | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | J + ---+-------------------------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+--- + 7| New Hampshire | | | 7 | | | | | 7 + 19| Massachusetts | | | 19 | | | | | 19 + 4| Rhode Island | | | 4 | | | | | 4 + 9| Connecticut | | | 9 | | | | | 9 + 6| Vermont | 6 | | | | | | 6 | + 19| New York | 13 | 6 | | 13 | 3 | 3 | | + 8| New Jersey | 8 | | | 8 | | | | + 20| Pennsylvania | 20 | | | 20 | | | | + 3| Delaware | | | 3 | | | | | 3 + 11| Maryland | 9 | | 2 | 9 | | | | 2 + 24| Virginia | 24 | | | 24 | | | | + 14| North Carolina | 11 | | 3 | 11 | | | | 3 + 10| South Carolina | 10 | | | 10 | | | | + 6| Georgia | 6 | | | 6 | | | | + 7| Kentucky | 7 | | | 7 | | | | + 5| Tennessee | 5 | | | 5 | | | | + 3| Ohio | 3 | | | | | | 3 | + ---+-------------------------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+--- + 175| Whole No. of Electors |122 | 6 | 47 |113 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 47 + | Majority 88 | | | | | | | | + ==================================================================== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = James Madison, of Virginia. + (C) = George Clinton, of New York. + (D) = C. C. Pinckney, of South Carolina. + (E) = George Clinton, of New York. + (F) = James Madison, of Virginia. + (G) = James Monroe, of Virginia. + (H) = John Langdon, of New Hampshire. + (J) = Rufus King, of New York. + +James Madison took the oath of office, as President, and entered upon +his duties March 4, 1809. + +George Clinton, elected Vice-President, took the oath of office, and +attended in the Senate, March 4, 1809. + +Our national position, especially in regard to England and France, +was certainly a very perplexing one when Mr. Madison came to the +Presidency. We were not only threatened by enemies abroad, but were +harassed by a savage foe on our western frontier, probably urged on by +British influence, and led by the famous chief Tecumseh and his brother +the Prophet. These last were finally subdued in 1811; but our European +foes were more troublesome. After all peaceful means had failed to +check the aggressions of England, and when at length “patience had +ceased to be a virtue,” war was declared against that country, June 19, +1812. The events of that war it is not within our province to record; +and it is sufficient to say, that they greatly elevated the American +character in the estimation of both friends and enemies. + +_Election for the Seventh Term, commencing March 4, 1813, and +terminating March 3, 1817._ + + ====+=========================+===========+=========== + | | PRESID’T. | V. PRES’T. + A | STATES. +-----+-----+-----+----- + | | B | C | D | E + ----+-------------------------+-----+-----+----+------ + 8 | New Hampshire | | 8 | 1 | 7 + 22 | Massachusetts | | 22 | 2 | 20 + 4 | Rhode Island | | 4 | | 4 + 9 | Connecticut | | 9 | | 9 + 8 | Vermont | 8 | | 8 | + 29 | New York | | 29 | | 29 + 8 | New Jersey | | 8 | | 8 + 25 | Pennsylvania | 25 | | 25 | + 4 | Delaware | | 4 | | 4 + 11 | Maryland | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 + 25 | Virginia | 25 | | 25 | + 15 | North Carolina | 15 | | 15 | + 11 | South Carolina | 11 | | 11 | + 8 | Georgia | 8 | | 8 | + 12 | Kentucky | 12 | | 12 | + 8 | Tennessee | 8 | | 8 | + 7 | Ohio | 7 | | 7 | + 3 | Louisiana | 3 | | 3 | + ----+-------------------------+-----|-----|-----|----- + 217 | Whole No. of Electors | 128 | 89 | 131 | 86 + | Majority 109 | | | | + ====+=========================+=====+=====+=====+===== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = James Madison, of Virginia. + (C) = De Witt Clinton, of New York. + (D) = Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts. + (E) = Jared Ingersoll, of Pennsylvania. + +James Madison, elected President for a second term. [There is no notice +on the Journals of Congress of his having taken the oath.] + +Elbridge Gerry, elected Vice-President, attended in the Senate on the +24th of May, 1813, and exhibited a certificate of his having taken the +oath of office prescribed by law, which was read. + +The war into which the country had been forced was brought to a close +by the treaty of Ghent, which was signed December 24, 1814; but this +treaty had scarcely been ratified, when it became necessary to commence +another war for the protection of American commerce and seamen against +Algerine piracies. In May, 1815, a squadron under Commodore Decatur +sailed for the Mediterranean, where the naval force of Algiers was +cruising for American vessels. After capturing two of the enemy’s +best frigates in that sea, Decatur proceeded to the Bay of Algiers, +and there dictated a treaty which secured the United States from any +further molestation from that quarter. Similar treaties were also +concluded with the other Barbary powers. + + + + +JAMES MONROE, + +THE FIFTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, + + +One of the few exalted characters that served his country in both a +civil and military capacity, was born in Westmoreland county, Virginia, +April 26, 1758, and was educated at William and Mary’s College, whence +he graduated in 1776, and commenced the study of the law. Anxious +to aid in the struggle for independence, which had then just began, +he abandoned his studies, and entered the army as a cadet—joining a +corps under the gallant General Mercer. He soon distinguished himself +in several well-fought battles, and rapid promotion followed, until +he reached the rank of captain. He was at Harlem Heights, and White +Plains, and shared the perils and fatigues of the distressing retreat +of Washington through New Jersey, as well as the glory of the victory +over the Hessians at Trenton, where he received a musket-ball in the +shoulder; notwithstanding which, he valiantly “fought out the fight.” +He subsequently accepted the post of an aid to Lord Stirling, with +the rank of Major, in which position he saw much hard service—being +engaged in almost every conflict for the two succeeding campaigns, +and displaying great courage and coolness at the bloody battles of +Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. + +Aspiring to a separate command, he obtained permission to raise a +regiment in his native State; for which purpose he left the army, and +returned to Virginia, where he encountered so many unexpected and +discouraging obstacles, that he finally relinquished the enterprise, +and resumed his law studies in the office of Mr. Jefferson. + +In 1780, he was elected to the Virginia Legislature, and in the +following year was made one of Governor Jefferson’s council, in which +he continued until 1783, when, at the age of twenty-four years, he +became a member of the Continental Congress. After serving three years +in that body, he was again returned to the State Legislature. + +In 1788, while a member of the Convention to decide upon the adoption +of the new Constitution, he voted in the minority against that +instrument; but this vote did not at all affect his popularity. Two +years afterward he was elected United States Senator, and in 1794 he +was sent envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the Court +of Versailles. After settling the cession of Louisiana to the United +States, he went to England to succeed Mr. King as minister at the court +of St. James. The affair of the frigate Chesapeake placing him in an +uncomfortable situation, he returned to the United States, and, in +1810, was once more elected to the Virginia Legislature. He was soon +after chosen Governor of that State, in which office he remained until +Mr. Madison called him to assume the duties of Secretary of State in +his cabinet. In 1817, he was elected President of the United States, +and in 1821 was unanimously reëlected, with the exception of a single +vote in New Hampshire. His administration was a prosperous and quiet +one. + +He united with Jefferson and Madison in founding the University of +Virginia; and when the convention was formed for the revision of the +Constitution of his State, he was called to preside over its action. +Not long after this, he went to reside with a beloved daughter (the +wife of Samuel L. Gouverneur, Esq.) in New York City, where he lived +until the anniversary of Independence, in 1831, when, “amidst the +pealing joy and congratulations of that proud day, he passed quietly +and in glory away.” + +_Election for the Eighth Term, commencing March 4, 1817, and +terminating March 3, 1821._ + + ====+========================+===========+======================== + | | PRESID’T. | VICE-PRESIDENT. + A | STATES. +-----+-----+----+----+----+----+---- + | | B | C | D | E | F | G | H + ----+------------------------+-----+-----+----+----+----+----+---- + 8 | New Hampshire | 8 | | 8 | | | | + 22 | Massachusetts | | 22 | | 22 | | | + 4 | Rhode Island | 4 | | 4 | | | | + 9 | Connecticut | | 9 | | | 5 | 4 | + 8 | Vermont | 8 | | 8 | | | | + 29 | New York | 29 | | 29 | | | | + 8 | New Jersey | 8 | | 8 | | | | + 25 | Pennsylvania | 25 | | 25 | | | | + 3 | Delaware | | 3 | | | | | 3 + 8 | Maryland | 8 | | 8 | | | | + 25 | Virginia | 25 | | 25 | | | | + 15 | North Carolina | 15 | | 15 | | | | + 11 | South Carolina | 11 | | 11 | | | | + 8 | Georgia | 8 | | 8 | | | | + 12 | Kentucky | 12 | | 12 | | | | + 8 | Tennessee | 8 | | 8 | | | | + 8 | Ohio | 8 | | 8 | | | | + 3 | Louisiana | 3 | | 3 | | | | + 3 | Indiana | 3 | | 3 | | | | + ----+------------------------+-----+-----+----+----+----+----+---- + 217 | Whole No. of Electors | 183 | 34 | 83 | 22 | 5 | 4 | 3 + | Majority 109 | | | | | | | + ====+========================+=====+=====+====+====+====+====+==== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = James Monroe, of Virginia. + (C) = Rufus King, of New York. + (D) = D. D. Tompkins, of New York. + (E) = John E. Howard, of Maryland. + (F) = James Ross, of Pennsylvania. + (G) = John Marshall, of Virginia. + (H) = Rob’t G. Harper, of Maryland. + +James Monroe took the oath of office, as President, and entered upon +his duties March 4, 1817. + +Daniel D. Tompkins, elected Vice-President, took the oath of office, +and attended in the Senate, March 4, 1817. + +The Seminole and a few of the Creek Indians commenced depredations on +the frontiers of Georgia and Alabama towards the close of 1817, for +which they were severely chastised by a force under General Jackson, +and gladly sued for peace. + +In February, 1819, a treaty was negotiated at Washington, by which +Spain ceded to the United States East and West Florida and the adjacent +Islands. In the same year the southern portion of Missouri Territory +was set off under the name of Arkansas, for which a territorial +government was formed; and Alabama was constituted a State, and +admitted into the Union. + +Early in 1820 the province of Maine, which had been connected with +Massachusetts since 1652, was separated from it and was admitted into +the Union as an independent State. + +_Election for the Ninth Term, commencing March 4, 1821, and terminating +March 3, 1825._ + + ====+===================+===========+=========================== + | | PRESID’T. | VICE-PRESIDENT. + A | STATES. +-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+--- + | | B | C | D | E | F | G | H + ----+-------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+--- + 8 | New Hampshire | 7 | 1 | 7 | | | 1 | + 15 | Massachusetts | 15 | | 7 | 8 | | | + 4 | Rhode Island | 4 | | 4 | | | | + 9 | Connecticut | 9 | | 9 | | | | + 8 | Vermont | 8 | | 8 | | | | + 29 | New York | 29 | | 29 | | | | + 8 | New Jersey | 8 | | 8 | | | | + 25 | Pennsylvania | 24 | | 24 | | | | + 4 | Delaware | 4 | | | | | | 4 + 11 | Maryland | 11 | | 10 | | 1 | | + 25 | Virginia | 25 | | 25 | | | | + 15 | North Carolina | 15 | | 15 | | | | + 11 | South Carolina | 11 | | 11 | | | | + 8 | Georgia | 8 | | 8 | | | | + 12 | Kentucky | 12 | | 12 | | | | + 7 | Tennessee | 7 | | 7 | | | | + 8 | Ohio | 8 | | 8 | | | | + 3 | Louisiana | 3 | | 3 | | | | + 3 | Indiana | 3 | | 3 | | | | + 2 | Mississippi | 2 | | 2 | | | | + 3 | Illinois | 3 | | 3 | | | | + 3 | Alabama | 3 | | 3 | | | | + 9 | Maine | 9 | | 9 | | | | + 3 | Missouri | 3 | | 3 | | | | + ----+-------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+--- + 236 | No. of Electors | 231 | 1 | 218 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 4 + | Majority 118 | | | | | | | + ====+===================+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = James Monroe, of Virginia. + (C) = John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts. + (D) = Daniel D. Tompkins, of New York. + (E) = Richard Stockton, of New Jersey. + (F) = Robert C. Harper, of Maryland. + (G) = Richard Rush, of Pennsylvania. + (H) = Daniel Rodney, of Delaware. + +James Monroe was re-elected President, but there is no notice on the +Journals of Congress that he again took the oath of office. + +Daniel D. Tompkins was re-elected Vice-President, but there is no +record of his having taken the oath of office. + +Public attention was much occupied in 1824-5 by a visit from the +venerable General Lafayette, who, after the lapse of nearly half a +century from the period of his military career, was again welcomed with +every token of respect that could be devised for honoring the “Nation’s +Guest.” He landed in New York in August, 1824, and after remaining +there a short time, set out on a tour through all the States. Upwards +of a year was taken up in accomplishing this gratifying object; and in +September, 1825, he sailed from Washington in the frigate Brandywine +for his native home. + + + + +JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, + +THE SIXTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, + + +Was born at Quincy, Massachusetts, July 11, 1767, and received the +advantages of a pretty thorough education before entering Harvard +College, which was not until the year 1786. After graduating with +marked credit, he commenced the study of law at Newburyport, in the +office of the Hon. Theophilus Parsons, for many years Chief Justice +of Massachusetts. While pursuing his studies he found leisure to +write several newspaper essays, which attracted much attention, and +displayed a maturity of taste and judgment seldom attained so early in +life. In 1794, Washington appointed him minister to the Netherlands, +and subsequently transferred him to Portugal. He was afterward, at +different periods, minister to Prussia, Russia, and England; and was +one of the commissioners who negotiated the treaty of peace with Great +Britain, at Ghent, in 1815. In 1817, he was appointed Secretary of +State, in which office he continued during Mr. Monroe’s administration, +eight years; when he was elected by the House of Representatives +President of the United States—the people having failed in making a +choice. Like his father, he encountered strong opposition, and only +served one term in this office, being defeated in a reëlection by +General Jackson. He then retired to his farm at Quincy, but did not +remain long in private life; for, two years afterward, he was chosen +Representative in Congress, and continued to be reëlected until his +death, which occurred in the Capitol, at Washington, February 23, +1848. Two days previous to this sad event, while engaged in his duties +in the House of Representatives, he received a paralytic stroke, +which apparently deprived him of all consciousness. He was borne to +the Speaker’s room, where he received every attention that could be +bestowed by anxious and devoted friends, but all in vain—his hour was +come. The last words he was heard to utter were, “This is the last of +earth.” + +Mr. Adams was a man of rare gifts and rich acquisitions. A diligent +student, and economical of his time, he found opportunity, amid all his +public cares, to cultivate his tastes for literature and the sciences. +He was one of the finest classical and belles-lettres scholars of his +time, and filled the chair of Professor of Rhetoric and Belles-lettres +in Harvard College for several years. Even in his old age, he often +astonished his hearers with the elegant classical allusions and +rhetorical tropes with which he enriched and embellished his own +productions. + +_Election for the Tenth Term, commencing March 4, 1825, and terminating +March 3, 1829._ + + ==================================================================== + | | PRESIDENT. | VICE-PRESIDENT. + A | STATES. +---+---+---+----+---+---+---+---+---+-- + | | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | J | K | L + ----+-----------------------+---+---+---+----+---+---+---+---+---+-- + 8 | New Hampshire | | 8| | | 7| | | 1| | + 15 | Massachusetts | | 15| | | 15| | | | | + 4 | Rhode Island | | 4| | | 4| | | | | + 8 | Connecticut | | 8| | | | | | 8| | + 7 | Vermont | | 7| | | 7| | | | | + 36 | New York | 1| 26| 5| 4| 29| 7| | | | + 8 | New Jersey | 8| | | | 8| | | | | + 28 | Pennsylvania | 28| | | | 28| | | | | + 3 | Delaware | | 1| 2| | 1| | | | | 2 + 11 | Maryland | 7| 3| 1| | 10| | | 1| | + 24 | Virginia | | | 24| | | | 24| | | + 15 | North Carolina | 15| | | | 15| | | | | + 11 | South Carolina | 11| | | | 11| | | | | + 9 | Georgia | | | 9| | | | | | 9| + 14 | Kentucky | | | | 14| 7| 7| | | | + 11 | Tennessee | 11| | | | 11| | | | | + 16 | Ohio | | | | 16| | 16| | | | + 5 | Louisiana | 3| 2| | | 5| | | | | + 5 | Indiana | 5| | | | 5| | | | | + 3 | Mississippi | 3| | | | 3| | | | | + 3 | Illinois | 2| 1| | | 3| | | | | + 5 | Alabama | 5| | | | 5| | | | | + 9 | Maine | | 9| | | 9| | | | | + 3 | Missouri | | | | 3| | | | 3| | + ----+-----------------------+---+---+---+----+---+---+---+---+---+-- + 261 | Whole No. of Electors | 99| 84| 41| 37|183| 30| 24| 13| 9| 2 + | Majority 131 | | | | | | | | | | + ==================================================================== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = Andrew Jackson, of Tennessee. + (C) = John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts. + (D) = Wm. H. Crawford, of Georgia. + (E) = Henry Clay, of Kentucky. + (F) = John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina. + (G) = Nathan Sanford, of New York. + (H) = Nathaniel Macon, of North Carolina. + (J) = Andrew Jackson, of Tennessee. + (K) = Henry Clay, of Kentucky. + (L) = Martin Van Buren, of New York. + +Neither candidate for the Presidency having received a majority of +the electoral votes, it devolved upon the House of Representatives to +choose a President from the three highest on the list of those voted +for, which three were Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and William +H. Crawford. Twenty-four tellers (one member from each State) were +appointed, who, after examining the ballots, announced that the votes +of thirteen States had been given for John Quincy Adams; the votes +of seven States for Andrew Jackson; and the votes of four States for +William H. Crawford. The Speaker then declared that John Quincy Adams, +having received a majority of the votes of all the States, was duly +elected President of the United States for four years, commencing on +the 4th of March, 1825; on which day Mr. Adams took the oath of office, +and entered upon his duties. + +John C. Calhoun, having been elected Vice-President, took the oath of +office, and attended in the Senate, March 4, 1825. + + + + +ANDREW JACKSON, + +THE SEVENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, + + +A statesman of rare integrity, and a general of invincible skill +and courage, was born at Waxhaw, Lancaster County, South Carolina, +in 1767, and while yet a mere lad, did something toward achieving +the independence of his country. It is said that he commenced his +military career at the age of fourteen years, and was soon after taken +prisoner, together with an elder brother. During his captivity, he was +ordered by a British officer to perform some menial service, which he +promptly refused, and for this refusal was “severely wounded with the +sword which the Englishman disgraced.” He was educated for the bar, +and commenced practice at Nashville, Tennessee, but relinquished his +legal pursuits to “gain a name in arms.” In the early part of the war +of 1812, Congress, having voted to accept fifty thousand volunteers, +General Jackson appealed to the militia of Tennessee, when twenty-five +hundred enrolled their names, and presented themselves to Congress, +with General Jackson at their head. They were accepted, and ordered to +Natchez, to watch the operations of the British in lower Mississippi. +Not long after, he received orders from headquarters to disband his men +and send them to their homes. To obey, he foresaw, would be an act of +great injustice to his command, and reflect disgrace on the country, +and he resolved to disobey. He accordingly broke up his camp, and +returned to Nashville, bringing all his sick with him, whose wants on +the way he relieved with his private means, and there disbanded his +troops in the midst of their homes. + +He was soon called to the field once more, and his commission marked +out his course of duty on the field of Indian warfare. Here for years +he labored, and fought, and diplomatized, with the most consummate +wisdom and undaunted courage. It was about this time that the treaty of +the “Hickory Ground” occurred, which gave him the familiar sobriquet of +“Old Hickory.” + +The crowning glory of his whole military career was the battle of New +Orleans; which will ever occupy one of the brightest pages in American +history. + +At the close of the war he returned to his home in Nashville; but in +1818 was again called on by his country to render his military services +in the expulsion of the Seminoles. His conduct during this campaign has +been both bitterly condemned and highly applauded. An attempt in the +House of Representatives to inflict a censure on the old hero for the +irregularities of this campaign, after a long and bitter debate, was +defeated by a large majority. + +In 1828, and again in 1832, General Jackson was elected to fill the +Presidential chair; thus occupying that elevated position for eight +successive years. He then retired to his hospitable mansion (“the +Hermitage”), near Nashville, “loaded with wealth and honors bravely +won,” where he continued to realize all the enjoyments that are +inseparable from a well-spent life, until death translated him to those +higher rewards, which “earth can neither give nor take away.” He died +June 8, 1845, and his last hours were soothed by a trustful reliance on +the Savior of the world for salvation. + +[Illustration: WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.] + +_Election for the Eleventh Term, commencing March 4, 1829, and +terminating March 3, 1833._ + + ========+=========================+===========+================ + | | PRESID’T. | VICE PRESID’T. + | +-----+-----+-----+-----+---- + A | STATES. | B | C | D | E | F + ----+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+---- + 9 | Maine | 1 | 8 | 1 | 8 | + 8 | New Hampshire | | 8 | | 8 | + 15 | Massachusetts | | 15 | | 15 | + 4 | Rhode Island | | 4 | | 4 | + 8 | Connecticut | | 8 | | 8 | + 7 | Vermont | | 7 | | 7 | + 36 | New York | 20 | 16 | 20 | 16 | + 8 | New Jersey | | 8 | | 8 | + 28 | Pennsylvania | 28 | | 28 | | + 3 | Delaware | | 3 | | 3 | + 11 | Maryland | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | + 24 | Virginia | 24 | | 24 | | + 15 | North Carolina | 15 | | 15 | | + 11 | South Carolina | 11 | | 11 | | + 9 | Georgia | 9 | | 2 | | 7 + 14 | Kentucky | 14 | | 14 | | + 11 | Tennessee | 11 | | 11 | | + 16 | Ohio | 16 | | 16 | | + 5 | Louisiana | 5 | | 5 | | + 3 | Mississippi | 3 | | 3 | | + 5 | Indiana | 5 | | 5 | | + 3 | Illinois | 3 | | 3 | | + 5 | Alabama | 5 | | 5 | | + 3 | Missouri | 3 | | 3 | | + ----+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+---- + 261 | Whole No. of Electors | 178 | 83 | 171 | 83 | 7 + | Majority 131 | | | | | + ====+=========================+=====+=====+=====+=====+==== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = Andrew Jackson, of Tennessee. + (C) = John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts. + (D) = John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina. + (E) = Richard Rush, of Pennsylvania. + (F) = William Smith, of South Carolina. + +Andrew Jackson took the oath of office, as President, and entered upon +his duties March 4, 1829. + +John C. Calhoun took the oath of office, as Vice-President, and +presided in the Senate March 4, 1829. + +A series of unfortunate political and social occurrences soon led to a +rupture of that cordiality which had formerly existed between these two +distinguished individuals, the consequences of which were peculiarly +disastrous to the political aspirations of Mr. Calhoun, who was never +afterwards regarded with much favor beyond the immediate limits of his +own State. + +NOTE.—It was during this administration that the doctrine of State’s +rights was so strongly urged by Calhoun, and to this period may be +dated the origin of the great rebellion of 1861. + +_Election for the Twelfth Term, commencing March 4, 1833, and +terminating March 3, 1837._ + + ====+=======================+================+===================== + | | PRESIDENT. | VICE-PRESIDENT. + A | STATES. +----+---+---+---+----+---+---+---+---- + | | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | J | K + ----+-----------------------+----+---+---+---+----+---+---+---+---- + 10 | Maine | 10| | | | 10| | | | + 7 | New Hampshire | 7| | | | 7| | | | + 14 | Massachusetts | | 14| | | | 14| | | + 4 | Rhode Island | | 4| | | | 4| | | + 8 | Connecticut | | 8| | | | 8| | | + 7 | Vermont | | | | 7 | | | | | 7 + 42 | New York | 42| | | | 42| | | | + 8 | New Jersey | 8| | | | 8| | | | + 30 | Pennsylvania | 30| | | | | | 30| | + 3 | Delaware | | 3| | | | 3| | | + 10 | Maryland | 5| 5| | | 5| 5| | | + 23 | Virginia | 23| | | | 23| | | | + 15 | North Carolina | 15| | | | 15| | | | + 11 | South Carolina | | | 11| | | | | 11| + 11 | Georgia | 11| | | | 11| | | | + 15 | Kentucky | | 15| | | | 15| | | + 15 | Tennessee | 15| | | | 15| | | | + 21 | Ohio | 21| | | | 21| | | | + 5 | Louisiana | 5| | | | 5| | | | + 4 | Mississippi | 4| | | | 4| | | | + 9 | Indiana | 9| | | | 9| | | | + 5 | Illinois | 5| | | | 5| | | | + 7 | Alabama | 7| | | | 7| | | | + 4 | Missouri | 4| | | | 4| | | | + ----+-----------------------+----+---+---+---+----+---+---+---+---- + 288 |Whole No. of Electors | 221| 49| 11| 7 | 191| 49| 30| 11| 7 + |Majority 145 | | | | | | | | | + ====+=======================+====+===+===+===+====+===+===+===+==== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = Andrew Jackson, of Tennessee. + (C) = Henry Clay, of Kentucky. + (D) = John Floyd, of Virginia. + (E) = William Wirt, of Maryland. + (F) = Martin Van Buren, of New York. + (G) = John Sergeant, of Pennsylvania. + (H) = William Wilkins, of Pennsylvania. + (J) = Henry Lee, of Massachusetts. + (K) = Amos Ellmaker, of Pennsylvania. + +Andrew Jackson, re-elected President, took the oath of office, and +continued his duties, March 4, 1833. + +Martin Van Buren, having been elected Vice-President, took the oath of +office, and attended in the Senate, March 4, 1833. + +Early in June, 1833, the President left Washington on a tour through +the Northern States, and was everywhere received with an enthusiasm +that evinced the cordial approval of his administration by the people. +One of his first measures, on returning to the seat of government, was +the removal of the public moneys from the United States Bank, for which +act he encountered the most virulent hostility of a small majority +of the Senate, who passed resolutions censuring his course. But this +injustice has not been perpetuated; for on the 16th of January, 1837, +these partisan resolutions were expunged from the records by order of a +handsome majority. + + + + +MARTIN VAN BUREN, + +THE EIGHTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, + + +Was born in the flourishing town of Kinderhook, New York, September +5, 1782, and early received the best education that could then be +obtained in the schools in his immediate vicinity. Having sufficiently +prepared himself for the study of law, he entered the office of Francis +Sylvester, in his native town, where he remained about six years. But +law did not engross his whole time: he found leisure occasionally to +peer into the mysteries of political economy, and finally arrived at +the conclusion that his chances for fame and fortune were at least +equal in the arena of politics to any thing he might accomplish by a +strict adherence to legal pursuits. Fully impressed with this idea, he +early set about cultivating what little popularity could be gained in +his limited sphere, and so won upon the confidence of his neighbors and +friends as to be appointed, while yet in his _teens_, a delegate to a +convention in his native county, in which important political measures +were to be acted upon. + +In 1808, he was appointed Surrogate of Columbia County, the first +public office he ever held; and in 1812 and 1816 he was elected to the +State Senate, in which body he became a distinguished leader of the +Madison party, and one of its most eloquent supporters. + +In 1821, he was elected to the United States Senate, in which he held +his seat for nearly eight years, and became remarkable not only for his +close attention to business, but also for his devotion to the great +principles of the Democratic party. + +In 1828, he was elected Governor of his native State, and entered +upon the duties of that office, on the first of January, 1829; but +he filled the gubernatorial chair for only a few weeks. In March +following, when General Jackson was elevated to the Presidency, he +tendered Mr. Van Buren the post of Secretary of State, which was +accepted. At the expiration of two years he resigned his seat in the +Cabinet, and was immediately appointed minister to England; but when +his nomination was submitted to the Senate (June 25, 1831) it was +rejected by the casting vote of the Vice-President (Mr. Calhoun), and, +of course, he was recalled. As his friends attributed his rejection +to personal and political rancor, it only served to raise Mr. Van +Buren in the estimation of his political adherents, and the result was +that, in May following, he was nominated, with great unanimity, for +the Vice-Presidency, by the Democratic Convention, at Baltimore. His +triumphant election was regarded not merely as a high compliment to +himself, but as a wholesome rebuke to his opponents. + +In 1836, he was put in nomination for the chief magistracy, to which +he was elected, by a large majority, over General Harrison; but, at +the next Presidential election, the tables were turned, and he only +received sixty votes out of two hundred and ninety-four. + +After his defeat, he returned to Kinderhook, where he remained some +time, and then visited Europe, with one of his sons, whose restoration +to health was the principal object of his journey. Not long after his +return he consented to become once more a candidate for the Presidency, +and, in 1848, received the nomination of the Free-soil party, but did +not secure a single electoral vote. + +_Election for the Thirteenth Term, commencing March 4, 1837, and +terminating March 3, 1841._ + + + ===========================+==================+==================== + | | PRESIDENT. | VICE-PRESIDENT. + A | STATES. +----+---+---+--+--+------+----+----+--- + | | B | C | D | E| F| G | H | J | K + ---+-----------------------+----+---+---+--+--+------+----+----+--- + 10 | Maine | 10 | | | | | 10 | | | + 7 | New Hampshire | 7 | | | | | 7 | | | + 14 | Massachusetts | | | |14| | | 14 | | + 4 | Rhode Island | 4 | | | | | 4 | | | + 8 | Connecticut | 8 | | | | | 8 | | | + 7 | Vermont | | 7| | | | | 7 | | + 42 | New York | 42 | | | | | 42 | | | + 8 | New Jersey | | 8| | | | | 8 | | + 30 | Pennsylvania | 30 | | | | | 30 | | | + 3 | Delaware | | 3| | | | | 3 | | + 10 | Maryland | | 10| | | | | | 10 | + 23 | Virginia | 23 | | | | | | | | 23 + 15 | North Carolina | 15 | | | | | 15 | | | + 11 | South Carolina | | | | |11| | | 11 | + 11 | Georgia | | | 11| | | | | 11 | + 15 | Kentucky | | 15| | | | | 15 | | + 15 | Tennessee | | | 15| | | | | 15 | + 21 | Ohio | | 21| | | | | 21 | | + 5 | Louisiana | 5 | | | | | 5 | | | + 4 | Mississippi | 4 | | | | | 4 | | | + 9 | Indiana | | 9| | | | | 9 | | + 5 | Illinois | 5 | | | | | 5 | | | + 7 | Alabama | 7 | | | | | 7 | | | + 4 | Missouri | 4 | | | | | 4 | | | + 3 | Arkansas | 3 | | | | | 3 | | | + 3 | Michigan | 3 | | | | | 3 | | | + ---+-----------------------+----+---+---+--+--+------+----+----+--- + 294 |Whole No. of Electors |170 | 73| 26|14|11|147[5]| 77 | 47 | 23 + |Majority 148 | | | | | | | | | + ===========================+====+===+===+==+==+======+====+====+=== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = Martin Van Buren, of New York. + (C) = Wm. H. Harrison, of Ohio. + (D) = Hugh L. White, of Tennessee. + (E) = Daniel Webster, of Massachusetts. + (F) = Willie P. Mangum, of North Carolina. + (G) = Rich’d M. Johnson, of Kentucky. + (H) = Francis Granger, of New York. + (J) = John Tyler, of Virginia. + (K) = William Smith, of Alabama. + +[5] Elected by the Senate. + +Martin Van Buren, elected President, took the oath of office, and +entered upon his duties, March 4, 1837. + +Richard M. Johnson, elected Vice-President, took the oath of office, +and attended in the Senate, March 4, 1837. + +Urged by the unprecedented financial embarrassments which were +experienced in every branch of industry, and especially by the +mercantile class, Mr. Van Buren’s first measure was to convene a +special meeting of Congress early in September, ’37, which continued +in session forty days, but accomplished very little. A bill +authorizing the issue of $10,000,000 in treasury notes was passed; +but the Independent Treasury bill (the great financial measure of +the administration) was then rejected, although afterwards (in 1840) +adopted. + + + + +WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, + +THE NINTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, + + +Was born in Charles City County, Virginia, February 9, 1773, and was +educated for the medical profession at Hampden Sydney College. He +graduated at a time when our north-western frontier was suffering +much from the neighboring Indians, and, believing that he could be of +greater service in repelling the savage invaders than in pursuing his +studies, he accepted an ensign’s commission from President Washington, +and joined the army. He was promoted to a lieutenancy in 1792, and his +skill and bravery were highly commended by General Wayne, under whose +command he was engaged in several actions. After the bloody battle of +Miami Rapids, he was rewarded with the rank of captain, and immediately +placed in command of Fort Washington. In 1797, he resigned his +commission for the purpose of accepting the office of Secretary of the +North-west Territory, from which he was elected a delegate to Congress +in 1799. + +When a territorial government was formed for Indiana, he was +appointed the first Governor, and continued in that office till 1813. +To his civil and military duties he added those of Commissioner +and Superintendent of Indian Affairs; and, in the course of his +administration, he concluded thirteen important treaties with the +different tribes. On the 7th of November, 1811, he gained the +celebrated battle of Tippecanoe, the news of which was received +throughout the country with a burst of enthusiasm. During the war of +1812, he was made commander of the North-western army of the United +States, and he bore a conspicuous part in the leading events in the +campaign of 1812-13—the defense of Fort Meigs, and the victory of the +Thames. In 1814, he was appointed, in conjunction with his companions +in arms, Governor Shelby and General Cass, to treat with the Indians +in the North-west, at Greenville; and, in the following year, he +was placed at the head of a commission to treat with various other +important tribes. + +In 1816, he was elected a member of Congress from Ohio, and, in 1828, +he was sent minister plenipotentiary to the republic of Colombia. +On his return, he took up his residence at North Bend, on the Ohio, +where he lived upon his farm, in comparative retirement, till 1836, +when he became a candidate for the Presidency; and, although defeated +on the first trial, four years afterward he was elected by a large +majority, and inaugurated in 1841. But he did not long survive this +crowning honor, as he died on the 4th of April, just one month after +entering upon his duties. His funeral obsequies were performed on the +7th, and an immense concourse assembled to pay their testimony of +respect. Funeral services and processions also took place in most of +the principal cities throughout the country. As General Harrison was +the first President who died while in office, his successor, Mr. Tyler, +recommended that the 14th of May be observed as a day of fasting and +prayer, and accordingly it was so observed. + +_Election for the Fourteenth Term, commencing March 4, 1841, and +terminating March 3, 1845._ + + ====+===================+===========+===================== + | | PRESID’T. | VICE-PRESID’T. + A | STATES. +-----+-----+-----+-----+----+---- + | | B | C | D | E | F | G + ----+-------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+---- + 10 | Maine | 10 | | 10 | | | + 7 | New Hampshire | | 7 | | 7 | | + 14 | Massachusetts | 14 | | 14 | | | + 4 | Rhode Island | 4 | | 4 | | | + 8 | Connecticut | 8 | | 8 | | | + 7 | Vermont | 7 | | 7 | | | + 42 | New York | 42 | | 42 | | | + 8 | New Jersey | 8 | | 8 | | | + 30 | Pennsylvania | 30 | | 30 | | | + 3 | Delaware | 3 | | 3 | | | + 10 | Maryland | 10 | | 10 | | | + 23 | Virginia | | 23 | | 22 | | 1 + 15 | North Carolina | 15 | | 15 | | | + 11 | South Carolina | | 11 | | | 11 | + 11 | Georgia | 11 | | 11 | | | + 15 | Kentucky | 15 | | 15 | | | + 15 | Tennessee | 15 | | 15 | | | + 21 | Ohio | 21 | | 21 | | | + 5 | Louisiana | 5 | | 5 | | | + 4 | Mississippi | 4 | | 4 | | | + 9 | Indiana | 9 | | 9 | | | + 5 | Illinois | | 5 | | 5 | | + 7 | Alabama | | 7 | | 7 | | + 4 | Missouri | | 4 | | 4 | | + 3 | Arkansas | | 3 | | 3 | | + 3 | Michigan | 3 | | 3 | | | + ----+-------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+---- + 294 |No. of Electors | 234 | 60 | 234 | 48 | 11 | 1 + |Majority 148 | | | | | | + ====+===================+=====+=====+=====+=====+====+==== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = Wm. H. Harrison, of Ohio. + (C) = Martin Van Buren, of New York. + (D) = John Tyler, of Virginia. + (E) = Rich’d M. Johnson, of Kentucky. + (F) = L. W. Tazewell, of Virginia. + (G) = James K. Polk, of Tennessee. + +William H. Harrison, elected President, took the oath of office, and +entered upon his duties, March 4, 1841. + +John Tyler, elected Vice-President, took the oath of office, and +attended in the Senate, March 4, 1841. + +Soon after his inauguration, President Harrison issued a proclamation, +convening Congress for an extra session on the 31st of May, to consider +“sundry weighty and important matters, chiefly growing out of the state +of the revenue and finances of the country.” But he did not live to +submit his remedial plans—dying, after a very brief illness, on the +4th of April, exactly one month after coming into office. He was the +first President who had died during his official term, and a messenger +was immediately dispatched with a letter, signed by all the members +of the Cabinet, conveying the melancholy intelligence to the Vice +President, then at Williamsburg, Va. By extraordinary means he reached +Washington at five o’clock on the morning of the 6th, and at twelve +o’clock the Heads of Departments waited upon him, to pay their official +and personal respects. After signifying his deep feeling of the public +calamity sustained by the death of President Harrison, and expressing +his profound sensibility of the heavy responsibilities so suddenly +devolved upon himself, he made known his wishes that the several Heads +of Departments would continue to till the places which they then +respectively occupied, and his confidence that they would afford all +the aid in their power to enable him to carry on the administration of +the government successfully. Mr. Tyler afterwards took and subscribed +the following oath of office: + + “I do solemnly swear, that I will faithfully execute the + office of President of the United States, and will, to + the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the + Constitution of the United States. + JOHN TYLER. + “APRIL 6, 1841.” + +Pursuant to the proclamation of President Harrison, Congress met on the +31st of May, and continued in session until the 13th of September. On +the 27th of July a bill for the establishment of “The Fiscal Bank of +the United States,” passed the Senate by a vote of 26 to 23, and was +concurred in by the House of Representatives on the 6th of August—128 +to 91. President Tyler, however, returned the bill on the 16th, with +his objections, and it was lost for lack of a constitutional majority. +But the friends of a national bank were not to be deterred from their +purpose by a single repulse: another bill (about the same in substance) +was immediately hurried through both Houses, under the title of “The +Fiscal Corporation of the United States,” but this shared the fate of +its predecessor. + +A Senate bill for the establishment of a uniform system of bankruptcy +throughout the United States, was concurred in by the House on the +18th of August, and became a law; but, meeting with very general +condemnation, it was soon after repealed. + +A bill was also passed at this extra session for the distribution of +the proceeds of the sales of the public lands among the several States, +in proportion to population. + +In 1842 an important treaty, adjusting the north-eastern boundary of +the United States, was negotiated at Washington between Mr. Webster, +on the part of this country, and Lord Ashburton, on the part of Great +Britain. + +During the last year of Mr. Tyler’s administration much excitement +prevailed on the proposed annexation of Texas to the Union, which +was strongly resisted at the North, on the ground that the South +and southern institutions would thereby gain increased power in the +national councils. A treaty of annexation, signed by the President, +was rejected by the Senate, but measures were taken by which Texas was +admitted the year following. + + + + +JOHN TYLER, + +THE SUCCESSOR OF GENERAL HARRISON AS PRESIDENT, + + +Was born at Williamsburg, Virginia, March 29, 1790, and at the age of +twelve years entered William and Mary’s College, where he graduated +with distinguished merit five years afterward. Few have commenced life +at so early a period as Mr. Tyler—he having been admitted to the bar +when only nineteen, and elected to the Virginia Legislature before +attaining his twenty-second year. In 1816, he was sent to Congress; in +1825, elected Governor of Virginia; and in 1827, became United States +Senator; in which capacity he firmly supported the administration of +General Jackson—voting against the tariff bill of 1828, and against +rechartering the United States Bank. Notwithstanding this last vote, +the friends of the bank, presuming upon his well-known conservatism, at +the special session of Congress called by his predecessor, introduced a +bill for the establishment of the “Fiscal Bank of the United States,” +which passed both Houses by small majorities, and which Mr. Tyler +felt bound to veto. But this did not dishearten the friends of the +measure, who modified and rechristened their financial plan, which, +under the name of “Fiscal Corporation of the United States,” again +passed both houses of Congress, and was again vetoed by the President. +Of course, a large portion of the party that elected him were greatly +dissatisfied with his course, and their denunciation of his alleged +faithlessness were “loud and deep.” To add to the embarrassments which +were accumulating around him, all the members of his Cabinet, with the +exception of Mr. Webster, resigned their places; but even this implied +rebuke did not shake his integrity of purpose. An equally efficient +phalanx of talent was called to his aid, and he had the satisfaction +of seeing that his views were indorsed by a large number of leading +statesmen. It has often been asserted that Mr. T. had pledged himself +to sustain the financial schemes of the bank and its friends; but +this has always been denied, and circumstances certainly warrant +the conclusion that the assertion is unfounded. So gross and bitter +were the assaults made upon him, that he felt called upon to defend +himself from their violence; and, after declaring his determination +to do his duty, regardless of party ties, he said, “I appeal from +the vituperation of the present day to the pen of impartial history, +in confidence that neither my motives nor my acts will bear the +interpretation which, for sinister motives, has been placed upon them.” +On the expiration of his official term, he retired to his estate at +Williamsburg. + + + + +JAMES KNOX POLK, + +THE TENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, + + +Was born at Mecklenberg, North Carolina, November 2, 1795, and there +received the rudiments of his early education. In 1806, his father +removed to Nashville, Tennessee, taking his family with him, and +here it was that Mr. Polk pursued those preliminary studies which +were requisite to qualify him for the legal profession. After due +preparation, he entered the office of Hon. Felix Grundy, under whose +able instruction he made such rapid progress, that he was admitted +to practice in 1820. His duties at the bar did not prevent him from +taking part in the political affairs of the day; and in this sphere his +comprehensive views and zealous devotion to Democracy soon secured him +a widely-extended popularity, which resulted in his election to the +Legislature of Tennessee, in 1823. In 1825, while yet in his thirtieth +year, he was chosen a member of Congress, in which body he remained +fourteen years—being honored with the Speakership for several sessions. +So well satisfied were his constituents with his congressional course, +that he was elected Governor by a large majority, but some questions of +local policy subsequently defeated his reëlection. + +In 1844, he was unexpectedly nominated for the office of President +of the United States by the Democratic Convention at Baltimore; +and, having received sixty-five electoral votes more than his rival +candidate, Mr. Clay, he was inaugurated on the 4th of March, 1845. + +Soon after Mr. Polk assumed the reins of government, the country +became involved in a war with Mexico, which was little more than a +series of victories wherever the American banner was displayed, and +which resulted in important territorial acquisitions. The ostensible +ground for this war, on the part of Mexico, was the admission of +Texas into the Union, which was one of the first acts of Mr. Polk’s +administration. The Mexicans, however, paid dearly for asserting their +frivolous claim to Texas as a revolted province, and the prompt and +energetic course pursued by Mr.Polk was sanctioned and sustained by a +large majority of the people. + +[Illustration: JOHN TYLER.] + +But notwithstanding the advantageous issue of the war, the acquisition +of Texas, and the satisfactory settlement of several vexed questions +of long standing, Mr. Polk was not nominated for a second term—various +extraneous matters leading to the selection of another candidate. +Perhaps it was fortunate for the country and for himself that he was +permitted to retire to the more congenial enjoyment of private life; +for his health had become very much impaired, and he did not long +survive after reaching his home in Nashville. He died June 15, 1849. + +_Election for the Fifteenth Term, commencing March 4, 1845, and +terminating March 3, 1849._ + + ===+=======================+===========+=========== + | | PRES’T. | V. PRES’T. + A | STATES. +-----+-----+-----+---- + | | B | C | D | E + ---+-----------------------+-----+-----+-----+---- + 9 | Maine | 9 | | 9 | + 6 | New Hampshire | 6 | | 6 | + 12 | Massachusetts | | 12 | | 12 + 4 | Rhode Island | | 4 | | 4 + 6 | Connecticut | | 6 | | 6 + 6 | Vermont | | 6 | | 6 + 36 | New York | 36 | | 36 | + 7 | New Jersey | | 7 | | 7 + 26 | Pennsylvania | 26 | | 26 | + 3 | Delaware | | 3 | | 3 + 8 | Maryland | | 8 | | 8 + 17 | Virginia | 17 | | 17 | + 11 | North Carolina | | 11 | | 11 + 9 | South Carolina | 9 | | 9 | + 10 | Georgia | 10 | | 10 | + 12 | Kentucky | | 12 | | 12 + 13 | Tennessee | | 13 | | 13 + 23 | Ohio | | 23 | | 23 + 6 | Louisiana | 6 | | 6 | + 6 | Mississippi | 6 | | 6 | + 12 | Indiana | 12 | | 12 | + 9 | Illinois | 9 | | 9 | + 9 | Alabama | 9 | | 9 | + 7 | Missouri | 7 | | 7 | + 3 | Arkansas | 3 | | 3 | + 5 | Michigan | 5 | | 5 | + ---+-----------------------+-----+-----+-----+---- + 275 | Whole No. of Electors | 170 | 105 | 170 | 105 + | Majority 138 | | | | + ===+=======================+=====+=====+=====+==== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = James K. Polk, of Tennessee. + (C) = Henry Clay, of Kentucky. + (D) = George M. Dallas, of Pennsylvania. + (E) = T. Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey. + +James K. Polk took the oath of office, as President, and entered upon +his duties March 4, 1845. + +George M. Dallas took the oath of office, as Vice-President, and +attended in the Senate, March 4, 1845. + +The most important incidents of Mr. Polk’s administration were the +admission of Texas and the consequent war with Mexico, the latter of +which resulted in extending our territorial boundaries to the Pacific +Ocean, embracing regions of incalculable value. + + + + +ZACHARY TAYLOR, + +THE ELEVENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, + + +Was born in Orange County, Virginia, November 24, 1790, and, after +receiving an indifferent education, passed a considerable portion of +his boyhood amid the stirring scenes which were being enacted at that +time on our western border. In 1808, he was appointed a lieutenant +in the United States infantry, and subsequently was promoted to a +captaincy for his efficient services against the Indians. Soon after +the declaration of war, in 1812, he was placed in command of Fort +Harrison, which he so gallantly defended with a handful of men against +the attack of a large body of savages, as to win the brevet rank of +major. So familiar did he become with the Indian character, and with +the mode of warfare of that wily foe, that his services at the West +and South were deemed indispensable in the subjugation and removal +of several hostile tribes. While effecting these desirable objects, +he was occasionally rewarded for his toils and sacrifices by gradual +promotion, and in 1840 attained the rank of brigadier-general. At the +commencement of the troubles with Mexico, in 1845, he was ordered to +occupy a position on the American side of the Rio Grande, but not to +cross that river unless attacked by the Mexicans. He was not, however, +allowed to remain long in repose: the enemy, by attacking Fort Brown, +which he had built on the Rio Grande, opposite Matamoras, soon afforded +him an opportunity to display his skill and valor, and gloriously +did he improve it. The brilliant battles of Palo Alto and Resaca +de la Palma, where he contended successfully against fearful odds, +were precursors to a series of victories which have few parallels in +military annals. The attack on Matamoras, the storming of Monterey, +the sanguinary contest at Buena Vista, and the numerous skirmishes in +which he was engaged, excited universal admiration; and on his return +home, after so signally aiding to “conquer a peace” with Mexico, he was +everywhere received with the most gratifying demonstrations of respect +and affection. In 1848, General Taylor received the nomination of the +Whig party for the office of President of the United States, and, +being elected, was inaugurated the year following. But the cares and +responsibilities of this position were greater than his constitution +could endure, hardened as it had been both in Indian and civilized +warfare. After the lapse of little more than a year from the time he +entered upon his new career, he sunk under its complicated trials, and +his noble spirit sought refuge in a more congenial sphere, July 9, 1850. + +_Election for the Sixteenth Term, commencing March 4, 1849, and +terminating March 3, 1851._ + + + ===+=======================+===========+=========== + | | PRES’T. | V. PRES’T. + A | STATES. +-----+-----+-----+----- + | | B | C | D | E + ---+-----------------------+-----+-----+-----+----- + 9 | Maine | | 9 | | 9 + 6 | New Hampshire | | 6 | | 6 + 12 | Massachusetts | 12 | | 12 | + 4 | Rhode Island | 4 | | 4 | + 6 | Connecticut | 6 | | 6 | + 6 | Vermont | 6 | | 6 | + 36 | New York | 36 | | 36 | + 7 | New Jersey | 7 | | 7 | + 26 | Pennsylvania | 26 | | 26 | + 3 | Delaware | 3 | | 3 | + 8 | Maryland | 8 | | 8 | + 17 | Virginia | | 17 | | 17 + 11 | North Carolina | 11 | | 11 | + 9 | South Carolina | | 9 | | 9 + 10 | Georgia | 10 | | 10 | + 12 | Kentucky | 12 | | 12 | + 13 | Tennessee | 13 | | 13 | + 23 | Ohio | | 23 | | 23 + 6 | Louisiana | 6 | | 6 | + 6 | Mississippi | | 6 | | 6 + 12 | Indiana | | 12 | | 12 + 9 | Illinois | | 9 | | 9 + 9 | Alabama | | 9 | | 9 + 7 | Missouri | | 7 | | 7 + 3 | Arkansas | | 3 | | 3 + 5 | Michigan | | 5 | | 5 + 3 | Florida | 3 | | 3 | + 4 | Texas | | 4 | | 4 + 4 | Iowa | | 4 | | 4 + 4 | Wisconsin | | 4 | | 4 + ---+-----------------------+-----+-----+-----+----- + 290 | Whole No. of Electors | 163 | 127 | 163 | 127 + | Majority 146 | | | | + ===+=======================+=====+=====+=====+===== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = Zachary Taylor, of Louisiana. + (C) = Lewis Cass, of Michigan. + (D) = Millard Fillmore, of New York. + (E) = William O. Butler, of Kentucky. + +Zachary Taylor took the oath of office, as President, and entered +upon his duties March 4, 1849. He did not, however, long enjoy his +honors—death suddenly closing his earthly career, July 9, 1850. + +Millard Fillmore took the oath of office, as Vice-President, and +entered upon his duties March 4, 1849. Congress being in session at +the time President Taylor died, the Vice-President sent a message to +both houses on the 10th of July, in which he feelingly announced the +melancholy event. On the same day he took the requisite oath, and +entered on the execution of the office of President. + +Willie P. Mangum, of N. C., President _pro tem_ of the Senate, acted as +Vice-President, _ex officio_, the remainder of the term. + + + + +MILLARD FILLMORE, + +THE SUCCESSOR OF GENERAL TAYLOR AS PRESIDENT, + + +Was born at Summer Hill, Cayuga County, New York, January 7, 1800, +and did not enjoy the advantages of any other education than what he +derived from the then inefficient common schools of the county. At an +early age he was sent into the wilds of Livingston County to learn a +trade, and here he soon attracted the attention of a friend, who placed +him in a lawyer’s office—thus opening a new, and what was destined to +be a most honorable and distinguished career. In 1827, he was admitted +as an attorney, and two years afterward as counselor in the Supreme +Court. Soon attracting attention, he established himself at Buffalo, +where his talents and business habits secured him an extended practice. + +His first entrance into public life was in January, 1829, when he took +his seat as a member of the Assembly from Erie County. At this time +he distinguished himself for his untiring opposition to imprisonment +for debt, and to this are the people indebted in a great degree for +the expunging of this relic of barbarism from the statute book. Having +gained a high reputation for legislative capacity, in 1833, he was +elected a member of the National House of Representatives; and on the +assembling of the Twenty-seventh Congress, to which he was reëlected by +a larger majority than was ever given to any person in his district, he +was placed in the arduous position of Chairman of the Committee of Ways +and Means. The measures which he brought forward and sustained with +matchless ability, speedily relieved the government from its existing +pecuniary embarrassments. In 1847, he was elected Comptroller of the +State of New York by a larger majority than had ever been given to any +State officer for many years. In 1848, he was selected as a candidate +for Vice-President, General Taylor heading the ticket. On his election +to that high office, he resigned his position as Comptroller, and +entered upon his duties as President of the United States Senate. The +courtesy, ability, and dignity exhibited by him, while presiding over +the deliberations of that body, received general commendation. Upon +the sudden death of Gen. Taylor, he became President, and promptly +selected a cabinet, distinguished for its ability, patriotism, and +devotion to the Union, and possessing, in an eminent degree, the +confidence of the country. + +After serving out the constitutional term, Mr. Fillmore returned to +Buffalo, and again resumed those pursuits which had prepared the way to +the elevated position from which he had just retired. He was welcomed +home by troops of friends, with whom he still continues to enjoy an +unabated popularity. + +It should be borne in mind by every aspiring young man, that Mr. +Fillmore is entirely indebted to his own exertions for his success +in life. From a very humble origin, he attained the highest office +in the world, climbing the rugged steep of fame step by step, with +indefatigable industry and untiring perseverance, until he at length +gained the summit, where he is long likely to enjoy his well-earned +position. + + + + +FRANKLIN PIERCE, + +THE TWELFTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, + + +Was born at Hillsborough, N. H., November 23, 1804, and early received +the advantage of a liberal education. After going through a regular +collegiate course at Bowdoin College, which he entered at the age of +sixteen, he became a law student in the office of Judge Woodbury, at +Portsmouth, whence he was transferred to the law school at Northampton, +where he remained two years, and then finished his studies with Judge +Parker, at Amherst. Although his rise at the bar was not rapid, by +degrees he attained the highest rank as a lawyer and advocate. + +In 1829, he was elected to represent his native town in the State +Legislature, where he served four years, during the two last of which +he held the speakership, and discharged the duties of the office with +universal satisfaction. + +From 1833 to 1837, he represented his State in Congress, and was +then elected to the United States Senate, having barely reached the +requisite age to qualify him for a seat in that body. + +In 1834, he married Miss Jane Means, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Appleton, +formerly President of Bowdoin College, soon after which he removed to +Concord, where he still holds a residence. He was reëlected at the +expiration of his senatorial term, but resigned his seat the year +following, for the purpose of devoting himself exclusively to his legal +business, which had become so extensive as to require all his attention. + +In 1846, he declined the office of Attorney-General, tendered him by +President Polk; but when the war with Mexico broke out, he was active +in raising the New England regiments of volunteers; and afterward +accepted the commission of Brigadier-General, with which he at once +repaired to the field of operations, where he distinguished himself +in several hard-fought battles. At Cerro Gordo and Chapultepec he +displayed an ardor in his country’s cause which extorted praise from +his most inveterate political opponents; and on his return home he was +everywhere received with gratifying evidences that his services were +held in grateful remembrance by the people. + +At the Democratic Convention, held in Baltimore in 1852, after trying +in vain to concentrate their votes on a more prominent candidate, that +body unexpectedly nominated General Pierce for the office of President +of the United States, to which he was elected by an unprecedented +majority over his rival, General Scott—receiving 254 votes out of +296. He was duly inaugurated on the 4th of March, 1853, and his +administration was more remarkable for its futile attempts to reconcile +conflicting interests, than for the achievement of any particular +measure of great public utility. However, it will better become his +future than his present biographer to “speak of him as he is; nor aught +extenuate, nor aught set down in malice.” + +_Election for the Seventeenth Term, commencing March 4, 1853, and +terminating March 3, 1857._ + + ====+=========================+===========+=========== + | | PRES’T. | V. PRES’T. + A | STATES. +-----+-----+-----+----- + | | B | C | D | E + ----+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+----- + 8 | Maine | 8 | | 8 | + 5 | New Hampshire | 5 | | 5 | + 13 | Massachusetts | | 13 | | 13 + 4 | Rhode Island | 4 | | 4 | + 6 | Connecticut | 6 | | 6 | + 5 | Vermont | | 5 | | 5 + 35 | New York | 35 | | 35 | + 7 | New Jersey | 7 | | 7 | + 27 | Pennsylvania | 27 | | 27 | + 3 | Delaware | 3 | | 3 | + 8 | Maryland | 8 | | 8 | + 15 | Virginia | 15 | | 15 | + 10 | North Carolina | 10 | | 10 | + 8 | South Carolina | 8 | | 8 | + 10 | Georgia | 10 | | 10 | + 12 | Kentucky | | 12 | | 12 + 12 | Tennessee | | 12 | | 12 + 23 | Ohio | 23 | | 23 | + 6 | Louisiana | 6 | | 6 | + 7 | Mississippi | 7 | | 7 | + 13 | Indiana | 13 | | 13 | + 11 | Illinois | 11 | | 11 | + 9 | Alabama | 9 | | 9 | + 9 | Missouri | 9 | | 9 | + 4 | Arkansas | 4 | | 4 | + 6 | Michigan | 6 | | 6 | + 3 | Florida | 3 | | 3 | + 4 | Texas | 4 | | 4 | + 4 | Iowa | 4 | | 4 | + 5 | Wisconsin | 5 | | 5 | + 4 | California | 4 | | 4 | + ----+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+----- + 296 | Whole No. of Electors | 254 | 42 | 254 | 42 + | Majority 149 | | | | + ====+=========================+=====+=====+=====+===== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire. + (C) = Winfield Scott, of New Jersey. + (D) = William R. King, of Alabama. + (E) = Wm. A. Graham, of North Carolina. + +Franklin Pierce took the oath of office, as President, and entered upon +his duties March 4, 1853. + +The oath of office was administered to William R. King by a commission +while he was on a visit to Cuba for the benefit of his health; but he +died soon after his return home, and Jesse D. Bright, of Indiana, then +President of the Senate, acted as Vice-President, _ex officio_, during +the remainder of the term. + +John P. Hale, of N. H., and George W. Julian, of Ind., were nominated +by the “Free Democracy” for President and Vice-President, but they did +not receive a single electoral vote. + + + + +JAMES BUCHANAN, + +THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. + + +For the high position he so long maintained in the political affairs +of this country, Mr. Buchanan is not alone indebted to his early and +thorough education, but his entire devotion to whatever he undertook, +and his perseverance in surmounting obstacles which would have +intimidated less determined minds, had a large share in promoting his +advancement. He is of Irish parentage, and was born at Stony Batter, +Franklin County, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1791. At the age of seven +years, he removed with his father’s family to Mercersburg, and there +received an education that fitted him for entering Dickinson College, +in 1805, where he graduated two years afterward with the highest +honors. He then studied law with James Hopkins, of Lancaster, and in +1812 was admitted to the bar, at which he attained a high rank and +commanded an extensive practice. + +In 1814, he commenced political life as a member of the Pennsylvania +State Legislature, and in 1820 was sent as a Representative to +Congress, where he remained for ten years—at the expiration of which he +declined a re-nomination. + +In 1831, he was appointed minister to Russia by President Jackson, +of whom he was always the consistent friend and supporter, and he +negotiated a commercial treaty which proved of great advantage to +American commerce. + +In December, 1834, having been elected to the United States Senate, he +took his seat in that body, and continued one of its most efficient +members until 1845, when he accepted the office of Secretary of State, +under Mr. Polk. He held this responsible place until the expiration of +Mr. Polk’s term of service, when he returned home to repose awhile. But +he did not, by any means, become an idle spectator in passing events; +his letters and speeches show that he was no less vigilant as a private +citizen, than as a counselor in the Cabinet, or a Representative and +Senator in Congress. + +On the accession of Mr. Pierce to the Presidency, in 1853, Mr. Buchanan +was appointed minister to England, with which country questions were +then pending that required great prudence and discrimination for +their satisfactory adjustment. In his intercourse with the British +diplomatists he was not only discreet, but displayed sound sense, +courtly forbearance, a just assertion of our rights, and the true +dignity of the American character. So entirely unexceptionable was +his whole course while abroad, that, on his return to this country, +in April, 1856—he landed in New York on the sixty-fifth anniversary +of his birthday—he was received with an enthusiasm seldom accorded to +political men. + +In June, 1856, Mr. Buchanan was nominated by the Democratic Convention +at Cincinnati, as a candidate for the Presidency; and although there +were powerful political elements arrayed against him in the succeeding +campaign, he was triumphantly elected to that responsible and honorable +office. + +His administration was attended with unusual difficulties—difficulties +which it would seem he was not fully able to meet. The troubles in +Kansas, arising from the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and the +opposition made to his views touching the admission of Kansas with +the Lecompton Constitution, by the Douglas wing of the Democratic +party, were matters of sore vexation to him, and tended greatly to +unpopularize the latter part of his public life. But these were +considerations of small moment as compared to the embarrassment which +the Government suffered in consequence of the treacherous intrigues of +some of the members of his Cabinet. His Secretary of War and Secretary +of the Treasury, afterward so conspicuous in the great Rebellion, were +particularly instrumental in crippling the pecuniary and military +resources of the country, and turning them to the benefit of the South. +When treason began to assume a threatening attitude, Buchanan declared +against the right of secession, but at the same time denied the right +of coercion by the Government. This, perhaps, is the most inconsistent, +inexplicable position ever taken by any of the nation’s chief rulers. +On the 4th of March, 1861, Mr. Buchanan retired from the Presidency, +leaving to his successor the highly perplexing task of setting to right +the machinery of a government crippled and weakened in all its parts, +and fully ripe for the most gigantic civil war known to history. + +[Illustration: JAMES KNOX POLK.] + +It was, at one time, presumed by many that Mr. Buchanan was not only +encouraging the rebellion by his weak, indecisive policy toward armed +traitors, and by winking at the thieving proceedings of some of his +Cabinet officers, but that he was himself leagued with the leaders of +the secession movement, and secretly acted in unison with them. + +While it is true that the unhindered appropriation of millions of +treasure to the furtherance of rebellious schemes, and the large +deposit of choice arms made in Southern arsenals, would indicate an +affiliation of the President with the chief rebels of the South, yet +there has never been adduced any direct proof of such affiliation; and +nothing said or done by Mr. Buchanan since his retirement shows active +sympathy with the Rebellion. There is, however, evidence on every +hand of weakness—an element of character he never manifested prior to +his executive career—of that negative disposition which will, under +circumstances such as surrounded him during the latter part of his +administration, wholly unfit a man for the performance of his duties. + +The subject of the present sketch would, doubtless, have been a +very good executive at a period when the country was undisturbed +by sectional agitation; at a time when there were no conflicting +local interests to stir up and embitter South against North. But the +exigencies of the period during which he sat at the helm of state +demanded a man who could take hold with a strong hand; a man of +Jacksonian character, who, with the loftiest political integrity and +most devoted loyalty, combined a Napoleonic will; a man who, foreseeing +the certain results of the pursuits of a conciliatory course with +rebellion, would have given it a decisive blow in its very infancy. + +But it seems that Mr. Buchanan proposed to deal with secessionists as +an over-fond, weak-minded mother deals with a spoiled child—scolding +and coaxing alternately, satisfied to exhibit her authority by the +former, and confident that she can reform her fondling by the latter. +Perhaps he may be partially excused by some in consideration of the +debt of gratitude he felt he owed to the Southern States, for the +valuable services they had rendered him in his election. But a truly +great executive never allows his feelings to interfere with the +performance of duty. The life of the nation was in jeopardy; that grand +superstructure, the American Government, whose foundation stones had +been cemented by the sacred blood of the Revolutionary sires, whose +columns had been reared by the wisest, purest statesmen the world ever +saw, and about whose lofty dome the brightest seraphs of Heaven chanted +their sweetest lays—that great temple around which clustered the hopes +of the liberty-loving world, was threatened with destruction, and there +can hardly be any excuse for him who, having the power to save, refused +to adopt such decisive measures as were essential to salvation. + +It is true that the Southern people had acted a very important part +in the election of Mr. Buchanan, but it is very far from being true +that a majority of these people were in favor of secession. The great +Democratic party was not a party of traitors, either North or South. +The masses of the people of the Southern States were by no means +desirous of severing their connection with the Government of the United +States, as was amply testified in the overwhelming Union majorities +given in North Carolina, Tennessee, and other Southern States, even +after South Carolina had sloughed off, and all the preliminary steps +had been taken by the leading secessionists toward the formation of +a Southern Confederacy. And there is no doubt that had Mr. Buchanan +taken hold of the rebellion, while it was in the larva, with that +determination to crush it which the great Jackson exhibited when South +Carolina proposed her scheme of nullification, it had never seen its +winged existence. + +Buchanan’s administration, in one respect, may possibly yet be +productive of good, in that it may serve to impress the people with the +importance of selecting a man for the chief magistracy who loves the +right and dares to do it. + +He only survived the close of the war about three years, as he died on +the 1st of June, 1868, in the 77th year of his age. + +_Election for the Eighteenth Term, commencing March 4, 1857, and +terminating March 3, 1861._ + + ====+===================+==============+=================== + | | PRESIDENT. | VICE-PRES’T. + A | STATES. +-----+-----+--+--+-----+----+----- + | | B | C | D | E | F | G + ----+-------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+---- + 8 | Maine | | 8 | | | 8 | + 5 | New Hampshire | | 5 | | | 5 | + 13 | Massachusetts | | 13 | | | 13 | + 4 | Rhode Island | | 4 | | | 4 | + 6 | Connecticut | | 6 | | | 6 | + 5 | Vermont | | 5 | | | 5 | + 35 | New York | | 35 | | | 35 | + 7 | New Jersey | 7 | | | 7 | | + 27 | Pennsylvania | 27 | | | 27 | | + 3 | Delaware | 3 | | | 3 | | + 8 | Maryland | | | 8 | | | 8 + 15 | Virginia | 15 | | | 15 | | + 10 | North Carolina | 10 | | | 10 | | + 8 | South Carolina | 8 | | | 8 | | + 10 | Georgia | 10 | | | 10 | | + 12 | Kentucky | 12 | | | 12 | | + 12 | Tennessee | 12 | | | 12 | | + 23 | Ohio | | 23 | | | 23 | + 6 | Louisiana | 6 | | | 6 | | + 7 | Mississippi | 7 | | | 7 | | + 13 | Indiana | 13 | | | 13 | | + 11 | Illinois | 11 | | | 11 | | + 9 | Alabama | 9 | | | 9 | | + 9 | Missouri | 9 | | | 9 | | + 4 | Arkansas | 4 | | | 4 | | + 6 | Michigan | | 6 | | | 6 | + 3 | Florida | 3 | | | 3 | | + 4 | Texas | 4 | | | 4 | | + 4 | Iowa | | 4 | | | 4 | + 5 | Wisconsin[6] | | 5 | | | 5 | + 4 | California | 4 | | | 4 | | + ----+-------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+---- + 296 |No. of Electors | 174 | 114 | 8 | 174 | 114 | 8 + |Majority 149 | | | | | | + ====+===================+====+====+====+====+====+====+==== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = James Buchanan, of Pennsylvania. + (C) = John C. Fremont, of New York. + (D) = Millard Fillmore, of New York. + (E) = John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky. + (F) = William L. Dayton, of New Jersey. + (G) = Andrew J. Donelson, of Tennessee. + +[6] When the Electoral votes were being counted, in Joint Convention +of the Senate and House of Representatives, objections were made to +including the votes of Wisconsin, because the electors did not meet +until the day after that prescribed by law. The President of the +Convention stated that he merely announced that James Buchanan had been +elected President of the United States, without any reference to the +contested votes, and declined expressing an opinion on the subject. + +James Buchanan took the oath of office, as President, and entered upon +his duties, March 4, 1857. + +John C. Breckenridge took the oath of office, as Vice-President, and +entered upon his duties, March 4, 1857. + + + + +ABRAHAM LINCOLN, + +THE FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, + + +Was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, February 12th, 1809. The record of +his boyhood and youth, so far as we have been able to trace it, is not +distinguished by any thing more remarkable than the usual experience +of children of pioneers in a new country. In 1816, he removed with +his parents to what is now Spencer County, Indiana. Here he enjoyed +the advantages of a little schooling—less than a year, however, in +all. Whatever else he afterward learned from books was without the +aid of the school-master—the result of his own energy and indomitable +perseverance. + +In 1832, he served in the Black Hawk war, and, on his return from that +service, was nominated for the Illinois Legislature from the county of +Macon. In 1834, he was elected to the Legislature, and reëlected in +1836, 1838, and 1840. While in the Legislature, he placed himself on +record against slavery; and it is but just to say that the principles +which actuated him then are the moving principles of the great party he +to-day represents as the executive of the nation. + +For many years Mr. Lincoln was a prominent leader of the Whig party +in Illinois, and was on the electoral ticket in several Presidential +campaigns. In 1844, he canvassed the entire State for Henry Clay, of +whom he was a sincere and enthusiastic friend, and exerted himself +powerfully for the favorite of his party. In 1846, he was elected to +Congress, and took his seat on the first Monday in December, 1847, the +only Whig Representative from his State. + +In November, 1860, he was elected President of the United States by the +party known as Republicans. + +On the 11th of February, 1861, he left his home in Springfield, +Illinois, and proceeded to Washington, passing _en route_ the cities of +Toledo, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Steubenville, Pittsburgh, +Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany, Poughkeepsie, New York, Trenton, +Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Baltimore—at all of which places, except +the last, he was received with great cordiality, and addressed the +people. At Baltimore a plot had been formed to assassinate him; and, in +this affair, it seems that some of the most prominent citizens of that +place were implicated. But Mr. Lincoln, by prompt, shrewd management, +reached Washington uninjured, and on the 4th of March, 1861, was +duly inaugurated, and proceeded upon the duties of his office, +notwithstanding the threats of Baltimoreans that he never should +be installed. In his inaugural address, in view of the threatening +attitude assumed by some of the Southern States, in consequence of +the accession of a Republican administration, after declaring that +there never had been any just cause for the apprehension that such +an administration would encroach upon the constitutional rights of +any State, he said that he had “no purpose, directly or indirectly, +to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it +existed; that he, as well as every Member of Congress, was sworn to +support the whole Constitution, one of the provisions of which is, +that ‘no person held to service or labor in one State, under the laws +thereof, escaping into another State, shall, in consequence of any law +or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but +shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or +labor may be due;’ that he took his oath to support the Constitution, +without any mental reservation; that while he did not then choose to +specify particular acts of Congress as proper to be enforced, he did +suggest that it would be much safer for all, both in official and +private stations, to conform to and abide by all those acts which stand +unrepealed than to violate any of them, trusting to find impunity in +having them held to be unconstitutional; that he held that, in the +contemplation of universal law and of the Constitution, the union +of the States is perpetual; that no State could, upon its own mere +motion, get out of the Union; that acts of violence within any State or +States against the authority of the United States are insurrectionary +or revolutionary, and that he should, as the Constitution expressly +enjoined upon him, take care that the laws of the Union should be +executed in all the States; that while he should perform this duty +perfectly, so far as practicable, unless restrained by his rightful +masters, the American people, he trusted the declaration so to do +would not be regarded as a menace, but only as the express purpose of +the Union to maintain itself.” + +The inaugural address, while considered as clear and explicit by +many, was regarded as very obscure and unsatisfactory by others +(the people of the South), and, on the 13th of April, 1861, Messrs. +Preston, Stuart, and Randolph, appointed by the Virginia Convention, +were formally received by the President, and presented resolutions +requesting that, inasmuch as “great uncertainty prevailed in the public +mind as to the policy” to be pursued by the Federal Executive, he +should communicate to the Convention the course he intended to take in +regard to the “Confederate States.” + +To this request the President replied that, while he was sorry that +dangerous uncertainty should exist respecting his mode of procedure +with the seceded States, he could give no clearer exposition of his +policy than was given in his inaugural address, a careful consideration +of which he recommended to the Virginia Convention. + +Two days after this, Fort Sumter having been reduced by the Confederate +Government, and other demonstrations of a revolutionary character +having been made, the President issued a proclamation calling for +75,000 volunteers, for three months, to suppress the rebellion, and +summoned Congress to assemble in extraordinary session. The call was +heartily responded to, and, in a few days, a vastly greater number +than had been requested offered themselves to their country. Meantime +Washington was placed in a state of defense. Shortly after the +commencement of hostilities, a blockade of all the Southern ports was +declared. This was directly followed by a blockade of Virginia and +North Carolina. On the 3d of May, 1861, the President issued a call +for 42,034 additional volunteers for the term of three years. Congress +having assembled, he addressed a message to that body, asking that at +least 400,000 men and $400,000,000 be placed at his control, that the +work of crushing the rebellion might be expedited. Congress readily +complied, granting more men and money than had been asked. + +On the 16th of August, 1861, the President issued a proclamation +prohibiting all commercial intercourse between the loyal and seceded +States. In the latter part of August, he modified a proclamation +issued by General Fremont, which declared martial law in the State +of Missouri, ordering the confiscation of the property of disloyal +persons, and declaring their slaves free. The two latter of these +measures Mr. Lincoln declared void. For this act he was blamed by many +of his own party at the time. + +Passing some other acts of less importance, we next notice the message +addressed to Congress on the 6th of March, 1862, by the President, +recommending that the Government coöperate with any State desiring a +gradual emancipation of the slaves, by affording it such pecuniary aid +as would enable it to “compensate for the inconveniences, public and +private, produced by such change of system.” This message was hailed +by the radical antislavery party of the country as the initiatory +step toward a final and total abolition of slavery; by conservative +Union men, with indifference; and by the secessionists as a hostile +encroachment upon State rights. + +On the 11th of March, 1862, Mr. Lincoln assumed command of the Army and +Navy of the United States, ordering a general movement of both, and +confining General McClellan to the command of the Department of the +Potomac. + +April 16th, 1862, he approved and signed an act of Congress, abolishing +the institution of slavery in the District of Columbia, which act +“recognized and practically applied” the principles of compensation and +colonization. + +During the month of May, the President issued two proclamations, the +one declaring the ports of Port Royal, Beaufort, and New Orleans +open for trade, the other repudiating an order issued by General +Hunter, emancipating all the slaves in Georgia, Florida, and South +Carolina. This act also produced some dissatisfaction. During the +years 1862-1863, Mr. Lincoln was actively employed in calling out and +furnishing troops, and making important changes in the organization of +the army. It was also during this period that he issued his general +emancipation proclamations—the first on the 22d day of September, +1862, declaring that all slaves held in any State, or part of a State +found in actual rebellion against the authority of the United States +on the 1st day of January, 1863, should then and forever thereafter +be free; the second, on the 1st of January, 1863, declaring that, in +accordance with the first proclamation, slavery is abolished in all the +States and counties then in armed rebellion against the Government. + +These measures, while they greatly unpopularized the President with +certain parties in the Northern and Southern border States, were +regarded as the exponents of the true policy by the radicals. His +suspension of the writ of _habeas corpus_, in certain cases, September +15th, 1863, also produced considerable stir in political circles. + +At the Republican Convention which met at Baltimore, in January, +1864, Mr. Lincoln was re-nominated for the Presidency of the United +States—was elected November 8th, and duly inaugurated March 4th, 1865. + +The following note of his inaugural address is from an English journal. +It speaks for itself: + +“On the 4th instant, the day of inaugurating his second term, President +Lincoln read a short State paper, which for political weight, moral +dignity, and unaffected solemnity has had no equal in our time. His +presidency began, he says, with the efforts of both parties to avoid +war. ‘To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend the slave interest was the +object for which the insurgents would rend the Union by war, while +the Government claimed the right to do no more than restrict the +territorial enlargement of it.’ Both parties ‘read the same Bible and +pray to the same God.’ + +“The prayer of both can not be answered, that of neither has been +answered fully, for the Almighty has his own purposes. Mr. Lincoln +goes on to confess for the North its partnership in the original guilt +of slavery: ‘Woe unto the world because of its offenses, for it must +needs be that offenses come; but woe unto that man by whom the offenses +cometh! If we shall suppose American slavery one of the offenses which +in the providence of God must needs come, but which, having continued +through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives +to both North and South this terrible war, as was due to those by whom +the offense came, we will not discern that there is any departure +from those divine attributes which believers in the living God always +ascribe to Him. Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this +mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if it be God’s will +that it continue till the wealth piled by bondsmen by two hundred and +fifty years’ unrequited toil shall be sunk, and till every drop of +blood drawn with the lash shall be repaid by another drawn with the +sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said +that the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. With +malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, +as God gives us to see the light, let us strive on to finish the work +we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for those who have +borne the battle, and for their widows and orphans. And with all this +let us strive after a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with +all nations.’ No statesman ever uttered words stamped at once with +the seal of so deep a wisdom and so true a simplicity. The ‘village +attorney,’ of whom Sir G. C. Lewis and many other wise men wrote with +so much scorn, in 1861, seems destined to be one of those ‘foolish +things of the world’ which are destined to confound the wise, one of +those weak things which shall ‘confound the things that are mighty.’” + +The rebel General Lee had surrendered. The war was apparently at an +end. Abraham Lincoln, the honored and the great, looked forward to +a speedy restoration of the Union. But while the storm lulled, the +assassin did his work. J. Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln on the +night of the 13th, and he died April 14th, 1865, honored and lamented +by every true American. The world never before beheld such universal +sorrow. A nation not merely mourned but was clad in the deepest +mourning. + +_Election for the Nineteenth Term, commencing March 4, 1861, and +terminating March 3, 1865._ + + ====+======================+===================+==================== + | | PRESIDENT. | VICE-PRESIDENT. + A | +-----+----+----+----+-----+----+----+--- + | STATES. | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | J + ----+----------------------+-----+----+----+----+-----+----+----+--- + 8 | Maine | 8 | | | | 8 | | | + 5 | New Hampshire | 5 | | | | 5 | | | + 13 | Massachusetts | 13 | | | | 13 | | | + 4 | Rhode Island | 4 | | | | 4 | | | + 6 | Connecticut | 6 | | | | 6 | | | + 5 | Vermont | 5 | | | | 5 | | | + 35 | New York | 35 | | | | 35 | | | + 7 | New Jersey | 4 | | | 3 | 4 | | | 3 + 27 | Pennsylvania | 27 | | | | 27 | | | + 3 | Delaware | | 3 | | | | 3 | | + 8 | Maryland | | 8 | | | | 8 | | + 15 | Virginia | | | 15 | | | | 15 | + 10 | North Carolina | | 10 | | | | 10 | | + 8 | South Carolina | | 8 | | | | 8 | | + 10 | Georgia | | 10 | | | | 10 | | + 12 | Kentucky | | | 12 | | | | 12 | + 12 | Tennessee | | | 12 | | | | 12 | + 23 | Ohio | 23 | | | | 23 | | | + 6 | Louisiana | | 6 | | | | 6 | | + 7 | Mississippi | | 7 | | | | 7 | | + 13 | Indiana | 13 | | | | 13 | | | + 11 | Illinois | 11 | | | | 11 | | | + 9 | Alabama | | 9 | | | | 9 | | + 9 | Missouri | | | | 9 | | | | 9 + 4 | Arkansas | | 4 | | | | 4 | | + 6 | Michigan | 6 | | | | 6 | | | + 3 | Florida | | 3 | | | | 3 | | + 4 | Texas | | 4 | | | | 4 | | + 4 | Iowa | 4 | | | | 4 | | | + 5 | Wisconsin | 5 | | | | 5 | | | + 4 | California | 4 | | | | 4 | | | + 4 | Minnesota | 4 | | | | 4 | | | + 3 | Oregon | 3 | | | | 3 | | | + ----+----------------------+-----+----+----+----+-----+----+----+--- + 315 | Whole No. of Electors| 180 | 72 | 39 | 12 | 180 | 72 | 39 | 12 + | Majority 157| | | | | | | | + ====+======================+=====+====+====+====+=====+====+====+=== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois. + (C) = John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky. + (D) = John Bell, of Tennessee. + (E) = Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois. + (F) = Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine. + (G) = Joseph Lane, of Texas. + (H) = Edward Everett, of Massachusetts. + (J) = Herschel V. Johnson, of Georgia. + +Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office as President, and entered upon +his duties, March 4th, 1861. Hannibal Hamlin took the oath of office as +Vice-President, and attended in the Senate as its President, on the 4th +of March, 1861. The accession of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency was made +the pretext for the great rebellion of 1861. + +_Election for the Twentieth Term, commencing March 4, 1865, and +terminating March 3, 1869._ + + ===+================+==========+======+============== + | | PRESIDENT. | V. PRESIDENT. + A | STATES. +------+-----+-------+------ + | | B | C | D | E + ---+---------------------+------+-----+-------+------ + 7 | Maine | 7 | | 7 | + 5 | New Hampshire | 5 | | 5 | + 12 | Massachusetts | 12 | | 12 | + 4 | Rhode Island | 4 | | 4 | + 6 | Connecticut | 6 | | 6 | + 5 | Vermont | 5 | | 5 | + 33 | New York | 33 | | 33 | + 7 | New Jersey | | 7 | | 7 + 26 | Pennsylvania | 26 | | 26 | + 3 | Delaware | | 3 | | 3 + 7 | Maryland | 7 | | 7 | + 15 | Virginia | | | | + 5 | Western Virginia | 5 | | 5 | + 8 | South Carolina | | | | + 10 | North Carolina | | | | + 10 | Georgia | | | | + 11 | Kentucky | | 11 | | 11 + 12 | Tennessee | | | | + 21 | Ohio | 21 | | 21 | + 6 | Louisiana | | | | + 7 | Mississippi | | | | + 13 | Indiana | 13 | | 13 | + 15 | Illinois | 15 | | 15 | + 9 | Alabama | | | | + 11 | Missouri | 11 | | 11 | + 4 | Arkansas | | | | + 8 | Michigan | 8 | | 8 | + 3 | Florida | | | | + 4 | Texas | | | | + 8 | Iowa | 8 | | 8 | + 8 | Wisconsin | 8 | | 8 | + 5 | California | 5 | | 5 | + 4 | Minnesota | 4 | | 4 | + 3 | Oregon | 3 | | 3 | + 3 | Nevada | 3 | | 3 | + 3 | Kansas | 3 | | 3 | + ----+--------------------+------+-----+-------+------ + 331 | | 212 | 21 | 212 | 21 + ====+====================+======+=====+=======+====== + + COLUMN HEADINGS: + (A) = No. of Electors from each State. + (B) = Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois. + (C) = Geo. B. McClellan, of Ohio. + (D) = Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee. + (E) = Geo. H. Pendleton, of Ohio. + +Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, +Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida and Texas, being in +rebellion, did not vote for President and Vice-President. + +Whole number of Electoral votes cast were 233—for Lincoln and Johnson, +212; for McClellan and Pendleton, 21. Lincoln and Johnson’s majority +191, the greatest majority attained since the organization of the +Government. + +Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office as President and entered upon +his duties March 4, 1865. + +Andrew Johnson took the oath of office as Vice-President, and attended +in the Senate as its President March 4, 1865. + + + + +ANDREW JOHNSON + + +Was born at Raleigh, North Carolina, December 29th, 1808, and is now in +his sixtieth year. He lost his father when only four years old. At the +age of ten he was apprenticed to a tailor in Raleigh, and served with +him an apprenticeship of seven years. His mother was poor, and had been +unable to give him any educational advantages; but young Andy, whose +unconquerable spirit was not to be restrained by any disadvantages, +became stimulated with a desire for knowledge. He acquired the alphabet +with no other instructions than those obtained from the journeymen with +whom he worked. He learned to read from an old volume of speeches, +loaned him by a friend, and thenceforward, after ten hours’ work with +his goose, needle, and scissors, applied himself with vigor to study +for three or four hours each evening. In 1824, having completed his +apprenticeship, he went to Laurens Court house, South Carolina, where +he worked as journeyman for two years. In 1826, he set out for the +West, taking his mother, whom already, at his early age, and with +his scanty wages, he was supporting. He made his home at Greenville, +Tennessee, where he remained, and commenced business, and where he +became a thriving and popular man. With the indefatigable thirst for +knowledge which had characterized his early career, he still pursued +his studies, and, in the evenings which followed a day of labor, with +his wife as instructress, pushed on in the road to knowledge. + +He entered early into political life, being elected to the first office +he ever held—that of Alderman of the village of Greenville—in 1828. +He was reëlected to the same office in 1829. In 1830, he was elected +Mayor, and retained that position for three years. In 1835, he was sent +to the Legislature, where he chiefly distinguished himself by taking +strong grounds against a scheme of internal improvements, which, he +argued, was extravagant and useless. The measure was popular, however, +and he was defeated in 1837. In 1838, he was a candidate again, and +was this time successful. In 1840, he served as Presidential elector +for the State at large on the Democratic ticket, and during the +campaign rendered efficient service to the party as a stump speaker. +In 1841, he was elected to the State Senate, and, in 1843, at the +age of thirty-five, he was elected to Congress, where he held his +seat, being four times reëlected, until 1853. During this time he was +thoroughly identified with the old Democratic party, and supported all +the party measures. In 1853, he was elected Governor, after a very +exciting contest, over Gustavus A. Henry. He was reëlected in 1855, +over Meredith P. Gentry, the Whig candidate. At the expiration of his +Gubernatorial term, in 1857, he was chosen United States Senator by a +Democratic majority in the Legislature of Tennessee. In that body he +commanded the respect of all his compeers, as an able, eloquent, and +patriotic statesman. At the breaking out of the rebellion, Senator +Andrew Johnson still proclaimed his allegiance to the United States, +and continued to hold his seat in the Senate, though his course +subjected him to much unpopularity, and even danger. + +When, in the spring of 1862, our army had penetrated Tennessee to +Nashville, and the northern and central portions of the State were +wrested from rebel control, the President desired the services of a +wise and sagacious man, of unquestionable loyalty, to act as Military +Governor of that State; and he did not have long to look—Andrew +Johnson was at once recognized as the man for the place, and, being +commissioned a Brigadier-General, he repaired to Nashville, where he +for two years discharged the delicate and responsible duty of his +charge with a degree of wisdom and efficiency which challenged general +admiration. Under his administration, the rebellion had steadily been +losing its hold in Tennessee, and loyalty was as constantly cultivated +and developed. + +He was nominated for the Vice-Presidency by the Union Convention at +Baltimore, June 8th, 1864, and was elected November 8, 1864, and was +sworn into office March 4th, 1865. + +President Lincoln died April 15. Andrew Johnson was sworn into office +as President of the United States, on the same day, by Chief Justice +Chase. + +Soon after entering upon the duties of his office, he vetoed the Civil +Rights Bill, the Constitutional Amendment, the Military Government +Bill, and all the important bills passed by Congress; also suspended +Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, from office, during the recess of +Congress; on the assembling of which, he sent them his reasons for +so doing. Upon considering which, they reinstated Secretary Stanton. +Whereupon the President issued an order removing him, and ordering +Major-General Thomas, Adjutant-General of the army, to act as Secretary +_ad interim_—the same being done without the consent or advice of the +Senate—for which and many other acts committed by him, and by Congress +deemed unconstitutional, the House did, on the 25th of February, 1868, +impeach Andrew Johnson of high crimes and misdemeanors; and he was +accordingly tried for the same by the Senate—the result of which trial +will be found in the Impeachment Act, on another page. + + + + +CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD OF THE REBELLION. + + +NOVEMBER, 1860—PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. + +NOV. 6.—Each of the four political parties presented its candidate +for the Presidency, and the same number for the Vice-Presidency. The +Republican party supported Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, and Hannibal +Hamlin, of Maine. One wing of the Democratic party supported S. A. +Douglas, of Illinois, and H. V. Johnson, of Georgia; the other wing +sustained John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, and Joseph Lane, of +Oregon. The Old Line Whigs and Know Nothings supported John Bell, of +Tennessee, and Edward Everett, of Massachusetts. The result of the +popular vote was as follows: + +Lincoln and Hamlin received 1,857,610; Douglas and Johnson, 1,365,976; +Breckenridge and Lane, 847,553; Bell and Everett, 590,631. + +NOV. 7.—The news of Mr. Lincoln’s election received at Charleston, +South Carolina, with cheers for a Southern Confederacy. The “Palmetto +Flag” hoisted on the vessels in the harbor. + +NOV. 9.—An attempt to seize the arms in Fort Moultrie. + +NOV. 10.—A bill was introduced into the South Carolina Legislature to +raise and equip 10,000 men. The Legislature also ordered the election +of a convention, to consider the question of secession. Jas. Chester, +United States Senator from South Carolina, resigned. + +NOV. 11.—Senator Hammond, of South Carolina, resigned. + +NOV. 15.—Governor Letcher, of Virginia, called an extra session of the +Legislature. + +NOV. 18.—Georgia Legislature appropriated $1,000,000 to arm the State. +Major Anderson sent to Fort Moultrie to relieve Colonel Gardner. + +NOV. 19.—Governor Moore called an extra session of the Louisiana +Legislature. + +DECEMBER, 1860. + +DEC. 1.—Florida Legislature ordered the election of a convention. Great +secession meeting in Memphis. + +DEC. 3.—Congress met. The President denied the right of a State to +secede, and asserted the right of the General Government to coerce a +seceding State. + +DEC. 5.—Election of delegates to South Carolina Convention took place. +The successful candidates were secessionists. + +DEC. 10.—Howell Cobb, Secretary of the Treasury, resigned. Senator +Clay, of Alabama, resigned. The Louisiana Legislature ordered the +election of a convention, and appropriated $500,000 to arm the State. + +DEC. 13.—An extra session of the Cabinet was held to consider the +question of reinforcing Fort Moultrie; the President opposed it, and +reinforcements were not sent. + +DEC. 14.—General Cass, Secretary of State, resigned. + +DEC. 17.—South Carolina Convention assembled. + +DEC. 18.—The Crittenden Compromise introduced in the United States +Senate. + +DEC. 19.—Governor Hicks, of Maryland, refused to receive the +Mississippi Commissioner. + +DEC. 20.—South Carolina Convention adopted a secession ordinance; the +vote unanimous. + +DEC. 22.—The Crittenden Compromise voted down in the Senate committee +of Thirteen. + +DEC. 24.—The people of Pittsburg stop the shipment of ordnance from +the arsenal at that place to Southern forts. Governor Moore called an +extra session of the Alabama Legislature.—Election of members of the +Alabama Convention took place; the majority for secession was over +50,000.—South Carolina members of Congress resigned. + +DEC. 26.—Major Anderson left Fort Moultrie and took possession of Fort +Sumter. He had with him only 111 men. South Carolina Commissioners +arrived in Washington. The President refused to receive them. + +DEC. 27.—Revenue cutter, William Aiken, surrendered to the South +Carolina authorities. + +DEC. 28.—South Carolina seized the Government property in Charleston, +took possession of Castle Pinckney and Fort Moultrie. + +DEC. 29.—John B. Floyd, Secretary of War, resigned. + +DEC. 31.—South Carolina sent Commissioners to the slave States to make +arrangements for a Southern Confederacy. + +JANUARY, 1861. + +JAN. 2.—Governor Ellis, of North Carolina, took possession of Fort +Macon. Georgia troops seized Forts Pulaski and Jackson, and the United +States arsenal at Savannah. + +JAN. 4.—Governor Moore, of Alabama, seized Fort Morgan, and the United +States arsenal at Mobile. Fast-day, by proclamation of the President. + +JAN. 7.—State Conventions of Alabama and Mississippi, Legislatures of +Virginia and Tennessee, assembled. + +JAN. 8.—Jacob Thompson, Secretary of the Interior, resigned. Fort +Johnson at Wilmington, and Caswell at Oak Island, seized by North +Carolina. + +JAN. 9.—The steamer Star of the West fired on by rebel batteries in +Charleston harbor, and driven back. Mississippi Convention passed +secession ordinance by vote of 84 to 15. + +JAN. 10.—Florida Convention adopted an ordinance of secession by a vote +of 62 to 7. Florida seized Fort McRae. + +JAN. 11.—Alabama seceded; vote in Convention, ayes, 61; noes, 39. P. B. +Thomas, Secretary of the Treasury, resigned, and was succeeded by John +A. Dix, of New York. The Governor of Louisiana seized Forts Phillip +and Jackson, on the Mississippi below New Orleans, the United States +arsenal at Baton Rouge, and Forts Pike and Macomb, on Lake Ponchartrain. + +JAN. 13.—Florida troops took possession of the Pensacola Navy Yard and +Fort Barancas. Lieutenant Slemmer, in command of Fort Pickens, refused +to obey Commodore Armstrong’s order to surrender the fort to the +Florida troops, and thus saved that important place to the Union. + +JAN. 16.—The Legislature of Arkansas called a convention. Colonel +Hayne, of South Carolina, demanded of the President the surrender of +Fort Sumter, which was refused. The Missouri Legislature voted to hold +a convention. + +JAN. 18.—The Legislature of Virginia appropriated $1,000,000 for the +defense of the State. + +JAN. 19.—Georgia adopted a secession ordinance by vote of 208 to 89. + +JAN. 21.—Members of Congress from Alabama resigned. Jefferson Davis +resigned his place in the Senate. + +JAN. 23.—Georgia members of Congress resigned. + +JAN. 24.—The rebels seized the U. S. arsenal at Augusta Georgia. + +JAN. 26.—Louisiana Legislature passed secession ordinance by vote of +113 to 17. + +JAN. 30.—North Carolina Legislature submitted the convention question +to the people. This was the first instance of the will of the people +being consulted in regard to the question of secession. The revenue +cutters Cass, at Mobile, and McLelland, at New Orleans, surrendered to +the rebel authorities. + +FEBRUARY, 1861. + +FEB. 1.—Texas Convention passed an ordinance of secession by vote of +166 to 7, to be submitted to the people. The Louisiana authorities +seized the Mint and Custom House at New Orleans. + +FEB. 4.—Delegates from the seceded States met at Montgomery, Alabama, +to organize a Confederate Government. Peace Congress met at Washington; +Ex-President Tyler was chosen President. + +FEB. 8.—The U. S. arsenal at Little Rock surrendered to Arkansas. + +FEB. 9.—Jefferson Davis and A. H. Stephens elected Provisional +President and Vice-President of the Southern Confederacy. + +FEB. 13.—The electoral vote counted. Abraham Lincoln received 180 +votes, Stephen A. Douglas 12, John C. Breckenridge 72, and John Bell 39. + +FEB. 19.—Fort Kearney, Kansas, seized by the rebels. + +FEB. 23.—General Twiggs surrendered government property in Texas, +valued at $1,200,000, to the rebels. + +MARCH, 1861. + +MARCH 1.—General Twiggs expelled from the army. Peace Congress +adjourned. + +MARCH 2.—Revenue cutter Dodge surrendered to the rebels at Galveston, +Texas. + +MARCH 4.—The ordinance of secession passed by the Texas Convention and +submitted to the people, having been adopted by a majority of about +40,000, the Convention declared the State out of the Union. + +MARCH 5.—General Beauregard took command of the troops at Charleston. + +MARCH 6.—Fort Brown, on the Rio Grande, was surrendered by special +agreement. The Federal troops evacuated the fort and sailed for Key +West and Tortugas. + +MARCH 28.—Vote of Louisiana on secession made public. For secession, +20,448; against it, 17,926. + +MARCH 30.—Mississippi Convention ratified the Confederate Constitution +by a vote of 78 to 70. + + +APRIL, 1861. + +APRIL 3.—South Carolina Convention ratified the Confederate +Constitution by a vote of 114 to 16. + +APRIL 4.—Virginia Convention, by a vote of 89 to 45, refused to submit +an ordinance of secession to the people. + +APRIL 7.—All intercourse between Fort Sumter and Charleston stopped by +order of Beauregard. The steamer Atlantic sailed from New York with +troops and supplies. + +APRIL 8.—The Federal Government notified the South Carolina authorities +that provisions would be sent to Major Anderson by force, if necessary. +The State Department refused to recognize the Confederate States +Commissioners. + +APRIL 11.—Troops are stationed in Washington, and the oath of fidelity +administered to the men. The rebel Commissioners left Washington. +General Beauregard demanded the surrender of Fort Sumter. Major +Anderson refused. + +BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER. + +APRIL 12.—The rebels had constructed batteries on Morris Island, +Sullivan Island and Cumming’s Point, besides occupying Fort Moultrie; +they had also built a powerful floating battery, all of which were +employed in the attack on Sumter. Fort Moultrie opened fire at four +o’clock in the morning. Fort Sumter did not reply until seven o’clock. +The fire was kept up with vigor by both sides. Major Anderson had +under his command 111 men, including officers, musicians and laborers. +The Legislature appropriated $500,000 to arm the State. Fort Pickens +reinforced. + +APRIL 13.—The bombardment of Fort Sumter continued; early in the day +the officers’ quarters were fired by a shell; by noon most of the +wood work was on fire; Sumter’s fire was almost silenced when General +Wigfall came with a flag of truce, and arrangements were made for +evacuating the fort. The terms were that the garrison should take all +its individual and company property, that they should march out with +their side arms in their own way, at their own time, and that they +should salute their flag and take it with them. + +APRIL 14.—Major Anderson and his men sailed for New York. Governor +Yates, of Illinois, called an extra session of the Legislature, to meet +April 22. + +APRIL 15.—The President issued a proclamation commanding all persons +in arms against the Government to disperse within twenty days; also +calling for 75,000 volunteers. The New York Legislature authorized the +raising of $3,000,000 for their equipment and support. The President +called an extra session of Congress, to meet July 4th. + +APRIL 16.—The Governors of Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri, +refused to furnish troops Under the President’s proclamation.—The +Confederate Government called for 32,000 men. + +APRIL 17.—Virginia Convention adopted secession ordinance in secret +session by a vote of 60 to 53, to be submitted to the people on the +fourth Thursday of May. Forces were sent to seize the U. S. Arsenal at +Harper’s Ferry, and the Gosport Navy Yard. All the military power of +the State was placed under the control of the President of the Southern +Confederacy. Jefferson Davis issued a proclamation, offering letters of +marque and reprisal to all who wished to engage in privateering. + +APRIL 18.—U. S. Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry destroyed by Lieutenant +Jones, to prevent it falling into the hands of the enemy. Colonel Cake, +with 400 men of the 25th Pennsylvania regiment, arrived in Washington. +These were the first troops to enter the city for its defense. + +APRIL 19.—Steamer Star of the West seized by the rebels at Indianola, +Texas. The 6th Massachusetts regiment, while passing through Baltimore, +was attacked by a mob; two soldiers were wounded. The troops fired +upon the mob, killing eleven and wounding many. President Lincoln +issued a proclamation declaring the ports of South Carolina, Florida, +Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, in a state of blockade. +Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania, added to the military department +of Washington, and placed under the command of General Patterson. City +Council of Philadelphia appropriated $1,000,000 to equip the volunteers +and support their families. + +APRIL 20.—The Governor of North Carolina seized the Branch Mint at +Charlotte. Several bridges on the Northern Pennsylvania Railroad +destroyed by Maryland rebels, to prevent the passage of troops +to Washington. The U. S. Arsenal at Liberty, Mo., seized by the +secessionists and the arms distributed among the surrounding counties. +The Gosport Navy Yard destroyed by General McCauley, to keep it +from the rebels; the war vessels Delaware, Pennsylvania, Columbia, +Germantown, Merrimac, Raritan, Dolphin and United States, were +scuttled and set on fire; the Cumberland was towed out. The 4th +Massachusetts regiment arrived at Fortress Monroe. A special meeting of +the Pennsylvania Legislature called for the 30th, by proclamation of +Governor Curtin. + +APRIL 21.—Federal Government took possession of the Philadelphia and +Baltimore Railroad. Senator Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, mobbed at +Lynchburg, Va. + +APRIL 22.—U. S. Arsenal at Fayetteville, N. C., seized by the rebels. +Arkansas seized the Arsenal at Napoleon. + +APRIL 24.—Fort Smith, Arkansas, seized by the rebels under Senator +Boland. Cairo, Illinois, occupied by Union troops. + +APRIL 25.—Major Sibly surrendered 450 U. S. troops to the rebel Colonel +Van Dorn, at Saluria, Texas. A company of Illinois volunteers, acting +under the authority of the Government, removed 22,000 stand of arms +from the Arsenal at St. Louis to Springfield, Illinois. Governor +Letcher proclaims Virginia a member of the Southern Confederacy. + +APRIL 27.—The steamer Aelmick, loaded with powder and munitions of war +for the South, seized at Cairo. The blockade extended to the ports of +North Carolina and Virginia. All officers of the army were required to +take the oath of allegiance. + +APRIL 29.—The Indiana Legislature appropriated $500,000 to arm the +State. The Maryland House of Delegates voted against secession, 63 +to 13. Governor Harris, of Tennessee, seized bonds and money in the +Collector’s hands at Nashville, belonging to the Federal Government. +Three steamships seized at New Orleans by order of Governor Moore, of +Louisiana. + +MAY, 1861. + +MAY 1.—North Carolina Legislature passed a bill calling a State +Convention, to meet on the 20th of May. The Legislature of Tennessee +passed an act, in secret session, authorizing the Governor to form a +league with the Southern Confederacy. + +MAY 3.—Governor Letcher called out the militia to defend Virginia. +President Lincoln called for 42,000 three years’ volunteers; 22,000 +troops for the regular army, and 18,000 seamen. Fourteen companies +of Kentucky volunteers offered their services to the Secretary of +War, notwithstanding the Governor’s refusal. Connecticut Legislature +appropriated $2,000,000 for military purposes. + +MAY 4.—General McClellan placed in command of the Department of Ohio, +comprising the States of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Union meetings +were held in Preston county, Va., and at Wheeling, Va. + +MAY 5.—General Butler took possession of the Relay House, Maryland. + +MAY 6.—Arkansas Convention passed an ordinance of secession, by vote of +69 to 1. Tennessee Legislature adopted secession ordinance in secret +session, to be submitted to a vote of the people on the 8th of June. + +MAY 10.—A mob attacked the Home Guard at St. Louis; the Guard fired on +the rioters, killing seven. A rebel force of 800 men, under Gen. Frost, +surrendered to Captain (afterwards General) Lyon, at St. Louis. + +MAY 11.—The mob made another attack on the Home Guard in St. Louis. +Blockade of Charleston, S. C., established by the steamer Niagara. + +MAY 13.—A Convention composed of delegates from 35 counties, met at +Wheeling, Virginia, to consider the policy of forming a new State. + +MAY 14.—A schooner loaded with arms for the rebels, also a large number +of guns in Baltimore, seized by the forces under General Butler. The +ship Argo, with a cargo of tobacco valued at $150,000, captured by the +U. S. gunboat Quaker City. + +MAY 16.—A bridge on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad destroyed. General +Scott ordered the fortification of Arlington Heights. + +MAY 17.—Secession spies arrested in Washington by order of General +Scott. Adams Express Company prohibited from carrying packages or +letters south of Washington. Rebels commence fortifying Harper’s Ferry. + +MAY 18.—Military Department of Virginia created, comprising Eastern +Virginia, North and South Carolina; headquarters at Fortress Monroe, +commander General Butler. + +MAY 19.—Rebel batteries at Sewell’s Point attacked by U. S. steamers. +Two schooners with rebel troops on board captured by the U. S. steamer +Freeborn. + +MAY 20.—Telegraphic dispatches throughout the North seized by order of +the Government. North Carolina secession ordinance adopted. Governor +Magoffin proclaimed the neutrality of Kentucky. + +MAY 22.—Fortifications of Ship Island destroyed to keep them from the +enemy. + +MAY 24.—Thirteen thousand troops crossed the Potomac into Virginia. +Alexandria occupied by Federal troops. Colonel Ellsworth shot by +Jackson; the murderer was instantly killed. Arlington Heights occupied +by Union troops. + +MAY 25.—Union troops destroyed seven bridges and five miles of railroad +from Alexandria to Leesburg. + +MAY 26.—Western Virginia gave a large majority in favor of the Union. +The port of New Orleans was blockaded by the sloop of war Brooklyn. All +postal service in the seceded States suspended. + +MAY 31.—The steamers Freeborn and Anacosta engage the rebel batteries +at Acquia Creek. + +JUNE, 1861. + +JUNE 1.—Lieutenant Tompkins, with 47 men, attacked the rebels at +Fairfax Court House, killing Captain Marr and several others. Union +loss two killed. The steamers Freeborn and Anacosta engage the +batteries at Acquia Creek the second time. Skirmish at Williamsport, +Maryland, between the rebels and a company of Home Guards. + +JUNE 3.—Colonel Kelly defeated the rebels at Phillippi, Va., +killing 15; Colonel Kelly was severely wounded. Hon. S. A. Douglas +died at Chicago. General Beauregard arrived and assumed command +of the Confederate forces at Manassas Junction, Va. The voluntary +contributions in the Northern States to carry on the war amounted to +over $32,000,000. + +JUNE 6.—Harriet Lane attacked the batteries at Pig Point, near Fortress +Monroe. A company of rebel cavalry, captured at Alexandria, Va., take +the oath of allegiance. + +BATTLE OF BIG BETHEL. + +JUNE 10.—Three regiments of Union troops, under the command of General +Pierce, were defeated with a loss of 16 killed, among them Major +Winthrop, and 41 wounded. + +JUNE 11.—Skirmish at Romney, Va. Wheeling Convention met. + +JUNE 14.—Rebels evacuated Harper’s Ferry, after destroying all +available property; the armory machinery was taken to Richmond. + +JUNE 15.—Brig Perry arrived at New York with the privateer Savannah, +captured June 4th. + +JUNE 17.—Wheeling Convention unanimously declared Western Virginia +independent of the rebel portion of the State. A train of cars with 275 +Ohio volunteers, under the command of Colonel Schenck, was fired into +from a masked battery near Vienna, Va,; 8 were killed and 12 wounded. +General Lyon defeated the rebels at Boonville, Mo., with a loss of +about 30 killed and 50 wounded; Union loss 2 killed and 9 wounded. + +JUNE 10.—A skirmish took place at Cole Camp, Mo., between a body of +secessionists and a company of Home Guards; the latter were defeated +with a loss of 10 killed, 20 wounded and 30 prisoners. A detachment +of U. S. Regulars captured a number of rebels with their arms and +ammunition, at Liberty, Mo. + +JUNE 20.—Union Convention elected Frank D. Pierpont Governor of +Virginia. General McClellan assumed command in person of the army in +Western Virginia. + +JUNE 23.—Forty-eight locomotives belonging to the Baltimore and Ohio +Railroad, valued at $400,000, were destroyed by the rebels. + +JUNE 24.—The U. S. gunboat Pawnee attacked the rebel battery at Mathias +Point. A spy arrested at Washington with a full detail of the number of +the troops and batteries, and the best plan of attack on the city. + +JUNE 26.—The President acknowledged the Wheeling government of Virginia. + +JUNE 27.—George P. Kane, Marshal of Baltimore police, arrested by +General Banks and sent to Fort McHenry. The steamers Pawnee, Resolute +and Freeborn, made a second attack on the rebel battery at Mathias +Point; Captain Ward, commanding the Federal force, was killed. + +JUNE 29.—The rebel privateer Sumter escaped from New Orleans. The +rebels made a dash at Harper’s Ferry, destroying several boats and a +railroad bridge. + +JULY, 1861. + +JULY 2.—General Patterson defeated the Confederates at Falling Water, +Va.; Union loss 3 killed and 10 wounded. + +JULY 3.—A rebel company of 94 men captured at Neosho, Missouri. + +JULY 4.—Rebels seized the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Congress +met in extra session + +BATTLE OF CARTHAGE, MO. + +JULY 5.—Confederates were commanded by Governor Jackson, the Federal +troops, numbering 1,600, by Colonel Sigel. Colonel Sigel retreated to +Springfield; Union loss 13 killed and 31 wounded. + +[Illustration: ZACHARY TAYLOR.] + +JULY 6.—General Fremont appointed to the command of the Western +Department, consisting of the State of Illinois, and the States and +territories west of the Mississippi, and east of the Rocky Mountains. +Headquarters at St. Louis. 45 men belonging to the 3d Ohio regiment, +cut their way through an ambuscade near Buchanan, Virginia. + +JULY 10.—Skirmish at Laurel Hill, Virginia, rebels defeated. Union +loss, 2 killed and 2 wounded. + +JULY 11.—The following Senators were expelled from the U. S. Senate: J. +M. Mason, R. M. Hunter, of Virginia; T. L. Clingham and Thomas Bragg, +of North Carolina; L. T. Wigfall and J. U. Hemphill, of Texas; C. B. +Mitchell and W. K. Sebastian, of Arkansas; and A. O. F. Nicholson, of +Tennessee. + +BATTLE OF RICH MOUNTAIN. + +JULY 12.—The Federal troops, under command of Colonel Rosecrans, +defeated the enemy under Colonel Pegram. The rebels lost their wagons, +guns, camp equipage, and about 800 prisoners, besides 150 killed and +wounded. + +JULY 13.—-The Confederates under General Garnett were defeated at +Carrick’s Ford, Virginia. The rebel General Garnett was killed. Union +loss was 2 killed and 10 wounded. + +BATTLE OF SCREYTOWN, VA.—The Federals under Colonel Lowe, were defeated +with a loss of 9 killed and 40 wounded and missing. + +JULY 15.—Skirmish at Bunker Hill, Virginia. The rebel cavalry under +Colonel Stuart, made the attack, but were defeated. + +JULY 16.—Skirmish at Millville, Missouri, and at Barboursville, +Virginia. Tilgham, a negro, killed three of a rebel prize crew on the +S. J. Warring, and brought the vessel into New York. President Lincoln +authorized to call the militia and accept the services of 500,000 men. + +FIGHT AT BLACKBURN FORD. + +JULY 18.—The Federal troops under command of General Tyler made +the attack, but after three hours’ fighting were ordered back to +Centerville; their loss was 19 killed and 64 wounded and missing. The +Department of Maryland created, and General John A. Dix placed in +command. Headquarters at Baltimore. + +JULY 19.—General Banks superceded General Patterson. Headquarters in +the field. + +JULY 20.—The Confederate Congress met at Richmond. + +BATTLE OF BULL RUN. + +JULY 21.—The Army of the Potomac, 45,000 strong, under the command +of Brigadier-General McDowell, left its camp near Washington, July +17. The army was formed in five divisions. General Tyler commanded +the 1st division, Colonel Hunter the 2d, Colonel Heintzelman the 3d, +Colonel Runyon the 4th, and Colonel Miles the 5th. Colonel Runyon’s +division remained in the rear, between Centerville and Fairfax, and +took no part in the battle. The enemy, in numbers about equal to the +attacking force, occupied a position at Manassas naturally strong, and +made doubly so by art. The battle was commenced on Sunday morning by +the Union troops and was fought skilfully and bravely; the enemy were +driven from a portion of their works, and the chances were decidedly +in favor of the Federals; but the arrival of the rebel General Johnson +with large reinforcements, turned the scale; at the same time a panic +seized upon the troops, and they commenced a shameful and disorderly +retreat towards Washington. The Federal loss was 481 killed, 104 +wounded, and 1,216 missing. The rebel loss, according to General +Beauregard, was 269 killed, and 1,483 wounded. + +JULY 22.