The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1861-03-14
FIFTY DAYS.

thus congresses into the briefcst space
the history Of the last fifty days:
On the 9th Of November the people
of the United States elected their four.
teenth Prcsident-Abraham Lincoln, Of
Illinois. lie was chosen regularly and
constitutionally. The States South fell
hereupon, into an extraordinary excite
ment, and on the goth Of December
South Carolina--w her white popula-
ton Of sos, ,ls6, there being only five
Of the thirty three less than she-passed
an ordinance Of Secession. This was
followed by the seizure Of the revenue
cutter, Aiken, and of the United States
arsenal, and was tie first scene of the
most lamentablc trasi-comedy whose
scenes have fitted before our eyes.
On the goth Of December Major an
dcrson moved from Fort Moultrie to
Fort Sumter, and SO took the command
of Charleston harbor-by the same act
threw bomb into the nest Of traitors
at Washington, blew up the Cabinet,
awakcd the dotiny President, and made
himself the most popular man in Amer
lea. On the 25ih Of January Forts Pu-
!aska and Jackson, and the United
States arsenal at Savannah, with Fort
Mason and the arsenal at Fayetteville,
\. c., were seized. On the Sd, Fort
Morgan, near Mobile, and the Mount
Vernon Arsenal were taken. On the
9th, the Arsenal at Apalachicola, and
on the sth, Forts Johnson and Caswcll,
in North Carolina, were also seized
The same day the Florida Convention
adopted Secession resolutions. On the
eth, Mississippi followed suit, while at
Charleston the New York steamer Ma
rion was seized and the Star Of the
West fired into. On the 10Th Fort
McIca, at Pensacola, and on the 18th.
Forts Pike, st. Philip, and Jackson,
with the arsenal at Baton Rouge, were
seized. The same day Alabama seced-
cd. On the 18th, Fort Barrancas and
the Pensacola navy yard were ,aken.-
On the 10th, Ship Island Fort was tax
cn BY Captain Howard. On the eth,
Gov. Brown, Of Georgia, seized the ar
scral ut Augusta. Louisiana seeded
on the Goth, and Texas on the lst of
February. about which time the revenue
cutter McClclland t5a!... into the hands of
the Scoessionists. i'eh. ID, the cutter
Lewis Cas- was surrendered by its trait
orous commander. Feb. s, the arsenal
At Little Rock, Ark, was taken-Capt.
Bragg's celebrated battery being there;
but, happily for the amateurs, without
its heroic commander, and his 'Little
more grape Feb. 8, the Montgomery
Convention proclaimed the "Contc,lerate
States Of America and Jefferson Da-
vis President Of its Provisional Govern
mcnt. The Same day, five New York
vessels were seized in the port Of Sa-
vamlah, by order Of Gov. Brown.
Here we stand. The United States
Flag floats yet at Fort Sumter, Fort
Pickcns, Fort jefferson and Fort Tay-
lor, supported by handful Of men in
each. Mcnaccs meanwhile fill the air.
Insane jubilation resounds through the
South. New Orleans rcjoiccs as she
never has since the heroic Jackson de-
liyered her from Packhenham's hosts.
The 7 Seeding States have popula-
ton of 2, 733, 46, with 2, 350,6O3 slaves
on their hands. Meanwhile the eigh-
teen Northern and Western States, with
$4,000, 900 inhabitants, not one Of whom
has not personal interest in his State,
arc firm as q rock, and are now united
in support ofthe Federal Government.
The powerful and patriotic Border
States hesitate, as well they may. The
voice Of treason would sound strangely
enough from Mt. Vernon, Ashland, and
the Hermitage. 1t is the 18th Of Feb
ruary seventeen days more will bring
the Inauguration Of the new President.
He has already started for the seat of
Government. On the spot where JET.
ferson and Jackson stood, Lincoln will
take the oath they took, for the millions
Of the North stand behind him. Europe
ana especially England, trcmbles with
interest. 1t is truly vast pageant
s'Nations for actors, kingdsms for stage.
And monarchs to behold the swelling scene
~