war was to procure more territory for that institution. At this time a violent contest was waged in Congress over that admission. It was not ended until late in the following year.

1850.

Jan. -Gen. Twiggs obtains the consent of the Seminoles of Florida to emigrate to the Indian Territory.

Feo. 13-President Taylor sends the constitution of California to Congress. There were many threats of secession in case California was admitted free.

Mar. 7-Mr. Webster's great speech for the Union.

31-John C. Calhoun, the most eminent of Southern Statesmen, died. May 8-The "Omnibus Bill" reported by Henry Clay.

18-A private expedition from the south under command of Lopez invades Cuba. They are driven off with a loss of 30 killed and executed as pirates, on the 19th. The remainder returned to Key West on the 22d of the same month.

July 9-Death of President Taylor. Fillmore becomes acting President. Sept. 9-20-A committee of thirteen, of which Henry Clay was chairman, had been appointed Apr. 19th, and they had prepared four measures forming a compromise between the North and South as to slavery, which were debated and passed into laws, receiving the concurrence of the President: First, the South conceded to the North the admission of California as a free State, and the abolition of the slave trade in the District of Columbia; Second, the North conceded to the South a stringent Fugitive Slave Law, and the organization of Territorial Governments in New Mexico and Utah without mention of slavery, but in the understanding that they were finally to form slave States. The real gain was to the North, as anti-slavery was advanced two steps, while the Fugitive Law could not be generally enforced in the North from the invincible aversion of the people to it, and the Southern people were not sufficiently migratory in their habits to introduce slavery into distant regions not naturally adapted to that institution. Still the question was laid aside for the present.

Nov. 19-Richard M. Johnson, a former Vice-President of the U. S., died. Dec. 16-A treaty of Amity and Commerce ratified with Switzerland.

1851.

Mar. 3-A cheap postage law passed by Congress.

1852.

June 28-Henry Clay, orator and Statesman, died.

July 3-A branch mint established at San Francisco, Cal.

Oct. 24-Daniel Webster died. These three were the ablest and most esteemed statesmen of their day.

Nov. The seventeenth presidential election occurred. Franklin Pierce was elected. He was the Democratic nominee. Gen. Scott, Whig, was defeated.

1853.

Mar. 4-Pierce inaugurated President.

Aug. 11-Proclamation of President, Pierce against the invasion of Cuba by armed Americans.

1854.

Mar. 23-An important treaty of commerce negotiated with the empire of Japan by Com. Perry, which opened a new era in the progress of that country, and of United States commerce and influence in Asia. May 30 The failure of the compromise measures of 1850 to realize the hopes of the South from the rapid development of anti-slavery views in the North caused the subject to be again agitated, and the Missouri Compromise, which stopped the formation of slave States north of its south boundary line, was repealed; the question of the admission of slavery into Kansas and Nebraska, both being north of that line, being referred by the famous “Kansas-Nebraska Bill” to the "squatters," or first settlers. This was called "squatter sovereignty." This measure gave satisfaction to the South, but was strongly reprobated by many of the Northern people. Both sides prepared to renew the contest there, and civil war raged in Kansas for near three years. Each side sought to secure its end which terminated in favor of the North. The South could not compete with it in numbers nor drive the extra numbers away. This was the last hope of the South for preserving equilibrium in the general government.

The Democratic party in the North, anxious to soothe and conciliate the South, and not holding so advanced opinions against slavery, was still strong enough to maintain itself in power in the administration; but the Republican party, formed about this time by the dissolution of the Whig party, constantly grew in numbers and influence, and, by the end of the next administration its numbers were so large and the ultimate result sò certain that the South resolved on secession rather than give up their favorite institution.

1855.

Feb. 24-The Court of Claims, an important relief to Congress and to claimants against the government, was established in Washington, by Congress.

1856.

Mar. 4—A Free State Legislature assembles in Kansas. It adopted a constitution and prepared to apply for admission into the Union.

Nov. The eighteenth presidential election took place. James Buchanan was elected against J. C. Fremont and Millard Fillmore. Buchanan was the Democratic candidate; Fremont, Republican, and Fillmore, American, or "know nothing" candidate.

"29-John B. Floyd, U. S. Sec. of War, resigns. Joseph Holt, of Ky.,

appointed.

"31-South Carolina sends Commissioners to Slave States to arrange the organization of a Southern Confederacy.

1861.

Jan. 2-Gov. Ellis, of North Carolina, takes possession of Ft. Macon. Georgia troops seize Fts. Pulaski and Jackson, and U. S. Arsenal, at Savannah.

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4-Gov. Moore, of Ala., seizes Ft. Morgan, and U. S. Arsenal at Mobile.

Fast Day by proclamation of President.

7-State Conventions of Alabama and Mississippi, and State Legisla tures of Virginia and Tennessee assemble.

8-Jacob Thompson, U. S. Sec. of Interior, resigns. Fts. Johnson and Caswell, North Carolina, seized by State authorities.

9-U. S. steamer, Star of the West, fired on in Charleston Harbor and driven away.

Mississippi Convention adopt Secession Ordinance. Vote 84 to 15. "10-Florida Convention secedes by vote of 62 to 7. Florida authorities seize Ft. McRae.

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"11-Alabama secedes by vote in Convention of 61 to 39. P. F. Thomas, U. S. Sec. of Treasury, resigns. John A. Dix appointed. The Governor of Mississippi siezes Forts Philip and Jackson, on the Mississippi river; Forts Pike and Macomb, on Lake Pontchartrain; and U. S. Arsenal at Baton Rouge.