—General McClellan took command of the Army of the Potomac. +Three Months Volunteers began to return home. + +JULY 24.—Fort Fillmore, New Mexico, treacherously surrendered to the +enemy by Major Lynde, U. S. A. All the arms and supplies were delivered +up, and the soldiers released on parole. + +JULY 25.—General Rosecrans assumed command of the army in Western +Virginia. + +JULY 31.—City Council of Cincinnati appropriated $23,000 to aid in +relieving the families of volunteers from Hamilton county, Ohio. + +AUGUST, 1861. + +AUG. 1.—The rebels retreated from Harper’s Ferry to Leesburg. + +AUG. 2.—General Lyon defeated the Confederates at Dug Spring, Missouri. +Union loss was 8 killed at 30 wounded. The vessels engaged in a +contraband trade with the rebels of Virginia and North Carolina were +destroyed in Pocomoke Sound + +AUG. 3.—Congress passed a bill for raising $20,000,000 by direct +taxation and the Confiscation bill. + +AUG. 5.—Commodore Alden bombarded Galveston, Texas. + +AUG. 6.—The extra session of Congress closed. + +AUG. 7.—The village of Hampton, Virginia, destroyed by the rebels. The +privateer York burned by the U. S. Gunboat Union, crew taken prisoners. + +BATTLE OF WILSON CREEK, MO. + +AUG. 10.—General Lyon, with 5,000 Missouri, Iowa and Kansas troops, +attacked a Confederate force double that of his own at Wilson Creek, +near Springfield, Missouri. After a hard fight of six hours, General +Lyon being killed, the Union troops, under the command of Colonel Sigel +and Major Sturgis, retired to Springfield. The enemy did not pursue. +Union loss was 223 killed, and 1,012 wounded and missing. General +McCulloch, commanding the rebels, reported 265 killed, and 800 wounded. + +AUG. 12.—President Lincoln appointed the 30th of September as a fast +day. + +AUG. 14.—General Fremont declared martial law in St. Louis. + +AUG. 15.—Jefferson Davis ordered all Northern men to leave the South in +forty days. + +AUG. 16.—General Wool took command at Fortress Monroe. + +AUG. 21.—Colonel Doherty with 300 Illinois troops, dispersed a rebel +force at Charleston, Missouri. Union loss 1 killed and 6 wounded. + +AUG. 26.—The 7th Ohio regiment, 900 strong, were surprised at +Summerville, Virginia, while at breakfast, by the rebels, under General +Floyd, but fought their way out, with a loss of 6 officers. The +Hatteras expedition sailed. + +AUG. 28.—Fort Clark, on the coast of North Carolina, captured. + +AUG. 29.—Fort Hatteras surrendered to the Union forces. Rebel loss was +48 killed, 51 wounded, and 691 prisoners. The Federals lost none. + +AUG. 30.—Fort Morgan, at Ocracoke Inlet, abandoned by the Confederates. + +SEPTEMBER, 1861. + +SEPT. 1.—Kentucky Legislature met. Union majority in the Senate, 16; in +the House, 52. Fight at Boonville, Virginia; the rebels were defeated +and the town destroyed. Union loss 6 wounded. + +SEPT. 4.—Confederates under General Polk, took possession of Columbus, +Kentucky. The rebels attempted to cross the Potomac at Great Falls, but +were repulsed. + +SEPT. 6.—General Grant took possession of Paducah, Ky. + +BATTLE OF CARNIFEX FERRY. + +SEPT. 10.—General Rosecrans with 4,500 troops, attacked the rebels +under Floyd, in their intrenched camp at Gauley river, near Carnifex +Ferry. After several hours’ fighting, darkness put an end to the +contest. During the night Floyd retreated, burning the bridge over +Gauley river. The Federal loss was 15 killed and 70 wounded. A naval +engagement took place on the Mississippi between the U. S. gunboats +Conestoga and Lexington, and two Confederate boats, assisted by a +battery at Lucas Bend. The battery was silenced, and the boats driven +to Columbus. + +SEPT. 11.—President Lincoln modified General Fremont’s emancipation +proclamation. + +SEPT. 12.—Fight at Cheat Mountain. Colonel J. A. Washington, proprietor +of Mount Vernon, was killed. Union loss, 9 killed and 12 wounded. + +SEPT. 17.—Accident on the Ohio and Mississippi railroad, near +Huron, Indiana. About 100 of the 19th Illinois regiment were killed +or wounded. Skirmish between the 3d Iowa regiment and a band of +Confederates at Blue Mills, Missouri. The Federal troops were compelled +to fall back, but receiving reinforcements, rallied, when the rebels +retreated. Union loss, 12 killed and 85 wounded. + +SEPT. 18.—Colonel Frank Blair arrested by order of General Fremont. +Maryland Legislature closed by Provost Marshal. Secession members sent +to Fort McHenry. + +SEPT. 19.—Governor Morehead, Rueben Merrit, and M. A. Barr, arrested in +Louisville, Kentucky, for treason. + +BATTLE OF LEXINGTON, MO. + +SEPT. 20.—Colonel Mulligan, with 2,460 men, occupying the town of +Lexington, Missouri, was attacked by a greatly superior force of the +enemy, and after four days was compelled to surrender. During the siege +the whole Union loss was 39 killed and 120 wounded. + +SEPT. 21.—John C. Breckinridge fled from Frankfort, Kentucky, and +joined the rebels. General Lane defeated a rebel force at Papinsville, +Missouri. Federal loss 17 killed. + +OCTOBER, 1861. + +OCT. 1.—The propeller Fanny captured by the rebels at Chicamacomico. + +OCT. 2.—Fight at Chapmanville, Virginia, between Colonel Enyartz, +Kentucky volunteers, and a party of Confederates. The latter were +defeated and 47 of them taken prisoners. Union loss 4 killed and 8 +wounded. + +OCT. 3.—General Reynolds made an armed reconnaissance of the enemy’s +position at Greenbriar. After driving in the rebel pickets and +capturing three cannon, General Reynolds returned to Cheat Mountain, +having lost 8 killed and 32 wounded. The Confederates evacuated +Lexington, Missouri. + +OCT. 4.—A large force of rebels under Colonel Barlow attacked the +20th Indiana regiment in their camp at Chicamacomico. The Federals +retreated, leaving the wounded in the hands of the enemy. + +OCT. 5.—The steamer Monticello shelled the rebels under Bartow, and +drove them to their boats. + +OCT. 6.—Fight at Flemington, Kentucky, between the Home Guard and a +band of rebels. The latter were defeated. + +OCT. 7.—The rebel iron-clad steamer, Merrimac, made its first +appearance within sight of Fortress Monroe. + +OCT. 9.—Confederates made an attack on Santa Rosa Island, but were +defeated. Union loss was 13 killed and 21 wounded. Colonel Geary, with +400 Pennsylvania troops, crossed the Potomac at Harper’s Ferry, and +captured 21,000 bushels of wheat. + +OCT. 11.—Rebel steamer Theodore escaped from Charleston, South +Carolina, with Mason and Slidell on board. + +OCT. 15.—Jeff. Thompson, with a force of 600 men, captured a guard of +50, stationed at Big River Bridge, near Potosi, Missouri, and destroyed +the bridge. + +OCT. 16.—A small Union force under Major White recaptured Lexington, +Missouri. + +OCT. 21.—Fight at Fredericktown, Missouri. The Confederates defeated. +Union loss 6 killed and about 60 wounded. + +BATTLE OF BALL’S BLUFF. + +OCT. 21.—Union forces engaged numbered 1,900, commanded by Colonel +Baker. General Stone failed to cross the Potomac to support Colonel +Baker. After a severe fight, in which Colonel Baker was killed, the +Federals retreated. Union loss was 223 killed, 266 wounded, and 455 +prisoners, including 100 wounded. + +BATTLE OF WILD CAT, KY. + +OCT. 21.—General Zollicoffer, with 6,000 Confederates, attacked the +Unionists at Camp Wild Cat, Laurel county, Kentucky, and was repulsed +by the forces under General Schoep. Union loss 4 killed and 21 wounded. + +OCT. 22.—Skirmish at Buffalo Mills, Missouri. Rebels lost 17 killed and +90 prisoners. + +OCT. 25.—General Kelley defeated the enemy, at Romney, Virginia. + +OCT. 26.—Gallant charge of Major Zagoni, with 150 of Fremont’s body +guard on a large force of rebels near Springfield, Missouri. The enemy +was routed with a loss of 106 killed and 27 prisoners. Union loss 52 +killed and wounded. + +OCT. 26.—General Lane captured a rebel transportation train near +Butler, Missouri. + +OCT. 29.—The second naval expedition, consisting of 80 vessels, and +15,000 men, sailed from Fortress Monroe. The naval force was commanded +by Commodore Dupont; the land forces were commanded by General Sherman. + +NOVEMBER, 1861. + +NOV. 1.—General Scott resigned as commander-in-chief of the armies +of the United States. General McClellan was appointed in his place. +General Benham defeated the rebels at Gauley Bridge, Virginia. + +NOV. 2.—General Hunter superceded John C. Fremont in the command of the +Western Department. The Confederate schooner Bermuda ran the blockade +at Savannah. + +PORT ROYAL. + +NOV. 7.—The naval and military forces under the command of Commodore +Dupont and General Sherman, captured Forts Walker and Beauregard, at +Port Royal entrance. They also took possession of the town of Beaufort +and Hilton Island. The Union loss was 8 killed and 25 wounded. + +BATTLE OF BELMONT. + +General Grant, with a force of 2,800, attacked a rebel camp at Belmont, +Missouri, driving the enemy out and destroying the camp, and taking a +quantity of arms; but reinforcements arriving at Columbus, the Federals +were compelled to retreat; their loss was 84 killed, 288 wounded, and +235 missing. + +NOV. 8.—Five rebel boats made an attack on Fort Hatteras, but were +repulsed. + +NOV. 10.—The rebels attack the town Guyandotte, Virginia, killing some +of the Union men, but were driven off. + +NOV. 11.—Guyandotte burned by the Unionists. General Halleck takes +command of the Western Department. + +NOV. 15.—The United States Frigate San Jacinto arrived at Fortress +Monroe with Mason and Slidell, the rebel commissioners to Europe. + +NOV. 18.—Confederate Congress met. + +NOV. 21.—The United States vessel Santee captured the privateer Royal +Yacht, off Galveston, Texas. + +NOV. 23.—Fort Pickens and the U. S. war vessels Niagara and Colorado, +bombarded the rebel fortifications at Pensacola. Port of Warrenton +burnt. + +NOV. 26.—Sharp skirmish at Hunter’s Hill, Virginia. Union loss 28 +killed and wounded. + +NOV. 27.—General McClellan directed the observance of the Sabbath in +all the camps of the U. S. Army. + +NOV. 29.—Skirmish at Warsaw, Missouri; a portion of the town destroyed. + +NOV. 30.—Fight at Salem, Missouri. Rebels defeated with a loss of 39 +killed and wounded. + +DECEMBER, 1861. + +DEC. 3.—Congress met. + +DEC. 4.—John C. Breckinridge expelled from the United States Senate. + +DEC. 5.—Engagement between the rebel gunboats and the Federal vessels, +at Cape Hatteras. According to the reports of the Secretaries of War +and Navy, the Union forces numbered 640,537 volunteers, 20,334 regular +soldiers, and 22,000 seamen. + +DEC. 9.—The Confederate Congress passed a bill admitting Kentucky into +the Southern Confederacy. Freestone Point, Virginia, shelled by the +National gunboats; the rebel batteries were silenced, and the buildings +containing stores were destroyed. + +DEC. 13.—Engagement at Camp Alleghany, Virginia, in which General +Milroy defeated the rebels under Colonel Johnson. Union loss, 21 killed +and 107 wounded. + +FIGHT AT MUNFORDSVILLE, KY. + +DEC. 17.—The Union force engaged was a portion of the 32d Indiana +(German) regiment; the Confederates were commanded by General Hindman; +battle drawn. Union loss 10 killed and 17 wounded. General Pope +captured 360 secessionists at Osceola, Missouri. + +DEC. 18.—General Pope captured 1,300 rebels, a number of horses and +wagons, and 1,000 stand of arms, at Millford, Missouri. Union loss 2 +killed and 17 wounded. Stone fleet sunk in Charleston harbor. + +DEC. 20.—Battle of Drainsville, Virginia, in which the rebels were +defeated by the Union troops under General McCall. Union loss 7 killed +and 61 wounded. + +DEC. 27.—Mason and Slidell surrendered to the British Minister. + +DEC. 28.—A fight took place at Mount Zion, Boone county, Missouri. The +Confederates were dispersed with considerable loss in killed, wounded +and prisoners. Union loss 3 killed and 11 wounded. + +JANUARY, 1862. + +JAN. 1.—Mason and Slidell left Fort Warren, for England, in the British +steamer Rinaldo. Cannon fight at Fort Pickens. General Stevens advances +from Beaufort to the mainland, and with the assistance of the gunboats, +captured the Coosaw batteries. Union loss 2 killed and 8 wounded. + +JAN. 4.—General Milroy defeated the rebels at Huntersville, Virginia, +and captured $80,000 worth of stores. + +JAN. 7.—Rebels defeated at Romney. A force of 300 Union troops sent by +General Milroy, captured a large quantity of stores in Tucker county, +Virginia. + +JAN. 8.—General Palmer defeated the rebels at Silver Creek, Missouri. +Union loss 4 killed and 18 wounded. + +JAN. 10.—Colonel Garfield defeated the rebels under Humphrey Marshall, +at Prestonburg, Ky. + +JAN. 11.—The Burnside expedition sailed from Fortress Monroe. Naval +engagement on the Mississippi between the Union steamers Essex and +St. Louis, and four rebel boats; the latter were compelled to seek +protection under the batteries at Columbus. Simon Cameron resigned his +position as Secretary of War, and E. M. Stanton appointed in his place. + +MILL SPRING, KY. + +JAN. 19.—This battle was fought between 3,000 Union troops under +General Schoep, and rebels under General Zollicoffer. The enemy were +defeated and General Zollicoffer killed. Union loss, 39 killed and 127 +wounded. + +FEBRUARY, 1862. + +FEB. 3.—The Federal Government decided that the crews of the captured +privateers were to be considered as prisoners of war. + +FEB. 5.—Jesse D. Bright expelled from the United States Senate. + +FEB. 6.—Commodore Foote, with 7 gunboats, attacked Fort Henry, on +the Tennessee river. After fighting an hour and a half, the rebel +commander, General Tilghman, made an unconditional surrender. + +FEB. 7.—The expedition under General Burnside and Commodore +Goldsborough reached Roanoke Island, and commenced the attack on the +rebel fortifications. + +ROANOKE ISLAND. + +FEB. 8.—General Burnside captured the six forts on Roanoke Island, +taking about 3,000 small arms and destroying all the Confederate fleet, +except two vessels. Union loss was 50 killed and 212 wounded. 2,500 +prisoners and a large quantity of ammunition were captured. + +FEB. 9.—General C. P. Stone arrested and sent to Fort Lafayette. + +FEB. 10.—Elizabeth City, N. C., surrendered to General Burnside. The +Federal gunboats ascended the Tennessee river as far as Florence, +Alabama, capturing three and destroying six rebel boats. + +FORT DONELSON. + +FEB. 13.—General Curtis took possession of Springfield, Mo. Fort +Donelson invested, and the bombardment commenced. + +FEB. 14.—Commodore Foote attacked Fort Donelson with the gunboats, but +was compelled to withdraw. + +FEB. 15.—The attack on Fort Donelson renewed by the land forces under +General Grant, numbering 40,000. Bowling Green evacuated by the rebels. + +FEB. 16.—General Buckner made an unconditional surrender of Fort +Donelson and the troops under his command. Between 12,000 and 15,000 +prisoners, 40 cannon, and a large amount of stores were captured. +Union loss was 321 killed, 1,046 wounded and 150 missing. Skirmish at +Independence, Mo. + +FEB. 18.—General Curtis drove the rebels across the Arkansas line, +capturing a number of prisoners and army stores. + +FEB. 21.—The Union troops occupied Clarksville, Tennessee. Desperate +fight at Fort Craig, New Mexico, between the Union troops under Colonel +Canby, and the Texans. The Federals were defeated with a loss of 62 +killed and 162 wounded. + +FEB. 22.—Jefferson Davis inaugurated President, and A. H. Stephens +Vice-President of the Southern Confederacy. + +FEB. 24.—Nashville, Tennessee, occupied by the Union troops. + +FEB. 27.—Columbus evacuated by the Confederates. + +MARCH, 1862. + +MARCH 1.—Fight at Pittsburgh Landing between two Union gunboats and a +rebel battery. + +MARCH 4.—Brunswick, Ga., Fort Clinch, Fernandina and St. Mary’s, Fla., +were captured by Commodore Dupont. Andrew Johnson appointed Military +Governor of Tennessee. + +BATTLE OF PEA RIDGE. + +MARCH 6.—The Confederates under Van Dorn, Price, and McCulloch, +attacked General Curtis at Pea Ridge, Arkansas. The Union army numbered +about 12,000. + +MARCH 7.—The battle of Pea Ridge renewed, lasting all day. + +MARCH 8.—The battle of Pea Ridge ended in the total defeat of the +enemy. Union loss was 212 killed and 926 wounded. The rebel steamers +Merrimac, Jamestown and Yorktown, attacked the Federal fleet at Hampton +Roads, destroying the Cumberland and the Congress, and damaging several +other vessels. The Federal loss, in addition to the vessels, was 201 +killed and 108 wounded. + +MARCH 9.—Duel of the Ironsides in Hampton Roads. After three hours’ +fighting the Merrimac was towed under the protection of the battery +at Sewall’s Point, and never renewed the contest. The Monitor was +uninjured. + +MARCH 11.—General McClellan took command of the Army of the Potomac; +General Fremont of the Mountain Department, and General Halleck of the +Department of the Mississippi. Manassas occupied by Union troops. + +MARCH 12.—Commodore Dupont took possession of Jacksonville, Florida. +The rebels driven from their works at Paris, Tennessee. + +MARCH 13.—The Confederates evacuated their works at New Madrid, Mo., in +such haste as to leave 25 pieces of artillery, and a large quantity of +military stores, valued at $1,000,000. + +MARCH 14.—General Burnside attacked the rebels in their fortifications +at Newbern, N. C. After a fight of four hours, the enemy retreated, +leaving a large quantity of ammunition, provisions and stores in the +hands of the victors. The Union loss was 91 killed and 466 wounded. + +MARCH 16.—Commodore Foote commenced the attack on Island No. 10. Rebels +defeated at Cumberland Mountain, Ky. + +MARCH 18.—Rebel fortifications at Acquia Creek evacuated. Confederates +defeated at Salem, Ark. + +BATTLE OF WINCHESTER, VA. + +MARCH 23.—The Union force engaged was a part of General Shield’s army, +and numbered about 8,000, commanded by Colonel Kimball. The fight +commenced at ten o’clock in the morning, and lasted until three o’clock +in the afternoon. The rebels were finally defeated, and retreated to +Strasburgh, leaving their dead and wounded upon the field. The Union +loss was 103 killed and 440 wounded. + +MARCH 28.—Fight at Pigeon Ranch, New Mexico, between 3,000 Union troops +under Colonel Hough, and 1,100 Texans. The battle was a drawn one. + +MARCH 31.—Colonel Buford dispersed the rebels at Union City, Tennessee. + +APRIL, 1862. + +APRIL 6.—The rebels under Generals Johnson and Beauregard, attacked +General Grant’s army at Pittsburgh Landing. The Union forces were +driven back to the river and a number of prisoners captured. + +APRIL 7.—The battle of Shiloh renewed. General Buell arrived during +the night with reinforcements. The battle lasted throughout the day +with varied success, but the rebels were finally defeated and driven +to their fortifications at Corinth. The Federal loss was 1,614 killed, +7,721 wounded and 3,956 missing. The rebel General Johnson was killed. + +APRIL 8.—Island No. 10 captured, 5,000 prisoners, 100 siege guns, 24 +pieces of field artillery, 5,000 stands of small arms, 2,000 hogsheads +of sugar and a large quantity of clothing, tents and ammunition. + +APRIL 11.—Fort Pulaski, commanding the entrance to Savannah, +surrendered after a bombardment of thirty hours. General Mitchell +occupied Huntsville, Ala., taking 200 prisoners, 15 locomotives and a +large number of cars. The rebel iron-clad Merrimac makes her second +appearance in Hampton Roads, destroying three small vessels. Congress +passed the bill abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia. + +APRIL 12.—The enemy attacked General Milroy at Monterey, Virginia, but +were repulsed. General Mitchell captured 2,000 prisoners at Chattanooga. + +APRIL 18.—The rebels attacked General Smith’s division at Yorktown, +but were repulsed. Bombardment of Forts Jackson and Phillip, on the +Mississippi below New Orleans, commenced. + +APRIL 19.—Fight between General Burnside’s troops and the enemy, near +Elizabeth City, N. C. The latter were defeated. Union loss 11 killed. +General Reno, with 2,000 Union troops, defeated the enemy at Camden, N. +C. Union loss 14 killed and 99 wounded. + +APRIL 24.—The Union fleet having removed the obstructions in the +Mississippi, passed Forts Jackson and St. Phillip on its way to New +Orleans. + +APRIL 25.—Commodore Farragut arrived at New Orleans and took possession +of the city. Fort Macon, Georgia, surrendered after a bombardment of +eleven hours. General C. F. Smith died at Savannah, Tenn. + +APRIL 28.—Forts Jackson and St. Phillip surrendered. In the capture of +New Orleans the rebels lost, in addition to the forts, 13 gunboats, +among them the ram Manassas and the iron-clad Louisiana. + +APRIL 29.—General Mitchell defeated the rebels at Bridgeport, Alabama. + +MAY, 1862. + +MAY 3.—The rebels evacuated Yorktown, Jamestown, and Mulberry and +Gloucester Islands, leaving ammunition, camp equipage and 100 guns +behind. + +BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURGH, VA. + +MAY 5.—The troops were commanded by Generals Hancock and Hooker. The +rebels were defeated, and retreated in the night toward Richmond. Union +loss 200 killed and 700 wounded. General Dumont attacked Morgan’s +cavalry at Lebanon, Tenn., killed 66 and took 183 prisoners. Union loss +10 killed, and 26 wounded and missing. + +WEST POINT, VA. + +MAY 7.—Generals Franklin and Sedgewick, with a force of 20,000 men, +were attacked by General Lee. The rebels were defeated. Union loss +about 300 killed and wounded. + +MAY 8.—General Milroy attacked the enemy at McDowell’s, Va. After a +fight of five hours General Milroy was forced to withdraw. Federal loss +29 killed and about 200 wounded. + +MAY 9.—The rebels evacuated Pensacola, and destroyed the Navy Yard. + +MAY 10.—The Federal forces took possession of Norfolk, Va. The result +of this movement was the destruction of the iron-clad Merrimac and the +capture of a number of guns and a large amount of ammunition. Gosport +Navy Yard destroyed by the rebels. Gunboat fight on the Mississippi, +near Fort Wright; the rebels were repulsed, losing two vessels. + +MAY 12.—Natchez, Mississippi, surrendered to Commodore Farragut. + +MAY 16.—The Union gunboats repulsed at Fort Darling. + +MAY 17.—Rebels driven across the Chickahominy, at Bottom Bridge. + +MAY 23.—The rebel Colonel Heath attacked the Federal troops at +Lewisburgh, Va. After an hour’s fighting the rebels were defeated. +Union loss 14 killed and wounded. + +MAY 24.—Colonel Kenley, commanding the Federal troops at Front Royal, +Va., was attacked by a large force of the enemy and defeated with a +heavy loss. + +MAY 25.—General Banks defeated at Winchester, Va., and driven across +the Potomac. + +MAY 27.—Confederates defeated at Hanover, Va. Union loss 35 killed and +220 wounded. + +MAY 29.—Rebels evacuated Corinth, Miss. + +MAY 30.—Union troops took possession of Corinth. + +BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS. + +MAY 31.—The rebels, under General Johnson, attacked the left wing of +the Army of the Potomac, commanded by General Casey, at Fair Oaks. +Union forces were driven back. + +JUNE, 1862. + +JUNE 1.—Battle of Fair Oaks was renewed, resulting in the repulse of +the rebels. Union loss 890 killed and 4,844 wounded. + +JUNE 4.—Confederates abandoned their works at Fort Wright, on the +Mississippi. + +JUNE 6.—Gunboat engagement on the Mississippi, near Memphis. Seven +rebel boats were destroyed or captured. After the naval battle Memphis +surrendered to the Union troops. Skirmish near Harrisonburg, Virginia; +the rebel General Ashby killed. + +JUNE 8.—Battle of Cross Keys, Va., between General Fremont’s army and +the Confederate army, commanded by General Jackson. The latter were +defeated. + +JUNE 16.—Fight on James Island, near Charleston, S. C. Federals +defeated with a loss of 85 killed, 172 wounded and 128 missing. + +JUNE 17.—Colonel Fitch destroyed a rebel battery at St. Charles, Ark. +125 were killed by an explosion on one of the Federal gunboats. + +JUNE 18.—Union troops occupied Cumberland Gap. + +RICHMOND, VA. + +JUNE 26.—General Pope assigned to the command of the Army of Virginia. +Commencement of the six days’ fight before Richmond. The rebels +attacked McClellan’s right wing at Mechanicsville. The day closed, +battle undecided. + +JUNE 27.—Bombardment of Vicksburg commenced. General Fremont relieved +of his command. Battle before Richmond renewed; the Federals were +driven back; loss heavy on both sides. White House evacuated by the +Union troops. + +JUNE 28.—Incessant fighting all day between the right wing of the Union +army on the Chickahominy, and the left wing of the rebels; the enemy +were repulsed. In the evening the Unionists were ordered to fall back. + +JUNE 29.—Battle before Richmond renewed by an attack on the Union +forces at Peach Orchard; the rebels were driven back, but late in the +evening made another attack at Savage’s Station. The fight continued +until nine at night. The Union wounded fell into the hands of the enemy. + +JUNE 30.—Battle of White Oak Swamp; heavy loss on both sides. General +McClellan continues his retreat towards James river. In the afternoon +the gunboats opened fire on the enemy, who were also subsequently +charged by General Heintzelman’s corps and routed, leaving 2,000 +prisoners in the hands of the Unionists. + +JULY, 1862. + +JULY 1.—Battle of Malvern Hill, and last of the Richmond battles. +The rebels were repulsed at every point. The Union loss during the +six days’ fighting before Richmond was 1,561 killed, 7,701 wounded +and 5,958 missing. President Lincoln calls for 300,000 additional +volunteers. + +JULY 7.—Skirmish at Bayou Cache, Ark., between a portion of General +Curtis’s army and the rebels under General Pike; the latter were +defeated. Skirmish at Jasper, Ala.; Federals defeated. + +JULY 9.—Hamilton, North Carolina, captured by the Federal troops. + +JULY 11.—The rebel General Morgan entered Glasgow, Kentucky, and issued +a proclamation calling upon the Kentuckians to rise. General Halleck +appointed commander of all the land forces of the United States. + +JULY 13.—Fight at Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Union troops surrendered; +$30,000 worth of commissary stores captured, and a number of prisoners +taken. General Morgan captured Lebanon, Ky., burned part of the town +and robbed the Bank. + +JULY 17.—The rebels under Morgan captured Cynthiana, Ky., and burned +several railroad bridges. + +JULY 18.—A band of rebels entered the town of Newburgh, Ind., and +destroyed some hospital stores, took 250 stand of arms and retreated +across the Ohio. The traitor, General Twiggs, died. + +JULY 19.—Severe skirmish at Memphis, Tenn.; Union loss 6 killed and 32 +wounded. + +JULY 21.—John S. Phelps appointed Military Governor of Arkansas. + +JULY 22.—The siege of Vicksburg abandoned. The rebels destroyed a +quantity of commissary stores at Florence, Ala., and burned all the +cotton in the place. + +JULY 28.—Rebels defeated at Moore’s Hill, Mo.; Union loss 10 killed and +30 wounded. + +AUGUST, 1862. + +AUG. 3.—The rebel General Jeff. Thompson defeated near Memphis, Tenn. +General Halleck ordered General McClellan to evacuate the Peninsula of +Virginia. + +AUG. 4.—The Secretary of War ordered a draft of 300,000 men. The rebel +ram Arkansas destroyed by her crew. + +AUG. 5.—General Robert McCook murdered by the rebels, while wounded and +riding in an ambulance. The Confederate General J. C. Breckinridge made +an unsuccessful attack on Baton Rouge, La. Union loss was 56 killed and +175 wounded and missing. + +BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN. + +AUG. 10.—Confederates under General Jackson crossed the Rapidan river, +and attacked General Banks at Cedar Mountain. The contest was short +but severe. General Banks held his position, while the enemy fell back +two miles, and did not renew the fight. The Union army numbered 7,000; +their loss was 450 killed, 660 wounded, and 290 prisoners. + +AUG. 16.—General McClellan evacuated Harrison’s Landing. + +AUG. 19.—General Wright placed in command of the Department of the +Ohio. Colonel Rodney Mason surrendered Clarksville, Tenn., to an +inferior force, without firing a gun. + +AUG. 25.—Confederates made an unsuccessful attack on Fort Donelson. + +AUG. 26.—The rebel General Ewell drove the Union troops from Manassas. + +AUG. 27.—General Pope finding his right turned by General Ewell, +fell back towards Warrenton, when he was joined by General Hooker; +overtaking the rebels under Ewell at Haymarket a severe fight ensued, +terminating in the defeat of the enemy. The Federal gunboats destroy +the rebel works at City Point, Va. + +BATTLE OF GAINSVILLE, OR GROVETON, VA. + +AUG. 29.—The battle was opened by General Sigel early in the morning. +At 10 A. M. both wings of the Union army were hard pressed and the +situation became very critical, when Generals Reno and Kearney arrived +with reinforcements. The fight continued until 6 P. M., when the enemy +retired. + +BATTLE OF RICHMOND, KY. + +AUG. 30.—The Confederates made the attack at 6 A. M. The Union troops +under General Manson were defeated with a loss of about 200 killed, +700 wounded, and 2,000 prisoners. Rebels defeated at Bolivar, Tenn. + +SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN. + +AUG. 30.—The Federal forces under General Pope defeated. + +AUG. 31.—Bayou Sara, La., destroyed by the U. S. gunboat Essex. + +SEPTEMBER, 1862. + +SEPT. 1.—Fight at Britton’s Lane, Tenn.; rebels retired leaving their +dead on the field. Union loss 5 killed, 78 wounded, and 92 missing. + +FIGHT AT CHANTILLY, VA. + +SEPT. 1.—The Union troops were commanded by Generals Hooker, Reno +and Kearney. The rebels retired leaving their dead and wounded on +the field. This was the last fight in which General Pope’s army +was engaged. In the five battles fought since August 26, the Army +of Virginia had lost about 1,000 killed, 6,000 wounded, and 2,000 +prisoners. The Union troops evacuated Lexington, Ky. + +SEPT. 2.—General McClellan appointed to the command of the troops for +the defense of Washington. + +SEPT. 5.—Confederates began crossing the Potomac into Maryland. + +SEPT. 6.—The rebels made an attack on the Union garrison at Washington, +N. C.; were repulsed. Union loss 8 killed and 36 wounded. Colonel Lowe +recaptured Clarksville, Tenn. + +SEPT. 7.—General Banks assigned to the command of the fortifications in +and around Washington. General McClellan took the field at the head of +the Army of the Potomac. + +SEPT. 12.—Fight at Middletown, Md. Union loss, 80 killed and wounded. + +BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN, MD. + +SEPT. 14.—General McClellan overtook the enemy at South Mountain, Md. +A general engagement took place. The fight was severe and the loss +heavy on both sides, the Unionists losing 443 killed and 1,806 wounded. +General Reno was among the killed. The rebels retreated towards the +Potomac. + +SEPT. 15.—Harper’s Ferry surrendered, after two days’ fighting, to +the enemy, with all the garrison, consisting of 8,000 men. The rebels +attempted to destroy the Green river bridge, on the Louisville and +Nashville R. R., but were defeated. + +SEPT. 16.—Munfordsville, Ky., captured by the rebels; about 4,000 taken +prisoners. + +BATTLE OF ANTIETAM, MD. + +SEPT. 17.—The battle was fought on Antietam Creek, near Sharpsburg, +Md., and began early in the morning and continued until evening. Armies +each numbering nearly 100,000 men. The battle was fought with great +determination. During the night the Confederates retreated, leaving +3,500 prisoners, 39 stand of colors, and 13 guns in the hands of the +victors. The Union loss was 2,010 killed, 9,416 wounded, and 1,043 +missing. Cumberland Gap evacuated by the Federals. + +SEPT. 18.—Confederates recrossed the Potomac into Virginia, having been +in Maryland two weeks. The rebels evacuated Harper’s Ferry. + +SEPT. 19.—General Rosecrans commenced an attack on the rebel forces at +Iuka, Miss. + +SEPT. 20.—Confederates evacuated the place during the night. The Union +loss was 135 killed and 527 wounded. + +SEPT. 21.—General McCook recaptured Munfordsville, Ky. + +SEPT. 22.—President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation issued. + +SEPT. 27.—Fight at Augusta, Ky. The Union garrison, 120 strong, +surrendered after a gallant defense. Their loss was 9 killed, 15 +wounded and the rest prisoners. + +SEPT. 29.—General Nelson was shot by General Jeff. C. Davis at +Louisville, Ky. + +OCTOBER, 1862. + +BATTLE OF CORINTH, MISS. + +OCT. 3.—The rebels under Price and Van Dorn attacked the Union troops +and drove them into the town. + +OCT. 4.—Battle of Corinth renewed. The Confederates were defeated with +heavy loss. The Union loss was 315 killed and 1,802 wounded. + +OCT. 6.—The Confederates attacked General Palmer’s brigade at +Lavergne, Tenn., but were defeated. Union loss, 5 killed and 13 +wounded and missing. + + +BATTLE OF PERRYVILLE, KY. + +OCT. 8.—The advance of Buell’s army was attacked at Perryville, Ky., +by a superior force of the enemy under Generals Jackson and Perrell. +The Confederates retreated during the night. Union loss was over 3,000 +killed and wounded. + +OCT. 10.—The rebel cavalry under General Stuart entered Chambersburg, +Penn., and captured a quantity of small arms and clothing. + +OCT. 18.—The rebel General Morgan occupied Lexington, Kentucky. + +OCT. 19.—The Confederate General Forrest defeated near Gallatin, Tenn. + +OCT. 22.—Rebel salt works in Florida destroyed. General Blunt defeated +the rebels at Maysville, Ark., capturing all their artillery. Fight +at Pocotaligo, S. C. The Federals attempted to gain possession of the +Charleston and Savannah railroad, but were repulsed with a loss of 30 +killed and 180 wounded. + +OCT. 27.—Fight at Labadieville, La.; rebels defeated; Union loss, 17 +killed and 74 wounded. + +OCT. 28.—General Herron defeated the rebels near Fayetteville, Arkansas. + +OCT. 30.—General Rosecrans assumed command of the Army of the +Cumberland. General Mitchell died at Port Royal, South Carolina. + +NOVEMBER, 1862. + +NOV. 5.—General McClellan relieved of the command of the Army of the +Potomac, and General Burnside put in his place. + +NOV. 11.—General Ransom defeated the rebels under Woodward, near +Garrettsburg, Kentucky. Under the cartel the following officers +were exchanged: U. S. officers—Brigadier Generals, 3, Colonels, 18, +Lieutenant Colonels, 19, Captains, 431, Lieutenants, 545; Confederate +officers—Colonels, 27, Lieutenant Colonels, 17, Captains, 467, +Lieutenants, 1,085. About 24,000 privates were also exchanged, leaving +a balance due the United States of 6,000 privates. + +NOV. 16.—President Lincoln enjoined on the United States forces the +orderly observance of the Sabbath. + +NOV. 17.—A cavalry fight took place near Kingston, North Carolina. The +enemy was driven from his position and his barracks destroyed. + +NOV. 22.—All political State prisoners released. + +BATTLE OF CANE HILL, ARK. + +NOV. 28.—The Union army, numbering 1,000 men, was commanded by General +Blunt. The rebels were defeated, with a heavy loss, and retreated to +Van Buren. + +DECEMBER, 1862. + +DEC. 1.—An expedition sent from Suffolk, Va., recaptured the Pittsburg +Battery, which had been taken from the Union army on the Peninsula. + +DEC. 2.—Skirmish near Charleston, Va. Rebels defeated, losing 70 killed +and wounded and 145 prisoners. + +DEC. 6.—General Banks’ expedition sailed for New Orleans. + + +BATTLE OF PRAIRIE GROVE, ARK. + +DEC. 7.—The Union army was commanded by Generals Blunt and Herron. The +rebels were defeated with heavy loss, and retreated during the night. +The Union loss was 495 killed and 500 wounded. The rebel General Morgan +captured the 104th Illinois, the 106th and 108th Ohio, and a number of +the 2d Indiana cavalry, at Hartsville, Tenn. Unionists lost, besides +prisoners, 55 killed. + +DEC. 11.—The city of Fredericksburg bombarded by the Union troops, +under cover of which they crossed the Rappahannock. + +BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG, VA. + +DEC. 13.—Confederate works were attacked by the Union troops in three +divisions, under Sumner, Hooker and Franklin, but were repulsed. +Federals lost 1,512 killed, 6,000 wounded, and 100 prisoners. General +Foster left Newbern, N. C., for the purpose of destroying the railroad +at Goldsboro’. He came up with the enemy at Southwest creek; after +a short engagement, they retired to Kingston, where they were again +attacked and driven from their position with a loss of 11 pieces of +artillery and 400 prisoners. Severe skirmish at Zuric, Va.; rebels +defeated and part of their force captured. An expedition under +Commodore Parker destroyed the rebel salt works, also five schooners +and two sloops in Mob Jack Bay. + +DEC. 16.—General Burnside’s army removed to the north side of the +Rappahannock. General Foster defeated the rebels at White Hall, N. C. + +DEC. 17.—The Union troops occupied Baton Rouge, La. General Foster +defeated the rebels at Goldsboro’, N. C. destroying the railroad bridge. + +DEC. 19.—The rebels recaptured Holly Springs, Miss., taking the +garrison prisoners, and destroying a large quantity of ammunition, +commissary stores and cotton. + +DEC. 21.—General Carter left Kentucky for the purpose of destroying +two important railroad bridges in East Tennessee. The expedition was +successful. + +DEC. 23.—The Confederates attacked General Sigel at Dumfries, Va., but +were repulsed. + +SECOND ATTACK ON VICKSBURG. + +DEC. 27.—General Sherman attacked the advanced works of the enemy about +6 miles from Vicksburg, at the same time the gunboats attacked the +rebel batteries on Haines’ Bluff. + +DEC. 28.—The Federals drive the rebels from the first and second lines +of defense and advanced to within two and a half miles of Vicksburg. +General Blunt entered Van Buren, Ark., capturing four steamboats laden +with provisions. + +DEC. 29.—The Confederates attacked General Sherman with their whole +force, and drove him back to the first lines of defense. + +BATTLE OF MURFREESBORO’, OR STONE RIVER. + +DEC. 31.—Skirmishing had been going on for two days, but to-day the +engagement became general. The Union army numbered 45,000 men, under +General Rosecrans. The main attack of the rebels was made on General +Rosecrans’ right, commanded by General McCook. The division was driven +back four miles, and lost 26 guns; but reinforcements being sent from +the left and center, the enemy was in turn repulsed and the lost ground +regained. The iron-clad steamer, Monitor, foundered on the coast of +South Carolina. West Virginia admitted into the Union as a State. + +JANUARY, 1863. + +JAN. 1.—General Sullivan defeated the rebels under Van Dorn, at Hunt’s +Cross Roads, near Lexington, Tenn. Early in the morning of January 1st +a rebel force of 3,000 men under the command of General Magruder, made +an attack on the Union troops numbering 300, at Galveston, Texas. At +the same time the rebel batteries and two rebel steamers attacked the +blockading fleet. The fight lasted several hours, resulting in the +capture of the troops on land and the steamer Harriet Lane. The U. S. +vessel Westfield got aground, and was destroyed to prevent its falling +into the hands of the enemy. The explosion took place prematurely, +before Commodore Renshaw had left, and he perished with his vessel. + +JAN. 3.—Since the hard battle of December 31st, fighting had been going +on between the two armies at Murfreesboro’. The Confederates made an +attack on the Federal lines Jan. 1st, and another Jan. 2d, but were +repulsed in both cases. On the night of Jan. 3d, they commenced their +retreat. The following is the official statement of the Union loss +at the battle of Stone River: killed 1,697, wounded 6,425, and 3,550 +missing. The Federal army withdrew from before Vicksburg. The Union +loss in the second attack on Vicksburg was about 600 killed, 1,500 +wounded and 1,000 missing. + +JAN. 7.—The Confederates made an attack on Springfield, Mo., where a +large quantity of army stores had been deposited. The place was bravely +defended by General Brown and the rebels defeated. Union loss 17 killed. + +ARKANSAS POST. + +JAN. 10.—The attack was commenced Saturday night by the Mississippi +Squadron, under Admiral Porter. On the following day the land forces +under General McClernand, joined in the fight, and before night all the +fortifications were taken. About 7,000 prisoners, and a large quantity +of ammunition were captured. The Union loss was about 200 killed and +wounded. Two rebel iron-clad vessels made an attack on the blockading +fleet at Charleston, South Carolina. The Mercedita and Keystone were +severely injured, and the inner line of blockaders driven off for a +time, but the outer line of vessels were not disturbed and the blockade +was not interrupted. + +JAN. 12.—Three Federal transports on the Cumberland river were captured +by the enemy. The gunboat Slidel, which was in company surrendered +without firing a gun. + +JAN. 14.—Fight at Bayou Teche, La., a number of rebels were captured, +and the rebel gunboat Cotton, destroyed. + +JAN. 20.—The Morning Light and Velocity, blockading Sabine City, +Texas, were both captured by the rebels. A few days after, the Morning +Light was destroyed to prevent its recapture by the Federals. + +THIRD ATTACK ON VICKSBURG. + +JAN. 22.—After the capture of Arkansas Post, General McClernand +returned to Vicksburg and resumed the siege of that place. Work was +also resumed on the canal across the point opposite Vicksburg. + +JAN. 27.—The iron-clad Montauk, and three wooden gunboats, made an +attack on Fort McAllister, at the mouth of the Ogeechee river near +Savannah, Ga., but failed. + +JAN. 28.—General Burnside relieved of the command of the army of the +Potomac, and General Hooker appointed in his place. General Sumner and +General Franklin were relieved from duty in the army of the Potomac. + +JAN. 31.—The Confederate General Pryor made an attack on the Union +troops under General Peck, at Blackwater, Va. The rebels were repulsed. +The fighting resulted in a Union loss of 24 killed and 80 wounded. +Skirmish at Rover, Tenn., rebels were defeated with a loss of 12 killed +and 300 wounded. + +FEBRUARY, 1863. + +FEB. 1.—The gunboats made another attack on Fort McAllister, but were +unsuccessful. + +FEB. 2.—The Federal ram Queen of the West, ran the blockade at +Vicksburg, but was captured a few days after by the rebels. Stokes’ +Tennessee cavalry and one Kentucky regiment attacked a rebel camp near +Middletown, Tenn., dispersing the enemy and captured the camp. + +FEB. 13.—The iron-clad Indianola ran the blockade at Vicksburg, and was +captured by the rebels. + +FEB. 18.—The gunboats commenced the bombardment of Vicksburg, but +without accomplishing anything. + +FEB. 26.—A train of 28 cars on the L. & N. R. R., captured by the +rebels at Woodburn, Ky., and destroyed. + +FEB. 27.—The rebel steamer Nashville, while attempting to run the +blockade, got aground near Fort McAllister, and was destroyed by the +blockading fleet. + +MARCH, 1863. + +MARCH 5.—Five regiments of infantry, two of cavalry, and one battery, +under the command of Colonel Coburn, were attacked by a superior force +of rebels under Van Dorn, at Thompson’s Station, near Franklin, Tenn. +The unequal contest resulted unfortunately to the Union cause. The +Federal loss was 120 killed, and 1,206 taken prisoners. + +MARCH 7.—General Minty attacked a rebel cavalry force at Unionville, +Tenn., capturing their wagons, horses and tents, and about 60 prisoners. + +MARCH 9.—A band of rebel cavalry passed through the Union lines, +entered Fairfax, Va., and captured General Stoughton and a few privates. + +MARCH 13.—The Confederates made an unsuccessful attempt to recapture +Newbern, N. C. Commodore Farragut’s fleet attempted to pass the rebel +batteries at Port Hudson, but only a part of the vessels succeeded. The +Mississippi got aground and was destroyed. + +MARCH 17.—Two hundred cavalry under command of General Averill, crossed +the Rappahannock, near Kelly’s Ford, where but a single horseman could +cross at once, and in the face of a most terrible fire from rifle pits +and sharpshooters, charged the rebels in their intrenchments, killing +or capturing nearly the whole force. They then encountered Stuart’s +cavalry, and after a desperate hand-to-hand encounter, of five hours, +routed them with great slaughter, capturing 80 prisoners. + +MARCH 20.—John Morgan with 4,000 men was totally defeated near Milton, +Tenn., by Colonel Hall, with 1,400 mounted men. The negro brigade took +Jacksonville, Florida. Major-General Burnside appointed to command the +Department of the Ohio. + +MARCH 22.—Rebels under Clarke, captured Mt. Sterling, Ky. + +MARCH 28.—The rebel steamer Iris, captured by the U. S. steamer Stellin +30 miles north of Charleston, S. C. + +APRIL, 1863. + +APRIL 1.—Two hundred and fifty of Jenkins’ rebel cavalry attacked +Point Pleasant. An expedition from Murfreesboro’ under General Hazen, +attacked a rebel camp near Woodbury, killing and wounding 20, capturing +30 prisoners, 50 horses and a lot of mules and wagons; the rebels were +600 strong, and under the command of Colonel Smith. + +APRIL 6.—General Mitchell with 300 cavalry dashed into a rebel camp +near Nashville, on a sabre charge, capturing 5, killing 15, and +capturing all their tents, arms, horses and equipments. + +[Illustration: MILLARD FILLMORE.] + +ATTACK ON CHARLESTON. + +APRIL 7.—The Federal fleet was composed of nine iron-clad vessels, +under the command of Commodore Dupont. The fight began in the afternoon +of April 7th, and lasted about two hours. Keokuk was so badly damaged +that she sunk in a few hours. Several other vessels were temporarily +disabled. The fleet was then withdrawn. + +APRIL 10.—General Van Dorn’s forces attacked General Granger at +Franklin, Tenn., and were driven back with loss. + +APRIL 17.—General Banks’ command left Baton Rouge, fought three +battles, two on land and one on Grand Lake, capturing 2,000 prisoners. +Our loss was 700. Six vessels of Porter’s fleet ran by the rebel +batteries at Vicksburg. + +APRIL 18.—Fayetteville, Ark., attacked by 3,000 rebels, with four +pieces of artillery; Union forces numbered but 2,000. The rebels were +repulsed. Our loss was 5 killed and 17 wounded. + +APRIL 22.—The ram Queen of the West, was captured in Grand Lake, with +Captain Fuller and all her officers and crew, numbering 90. General +McClellan’s staff disbanded. A small mounted force under Colonel +Wilder, attacked McMinnville, Tenn., at 1 o’clock, A. M., surprised the +rebel force under Grigsby, destroyed the railroad depot and bridges, +and an immense quantity of cotton and army supplies, capturing 300 +prisoners. Banks occupied Opelousas and Washington, Miss. The Baltimore +and Ohio R. R. destroyed between Cumberland and Grafton. The advance +guard of Marmaduke’s army, under command of Colonel Newton, was +surprised—the entire regiment being either killed or captured by the +Union forces under Vandever. + +APRIL 30.—Colonel Mulligan repulsed by the rebels at Fairmont, Western +Virginia, and the B. & O. R. R. bridges blown up at Fairmont and Cheat +river. + +MAY, 1863. + +MAY 1.—General Carter with 5,000 men crossed the Cumberland, below +Somerset, Ky., and attacked the rebel forces at Monticello, under +Pegram, driving them from the field. Rebels lost 66 men. Marmaduke’s +forces driven out of Missouri by Vandever. + +BATTLE OF PORT GIBSON. + +Grant defeated General Bowen with a loss of 1,550 men and 5 pieces of +artillery. + +GRIERSON’S RAID. + +MAY 2.—On the morning of the 17th of April, 1863, the 6th and 7th +Illinois cavalry, 900 strong, under command of Colonel Grierson, of +the 6th Illinois, (together with 6 pieces of artillery,) set out from +Lagrange, Tennessee, and pursuing in the main a Southerly course, +marched through the center of Mississippi, destroying as they went, +railroads, bridges, cars, locomotives, and stores of all kinds, +belonging to the rebels, in immense quantities. Traveling on an average +40 miles a day, they reached Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the evening +of the 2d of May. They had traveled nearly 800 miles in 16 days, and +traversed 17 counties. At several points the enemy made great attempts +to capture them but failed. They brought into Baton Rouge over 1,000 +horses and a large number of cattle; 500 negroes followed them. + +FREDERICKSBURG. + +MAY 3.—The second attempt to capture the rebel fortifications at +Fredericksburg, Va., was made by the Army of the Potomac, under General +Hooker, and failed. The army commenced marching April 27th, the main +body crossing the Rappahannock at Kelley’s Ford, about 20 miles +north-west of Fredericksburg, then marching south, crossed the Rapidan, +and took their position at Chancellorville, about 10 miles west of +Fredericksburg. Severe skirmishing took place on Friday and Saturday, +May 1st and 2d; but the main battle was fought on Sunday, May 3d, +resulting in the defeat of the Federal troops. In the meantime General +Sedgwick had crossed the Rappahannock and occupied Fredericksburg. He, +too, was defeated, and compelled to retire to the northern bank of the +river. Hooker’s army recrossed the river on the night of May 5th. The +loss on each side was about 15,000 killed, wounded and prisoners. + +STONEMAN’S RAID. + +While the fight was going on near Fredericksburg, General Stoneman, +with a large cavalry force, crossed the Rapidan east of Orange +Court House, and made a bold and partially successful raid into the +enemy’s country. A portion of the railroad between Gordonsville +and Charlottsville was destroyed, and considerable damage done to +the Virginia Central, and Richmond and Fredericksburg R. R. Large +quantities of provisions were destroyed at different points. + +MAY 5.—Vallandigham arrested by order of General Burnside, at his +residence in Dayton, Ohio. Office of the Dayton Journal destroyed +by the mob. Suffolk, Va., abandoned by the rebel troops, and +fortifications destroyed. Alexandria, La., captured by Admiral Porter. +100 prominent secessionists of St. Louis sent South. + +MAY 8.—Colonel Streight’s command of 1,700 men captured by Forrest’s +cavalry, two miles from Cedar Bluff, Ga., after severe fighting. The +rebel General Van Dorn killed by Dr. Peters, in Manny county, Tennessee. + +MAY 9.—Colonel Jacobs, with Kentucky cavalry, attacked and routed a +guerrilla force near Horse Shoe Bend, on the Cumberland river; killed a +number, took 8 prisoners and destroyed their camp. + +MAY 10.—The rebel General Stonewall Jackson died at Richmond, Va., of +wounds and pneumonia. + +MAY 11.—The Buell Court of Inquiry adjourned, after a session of 165 +days. + +MAY 12.—General McPherson, of Grant’s command, attacked Raymond, Miss., +and took the town after a hard fight of two hours. The enemy lost 76 +killed, 639 wounded, and 186 prisoners. + +BATTLE OF JACKSON, MISS. + +MAY 13.—Grant defeated Joseph S. Johnson and captured Jackson, Miss., +with 7 cannon, and large quantities of military stores, besides 400 +prisoners. The State Capitol was destroyed by fire. Colonel W. K. +Breckenridge, with only 55 men of the 1st Union Tennessee cavalry, +attacked twice their number of rebels at Linden, Tennessee, and +captured 43 officers and privates, 50 horses, and a quantity of other +property. + +MAY 15.—A severe fight near Suffolk, Va., in which the rebel detachment +was defeated. Faulkner’s rebel cavalry defeated near Holly Springs, +Miss. + +BATTLE OF BAKER’S CREEK, MISS. + +Between the rebel army under Lieut. General Pemberton, and the Union +forces under General Grant, occurred at Baker’s Creek, Miss., on the +15th of May. About 25,000 men were engaged upon each side. The rebels +met with a disastrous defeat, losing 2,600 in killed and wounded, 2,000 +men prisoners, and 29 pieces of artillery. + +BATTLE OF BIG BLACK RIVER. + +MAY 17.—Grant again attacked Pemberton at Big Black River bridge, and +defeated him with a total loss of 2,600 men and 17 cannon. + +MAY 24.—Austin, Mississippi, burned by Colonel Ellet’s Marine brigade. + +MAY 25.—Vallandigham delivered to the rebels at Murfreesboro’, Tenn. +Rebel Navy Yard destroyed at Yazoo City. + +MAY 28.—The gunboat Cincinnati sunk by the rebel batteries near +Vicksburg. She went down with her flag flying. 25 men were killed and +wounded, and 15 drowned. + +MAY 29.—An immense train consisting of 600 wagons, 3,000 horses and +mules, 1,500 head of cattle, and 6,000 negroes, arrived from the Teche +country, within General Banks’ lines. + +JUNE, 1863. + +JUNE 1.—General Hunter removed from the command of the Department of +the South. General Gilmore succeeds him. + +JUNE 3.—Colonel Montgomery, of the 2d South Carolina (colored) +regiment, made a most brilliant raid at the head of 200 men. He passed +up the Coosaw river, landing in full view of two rebel regiments, who +fled from the spot. He then penetrated 25 miles into the interior, and +on his return brought away 725 negroes, a fine lot of blooded horses +and other property, valued at $600,000. + +JUNE 11.—Forrest with 5,000 cavalry and two batteries of artillery, +attacked the Union cavalry at Triune, Tenn., under command of Colonel +R. B. Mitchell. The rebels were defeated, losing 21 killed and 70 +wounded and prisoners. Six of Mitchell’s men were killed. The notorious +blockade runner, Herald, was sunk at midnight by a broadside from our +blockading fleet off Charleston. + +JUNE 14.—General Ewell defeated General Milroy at Winchester, Virginia, +with a loss of 2,000 men, and drove him to Harper’s Ferry. + +JUNE 17.—The rebel ram, Atlanta, was decoyed into Wilmington Waters, +off the coast of South Carolina, and captured after a brief fight, by +the Weehawken, commanded by Captain John Rodgers. A division of our +cavalry under Colonel Kilpatrick, encountered General Fitzhugh Lee’s +cavalry brigade, consisting of five regiments, with artillery, near +Aldie, Va., and a desperate hand-to-hand encounter followed, ending in +a hasty retreat on the part of the rebel forces. 100 prisoners were +captured. + +JUNE 21.—General McClernand removed by Grant, and General Ord put in +his place. + +JUNE 23.—Rebels under Johnston attacked Osterhaus’ division on Big +Black River, Mississippi, and were defeated with great slaughter. + +JUNE 24.—Rosecrans advanced from Murfreesboro’. Liberty Gap taken by +Willich’s brigade, with a loss of 75 killed and wounded. Hoover’s Gap +taken by Colonel Wilder’s mounted brigade, with a loss of 53 killed and +wounded. + +JUNE 25.—Another fight at Liberty Gap, between a rebel division under +Claiborne, and Willich, Wilder and Carter’s brigades. Our loss, 40 +killed and 100 wounded, that of the rebels much greater. The rebels +fled in disorder. + +JUNE 26.—Rear Admiral Foote died in New York City. Colonel Wilder’s +brigade destroyed the Deckert bridge, in the rear of Bragg, between +Tullahoma and Chattanooga. + +JUNE 28.—General Hooker was relieved of his command of the Army of the +Potomac, at his own request, and General Meade succeeds him. + +JULY, 1863. BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, PENN. + +JULY 1.—In the latter part of June the rebel army, under General Lee, +invaded Pennsylvania. On the 1st of July they were attacked by General +Meade near Gettysburg, and after a three days’ battle, driven from the +field, leaving 5,000 killed and wounded in our hands. Meade took 20,000 +prisoners. Missouri passed the Ordinance of Emancipation. Rosecrans +drove Bragg from Tullahoma. + +JULY 4.—General Prentice, with 3,500 men, defeated 18,000 rebels under +Holmes at Helena, Ark. Union loss less than 100; that of the rebels +2,400, including 1,600 prisoners. + +VICKSBURG. + +JULY 4.—The siege of Vicksburg by the Union army under Grant, commenced +May 18, and was pressed forward with almost unprecedented vigor until +July 4, when Pemberton surrendered to General Grant 27,000 prisoners, +132 cannon, and 50,000 stand of arms. + +JULY 5.—John Morgan captured Lebanon, Kentucky, with 100 prisoners. + +PORT HUDSON. + +JULY 8.—In the month of May General Banks invested Port Hudson. Two +grand attacks were made by land and water on the 27th of May and 14th +of June, in which portions of the enemy’s works were taken. At last, on +the 8th of July, the commander, Major-General Gardner, surrendered with +7,000 prisoners, 60 cannon, and 10,000 stand of arms. + +MORGAN’S RAID. + +JULY 8.— Morgan, with 5,000 cavalry and 4 pieces of artillery, crossed +the Ohio river into Harrison county, Indiana, and marched rapidly +through the southern part of the State into Ohio, committing numerous +depredations. On the 18th he was overtaken by the troops under Colonels +Hobson and Judah, near Pomeroy, who captured all his artillery and +1,300 prisoners. With a mere fragment of his command he retreated +to Columbiana county, where, on the 20th, he surrendered to General +Shackleford. + +JULY 17.—General Sherman attacked Jackson, Miss., routed Johnson and +occupied the city. Large stores were captured, and also 40 locomotives, +and all the rolling stock of the 3 railroads. General Ransom occupied +Natchez. A large quantity of ammunition, 13 cannon, 2,000 head of +cattle, and 4,000 hogsheads of sugar fell into his hands. A severe +fight occurred on Elk creek, Ark., between General Blunt with 2,400 +Union troops, and General Tooper, with 5,000 rebels, in which the +former were victorious. Union loss 40, that of the rebels 184. + +JULY 20.—A cavalry expedition sent out by General Foster, struck the +Wilmington and Weldon railroad at Rocky Mount, N. C., burnt the long +bridge over Tar river, tore up two miles of track, destroyed the depot, +a large cotton factory, a valuable supply train, and 5,000 bales of +rebel cotton. A cavalry force under Colonel Tolland, of the 34th Ohio +mounted infantry, burned Wytheville, Va., after a severe fight, taking +3 cannon, 700 stand of arms, and 120 prisoners. Our loss was 65, +including the brave Colonel Tolland; that of the rebels 75 killed and +many wounded. + +JULY 22.—Colonel Wilder, of Rosecrans’ advance, shelled Chattanooga. +Brashear City, La., recaptured by the Union gunboat Sachem. + +JULY 23.—A gallant fight occurred near Manassas Gap, in which 800 men +of General Spinola’s brigade, utterly routed twice their number of +Georgia and North Carolina troops, with 17 cannon. + +JULY 23.—Kentucky again invaded. A small detachment of Union troops at +Richmond, under Colonel Sanders, badly cut up by 2,000 rebels under +Colonel Pegram, and compelled to retreat to Lexington. Kit Carson, with +a part of the 1st New Mexico regiment, defeated the Navajoe Indians in +a severe fight beyond Fort Canby. + +JULY 31.—The Union forces in Kentucky, under Colonel Saunders, +thoroughly routed the rebel troops under Scott and Pegram. + +AUGUST, 1863. + +AUGUST 2.—A severe though indecisive cavalry fight occurred at +Culpeper, Va., between Buford and Stuart, in which 100 prisoners were +captured by the Union troops. + +AUGUST 17.—The rebels having collected an immense quantity of stores at +Grenada, Mississippi, General Hurlbut sent out an expedition under the +command of Lieut. Col. Phillips, of the 9th Illinois Mounted Infantry, +to destroy them. Leaving Lagrange, Tenn., on the 13th, Col. Phillips +attacked the rebel forces at Grenada, consisting of 2,000 men, under +command of General Slimmer, and drove them in confusion from the place. +He then destroyed all the ordnance and commissary stores, burnt the +depot and machine shop, tore up the railroad track and destroyed 57 +locomotives, and more than 400 cars. + +AUGUST 20.—The town of Lawrence, Kansas, was surprised in the middle +of the night by 300 guerillas, who had collected in Cass county, +Mo., under the leadership of Quantrill. The town was set on fire and +182 buildings burned to the ground, and $2,000,000 worth of property +destroyed. 191 persons were killed, many of whom were helpless women +and children; 581 were wounded, many of them mortally. After the +departure of the guerillas, the citizens organized under General James +H. Lane and pursued them to their headquarters at Grand River, Mo., +where they scattered in various directions. About 80 of the murderers +were killed. + +AUGUST 22.—Colonel Woodson’s cavalry made a successful onslaught upon +numerous guerilla bands in Arkansas, capturing Jeff. Thompson with his +entire staff. General Blunt, with 4,500 men, attacked General Cooper, +with 11,000 rebel troops, in the Indian Territory, and compelled him to +retreat to Red River. + +AUGUST 29.—The rebel army in Arkansas, under General Price, severely +pushed by the Union forces under General Steele. Steele’s advance, +under General Davidson, drove 3,000 rebels, under Marmaduke, out of +Brownsville, and across the Arkansas river. + +SEPTEMBER, 1863. + +SEPT. 1.—General Blunt defeated the rebel forces in Arkansas under +Cooper and Cobell, and captured Fort Smith. The rebels evacuated Little +Rock. + +SEPT. 4.—Burnside occupied Knoxville, Tenn., and was hailed with +delight by the inhabitants. + +SEPT. 8.—A land and naval force under the command of General Franklin, +made an attack on the rebel fortifications at Sabine City, Texas, but +were repulsed with a loss of two small boats. + +SEPT. 9.—General Crittenden’s Division of Rosecrans’ army, entered +Chattanooga. + +SEPT. 10.—General Burnside captured Cumberland Gap, with 2,000 +prisoners and 14 pieces of artillery, under the command of +Major-General Frazer. General Steele took possession of Little Rock, +Ark. + +CHICKAMAUGA. + +SEPT. 19.—The battle was commenced by General Bragg in the morning +and continued all day.—At night both armies occupied nearly the same +position that they did in the morning. On the next day the battle +was renewed by the rebels and lasted until dark. The Union army was +defeated and driven back to Chattanooga. The Federal loss was about +1,800 killed and 9,500 wounded, and 2,500 prisoners. + +OCTOBER, 1863. + +OCT. 9.—Wheeler’s rebel cavalry, which had come north of the Tennessee +river, for the purpose of cutting Rosecrans’ communications, was +defeated with considerable loss, at Farmington, Tenn., and again near +Shelbyville. + +OCT. 20.—The Departments of the Cumberland and Mississippi were +consolidated and placed under the command of General Grant. General +Rosecrans removed and General Thomas appointed in his place. + +NOVEMBER, 1863—CHATTANOOGA. + +NOV. 25.—The rebel army under Bragg was badly whipped near Chattanooga, +losing about 6,000 prisoners, and 52 guns. The Union loss was between +3,000 and 4,000 in killed and wounded. + +DECEMBER, 1863. + +DEC. 4.—General Longstreet commenced the siege of Knoxville, November +17th. On the 29th there was a severe fight, in which the Confederates +were defeated. This, with the defeat of Bragg, at Chattanooga, +compelled Longstreet to raise the siege. He retreated toward Virginia, +pursued by Burnside’s forces; while another army under General Foster, +started from Cumberland Gap to cut off their retreat. + +FEBRUARY, 1864. + +FEB. 1.—The Union outposts near Newburn were attacked by a strong force +and fell back in good order, with but little loss. + +FEB. 9.—A large number of prisoners, including Colonel Streight, +escaped from Libby Prison, Richmond. + +FEB. 15.—General W. T. Sherman, with his command, arrived at Meridian, +Miss., on his great raid into the heart of the enemy’s country. After +accomplishing his object in destroying railroads and stores, he +returned to Vicksburg with immense booty. + +FEB. 20.—The advance into Florida of the Union forces, about 5,000 +strong, under General Seymour, was repulsed near Olustee, with a loss +of 1,200. Rebel loss about the same. + +FEB. 22.—A heavy reconnoitering force sent out from Chattanooga by +General Grant, met and defeated the enemy at Tunnel Hill. + +MARCH, 1864. + +MARCH 8.—General Grant was formally presented, by the President, with +his commission as Lieutenant-General, and on the 12th was assigned to +the command of the armies of the United States. + +MARCH 15.—The Union forces under General A. J. Smith, captured Fort De +Russey, La., on Red river, with 325 prisoners, 12 pieces of artillery, +2,000 barrels of powder, with an immense amount of ammunition and +stores. + +MARCH 25.—About 5,000 rebels under Forrester, captured Paducah, Ky., +and fired the place. Union loss, 12 killed and 40 wounded; rebel loss, +150 killed. + +MARCH 28.—The 54th Illinois regiment attacked by Coles county +copperheads, at Charleston, Ill. + +APRIL, 1864. + +APRIL 8.—The advance of General Banks’ expedition up Red river, under +the direction of General Stone, was repulsed near Shreveport, La.; but +on the following day our men defeated the enemy. Our loss was about +2,000 and the enemy’s the same. + +APRIL 12.—General Forrest overpowered the Union forces at Fort +Pillow, compelled them to surrender, and immediately after commenced +an indiscriminate massacre of our wounded soldiers, both colored and +white—not excepting women and children who had taken refuge in the fort. + +APRIL 17 and 18.—At Plymouth, N. C., the rebel ram and a battery sunk +three Union gunboats. + +APRIL 23.—The Governors of Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana +offer to raise for the General Government 85,000 men for one hundred +days. + +APRIL 26.—Government accept service of one hundred day men, and +appropriated $20,000,000 for their payment. + +MAY, 1864. + +MAY 5.—Draft ordered in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Minnesota, +Kentucky and Maryland. + +MAY 6.—General Grant crossed the Rapidan, and Lee fell back toward +Richmond. + +MAY 7.—Grant still advances driving Lee’s forces before him. + +MAY 8.—Sherman occupied Dalton. + +MAY 9.—After 3 days’ hard fighting Lee’s forces retreated, leaving +3,000 killed and 10,000 wounded on the field, in possession of the +Union army. + +BATTLE AT SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. + +MAY 12.—Union troops victorious. They capture 4,000 prisoners and 25 +pieces of artillery. + +MAY 13.—General Sheridan, with cavalry, reached the rear of the enemy, +near Hanover Junction, breaking two railroads, capturing several +locomotives, and destroying Lee’s depot for supplies at Beaver Dam, +containing over 1,000,000 rations. + +MAY 15.—Sherman forced Johnson to evacuate Resaca, after two days’ +fighting. + +MAY 23.—Army of the Potomac flanked the rebels, under Lee, and forced +them to evacuate their fortifications near Spottsylvania Court House. +John Morgan enters Kentucky with 4,000 men. + +MAY 27.—Grant crossed the Pamunkey, and occupied Hanovertown. + +MAY 30.—Grant reached Mechanicsville. + +JUNE, 1864.—BATTLE OF COAL HARBOR. + +JUNE 3.—In which the rebels are routed with heavy loss. + +JUNE 5.—Sherman flanked Johnson and captured Ackworth Station. + +JUNE 7.—General Hunter defeats the rebel General Jones, near Staunton, +Va. + +UNION CONVENTION AT BALTIMORE. + +JUNE 8.—Abraham Lincoln and Governor Andrew Johnson were nominated for +President and Vice-President. Morgan defeated by General Burbridge, +near Lexington, Ky. + +JUNE 11.—Morgan demanded of Governor Bramlette the surrender of +Frankfort, which the Governor refused. + +JUNE 12.—General Hancock drove the rebels from Bottom Bridge at the +point of the bayonet. + +JUNE 15.—General Smith attacked with a force of 15,000 men. + +JUNE 20.—Rebels strongly reinforced by Lee. + +JUNE 23.—Rebels attack Wright and Hancock, capturing 3 full regiments, +after which they are repulsed. + +JUNE 27.—Sherman made an unsuccessful attack on the enemy’s position, +losing from 2,000 to 3,000 men. + +JUNE 28.—Left wing of Grant’s army take possession of the Weldon +railroad. + +JUNE 30.—Secretary Chase resigned, and Hon. Wm. P. Fessenden was +appointed to fill the vacancy. + +JULY, 1864. + +JULY 10.—Rebels invade Maryland. The Union forces under General +Wallace, defeated at the Monacacy river. + +JULY 13 and 15.—The rebels under General Forrest, defeated in 5 +different battles near Pontotoc, Mo. + +JULY 17.—The rebel army was driven within the fortifications at Atlanta. + +JULY 20.—The enemy assaulted General Sherman’s lines 3 times, but were +repulsed each time with severe loss. General Averill defeated the enemy +near Winchester, Va. + +JULY 22.—A great battle was fought before Atlanta, resulting in the +complete defeat of the Confederates. + +JULY 25.—General Crook overtook the rebels retreating from the Maryland +raid, and recaptured a large amount of stores. After severe fighting +on the 23d and 24th July, General Averill is compelled to fall back to +Harper’s Ferry. + +JULY 30.—A mine containing 6 tons of powder, under a rebel fort at +Petersburg, was exploded, destroying the fort and garrison. + +AUGUST, 1864. + +AUGUST 5.—Commodore Farragut’s fleet passed Forts Morgan and Gaines. +The rebel ram Tennessee was captured, and several other vessels +destroyed. Shortly after Fort Gaines surrendered and Fort Powell was +evacuated. + +AUGUST 7.—General Averill defeated the enemy at Morefield, Virginia. + +AUGUST 15.—The rebel General Wheeler repulsed at Dalton, Georgia. + +AUGUST 18.—The Weldon railroad seized by General Grant. + +AUGUST 23.—Fort Morgan surrendered. + +AUGUST 25.—General Hancock, who held the Weldon railroad south of +Reams’ station, was attacked several times, but repulsed the enemy each +time. + +SEPTEMBER, 1864. + +SEPT. 1.—General Sherman defeated the enemy at Jonesboro, Georgia. + +SEPT. 2.—The Federal troops took possession of Atlanta. + +SEPT. 5.—The rebel General John Morgan was killed near Greenville, Tenn. + +SEPT. 7.—A force of 2,000 rebels defeated at Readyville, Tennessee. + +SEPT. 19.—General Sheridan gained a complete victory over the enemy in +the Shenandoah valley. + +SEPT. 22.—The battle at Fisher’s Hill was fought, resulting in the +defeat of the rebel army. + +SEPT. 28.—General Grant advanced his lines on the north side of the +James river to within 7 miles of Richmond. The rebels under General +Price invade Missouri. + +OCTOBER, 1864. + +OCT. 5.—The rebels attack Allatoona, Ga., but were repulsed with severe +loss. + +OCT. 7.—The pirate vessel Florida captured by the U. S. steamer +Wachusett. + +OCT. 8.—The rebels in the Shenandoah valley are again defeated by +Sheridan. + +OCT. 19.—General Sheridan gained his fourth victory over the rebels +under Early, at Cedar creek, Va. + +OCT. 23.—The rebel General Price defeated at Blue river, Missouri. + +OCT. 28.—General Blunt defeated the rebels under Price, at Neosho, Mo. + +OCT. 30.—General Hood made three attacks on Decatur, Ala., but was +repulsed each time. + +NOVEMBER, 1864. + +NOV. 3.—The rebel ram Albemarle destroyed by Lieutenant Cushing. The +Confederate army under Hood, attempted to cross the Tennessee, but were +repulsed by the Federal army, under General Sherman. + +NOV. 8.—The Presidential election took place. Lincoln and Johnson +received 212, McClellan and Pendleton 21 electoral votes. + +NOV. 16.—General Sherman left Atlanta, and began his march through +Georgia, to Savannah. + +NOV. 30.—The rebel army under General Hood, attacked the Union troops +under General Schofield, at Franklin, Tenn., but were repulsed with +great loss. + +DECEMBER, 1864. + +DEC. 13.—Fort McAllister captured by Gen. Sherman’s army. + +DEC. 16.—General Thomas defeated the enemy at Nashville, Tenn., with +heavy loss, capturing a large number of guns and prisoners. + +DEC. 20.—The rebels under General Breckinridge defeated in +South-Western Virginia, and the salt works destroyed. + +DEC. 21.—General Sherman entered the city of Savannah, capturing 150 +cannon, 30,000 bales of cotton, and a large amount of munitions of war. + +DEC. 29.—Hood’s army crossed the Tennessee river, thus ending the +Tennessee campaign. + +JANUARY, 1865. + +JAN. 3.—Massachusetts ratified Constitutional Amendment. + +JAN. 8.—General Butler removed from the command of the army of the +James, and is succeeded by General Ord. + +JAN. 11.—The garrison at Beverly, Va., was attacked by a rebel force +under General Rosser. The town and a large portion of the force +defending it, were captured. + +JAN. 16.—Fort Fisher, near Wilmington, N. C., captured with all its +equipments. + +JAN. 20.—Rebels evacuate Corinth. + +JAN. 21.—Peace rumors. + +JAN. 27.—Rebel incendiaries set fire to the city of Savannah. + +FEBRUARY, 1865. + +FEB. 1.—Illinois ratified the Constitutional Amendment. + +FEB. 2.—Maryland, Michigan, New York and Rhode Island, ratified the +Constitutional Amendment. + +FEB. 4.—Illinois Black Laws repealed. + +FEB. 7.—Maine ratified the Constitutional Amendment. + +FEB. 12.—General Sherman occupied Branchville, S. C. + +FEB. 13.—Indiana ratified the Constitutional Amendment. + +FEB. 17.—Louisiana ratified the Constitutional Amendment. General +Sherman’s victorious columns entered Columbia, S. C., and burned the +city. + +FEB. 18.—Charleston, S. C., evacuated and taken possession of by +General Gilmore. Great amount of valuable property destroyed, six +thousand bales of cotton. Ammunition stored in the railroad depot +exploded, and many lives were lost. General Gilmore hoisted the old +flag over Fort Sumter. + +FEB. 19.—Fort Anderson, N. C. taken. + +FEB. 21.—Wisconsin ratified the Constitutional Amendment. Fort +Armstrong, N. C., taken. + +FEB. 22.—Wilmington captured. + +MARCH, 1865. + +MARCH 2.—General Sheridan fought and captured the rebel General Early, +with 1,800 men, between Staunton and Charlottesville. + +MARCH 10.—General Bragg attacked General Cox near Kingston, N. C., but +was defeated. General Sherman occupied Fayetteville, N. C. + +MARCH 12.—Mobile attacked. + +MARCH 13.—General Schofield occupied Kingston. + +MARCH 16.—Rebel General Hardee defeated at Averysboro’, North Carolina. + +MARCH 17.—Rebel Congress adjourned, _sine die_. + +MARCH 19.—Rebel General Johnson defeated at Bentonville, North Carolina. + +MARCH 25.—Rebels attack General Grant and got soundly whipped. + +APRIL, 1865. + +APRIL 3.—Richmond taken. + +APRIL 9.—General Lee surrendered. Mobile captured. + +APRIL 12.—Salisbury, N. C., captured. Mobile captured by General Canby, +1,000 prisoners, 150 cannon, 3,000 bales of cotton. Columbus, Ga., +captured. + +APRIL 13.—Raleigh, N. C., captured. Governor Vance taken prisoner. + +APRIL 14.—President Lincoln assassinated. Secretary Seward stabbed. +Arkansas ratified the Constitutional Amendment. + +APRIL 15.—President Lincoln died about 7 o’clock, A. M. + +APRIL 16.—Andrew Johnson took the oath and was declared President of +the United States. + +APRIL 26.—General Johnson surrendered. The war is over. + +APRIL 27.—Booth, the murderer of President Lincoln shot and captured. +Dead. + +MAY, 1865. + +MAY 8.—Subscriptions to 7-30 loan $6,183,000. + +MAY 9.—Subscriptions to 7-30 loan $15,165,300. + +MAY 10.—Jefferson Davis captured at Irwinville, 75 miles south-west of +Macon, Ga., by the 4th Michigan cavalry, under Colonel Pritchard, of +General Wilson’s command. Also, his wife, mother, Postmaster-general +Regan, Colonel Harrison, Private Secretary, Colonel Johnson and other +military characters. Subscription to 7-30 loan $17,410,100. + +MAY 11.—Subscription to 7-30 loan $15,411,800. + +MAY 12.—Subscription to 7-30 loan $13,762,100. + +MAY 13.—Subscriptions to 7-30 loan $30,451,950. Total for one week +$98,000,000. + +MAY 19.—Rebel Governor Watts, of Alabama, arrested. + +MAY 21.—Rebel Governor Letcher, of Virginia, arrested. + +MAY 24.—Grand review of General Sherman’s army at Washington. Jefferson +Davis indicted for treason. + +MAY 26.—Kirby Smith surrendered. The last armed rebel organization has +succumbed. + +MAY 31.—Rebel General Hood and staff surrendered. + + + + +Pay of Officers of the U. S., Civil and Military. + + +EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. + + President $25,000 per annum + Private Secretary 2,500 ” ” + Private Secretary to sign Patents 1,500 ” ” + Vice-President 8,000 ” ” + + +HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS. + + Secretary of State $8,000 per annum + Secretary of the Treasury 8,000 ” ” + Secretary of War 8,000 ” ” + Secretary of the Navy 8,000 ” ” + Secretary of the Interior 8,000 ” ” + Postmaster-General 8,000 ” ” + Attorney-General 8,000 ” ” + + +LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT. + + Speaker of House of Representatives, + (mileage, 20 cents per mile.) $8,000 per annum + U. S. Senators, Members of Congress, 5,000 ” ” + and Delegates from Territories + + +JUDICIARY, (SUPREME COURT OF U. S.) + + Chief Justice $6,500 per annum + Associate Justices, [8 in number] 6,000 ” ” + (Court meets first Monday in December) + + MINISTERS AND DIPLOMATIC AGENTS OF THE UNITED STATES + IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES—ENVOYS EXTRAORDINARY AND + MINISTERS PLENIPOTENTIARY. + + Minister to Great Britain $17,500 per annum + Minister to Russia 12,000 ” ” + Minister to France 17,500 ” ” + Minister to Spain 12,000 ” ” + Minister to Prussia 12,000 ” ” + Minister to Austria 12,000 ” ” + Minister to Italy 12,000 ” ” + Minister to China 12,000 ” ” + Minister to Mexico 12,000 ” ” + Minister to Brazil 12,000 ” ” + Minister to Chili 10,000 ” ” + Minister to Peru 10,000 ” ” + Minister to Nicaragua 7,000 ” ” + + +MINISTERS RESIDENT. + + Minister in Portugal $7,500 per annum + Minister in Belgium 7,500 ” ” + Minister in Netherlands 7,500 ” ” + Minister in Denmark 7,500 ” ” + Minister in Sweden and Norway 7,500 ” ” + Minister in Switzerland 7,500 ” ” + Minister in Pontif States 7,500 ” ” + Minister in Turkey 7,500 ” ” + Minister in Japan 7,500 ” ” + Minister in Costa Rica 7,500 ” ” + Minister in Guatemala 7,500 ” ” + Minister in Honduras 7,500 ” ” + Minister in Salvador 7,500 ” ” + Minister in New Granada 7,500 ” ” + Minister in Venezuela 7,500 ” ” + Minister in Ecuador 7,500 ” ” + Minister in Argentine Confederation 7,500 ” ” + Minister in Hawaiian Islands 7,500 ” ” + + +WAR DEPARTMENT. + + Secretary of War $8,000 per annum + Assistant Secretary of War 3,000 ” ” + Second Assistant Secretary of War 3,000 ” ” + Commander-in-Chief 5,340 ” ” + Adjutant-General 3,594 ” ” + Assistant Adjutant-General 2,532 ” ” + Second Assistant Adjutant-General 1,956 ” ” + Third Assistant Adjutant-General 1,956 ” ” + Fourth Assistant Adjutant-General 1,956 ” ” + Chief Clerk Adjutant-General’s Bureau 1,800 ” ” + Inspector General 2,532 ” ” + Judge Advocate General 2,532 ” ” + Deputy Judge Advocate 1,956 ” ” + Quartermaster General 3,594 ” ” + Deputy Quartermaster General 2,244 ” ” + Assistant Quartermaster 2,532 ” ” + Chief Clerk Quartermaster’s Bureau 1,800 ” ” + Chief Engineer 3,594 ” ” + Assistant Engineer 1,596 ” ” + Chief Clerk of Engineer Bureau 1,800 ” ” + Provost Marshal General —— + Surgeon General 3,594 ” ” + Assistant Surgeon General 2,532 ” ” + Chief Clerk Surgeon General’s Bureau 1,800 ” ” + Chief of Ordnance 3,594 ” ” + Assistant Chief of Ordnance 1,554 ” ” + Chief Clerk of Ordnance Bureau 1,800 ” ” + Paymaster General 2,740 ” ” + Deputy Paymaster General 2,144 ” ” + Additional Paymaster 1,950 ” ” + Chief Clerk Paymaster General’s Bureau 1,800 ” ” + Commissary General of Subsistence 2,532 ” ” + Assistant Commissary General 1,956 ” ” + Second Assistant Commissary General 1,956 ” ” + Chief Clerk Commissary General’s Bureau 1,800 ” ” + + +GENERAL OFFICERS. + + Lieutenant-General $720 00 per month + Aids-de-camp and military secretary to + Lieutenant-General, each 170 00 ” ” + Major-General 445 00 ” ” + Senior Aid-de-camp to General-in-Chief 163 00 ” ” + Aid-de-camp, in addition to pay, etc., of + Lieutenant or Captain 24 00 ” ” + Brigadier-General 299 50 ” ” + Aid-de-camp, in addition to pay, etc., as + Lieutenant 11 00 ” ” + + +ADJUTANT-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT. + + Adjutant-General—Brigadier-General $407 50 per month + Assistant Adjutant-General—Colonel 211 00 ” ” + Assistant Adjutant-General—Lt. Colonel 187 00 ” ” + Assistant Adjutant-General—Major 163 00 ” ” + Judge Advocate General—Colonel 211 00 ” ” + Judge Advocate—Major 163 00 ” ” + Division Major 163 00 ” ” + + +INSPECTOR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT. + + Inspector General—Colonel $211 00 per month + Assistant Inspector General—Major 163 00 ” ” + + +SIGNAL DEPARTMENT. + + Signal Officer—Colonel $211 00 per month + + +PAY DEPARTMENT. + + Paymaster General $288 33 per month + Deputy Paymaster General 187 00 ” ” + Paymaster 163 00 ” ” + + +OFFICERS OF THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERS, AND +ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT. + + Chief of Ordinance—Brigadier-General $407 50 per month + Colonel 211 00 ” ” + Lieutenant Colonel 187 00 ” ” + Major 163 00 ” ” + Captain 129 50 ” ” + First Lieutenant 112 83 ” ” + Second Lieutenant 112 83 ” ” + Brevet Second Lieutenant 112 83 ” ” + + +OFFICERS OF MOUNTED DRAGOONS, CAVALRY, RIFLEMEN, AND LIGHT ARTILLERY. + + Colonel $211 00 per month + Lieutenant Colonel 187 00 ” ” + Major 163 00 ” ” + Captain 129 50 ” ” + First Lieutenant 112 83 ” ” + Second Lieutenant 112 83 ” ” + Brevet Second Lieutenant 112 83 ” ” + + +QUARTERMASTER’S DEPARTMENT. + + Quartermaster General—Brigadier General $407 50 per month + Assistant Quartermaster General—Colonel 211 00 ” ” + Deputy Quartermaster General—Lt. Colonel 187 00 ” ” + Quartermaster—Major 163 00 ” ” + Assistant Quartermaster—Captain 129 50 ” ” + + +SUBSISTENCE DEPARTMENT. + + Commissary General of Subsistence— + Brigadier General $299 50 per month + Assistant Commissary General—Lt. Colonel 187 00 ” ” + Commissary of Subsistence—Major 163 00 ” ” + Commissary of Subsistence—Captain 129 50 ” ” + Assistant Commissary of Subsistence, + in addition to pay, etc., as Lieutenant 11 00 ” ” + + +MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. + + Surgeon General—Brigadier General $299 50 per month + Assistant Surgeon General 211 00 ” ” + Medical Inspector General 211 00 ” ” + Medical Inspector 187 00 ” ” + Surgeons of ten years’ service 199 00 ” ” + Surgeons of less than ten years’ service 163 00 ” ” + Assistant Surgeons of ten years’ service 165 50 ” ” + Assistant Surgeons of five years’ service 129 50 ” ” + Assistant Surgeons of less than five years’ + service 112 83 ” ” + + Adjutant, Regimental Quartermaster, and + Regimental Commissary, in addition to + pay of Lieutenant, each 10 00 ” ” + + +OFFICERS OF ARTILLERY AND INFANTRY. + + Colonel $194 00 per month + Lieutenant Colonel 170 00 ” ” + Major 151 00 ” ” + Captain 118 50 ” ” + First Lieutenant 108 50 ” ” + Second Lieutenant 103 50 ” ” + Brevet Second Lieutenant 103 50 ” ” + Adjutant, in addition to pay, etc., of Lieut 10 00 ” ” + Regimental Quartermaster, in addition to + pay, etc., of Lieutenant 10 00 ” ” + + +PAY OF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, PRIVATES, ETC.—CAVALRY. + + Sergeant-Major $21 00 per month + Quartermaster Sergeant 21 00 ” ” + Chief Bugler 21 00 ” ” + First Sergeant 20 00 ” ” + Sergeant 17 00 ” ” + Saddler Sergeant 21 00 ” ” + Commissary Sergeant 21 00 ” ” + Hospital Steward 30 00 ” ” + Corporal 14 00 ” ” + Bugler, or Trumpeter 13 00 ” ” + Farrier and Blacksmith 15 00 ” ” + Private 13 00 ” ” + Veterinary Surgeon 75 00 ” ” + African under-cooks 10 00 ” ” + + +ORDNANCE. + + Sergeant $34 00 per month + Corporal 20 00 ” ” + Wagoner 14 00 ” ” + Saddler 14 00 ” ” + Private—first class 17 00 ” ” + Private—second class 16 00 ” ” + + +ARTILLERY AND INFANTRY. + + Sergeant-Major $21 00 per month + Quartermaster Sergeant 21 00 ” ” + Commissary Sergeant 21 00 ” ” + First Sergeant 20 00 ” ” + Sergeant 17 00 ” ” + Hospital Steward 30 00 ” ” + Corporal 14 00 ” ” + Artificer, Artillery 15 00 ” ” + Private 13 00 ” ” + Principal Musician 21 00 ” ” + Musician 12 00 ” ” + African under-cooks 10 00 ” ” + + +SAPPERS AND MINERS, AND PONTOONIERS. + + Sergeant $34 00 per month + Corporal 20 00 ” ” + Private—first class 17 00 ” ” + Private—second class 16 00 ” ” + Musician 12 00 ” ” + African under-cooks 10 00 ” ” + + +BRIGADE BANDS. + + Leader $45 00 per month + Four of the Band 34 00 ” ” + Eight of the Band 17 00 ” ” + Four of the Band 20 00 ” ” + + +MISCELLANEOUS. + + Medical Cadets $30 00 ” ” + Hospital Steward—first class 22 00 ” ” + Matron 6 00 ” ” + Female nurses 40 cents per day. + + + + +PAY OF THE NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES. + + +REAR ADMIRALS—ACTIVE LIST. + + When at sea $5,000 per annum + When on shore duty 4,000 ” ” + On leave, or waiting orders 3,000 ” ” + On Retired List 2,000 ” ” + + +COMMODORES—ACTIVE LIST. + + When at sea $4,000 per annum + When on shore duty 2,800 ” ” + On leave, or waiting orders 2,100 ” ” + On Retired List 1,600 ” ” + + +COMMANDERS—ACTIVE LIST. + + When at sea $2,800 per annum + When on shore duty 2,240 ” ” + On leave, or waiting orders 1,680 ” ” + On Retired List 1,400 ” ” + + +LIEUTENANT COMMANDERS—ACTIVE LIST. + + When at sea $2,343 per annum + When on shore duty 1,875 ” ” + On leave, or waiting orders 1,500 ” ” + On Retired List 1,300 ” ” + + +LIEUTENANTS—ACTIVE LIST. + + When at sea $1,875 per annum + When on shore duty 1,500 ” ” + On leave, or waiting orders 1,200 ” ” + On Retired List 1,000 ” ” + + +MASTERS—ACTIVE LIST. + + When at sea $1,500 per annum + When on shore duty 1,200 ” ” + On leave, or waiting orders 960 ” ” + On Retired List 800 ” ” + + +ENSIGNS—ACTIVE LIST. + + When at sea $1,200 per annum + When on shore duty 960 ” ” + On leave, or waiting orders 768 ” ” + On Retired List 500 ” ” + + Midshipmen 500 ” ” + Fleet Surgeons 3,300 ” ” + + +SURGEONS. + + For second five years after date of commission $2,400 per annum + + +RETIRED SURGEONS. + + Surgeons ranking with commanders $1,100 per annum + Surgeons ranking with lieutenants 1,000 ” ” + + +RETIRED PASSED AND ASSISTANT SURGEONS. + + Passed $850 per annum + Assistant 650 ” ” + + +PASSED ASSISTANT SURGEONS. + + On duty at sea $1,500 per annum + On other duty 1,400 ” ” + On leave, or waiting orders 1,100 ” ” + + +ASSISTANT SURGEONS. + + On duty at sea $1,250 per annum + On other duty 1,050 ” ” + On leave, or waiting orders 800 ” ” + + +PAYMASTERS. + + On duty at sea—for fourth five years after + date of commission $2,900 per annum + + +PAYMASTERS RETIRED. + + Ranking with Captains $1,300 per annum + Ranking with Commanders 1,100 ” ” + Ranking with Lieutenants 1,000 ” ” + + +ASSISTANT PAYMASTERS. + + On duty at sea—after five years from date of + commission $1,500 per annum + On leave, or waiting orders 800 ” ” + + +CHAPLAINS, + + To be paid as Lieutenants. + + +PROFESSORS OF MATHEMATICS. + + On duty $1,800 per annum + On leave, or waiting orders 960 ” ” + + +BOATSWAINS, GUNNERS, CARPENTERS, AND SAILMAKERS. + + On duty at sea—for first three years’ + sea service from date of appointment. $1,000 per annum + For twelve years’ service and upwards 1,450 ” ” + On leave, or waiting orders—for twelve years’ + sea service and upwards 1,000 ” ” + +[Illustration: FRANKLIN PIERCE.] + + +CHIEF ENGINEERS. + + On duty—for first five years after date of + commission $1,800 per annum + After fifteen years from date of commission 2,600 ” ” + On leave, or waiting orders, after fifteen years + from date of commission 1,500 ” ” + + +FIRST ASSISTANT ENGINEERS. + + On duty $1,500 per annum + On leave, or waiting orders 900 ” ” + + +SECOND ASSISTANT ENGINEERS. + + On duty $1,000 per annum + On leave, or waiting orders 750 ” ” + + +NAVY AGENT. + + Commission not to exceed $3,000 per annum + Navy Agent at San Francisco 4,000 ” ” + Temporary Navy Agents + Naval Storekeepers + + Officers of the Navy on Foreign Stations $1,500 per annum + Engineer-in-Chief 3,000 ” ” + Naval Constructors 2,600 ” ” + ” ” when not on duty 1,800 ” ” + Secretaries to commanders of squadrons 1,500 ” ” + Clerks to commanders of squadrons and + commanders of vessels 500 ” ” + At Navy Yards—Boston and New York 1,200 ” ” + At Navy Yard—Washington 1,200 ” ” + At Navy Yards—Portsmouth, N. H., and + Philadelphia 1,200 ” ” + At Navy Yard—Mare Island 1,500 ” ” + + +YEOMEN. + + In ships-of-the-line $45 00 per month + In frigates 40 00 ” ” + In sloops 30 00 ” ” + In smaller vessels 24 00 ” ” + + +ARMORERS. + + In ships-of-the-line $30 00 per month + In frigates 25 00 ” ” + In sloops 20 00 ” ” + + +MATES. + + Master’s (Acting) $40 00 per month + Boatswains 25 00 ” ” + Gunners 25 00 ” ” + Carpenters 25 00 ” ” + Sailmakers 20 00 ” ” + Armorers 20 00 ” ” + + Masters-at-Arms 25 00 ” ” + Ship’s Corporals 20 00 ” ” + Coxswains 24 00 ” ” + Quartermasters 24 00 ” ” + Quarter Gunners 20 00 ” ” + + +CAPTAINS. + + Of forecastle $24 00 per month + Of tops 20 00 ” ” + Of afterguard 20 00 ” ” + Of hold 20 00 ” ” + + Coopers 20 00 ” ” + Painters 20 00 ” ” + + +STEWARDS. + + Ship’s $30 00 per month + Officers’ 20 00 ” ” + Surgeons’, where ship’s complement is 400 + and over 40 00 ” ” + Surgeons’, where ship’s complement is 200 + and under 400 33 00 ” ” + Surgeons’, where ship’s complement is under + 200 25 00 ” ” + Paymaster’s, where ship’s complement is 240 + and over 33 00 ” ” + Assistant Paymaster’s, where complement is + 100 and over 33 00 ” ” + Assistant Paymaster’s, where complement is + under 100 30 00 ” ” + + +NURSES. + + Where complement is less than 200, one nurse $14 00 per month + Where complement is over 200, two nurses, each 14 00 ” ” + + +COOKS. + + Ship’s $24 00 per month + Officer’s 20 00 ” ” + + +MUSICIANS. + + Masters of the Band $20 00 per month + First class 15 00 ” ” + Second class 12 00 ” ” + + Seamen $18 00 per month + Ordinary Seamen 14 00 ” ” + Landsmen 12 00 ” ” + Boys 8-9 00 ” ” + + +FIREMEN. + + First class $30 00 per month + Second class 25 00 ” ” + Coal Heavers 18 00 ” ” + + +MARINE CORPS. + + Colonel Commandant $3,186 00 per annum + Paymaster, with rank of Major 2,154 00 ” ” + Adjutant and Inspector, with rank of + Major 2,154 00 ” ” + Quartermaster, with rank of Major 2,154 00 ” ” + Assistant Quartermaster, with rank of + Captain 1,752 00 ” ” + Colonel 2,529 00 ” ” + Lieutenant Colonel 2,239 50 ” ” + Major 2,010 00 ” ” + +NOTE.—By a late act of Congress, the monthly pay of private soldiers +has been increased three dollars, that of non-commissioned officers +being proportionately advanced. And a tax of five per cent. was imposed +on the salaries of commissioned officers, thus, indirectly reducing +their pay. + + + + +SCHEDULE OF STAMP DUTIES. + + + Stamp Duties. + _Acknowledgment_ of deeds exempt. + _Affidavit_ 5 cts. + ” in suits or legal proceedings exempt. + _Agreement_ or Appraisement, (for each sheet, or piece of + paper on which the same is written) 5 cts. + _Assignment_ or transfer of mortgage, lease, or policy of + insurance, the same duty as the original + instrument. + ” of patent right 5 cts. + _Bank Checks_, drafts or orders, &c., at sight or on demand 2 cts. + _Bills of Exchange_, (Foreign,) drawn in, but payable out + of, the United States, each bill of three + or more, must be stamped. + For every bill of each set, where the sum + made payable does not exceed one hundred + dollars, or the equivalent thereof in + any foreign currency in which such bills + may be expressed, according to the standard + of value fixed by the United States 2 cts. + For every additional hundred dollars, or + fractional part thereof in excess of one + hundred dollars 2 cts. + (Foreign,) drawn in, but made payable out + of, the United States, (if drawn singly or + in duplicate,) pay the same duty as Inland + Bills of Exchange. + [The acceptor or acceptors of any Bill of + Exchange, or order for the payment of + any sum of money drawn, or purporting + to be drawn, in any foreign country, but + payable in the United States, must, before + paying or accepting the same, place + thereon a stamp indicating the duty.] + _Bills of Exchange_, (Inland,) draft or order, payable + otherwise than at sight or on demand, and + any promissory note, whether payable on + demand or at a time designated, (except + bank notes issued for circulation, and + checks made and intended to be, and + which shall be, forthwith presented for + payment,) for a sum not exceeding one + hundred dollars 5 cts. + For every additional $100, or fractional + part thereof 5 cts. + [The warrant of attorney to confess judgment + on a note or bond is exempt from + stamp duty, if the note or bond is properly + stamped.] + _Bills of Lading_, of vessels for ports of the United States + or British North America exempt. + ” or receipt for goods, to any foreign port 10 cts. + _Bill of Sale_ of any vessel, or part thereof, when the + consideration does not exceed five hundred + dollars 50 cts. + ” exceeding $500, and not exceeding $1,000 $1 00 + ” exceeding $1,000, for each $500, or fractional + part thereof 50 cts. + ” of personal property, (other than ship or + vessel) 5 cts. + _Bond_, personal, for the payment of money. (See _Mortgage_.) + ” official $1 00 + ” for indemnifying any person for the payment + of any sum of money, where the + money ultimately recoverable thereupon + is $1,000 or less 50 cts. + ” Where the money recoverable exceeds + $1,000, for every additional $1,000, or + fractional part thereof 50 cts. + _Bonds_—County, city, and town bonds, railroad and + other corporation bonds, and scrip, are + subject to stamp duty. (See _Mortgage_.) + ” of any description, other than such as are + required in legal proceedings, and such + as are not otherwise charged in this + Schedule 25 cts. + _Certificates_ of deposit in bank, sum not exceeding one + hundred dollars 2 cts. + ” of deposit in bank, sum exceeding one + hundred dollars 5 cts. + ” of stock in an incorporated company 25 cts. + ” general 5 cts. + ” of record upon the instrument recorded exempt. + ” of record upon the book exempt. + ” of weight or measurement of animals, coal, + wood, or other articles, except weighers’ + and measurers’ returns exempt. + ” of a qualification of a Justice of the Peace, + Commissioner of Deeds, or Notary Public 5 cts. + ” of search of records 5 cts. + ” that certain papers are on file 5 cts. + ” that certain papers can not be found 5 cts. + ” of redemption of land sold for taxes 5 cts. + ” of birth, marriage and death 5 cts. + ” of qualification of school teachers 5 cts. + ” of profits of an incorporated company for + a sum not less than $10 and not exceeding + $50 10 cts. + ” exceeding $50, and not exceeding $1,000 25 cts. + ” exceeding $1,000, for every additional + $1,000, or fractional part thereof 25 cts. + ” of damage, or otherwise, and all other certificates + or documents issued by any port + warden, marine surveyor, or other person + acting as such 25 cts. + _Certified Transcripts_ of judgments, satisfaction of + judgments, and all papers recorded or on file. 5 cts. + [N. B.—As a general rule, every certificate + which has, or may have, a legal value in + any court of law or equity, will require + a stamp duty of 5 cts.] + _Charter party_, or letter, memorandum, or other writing + between the captain, owner, or agent of + any ship, vessel, or steamer, and any other + person, relating to the charter of the + same, if the registered tonnage of said + ship, vessel, or steamer does not exceed + one hundred and fifty tons $1 00 + ” exceeding one hundred and fifty tons, and + not exceeding three hundred tons 3 00 + ” exceeding three hundred tons, and not exceeding + six hundred tons 5 00 + ” exceeding six hundred tons 10 00 + _Check_, draft, or order for the payment of any sum of + money exceeding $10, drawn upon any + person other than a bank, banker, or + trust company, at sight or on demand 2 cts. + _Contract._ (See _Agreement_.) + ” Broker’s 16 cts. + _Conveyance_, deed, instrument, or writing, whereby lands, + tenements, or other realty sold, shall be + conveyed, _the actual value_ of which does + not exceed $500 50 cts. + ” exceeding $500, and not exceeding $1,000 $1 00 + ” for every additional $500, or fractional part + thereof in excess of $1,000 50 cts. + _Endorsement_ of any negotiable instrument exempt. + _Entry_ of any goods, wares, or merchandise at any custom + house, either for consumption or + warehousing, not exceeding one hundred + dollars in value 25 cts. + ” exceeding one hundred dollars, and not exceeding + five hundred dollars in value 50 cts. + ” exceeding five hundred dollars in value $1 00 + ” for the withdrawal of any goods or merchandise + from bonded warehouse 50 cts. + _Gaugers’_ returns, if for quantity not exceeding 500 exempt. + gallons, gross + ” exceeding 500 gallons ” + _Insurance_, (Marine, Inland, and Fire,) where the consideration + paid for the insurance, in + cash, premium notes, or both, does not + exceed $10 10 cts. + ” (Marine, Inland, and Fire,) exceeding $10, + and not exceeding $50 25 cts. + ” (Marine, Inland, and Fire,) exceeding $50, 50 cts. + _Insurance_, (Life,) when the amount insured does not exceed + $1,000 25 cts. + ” (Life,) exceeding $1,000, and not exceeding + $5,000 50 cts. + ” (Life,) exceeding $5,000 $1 00 + ” (Life,) limited to injury to persons while + traveling exempt. + _Lease_ of lands or tenements, where rent does not exceed + $300 per annum 50 cts. + ” exceeding $300, for each additional $200, + or fractional part thereof in excess of + $300 50 cts. + ” perpetual, subject to a stamp duty as a + “conveyance,” the stamp duty to be + measured by resolving the annual rental + into a capital sum. + ” clause of guaranty of payment of rent, incorporated + or indorsed, five cents additional. + _Manifest_ for custom house entry or clearance of the + cargo of any ship, vessel, or steamer for + a foreign port, if the registered tonnage + of such ship, vessel, or steamer does not + exceed 300 tons $1 00 + ” exceeding 300 tons, and not exceeding 600 + tons 3 00 + ” exceeding 600 tons 5 00 + _Measurer’s Returns_, if for quantity not exceeding one + thousand bushels exempt. + ” exceeding one thousand bushels ” + _Mortgage_, trust deed, bill of sale, or personal bond for + the payment of money exceeding $100, + and not exceeding $500 50 cts. + ” exceeding $500, for every additional $500, + or fractional part thereof in excess of + $500 50 cts. + _Pawners’ Checks._ 5 cts. + _Pension Papers._—Powers of attorney, and all other papers + relating to applications for bounties, + arrearages of pay, or pensions, or to receipt + thereof exempt. + _Passage Ticket_ from the United States to a foreign port, + costing not more than $35 50 cts. + ” from the United States to a foreign port, + costing more than $35, and not exceeding + $50 $1 00 + ” for every additional $50, or fractional part + thereof in excess of $50 $1 00 + _Power of Attorney_ to sell or transfer stock, or collect + dividends thereon 25 cts. + ” to vote at election of incorporated company 10 cts. + ” to receive or collect rents 25 cts. + ” to sell, or convey, or rent, or lease real $1 00 + ” estate for any purpose 50 cts. + _Probate of Will_, or letters of administration, where the + value of both real and personal estate + does not exceed $2,000 $1 00 + ” for every additional $1,000, or fractional + part thereof in excess of $2,000 50 cts. + ” bonds of executors, administrators, guardians, + and trustees, are each subject to + a stamp duty of $1 00 + ” certificate of appointment 5 cts. + _Protest_ upon bill, note, check, or draft 25 cts. + + _Promissory Note._—(See _Bills of Exchange_, Inland.) + ” deposit note to mutual insurance companies, + when policy is subject to duty exempt. + ” renewal of, subject to same duty as an original + note. + _Quit Claim Deed_, to be stamped as a conveyance, except + when given as a release of a mortgage + by the mortgagee to the mortgagor, + in which case it is exempt. + _Receipt_ for the payment of any sum of money or debt + due exceeding $20, or for the delivery of + any property 2 cts. + ” for satisfaction of any mortgage or judgment + or decree of any court exempt. + _Sheriff’s_ return on writ or other process exempt. + _Trust Deed_, made to secure a debt, to be stamped as a + mortgage. + ” conveying estate to uses, to be stamped as + conveyance. + _Warehouse Receipt_ for any goods, wares, or merchandise + not otherwise provided for, deposited or + stored in any public or private warehouse, + not exceeding $500 in value exempt. + ” exceeding $500, and not exceeding $1,000 ” + ” exceeding $1,000, for every additional + $1,000, or fractional part thereof in excess + of $1.000 ” + ” for any goods, &c. not otherwise provided + for, stored or deposited in any public or + private warehouse or yard ” + _Writs and Legal Documents_: + Writ, or other original process by which + suit is commenced in any court of record, + either of law or equity 50 cts. + Writ, or other original process issued by + a court not of record, where the amount + claimed is $100 or over 50 cts. + Upon every confession of judgment or cognovit + for $100, or over, except in cases + where the tax for a writ has been paid 50 cts. + Writs, or other process on appeals from + justices’ courts, or other courts of inferior + jurisdiction, to a court of record 50 cts. + Warrant of distress, when the amount of + rent claimed does not exceed $100 25 cts. + Warrant of distress when amount exceeds $100 50 cts. + Writs, summons, and other process issued + by a justice of the peace, police or municipal + court, of no greater jurisdiction + than a justice of the peace in the same + State exempt. + Writs, and other process in any criminal + or other suits commenced by the United + States in any State exempt. + Official documents, instruments, and papers + issued or used by officers of the United + States Government exempt. + + +GENERAL REMARKS. + +Revenue stamps may be used indiscriminately upon any of the matters or +things enumerated in Schedule B, except proprietary and playing card +stamps, for which a special use has been provided. + +Postage stamps can not be used in payment of the duty chargeable on +instruments. + +It is the duty of the maker of an instrument to affix the stamp +thereto and to cancel the same in the manner required by law. Proper +cancellation is essential. + +Under the provisions of section 158, an instrument subject to stamp +duty, but issued without a stamp or with an insufficient one, may be so +stamped by the Collector as to be as valid to all intents and purposes +(_except as against rights acquired in good faith before such stamping +and the recording of the instrument, if a record be required_) as if +properly stamped when made or issued. Such an instrument, issued at a +time when and in a place where no collection district was established, +may be stamped by the party who issued it or by any party having an +interest therein at any time prior to January 1, 1867, and the legal +effect of the stamp thus affixed will be the same as though affixed +by the Collector. When originals are lost the necessary stamps may be +affixed to copies. + +Suits are commenced in many States by other process than writ, viz.: +summons, warrant, publication, petition, etc., in which cases, these, +as the original processes, severally require stamps. + +The jurat of an affidavit, taken before a Justice of the Peace, Notary +Public, or other officer duly authorized to take affidavits, is held +to be a certificate, and subject to a stamp duty of five cents, except +when taken in suits or legal proceedings. + +_Certificates of Loan_, in which there shall appear any written or +printed evidence of an amount of money to be paid on demand, or at a +time designated, are subject to stamp duty as “Promissory Notes.” + +When two or more persons join in the execution of an instrument, the +stamp to which the instrument is liable under the law may be affixed +and cancelled by either of them; and “when more than one signature is +affixed to the same paper, one or more stamps may be affixed thereto +representing the whole amount of the stamp required for such signature.” + +No stamp is required on any warrant of attorney accompanying a bond +or note when such bond or note has affixed thereto the stamp or +stamps denoting the duty required; and whenever any bond or note is +secured by mortgage, but one stamp duty is required on such papers, +such stamp duty being the highest rate required for such instruments, +or either of them. In such case a note or memorandum of the value or +denomination of the stamp affixed should be made upon the margin or in +the acknowledgment of the instrument which is not stamped. + + + + +THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL. + +An Act to protect all persons in the United States in their civil +rights, and furnish the means of their vindication. + + +_Be it enacted, &c._, That all persons born in the United States and +not subject to any foreign power, excluding Indians, not taxed, are +hereby declared to be citizens of the United States; and such citizens +of every race and color, without regard to any previous condition of +slavery or involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime +whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall have the same +right in every State and Territory in the United States to make and +enforce contracts; to sue, be parties, and give evidence; to inherit, +purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey real and personal property; and +to full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security +of person and property as is enjoyed by white citizens, and shall be +subject to like punishment, pains, and penalties, and to none other, +any law, statute ordinance, regulation, or custom, to the contrary +notwithstanding. + +SEC. 2. That any person who, under color of any law, statute, +ordinance, regulation, or custom, shall subject, or cause to be +subjected, any inhabitant of any State or Territory to the deprivation +of any right secured or protected by this act, or to different +punishment, pains, or penalties on account of such person having +at any time been held in a condition of slavery or involuntary +servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall +have been duly convicted, or by reason of his color or race, than is +prescribed for the punishment of white persons, shall be deemed guilty +of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction, shall be punished by fine not +exceeding one thousand dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding one year, +or both, in the discretion of the court. + +SEC. 3. That the district courts of the United States, within their +respective districts, shall have, exclusively of the courts of the +several States, cognizance of all crimes and offences committed against +the provisions of this act, and also, concurrently with the circuit +courts of the United States, of all causes, civil and criminal, +affecting persons who are denied or cannot enforce in the courts or +judicial tribunals of the State or locality where they may be any of +the rights secured to them by the first section of this act; and if any +suit or prosecution, civil or criminal, has been or shall be commenced +in any State court against any such person, for any cause whatsoever, +or against any officer, civil or military, or other person, for any +arrest or imprisonment, trespasses, or wrongs done or committed by +virtue or under color of authority derived from this act or the act +establishing a bureau for the relief of freedmen and refugees, and all +acts amendatory thereof, or for refusing to do any act upon the ground +that it would be inconsistent with this act, such defendant shall have +the right to remove such cause for trial to the proper district or +circuit court in the manner prescribed by the “Act relating to _habeas +corpus_ and regulating judicial proceedings in certain cases,” approved +March three, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, and all acts amendatory +thereof. The jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters hereby +conferred on the district and circuit courts of the United States shall +be exercised and enforced in conformity with the laws of the United +States, so far as such laws are suitable to carry the same into effect; +but in all cases where such laws are not adapted to the object, or are +deficient in the provisions necessary to furnish suitable remedies and +punish offences against law, the common law, as modified and changed +by the constitution and statutes of the State wherein the court having +jurisdiction of the cause, civil or criminal, is held, so far as the +same is not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United +States, shall be extended to and govern said courts in the trial +and disposition of such cause, and, if of a criminal nature, in the +infliction of punishment on the party found guilty. + +SEC. 4. That the district attorneys, marshals, and deputy marshals of +the United States, the commissioners appointed by the circuit court +and territorial courts of the United States, with power of arresting, +imprisoning, or bailing offenders against the laws of the United +States, the officers and agents of the Freedmen’s Bureau, and every +other officer who may be specially empowered by the President of the +United States, shall be, and they are hereby, specially authorized and +required, at the expense of the United States, to institute proceedings +against all and every person who shall violate the provisions of this +act, and cause him or them to be arrested and imprisoned, or bailed, +as the case may be, for trial before such court of the United States +or territorial court as by this act has cognizance of the offence. And +with a view to affording reasonable protection to all persons in their +constitutional rights of equality before the law, without distinction +of race or color, or previous condition of slavery or involuntary +servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall +have been duly convicted, and to the prompt discharge of the duties +of this act, it shall be the duty of the circuit courts of the United +States and the superior courts of the Territories of the United States, +from time to time, to increase the number of commissioners, so as to +afford a speedy and convenient means for the arrest and examination of +persons charged with a violation of this act. And such commissioners +are hereby authorized and required to exercise and discharge all the +powers and duties conferred on them by this act, and the same duties +with regard to offences created by this act, as they are authorized by +law to exercise with regard to other offences against the laws of the +United States. + +SEC. 5. That it shall be the duty of all marshals and deputy marshals +to obey and execute all warrants and precepts issued under the +provisions of this act, when to them directed; and should any marshal +or deputy marshal refuse to receive such warrant or other process +when tendered, or to use all proper means diligently to execute the +same, he shall, on conviction thereof, be fined in the sum of one +thousand dollars, to the use of the person upon whom the accused is +alleged to have committed the offence. And the better to enable the +said commissioners to execute their duties faithfully and efficiently, +in conformity with the Constitution of the United States and the +requirements of this act, they are hereby authorized and empowered, +within their counties respectively, to appoint, in writing, under +their hands, any one or more suitable persons, from time to time, to +execute all such warrants and other process that may be issued by them +in the lawful performance of their respective duties; and the persons +so appointed to execute any warrant or process as aforesaid shall have +authority to summon and call to their aid the bystanders or the _posse +comitatus_ of the proper county, or such portion of the land and naval +forces of the United States, or of the militia, as may be necessary +to the performance of the duty with which they are charged, and to +insure a faithful observance of the clause of the Constitution which +prohibits slavery, in conformity with the provisions of this act; and +said warrants shall run and be executed by said officers anywhere in +the State or Territory within which they are issued. + +SEC. 6. That any person who shall knowingly and wilfully obstruct, +hinder or prevent any officer, or other person charged with the +execution of any warrant or process issued under the provisions of this +act, or any person or persons lawfully assisting him or them, from +arresting any person for whose apprehension such warrant or process +may have been issued, or shall rescue or attempt to rescue such person +from the custody of the officer, other person or persons, or those +lawfully assisting as aforesaid, when so arrested pursuant to the +authority herein given and declared, or shall aid, abet, or assist any +person so arrested as aforesaid, directly or indirectly, to escape +from the custody of the officer or other person legally authorized +as aforesaid, or shall harbor or conceal any person for whose arrest +a warrant or process shall have been issued as aforesaid, so as to +prevent his discovery and arrest after notice or knowledge of the fact +that a warrant has been issued for the apprehension of such person, +shall, for either of said offences, be subject to a fine not exceeding +one thousand dollars, and imprisonment not exceeding six months, by +indictment and conviction before the district court of the United +States for the district in which said offence may have been committed, +or before the proper court of criminal jurisdiction, if committed +within any one of the organized Territories of the United States. + +SEC. 7. That the district attorneys, the marshals, their deputies, and +the clerks of the said district and territorial courts shall be paid +for their services the like fees as may be allowed to them for similar +services in other cases; and in all cases where the proceedings are +before a commissioner, he shall be entitled to a fee of ten dollars in +full for his services in each case, inclusive of all services incident +to such arrest and examination. The person or persons authorized to +execute the process to be issued by such commissioners for the arrest +of offenders against the provisions of this act shall be entitled to +a fee of five dollars for each person he or they may arrest and take +before any such commissioner as aforesaid, with such other fees as may +be deemed reasonable by such commissioner for such other additional +services as may be necessarily performed by him or them, such as +attending at the examination, keeping the prisoner in custody, and +providing him with food and lodging during his detention, and until the +final determination of such commissioner, and in general for performing +such other duties as may be required in the premises; such fees to be +made up in conformity with the fees usually charged by the officers of +the courts of justice within the proper district or county, as near +as may be practicable, and paid out of the treasury of the United +States on the certificate of the judge of the district within which the +arrest is made, and to be recoverable from the defendant as part of the +judgment in case of conviction. + +SEC. 8. That whenever the President of the United States shall have +reason to believe that offences have been, or are likely to be +committed against the provisions of this act within any judicial +district, it shall be lawful for him, in his discretion, to direct the +judge, marshal, and district attorney of such district to attend at +such place within the district, and for such time as he may designate, +for the purpose of the more speedy arrest and trial of persons charged +with a violation of this act; and it shall be the duty of every judge +or other officer, when any such requisition shall be received by him, +to attend at the place and for the time therein designated. + +SEC. 9. That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, +or such person as he may empower for that purpose, to employ such part +of the land or naval forces of the United States, or of the militia, +as shall be necessary to prevent the violation and enforce the due +execution of this act. + +SEC. 10. That upon all questions of law arising in any cause under the +provisions of this act, a final appeal may be taken to the Supreme +Court of the United States. + +The Bill passed in the Senate over the President’s veto by the vote of +33 yeas to 15 nays, and in the House by 122 yeas to 41 nays. + + + + +CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. + +The Amendment proposed to the Constitution, June 8, 1866. + +ARTICLE XIV. + + +SECTION 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and +subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States +and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce +any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens +of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, +liberty, or property, without due process of law, nor deny to any +person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. + +SEC. 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States +according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of +persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right +to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and +Vice-President of the United States, representatives in Congress, +the executive and judicial officers of a State, or the members of +the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of +such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United +States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion +or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in +the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the +whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. + +SEC. 3. No person shall be a senator or representative in Congress, +or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil +or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having +previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of +the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an +executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution +of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion +against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. +But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such +disability. + +SEC. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, +authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and +bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall +not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall +assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection +or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or +emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims +shall be held illegal and void. + +SEC. 