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13-Florida takes possession of Pensacola Navy Yard and Ft. Barrancas. Lieut. Slemmer, in command of Ft. Pickens, ordered by Com. Armstrong to deliver the Fort to Florida, refuses, and preserves that important post to the government of the Union. 16-Legislature of Arkansas calls a Convention. Col. Hayne, of South Carolina, demands of the President the surrender of Ft. Sumter, and is refused. Missouri Legislature order a convention to consider secession.

18-The Legislature of Virginia appropriate $1,000,000 for the defense of the State.

19-Georgia adopts Secession Ordinance by vote of 208 to 89.

21-Members of Congress from Alabama resign.

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Jefferson Davis resigns his seat in the U. S. Senate.

"23-Georgia members of Congress resign.

26-Louisiana Legislature passes Secession Ordinance. Vote 113 to 17. 29-Kansas, the thirty-fourth State, admitted into the Union.

30-North Carolina Legislature submits the question of calling a Convention to the people.

Revenue cutters Cass, at Mobile, and McClelland, at New Orleans, surrendered to Southern authorities.

Feb. 1-Texas Convention passes Secession Ordinance, to be submitted to the people. Vote, 166 to 7. Louisiana government seize the U. S. Mint and Custom House, at New Orleans.

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4-Peace Convention of Delegates from eighteen States, assembles at Washington; ex-President Tyler presides.

Delegates from seceded States meet at Montgomery, Ala., to organize a Confederate Government.

John Slidell and Judah P. Benjamin, U. S. Senators from Louisiana, resign their seats.

9-Jefferson Davis and Alexander H. Stevens elected provisional President and Vice-President of Confederate States, for one year. 13-Electoral vote counted. Abraham Lincoln received 180 votes; S. A. Douglas, 12; J. C. Breckenridge, 72; John Bell, 39. Majority required to elect, 157.

18-Ft. Kearney, Kansas, seized by Southern forces.

23-Gen. Twiggs, U. S. commander in Texas, delivered his army prisoners of war, and U. S. property valued at $1,200,000 to Confederate authorities.

28-Territorial Government organized in Colorado.

Mar. 1-Gen. Twiggs expelled from the army. Peace Congress adjourned. 2-Territorial government organized in Dacotah and Nevada.

Revenue cutter Dodge surrendered to the South, at Galveston,
Texas.

4-Abraham Lincoln inaugurated 14th regular President of the
United States.

The people of Texas having voted for the Secession Ordinance by 40,000 majority, the Convention declared the State out of the Union. 66 5-Gen. Beauregard takes command of Southern forces, at Charleston. 6-Ft. Brown, on the Rio Grande, surrenders to Confederate troops. Federal troops evacuated the fort and sailed for Key West, Florida Confederate Senate confirm nominations of President Davis to his Cabinet, viz.: R. Toombs, of Geo., Sec. of State; C. S. Memminger, of South Carolina, Sec. of Treasury; L. P. Walker, of Ala., Sec. of War; S. R. Mallory, of Fla., Sec. of Navy; J. H. Reagan, of Texas, Postmaster Gen.; J. P. Benjamin, of La., Attorney General.

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11-The Constitution of Confederate States adopted in convention at Montgomery, Ala.; afterwards ratified by the several States. 28-Vote of Louisiana on secession-20,448 for, 17,926 against-made public.

"30-Mississippi Convention ratifies the Confederate Constitution, by 78 to 70.

Apr. 3-South Carolina Convention ratifies Confederate Constitution, by 114 to 6.

Apr. 4-Virginia Convention refuse to present a Secession Ordinance to the people, by a vote of 89 to 45.

7-Intercourse between Ft. Sumter and Charleston stopped by order of Gen. Beauregard.

CHAPTER XXIV.

FIRST PHASE OF THE WAR.

Each side hesitated to strike the first blow; but the South, being best prepared, and to end a suspense that threatened to be hurtful to their cause, opened the conflict by the bombardment of Ft. Sumter. Each now hastened preparations with vigor. Yet so long had been the intimate, friendly relations, that neither could believe in a long, deadly struggle. More than three months passed, during which frequent skirmishes occurred; but the leaders avoided bringing on a general battle. The Southern forces advanced toward Washington, but stopped short of an attack, sending out small bodies to make trial efforts, and get possession of important points.

The battle of Bull Run was the first great, serious combat. The brilliant bravery of Southern troops would have been overcome but for an opportune reinforcement at the decisive moment. The leaders did not feel it safe to pursue the vanquished Federals to Washington. There was a large reserve force there. Thus, if they won a battle they lost the object sought— the capture of the national Capital-and the Union forces, though defeated, gained the most important point-the protection of Washington.

Both sides now recognized the magnitude of the undertaking; the indomitable resolution of their opponents; and the need of thoroughly disciplining their troops, of organizing all branches of the military and naval service, and gathering stores, and distributing forces in accordance with the plan proposed by each.

This period continued until Feb., 1862. The U. S. Navy was increased from 42 vessels at the beginning of the war to about 300 at the close of this preparatory period. These blockaded the South and served for transport and attack. Two series of operations were planned by the U. S. government for the land forces: one in the Mississippi Valley and one in Virginia. In the meantime the Confederate leaders saw that it was impossible to invade the North as they had proposed without long preparation and large armies. They organized with speed but were thrown on the defensive. 1861.

Apr. 7-Steamer Atlantic, with troops and supplies for Ft. Sumter, sailed from New York.

8-The Federal Government notified South Carolina that provisions would be sent to Maj. Anderson, by force, if necessary.