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate +legislation, the provisions of this article. + +The Amendment passed the Senate by a vote of 33 yeas to 11 nays; and +the House by a vote of 138 yeas to 36 nays. + + + + +THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT BILL. + +_AN ACT for the More Efficient Government of the Rebel States._ + + + WHEREAS, No legal State government, or + adequate protection for life, or property, now + exists in the rebel States of Virginia, North + Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, + Louisiana, Florida, Texas, and Arkansas; and, + + WHEREAS, It is necessary that peace and good + order should be enforced in said States until + loyal and republican State governments can be + established; therefore, + +_Be it enacted, etc._, That said rebel States shall be divided into +military districts, and made subject to the military authority of the +United States, as hereinafter prescribed; and for that purpose Virginia +shall constitute the first district; North Carolina and South Carolina +the second district; Georgia, Alabama, and Florida the third district; +Mississippi and Arkansas the fourth district; Louisiana and Texas the +fifth district. + +SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty of the President to assign to the +command of each of said districts an officer of the army, not below the +rank of brigadier-general, and to detail a sufficient military force +to enable such officer to perform his duties and enforce his authority +within the district to which he is assigned. + +SEC. 3. That it shall be the duty of each officer assigned, as +aforesaid, to protect all persons in their rights of person and +property; to suppress insurrection, disorder, and violence, and to +punish, and cause to be punished, all disturbers of the public peace, +and criminals; and to this end he may allow loyal civil tribunals to +take jurisdiction of and try offenders; or, when in his judgment it +may be necessary, for the trial of offenders, he shall have power +to organize military commissions or tribunals for that purpose; and +all interference under color of State authority with the exercise of +military authority under this act shall be null and void. + +SEC. 4. That all persons put under military arrest by virtue of +this act shall be tried without unnecessary delay, and no cruel or +unusual punishment shall be inflicted, and no sentence of any military +commission or tribunal, hereby authorized, affecting the life or +liberty of any person, shall be executed until it is approved by the +officer in command of the district; and the laws and regulations for +the government of the army shall not be affected by this act, except in +so far as they may conflict with its provisions. + +SEC. 5. That when the people of any one of said rebel States shall +have formed a constitutional government, in conformity with the +Constitution of the United States in all respects, framed by a +convention of delegates elected by the persons who may vote upon the +ratification or rejection thereof, as hereinafter provided; and when +said constitution, so framed, shall have been ratified by a majority +of the male citizens of said State, twenty-one years old and upward, +of whatever race, color, or previous condition of servitude, who may +have been resident in said State for one year previous to the day of +voting on the question of ratifying such constitution, except such +as may be disfranchised for participating in the rebellion, or for +felony at common law; and when such constitution shall provide that +the elective franchise shall be enjoyed by all such persons that have +the qualifications herein stated, and shall have been submitted to +Congress for examination, and Congress shall have approved the same; +and when said State, by a vote of its legislature elected under said +constitution, shall have adopted the amendment to the Constitution +of the United States, proposed by the Thirty-ninth Congress, and +known as article fourteen, and when said article shall become a +part of the Constitution of the United States, such State shall be +declared entitled to representation in Congress, and senators and +representatives shall be admitted thereupon, on their taking the oath +prescribed by the law; and then and thereafter the preceding sections +of this bill shall be inoperative in said State. + +SEC. 6, (proposed by Mr. Doolittle,) provides that the penalty of death +shall not be inflicted by the military power without the approval of +the President. + +SEC. 7. (Shellabarger’s amendment.) That until the people of said rebel +States shall, by law, be admitted to representation in the Congress of +the United States, the civil governments that may exist therein shall +be deemed provisional only, and shall be in all respects subject to +the paramount authority of the United States, which may at any time +abolish, modify, control, and supersede the same, and in all elections +to any office under such provisional governments all persons shall be +entitled to vote, and none others, who are entitled to vote under the +provisions of the fifth section of this act, and no person shall be +eligible to any office under such provisional governments who would +be disqualified from holding office under the provisions of the third +article of said Constitutional Amendment. + + + + +SUPPLEMENT TO THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT BILL. + +_Passed at the First Session of the Fortieth Congress._ + + + AN ACT supplementary to an act entitled, “An + act to provide for the more efficient government of + the rebel States,” passed March second, eighteen + hundred and sixty-seven, and to facilitate + restoration. + +_Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United +States of America in Congress assembled_, That before the first day of +September, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, the commanding general in +each district defined by an act entitled, “An act to provide for the +more efficient government of the rebel States,” passed March second, +eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, shall cause a registration to be made +of the male citizens of the United States, twenty-one years of age +and upward, resident in each county or parish in the State or States +included in his district, which registration shall include only those +persons who are qualified to vote for delegates by the act aforesaid, +and who shall have taken and subscribed the following oath or +affirmation: “I, ————, do solemnly swear, (or affirm,) in the presence +of Almighty God, that I am a citizen of the State of ————; that I have +resided in said State for ———— months next preceding this day, and now +reside in the county of ————, or the parish of ————, in said State, (as +the case may be;) that I am twenty-one years old; that I have not been +disfranchised for participation in any rebellion or civil war against +the United States, nor for felony committed against the laws of any +State or of the United States; that I have never been a member of any +State legislature, nor held any executive or judicial office in any +State, and afterward engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the +United States, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; that I +have never taken an oath as a member of Congress of the United States, +or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State +legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to +support the Constitution of the United States, and afterward engaged +in insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or given aid +or comfort to the enemies thereof; that I will faithfully support the +Constitution and obey the laws of the United States, and will, to the +best of my ability, encourage others so to do, so help me God;” which +oath or affirmation may be administered by any registering officer. + +SEC. 2. _And be it further enacted_, That after the completion of the +registration hereby provided for in any State, at such time and places +therein as the commanding general shall appoint and direct, of which +at least thirty days’ public notice shall be given, an election shall +be held of delegates to a convention for the purpose of establishing a +constitution and civil government for such State loyal to the Union, +said convention in each State, except Virginia, to consist of the same +number of members as the most numerous branch of the State legislature +of such State in the year eighteen hundred and sixty, to be apportioned +among the several districts, counties, or parishes of such State by +the commanding general, giving to each representation in the ratio of +voters registered as aforesaid as nearly as may be. The convention in +Virginia shall consist of the same number of members as represented the +territory now constituting Virginia in the most numerous branch of the +legislature of said State in the year eighteen hundred and sixty, to be +apportioned as aforesaid. + +SEC. 3. _And be it further enacted_, That at said election the +registered voters of each State shall vote for or against a convention +to form a constitution therefor under this act. Those voting in favor +of such a convention shall have written or printed on the ballots +by which they vote for delegates, as aforesaid, the words, “For a +convention;” and those voting against such a convention shall have +written or printed on such ballots the words, “Against a convention.” +The persons appointed to superintend said election, and to make return +of the votes given thereat, as herein provided, shall count and make +return of the votes given for and against a convention; and the +commanding general to whom the same shall have been returned shall +ascertain and declare the total vote in each State for and against +a convention. If a majority of the votes given on that question +shall be for a convention, then such convention shall be held as +hereinafter provided; but if a majority of said votes shall be against +a convention, then no such convention shall be held under this act: +_Provided_, That such convention shall not be held unless a majority of +all such registered voters shall have voted on the question of holding +such convention. + +SEC. 4. _And be it further enacted_, That the commanding general of +each district shall appoint as many boards of registration as may be +necessary, consisting of three loyal officers or persons, to make and +complete the registration, superintend the election, and make return +to him of the votes, list of voters, and of the persons elected as +delegates, by a plurality of the votes cast at said election; and +upon receiving said returns, he shall open the same, ascertain the +persons elected as delegates, according to the returns of the officers +who conducted said election, and make proclamation thereof; and if a +majority of the votes given on that question shall be for a convention, +the commanding general, within sixty days from the date of election, +shall notify the delegates to assemble in convention, at a time and +place to be mentioned in the notification; and said convention, when +organized, shall proceed to frame a constitution and civil government +according to the provisions of this act, and the act to which it is +supplementary; and when the same shall have been so framed, said +constitution shall be submitted by the convention for ratification to +the persons registered under the provisions of this act, at an election +to be conducted by the officers or persons appointed or to be appointed +by the commanding general, as hereinbefore provided, and to be held +after the expiration of thirty days from the date of notice thereof, to +be given by said convention; and the returns thereof shall be made to +the commanding general of the district. + +SEC. 5. _And be it further enacted_, That if, according to said +returns, the constitution shall be ratified by a majority of the votes +of the registered electors qualified as herein specified, cast at said +election, at least one-half of all the registered voters voting upon +the question of such ratification, the president of the convention +shall transmit a copy of the same, duly certified, to the President of +the United States, who shall forthwith transmit the same to Congress, +if then in session, and if not in session, then immediately upon its +next assembling; and if it shall moreover appear to Congress that the +election was one at which all the registered and qualified electors +in the State had an opportunity to vote freely and without restraint, +fear, or the influence of fraud, and if the Congress shall be satisfied +that such constitution meets the approval of a majority of all the +qualified electors in the State, and if the said constitution shall +be declared by Congress to be in conformity with the provisions of +the act to which this is supplementary, and the other provisions of +said act shall have been complied with, and the said constitution +shall be approved by Congress, the State shall be declared entitled +to representation, and senators and representatives shall be admitted +therefrom, as therein provided. + +SEC. 6. _And be it further enacted_, That all elections in the States +mentioned in the said “Act to provide for the more efficient government +of the rebel States,” shall, during the operation of said act, be by +ballot; and all officers making the said registration of voters and +conducting said elections shall, before entering upon the discharge +of their duties, take and subscribe the oath prescribed by the act +approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, entitled, “An +act to prescribe an oath of office:” _Provided_, That if any person +shall knowingly and falsely take and subscribe any oath in this act +prescribed, such person so offending, and being thereof duly convicted, +shall be subject to the pains, penalties, and disabilities which by law +are provided for the punishment of the crime of willful and corrupt +perjury. + +SEC. 7. _And be it further enacted_, That all expenses incurred by the +several commanding generals, or by virtue of any orders issued, or +appointments made, by them, under or by virtue of this act, shall be +paid out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. + +SEC. 8. _And be it further enacted_, That the convention for each State +shall prescribe the fees, salary, and compensation to be paid to all +delegates and other officers and agents herein authorized or necessary +to carry into effect the purposes of this act not herein otherwise +provided for, and shall provide for the levy and collection of such +taxes on the property in such State as may be necessary to pay the same. + +SEC. 9. _And be it further enacted_, That the word “article,” in the +sixth section of the act to which this is supplementary, shall be +construed to mean “section.” + + SCHUYLER COLFAX, + Speaker of the House of Representatives. + B. F. WADE, + President of the Senate _pro tempore_. + +After the election which was held early in February, 1868, upon the +ratification of a new Constitution for the State of Alabama, the law +was so amended by Congress that a majority of the votes cast (instead +of a majority of the registered voters) should be required to ratify or +reject State constitutions in the seceded States. + +[Illustration: JAMES BUCHANAN.] + + + + +HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL BANKS. + +DIGEST OF THE LAW, ETC. + + +_Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the +United States of America in Congress assembled_, That there shall be +established in the Treasury Department a separate Bureau, the chief +officer of which shall be denominated the Comptroller of the Currency, +who shall be under the general direction of the Secretary of the +Treasury. + +SEC. 5. That associations for carrying on the business of banking may +be formed by any number of persons, not less in any case than five, +who shall enter into articles of association, which shall specify in +general terms the object for which the association is formed, and may +contain any other provisions, not inconsistent with the provisions of +this act, which the association may see fit to adopt for the regulation +of the business of the association and the conduct of its affairs, +which said articles shall be signed by the persons uniting to form the +association, and a copy of them forwarded to the Comptroller of the +Currency, to be filed and preserved in his office. + +SEC. 6. That the persons uniting to form such an association shall, +under their hands, make an organization certificate, which shall +specify— + +First. The name assumed by such association, which name shall be +subject to the approval of the Comptroller. + +Second. The place where its operations of discount and deposit are to +be carried on, designating the State, Territory, or District, and also +the particular county and city, town or village. + +Third. The amount of its capital stock, and the number of shares into +which the same shall be divided. + +Fourth. The names and places of residence of the shareholders, and the +number of shares held by each of them. + +Fifth. A declaration that said certificate is made to enable such +persons to avail themselves of the advantages of this act. + +The said certificate shall be acknowledged before a judge of some +court of record or a notary public, and such certificate, with the +acknowledgment thereof authenticated by the seal of such court or +notary, shall be transmitted to the Comptroller of the Currency, who +shall record and carefully preserve the same in his office. Copies of +such certificate, duly certified by the Comptroller, and authenticated +by his seal of office, shall be legal and sufficient evidence in all +courts and places within the United States, or the jurisdiction of the +Government thereof, of the existence of such association, and of every +other matter or thing which could be proved by the production of the +original certificate. + +SEC. 7. That no association shall be organized under this act, with a +less capital than one hundred thousand dollars, nor in a city whose +population exceeds fifty thousand persons, with a less capital than +two hundred thousand dollars: _Provided_, That banks with a capital +of not less than fifty thousand dollars may, with the approval of the +Secretary of the Treasury, be organized in any place, the population of +which does not exceed six thousand inhabitants. + +SEC. 8. That every association formed, pursuant to the provisions of +this act, shall, from the date of the execution of its organization +certificate, be a body-corporate, but shall transact no business +except such as may be incidental to its organization and necessarily +preliminary, until authorized by the Comptroller of the Currency to +commence the business of banking. Such association shall have power +to adopt a corporate seal, and shall have succession by the name +designated in its organization certificate, for the period of twenty +years from its organization, unless sooner dissolved according to +the provisions of its articles of association, or by the act of its +shareholders owning two-thirds of its stock, or unless the franchise +shall be forfeited by a violation of this act; by such name it may +make contracts, sue and be sued, complain and defend, in any court +of law and equity as fully as natural persons; it may elect or +appoint directors, and by its board of directors appoint a president, +vice-president, cashier, and other officers, define their duties, +require bonds of them, and fix the penalty thereof, dismiss said +officers or any of them at pleasure, and appoint others to fill their +places, and exercise under this act all such incidental powers as +shall be necessary to carry on the business of banking by discounting +and negotiating promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange, and +other evidences of debt; by receiving deposits; by buying and selling +exchange, coin, and bullion; by loaning money on personal security; by +obtaining, issuing, and circulating notes according to the provisions +of this act; and its board of directors shall also have power to define +and regulate by by-laws, not inconsistent with the provisions of this +act, the manner in which its stock shall be transferred, its directors +elected or appointed, its officers appointed, its property transferred, +its general business conducted, and all the privileges granted by +this act to associations organized under it shall be exercised and +enjoyed; and its usual business shall be transacted at an office or +banking-house located in the place specified in its organization +certificate. + +SEC. 9. That the affairs of every association shall be managed by not +less than five directors, one of whom shall be the president. Every +director shall, during his whole term of service, be a citizen of the +United States; and at least three-fourths of the directors shall have +resided in the State, Territory, or District in which such association +is located one year next preceding their election as directors, and be +residents of the same during their continuance in office. Each director +shall own, in his own right, at least ten shares of the capital stock +of the association of which he is a director. + +SEC. 11. That in all elections of directors, and in deciding all +questions at meetings of shareholders, each shareholder shall be +entitled to one vote on each share of stock held by him. Shareholders +may vote by proxies duly authorized in writing; but no officer, clerk, +teller, or book-keeper of such association shall act as proxy; and no +shareholders, whose liability is past due and unpaid, shall be allowed +to vote. + +SEC. 12. That the capital stock of any association formed under +this act shall be divided into shares of one hundred dollars each, +and be deemed personal property and transferable on the books of +the association; and every person becoming a shareholder by such +transfer shall, in proportion to his shares, succeed to all the rights +and liabilities of the prior holder of such shares, and no change +shall be made in the articles of association by which the rights, +remedies, or security of the existing creditors of the association +shall be impaired. The shareholders of each association formed under +the provisions of this act, and of each existing bank or banking +association that may accept the provisions of this act, shall be held +individually responsible, equally and ratably, and not one for another, +for all contracts, debts, and engagements of such association to the +extent of amount of their stock therein at the par value thereof, +in addition to the amount invested in such shares; except that +shareholders of any banking association now existing under State laws, +having not less than five millions of dollars of capital actually paid +in, and a surplus of twenty per centum on hand, both to be determined +by the Comptroller of the Currency, shall be liable only to the amount +invested in their shares; and such surplus of twenty per centum shall +be kept undiminished, and be in addition to the surplus provided for +in this act; and if at any time there shall be a deficiency in said +surplus of twenty per centum, the said banking association shall not +pay any dividends to its shareholders until such deficiency shall be +made good; and in case of such deficiency, the Comptroller of the +Currency may compel said banking association to close up its business +and wind up its affairs under the provisions of this act. And the +Comptroller shall have authority to withhold from an association his +certificate authorizing the commencement of business, whenever he shall +have reason to suppose that the shareholders thereof have formed the +same for any other than the legitimate objects contemplated by this act. + +SEC. 13. That it shall be lawful for any association formed under this +act, by its articles of association to provide for an increase of its +capital from time to time, as may be deemed expedient, subject to the +limitations of this act: _Provided_, That the maximum of such increase +in the articles of association shall be determined by the Comptroller +of the Currency; and no increase of capital shall be valid until the +whole amount of such increase shall be paid in, and notice thereof +shall have been transmitted to the Comptroller of the Currency, and his +certificate obtained specifying the amount of such increase of capital +stock, with his approval thereof, and that it has been duly paid in +as part of the capital of such association. And every association +shall have power, by the vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of its +capital stock, to reduce the capital of such association to any sum not +below the amount required by this act in the formation of associations: +_Provided_, That by no such reduction shall its capital be brought +below the amount required by this act for its outstanding circulation, +nor shall any such reduction be made until the amount of the proposed +reduction has been reported to the Comptroller of the Currency and his +approval thereof obtained. + +SEC. 14. That at least fifty per centum of the capital stock of every +association shall be paid in before it shall be authorized to commence +business; and the remainder of the capital stock of such association +shall be paid in installments of at least ten per centum each on the +whole amount of the capital as frequently as one installment at the end +of each succeeding month from the time it shall be authorized by the +Comptroller to commence business; and the payment of each installment +shall be certified to the Comptroller, under oath, by the president or +cashier of the association. + +SEC. 16. That every association, after having complied with the +provisions of this act, preliminary to the commencement of banking +business under its provisions, and before it shall be authorized to +commence business, shall transfer and deliver to the Treasurer of the +United States, any United States registered bonds bearing interest to +an amount not less than thirty thousand dollars nor less than one-third +of the capital stock paid in, which bonds shall be deposited with the +Treasurer of the United States, and by him safely kept in his office +until the same shall be otherwise disposed of, in pursuance of the +provisions of this act; and the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby +authorized to receive and cancel any United States coupon bonds, and +to issue in lieu thereof registered bonds of like amount, bearing a +like rate of interest, and having the same time to run; and the deposit +of bonds shall be, by every association, increased as its capital may +be paid up or increased, so that every association shall at all times +have on deposit with the Treasurer registered United States bonds to +the amount of at least one-third of its capital stock actually paid in: +_Provided_, That nothing in this section shall prevent an association +that may desire to reduce its capital or to close up its business and +dissolve its organization from taking up its bonds upon returning to +the Comptroller its circulating notes in the proportion hereinafter +named in this act, nor from taking up any excess of bonds beyond +one-third of its capital stock, and upon which no circulating notes +have been delivered. + +SEC. 17. That whenever a certificate shall have been transmitted to +the Comptroller of the Currency, as provided in this act, and the +association transmitting the same shall notify the Comptroller that +at least fifty per centum of its capital stock has been paid in +as aforesaid, and that such association has complied with all the +provisions of this act as required to be complied with before such +association shall be authorized to commence the business of banking, +the Comptroller shall examine into the condition of such association, +ascertain especially the amount of money paid in on account of its +capital, the name and place of residence of each of the directors of +such association, and the amount of the capital stock of which each +is the bona fide owner, and generally whether such association has +complied with all the requirements of this act to entitle it to engage +in the business of banking; and shall cause to be made and attested +by the oaths of a majority of the directors and by the president or +cashier of such association, a statement of all the facts necessary +to enable the Comptroller to determine whether such association is +lawfully entitled to commence the business of banking under this act. + +SEC. 19. That all transfers of United States bonds which shall be made +by any association under the provisions of this act shall be made to +the Treasurer of the United States in trust for the association, with a +memorandum written or printed on each bond, and signed by the cashier +or some other officer of the association making the deposit, a receipt +therefor to be given to said association, or by the Comptroller of the +Currency, or by a clerk appointed by him for that purpose, stating +that it is held in trust for the association on whose behalf such +transfer is made, and as a security for the redemption and payment +of any circulating notes that may have been or may be delivered to +such association. No assignment or transfer of any such bonds by the +Treasurer shall be deemed valid or of binding force and effect unless +countersigned by the Comptroller of the Currency. It shall be the +duty of the Comptroller of the Currency to keep in his office a book +in which shall be entered the name of every association from whose +accounts such transfer of bonds is made by the Treasurer, and the name +of the party to whom such transfer is made; and the par value of the +bonds so transferred shall be entered therein; and it shall be the +duty of the Comptroller, immediately upon countersigning and entering +the same, to advise by mail the association from whose account such +transfer was made of the kind and numerical designation of the bonds +and the amount thereof so transferred. + +SEC. 21. That upon the transfer and delivery of bonds to the Treasurer, +as provided in the foregoing section, the association making the same +shall be entitled to receive from the Comptroller of the Currency +circulating notes of different denominations, in blank, registered +and countersigned, as hereinafter provided, equal in amount to ninety +per centum of the current market value of the United States bonds so +transferred and delivered, but not exceeding ninety per centum of the +amount of said bonds at the par value thereof, it bearing interest +at a rate not less than five per centum per annum; and the amount of +such circulating notes to be furnished to each association shall be +in proportion to its paid-up capital, as follows, and no more: To +each association whose capital shall not exceed five hundred thousand +dollars, ninety per centum of such capital; to each association whose +capital exceeds five hundred thousand dollars, but does not exceed +one million dollars, eighty per centum of such capital; to each +association whose capital exceeds one million dollars, but does not +exceed three millions of dollars, seventy-five per centum of such +capital; to each association whose capital exceeds three millions of +dollars, sixty per centum of such capital. And that one hundred and +fifty millions of dollars of the entire amount of circulating notes +authorized to be issued shall be apportioned to associations in the +States, in the District of Columbia, and in the Territories, according +to representative population, and the remainder shall be apportioned by +the Secretary of the Treasury among associations formed in the several +States, in the District of Columbia, and in the Territories, having due +regard to the existing banking capital, resources, and business of such +State, District, and Territory. (Act as amended and approved, March 3, +1865.) + +SEC. 22. That the entire amount of notes for circulation to be issued +under this act shall not exceed three hundred millions of dollars. In +order to furnish suitable notes for circulation, the Comptroller of +the Currency is hereby authorized and required, under the direction +of the Secretary of the Treasury, to cause plates and dies to be +engraved, in the best manner, to guard against counterfeiting and +fraudulent alterations, and to have printed therefrom, and numbered, +such quantity of circulating notes, in blank, of the denominations of +one dollar, two dollars, three dollars, five dollars, ten dollars, +twenty dollars, fifty dollars, one hundred dollars, five hundred +dollars, and one thousand dollars, as may be required to supply, +under this act, the associations entitled to receive the same; which +notes shall express upon their face that they are secured by United +States bonds, deposited with the Treasurer of the United States by the +written or engraved signatures of the Treasurer and Register, and by +the imprint of the seal of the Treasury; and shall also express upon +their face the promise of the association receiving the same to pay on +demand, attested by the signatures of the president or vice-president +and cashier. And the said notes shall bear such devices and such +other statements, and shall be in such form as the Secretary of the +Treasury shall, by regulation, direct: _Provided_, That not more than +one-sixth part of the notes furnished to an association shall be of a +less denomination than five dollars, and that after specie payments +shall be resumed no association shall be furnished with notes of a less +denomination than five dollars. + +SEC. 23. That after any such association shall have caused its +promise to pay such notes on demand to be signed by the president +or vice-president, and cashier thereof, in such manner as to make +them obligatory promissory notes, payable on demand, at its place of +business, such association is hereby authorized to issue and circulate +the same as money; and the same shall be received at par in all parts +of the United States in payment of taxes, excises, public lands, and +all other dues to the United States, except for duties on imports; and +also for all salaries and other debts and demands owing by the United +States to individuals, corporations, and associations within the United +States, except interest on the public debt, and in redemption of the +national currency. And no such association shall issue post notes or +any other notes to circulate as money than such as are authorized by +the foregoing provisions of this act. + +SEC. 24. That it shall be the duty of the Comptroller of the Currency +to receive worn-out or mutilated circulating notes issued by any such +banking association, and also, on due proof of the destruction of any +such circulating notes, to deliver in place thereof to such association +other blank circulating notes to an equal amount. And such worn-out +or mutilated notes, after a memorandum shall have been entered in the +proper books, in accordance with such regulations as may be established +by the Comptroller, as well as all circulating notes which shall have +been paid or surrendered to be canceled, shall be burned to ashes in +the presence of four persons, one to be appointed by the Secretary +of the Treasury, one by the Comptroller of the Currency, one by the +Treasurer of the United States, and one by the association, under +such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe. And +a certificate of such burning, signed by the parties so appointed, +shall be made in the books of the Comptroller, and a duplicate thereof +forwarded to the association whose notes are thus cancelled. + +SEC. 26. That the bonds transferred to and deposited with the Treasurer +of the United States, as hereinbefore provided, by any banking +association for the security of its circulating notes, shall be held +exclusively for that purpose, until such notes shall be redeemed, +except as provided in this act; but the Comptroller of the Currency +shall give to any such banking association powers of attorney to +receive and appropriate to its own use the interest on the bonds which +it shall have so transferred to the Treasurer; but such powers shall +become inoperative whenever such banking association shall fail to +redeem its circulating notes as aforesaid. Whenever the market or +cash value of any bonds deposited with the Treasurer of the United +States, as aforesaid, shall be reduced below the amount of the +circulation issued for the same, the Comptroller of the Currency is +hereby authorized to demand and receive the amount of such depreciation +in other United States bonds at cash value, or in money, from the +association receiving said bills, to be deposited with the Treasurer +of the United States as long as such depreciation continues. And +said Comptroller, upon the terms prescribed by the Secretary of the +Treasury, may permit an exchange to be made of any of the bonds +deposited with the Treasurer by an association for other bonds of +the United States authorized by this act to be received as security +for circulating notes: _Provided_, that the remaining bonds which +shall have been transferred by the banking association offering to +surrender circulating notes shall be equal to the amount required for +the circulating notes not surrendered by such banking association, and +that the amount of bonds in the hands of the Treasurer shall not be +diminished below the amount required to be kept on deposit with him by +this act: _And provided_, That there shall have been no failure by such +association to redeem its circulating notes, and no other violation by +such association of the provisions of this act, and that the market +or cash value of the remaining bonds shall not be below the amount +required for the circulation issued for the same. + +SEC. 27. That it shall be unlawful for any officer acting under the +provisions of this act to countersign or deliver to any association, or +to any other company or person, any circulating notes contemplated by +this act, except as hereinbefore provided, and in accordance with the +true intent and meaning of this act. + +SEC. 28. That it shall be lawful for any such association to purchase, +hold, and convey real estate as follows: + +First. Such as shall be necessary for its immediate accommodation in +the transaction of its business. + +Second. Such as shall be mortgaged to it in good faith by way of +security for debts previously contracted. + +Third. Such as shall be conveyed to it in satisfaction of debts +previously contracted in the course of its dealings. + +Fourth. Such as it shall purchase at sales under judgments, decrees, or +mortgages held by such association, or shall purchase to secure debts +due to said association. + +Such association shall not purchase or hold real estate in any other +case or for any other purpose than as specified in this section. Nor +shall it hold the possession of any real estate under mortgage, or hold +the title and possession of any real estate purchased to secure any +debts due to it for a longer period than five years. + +SEC. 29. That the total liabilities to any association, of any person, +or of any company, corporation, or firm for money borrowed, including +in the liabilities of a company or firm the liabilities of the several +members thereof, shall at no time exceed one-tenth part of the amount +of the capital stock of such association actually paid in: _Provided_, +That the discount of bona fide bills of exchange drawn against +actually existing values, and the discount of commercial or business +paper actually owned by the person or persons, corporation, or firm +negotiating the same shall not be considered as money borrowed. + +SEC 30. That every association may take, receive, reserve, and charge +on any loan or discount made, or upon any note, bill of exchange, or +other evidences of debt, interest at the rate allowed by the laws of +the State or Territory where the bank is located, and no more, except +that where by the laws of any State a different rate is limited for +banks of issue organized under State laws, the rate so limited shall be +allowed for associations organized in any such State under this act. +And when no rate is fixed by the laws of the State or Territory, the +bank may take, receive, reserve, or charge a rate not exceeding seven +per centum, and such interest may be taken in advance, reckoning the +days for which the note, bill, or other evidence of debt has to run. +And the knowingly taking, receiving, reserving, or charging a rate of +interest greater than aforesaid shall be held and adjudged a forfeiture +of the entire interest which the note, bill, or other evidence of debt +carries with it, or which has been agreed to be paid thereon. And in +case a greater rate of interest has been paid, the person or persons +paying the same, or their legal representatives, may recover back, in +any action of debt twice the amount of the interest thus paid from the +association taking or receiving the same: _Provided_, That such action +is commenced within two years from the time the usurious transaction +occurred. But the purchase, discount, or sale of a bona fide bill of +exchange, payable at another place than the place of such purchase, +discount, or sale, at not more than the current rate of exchange for +sight drafts, in addition to the interest, shall not be considered as +taking or receiving a greater rate of interest. + +SEC. 31. That every association in the cities hereinafter named +shall, at all times, have on hand, in lawful money of the United +States, an amount equal to at least twenty-five per centum of the +aggregate amount of its notes in circulation and its deposits; and +every other association shall, at all times, have on hand, in lawful +money of the United States, an amount equal to at least fifteen per +centum of the aggregate amount of its notes in circulation and of its +deposits. And whenever the lawful money of any association in any of +the cities hereinafter named shall be below the amount of twenty-five +per centum of its circulation and deposits, and whenever the lawful +money of any other association shall be below fifteen per centum of +its circulation and deposits, such association shall not increase +its liabilities by making any new loans or discounts, otherwise than +by discounting or purchasing bills of exchange payable at sight, nor +make any dividend of its profits until the required proportion between +the aggregate amount of its outstanding notes of circulation and +deposits and its lawful money of the United States shall be restored: +_Provided_, That three-fifths of said fifteen per centum may consist +of balances due to an association available for the redemption of its +circulating notes from associations approved by the Comptroller of +the Currency, organized under this act, in the cities of Saint Louis, +Louisville, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Cincinnati, +Cleveland, Pittsburg, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, New York, +Albany, Leavenworth, San Francisco, and Washington City: _Provided, +also_, That clearing-house certificates, representing specie or lawful +money specially deposited for the purpose of any clearing-house +association, shall be deemed to be lawful money in the possession of +any association belonging to such clearing-house holding and owning +such certificate, and shall be considered to be a part of the lawful +money which such association is required to have under the foregoing +provisions of this section: _Provided_, That the cities of Charleston +and Richmond may be added to the list of cities in the national +associations, of which other associations may keep three-fifths of +their lawful money, whenever, in the opinion of the Comptroller of the +Currency, the condition of the Southern States will warrant it. And it +shall be competent for the Comptroller of the Currency to notify any +association, whose lawful money reserve as aforesaid shall be below +the amount to be kept on hand as aforesaid, to make good such reserve; +and if such association shall fail for thirty days thereafter, so as +to make good its reserve of lawful money of the United States, the +Comptroller may, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the Treasury, +appoint a receiver to wind up the business of such association, as +provided in this act. + +SEC. 32. That each association organized in any of the cities named +in the foregoing section shall select, subject to the approval of the +Comptroller of the Currency, an association in the city of New York, +at which it will redeem its circulating notes at par. And each of such +associations may keep one-half of its lawful money reserve in cash +deposits in the city of New York. And each association, not organized +within the cities named in the preceding section, shall select, subject +to the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency, an association in +either of the cities named in the preceding section, at which it will +redeem its circulating notes at par. And every association formed or +existing under the provisions of this act shall take and receive at +par, for any debt or liability to said association, any and all notes +or bills issued by any association existing under and by virtue of this +act. + +SEC. 35. That no association shall make any loan or discount on the +security of the shares of its own capital stock, nor be the purchaser +or holder of any such shares, unless such security or purchase shall +be necessary to prevent loss upon a debt previously contracted in good +faith; and stock so purchased or acquired, shall, within six months +from the time of its purchase, be sold or disposed of at public or +private sale, in default of which a receiver may be appointed to close +up the business of the association, according to the provisions of this +act. + +SEC. 36. That no association shall, at any time, be indebted, or in +any way liable, to an amount exceeding its capital stock at such time +actually paid in and remaining undiminished by losses or otherwise, +except on the following accounts; that is to say: + +First. On account of its notes of circulation. + +Second. On account of moneys deposited with, or collected by, such +association. + +Third. On account of bills of exchange or drafts drawn against money +actually on deposit to the credit of such association, or due thereto. + +Fourth. On account of liabilities to its stockholders for dividends and +reserved profits. + +SEC. 37. That no association shall, either directly or indirectly, +pledge or hypothecate any of its notes of circulation, for the purpose +of procuring money to be paid in on its capital stock, or to be used +in its banking operations, or otherwise; nor shall any association use +its circulating notes, or any part thereof, in any manner or form, to +create or increase its capital stock. + +SEC. 38. That no association or any member thereof, shall, during the +time it shall continue its banking operations, withdraw, or permit to +be withdrawn, either in forms of dividends or otherwise, any portion +of its capital. And if losses shall at any time have been sustained by +any such association equal to or exceeding its dividend profits then on +hand, no dividend shall be made; and no dividend shall ever be made by +any association while it shall continue its banking operations, to an +amount greater than its net profits then on hand, deducting therefrom +its losses and bad debts. And all debts due to any association on which +interest is past due and unpaid for a period of six months, unless the +same shall be well secured, and shall be in process of collection, +shall be considered bad debt, within the meaning of this act: +_Provided_, That nothing in this section shall prevent the reduction of +the capital stock of the association under the thirteenth section of +this act. + +SEC. 39. That no association shall at any time pay out on loans or +discounts, or in purchasing drafts or bills of exchange, or in payment +of deposits, or in any other mode pay or put in circulation the notes +of any bank or banking association which shall not, at any such time, +be receivable, at par on deposit and in payment of debts by the +association so paying out or circulating such notes, nor shall it +knowingly pay out or put in circulation any notes issued by any bank or +banking association, which, at the time of such paying out or putting +in circulation, is not redeeming its circulating notes in lawful money +of the United States. + +SEC. 41. And in lieu of all existing taxes, every association shall +pay to the Treasurer of the United States, in the months of January +and July, a duty of one-half of one per centum each half year from +and after the first day of January, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, +upon the average amount of its notes in circulation, and a duty of one +quarter of one per centum each half year upon the average amount of its +deposits, and a duty of one quarter of one per centum each half year, +as aforesaid, on the average amount of its capital stock beyond the +amount invested in United States bonds. And it shall be the duty of +each association, within ten days from the first days of January and +July of each year, to make a return under the oath of its president +or cashier, to the Treasurer of the United States, in such form as he +may prescribe, of the average amount of its notes in circulation, and +of the average amount of its deposits, and of the average amount of +its capital stock beyond the amount invested in United States bonds, +for the six months next preceding said first days of January and July +as aforesaid: _Provided_, That nothing in this act shall be construed +to prevent all the shares in any of the said associations, held by +any person or body-corporate from being included in the valuation of +the personal property of such person or corporation in the assessment +of taxes imposed by or under State authority at the place where such +bank is located, and not elsewhere, but not at a greater rate than is +assessed upon other moneyed capital in the hands of individual citizens +of such State: _Provided further_, That the tax so imposed under the +laws of any State upon the shares of any of the associations authorized +by this act shall not exceed the rate imposed upon the shares in any of +the banks organized under authority of the State where such association +is located: _Provided, also_, That nothing in this act shall exempt the +real estate of associations from either State, county, or municipal +taxes to the same extent, according to its value, as other real estate +is taxed. + +SEC. 42. That any association may go into liquidation and be closed +by the vote of its shareholders owning two-thirds of its stock. And +whenever such vote shall be taken it shall be the duty of the board of +directors to cause notice of this fact to be certified, under the seal +of the association, by its president or cashier, to the Comptroller of +the Currency, and publication thereof to be made for a period of two +months in a newspaper, published in the city of New York, and also in +a newspaper published in a city or town in which the association is +located; and one year after that time the outstanding notes of said +association shall be redeemed at the Treasury of the United States, and +the said association and the shareholders thereof shall be discharged +from all liabilities therefor. + +SEC. 44. That any bank incorporated by special law, or any banking +institution organized under a general law of any State, may, by +authority of this act, become a national association under its +provisions, by the name prescribed in its organization certificate; +and in such case the articles of association and the organization +certificate required by this act may be executed by a majority of the +directors of the bank or banking institution; and said certificate +shall declare that the owners of two-thirds of the capital stock shall +have authorized the directors to make such certificate and to change +and convert the said bank or banking institution into a national +association under this act. And a majority of the directors, after +executing said articles of association and organization certificate, +shall have power to execute all other papers, and to do whatever may be +required to make its organization perfect and complete as a national +association. The shares of any such bank may continue to be for the +same amount each as they were before said conversion, and the directors +aforesaid may be the directors of the association until others are +elected or appointed in accordance with the provisions of this act; and +any State bank which is a stockholder in any other bank, by authority +of State laws, may continue to hold its stock, although either bank, or +both, may be organized under and have accepted the provisions of this +act. When the Comptroller shall give to such association a certificate, +under his hand and official seal, that the provisions of this act have +been complied with, and that it is authorized to commence the business +of banking under it, the association shall have the same powers and +privileges, and shall be subject to the same duties, responsibilities +and rules, in all respects as are prescribed in this act for other +associations organized under it, and shall be held and regarded as +an association under this act: _Provided, however_, That no such +association shall have a less capital than the amount prescribed for +banking associations under this act. + +SEC. 45. That all associations under this act, when designated for +that purpose by the Secretary of the Treasury, shall be depositaries +of public money, except receipts from customs, under such regulations +as may be prescribed by the Secretary; and they may also be employed +as financial agents of the Government; and they shall perform all such +reasonable duties, as depositaries of public moneys and financial +agents of the Government, as may be required of them. And the Secretary +of the Treasury shall require of the associations thus designated +satisfactory security, by the deposit of United States bonds and +otherwise, for the safe keeping and prompt payment of the public +money deposited with them, and for the faithful performance of their +duties as financial agents of the Government: _Provided_, That every +association which shall be selected and designated as receiver or +depositary of the public money, shall take and receive at par all of +the national currency bills, by whatever association issued, which +have been paid in to the Government for internal revenue, or for loans +or stocks. + +SEC. 46. That if any such association shall at any time fail to redeem, +in the lawful money of the United States, any of its circulating notes, +when payment thereof shall be lawfully demanded during the usual hours +of business, at the office of such association, or at its place of +redemption aforesaid, the holder may cause the same to be protested, +in one package, by a notary public, unless the president or cashier +of the association, whose notes are presented for payment, or the +president or cashier of the association at the place at which they are +redeemable, shall offer to waive demand and notice of the protest, and +shall, in pursuance of such offer, make, sign, and deliver to the party +making such demand, an admission in writing, stating the time of the +demand, the amount demanded, and the fact of the non-payment thereof; +and such notary public, on making such protest, or upon receiving such +admission, shall forthwith forward such admission or notice of protest +to the Comptroller of the Currency, retaining a copy thereof. And +after such default, on examination of the facts by the Comptroller, +and notice by him to the association, it shall not be lawful for the +association suffering the same to pay out any of its notes, discount +any notes or bills, or otherwise prosecute the business of banking, +except to receive and safely keep money belonging to it, and to deliver +special deposits. _Provided_, That if satisfactory proof be produced to +such notary public, that the payment of any such notes is restrained by +order of any court of competent jurisdiction, such notary public shall +not protest the same; and when the holder of such notes shall cause +more than one note or package to be protested on the same day, he shall +not receive pay for more than one protest. + +SEC. 56. That all suits and proceedings arising out of the provisions +of this act, in which the United States or its officers or agents shall +be parties, shall be conducted by the district attorneys of the several +districts, under the direction and supervision of the Solicitor of the +Treasury. + +SEC. 57. That suits, actions, and proceedings against any association +under this act, may be had in any circuit, district, or territorial +court of the United States held within the district in which such +association may be established; or in any State, county, or municipal +court in the county or city in which said association is located, +having jurisdiction in similar cases: _Provided, however_, That all +proceedings to enjoin the Comptroller under this act shall be had in a +circuit, district, or territorial court of the United States, held in +the district in which the association is located. + +SEC. 58. That every person who shall mutilate, cut, deface, disfigure, +or perforate with holes, or shall unite or cement together, or do +any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of +debt, issued by any such association, or shall cause or procure the +same to be done, with intent to render such bank bill, draft, note, +or other evidence of debt unfit to be reissued by said association, +shall, upon conviction, forfeit fifty dollars to the association who +shall be injured thereby, to be recovered by action in any court having +jurisdiction. + +SEC. 61. That it shall be the duty of the Comptroller of the Currency +to report annually to Congress at the commencement of its session— + +First. A summary of the state and condition of every association from +whom reports have been received the preceding year, at the several +dates to which such reports refer, with an abstract of the whole amount +of banking capital returned by them, of the whole amount of their debts +and liabilities, the amount of circulating notes outstanding, and the +total amount of means and resources, specifying the amount of lawful +money held by them at the times of their several returns, and such, +other information in relation to said associations as, in his judgment +may be useful. + +SEC. 110. That there shall be levied, collected, and paid a duty of +one twenty-fourth of one per centum each month upon the average amount +of the deposits of money, subject to payment by check or draft, or +represented by certificates of deposit or otherwise, whether payable +on demand or at some future day, with any person, bank, association, +company or corporation engaged in the business of banking; and a duty +of one twenty-fourth of one per centum each month, as aforesaid, upon +the average amount of the capital of any bank, association, company or +corporation, or person engaged in the business of banking, beyond the +amount invested in United States bonds; and a duty of one-twelfth of +one per centum each month upon the average amount of circulation issued +by any bank, association, corporation, company or person, including as +circulation all certified checks and all notes and other obligations +circulated or intended to circulate, or to be used as money, but not +including that in the vault of the bank, or redeemed and on deposit for +said bank, and an additional duty of one-sixth of one per centum each +month upon the average amount of such circulation, issued as aforesaid, +beyond the amount of ninety per centum of the capital of any such bank, +association, corporation, company or person, and upon any amount of +such circulation beyond the average amount of the circulation that had +been issued as aforesaid by any such bank, association, corporation, +company or person, for the six months preceding the first day of July, +eighteen hundred and sixty-four. And on the first Monday of August +next, and of each month thereafter, a true and accurate return of the +amount of circulation, of deposit and of capital, as aforesaid, for +the previous month, shall be made and rendered in duplicate by each +of such banks, associations, corporations, companies or persons, to +the assessor of the district in which any such bank, association, +corporation or company may be located, or in which such person may +reside, with a declaration annexed thereto, and the oath or affirmation +of such person, or the president or cashier of such bank, association, +corporation or company, in such form and manner as may be prescribed +by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, that the same contains a true +and faithful statement of the amount of circulation, deposits, and +capital, as aforesaid, subject to duty as aforesaid, and shall transmit +the duplicate of said return to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, +and within twenty days thereafter shall pay to the said Commissioner +of Internal Revenue the duties hereinbefore prescribed upon the said +amount of circulation, of deposits and of capital, as aforesaid. + + + + + History of Finances, Loans, Bonds, Legal Tender + Notes of the U. S., etc., from 1841 to the Present Time. + + ====================================================================== + Acts Authorizing Loans, and Synopsis of same. + ------------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Acts of |Authorized a loan of $12,000,000, bearing interest at a + July 21, | rate not exceeding 6 per cent. per annum, and + 1841, | reimbursable at the will of the Secretary, after six + and | months’ notice, or atany time after three years from + April 15, | Jan. 1, 1842. The act of April 15, 1842, authorized + 1842. | the loan of an additional sum of $5,000,000, and made + | the amount obtained on the loan, after the passage of + | this act, reimbursable after six months’ notice, or at + | any time not exceeding twenty years from Jan, 1, 1843. + | This loan was made for the purpose of redeeming + | outstanding Treasury notes, and to defray any of the + | public expenses. + ------------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized the issue of $23,000,000 in Treasury notes, + Jan. 28, | bearing interest at a rate not exceeding 6 per cent. + 1847. | per annum, with authority to borrow any portion of the + | amount, and issue bonds therefor, bearing interest at + | a rate not exceeding 6 per cent. and redeemable after + | Dec. 31, 1867. The 13th section authorized the funding + | of these notes into bonds of the same description. The + | act limited the amount to be borrowed or issued in + | Treasury notes, and funded as aforesaid, to $23,000,000, + | but authorized the funding of Treasury notes issued + | under former acts beyond that amount. The excess of + | the $23,000,000 is made up of Treasury notes funded + | under the 14th section. + ------------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized a loan of $16,000,000, bearing interest at a + March 31, | rate not exceeding 6 per cent. per annum, and + 1848. | reimbursable at any time after twenty years from July + | 1, 1848. Authority was given to the Secretary to + | purchase the stock at any time. + ------------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized the issue of $10,000,000 in bonds, bearing 5 + Sept. 9, | per cent. interest, and redeemable at the end of + 1850. | fourteen years, to indemnify the State of Texas for + | her relinquishment of all claims upon the United States + | for liability of the debts of Texas, and for + | compensation for the surrender to the United States of + | her ships, forts, arsenals, custom-houses, &c., which + | became the property of the United States at the time of + | annexation. + ------------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Old |Consisting of unclaimed dividends upon stocks issued + funded | before the year 1800, and those issued during the war + and | of 1812. + unfunded | + debts. | + ------------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Acts prior |Different issues of Treasury notes. + to 1857. | + ------------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized an issue of $20,000,000 in Treasury notes, + Dec. 23, | bearing interest at a rate not exceeding 6 per cent. + 1857. | per annum, and receivable in payment of all public + | dues, and to be redeemed after the expiration of one + | year from the date of said notes. + ------------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized a loan of $20,000,000, bearing interest at a + June 14, | rate not exceeding 5 per cent. per annum, and + 1858. | reimbursable, at the option of the Government, at any + | time after the expiration of fifteen years from + | Jan. 1, 1859. + ------------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized a loan of $21,000,000, bearing interest at a + June 22, | rate not exceeding 6 per cent. per annum, and + 1860. | reimbursable within a period not beyond twenty years, + | and not less than ten years, for the redemption of + | outstanding Treasury notes, and for no other purpose. + ------------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized an issue of $10,000,000 in Treasury notes to + Dec. 17, | be redeemed after the expiration of one year from the + 1860. | date of issue, and bearing such a rate of interest as + | may be offered by the lowest bidders. Authority was + | given to issue these notes in payment of warrants in + | favor of public creditors at their par value, bearing + | six per cent. per annum. + ------------+--------------------------------------------------------- + + (A) = Rate of interest. + (B) = Price of emission. + + ===========+=======+========+===========+=========+=========+ + |Title. | Length | When | A | B | + | |of Loan.|redeemable.| | | + -----------+-------+--------+-----------+---------+---------+ + Acts of |Loan of| 20 | After Dec.|6 % per | Par. | + July 21,| 1842 | years | 31, 1862. | annum. | | + 1841, | | | | | | + and | | | | | | + April 15,| | | | | | + 1842. | | | | | | + -----------+-------+--------+-----------+---------+---------+ + Act of |Loan of| 20 | After Dec.|6 % per | Par. | + Jan. 28, | 1847 | years | 31, 1867. | annum. | | + 1847. | | | | | | + -----------+-------+--------+-----------+---------+---------+ + Act of |Loan of| 20 | After July|6 % per | Par. | + March 31,| 1848 | years | 1, 1868. | annum. | | + 1848. | | | | | | + -----------+-------+--------+-----------+---------+---------+ + Act of | Texas | 15 | After Dec.|5 % per | Par. | + Sept. 9,| indem-| years | 31, 1864. | annum. | | + 1850. | nity | | | | | + -----------+-------+--------+-----------+---------+---------+ + Old | Old | | | | | + funded | funded| Dem- | On demand | 5 & 6%. | Par. | + and | debt.| and | | | | + unfunded | | | | | | + debts. | | | | | | + Acts prior | Treas.| —— | On demand | 1 m. to | Par. | + to 1857. | notes | | | 6 % | | + | | | | | | + Act of | Treas.| 1 | 1 year | 5 to | Par. | + Dec. 23, | notes | year | after | 5½% | | + 1857. | | | date. | | | + -----------+-------+--------+-----------+---------+---------+ + Act of | | | | | | + June 14, |Loan of| 15 | Dec. 31, |5 % per | Par. | + 1858. | 1858 | years | ’73 | annum. | | + -----------+-------+--------+-----------+---------+---------+ + Act of | | | | | | + June 14, |Loan of| 10 | After Dec.|5 % per | Par. | + 1860. | 1860 | years | 31, 1870. | annum. | | + -----------+-------+--------+-----------+---------+---------+ + Act of | | | | | | + Dec. 17, | Treas.| 1 | 1 year |6 and 12 | Par. | + 1860. | notes | year | after | % per | | + | | | date. | annum. | | + -----------+-------+--------+-----------+---------+---------+ + + ===========+===========+==========+============= + | Amount | Amount | Amount + |authorized.| issued. |outstanding. + -----------+-----------+----------+------------- + Acts of |$17,000,000|$8,000,000| $64,768 68 + July 21,| | | + 1841, | | | + and | | | + April 15,| | | + 1842. | | | + -----------+-----------+----------+------------- + Act of | 23,000,000|28,207,000| 7,160,200 00 + Jan. 28, | | | + 1847. | | | + -----------+-----------+----------+------------- + Act of | 16,000,000|16,000,000| 8,020,941 80 + March 31,| | | + 1848. | | | + -----------+-----------+----------+------------- + Act of | 10,000,000| 5,000,000| 263,000 00 + Sept. 9,| | | + 1850. | | | + -----------+-----------+----------+------------- + Old | | | + funded | —— | —— | 113,915 48 + and | | | + unfunded | | | + debts. | | | + Acts prior | —— | —— | 104,511 64 + to 1857. | | | + | | | + Act of | 20,000,000| —— | 2,600 00 + Dec. 23, | | | + 1857. | | | + -----------+-----------+----------+------------- + Act of | | | + June 14, | 20,000,000|20,000,000|20,000,000 00 + 1858. | | | + -----------+-----------+----------+------------- + Act of | | | + June 14, | 21,000,000| 7,022,000| 7,022,000 00 + 1860. | | | + -----------+-----------+----------+------------- + Act of | | | + Dec. 17, | 10,000,000|10,000,000| 600 00 + 1860. | | | + | | | + -----------+-----------+----------+------------- + + =================================================================== + Acts authorizing Loans, and Synopsis of same. + -------------+----------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized a loan of $25,000,000, bearing interest at + Feb. 8, | a rate not exceeding 6 per cent. per annum, and + 1861. | reimbursable within a period not beyond twenty years, + | nor less than ten years. This loan was made for the + | payment of the current expenses, and was to be + | awarded to the most favorable bidders. + -------------+----------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized a loan of $10,000,000, bearing interest at + March 2, | a rate not exceeding 6 per cent. per annum, and + 1861. | reimbursable after the expiration of ten years from + | July 1, 1861. In case proposals for the loan were + | not acceptable, authority was given to issue the + | whole amount in Treasury notes, bearing interest at + | a rate not exceeding 6 per cent. per annum. + | Authority was also given to substitute Treasury + | notes for the whole or any part of the loans for + | which the Secretary was by law authorized to contract + | and issue bonds at the time of the passage of this + | act, and such Treasury notes were to be made + | receivable in payment of all public dues, and + | redeemable at any time within two years from March + | 2, 1861. + -------------+----------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized an issue, should the Secretary of the + March 2, | Treasury deem it expedient, of $2,800,000, in coupon + 1861. | bonds, bearing interest at the rate of 6 per cent. + | per annum, and redeemable in twenty years, for the + | payment of expenses incurred by the Territories of + | Washington and Oregon in the suppression of Indian + | hostilities during the years 1855 and 1856. + -------------+----------------------------------------------------- + Acts of |Authorized a loan of $250,000,000, for which could be + July 17, | issued bonds bearing interest at a rate not + 1861, | exceeding 7 per cent. per annum, irredeemable for + and | twenty years, and after that redeemable at the + August 5, | pleasure of the United States; Treasury notes + 1861. | bearing interest at the rate of 7.30 per cent. per + | annum, payable three years after date, and U. S. + | notes,without interest, payable on demand, to the + | extent of $50,000,000 (increased by act of Feb. 12, + | 1862, to $60,000,000), to bonds and Treasury notes, + | to be issued in such proportions of each as the + | Secretary may deem advisable. The supplementary act + | of Aug. 5, 1861, authorized an issue of bonds, + | bearing 6 per cent. interest per annum, and payable + | at the pleasure of the United States after twenty + | years from date, which may be issued in exchange + | for 7.30 Treasury notes, but no such bonds to be + | issued for a less sum than $500; and the whole + | amount of such bonds not to exceed the whole amount + | of 7.30 Treasury notes issued. + -------------+----------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized the issue of $500,000,000, in 6 per cent. + Feb. 25, | bonds, redeemable after five years, and payable + 1862. | twenty years from date, which may be exchanged for + | United States notes. Also on + March 3, |Authorized the issue of not over $11,000,000 + 1864. | additional of similar bonds, to meet subscriptions + | already made and paid for. + June 30, | + 1864. |On hand, unsold in the United States or Europe. + January 28, | + 1865. | + -------------+----------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized the issue of $150,000,000, in legal-tender + Feb. 25, | U. S. notes; $50,000,000 of which to be in lieu of + 1862. | demand notes, issued under act of July 17, 1861. + | + Act of |Authorized an additional issue of $150,000,000, in + July 11, | legal-tender notes; $35,000,000 of which might be + 1862. | in denominations less than five dollars: $50,000,000 + | of this issue to be reserved to pay temporary loans + | promptly in case of emergency. + -------------+------------------------------------------------------ + Resolution |Authorized the issue of $100,000,000, in United States + of Congress,| notes, for the immediate payment of the army and + January 17,| navy, such notes to be a part of the amount + 1863. | provided for in any bill that may hereafter be + | passed by this Congress. (The amount in this + | resolution is included in the act of March 3, 1863.) + | (_Continued on p. 322._) + -------------+------------------------------------------------------ + + (A) = Rate of interest. + (B) = Price of emission. + =============+==============+==========+=============+=======+====+ + | Title. | Length | When | (A) |(B) | + | | of Loan. | redeemable. | | | + =============+==============+==========+=============+=======+====+ + Act of | Loan of | 20 years |After June 1,|6 % per|Par.| + Feb. 8, |Feb. 8, 1861. | | 1881. | annum | | + 1861. | | | | | | + -------------+--------------+----------+-------------+-------+----+ + Act of | | | | | | + March 2, | +----------+-------------+ | | + 1861. | Treas’y |2 years |2 yrs. after | —— | —— | + | notes. | | date. |6 % p. |Par.| + | |60 days. | 60 days | an’m | | + | +——————————+ after | —— | —— | + | | | date. | | | + -------------+--------------+----------+-------------+-------+----+ + Act of | | | | | | + March 2, | Oregon war | 20 years |After July 1,|6 % per|Par.| + 1861. | | | 1881. |annum. | | + -------------+--------------+----------+-------------+-------+----+ + Acts of | 20-year | 20 years |After June |6 % per| — | + July 17, | sixes. +——————————+ 30, 1881. |annum. | | + 1861, | 7-30 notes. | 3 |After Aug. |7-30% | | + and | (two issues) | yrs. | 18, 1864. | per | — | + August 5, | +——————————+After Sept. |annum. | | + 1861. | | | 30, 1864. | | | + | | | | | | + | Demand | Pay’ble | Demand | None. | — | + | notes. |on demand.| | | | + | | | | | | + | 20-year |20 years. | After June |6 % per|Par.| + | sixes. | | 30, 1881. |annum. | | + | | | | | | + -------------+--------------+----------+-------------+-------+----+ + Act of | | | | | | + Feb. 25, | | | | | | + 1862. | | | | | | + | | | | | | + March 3, | | | | | | + 1864. | | | | | | + | Five- |5 or 20 |After Ap’l |6 % per|Par.| + June 30, | twenties. | years. | 30, 1867. |annum | | + 1864. | | | | | | + January 28, | | | | | | + 1865. | | | | | | + -------------+--------------+----------+-------------+-------+----+ + Act of | | | | | | + July 11, | | | | | | + 1862. | | | | | | + | U. States | —— | —— |None. |Par.| + | notes, | | | | | + | new issue. | | | | | + Resolution | | | | | | + of Congress,| | | | | | + January 17,| | | | | | + 1863. | | | | | | + -------------+--------------+----------+-------------+-------+----+ + + =============+===========+===========+=============== + | Amount | Amount | Amount + |authorized.| issued. |outstanding. + -------------+-----------+----------+---------------- + Act of |$25,000,000|$18,415,000|$18,415,000 00 + Feb. 8, | | | + 1861. | | | + -------------+-----------+-----------+---------------- + Act of | | | + March 2, | | | + 1861. | 22,468,100| 22,468,100| + | | | 3,600 00 + | | | + | 12,896,350| 12,896,350| + | | | + -------------+-----------+-----------+---------------- + Act of | | | + March 2, | 2,800,000| 1,090,850| 1,016,000 00 + 1861. | | | + -------------+-----------+-----------+---------------- + Acts of | —— | 50,000,000| 50,000,000 00 + July 17, | | | + 1861, | | | + and | —— |139,999,750|139,315,350 00 + August 5, | | | + 1861. | | | + | | | + | —— | 60,000,000| 208,432 00 + | | | + | | | + |Exch’ngeble| —— | 59,700 00 + | for 7-30 | | + |Tr’y notes.| | + -------------+-----------+-----------+---------------- + Act of | | | + Feb. 25, | | | + 1862. | | | + | | | + March 3, | | | + 1864. | | | + |515,000,000|514,780,500|514,780,500 00 + June 30, | | | + 1864. | | | + January 28, | | | + 1865. | | | + -------------+-----------+-----------+---------------- + Act of | | | + July 11, | | | + 1862. | | | + |450,000,000| —— |371,783,597 00 + | | | + | | | + Resolution | | | + of Congress,| | | + January 17,| | | + 1863. | | | + -------------+-----------+-----------+---------------- + + =================================================================== + Acts authorizing Loans, and Synopsis of same. + ---------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |A further issue of $150,000,000, in United States notes, + March 3,| for the purpose of converting the Treasury notes which + 1863. | may be issued under this act, and for no other purpose. + | And a further issue, if necessary, for the payment of + | the army and navy, and other creditors of the Government, + | of $150,000,000, in United States notes, which amount + | includes the $100,000,000 authorized by the joint + | resolution of Congress, Jan. 17, 1863. + Act of |Provided, That of United States notes not more than ten + April 12| millions of dollars may be retired and canceled within + 1866.| six months from the passage of this act, and thereafter + | not more than four millions of dollars in any one month: + | And provided further, That the act to which this is an + | amendment shall continue in full force in all its + | provisions, except as modified by this act. + ---------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized a temporary loan of $25,000,000, in United + Feb. 25 | States notes, for not less than thirty days, payable + 1862. | after ten days’ notice, at 5 per cent. interest per + | annum. (This was increased to $100,000,000 by the + | following acts.) + Act of | + March 17,|Authorized an increase of temporary loans of $25,000,000, + 1862. | bearing interest at a rate not exceeding 5 per cent. per + | annum. + Act of | + July 11, |Authorized a further increase of temporary loans of + 1862. | $50,000,000 making the whole amount authorized + | $100,000,000. + | + Act of |Authorized the increase of temporary loans to not + June 30,| exceeding $150,000,000, at a rate not exceeding 6 per + 1864. | cent. per annum. + ---------+---------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized a loan of $300,000,000 for this and $600,000,000 + March 3| for the next fiscal year, for which could be issued + 1863. | bonds running not less than ten, nor more than forty + | years, principal and interest payable in coin, bearing + | interest at a rate not exceeding 6 per cent. per annum, + | payable in bonds not exceeding $100 annually, and on + | all others semi-annually, the whole amount of bonds, + | Treasury notes, and United States notes issued under + Act of | this act not to exceed the sum of 900,000,000. And so + June 30| much of this act as limits the to the current fiscal + 1864. | year is repealed by act of June 30, 1864, which also + | repeals the authority to borrow money conferred by + | section 1, except so far as it may affect$75,000,000 of + | bonds already advertised. + ---------+---------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |And Treasury notes to the amount of $400,000,000, not + March 3,| exceeding three years to run, with interest at not over + 1863. | 6 per cent. per annum, principal and interest payable + | in lawful money, which may be made a legal-tender for + | their face value, excluding interest, or convertible + | into United States notes. Secretary may receive gold on + | deposit, and issue certificates therefor, in sums not + | less than twenty dollars. + ---------+---------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorizes the issue of bonds not exceeding $200,000,000, + March 3,| bearing date March 1, 1864, or any subsequent period, + 1864. | redeemable at the pleasure of the Government after any + | period not less than five years, and payable at any + | period not more than forty years from date, in coin, + | bearing interest not exceeding 6 per cent. yearly, + | payable on bonds not over $100 annually, and on all + | other bonds semi-annually, in coin. + ---------+---------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized an issue of certificates of indebtedness, + March 1| payable one year from date, in settlement of audited + 1862. | claims against the Government. Interest 6 per cent. per + | annum, payable in gold; and by + Act of |Payable in lawful currency on those issued after that date. + March 3,| Amount of issue not specified. + 1863. | + ---------+---------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized an issue of notes of the fractional parts of + July 17,| one dollar, receivable in payment of all dues, except + 1862. | customs, less than five dollars, and exchangeable for + | United States notes in sums not less than five dollars. + | Amount of issue not specified. + ---------+---------------------------------------------------------- + + (A) = Rate of interest. + (B) = Price of emission. + ==========+=================+========+=============+================+ + | Title. | Length | When | (A) | (B) | + | |of Loan.| redeemable. | | | + ==========+=================+========+=============+=========+======+ + Act of | | | | | | + March 3,| | | | | | + 1863. | | | | | | + | | | | | | + Act of | | | | | | + April 12| | | | | | + 1866.| | | | | | + ---------+-----------------+--------+-------------+---------+------+ + Act of | | | | | | + Feb. 25 | | | | | | + 1862. | | | | | | + | | | | | | + | Tempor’y | Not | After ten | 4, 5, & |Par. | + March 17,| Loan. | less | days’ | 6 % per | | + 1862. | | than | notice. | annum. | | + | |30 days.| | | | + July 11, | | | | | | + 1862. | | | | | | + | | | | | | + Act of | | | | | | + June 30,| | | | | | + 1864. | | | | | | + ---------+-----------------+--------+-------------+---------+------+ + Act of | | | | | | + March 3| | | | | | + 1863. | Loan of | —— |Af’r June | 6 % per |Prem’m| + | 1863. | | 30, 1881. | annum. | | + | | | | | 4.13 | + | | | | | per | + | | | | | cent.| + Act of | | | | | | + June 30| | | | | | + 1864. | | | | | | + | | | | | | + ---------+-----------------+--------+-------------+---------+------+ + | | | | | | + Act of | Treasury |2 years |2 years after| 5% per | Par. | + March 3,| notes. | | date. | annum | | + 1863. | |1 year. |1 year after | 5% per | Par. | + | | | date. | annum. | | + ---------+-----------------+--------+-------------+---------+------+ + |Gold certificates| —— |On dem’d. | —— | Par. | + ---------+-----------------+--------+-------------+---------+------+ + Act of | | | | | | + March 3,| | | | | | + 1864. | Ten-forties. |10 or 40| Af’r Feb. |5 % per | Par. | + | | years. | 28, 1874. | annum. | | + | | | | | | + | Five- |5 or 20 | Aft’r Oct. |6 % per | Par. | + | twenties. | years. | 31, 1869. | annum. | | + ---------+-----------------+--------+-------------+---------+------+ + Act of | | | | | | + March 1| | | | | | + 1862. | | | | | | + ---------+-----------------+--------+-------------+---------+------+ + Act of | Certifica’s |1 year. |1 year after | 6 % per | Par. | + March 3,| of indebtedness.| | date. | annum. | | + 1863. | | | | | | + ---------+-----------------+--------+-------------+---------+------+ + Act of | | | | | | + July 17,| | | | | | + 1862. | | | | | | + ---------+-----------------+--------+-------------+---------+------+ + |Postal currency. | —— | —— | —— | Par. | + | | | | | | + ---------+-----------------+--------+-------------+---------+------+ + + ==========+==============+============+============ + | Amount | Amount | Amount + | authorized. | issued. |outstanding. + ==========+==============+============+============ + Act of | | | + March 3,| | | + 1863. | | | + | | | + Act of | | | + April 12| | | + 1866.| | | + ---------+--------------+------------+------------ + Act of | | | + Feb. 25 | | | + 1862. | | | + | | | + | $150,000,000| —— |$20,225,070 00 + March 17,| | | + 1862. | | | + | | | + July 11, | | | + 1862. | | | + | | | + Act of | | | + June 30,| | | + 1864. | | | + ---------+--------------+------------+------------ + Act of | | | + March 3| | | + 1863. | 75,000,000| $75,000,000| 75,000,000 00 + | | | + Act of | | | + June 30| | | + 1864. | | | + ---------+--------------+------------+ + | | | + Act of | —— | | + March 3,| | 211,000,000| 1,123,830 00 + 1863. | 400,000,000| | + ---------+--------------+------------+ + |Not specified.| —— | 19,207,520 00 + ---------+--------------+------------+ + Act of | | | + March 3,| | | + 1864. | 200,000,000| 172,770,100|171,409,350 00 + | | | + | | | + | —— | —— | 3,882,500 00 + | | | + ---------+--------------+------------+ + Act of | | | + March 1| | | + 1862. | | | + ---------+--------------+------------+ + Act of |Not specified.| —— | 36,000 00 + March 3,| | | + 1863. | | | + ---------+--------------+------------+ + Act of | | | + July 17,| | | + 1862. | | | + ---------+--------------+------------+ + |Not specified.| —— | 5,497,534 93 + | | | + ---------+--------------+------------+ + + =================================================================== + Acts authorizing Loans, and Synopsis of same. + ---------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized an issue not exceeding $50,000,000, in + March 3,| fractional currency (in lieu of postage or other stamps), + 1863. | exchangeable for United States notes in sums not less + | than three dollars, and receivable for any dues to the + | United States less than five dollars, except duties on + | imports. The whole amount issued, including postage and + | other stamps issued as currency, not to exceed + | $50,000,000. Authority was given to prepare it in the + | Treasury Department, under the supervision of the + | Secretary. + Act of |Authorized an issue in lieu of the issue under acts of + June 30,| July 17, 1862, and March 3, 1863, the whole amount + 1864. | outstanding under all these acts not to exceed + | $50,000,000. + ---------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized an issue of $400,000,000 of bonds, redeemable + June 30,| at the pleasure of the Government, after any period not + 1864. | less than five nor more than thirty years, or, if deemed + | expedient, made payable at any period nor more than + | forty years from date. And said bonds shall bear an + | annual interest not exceeding 6 per centum, payable + | semi-annually in coin. And the Secretary of the Treasury + | may dispose of such bonds, or any part thereof, and of + | any bonds commonly known as five-twenties, remaining + | unsold, on such terms as he may deem most advisable, for + | lawful money of the United States, or, at his discretion, + | for Treasury notes, certificates of indebtedness, or + | certificates of deposit, issued under any act of Congress. + ---------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorizes an issue of Treasury notes, not exceeding three + March 3,| years to run, interest at not over 6 per cent. per annum, + 1863. | principal and interest payable in lawful money. Also, + | authorizes the issue of, and in lieu of, an equal amount + Act of | of bonds authorized by the first section, and as a part + June 30,| of said loan, not exceeding $200,000,000, in Treasury + 1864. | notes of any denomination not less than ten dollars, + | payable at any time not exceeding three years from date, + | or, if thought more expedient, redeemable at any time + | after three years from date, and bearing interest not + | exceeding the rate of 7 3-10 per centum, payable in + | lawful money at maturity, or at the discretion of the + | Secretary, semi-annually; and such of them as shall be + | made payable, principal and interest, at maturity, shall + | be a legal-tender to the same extent as United States + | notes, for their face value excluding interest, and may + | be paid to any creditor of the United States, at their + | face value, excluding interest, or to any creditor + | willing to receive them at par, including interest; and + | any Treasury notes issued under the authority of this + | act, may be made convertible, at the discretion of the + | Secretary of the Treasury, into any bonds issued under + | the authority of this act, and the Secretary may redeem, + | and cause to be canceled and destroyed any Treasury + | notes or United States notes heretofore issued under + | authority of previous acts of Congress, and substitute + | in lieu thereof an equal amount of Treasury notes, such + | as are authorized by this act, or of other United States + | notes; nor shall any Treasury note bearing interest, + | issued under this act, be a legal-tender, in payment or + | redemption of any notes issued by any bank, banking + | association, or banker, calculatedor intended to + | circulate as money. + Act of |Whole amount may be issued in bonds or Treasury notes, at + Jan. 28,| the discretion of the Secretary. + 1865. | + ---------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |Authorized an issue of $600,000,000 in bonds or Treasury + March 3,| notes; bonds may be made payable at any period not + 1865. | more than forty years from the date of issue, or may be + | made redeemable at the pleasure of the Government, at + | or after any period not less than five years nor more + | than forty years from date, or may be made redeemable + | and payable as aforesaid, as may be expressed upon their + | face, and so much thereof as may be issued in Treasury + + (A) = Rate of interest. + (B) = Price of emission. + =======+=================+========+=============+=======+ + | Title. | Length | When | (A) |(B) | + | |of Loan.| redeemable. | | | + =======+==========+========+=============+=========+====+ + Act of | | | | | | + March 3,| | | | | | + 1863.| | | | | | + | | | | | | + |Fractional| —— | —— | —— |Par.| + | currency.| | | | | + Act of | | | | | | + June 30,| | | | | | + 1864.| | | | | | + -------+----------+--------+-------------+---------+----+ + Act of | | | | | | + June 30,| | | | | | + 1864. | | | | | | + | | | | | | + | | | | | | + | Five- |5 or 20 |After Oct. |6 % per | — | + | twenties.| years. | 31, 1869. | annum. | | + | | | | | | + | | | | | | + | | | | | | + | | | | | | + | | | | | | + | | | | | | + -------+----------+--------+-------------+---------+----+ + Act of | | | | | | + March 3,| | | | | + + 1863. | Treasury |3 years.|3 years after| 6 % |Par.| + | notes. | | date. |comp’d | | + Act of | | | |int’est. | | + June 30,| | | | | | + 1864. | Treasury |3 years.|3 years after| 6 % | — | + | notes. | | date. |comp’d | | + | | | |int’est. | | + | | | | | | + | Treasury |3 years.|3 years after| 6 % | — | + | notes. | | date. |comp’d | + + | | | |int’est. | | + | | | | | | + | —— | —— | —— | —— | — | + | | | | | | + | | | | | | + | 7.30 |3 years.|3 years after|7.30 % p.|Par.| + | Treas. | | August. | annum. | | + | notes. | | 15, 1864. | | | + | | | | | | + Act of | | | | | | + Jan. 28,| | | | | | + 1865.| | | | | | + -------+----------+--------+-------------+---------+----+ + Act of | _See_ | | | | | + March 3,| p. 327 | | | | | + 1865.| | | | | | + | | | | | | + + ========+==============+============+=============== + | Amount | Amount | Amount + | authorized. | issued. | outstanding. + ========+==============+============+=============== + Act of | | | + March 3,| | | + 1863.| | | + | | | + | $50,000,000 | —— | $22,809,988 59 + Act of | | | + June 30,| | | + 1864.| | | + -------+--------------+------------+ + Act of | | | + June 30,| | | + 1864. | | | + | —— | —— | 125,561,300 00 + | | | + -------+--------------+------------+--------------- + Act of | | | + March 3,| + | + 1863. | | $17,250,000| + | | | + Act of | | | + June 30,| | | + 1864. | Substit’te | 177,045,770| 122,394,480 00 + | redeemed | | + | 5 % notes. | | + | | | + | | 22,728,390| + |--------------+------------+--------------- + | | | + | 400,000,000 | | + | | | + | —— | 234,400,000| + Act of | | | + Jan. 28,| | | + 1865. | | | + -------+--------------+------------+--------------- + Act of | | | + March 3,| | | + 1865. | | | + | | | + + =================================================================== + Acts authorizing Loans, and Synopsis of same. + ---------+--------------------------------------------------------- + Act of | notes may be made convertible into any bonds authorized + March 3,| by this act, and be of such denominations, not less than + 1865,| fifty dollars, and bear such dates, and be made + (_Cont’d._) redeemable or payable at such periods as the Secretary + | of the Treasury may deem expedient. The interest on the + | bonds payable semi-annually; on Treasury notes + | semi-annually, or annually, or at maturity thereof; and + | the principal or interest, or both, be made payable in + | coin or other lawful money; if in coin, not to exceed 6 + | per cent. per annum; when not payable in coin, not to + | exceed 7 3-10 per cent. per annum. Rate and character + | to be expressed on bonds or Treasury notes. + ---------+---------------------------------------------------------- + Acts of |Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, at his + April 12,| discretion, to receive any Treasury notes or other + 1866, | obligations issued under any act of Congress, whether + | bearing interest or not, in exchange for any description + amendment| of bonds authorized by the act to which this is an + to act | amendment; and also to dispose of any description of + March 3, | bonds authorized by said act, either in the United + 1865. | States or elsewhere, to such an amount, in such manner, + | and at such rates as he may think advisable, for lawful + | money of the United States, or for any Treasury notes, + | certificates of indebtedness, or certificates of deposit, + | or other representatives of value, which have been or + | which maybe issued under any act of Congress, the + | proceeds thereof to be used only for retiring Treasury + | notes or other obligations issued under any act of + | Congress: but nothing herein contained shall be + | construed to authorize any increase of the public debt. + ---------+---------------------------------------------------------- + Acts of |Bonds issued to the Union Pacific Railroad Company, in + July 1, | accordance with these acts. + 1862, | + and | + July 2, | + 1864. | + ---------+---------------------------------------------------------- + Act of |For the purpose of redeeming and retiring any compound + March 2,| interest notes outstanding, the Secretary of the + 1867. | Treasury is authorized to issue temporary loan + | certificates in the manner prescribed by section four + | of the act entitled “An act to authorize the issue of + | United States notes and for the redemption or funding + | thereof, and for funding the floating debt of the United + | States,” approved February twenty-fifth, eighteen + | hundred and sixty-two, bearing interest at a rate not + | exceeding three per centum per annum, principal and + | interest payable in lawful money on demand; and said + | certificates of temporary loan may constitute and be + | held by any national bank holding or owning the same, + | as a part of the reserve provided for in sections + | thirty-one and thirty-two of the act entitled “An act + | to provide a national currency secured by a pledge of + | United States bonds, and to provide for the circulation + | and redemption thereof,” approved June three, eighteen + | hundred and sixty-four: _Provided_, That not less + | than two-fifths of the entire reserve of such bank shall + | consist of lawful money of the United States: _And + | provided further_, That the amount of such temporary + | certificates at any time outstanding shall not exceed + | fifty millions of dollars. + + (A) = Rate of interest. + (B) = Price of emission. + =========+===========+========+===========+========+====+ + | Title. | Length | When | (A) |(B) | + | |of Loan.|redeemable.| | | + =========+===========+========+===========+========+====+ + Act of | | | | | | + March 3,| | | | | | + 1865,| +————————+ Af’r Aug. +————————+ | + (_Cont’d_)7.30 Treas.| 3 | 14, 1867.| 7.3-10 |Par.| + | notes, 3 | yrs. | Af’r June | per | | + | issues. | | 14, 1868.| cent. | | + | +————————+ Af’r July +————————+ | + | | | 14, 1868.| | | + | | | | | | + | Five- |5 or 20 | Aft’r Oct.|6 % per |Par.| + |twenties. | years. | 31, 1870.|annum. | | + | | | | | | + ---------+-----------+--------+-----------+--------+----+ + Acts of | | | | | | + April 12,| —— | —— | Af’r June |6 % per |Par.| + 1866, | | | 30, 1870. |annum. | | + amendment| | | | | | + to act | | | | | | + March 3, | | | | | | + 1865. | | | | | | + ---------+-----------+--------+-----------+--------+----+ + Acts of | | | | | | + July 1, |Un. Pacific|30 y’rs.| Aft’r Jan.|6 % per |Par.| + 1862, | R. R. Co.| | 15, 1895. |annum. | | + and | bonds. | | | | | + July 2, | | | | | | + 1864. | | | | | | + | | | | | | + Act of | | | | | | + March 2,| | | | | | + 1867. | | | | | | + + =========+==============+============+================== + | Amount | Amount | Amount + | authorized. | issued. | outstanding. + =========+==============+============+================== + Act of | | | $488,647,425 00 + March 3,| | | + 1865,| | | + (_Cont’d_) $600,000,000 | —— | + | | | + | —— | —— | + | | | 181,427,250 00 + ---------+--------------+------------+ + Acts of | | | + April 12,| —— | —— | 301,880,250 00 + 1866, | | | + amendment| | | + to act | | | + March 3, | | | + 1865. | | | + ---------+--------------+------------+ + Acts of | | | + July 1, | —— | —— | 14,762,000 00 + 1862, | | | + and | | | + July 2, | | | + 1864. | | | + ---------+ | | + Act of | | | + March 2,| | | + 1867. | | | + | | | + | | +—————————————————— + | | | $2,692,199,215 12 + +STATISTICAL VIEW OF THE STATES, ETC. + + _Showing dates of acts creating Territories, and admitting + States—Time of holding general elections—Number + of Representatives in Congress—Date of general + elections in the several States, with number of + Representatives and Senators—Terms of office—Times of + meeting—Location of capitals, etc._ + + (A) = No. Members of Congress. + ================+====================+=============================+ + States and | A| Settled. | Date of Act creating | + Territories. | | By whom. |Date.| Territory. State. | + ----------------+--+-----------+-----+--------------+--------------+ + Alabama |17|French |1713 | Mar. 3, 1817| Mar. 2, 1819| + Arkansas | 2|French |1670 | Mar. 2, 1819| June 15, 1836| + California | 3|Span’d |1769 | | Sept. 9, 1850| + Connecticut[7] | 4|Engl. |1633 | | | + Delaware[7] | 1|Swedes |1627 | | | + Florida | 1|Span’d |1564 | Mar. 3, 1823| Mar. 3, 1845| + Georgia[7] | 8|Engl. |1733 | | | + Illinois |13|French |1749 | Feb. 3, 1809| Dec. 3, 1818| + Indiana |11|French |1730 | May 7, 1800| Apr. 19, 1816| + Iowa | 6|Amer. |1835 | June 12, 1838| Mar. 3, 1845| + Kansas | 1|Amer. |1850 | May 30, 1854| Jan. 29, 1861| + Kentucky | 9|Vir’ns |1775 | | June 1, 1792| + Louisiana | 4|French |1699 | Mar. 26, 1801| Feb. 20, 1811| + Maine | 5|Engl. |1630 | | Mar. 15, 1820| + Maryland[7] | 5|Engl. |1634 | | | + Massachusetts[7]|10|Engl. |1620 | | | + Michigan | 6|French |1670 | Jan. 11, 1805| Jan. 26, 1837| + Minnesota | 2|Amer. |1817 | Mar. 3, 1849| May 14, 1858| + Mississippi | 5|French |1716 | Apr. 7, 1798| Dec. 10, 1817| + Missouri | 9|French |1763 | Mar. 3, 1805| Mar. 6, 1820| + N. Hampshire[7] | 3|Engl. |1623 | | | + New Jersey[7] | 5|Swedes |1627 | | | + New York[7] |31|Dutch |1613 | | | + N. Carolina[7] | 8|Engl. |1650 | | | + Nevada | 1|Amer. |1860 | Mar. 2, 1861| Oct. 31, 1864| + Nebraska | 1|Amer. |1850 | May 30, 1854| Mar. 4, 1867| + Ohio |19|Va & N. Eng|1788 | July 13, 1787| Apr. 30, 1802| + Oregon | 1|Engl. |1796 | Aug. 14, 1848| Feb. 12, 1859| + Pennsylvania[7] |24|Engl. |1682 | | | + Rhode Island[7] | 2|Engl. |1631 | | | + S. Carolina[7] | 6|Engl. |1689 | | | + Tennessee |10|NC & Va |1765 | May 26, 1790| June 1, 1796| + Texas | 2|Span’d |1690 | | Dec. 29, 1845| + Vermont | 3|Engl. |1763 | | Mar. 4, 1791| + Virginia[7] |13|Engl. |1607 | | | + West Virginia | 3|Amer. |—— | | Dec. 31, 1862| + Wisconsin | 6|Amer. |1831 | Apr. 30, 1836| Aug. 6, 1846| + Colorado Ter.[8]| 1|Amer. |1860 | Mar. 2, 1861| | + Dakota Ter.[8] | 1|Amer. |1860 | Mar. 2, 1861| | + New Mexico T.[8]| 1|Span’d |1598 | Sept. 9, 1850| | + Utah Ter.[8] | 1|Amer. |1847 | Sept. 9, 1850| | + Washington T.[8]| 1|Amer. |1848 | Mar. 2, 1853| | + Columbia, D. of | |Md & Va |—— | July 10, 1790| | + ================+==============+=====+==============+==============+= + +[7] One of the original thirteen States of the Union. + +[8] Delegates from Territories who may speak on Territorial questions, +but have no vote. + + (B) = Number. + (C) = Term. Years. + ================+============+=====+===========+==+==============+ + States and | Time of holding | Representatives.| + Territories. | general elections. | B | C | + ----------------+------------------------------+---------+-------+ + Alabama |1st Mon. Aug. | 100| 2 | + Arkansas |1st Mon. Aug. | 75| 2 | + California |Tues. after 1st Mon. Sept | 36| 1 | + Connecticut |1st Mon. April. | 232| 1 | + Delaware |2d Tues. Nov. | 21| 1 | + Florida |1st Mon. Oct. | 40| 1 | + Georgia |1st Mon. Oct. bienn. | 150| 2 | + Illinois |Tues. af. 1st Mon. Nov. bienn.| 75| 2 | + Indiana |2d Tues. Oct. | 100| 1 | + Iowa |2d Tues. Oct. | 56| 2 | + Kansas |2d Tues. Nov. | 40| 2 | + Kentucky |1st Mon. Aug. | 100| 2 | + Louisiana |1st Mon. Nov. | 88| 2 | + Maine |2d Mon. Sept. | 151| 1 | + Maryland |1st Wed. Nov. | 81| 2 | + Massachusetts |Tues. af. 1st Mon. Nov. | 240| 1 | + Michigan |Tues. af. 1st Mon. Nov. | 74| 2 | + Minnesota |2d Tues. Oct. | 42| 1 | + Mississippi |1st Mon. Oct. | 92| 2 | + Missouri |1st Mon. Aug. | 130| 2 | + N. Hampshire |2d Tues. March. | 338| 1 | + New Jersey |Tues. aft. 1st Mon. Nov. | 60| 1 | + New York |Tues. aft. 1st Mon. Nov. | 128| 1 | + N. Carolina |1st Thurs. Aug. | 120| 2 | + Nevada |1st Tu. af. 1st Mon. Nov. | 26| 1 | + Nebraska | | 26| 1 | + Ohio |2d Tues. Oct. | 100| 2 | + Oregon |1st Mon. June. | 34| 2 | + Pennsylvania |2d Tues. Oct. | 100| 1 | + Rhode Island |1st Wed. April. | 72| 1 | + S. Carolina |2d Mon. Oct. | 124| 2 | + Tennessee |1st Thurs. Aug. | 75| 2 | + Texas |1st Mon. Aug. | 66| 2 | + Vermont |1st Tues. Sept. | 230| 1 | + Virginia |4th Thurs. May. | 152| 2 | + West Virginia |4th Thurs. Oct. | | | + Wisconsin |Tues. aft. 1st Mon. Nov. | 97| 1 | + Colorado Ter. | | 26| 1 | + Dakota Ter. | | 26| 1 | + New Mexico T. | | 26| 1 | + Utah Ter. | | 26| 1 | + Washington T. | | 18| 1 | + Columbia, D. of | | | | + ================+==============================+=========+=======+ + + (D) = Number. + (E) = Term. Years. + (F) = Governor’s term of office. Years. + ===============+=========+=======================+=+=============== + States and |Senators.| Time of Meeting of |F|State Capitals. + Territories. | D | E | Legislatures. | | + ---------------+-----+---+-----------------------+-+--------------- + Alabama | 33| 4|2d Mon. Nov. bienn. |2|Montgomery. + Arkansas | 25| 4|1st Mon. Nov. bienn. |4|Little Rock. + California | 16| 2|1st Mon. Jan. |2|Sacramento. + Connecticut | 21| 1|1st Wed. May. |1|Hartford. + Delaware | 9| 4|1st Tues. Jan. bienn. |4|Dover. + Florida | 19| 4|4th Mon. Nov. ” |4|Tallahassee. + Georgia | 52| 2|1st Mon. Nov. ” |2|Milledgeville. + Illinois | 25| 4|2d Mon. Jan. ” |4|Springfield. + Indiana | 50| 4|Th. af. 1st M. Jan. ” |4|Indianapolis. + Iowa | 30| 4|2d Mon. Jan. bienn. |2|Des Moines. + Kansas | 25| 2|1st Wed. Jan. |2|Lecompton. + Kentucky | 38| 4|1st Mon. Dec. bienn. |4|Frankfort. + Louisiana | 32| 4|3d Mon. Jan. |4|Baton Rouge. + Maine | 31| 1|1st Wed. Jan. |1|Augusta. + Maryland | 22| 4|1st Wed. Jan. bienn. |4|Annapolis. + Massachusetts | 40| 1|1st Wed. Jan. |1|Boston. + Michigan | 32| 2|1st Wed. Jan. bienn. |2|Lansing. + Minnesota | 21| 2|1st Tu. af. 1st M. Jan.|2|St. Paul. + Mississippi | 32| 4|1st Mon. Nov. bienn. |2|Jackson. + Missouri | 33| 4|Last. Mon. Dec. ” |4|Jefferson City. + N. Hampshire | 12| 1|1st Wed. June. |1|Concord. + New Jersey | 21| 3|2d Tues. Jan. |3|Trenton. + New York | 32| 2|1st Tues. Jan. |2|Albany. + N. Carolina | 50| 2|3d Mon. Nov. bienn. |2|Raleigh. + Nevada | 13| 2|12th Dec. |4|Carson. + Nebraska | 13| 2| |4|Omaha. + Ohio | 35| 2|1st Mon. Jan. bienn. |2|Columbus. + Oregon | 16| 4|2d Mon. Sept. ” |4|Salem. + Pennsylvania | 33| 3|1st Tues. Jan. |3|Harrisburg. + Rhode Island | 32| 1|Last Tues. May. |1|Providence. + S. Carolina | 46| 4|4th Mon. Nov. |2|Columbia. + Tennessee | 25| 2|1st Mon. Oct. bienn. |2|Nashville. + Texas | 21| 4|1st Mon. Dec. ” |2|Austin. + Vermont | 30| 1|2d Tues. Oct. |1|Montpelier. + Virginia | 50| 4|1st Mon. Dec. bienn. |4|Richmond. + West Virginia | | |20th June. | |Wheeling. + Wisconsin | 30| 2|2d Wed. Jan. |2|Madison. + Colorado Ter. | 13| 2| |4|Denver. + Dakota Ter. | 13| 2| |4|Yankton. + New Mexico T. | 13| 2| |4|Santa Fe. + Utah Ter. | 13| 2| |4|Gt. Salt L. City + Washington T. | 9| 2| |4|Olympia. + Columbia, D. of| | | | |Washington. + ===============+=====+===+=======================+=+================ + + [U. S. Senators serve 6 years, and each State is entitled to two.] + + (Position of Southern States represented as they stood before + seceding.) + + + + +PLATFORMS OF 1860-1864. + + +PLATFORM OF THE BRECKINRIDGE PARTY OF 1860. + +_Resolved_, That the platform adopted by the Democratic party at +Cincinnati be affirmed, with the following explanatory resolutions: + +1. That the government of a territory organized by an act of Congress +is provisional and temporary, and during its existence all citizens of +the United States have an equal right to settle with their property +in the territory, without their rights, either in person or property, +being destroyed by congressional or territorial legislation. + +2. That it is the duty of the Federal Government, in all its +departments, to protect the rights of persons and property in the +territories, and wherever else its constitutional authority extends. + +3. That when the settlers in a territory, having an adequate +population, form a State Constitution, the right of sovereignty +commences, and being consummated by their admission into the Union, +they stand on an equality with the people of other States, and a State +thus organized ought to be admitted into the Federal Union, whether its +constitution prohibits or recognizes the institution of slavery. + +4. That the Democratic party are in favor of the acquisition of Cuba, +on such terms as shall be honorable to ourselves and just to Spain, at +the earliest practicable moment. + +5. That the enactments of State Legislatures to defeat the faithful +execution of the Fugitive Slave Law are hostile in character, +subversive of the Constitution, and revolutionary in their effect. + +6. That the Democracy of the United States recognize it as an +imperative duty of the government to protect the naturalized citizen in +all his rights, whether at home or in foreign lands, to the same extent +as its native born citizens. + +WHEREAS, One of the greatest necessities of the age, in a political, +commercial, postal, and military point of view, is a speedy +communication between the Pacific and Atlantic coasts; therefore, be it +resolved, + +7. That the National Democratic party do hereby pledge themselves to +use every means in their power to secure the passage of some bill, +to the extent of the Constitutional authority by Congress, for the +construction of a railroad to the Pacific Ocean, at the earliest +practicable moment. + + +PLATFORM OF THE DOUGLAS PARTY OF 1860. + +_Resolved_, That we, the Democracy of the Union in Convention +assembled, hereby declare our affirmation of the resolutions +unanimously adopted and declared as a platform of principles by the +Democratic Convention at Cincinnati, in the year 1856, believing that +Democratic principles are unchangeable in their nature when applied +to the same subject matter, and we recommend as our only further +resolutions the following: + +That inasmuch as differences of opinion exist in the Democratic party +as to the nature and extent of the powers of a Territorial Legislature, +and as to the powers and duties of Congress, under the Constitution of +the United States, over the institution of slavery in the territories; + +_Resolved_, That the Democratic party will abide by the decision of the +Supreme Court of the United States over the institution of slavery in +the territories. + +_Resolved_, That it is the duty of the United States to afford ample +and complete protection to all its citizens, at home or abroad, and +whether native or foreign born. + +_Resolved_, That one of the necessities of the age, in a military, +commercial, and postal point of view, is a speedy communication between +the Atlantic and Pacific States, and the Democratic party pledge such +constitutional enactment as will insure the construction of a railroad +to the Pacific coast at the earliest practical period. + +_Resolved_, That the Democratic party are in favor of the acquisition +of the Island of Cuba, on such terms as shall be honorable to ourselves +and just to Spain. + +_Resolved_, That the enactments of State Legislatures to defeat the +faithful execution of the Fugitive Slave Law are hostile in character, +subversive to the Constitution, and revolutionary in their effect. + +_Resolved_, That it is in accordance with the Cincinnati Platform, +that during the existence of Territorial Governments, the measure of +restriction, whatever it may be, imposed by the Federal Constitution +on the power of the Territorial Legislature over the subject of the +domestic relations, as the same has been or shall hereafter be decided +by the Supreme Court of the United States, should be respected by all +good citizens, and enforced with promptness and fidelity by every +branch of the General Government. + + +THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM OF 1860. + +_Resolved_, That we, the delegated representatives of the Republican +electors of the United States, in Convention assembled, in the +discharge of the duty we owe to our constituents and our country, unite +in the following resolutions: + +1. That the history of the nation during the last four years has +fully established the propriety and necessity of the organization and +perpetuation of the Republican party, and that the causes which called +it into existence are permanent in their nature, and now, more than +ever, demand its peaceful and constitutional triumph. + +2. That the maintenance of the principles promulgated in the +Declaration of Independence, and embodied in the Federal Constitution, +that “all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator +with certain inalienable rights, among which are those of life, liberty +and the pursuit of happiness, and that Governments are instituted among +men to secure the enjoyment of these rights, deriving their just power +from the consent of the governed”—are essential to the preservation of +our republican institutions, and that the Federal Constitution, the +rights of the States, and the union of the States, must and shall be +preserved. + +3. That to the union of the States this nation owes its unprecedented +increase in population, its surprising developments of material +resources; its rapid augmentation of wealth; its happiness at home and +its honor abroad; and we hold in abhorrence all schemes for disunion, +come from whatever source they may; and we congratulate the country +that no Republican member of Congress has uttered or countenanced +the threats of disunion as often made by the Democratic members of +Congress, without rebuke and with applause from their political +associates; and we denounce those threats of disunion in case of a +popular overthrow of their ascendancy, as denying the vital principles +of a free Government, and as an avowal of contemplated treason which +it is the imperative duty of an indignant people sternly to rebuke and +forever silence. + +4. That the maintenance inviolate, of the rights of the States, and +especially of each State, to order and control its own domestic +institutions according to its own judgment exclusively, is essential +to that balance of power on which the perfection and endurance of our +political fabric depends; and we denounce the lawless invasion by armed +force of the soil of any State or Territory, no matter under what +pretext, as one of the gravest of crimes. + +5. That the present Democratic Administration has far exceeded our +worst apprehensions in the measureless subserviency to the exactions of +a sectional interest, as especially evinced in its desperate exertions +to force the infamous Lecompton Constitution upon the protesting +people of Kansas, construing the relation between master and servant +to involve an unqualified property in persons; in its attempted +enforcement everywhere, on land and sea, through the intervention of +Congress and of the Federal Courts, of the extreme pretensions of a +purely local interest; and in its general and unvarying abuse of the +power entrusted to it by a confiding people. + +6. That the people justly view with alarm the reckless extravagance +which pervades every department of the Federal Government. That a +return to right economy and accountability is indispensable to arrest +the plunder of the public treasury by favored partisans, while the +recent startling developments of frauds and corruption at the Federal +metropolis show that an entire change of administration is imperatively +demanded. + +7. That the new dogma that the Constitution of its own force carries +slavery into any or all the Territories of the United States, in a +dangerous political heresy, at variance with the explicit provisions +of that instrument itself, with contemporaneous exposition, and with +legislative and judicial precedents, that it is revolutionary in its +tendency and subversive of the peace and harmony of the country. + +8. That the nominal condition of all the territory of the United +States is that of freedom; that as our Republican fathers, when they +had abolished slavery in all our national territory, ordained that +no person should be deprived of life, liberty or property without +due process of law, it becomes our duty by legislation, whenever +such legislation is necessary, to maintain this provision of the +Constitution against all attempts to violate it; and we deny the +authority of Congress, or a Territorial Legislature, or of any +individual, to give legal existence to slavery in any Territory of the +United States. + +9. That we brand the recent re-opening of the African Slave Trade, +under the cover of our national flag, aided by perversions of judicial +power, as a crime against humanity, and a burning shame to our country +and age; and we call upon Congress to take prompt and efficient +measures for the total and final suppression of that execrable traffic. + +10. That in the recent vetoes by their Federal Governors of the acts of +the Legislatures of Kansas and Nebraska, prohibiting slavery in these +Territories, we find a practical illustration of the boasted Democratic +principles of non-intervention and Popular Sovereignty, embodied in +the Kansas-Nebraska bill, and a demonstration of the deception and +fraud involved therein. + +11. That Kansas should, of right, be immediately admitted as a State +under the Constitution recently formed and adopted by her people, and +accepted by the House of Representatives. + +12. That while providing revenue for the support of the General +Government, by duties upon imports, sound policy requires such an +adjustment of these imports as to encourage the development of the +industrial interests of the whole country, and we commend that policy +of National Exchange which secures to the working men liberal wages, +agriculture remunerative prices, to merchants and manufacturers an +adequate reward for their skill, labor and enterprise, and to the +nation commercial prosperity and independence. + +13. That we protest against any sale or alienation to others of the +public lands held by actual settlers, and against any view of the free +homestead policy, which regards the settlers as paupers or suppliants +for public bounty, and we demand the passage by Congress of the +complete and satisfactory homestead measure which has already passed +the House. + +14. That the National Republican party is opposed to any change in our +naturalization laws, or any State Legislation, by which the rights of +citizenship hitherto accorded to immigrants from foreign lands shall +be abridged or impaired, and in favor of giving a full and efficient +protection to the rights of all classes of citizens, whether native or +naturalized, both at home and abroad. + +15. That appropriations by Congress for river and harbor improvements +of a national character, is required for the accommodation and security +of an existing commerce, or authorized by the Constitution and +justified by the obligation of the Government to protect the lives and +property of its citizens. + +16. That a railroad to the Pacific ocean is imperatively demanded by +the interests of the whole country; and that the Federal Government +ought to render immediate and efficient aid in its construction, and +that preliminary thereto, a daily overland mail should be promptly +established. + +17. Finally, having thus set forth our distinctive principles and +views, we invite the co-operation of all citizens, however differing in +other questions, who substantially agree with us, in their affirmance +and support. + + +PLATFORM OF THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL PARTY OF 1860. + +The Union, the Constitution and the Laws. + + +UNION PLATFORM, ADOPTED AT BALTIMORE JUNE 8, 1864. + +_Resolved_, That it is the highest duty of every American citizen to +maintain against all its enemies, the integrity of the Union, and +the paramount authority of the Constitution and laws of the United +States, and that, laying all political opinions aside, we pledge +ourselves, as Union men, animated by a common sentiment, and aiming at +a common object, to do everything in our power to aid the Government +in quelling, by force of arms, the rebellion now raging against its +authority, and bringing to the punishment due to their crimes, the +rebels and traitors arrayed against it. + +_Resolved_, That we approve the determination of the Government of the +United States not to compromise with rebels, or to offer any terms of +peace, except such as may be based upon an unconditional surrender of +their hostility, &c., and a return to their just allegiance to the +Constitution and laws of the United States, and that we call upon the +Government to maintain this position, and to prosecute the war with the +utmost possible vigor to the complete suppression of the rebellion, +in full reliance upon the self-sacrifices, the patriotism, the heroic +valor, and the undying devotion of the American people to their country +and its free institutions. + +_Resolved_, That slavery was the cause and now constitutes the strength +of the rebellion, and that as it must be always and everywhere hostile +to the principles of Republican Governments, justice and the national +safety demand its utter and complete extirpation from the soil of the +Republic, and that we uphold and maintain the acts and proclamations, +by which the Government, in its own defence, has aimed a death blow at +this gigantic evil. We are in favor, furthermore, of such an amendment +to the Constitution, to be made by the people in conformity with its +provisions, as shall terminate and forever prohibit the existence of +slavery within the limits of the jurisdiction of the United States. + +_Resolved_, That the thanks of the American people are due to the +soldiers and sailors of the army and navy, who have periled their lives +in defence of their country, and in vindication of the honor of the +flag; that the nation owes them some permanent recognition of their +patriotism and their valor, and ample and permanent provision for those +of their survivors who have received disabling and honorable wounds +in the service of their country, and that the memories of those who +have fallen in its defense shall be held in grateful and everlasting +remembrance. + +[Illustration: ABRAHAM LINCOLN.] + +_Resolved_, That we approve and applaud the political wisdom, the +unselfish patriotism and unswerving fidelity to the Constitution +and the principles of American liberty with which Abraham Lincoln +has discharged, under circumstances of unparalleled difficulty, the +great duties and responsibilities of the Presidential office; that we +approve and endorse, as demanded by the emergency and essential to +the preservation of the nation, and as within the Constitution, the +measures and acts which he has adopted to defend the nation against its +open and secret foes; especially the Proclamation of Emancipation, and +the employment, as Union soldiers, of men heretofore held in slavery, +and that we have full confidence in his determination to carry these +and all other Constitutional measures, essential to the salvation of +the country, into full and complete effect. + +_Resolved_, That we deem it essential to the general welfare, that +harmony should prevail in the national councils, and we regard as +worthy of public confidence and official trust those only who cordially +endorse the principle proclaimed in these resolutions, and which should +characterize the administration of the Government. + +_Resolved_, That the Government owes to all men employed in its armies, +without distinction of color, the full protection of the laws of war, +and any violation of these laws and of the usages of civilized nations +in the time of war, by the rebels now in arms, should be made the +subject of full and prompt redress. + +_Resolved_, That the foreign immigration, which in the past has added +so much to the wealth and development of resources and increase of +power to this nation, the asylum of the oppressed of all nations, +should be fostered and encouraged by a liberal and just policy. + +_Resolved_, That we are in favor of the speedy construction of the +railroad to the Pacific. + +_Resolved_, That the national faith is pledged for the redemption +of the public debt and must be kept inviolate; and that for this +purpose we recommend economy and rigid responsibilities in the public +expenditures, and a vigorous and just system of taxation; that it +is the duty of every loyal State to sustain the use of the national +currency. + +_Resolved_, That we approve the position taken by the Government, that +the people of the United States can never regard with indifference the +attempt of European power to overthrow by force, or to supplant by +fraud, the institutions of any Republican government on the Western +Continent, and that they will view with extreme jealousy, as menacing +to the peace and independence of this our country, the efforts of +any such power to obtain new footholds for monarchical governments +sustained by a foreign military force in near proximity to the United +States. + + +FREMONT PLATFORM, ADOPTED AT CLEVELAND, MAY 31, 1864. + +1. That the Federal Union must be preserved. + +2. That the Constitution and laws of the United States must be observed +and obeyed. + +3. That the rebellion must be suppressed by the force of arms, and +without compromise. + +4. That the rights of Free Speech, Free Press, and the Habeas Corpus +must be held inviolate, save in districts where martial law has been +proclaimed. + +5. That the rebellion has destroyed slavery, and the Federal +Constitution should be amended to prohibit its re-establishment. + +6. That the right for asylum, except for crime, and subject to law, +is a recognized principle—a principle of American liberty; that any +violation of it must not be overlooked, and must not go unrebuked. + +7. That the National policy known as the Monroe doctrine has become a +recognized principle, and that the establishment of an anti-republican +government on this continent by a foreign power can not be tolerated. + +8. That the gratitude and support of the nation is due to the faithful +soldiers, and the earnest leaders of the Union army and navy, for their +heroic achievements and valor in defense of our imperiled country and +of civil liberty. + +9. That the one term policy for the Presidency adopted by the people +is strengthened by the existing crisis, and shall be maintained by +constitutional amendments. + +10. That the constitution shall be so amended that the President and +Vice-President shall be elected by a direct vote of the people. + +11. That the reconstruction of the rebellious States belongs to the +people through their representatives in Congress, and not to the +Executive. + +12. That the confiscation of the lands of the rebels and their +distribution among the soldiers and actual settlers is a measure of +justice; that integrity and economy are demanded at all times in the +measures of the government, and that now the want of this is criminal. + + + + +NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM OF 1864. + + +_Resolved_, That in the future, as in the past, we will adhere with +unswerving fidelity to the Union under the Constitution as the only +solid foundation of our strength, security and happiness as a people, +and as a framework of government equally conducive to the welfare and +prosperity of all the States, both Northern and Southern. + +_Resolved_, That this Convention does explicitly declare, as the sense +of the American people, that after four years of failure to restore +the Union by the experiment of war, during which, under the pretense +of military necessity or war power higher than the Constitution, the +Constitution itself has been disregarded in every part, and public +liberty and private right alike trodden down, and the material +prosperity of the country essentially impaired, justice, humanity, +liberty and the public welfare demand that immediate efforts be made +for a cessation of hostilities with a view to an ultimate convention of +the States, or other peaceable means, to the end that at the earliest +practical moment peace may be restored on the basis of the Federal +Union of the States. + +_Resolved_, That the direct interference of the military authorities of +the United States in the recent elections held in Kentucky, Maryland, +Missouri and Delaware was a shameful violation of the Constitution, +and a repetition of such acts in the approaching election will be held +as revolutionary, and resisted with all the means and power under our +control. + +_Resolved_, That the aim and object of the Democratic party is to +preserve the Federal Union and the rights of the States unimpaired, +and they hereby declare that they consider that the administrative +usurpation of extraordinary and dangerous powers not granted by the +Constitution, the subversion of the civil by military law in States not +in insurrection, the arbitrary military arrest, imprisonment, trial and +sentence of American citizens in States where the civil law exists in +full force, the suppression of freedom of speech and of the press, the +denial of the right of asylum, the open and avowed disregard of State +rights, the employment of unusual test oaths, and the interference +with, and denial of the right of the people to bear arms in their +defense, is calculated to prevent a restoration of the Union and the +perpetuation of the Government deriving its just powers from the +consent of the governed. + +_Resolved_, That the shameful disregard of the Administration to its +duty in respect to our fellow-citizens who now are, and long have +been, prisoners of war in a suffering condition, deserves the severest +reprobation on the score alike of public policy and common humanity. + +_Resolved_, That the sympathy of the Democratic party is heartily and +earnestly extended to the soldiery of our army and sailors of our navy +who are and have been in the field and on the sea, under the flag of +their country, and in the event of its attaining power, they will +receive all the care, protection and regard that the brave soldiers and +sailors of the Republic have so nobly earned. + + + + +LIEUTENANT-GENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT, + + +Was born at Mount Pleasant, Clermont county, Ohio. It seems that the +only marked traits of character he exhibited in early boyhood were +energy, industry, will. His educational advantages, at this period, +were those of the common, country school—no more. + +In the year 1839, at the age of seventeen, he entered the United +States Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated on the +30th day of January, 1843. During his stay at this Institution he +manifested that untiring industry, close application and unconquerable +will which distinguished his boyhood, and which have constituted so +conspicuous an element of his military character. It appears, however, +that he was never regarded as a genius; and the grade he sustained +on the day of graduation—that of 21 in a class of about 42—would not +indicate extraordinary advancement in the studies assigned him. But it +was remarked by those who conducted him through his Academic course, +as it has been by those who have observed his military career, that +he never lost an inch of the ground gained at each successive step in +his progress. At his graduation it is said he possessed a “practical +knowledge of the use of the rifled musket, the field piece, mortar, +siege, and sea-coast guns, small sword and bayonet, as well as the +construction of field works, and the fabrication of all munitions and +_materiel_ of war.” + +At the close of his Academic course, he entered the United States +regular army as a Brevet Second Lieutenant of infantry. At this time, +the United States being at peace with all nations, Grant was attached +as a Supernumerary Lieutenant to the fourth infantry, then stationed on +the frontier in Missouri and Missouri Territory, and engaged in keeping +down the Indian tribes that at that time were very troublesome to the +early settlers of that region. Here Grant had not been many months when +he was ordered, with his regiment, to join the army of General Taylor, +in Texas. Soon after this, Corpus Christi, an important port on the +Texan shore, was taken possession of by the American army as a base of +operations against the Mexicans, between whom and the United States +disputes respecting certain imaginary boundary lines were fast ripening +into a war; and it was here that Grant received his commission as full +Second Lieutenant of Infantry. This commission dated from the 30th day +of September, 1845. On the 8th day of May, 1846, he participated in the +battle of Palo Alto, and although not noticed in the official reports, +was spoken of by his comrades as having displayed great gallantry. He +was likewise engaged in the subsequent brilliant operations of General +Taylor along the banks of the Rio Grande. On the 23d of September, +1846, he took part, with great credit to himself, in the splendid +affair at Monterey. It is a noteworthy fact that, although Grant’s +conduct in every one of these engagements was highly meritorious, he +remained in the back ground, claiming no honors or promotions, but +quietly biding his time. + +After the formal declaration of war by the United States, against +Mexico, he was transferred to the command of General Scott, and +subsequently (March 29, 1847,) participated in the siege of Vera Cruz. +Immediately after this affair, he was appointed the Quartermaster of +his regiment, which office he retained throughout the Mexican campaign. +He was, however, honored with the appointment, on the field, of First +Lieutenant, to date from the 8th of September, 1847, for gallant and +distinguished voluntary services rendered on that day in the famous +battle of Molino del Ray. Congress afterwards wished to confirm the +appointment as a mere brevet, but Grant refused to accept it under such +circumstances. + +On the 13th of September, 1847, he was made Brevet Captain of the +regular army for gallant conduct in the battle of Chepultepec, which +battle occurred on the preceding day. On the 16th of November, 1847, he +was commissioned a First Lieutenant in the fourth regiment of regular +infantry, still retaining his brevet rank of Captain. + +At the close of the Mexican war, Grant, upon the distribution of his +regiment in companies and sections among the various Northern frontier +defences, along the borders of the States of Michigan and New York, +took command of his company in one of these defences. His regiment +having been afterwards consolidated and ordered to the Department of +the Pacific, Grant, with his own and some other companies, was sent +into Oregon to Fort Dallas. He received his full promotion to Captain +of infantry, in August, 1853, and was, shortly afterwards, attached to +the Department of the West; but, not regarding military so favorable +to progress as civil life, he resigned his connection with the United +States army on the 31st day of July, 1854, after which he resided near +the city of St. Louis, Missouri, until the year 1859. Here he resided +on a small farm, occupying himself in winter by hauling wood to the +Carondelet market, and during the summer in the collection of debts, +for which latter business, it is said, he had little capacity. + +In the year 1859, he embarked in the leather trade with his father, +the firm opening business in the city of Galena, Illinois. Grant +continued in the leather business, driving a prosperous trade, up to +the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, when he offered his services +to his country, upon the first call for volunteers, and was appointed +by Governor Yates as Commander-in-Chief of the Illinois forces and +mustering officer of Illinois volunteers. Desiring active service +in the field, he resigned his appointment as mustering officer, and +accepted the Colonelcy of the 21st regiment of Illinois volunteers, +with a commission dating from June 15, 1861. In August, 1861, Colonel +Grant was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General of volunteers, his +commission dating from May 17, 1861. + +Shortly after this he was appointed commandant of the post at +Cairo—which post included the Missouri shore of the Mississippi river, +from Cape Girardeau to New Madrid, and the opposite shore, to the point +of land on which Cairo stands. This position Grant filled with great +ability, checkmating, by his adroit maneuvering, the efforts of the +rebels to occupy, permanently, southern Kentucky, and conducting those +successful expeditions against Forts Henry and Donelson, which opened +the way to the occupation of Western Tennessee. + +On the 16th of February, 1862, the day after the surrender of Fort +Donelson, he was appointed Major-General of volunteers, and was placed +in command of an expedition up the Tennessee river against the rebels +in and about Corinth, under command of Johnston and Beauregard. This +expedition terminated in the great battle of Shiloh or Pittsburg +Landing—which battle, occupying two days, (April 6th and 7th, 1862,) +was one of the bloodiest of the war, and resulted in the defeat of the +rebels and their retreat upon Corinth. + +For the immense slaughter which attended this battle, General Grant was +very severely censured by the people, generally, throughout the Western +States. + +Soon after this, General Halleck having assumed command of the army +before Corinth, and that place having fallen into the hands of the +United States forces by evacuation, an important change took place in +the army, which resulted in the assignment of General Grant to the +District of West Tennessee, and the promotion of General Halleck to the +office of General-in-Chief. The former soon after formed the plan of +opening the Mississippi river to its mouth. Memphis having been given +up to our troops, the chief obstacle in the way of the prosecution of +the design were Vicksburg and Port Hudson. + +After a series of expeditions and battles, land and naval, in which +the courage and fortitude of the Union troops were no less prominently +exhibited than the superior engineering powers and unyielding +stubbornness of General Grant, Vicksburg was reduced by siege, and was +occupied by Grant on the 4th of July, 1863; and directly after this +(July 8, 1863) followed the surrender of Port Hudson to General N. P. +Banks. + +On the 16th of October, 1863, the Departments of the Ohio, of the +Cumberland, and of the Tennessee were formed into the Military +Division of the Mississippi, under the command of General Grant. +The General, however, was not long in this position until, the grade +of Lieutenant-General having been revived, he was promoted to that +office—which office gave him control of the entire forces of the +United States. This appointment was made in February, 1864, and was +immediately followed by the most active, thorough preparations for a +movement upon Richmond by the Army of the Potomac under the personal +command of General Grant, and an expedition against Atlanta under +command of General Sherman. After the battles of the Wilderness, +Spottsylvania Court House and the siege of Petersburg, Lee’s retreat +was cut off by the rapid movements which Grant instituted, and on the +9th of April, just one week after the last great battle, the army of +Northern Virginia capitulated. Soon after the rebel General Johnston +surrendered to General Sherman, on the same terms granted by Grant to +Lee, and the great civil war was ended. Grant was appointed Secretary +of War _ad interim_, August 12th, 1867, and filled the office with +distinction until January 14, 1868, at which time Secretary Stanton was +reinstated by Congress. On the 21st of May, 1868, he was unanimously +nominated for the Presidential chair by the Republican Convention, +which met at Chicago. + + + + +THE TENURE-OF-OFFICE BILL. + +(PASSED MARCH 2, 1867.) + + +_Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the +United States of America in Congress assembled_, That every person +holding any civil office to which he has been appointed by and with +the advice and consent of the Senate, and every person who shall +hereafter be appointed to any such office, and shall become duly +qualified to act therein, is, and shall be entitled to hold such office +until a successor shall, in like manner, have been appointed and duly +qualified, except as herein otherwise provided: _Provided_, That the +Secretaries of State, of the Treasury, of War, of the Navy, and of the +Interior, the Postmaster-General, and the Attorney-General shall hold +their offices respectively for and during the term of the President +by whom they may have been appointed, and for one month thereafter, +subject to removal by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. + +SEC. 2. That when any officer, appointed as aforesaid, excepting Judges +of the United States Courts, shall, during a recess of the Senate, +be shown, by evidence satisfactory to the President to be guilty +of misconduct in office, or crime, or for any reason shall become +incapable or legally disqualified to perform its duties, in such case, +and in no other, the President may suspend such officer and designate +some suitable person to perform temporarily the duties of such office +until the next meeting of the Senate, and until the case shall be acted +upon by the Senate, and such person so designated, shall take the oaths +and give the bonds required by law to be taken and given by the person +duly appointed to fill such office, and in such case it shall be the +duty of the President, within twenty days after the first day of such +next meeting of the Senate, to report to the Senate such suspension +with the evidence and reasons for his actions in the case, and the name +of the person so designated to perform the duties of such office. And +if the Senate shall concur in such suspension, and advise and consent +to the removal of such officer, they shall so certify to the President, +who may thereupon remove such officer, and by and with the advice and +consent of the Senate, appoint another person to such office. But if +the Senate shall refuse to concur in such suspension, such officer +so suspended shall forthwith resume the functions of his office, and +the powers of the person so performing its duties in his stead shall +cease, and the official salary and emoluments of such officer shall, +during such suspension, belong to the person so performing the duties +thereof, and not to the officer so suspended: _Provided, however_, That +the President in case he shall become satisfied that such suspension +was made on insufficient grounds shall be authorized at any time before +reporting such suspension to the Senate, as above provided, to revoke +such suspension and reinstate such officer in the performance of the +duties of his office. + +SEC. 3. That the President shall have power to fill all vacancies +which may happen during the recess of the Senate by reason of death +or resignation, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end +of their next session thereafter. And if no appointment by and with +the advice and consent of the Senate shall be made to such office so +vacant or temporarily filled as aforesaid, during such next session of +the Senate, such office shall remain in abeyance without any salary, +fees, or emoluments attached thereto until the same shall be filled by +appointment thereto by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, +and during such time all the powers and duties belonging to such office +shall be exercised by such other officer as may by law exercise such +powers and duties in case of a vacancy in such office. + +SEC. 4. That nothing in this act contained shall be construed to extend +the term of any office, the duration of which is limited by law. + +SEC. 5. That if any person shall, contrary to the provisions of this +act, accept any appointment to, or employment in, any office, or shall +hold or exercise, or attempt to hold or exercise any such office or +employment, he shall be deemed, and is hereby declared to be guilty of +a high misdemeanor, and upon trial and conviction thereof, he shall be +punished therefor by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars, or by +imprisonment not exceeding five years, or both said punishments, in the +discretion of the court. + +SEC. 6. That every removal, appointment, or employment made, had, or +exercised contrary to the provisions of this act, and the making, +signing, sealing, countersigning, or issuing of any commission or +letter of authority for or in respect to any such appointment or +employment, shall be deemed and are hereby declared to be high +misdemeanors, and upon trial and conviction thereof, every person +guilty thereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding ten +thousand dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding five years, or +both said punishments in the discretion of the court: _Provided_, +That the President shall have power to make out and deliver after +the adjournment of the Senate, commissions for all officers whose +appointments shall have been advised and consented to by the Senate. + +SEC. 7. That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Senate, at +the close of each session thereof, to deliver to the Secretary of the +Treasury, and to each of his assistants, and to each of the auditors, +and to each of the comptrollers in the treasury, and to the treasurer +and to the register of the treasury, a full and complete list, duly +certified, of all the persons who shall have been nominated to and +rejected by the Senate during such session, and a like list of all the +offices to which nominations shall have been made and not confirmed and +filled at such session. + +SEC. 8. That whenever the President shall, without the advice and +consent of the Senate, designate, authorize, or employ any person +to perform the duties of any office, he shall forthwith notify the +Secretary of the Treasury thereof, and it shall be the duty of the +Secretary of the Treasury thereupon to communicate such notice to all +the proper accounting and disbursing officers of his department. + +SEC. 9. That no money shall be paid or received from the Treasury, or +paid or received from or retained out of any public moneys or funds of +the United States, whether in the Treasury or not to or by or for the +benefit of any person appointed to or authorized to act in or holding +or exercising the duties or functions of any office contrary to the +provisions of this act, nor shall any claim, account, voucher, order, +certificate, warrant, or other instrument providing for or relating to +such payment, receipt, or retention, be presented, passed, allowed, +approved, certified, or paid by any officer of the United States or by +any person exercising the functions or performing the duties of any +office or place of trust under the United States for or in respect to +such office or the exercising or performing the functions or duties +thereof; and every person who shall violate any of the provisions of +this section, shall be guilty of a high misdemeanor, and upon trial and +conviction thereof, shall be punished therefor by a fine not exceeding +ten thousand dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding ten years, or +both said punishments in the discretion of the court. + + + + +IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT JOHNSON. + + +The events which led to the impeachment of President Johnson, may be +briefly stated as follows: On the 21st of February, 1868, the President +issued an order to Mr. Stanton, removing him from office as Secretary +of War, and another to General Lorenzo Thomas, Adjutant-General of +the Army, appointing him Secretary of War _ad interim_, directing the +one to surrender and the other to receive, all the books, papers, and +public property belonging to the War Department. As these orders fill +an important place in the history of the impeachment, we give them +here. The order to Mr. Stanton reads: + +“By virtue of the power and authority vested in me as President by the +Constitution and laws of the United States, you are hereby removed from +office as Secretary for the Department of War, and your functions as +such will terminate upon the receipt of this communication. You will +transfer to Brevet Major-General Lorenzo Thomas, Adjutant-General of +the Army, who has this day been authorized and empowered to act as +Secretary of War _ad interim_, all records, books, papers, and other +public property now in your custody and charge.” + +The order to General Thomas reads: + +“The Hon. Edwin M. Stanton having been this day removed from office +as Secretary for the Department of War, you are hereby authorized and +empowered to act as Secretary of War _ad interim_, and will immediately +enter upon the discharge of the duties pertaining to that office. Mr. +Stanton has been instructed to transfer to you all the records, books, +and other public property now in his custody and charge.” + +These orders having been officially communicated to the Senate, that +body, after an earnest debate, passed the following resolution: + +“_Resolved by the Senate of the United States_, That under the +Constitution and laws of the United States the President has no power +to remove the Secretary of War and designate any other officer to +perform the duties of that office.” + +[Illustration: ANDREW JOHNSON.] + +The President, upon the 24th, sent a message to the Senate, arguing +at length that not only under the Constitution, but also under the +laws as now existing, he had the right of removing Mr. Stanton and +appointing another to fill his place. The point of his argument is: +That by a special proviso in the Tenure-of-Office Bill the various +Secretaries of Departments “shall hold their offices respectively +for and during the term of the President by whom they may have been +appointed, and for one month thereafter, subject to removal by and with +the advice of the Senate.” The President affirms that Mr. Stanton was +appointed not by him, but by his predecessor, Mr. Lincoln, and held +office only by the sufferance, not the appointment, of the present +Executive; and that therefore his tenure is, by the express reading of +the law excepted from the general provision, that every person duly +appointed to office “by and with the advice and consent of the Senate,” +etc., shall be “entitled to hold office until a successor shall have +been in like manner appointed and duly qualified, except as herein +otherwise provided.” The essential point of the President’s argument, +therefore, is that, as Mr. Stanton was not appointed by him, he had, +under the Tenure-of-Office Bill, the right at any time to remove him; +the same right which his own successor would have, no matter whether +the incumbent had, by sufferance, not by appointment of the existing +Executive, held the office for weeks or even years. “If,” says the +President, “my successor would have the power to remove Mr. Stanton, +after permitting him to remain a period of two weeks, because he was +not appointed by him, I who have tolerated Mr. Stanton for more than +two years, certainly have the same right to remove him, and upon +the same ground, namely, that he was not appointed by me but by my +predecessor.” + +In the meantime General Thomas presented himself at the War Department +and demanded to be placed in the position to which he had been assigned +by the President. Mr. Stanton refused to surrender his post, and +ordered General Thomas to proceed to the apartment which belonged to +him as Adjutant-General. This order was not obeyed, and so the two +claimants to the Secretaryship of War held their ground. A sort of +legal by-play then ensued. Mr. Stanton entered a formal complaint +before Judge Carter, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the District +of Columbia, charging that General Thomas had illegally exercised +and attempted to exercise the duties of Secretary of War; and had +threatened to “forcibly remove the complainant from the buildings and +apartments of the Secretary of War in the War Department, and forcibly +take possession and control thereof under his pretended appointment by +the President of the United States as Secretary of War _ad interim_;” +and praying that he might be arrested and held to answer this charge. +General Thomas was accordingly arrested, and held to bail in the sum +of $15,000 to appear before the court on the 24th. Appearing on that +day he was discharged from custody and bail; whereupon he entered an +action against Mr. Stanton for false imprisonment, laying his damages +at $150,000. + +On the 22d of February the House Committee on Reconstruction, through +its Chairman, Mr. Stevens, presented a brief report, merely stating +the fact of the attempted removal by the President of Mr. Stanton, and +closing as follows: + +“Upon the evidence collected by the Committee, which is hereafter +presented, and in virtue of the powers with which they have been +invested by the House, they are of the opinion that Andrew Johnson, +President of the United States, should be impeached of high crimes and +misdemeanors. They, therefore, recommend to the House the adoption of +the following resolution: + +“_Resolved_, That Andrew Johnson, President of the United States be +impeached of high crimes and misdemeanors.” + +After earnest debate, the question on the resolution was adopted, on +the 24th, by a vote of 126 to 47. A committee of two members—Stevens +and Bingham—were to notify the Senate of the action of the House; and +another committee of seven—Boutwell, Stevens, Bingham, Wilson, Logan, +Julian, and Ward—to prepare the articles of impeachment. On the 25th +(February) Mr. Stevens thus announced to the Senate the action which +had been taken by the House: + +“In obedience to the order of the House of Representatives we have +appeared before you, and in the name of the House of Representatives +and of all the people of the United States, we do impeach Andrew +Johnson, President of the United States, of high crimes and +misdemeanors in office. And we further inform the Senate that the House +of Representatives will in due time exhibit particular articles of +impeachment against him, to make good the same; and in their name we +demand that the Senate take due order for the appearance of the said +Andrew Johnson to answer to the said impeachment.” + +The Senate thereupon, by a unanimous vote, resolved that this message +from the House should be referred to a select Committee of Seven, to be +appointed by the chair, to consider the same and report thereon. This +Committee subsequently made a report laying down the rules of procedure +to be observed on the trial. + +On the 29th of February the Committee of the House appointed for that +purpose presented the articles of impeachment which they had drawn up. +These, with slight modification, were accepted on the 2d of March. They +comprise nine articles, eight of which are based upon the action of the +President in ordering the removal of Mr. Stanton, and the appointment +of General Thomas as Secretary of War. The general title to the +impeachment is: + +“Articles exhibited by the House of Representatives of the United +States, in the name of themselves and all the people of the United +States, against Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, as +maintenance and support of their impeachment against him for high +crimes and misdemeanors in office.” + +Each of the articles commences with a preamble to the effect that the +President, “unmindful of the high duties of his office, of his oath +of office, and of the requirements of the Constitution that he should +take care that the laws be faithfully executed, did unlawfully and in +violation of the laws and Constitution of the United States, perform +the several acts specified in the articles respectively;” closing +with the declaration: “Whereby the said Andrew Johnson, President of +the United States, did then and there commit and was guilty of a high +misdemeanor in office.” The phraseology is somewhat varied. In some +cases the offense charged is designated as a “misdemeanor,” in others +as a “crime.” The whole closes thus: + +“And the House of Representatives, by protestation, saving to +themselves the liberty of exhibiting at any time hereafter any further +articles or other accusation or impeachment against the said Andrew +Johnson, President of the United States, and also of replying to his +answers which he shall make to the articles herein preferred against +him, and of offering proof to the same and every part thereof, and to +all and every other article, accusation, or impeachment which shall be +exhibited by them as the case shall require, do demand that the said +Andrew Johnson may be put to answer the high crimes and misdemeanors +in office herein charged against him, and that such proceedings, +examinations, trials, and judgments may be thereupon had and given as +may be agreeable to law and justice.” + +The following is a summary in brief of the points in the articles of +impeachment, legal and technical phraseology being omitted: + +_Article 1._ Unlawfully ordering the removal of Mr. Stanton +as Secretary of War, in violation of the provisions of the +Tenure-of-Office Act.—_Article 2._ Unlawfully appointing General +Lorenzo Thomas as Secretary of War _ad interim_.—_Article 3_ is +substantially the same as Article 2, with the addition that there was +at the time of the appointment of General Thomas no vacancy in the +office of Secretary of War.—_Article 4_ charges the President with +“conspiring with one Lorenzo Thomas and other persons, to the House +of Representatives unknown,” to prevent, by intimidation and threats, +Mr. Stanton, the legally-appointed Secretary of War, from holding that +office.—_Article 5_ charges the President with conspiring with General +Thomas and others to hinder the execution of the Tenure-of-Office +Act; and, in pursuance of this conspiracy, attempting to prevent Mr. +Stanton from acting as Secretary of War.—_Article 6_ charges that the +President conspired with General Thomas and others to take forcible +possession of the property in the War Department.—_Article 7_ repeats +the charge, in other terms, that the President conspired with General +Thomas and others to hinder the execution of the Tenure-of-Office Act, +and to prevent Mr. Stanton from executing the office of Secretary of +War.—_Article 8_ again charges the President with conspiring with +General Thomas and others to take possession of the property in the War +Department.—_Article 9_ charges that the President called before him +General Emory, who was in command of the forces in the Department of +Washington, and declared to him that a law, passed on the 30th of June, +1867, directing that “all orders and instructions relating to military +operations, issued by the President or Secretary of War, shall be +issued through the General of the Army, and, in case of his inability, +through the next in rank,” was unconstitutional, and not binding upon +General Emory; the intent being to induce General Emory to violate the +law, and to obey orders issued directly from the President. + +The foregoing articles of impeachment were adopted on the 2d of March, +the votes upon each slightly varying, the average being 125 ayes to +40 nays. The question then came up of appointment of managers on the +part of the House to conduct the impeachment before the Senate. Upon +this question the Democratic members did not vote; 118 votes were cast, +60 being necessary to a choice. The following was the result, the +number of votes cast for each elected manager being given: Stevens, of +Penn., 105; Butler, of Mass., 108; Bingham, of Ohio, 114; Boutwell, +of Mass., 113; Wilson, of Iowa, 112; Williams, of Penn., 107; Logan, +of Ill., 106. The foregoing seven Representatives were, therefore, +duly chosen as Managers of the Bill of Impeachment. The great body of +the Democratic members of the House entered a formal protest against +the whole course of proceedings involved in the impeachment of the +President. They claimed to represent “directly or in principle more +than one-half of the people of the United States.” This protest was +signed by forty-five Representatives. + +On the 3d the Board of Managers presented two additional articles of +impeachment, which were adopted by the House. The first charges, in +substance, that + +“The President, unmindful of the high duties of his office and of +the harmony and courtesies which ought to be maintained between the +executive and legislative branches of the Government of the United +States, designing to set aside the rightful authority and powers of +Congress, did attempt to bring into disgrace the Congress of the United +States and the several branches thereof, to impair and destroy the +regard and respect of all the good people of the United States for the +Congress and legislative power thereof, and to excite the odium and +resentment of all the good people of the United States against Congress +and the laws by it enacted; and in pursuance of his said design openly +and publicly, and before divers assemblages convened in divers parts +thereof to meet and receive said Andrew Johnson as the Chief Magistrate +of the United States, did on the 18th day of August, in the year of +our Lord 1866, and on divers other days and times, as well before as +afterward, make and deliver with a loud voice certain intemperate, +inflammatory, and scandalous harangues, and did therein utter loud +threats and bitter menaces as well against Congress as the laws of the +United States duly enacted thereby.” + +To this article are appended copious extracts from speeches of Mr. +Johnson. The second article is substantially as follows: + +[Illustration: GENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT.] + +“The President did, on the 18th day of August, 1866, at the City of +Washington, by public speech, declare and affirm in substance that the +Thirty-ninth Congress of the United States was not a Congress of the +United States, authorized by the Constitution to exercise legislative +power under the same, but, on the contrary, was a Congress of only +a part of the States, thereby denying and intending to deny that +the legislation of said Congress was valid or obligatory upon him, +except in so far as he saw fit to approve the same, and did devise +and contrive means by which he might prevent Edwin M. Stanton from +forthwith resuming the functions of the office of Secretary for the +Department of War; and, also, by further unlawfully devising and +contriving means to prevent the execution of an act entitled ’An act +making appropriations for the support of the army for the fiscal year +ending June 30, 1868, and for other purposes,’ approved March 2, 1867; +and also to prevent the execution of an act entitled ‘An act to provide +for the more efficient government of the rebel States,’ passed March 2, +1867, did commit and was guilty of a high misdemeanor in office.” + +On the 4th of March the Senate notified the House that they were ready +to receive the Managers of the Impeachment. They appeared, and the +articles were formally read. The Senate had meanwhile adopted the rules +of procedure. Chief Justice Chase sent a communication to the Senate +to the effect that this body, when acting upon an impeachment, was +a Court presided over by the Chief Justice, and that all orders and +rules should be framed by the Court. On the 5th the Court was formally +organized. An exception was taken to the eligibility of Mr. Wade as +a member of the Court, on the ground that he was a party interested, +since, in the event of the impeachment being sustained, he, as +President of the Senate, would become Acting President of the United +States. This objection was withdrawn, and Mr. Wade was sworn as a +member of the Court. On the 7th the summons for the President to appear +was formally served upon him. On the 13th the Court was again formally +reopened. The President appeared by his counsel, Hon. Henry Stanbery, +of Ohio; Hon. Wm. M. Evarts, of New York; Hon. Wm. S. Groesbeck, of +Ohio; Hon. Benjamin R. Curtis, of Massachusetts; Hon. Thomas A. R. +Nelson, of Tennessee, who asked for forty days to prepare an answer +to the indictment. This was refused, and ten days granted; it being +ordered that the proceedings should reopen on the 23d. Upon that day +the President appeared by his counsel, and presented his answer to the +articles of impeachment. This reply was in substance as follows: + +The first eight articles in the Bill of Impeachment, as briefly summed +up in our last record, are based upon the action of the President in +ordering the removal of Mr. Stanton, and the temporary appointment +of General Thomas as Secretary of War. The gist of them is contained +in the first article, charging the unlawful removal of Mr. Stanton; +for, this failing, the others would fail also. To this article a +considerable part of the President’s answer is devoted. It is mainly +an amplification of the points put forth in the Message of February +24th, in which he gave his reasons for his orders. The President +cites the laws by which this department of the administration was +created, and the rules laid down for the duties pertaining to it; +prominent among which are: that the Secretary shall “conduct the +business of the department in such manner as the President of the +United States shall from time to time order and instruct;” and that +he should “hold the office during the pleasure of the President;” +and that Congress had no legal right to deprive the President of the +power to remove the Secretary. He was, however, aware that the design +of the Tenure-of-Office Bill was to vest this power of removal, in +certain cases, jointly in the Executive and the Senate; and that, +while believing this act to be unconstitutional, yet it having been +passed over his veto by the requisite majority of two-thirds, he +considered it to be his duty to ascertain in how far the case of Mr. +Stanton came within the provisions of this law; after consideration, +he came to the conclusion that the case did not come within the +prohibitions of the law, and that, by that law he still had the right +of removing Mr. Stanton; but that, wishing to have the case decided by +the Supreme Court, he, on the 12th of August, issued the order merely +suspending, not removing, Mr. Stanton, a power expressly granted by +the Tenure-of-Office Act, and appointed General Grant Secretary of +War _ad interim_. The President then recites the subsequent action in +the case of Mr. Stanton; and, as he avers, still believing that he +had the constitutional power to remove him from office, issued the +order of February 21st, for such removal, designing to thus bring the +matter before the Supreme Court. He then proceeds formally to deny that +at this time Mr. Stanton was in lawful possession of the office of +Secretary of War; and that, consequently, the order for his removal was +in violation of the Tenure-of-Office Act; and that it was in violation +of the Constitution or of any law; or that it constituted any official +crime or misdemeanor. + +In regard to the seven succeeding articles of impeachment the +President, while admitting the facts of the order appointing General +Thomas as Secretary of War _ad interim_, denies all and every of the +criminal charges therein set forth. So of the ninth article, charging +an effort to induce General Emory to violate the law, the President +denies all such intent, and calls attention to the fact that while, +for urgent reasons, he signed the bill prescribing that orders to the +army should be issued only through the General, he at the same time +declared it to be, in his judgment, unconstitutional; and affirms that +in his interview with General Emory he said no more than he had before +officially said to Congress—that is, that the law was unconstitutional. + +As to the tenth article, the first of the supplementary ones, the +President, while admitting that he made certain public speeches at the +times and places specified, does not admit that the passages cited are +fair reports of his remarks; denies that he has ever been unmindful of +the courtesies which ought to be maintained between the executive and +legislative departments; but he claims the perfect right at all times +to express his views as to all public matters. + +The reply to the eleventh article, the second supplementary one, is +to the same general purport, denying that he ever affirmed that the +Thirty-ninth Congress was not a valid Congress of the United States, +and its acts obligatory only as they were approved by him; and denying +that he had, as charged in the article, contrived unlawful means for +preventing Mr. Stanton from resuming the functions of Secretary of +War, or for preventing the execution of the act making appropriations +for the support of the army, or that to provide for the more efficient +government of the rebel States. In his answer to this article the +President refers to his reply to the first article, in which he sets +forth at length all the steps, and the reasons therefor, relating to +the removal of Mr. Stanton. In brief, the answer of the President to +the articles of impeachment is a general denial of each and every +criminal act charged in the articles of impeachment. + +The counsel for the President then asked for a delay of thirty days +after the replication of the managers of the impeachment should +have been rendered, before the trial should formally proceed. This +was refused, and the managers of the impeachment stated that their +replication would be presented the next day: it was that, + +“The Senate will commence the trial of the President upon the articles +of impeachment exhibited against him on Monday, the 30th day of March, +and proceed therein with all dispatch under the rules of the Senate, +sitting upon the trial of an impeachment.” + +The replication of the House of Representatives was a simple denial of +each and every averment in the answer of the President, closing thus: + +“The House of Representatives ... do say that the said Andrew Johnson, +President of the United States, is guilty of the high crimes and +misdemeanors mentioned in the said articles, and that the said House of +Representatives are ready to prove the same.” + +The trial began, as appointed, on March 30. There being twenty-seven +States represented, there were fifty-four Senators, who constituted +the Court, presided over by Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase, of +Ohio. SENATORS: _California_, Cole, Conness; _Connecticut_, Dixon, +Ferry; _Delaware_, Bayard, Saulsbury; _Indiana_, Hendricks, Morton; +_Illinois_, Trumbull, Yates; _Iowa_, Grimes, Harlan; _Kansas_, Pomeroy, +Ross; _Kentucky_, Davis, McCreery; _Maine_, Fessenden, Morrill (Lot +M.); _Maryland_, Johnson, Vickers; _Massachusetts_, Sumner, Wilson; +_Michigan_, Chandler, Howard; _Minnesota_, Norton, Ramsay; _Missouri_, +Drake, Henderson; _Nebraska_, Thayer, Tipton; _Nevada_, Nye, Stewart; +_New Hampshire_, Cragin, Patterson (J. W.); _New Jersey_, Cattell, +Frelinghuysen; _New York_, Conklin, Morgan; _Ohio_, Sherman, Wade; +_Oregon_, Corbett, Williams; _Pennsylvania_, Buckalew, Cameron; _Rhode +Island_, Anthony, Sprague; _Tennessee_, Fowler, Patterson (David); +_Vermont_, Edmunds, Morrill (J. S.); _West Virginia_, Van Winkle, +Willey; _Wisconsin_, Doolittle, Howe. + +_Managers for the Prosecution_: Messrs. Bingham, Boutwell, Butler, +Logan, Stevens, Williams, Wilson. + +_Counsel for the President_: Messrs. Curtis, Evarts, Groesbeck, Nelson, +Stanbery. + +The following was the order of procedure: The Senate convened at 11 or +12 o’clock, and was called to order by the president of that body, who, +after prayer, would leave the chair, which was immediately assumed by +the Chief Justice, who wore his official robes. The prosecution was +mainly conducted by Mr. Butler, who examined the witnesses, and, in +conjunction with the others, argued the points of law which came up. +The defense, during the early part of the trial, was mainly conducted +by Mr. Stanbery, who had resigned the office of Attorney-General for +this purpose, but, being taken suddenly ill, Mr. Evarts took his place. +According to the rule at first adopted, the trial was to be opened by +one counsel on each side, and summed up by two on each side; but this +rule was subsequently modified so as to allow as many of the managers +and counsel as chose to sum up, either orally or by filing written +arguments. + + +THE PROSECUTION. + +The whole of the first day (March 30) was occupied by the opening +speech of Mr. Butler. After touching upon the importance of the case, +and the wisdom of the framers of the Constitution in providing for its +possible occurrence, he laid down the following proposition, supporting +it by a copious array of authorities and precedents: + +“We define, therefore, an impeachable high crime or misdemeanor to be +one, in its nature or consequences, subversive of some fundamental or +essential principle of government, or highly prejudicial to the public +interest, and this may consist of a violation of the Constitution, of +law, of an official oath, or of duty, by an act committed or omitted, +or, without violating a positive law, by the abuse of discretionary +powers from improper motives, or for any improper purpose.” + +He then proceeded to discuss the nature and functions of the tribunal +before which the trial is held. He asked: “Is this proceeding a trial, +as that term is understood, so far as relates to the rights and +duties of a court and jury upon an indictment for crime? Is it not +rather more in the nature of an inquest?” The Constitution, he urged, +“seems to have determined it to be the latter, because, under its +provisions, the right to retain and hold office is the only subject +to be finally adjudicated; all preliminary inquiry being carried on +solely to determine that question, and that alone.” He then proceeded +to argue that this body now sitting to determine the accusation, is +the Senate of the United States, and not a court. This question is of +consequence, he argued, because, in the latter case, it would be bound +by the rules and precedents of common law statutes; the members of the +court would be liable to challenge on many grounds; and the accused +might claim that he could only be convicted when the evidence makes the +fact clear beyond reasonable doubt, instead of by a preponderance of +the evidence. The fact that in this case the Chief Justice presides, +it was argued, does not constitute the Senate thus acting a court; for +in all cases of impeachment, save that of the President, its regular +presiding officer presides. Moreover, the procedures have no analogy +to those of an ordinary court of justice. The accused merely receives +a notice of the case pending against him. He is not required to appear +personally, and the case will go on without his presence. Mr. Butler +thus summed up his position in this regard: + +“A constitutional tribunal solely, you are bound by no law, either +statute or common, which may limit your constitutional prerogative. You +consult no precedents save those of the law and custom of parliamentary +bodies. You are a law unto yourselves, bound only by the natural +principles of equity and justice, and that _salus populi suprema est +lex_.” + +Mr. Butler then proceeded to consider the articles of impeachment. The +first eight, he says, “set out, in several distinct forms, the acts of +the President in removing Mr. Stanton and appointing General Thomas, +differing, in legal effect, in the purposes for which, and the intent +with which, either or both of the acts were done, and the legal duties +and rights infringed, and the Acts of Congress violated in so doing.” +In respect to all of these articles, Mr. Butler says, referring to his +former definition of what constituted an impeachable high crime: + +“All the articles allege these acts to be in contravention of his oath +of office, and in disregard of the duties thereof. If they are so, +however, the President might have the power to do them under the law. +Still, being so done, they are acts of official misconduct, and, as we +have seen, impeachable. The President has the legal power to do many +acts which, if done in disregard of his duty, or for improper purposes, +then the exercise of that power is an official misdemeanor. For +example, he has the power of pardon; if exercised, in a given case, for +a corrupt motive, as for the payment of money, or wantonly pardoning +all criminals, it would be a misdemeanor.” + +Mr. Butler affirmed that every fact charged in the first article, +and substantially in the seven following, is admitted in the reply +of the President; and also that the general intent to set aside the +Tenure-of-Office Act is therein admitted and justified. He then +proceeded to discuss the whole question of the power of the President +for removals from office, and especially his claim that this power was +imposed upon the President by the Constitution, and that it could not +be taken from him, or be vested jointly in him and the Senate, partly +or in whole. This, Mr. Butler affirmed, was the real question at issue +before the Senate and the American people. He said: + +“Has the President, under the Constitution, the more than royal +prerogative at will to remove from office, or to suspend from office, +all executive officers of the United States, either civil, military +or naval, and to fill the vacancies, without any restraint whatever, +or possibility of restraint, by the Senate or by Congress, through +laws duly enacted? The House of Representatives, in behalf of the +people, join issue by affirming that the exercise of such powers +is a high misdemeanor in office. If the affirmative is maintained +by the respondent, then, so far as the first eight articles are +concerned—unless such corrupt purposes are shown as will of themselves +make the exercise of a legal power a crime—the respondent must go, and +ought to go, quit and free.” + +This point as to the legal right of the President to make removals +from office, which constitutes the real burden of the articles of +impeachment, was argued at length. Mr. Butler assumed that the Senate, +by whom, in conjunction with the House, the Tenure-of-Office Act had +been passed over the veto of the President, would maintain the law to +be constitutional. The turning point was whether the special case of +the removal of Mr. Stanton came within the provisions of this law. This +rested upon the proviso of that law, that— + +“The Secretaries shall hold their office during the term of the +President by whom they may have been appointed, and for one month +thereafter, subject to removal by and with the advice and consent of +the Senate.” + +The extended argument upon this point, made by Mr. Butler, was to the +effect that Mr. Stanton having been appointed by Mr. Lincoln, whose +term of office reached to the 4th of March, 1869, that of Mr. Stanton +existed until a month later, unless he was previously removed by +the concurrent action of the President and Senate. The point of the +argument is, that Mr. Johnson is merely serving out the balance of +the term of Mr. Lincoln, cut short by his assassination, so that the +Cabinet officers appointed by Mr. Lincoln held their places, by this +very proviso, during that term and for a month thereafter; for, he +argued, if Mr. Johnson was not merely serving out the balance of Mr. +Lincoln’s term, then he is entitled to the office of President for four +full years, that being the period for which a President is elected. If, +continues the argument, Mr. Stanton’s commission was vacated by the +Tenure-of-Office Act, it ceased on the 4th of April, 1865; or, if the +act had no retroactive effect, still, if Mr. Stanton held office merely +under his commission from Mr. Lincoln, then his functions would have +ceased upon the passage of the bill, March 2, 1867; and, consequently, +Mr. Johnson, in “employing” him after that date as Secretary of War, +was guilty of a high misdemeanor, which would give ground for a new +article of impeachment. + +After justifying the course of Mr. Stanton in holding on to the +secretaryship in opposition to the wish of the President, on the +ground that “to desert it now would be to imitate the treachery of +his accidental chief,” Mr. Butler proceeded to discuss the reasons +assigned by the President in his answer to the articles of impeachment +for the attempt to remove Mr. Stanton. These, in substance, were, that +the President believed the Tenure-of-Office Act was unconstitutional, +and, therefore, void and of no effect, and that he had the right to +remove him and appoint another person in his place. Mr. Butler urged +that, in all of these proceedings, the President professed to act +upon the assumption that the act was valid, and that his action was +in accordance with its provisions. He then went on to charge that the +appointment of General Thomas as Secretary of War _ad interim_, was +a separate violation of law. By the act of February 20, 1863, which +repealed all previous laws inconsistent with it, the President was +authorized, in case of the “death, resignation, absence from the seat +of Government, or sickness of the head of an executive department,” +or in any other case where these officers could not perform their +respective duties, to appoint the head of any other executive +department to fulfill the duties of the office “until a successor be +appointed, or until such absence or disability shall cease.” Now, +urged Mr. Butler, at the time of the appointment of General Thomas +as Secretary of War _ad interim_, Mr. Stanton “had neither died nor +resigned, was not sick nor absent,” and, consequently, General Thomas, +not being the head of a department, but only of a bureau of one of +them, was not eligible to this appointment, and that, therefore, his +appointment was illegal and void. + +The ninth article of impeachment, wherein the President is charged +with endeavoring to induce General Emory to take orders directly from +himself, is dealt with in a rather slight manner. Mr. Butler says, “If +the transaction set forth in this article stood alone, we might well +admit that doubts might arise as to the sufficiency of the proof;” but, +he adds, the surroundings are so pointed and significant as to leave no +doubt in the mind of an impartial man as to the intents and purposes of +the President—these intents being, according to Mr. Butler, “to induce +General Emory to take orders directly from himself, and thus to hinder +the execution of the Civil Tenure Act, and to prevent Mr. Stanton from +holding his office of Secretary of War.” + +As to the tenth article of impeachment, based upon various speeches of +the President, Mr. Butler undertook to show that the reports of these +speeches, as given in the article, were substantially correct; and +accepted the issue made thereupon as to whether they are “decent and +becoming the President of the United States, and do not tend to bring +the office into ridicule and disgrace.” + +After having commented upon the eleventh and closing article, which +charges the President with having denied the authority of the +Thirty-ninth Congress, except so far as its acts were approved by him, +Mr. Butler summed up the purport of the articles of impeachment in +these words: + +“The acts set out in the first eight articles are but the culmination +of a series of wrongs, malfeasances, and usurpations committed by the +respondent, and, therefore, need to be examined in the light of his +precedent and concomitant acts to grasp their scope and design. The +last three articles presented show the perversity and malignity with +which he acted, so that the man as he is known may be clearly spread +upon record, to be seen and known of all men hereafter.... We have +presented the facts in the constitutional manner; we have brought the +criminal to your bar, and demand judgment for his so great crimes.” + +The remainder of Monday, and a portion of the following day, were +devoted to the presentation of documentary evidence as to the +proceedings involved in the order for the removal of Mr. Stanton and +the appointment of General Thomas. The prosecution then introduced +witnesses to testify to the interviews between Mr. Stanton and General +Thomas. They then brought forward a witness to show that General Thomas +had avowed his determination to take forcible possession of the War +Office. To this Mr. Stanbery, for the defense, objected. The Chief +Justice decided the testimony to be admissible. Thereupon Senator +Drake took exception to the ruling, on the ground that this question +should be decided by the Senate—not by the presiding officer. The Chief +Justice averred that, in his judgment, it was his duty to decide, +in the first instance, upon any question of evidence, and then, if +any Senator desired, to submit the decision to the Senate. Upon this +objection and appeal arose the first conflict in the Senate as to +the powers of its presiding officer. Mr. Butler argued at length in +favor of the exception. Although, in this case, the decision was in +favor of the prosecution, he objected to the power of the presiding +officer to make it. This point was argued at length by the managers +for the impeachment, who denied the right of the Chief Justice to make +such decision. It was then moved that the Senate retire for private +consultation on this point. There was a tie vote—25 ayes and 25 +nays. The Chief Justice gave his casting vote in favor of the motion +for consultation. The Senate, by a vote of 31 to 19, sustained the +Chief Justice, deciding that “the presiding officer may rule on all +questions of evidence and on incidental questions, which decision +will stand as the judgment of the Senate for decision, or he may, at +his option in the first instance, submit any such question to a vote +of the members of the Senate.” In the further progress of the trial +the Chief Justice, in most important cases, submitted the question +directly to the Senate, without himself giving any decision. Next +morning (April 1) Mr. Sumner offered a resolution to the effect that +the Chief Justice, in giving a casting vote, “acted without authority +of the Constitution of the United States.” This was negatived by +a vote of 27 to 21, thus deciding that the presiding officer had the +right to give a casting vote. The witness (Mr. Burleigh, delegate from +Dakotah), who had been called to prove declarations of General Thomas, +was then asked whether, at an interview between them, General Thomas +had said any thing as “to the means by which he intended to obtain, +or was directed by the President to obtain, possession of the War +Department.” To this question Mr. Stanbery objected, on the ground that +any statements made by General Thomas could not be used as evidence +against the President. Messrs. Butler and Bingham argued that the +testimony was admissible, on the ground that there was, as charged, a +conspiracy between the President and General Thomas, and that the acts +of one conspirator were binding upon the other; and, also, that in +these acts General Thomas was the agent of the President. The Senate, +by 39 to 11, decided that the question was admissible. Mr. Burleigh +thereupon testified substantially that General Thomas informed him +that he had been directed by the President to take possession of the +War Department; that he was bound to obey his superior officer; that, +if Mr. Stanton objected, he should use force, and if he bolted the +doors they would be broken down. The witness was then asked whether +he had heard General Thomas make any statement to the clerks of the +War Office, to the effect that, when he came into control, he would +relax or rescind the rules of Mr. Stanton. To this question objection +was made by the counsel of the President on the ground of irrelevancy. +The Chief Justice was of opinion that the question was not admissible, +but, if any Senator demanded, he would submit to the Senate whether it +should be asked. The demand having been made, the Senate, by a vote +of 28 to 22, allowed the question to be put, whereupon Mr. Burleigh +testified that General Thomas, in his presence, called before him the +heads of the divisions, and told them that the rules laid down by Mr. +Stanton were arbitrary, and that he should relax them—that he should +not hold them strictly to their letters of instruction, but should +consider them as gentlemen who would do their duty—that they could come +in or go out when they chose. Mr. Burleigh further testified that, +subsequently, General Thomas had said to him that the only thing which +prevented him from taking possession of the War Department was his +arrest by the United States marshal. Other witnesses were called to +prove the declarations of General Thomas. Mr. Wilkeson testified that +General Thomas said to him that he should demand possession of the War +Department, and, in case Mr. Stanton should refuse to give it up, he +should call upon General Grant for a sufficient force to enable him +to do so, and he did not see how this could be refused. Mr. Karsener, +of Delaware, testified that he saw General Thomas at the President’s +house, told him that Delaware, of which State General Thomas is a +citizen, expected him to stand firm; to which General Thomas replied +that he was standing firm, that he would not disappoint his friends, +but that, in a few days, he would “kick that fellow out,” meaning, as +the witness supposed, Mr. Stanton. + +[Illustration: SCHUYLER COLFAX.] + +_Thursday, April 2d._—Various witnesses were introduced to testify to +the occurrences when General Thomas demanded possession of the War +Department. After this General Emory was called to testify to the +transactions which form the ground of the ninth article of impeachment. +His testimony was to the effect that the President, on the 22d of +February, requested him to call; that, upon so doing, the President +asked respecting any changes that had been made in the disposition of +the troops around Washington; that he informed the President that no +important changes had been made, and that none could be made without +an order from General Grant, as provided for in an order founded upon +a law sanctioned by the President. The President said that this law +was unconstitutional. Emory replied that the President had approved of +it, and that it was not the prerogative of the officers of the army +to decide upon the constitutionality of a law, and in that opinion he +was justified by the opinion of eminent counsel, and thereupon the +conversation ended. + +The prosecution then endeavored to introduce testimony as to the +appointment of Mr. Edmund Cooper, the Private Secretary of the +President, as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, in support of the +eighth and eleventh articles of impeachment, which charge the President +with an unlawful attempt to control the disposition of certain public +funds. This testimony, by a vote of 27 to 22, was ruled out. + +The prosecution now, in support of the tenth and eleventh articles of +impeachment, charging the President with endeavoring to “set aside +the rightful authority of Congress,” offered a telegraphic dispatch +from the President to Mr. Parsons, at that time (January 17, 1867) +Provisional Governor of Alabama, of which the following is the +essential part: + +“I do not believe the people of the whole country will sustain any set +of individuals in the attempt to change the whole character of our +Government by enabling acts in this way, I believe, on the contrary, +that they will eventually uphold all who have patriotism and courage +to stand by the Constitution, and who place their confidence in the +people. There should be no faltering on the part of those who are +honest in their determination to sustain the several coördinate +departments of the Government in accordance with its original design.” + +The introduction of this was objected to by the counsel for the +President, but admitted by the Senate, the vote being 27 to 17. + +The whole of Friday, and a great part of Saturday, (April 3d and +4th,) were occupied in the examination of the persons who reported +the various speeches of the President which form the basis of the +tenth article, the result being that the reports were shown to be +either substantially or verbally accurate. Then, after some testimony +relating to the forms in which commissions to office were made out, the +managers announced that the case for the prosecution was substantially +closed. The counsel for the President thereupon asked that three +working days should be granted them to prepare for the defense. This, +after some discussion, was granted by the Senate by a vote of 37 to 9, +and the trial was adjourned to Thursday, April 9th. + + +THE DEFENSE. + +The opening speech for the defense, occupying the whole of Thursday, +and a part of Friday, was made by Mr. Curtis. Reserving, for a time, a +rejoinder to Mr. Butler’s argument as to the functions of the Senate +when sitting as a Court of Impeachment, Mr. Curtis proceeded to a +consideration of the articles of impeachment, in their order, his +purpose being “to ascertain, in the first place, what the substantial +allegations in each of them are, what is the legal proof and effect of +these allegations, and what proof is necessary to be adduced in order +to sustain them.” The speech is substantially an elaboration of and +argument for the points embraced in the answer of the President. The +main stress of the argument related to the first article, which, as +stated by Mr. Curtis, when stripped of all technical language, amounts +exactly to these things: + + “_First._ That the order set out in the article for the removal of + Mr. Stanton, if executed, would have been a violation of + the Tenure-of-Office Act. + + “_Second._ That it was a violation of the Tenure-of-Office Act. + + “_Third._ That it was an intentional violation of the + Tenure-of-Office Act. + + “_Fourth._ That it was in violation of the Constitution + of the United States. + + “_Fifth._ That it was intended by the President to be so. + +“Or, to draw all these into one sentence, which I hope may be +intelligible and clear enough, I suppose the substance of this first +article is that the order for the removal of Mr. Stanton was, and was +intended to be, a violation of the Constitution of the United States. +These are the allegations which it is necessary for the honorable +managers to make out in order to support that article.” + +Mr. Curtis proceeded to argue that the case of Mr. Stanton did not come +within the provisions of the Tenure-of-Office Act, being expressly +excepted by the proviso that Cabinet officers should hold their places +during the term of the President by whom they were appointed, and for +one month thereafter, unless removed by the consent of the Senate. Mr. +Stanton was appointed by Mr. Lincoln, whose term of office came to an +end by his death. He argued at length against the proposition that Mr. +Johnson was merely serving out the remainder of Mr. Lincoln’s term. The +object of this exception, he said, was evident. The Cabinet officers +were to be “the immediate confidential assistants of the President, +for whose acts he was to be responsible, and in whom he was expected +to repose the gravest honor, trust, and confidence; therefore it was +that this act has connected the tenure-of-office of these officers +with that of the President by whom they were appointed.” Mr. Curtis +gave a new interpretation to that clause in the Constitution which +prescribes that the President “may require the opinion, in writing, of +the principal officer in each of the executive departments upon any +subject relating to the duties of their several offices.” He understood +that the word “their” included the President, so that he might call +upon Cabinet officers for advice “relating to the duties of the +office of these principal officers, or relating to the duties of the +President himself.” This, at least, he affirmed, had been the practical +interpretation put upon this clause from the beginning. To confirm his +position as to the intent of the Tenure-of-Office Act in this respect, +Mr. Curtis quoted from speeches made in both houses at the time when +the act was passed. Thus, Senator Sherman said that the act, as passed— + +“Would not prevent the present President from removing the Secretary +of War, the Secretary of the Navy, or the Secretary of State; and, if +I supposed that either of these gentlemen was so wanting in manhood, +in honor, as to hold his place after the politest intimation from the +President of the United States that his services were no longer needed, +I certainly, as a Senator, would consent to his removal at any time, +and so would we all.” + +Mr. Curtis proceeded to argue that there was really no removal of Mr. +Stanton; he still held his place, and so there was “no case of removal +within the statute, and, therefore, no case of violation by removal.” +But, if the Senate should hold that the order for removal was, in +effect, a removal, then, unless the Tenure-of-Office Act gave Mr. +Stanton a tenure-of-office, this removal would not have been contrary +to the provisions of this act. He proceeded to argue that there was +room for grave doubt whether Mr. Stanton’s case came within the +provisions of the Tenure-of-Office Act, and that the President, upon +due consideration, and having taken the best advice within his power, +considering that it did not, and acting accordingly, did not, even if +he was mistaken, commit an act “so willful and wrong that it can be +justly and properly, and for the purposes of this prosecution, termed a +high misdemeanor.” He argued at length that the view of the President +was the correct one, and that “the Senate had nothing whatever to do +with the removal of Mr. Stanton, whether the Senate was in session or +not.” + +Mr. Curtis then went on to urge that the President, being sworn to take +care that the laws be faithfully executed, must carry out any law, +even though passed over his veto, except in cases where a law which he +believed to be unconstitutional has cut off a power confided to him, +and in regard to which he alone could make an issue which would bring +the matter before a court, so as to cause “a judicial decision to come +between the two branches of the Government, to see which of them is +right.” This, said he, is what the President has done. This argument, +in effect, was an answer to the first eight articles of impeachment. + +The ninth article, charging the President with endeavoring to induce +General Emory to violate the law by receiving orders directly from him, +was very briefly touched upon, it being maintained that, as shown by +the evidence, “the reason why the President sent for General Emory was +not that he might endeavor to seduce that distinguished officer from +his allegiance to the laws and Constitution of his country, but because +he wished to obtain information about military movements which might +require his personal attention.” + +As to the tenth article, based upon the President’s speeches, it was +averred that they were in no way in violation of the Constitution, or +of any law existing at the time when they were made, and were not, +therefore, impeachable offenses. + +The reply to the eleventh article was very brief. The managers had +“compounded it of the materials which they had previously worked up +into others,” and it “contained nothing new that needed notice.” Mr. +Curtis concluded his speech by saying that— + +“This trial is and will be the most conspicuous instance that has ever +been, or even can be expected to be found, of American justice or of +American injustice; of that justice which is the great policy of all +civilized States; of that injustice which is certain to be condemned, +which makes even the wisest man mad, and which, in the fixed and +unalterable order of God’s providence, is sure to return and plague the +inventor.” + +At the close of this opening speech for the defense, General Lorenzo +Thomas was brought forward as a witness. His testimony, elicited upon +examination and cross-examination, was to the effect that, having +received the order appointing him Secretary of War _ad interim_, he +presented it to Mr. Stanton, who asked, “Do you wish me to vacate the +office at once, or will you give me time to get my private property +together?” to which Thomas replied, “Act your pleasure.” Afterward +Stanton said, “I don’t know whether I will obey your instructions.” +Subsequently Thomas said that he should issue orders as Secretary of +War. Stanton said he should not do so, and afterward gave him a written +direction, not to issue any order except as Adjutant-General. During +the examination of General Thomas a question came up which, in many +ways, recurred upon the trial. He was asked to tell what occurred at +an interview between himself and the President. Objection was made by +Mr. Butler, and the point was argued. The question was submitted to the +Senate, which decided, by a vote of 42 to 10, that it was admissible. +The testimony of General Thomas, from this point, took a wide range, +and, being mainly given in response to questions of counsel, was, +apparently, somewhat contradictory. The substance was that he was +recognized by the President as Secretary of War; that, since the +impeachment, he had acted as such only in attending Cabinet meetings, +but had given no orders; that, when he reported to the President that +Mr. Stanton would not vacate the War Department, the President directed +him to “take possession of the office;” that, without orders from the +President, he had intended to do this by force, if necessary; that, +finding that this course might involve bloodshed, he had abandoned this +purpose, but that, after this, he had, in several cases, affirmed his +purpose to do so, but that these declarations were “merely boast and +brag.” On the following day General Thomas was recalled as a witness, +to enable him to correct certain points in his testimony. The first +was the date of an unimportant transaction; he had given it as taking +place on the 21st of February, whereas it should have been the 22d. The +second was that the words of the President were that he should “take +charge,” not “take possession” of the War Department. In explanation of +the fact that he had repeatedly sworn to the words “take possession,” +he said that these were “put into his mouth.” Finally, General Thomas, +in reply to a direct question from Mr. Butler, said that his testimony +on these points was “all wrong.” + +Lieutenant-General Sherman was then called as a witness. After some +unimportant questions, he was asked in reference to an interview +between himself and the President which took place on the 14th of +January: “At that interview what conversation took place between +the President and you in reference to the removal of Mr. Stanton?” +To this question objection was made by Mr. Butler, and the point +was elaborately argued. The Chief Justice decided that the question +was admissible within the vote of the Senate of the previous day; +the question then was as to the admissibility of evidence as to a +conversation between the President and General Thomas; the present +question was as to a conversation between the President and General +Sherman. “Both questions,” said the Chief Justice, “are asked for the +purpose of procuring the intent of the President in the attempt to +remove Mr. Stanton.” The question being submitted to the Senate, it +was decided, by a vote of 28 to 23, that it should not be admitted. +The examination of General Sherman was continued, the question of the +conversation aforesaid being frequently brought forward, and as often +ruled out by the Senate. The only important fact elicited was that +the President had twice, on the 25th and 30th of January, tendered to +General Sherman the office of Secretary of War _ad interim_. + +On Monday, April 13th, after transactions of minor importance, +the general matter of the conversations between the President and +General Sherman again came up, upon a question propounded by Senator +Johnson—“When the President tendered to you the office of Secretary +of War _ad interim_, did he, at the very time of making such tender, +state to you what his purpose in so doing was?” This was admitted by +the Senate, by a vote of 26 to 22. Senator Johnson then added to his +question, “If he did, what did he state his purpose was?” This was +admitted, by a vote of 25 to 26. The testimony of General Sherman, +relating to several interviews, was to the effect that the President +said that the relations between himself and Mr. Stanton were such that +he could not execute the office of President without making provision +to appoint a Secretary of War _ad interim_, and he offered that office +to him (General Sherman), but did not state that his purpose was to +bring the matter directly into the courts. Sherman said that, if Mr. +Stanton would retire, he might, although against his own wishes, +undertake to administer the office _ad interim_, but asked what would +be done in case Mr. Stanton would not yield. To this the President +replied, “He will make no opposition; you present the order, and he +will retire. I know him better than you do; he is cowardly.” General +Sherman asked time for reflection, and then gave a written answer, +declining to accept the appointment, but stated that his reasons were +mostly of a personal nature. + +On the 14th the Senate adjourned, on account of the sudden illness +of Mr. Stanbery. It re-assembled on the 15th, but the proceedings +touched wholly upon formal points of procedure and the introduction of +unimportant documentary evidence. On the 16th Mr. Sumner moved that all +evidence not trivial or obviously irrelevant shall be admitted, the +Senate to judge of its value. This was negatived by a vote of 23 to 11. + +The 17th was mainly taken up by testimony as to the reliability of +the reports of the President’s speeches. Mr. Welles, Secretary of the +Navy, was then called to testify to certain proceedings in Cabinet +Council at the time of the appointment of General Thomas. This was +objected to. The Chief Justice decided that it was admissible, and +his decision was sustained by a vote of 26 to 23. The defense then +endeavored to introduce several members of the Cabinet, to show that, +at meetings previous to the removal of Mr. Stanton, it was considered +whether it was not desirable to obtain a judicial determination of the +unconstitutionality of the Tenure-of-Office Act. This question was +raised in several shapes, and its admission, after thorough argument +on both sides, as often refused, in the last instance by a decisive +vote of 30 to 19. The defense considered this testimony of the utmost +importance, as going to show that the President had acted upon the +counsel of his constitutional advisers, while the prosecution claimed +that he could not plead in justification of a violation of the law +that he had been advised by his cabinet, or any one else, that the law +was unconstitutional. His duty was to execute the laws, and, if he +failed to do this, or violated them, he did so at his own risk of the +consequences. With the refusal of this testimony, the case, except the +final summings up and the verdict of the Senate, was virtually closed. + +The case had been so fully set forth in the opening speeches of Messrs. +Butler and Curtis, and in the arguments which came up upon points of +testimony, that there remained little for the other counsel except to +restate what had before been said. + +After the evidence had been closed the case was summed up, on the part +of the managers by Messrs. Boutwell, Williams, Stevens, and Bingham in +oral arguments, and Mr. Logan, who filed a written argument, and on +the part of the President by Messrs. Nelson, Groesbeck, Stanbery, and +Evarts. Many of these speeches were distinguished by great brilliancy +and power, but, as no new points were presented, we omit any summary. + +The Court decided to take a vote upon the articles on Tuesday, the 12th +of May, at 12 o’clock, M. A secret session was held on Monday, during +which several Senators made short speeches, giving the grounds upon +which they expected to cast their votes. On Tuesday the Court agreed +to postpone the vote until Saturday, the 16th. Upon that day, at 12 +o’clock, a vote was taken upon the eleventh article, it having been +determined to vote on that article first. The vote resulted in 35 votes +for conviction, and 19 for acquittal. + +The question being put to each Senator, “How say you, is the +respondent, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, guilty or +not guilty of a high misdemeanor as charged in the article?”—those who +responded guilty were Senators Anthony, Cameron, Cattell, Chandler, +Cole, Conkling, Conness, Corbett, Cragin, Drake, Edmunds, Ferry, +Frelinghuysen, Harlan, Howard, Howe, Morgan, Morrill, of Vermont, +Morrill, of Maine, O. P. Morton, Nye, Patterson, N. H. Pomeroy, Ramsey, +Sherman, Sprague, Stewart, Sumner, Thayer, Tipton, Wade, Willey, +Williams, Wilson, and Yates. + +Those who responded not guilty were Senators Bayard, Buckalew, Davis, +Dixon, Doolittle, Fessenden, Fowler, Grimes, Henderson, Hendricks, +Johnson, M’Creery, Norton, Patterson, of Tennessee, Ross, Saulsbury, +Trumbull, Van Winkle, and Vickers. + +The Constitution requiring a vote of two-thirds to convict, the +President was acquitted on this article. After taking this vote the +Court adjourned until Tuesday, May 26th, when votes were taken upon the +second and third articles, with precisely the same result as on the +eleventh, the vote in each case standing 35 for conviction and 19 for +acquittal. A verdict of acquittal on the second, third, and eleventh +articles was then ordered to be entered on the record, and, without +voting on the other articles, the Court adjourned _sine die_. So the +trial was ended, and the President acquitted. + + + + +THE CHICAGO PLATFORM, 1868. + + +The following is the platform as adopted: + +“The National Republican Party of the United States, assembled in +National Convention, in the city of Chicago, on the 20th day of May, +1868, make the following declaration of principles: + +“1. We congratulate the country on the assured success of the +reconstruction policy of Congress, as evinced by the adoption, in the +majority of the States lately in rebellion, of constitutions securing +equal civil and political rights to all; and it is the duty of the +Government to sustain those constitutions and to prevent the people of +such States from being remitted to a state of anarchy. + +“2. The guarantee by Congress of equal suffrage to all loyal men at +the South was demanded by every consideration of public safety, of +gratitude, and of justice, and must be maintained, while the question +of suffrage in all the loyal States properly belongs to the people of +those States. + +“3. We denounce all forms of repudiation as a national crime, and the +national honor requires the payment of the public indebtedness in +the utmost good faith to all creditors at home and abroad, not only +according to the letter but the spirit of the laws under which it was +contracted. + +“4. It is due to the labor of the nation that taxation should be +equalized and reduced as rapidly as the national faith will permit. + +“5. The national debt, contracted, as it has been, for the preservation +of the Union for all time to come, should be extended over a fair +period for redemption; and it is the duty of Congress to reduce the +rate of interest thereon whenever it can be honestly done. + +“6. That the best policy to diminish our burden of debt is to so +improve our credit that capitalists will seek to loan us money at lower +rates of interest than we now pay, and must continue to pay, so long +as repudiation, partial or total, open or covert, is threatened or +suspected. + +“7. The Government of the United States should be administered with the +strictest economy, and the corruptions which have been so shamefully +nursed and fostered by ANDREW JOHNSON call loudly for radical reform. + +“8. We professedly deplore the untimely and tragic death of ABRAHAM +LINCOLN, and regret the accession of ANDREW JOHNSON to the Presidency, +who has acted treacherously to the people who elected him, and the +cause he was pledged to support—who has usurped high legislative and +judicial functions—who has refused to execute the laws—who has used +his high office to induce other officers to ignore and violate the +laws—who has employed his executive powers to render insecure the +property, the peace, liberty, and life of the citizen—who has abused +the pardoning power—who has denounced the National Legislature as +unconstitutional—persistently and corruptly resisted, by every measure +in his power, every proper attempt at the reconstruction of the States +lately in rebellion—who has perverted the public patronage into an +engine of wholesale corruption, and who has been justly impeached for +high crimes and misdemeanors, and properly pronounced guilty thereof by +the vote of thirty-five Senators. + +“9. The doctrine of Great Britain and other European Powers, that +because a man is once a subject he is always so, must be resisted at +every hazard by the United States as a relic of the feudal times, not +authorized by the law of nations, and at war with our national honor +and independence. Naturalized citizens are entitled to be protected in +all their rights of citizenship as though they were native born; and +no citizen of the United States, native or naturalized, must be liable +to arrest and imprisonment by any foreign power for acts done or words +spoken in this country; and if so arrested and imprisoned it is the +duty of the Government to interfere in his behalf. + +“10. Of all who were faithful in the trials of the late war there were +none entitled to more especial honor than the brave soldiers and seamen +who endured the hardships of campaign and cruise, and imperiled their +lives in the service of the country. The bounties and pensions provided +by the laws for these brave defenders of the nation are obligations +never to be forgotten. The widows and orphans of the gallant dead are +the wards of the people, a sacred legacy bequeathed to the nation’s +protecting care. + +“11. Foreign emigration, which in the past has added so much to the +wealth, development, and resources, and increase of power to this +nation, the asylum of the oppressed of all nations, should be fostered +and encouraged by a liberal and just policy. + +“12. This Convention declares itself in sympathy with all the oppressed +people which are struggling for their rights.” + +The following resolutions were also adopted unanimously, and are added +to the declaration of principles: + +“_Resolved_, That we highly commend the spirit of magnanimity and +forgiveness with which the men who have served in the rebellion, but +now frankly and honestly coöperate with us in restoring the peace of +the country and reconstructing the Southern State governments upon +the basis of impartial justice and equal rights, are received back +into the communion of the loyal people. And we favor the removal of +the disqualifications and restrictions placed upon the late rebels in +the same measure as the spirit of loyalty will direct, and as may be +consistent with the safety of the loyal people. + +“_Resolved_, That we recognize the great principles laid down in +the immortal Declaration of Independence as the true foundation of +Democratic government: and we hail with gladness every effort toward +making these principles a living reality on every inch of American +soil.” + + + + +THE HON. SCHUYLER COLFAX. + + +Schuyler Colfax, the popular candidate of the National Union Republican +party for the office of Vice-President, is a native of New York City. +He was born in North Moore Street, March 23, 1823, his father having +died but a short time previous. With but limited means, his widowed +mother could afford to keep him at school but a short time, and, at +the age of ten, he was placed in a mercantile establishment, where +he remained for three years, contributing materially from his small +salary to the support of both himself and mother. In 1836, he and his +mother, in company with others, left their home in this city, and +settled in St. Joseph County, Indiana. Shortly after his arrival in +the West he was appointed Deputy County Auditor for St. Joseph County, +and employed his leisure hours in the study of State law, in which he +is said soon to have become an acknowledged expounder. He read law +pretty thoroughly during these leisure hours, but not with a view to +adopting it as a profession. He had but little idea of what great +benefit the information he was then gaining would prove to him in after +years. In 1845, he started a weekly journal at South Bend, the county +seat of St. Joseph County, called the St. Joseph Valley Register, +becoming its sole proprietor and editor. Mr. Lanman, in his Dictionary +of Congress, says “he was bred a printer.” He never was apprenticed +to the printing business, and knew nothing of the practical part of +the “art preservative of all arts” until after he had commenced the +publication of the Register. With his ready tact and quick perception, +however, and great anxiety to economize, for his means were yet very +limited, he soon mastered the art sufficiently to “help out of the +drag,” but he never attained to any great proficiency in the business, +his editorial labors, the business of the office, and other duties +soon claiming his entire attention. The Register prospered, and soon +became a source of profit to its proprietor. It was ably edited, and +was a model of courtesy and dignity. Every paragraph, however small, +seemed to have passed under the supervision of and to reflect the mind +and elevated thoughts of its editor. He continued his connection with +this paper until three or four years ago, writing a regular weekly +letter for its columns during his first two terms in Congress. It was +during the early days of the Register that Mr. Colfax was laying the +foundation for the reputation he has since attained as a debater. A +debating club was formed, which held regular weekly meetings during +the winter season, and it was a rare occurrence, indeed, to find Mr. +Colfax absent from one of these stated gatherings. Politics, the +temperance reform, and other subjects were often as ably debated in +this society as kindred questions are in many deliberate bodies of +much greater pretensions of the present day. The Hon. John D. Defrees, +now Superintendent of Government Printing, and for many years editor +and proprietor of the Indianapolis Journal, to which Mr. Colfax was +also attached as Senate reporter for some time after he commenced +the publication of the Register, was also a participant in these +debates. They were both Whigs, both ardent and sincere advocates +of and believers in the temperance reform, and were, consequently, +seldom pitted against each other in these debates. The attachment +formed at this early day between those gentlemen still continues with +unabated fervor. In 1848, Mr. Colfax was chosen as a delegate, and +elected as secretary of the convention which nominated General Taylor +for the Presidency. In 1850, he represented St. Joseph County in the +convention which framed the present Constitution of Indiana. In this +convention he opposed, with all his ability, the adoption of the clause +prohibiting free colored men from settling in the State. His opposition +to this measure was the cause of his defeat the following year, when +nominated for Congress in opposition to Dr. Fitch. But, with all the +ability, tact, and shrewdness of this old political wireworker, he +only distanced his young competitor two hundred votes in a district +which had been strongly democratic for years. In 1852, he was again a +delegate to the Whig National Convention. He took an active part in the +campaign which followed, speaking often, and writing much. In 1854, he +was re-nominated, and elected to Congress, and was, consequently, more +active than ever before. His experience as a debater, and familiarity +with State and National politics, rendered him an overmatch for his +opponents, whom he was always anxious to meet in an open and fair +discussion before the people, where he was always certain of a victory. +In 1856, he was again nominated for Congress, and reëlected by a +handsome majority. His entrance into Congress was in the midst of the +great struggle over the Lecompton Constitution. A writer says of his +maiden speech in the House: “His first speech in Congress went forth +to repel the tide of terror which was sweeping over struggling Kansas, +and clearly showed that even then he was one of the best debaters in +the lower House.” Over 500,000 copies of this speech were printed and +circulated—a compliment, perhaps, never before received by any member +of Congress. He was first chosen Speaker of the Thirty-eighth Congress, +by a vote of 101 to 81. He has been thrice elected to the same +position, each time by an increased majority. He was appointed chairman +of the Committee on Post-offices and Post-roads, on the organization +of the Thirty-seventh Congress, and did much to extend mail facilities +throughout the West. He was one of the first advocates, and is still +one of the warmest friends of the Pacific Railroad. Indeed, he takes +a warm interest in any movement looking to the development of the +boundless resources of the great West. It was, doubtless, the interest +he feels in this section of the country which induced him to take his +celebrated trip “Across the Continent.” His trip was a perilous one, +but his welcome at “the other end of the line” was so spontaneous, +truly genuine, and heart-felt that it more than repaid him for all the +dangers and hardships he passed through. This trip prepared him for +one of the most entertaining lectures ever delivered in this country. +It has been listened to with rapt attention by the people of almost +every city in the North. Pecuniarily, however, it has profited him +but little, for, with that liberality which has ever been a marked +trait in his character, the entire proceeds of a lecture have as often +been donated to some charitable object as they have found their way +into his own pocket. He has now served, in succession, fourteen years +in the House. He was urged, but he declined to accept a seat in the +United States Senate, preferring his presiding chair in the House. As a +presiding officer, he is the most popular the House has had since Henry +Clay. A writer in Putnam’s Magazine truly observes that Mr. Colfax “Has +no eccentricities, but great tact. His talents are administrative and +executive rather than deliberative. He would make good appointments, +and adopt sure policies. He would make a better President or Speaker of +the House than Senator. He knows men well, estimates them correctly, +treats them all fairly and candidly. No man will get through his +business with you in fewer minutes, and yet none is more free from the +horrid _brusqueness_ of busy men. There are heart and kindness in Mr. +Colfax’s politeness. Men leave his presence with the impression that +he is at once an able, honest, and kind man. Political opponents like +him personally, as well as his political friends. We have never heard +that he has any enemies. The breath of slander has been silent toward +his fair, spotless fame. The wife of his youth, after being for a long +time an invalid, sank to her final rest several years ago, leaving him +childless. His mother and sister preside at his receptions, which for +many years have been, not the most brilliant, but the most popular of +any given at the Capital. Socially, Mr. Colfax is frank, lively, jolly. +The everlasting I-hood and us-ness of great men are forgotten in his +presence. His manners are not quite so familiar as those of Lincoln, +but nearly so. They are gentle, natural, graceful, with a bird-like +or business-like quickness of thought and motion. But they are very +far from the high and mighty style of Sumner, or the judicial coldness +of Fessenden, Sherman, and Trumbull. Though manly, they are genial +and winning. American mothers believe in Schuyler Colfax. There are +more babies named for him than for any public man since Clay.” The +intimacy and confidential relations of Mr. Colfax with Mr. Lincoln are +well known. They labored hand in hand as brothers in the cause of +the Union, holding frequent and protracted interviews on all subjects +looking to the overthrow of the rebellion, for there were no divisions +between the executive and legislative branches of the Government then +as there are now. During the darkest hours of that bloody drama which +shall ever remain a reproach upon the people of one section of the +nation, they were ever cheerful and hopeful. Confident in the justness +of the war waged for the preservation of the Union, and placing a +Christian reliance in that Providence which guides and shapes the +destiny of nations, great reverses, which caused others to fear and +tremble, at times, almost to despair, seemed only to inspire them with +greater zeal, and a firmer belief in the ultimate triumph of our cause. + +Mr. Colfax is rather under the medium height, with a form firmly and +compactly molded. His hair is brown, now slightly sprinkled with gray; +eyes blue; forehead high and arching, indicating great perceptive +faculties, and deep veneration. His face is open and frank, and as +yet unmarked by age. He possesses great vitality, and can endure an +extraordinary amount of labor with but little fatigue. This, coupled +with his temperate habits, has caused him to wear his age so well that +but few persons would place him even at forty. He is yet in the prime +and vigor of manhood, with all his cares and responsibilities, as +buoyant as most people at thirty. + + + + +DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. + + +The Democratic party, in National Convention assembled, reposing its +trust in the intelligence, patriotism, and discriminating justice +of the people, standing upon the Constitution as the foundation and +limitation of the powers of the Government and the guarantee of the +liberties of the citizen, and recognizing the questions of slavery and +secession as having been settled for all time to come by the war or the +voluntary action of the Southern States in Constitutional Conventions +assembled, and never to be revived or re-agitated, do, with the return +of peace, demand: + +1. The immediate restoration of all the States to their rights in the +Union under the Constitution of the civil Government and the American +people. + +2. Amnesty for all past political offenses; the regulation of the +elective franchise in the States by their citizens. + +3. Payment of the public debt of the United States as rapidly as +practicable, all money drawn from the people by taxation, except so +much as is requisite for the necessities of the Government economically +administered being honestly applied to such payment, and where the +obligations of the Government do not expressly state upon their face or +the law under which they were issued does not provide that they shall +be paid in coin they ought, in right and in justice, to be paid in the +lawful money of the United States. + +4. Equal taxation of every species of property according to the value; +reducing Government bonds and other public securities. + +5. One currency for the Government and the people, the laborer and +the office-holder, pensioner and the soldier, the producer and the +bondholder. + +6. Economy in the administration of the Government; the reduction of +the standing army and navy; the abolition of the Freedmen’s Bureau, and +all political instrumentalities designed to secure negro supremacy; +simplification of the system and discontinuance of inquisitorial +modes of assessing and collecting internal revenue, that the burden +of taxation may be equalized and lessened, and the credit of the +Government and the currency made good; the repeal of all enactments for +enrolling the State militia into a national force in time of peace; +and a tariff for revenue upon foreign imports and such equal taxation +under the internal revenue laws as will afford incidental protection +to domestic manufactures as well, without impairing the revenue, +impose the least burden upon and best promote and encourage the great +industrial interests of the country. + +7. Reform of abuses in the Administration; the expulsion of corrupt +men from office; the abrogation of useless offices; the restoration +of the rightful authority to and the independence of the Executive +and Judicial Departments of the Government; the subordination of the +military to the civil power, to the end that the usurpation of Congress +and the despotism of the sword may cease. + +8. Equal rights and protection for naturalized and native born +citizens at home and abroad; the assertion of American nationality, +which will command the respect of foreign powers, furnish an example +and encouragement to people struggling for national integrity, +constitutional liberty, and individual rights; and the maintenance of +the rights of naturalized citizens against the absolute doctrine of +immutable allegiance and the claims of foreign powers to punish them +for alleged crimes committed beyond their jurisdiction. In demanding +these measures and reforms, we arraign the radical party for its +disregard of right and the unparalleled oppression and tyranny which +have marked its career, after the most solemn and unanimous pledge +of both houses of Congress to prosecute the war exclusively for the +maintenance of the Government and the preservation of the Union under +the Constitution. It has repeatedly violated that most sacred pledge +under which was rallied that noble volunteer army which carried our +flag to victory. Instead of restoring the Union it has, so far as it is +in its power, dissolved it, and subjected ten States in time of peace +to military despotism and negro supremacy. It has nullified there the +right of trial by jury; it has abolished the writ of habeas corpus, +that most sacred writ of liberty; it has overthrown the freedom of +speech and of the press; it has substituted arbitrary seizures and +arrests, military trials, secret star chambers and inquisitions for +constitutional tribunals; it has disregarded, in time of peace, the +right of the people to be free from search and seizure; it has entered +the post-office and telegraph office, and even the private rooms +of individuals and seized there their private papers and letters, +without any specification or notice of affidavit, as required by the +organic law. It has converted the American Capitol into a bastile; +it has established a system of spies and official espionage to which +the constitutional monarchies of Europe never dare to resort. It has +abolished the right of appeal on important constitutional questions +to the supreme judicial tribunals, and threatens to curtail or +destroy its original jurisdiction, which is irrevocably vested by the +Constitution; while the learned Chief Justice has been subjected to the +most atrocious calumnies merely because he would not prostitute his +high office to the support of the false and partisan charges against +the President. Its corruption and extravagance have exceeded any thing +known in history, and by its frauds and monopolies it has nearly +doubled the burden of the debt created during the war. It has stripped +the President of his Constitutional power of appointment even of his +own Cabinet. Under its repeated assaults the pillars of the Government +are rocking to their base; and should it succeed in November next, and +inaugurate its President, we will meet as a subjected and conquered +people amid the ruins of liberty and the scattered fragments of the +Constitution; and we do declare and resolve that ever since the people +of the United States threw off all subjection to the British crown, +the privilege and trust of suffrage have belonged to the several +States, and have been granted, regulated, and controlled exclusively +by the political power of each State respectively, and any attempt +by Congress, on any pretext whatever, to deprive any State of this +right, or interfere with this exercise, is a flagrant usurpation of +power which can find no warrant in the Constitution, and if sanctioned +by the people will subvert our form of Government, and can only end +in a single, centralized and consolidated Government, in which the +separate existence of the States will be entirely absorbed, and an +unqualified despotism then be established in place of a Federal Union +of coequal States, and that we regard the reconstruction acts so-called +of Congress such usurpations and unconstitutional, revolutionary and +void: that our soldiers and sailors who carried the flag of our country +to victory against a most gallant and determined foe must ever be +gratefully remembered, and all the guarantees given in their favor must +be faithfully carried into execution; that the public lands should be +distributed widely among the people and should be disposed of either +under the preëmption of the homestead lands and sold in reasonable +quantities, and to none but actual occupants, at the price established +by the Government. When the grants of the public lands may be allowed +necessary for the encouragement of important public improvements, the +proceeds of the sale of such lands, and not the lands themselves, +should be so applied; that the President of the United States, Andrew +Johnson, exercising the power of his high office in resisting the +aggressions of Congress on the constitutional rights of the States and +the people, is entitled to the gratitude of the whole American people, +and on behalf of the Democratic party, we tender him our thanks for his +patriotic efforts in that regard. + +Upon this platform the Democratic party appeal to every patriot, +including all the conservative element, and all who desire to support +the Constitution and restore the Union, forgetting all past differences +of opinion, to unite with us in the present great struggle for the +liberties of the people; and that to all such, to whatever party they +may have heretofore belonged, we extend the right hand of fellowship, +and hail all such coöperating with us as friends and brothers. + + + + +HON. HORATIO SEYMOUR, + + +The nominee of the Democratic National Convention for the office of +President of the United States, is a native of the State of New York, +having been born in Onondaga County, some time during the year 1811. +He is consequently fifty-seven years of age at the present writing. +His father being a gentleman of wealth, Mr. Seymour received an +excellent education, and after his graduation engaged in the study of +the law. Upon being admitted to the bar, he commenced the practice of +his profession in the town of Utica, Oneida County, and soon became a +popular lawyer. He did not long pursue this occupation, however. The +death of his father made him successor to a large and valuable estate, +attention to the interests of which compelled him to abandon all +professional and public labors. He never after resumed practice. + +[Illustration: HORATIO SEYMOUR.] + +Mr. Seymour’s political predilections were, it may be said, inherited +from his ancestors, all or nearly all of whom were and had been +Democrats from the first formation of the party. To this political +organization the subject of this sketch gave in his adhesion, and has +ever since adhered to and been a prominent member of it. He first +appeared before the public as a candidate for the suffrages of his +fellow-citizens as the Democratic nominee for the office of mayor of +the city of Utica. Although that city had been one of the firmest Whig +strongholds, he was elected by a fair majority, as much owing, though, +to the feeling of dissatisfaction with the opposing candidate, as to +his personal popularity. The election took place in 1842, before he +had quite attained his thirty-first year. During the same year, he +was elected to the lower house of the State Legislature, and served +until 1845, when he declined a reëlection. His ability as a legislator +brought him considerable reputation, and had the effect of extending +his popularity, which had hitherto been confined to a rather limited +extent of territory. + +From 1845 to 1850, Mr. Seymour does not appear to have held any +political office, although he took an active part in politics, stumping +the State for other candidates, and doing all that he could to +further the interests and insure the success of the Democracy. During +the latter year, however, he had attained to sufficient prominence +to warrant his nomination for the office of Governor. His opponent +was Washington Hunt, and after a very exciting contest, Mr. Hunt +was elected by a majority of 262, in a total of 428,966 votes cast. +The balance of the Democratic ticket was elected, and this fact had +the effect of temporarily obscuring Mr. Seymour’s prospects. Still, +he soon recovered from this reverse of fortune, and in 1852, was +re-nominated for the same office. As before, his competitor was Mr. +Hunt, whom he defeated, after an exciting canvass, by a majority of +24,385, in a total vote of 503,857. This victory added considerably to +his popularity, as it was believed to presage a long lease of power +to the Democratic party. His administration was distinguished by +his veto of the Maine Liquor Law bill, which had passed both houses +of the Legislature, and which action on the part of the Governor was +regarded at the time as a bold stroke of policy. But it was not fated +that the Democratic party should longer remain in power. In 1854, four +candidates for gubernatorial honors appeared in the field—Horatio +Seymour, regular Democrat; G. C. Bronson, hard shell Democrat; Myron +H. Clark, Republican, and D. Ullman, Know-Nothing. The split in the +Democratic party resulted in its defeat by a remarkably small majority. +Nearly half a million votes were cast, of which Mr. Clark and Mr. +Seymour received the highest, the former being elected by 309 majority. + +After this defeat, Mr. Seymour returned to private life, nor was his +name mentioned again in connection with public offices until 1856, when +he was spoken of as one of the possible candidates of the Democracy +for the Presidency. The movement, however, came to nothing. He still +took an active part in politics, so far as a vigorous support of all +Democratic candidates was concerned. When the rebellion broke out, Mr. +Seymour took an active part in furthering its suppression, and served +as chairman of the War Committee in his county, aiding in forwarding +troops to the seat of war. In 1862, he was once more nominated by the +Democrats for the office of Governor, and was elected by a majority +of over ten thousand. During his administration he had quite an angry +controversy with the general government on the subject of the draft, +he claiming that the quota of troops from the southern portion of +the State, which gives immense Democratic majorities, was larger in +proportion to the voting population, than that of the northern or +republican sections. The matter was finally settled by a revision of +the draft list. In 1863, the draft riots broke out in New York city, +and Mr. Seymour immediately left Albany for that place. Arriving there, +he addressed the rioters, urging them to disperse and go home quietly, +and promising to do all that he could to stay the execution of the law. +At the same time he organized a force of citizens, which he armed and +kept on duty, until the arrival of troops from Pennsylvania restored +order. In 1864, he was for the fifth time nominated for the office of +Governor, and was defeated by Mr. Fenton by a majority of over eight +thousand. + +Since the close of the war Mr. Seymour has taken an active part +in politics, although he has never been a candidate. In personal +appearance he is quite dignified, and is said to be a very sociable and +hospitable gentleman. As a public speaker he is fluent, eloquent, and +argumentative, and wherever he takes the stump he is always received by +large crowds. Until a late day of the Convention he positively asserted +that he would not accept the nomination of the Democracy for the +Presidency, but it is natural to suppose that he will now reconsider +this resolution after the unanimous vote by which he was nominated. + + + + +GENERAL FRANCIS PRESTON BLAIR, JR. + + +This gentleman, the Democratic nominee for the Vice-Presidency, is a +native of Lexington, Ky., where he was born, in 1821. He received an +excellent education at Princeton College, N. J., and, after graduation, +returned to his home at St. Louis, Mo., where he soon became actively +engaged in politics. He was the political associate of Thomas Benton, +and was the first man in Missouri to denounce the institution of +slavery in his State. Being elected to the State Legislature, he soon +became distinguished for his opposition to all measures tending to +benefit slavery, and did much toward revolutionizing public sentiment +in St. Louis, where he resided. In 1856, he was elected to Congress +as a Republican, and was reëlected by increased majorities in 1858 +and 1860. Throughout these years he never ceased his efforts against +slavery, and the Kansas Territory difficulty found him an earnest +advocate of free-soil doctrines. At the commencement of the Rebellion +of 1861, he was among the first to organize troops for the defense of +St. Louis and Missouri; and, in conjunction with Captain, afterward +General Lyon, raised the forces known as the Missouri Home Guards, one +of the most important Union organizations at that eventful period of +civil disturbances in that State. He was made commander of the First +Regiment, and assisted in the capture of Camp Jackson, St. Louis, on +May 10, 1861, which capture was among the first of the severe blows +struck at the Rebellion after the fall of Fort Sumter, inasmuch as it +was certainly the first important one. Colonel Blair also took part in +the battle of Boonville, under General Lyon, on June 17, 1861, during +which contest he commanded his regiment. It was at this point that the +rebels, under General Price and Governor Jackson, met with their first +decided defeat in Missouri. His regiment took a very active part in +the battle of Wilson’s Creek, where General Lyon was slain, on August +10, 1861, but, in consequence of his having to occupy his seat in the +special session of Congress, Colonel Blair was not present during that +action. + +[Illustration: FRANCIS P. BLAIR, JR.] + +During the sessions of Congress in 1861-2, Colonel Blair was Chairman +of the Committee on Military Affairs, and, as such, did good service +to the country. Upon the close of the session he returned to Missouri, +and commenced the organization of a regiment of artillery, and +afterward, at the request of the Secretary of War, he raised a brigade +of infantry, of which he was placed in command, and commissioned a +brigadier-general in August, 1862. The brigade became attached to the +Fourth Division of the Thirteenth Army Corps, but, subsequently, +upon a reconstruction of General Grant’s forces, was assigned to the +Fifteenth Corps, then commanded by General W. T. Sherman. While under +the command of that brilliant officer, General Blair had charge of +the First Brigade, of General Steele’s division, at the attack upon +the defenses in the rear of Vicksburg, on the 29th of December, 1862. +During the assaults upon the works, General Blair greatly distinguished +himself for his bravery, being the last to leave the heights, although +the main army had been severely repulsed. General Blair commanded his +brigade in General Sherman’s wing of McClernand’s army during the +assault upon and capture of Fort Hindman, on the Arkansas River, on +the 10th and 11th of January, 1863. For the gallantry he displayed at +these last mentioned contests he was promoted to be a major-general of +volunteers, with a commission dating from November 29, 1862. During +the month of April, 1863, Major-General Blair was placed in command +of a division of Sherman’s corps, formerly commanded by General +David Stuart, who, in consequence of his appointment not having been +confirmed by the Senate, had resigned the service. At the head of +this division, he took part in all the operations in the vicinity of +Vicksburg and in the siege, and further established his character for +bravery. + +During the remainder of the war General Blair took an active and +conspicuous part in nearly all the great battles of the West. His +division gained distinction in the attack on and capture of Jackson, +Miss., and, on the 2d of October, 1863, General Sherman appointed him +to the command of the corps formerly commanded by himself. In his new +capacity he again exhibited many high traits of generalship, and, from +the advance of the army from the Mississippi to the terrible battles +of Missionary Ridge, his corps participated with distinguished valor, +and won for its commander considerable reputation. In the early part of +1864, being desirous of taking his seat in Congress, to which he had +been elected in 1862, General Blair presented his resignation to Mr. +Lincoln, at the request of that gentleman, who urged him to be present +and aid in the organization of the House. During the month of March +following, he reëntered the service, and was placed in command of the +Seventeenth Army Corps. Until the war ended he remained in the field, +serving under General Sherman in the celebrated campaign to Atlanta and +the sea, and winning fresh laurels as a military leader. On the 11th of +July, 1865, he bade farewell to his corps at Louisville and retired to +private life. + +As soon as the war was over and General Blair perceived that the +people of the South were honestly disposed to abide the result of the +conflict in good faith, he urged a liberal and generous treatment +of the ex-rebels. At first he continued his connection with the +republican party, and endeavored to change its course in his State to +a policy of conservatism. The Legislature of Missouri had passed a law +disfranchising all who participated in or gave aid and comfort to the +Rebellion, and another law requiring all the citizens of the State to +take a test oath. Both of these measures were opposed by General Blair +as proscriptive and unconstitutional. He urged that, the war being +over, there was no need of any further rigor toward the men who had +engaged in rebellion, and regarded it as dangerous to the peace and +prosperity of the State to deprive them of the right to vote. With +regard to the test oath, he absolutely refused to subscribe to it, +and, upon presenting himself at the polls in St. Louis, his vote was +refused for that reason. For this act he brought a suit before the +courts for the purpose of testing the constitutionality of the law. +The case is now before the Supreme Court of the United States, and is +not yet decided. Gradually General Blair severed his connection with +the Republican party, after having been a member of that organization +from its incipiency. When the present reconstruction laws of Congress +were passed, he denounced them as despotic, revolutionary, and +unconstitutional, and declared that the people of the South would not +be in the wrong if they resisted their execution. He opposed, with +great earnestness, the policy of universal negro suffrage as a disgrace +and an outrage upon the people, and, in a recent letter, declared that +the first duty of a Democratic President, if elected, would be to +overthrow the present radical governments in the South, and restore +the States to the rule of the whites. This declaration of his has +been severely commented upon by the radical organs, while, from its +boldness, the Democratic papers have scarcely ventured to offer an +opinion. + +General Blair’s military reputation has gained him considerable +popularity in the West, and particularly among the late Union soldiers +in that section of the country. His recent adhesion to the Democratic +party and his bitter opposition to negro suffrage created for a time +considerable surprise when his views were made known, they being +regarded as singular when compared with his former denunciations of +slavery and the Democracy. Indeed, nothing could more fully exemplify +what revolutions sometimes occur in politics and men’s opinions than +his unanimous and enthusiastic nomination. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79072 *** |