The Portland daily press., 1876-11-01

no VI InciI respective states were greatly less
in value than their share of the public prop
erto, aud that, to admit the jurisdiction ol
the United States within their domains,
would be to acknowledge foreign authority Oh
their soil.
Questions for Examination,
WHO was President in 1860? Of what party was
he the representative? How did large portion Of
the Southern people regard his election? What did
When did South Carolina secede? What did the
Charleston Convention declare? What did they
allege in justification of their conduct? What did
they say in regard to the right OF secession?
What military posts did the seceders seize? Was
this generally done without bloOdshed? Why?, How
did the people OF the North like this? Row did the
seceders justify themselves?
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Mr.. Buchanan was, what is politically
termed, a States-rights Democrat. He had
always professed to believe in the right oil Sc
| cessiOn; and now, when for the first time in
the history of the country, it was exercised,
he made no attempt to prevent it by force.
His successor, Mr.. Lincoln, thought and
acted differently.
Elected through the period of intense par
tisan rancor, he Joined to bis political opn-
ions the prejudices of his party. He had
reached Washington, disguised in Scotch
cap and cloak, and had been invested with
office, while surrounded by an armed guard.
The Northern papers declared that the
President-elect was IN danger of assassina-
tlon, while those of the South raised the cry
that king reigned at Washington.
FALL OF FORT SUMTER (APRn 13, 1861. J
In Charleston harbor, the Federal troops,
long after the secession of South Carolina,
retained possession of Fort Sumter. On the
11th of April, the Confederates, having tried
peaceful measures to no purpose, and rein
forcements being ont heir way from New York
by order of the President of the United
States, attacked it from several points. After
bombardment of "a hours, Major Ander.
son, the officer in command, hauled down
the flag in token of surrender.
The news of the bombardment and fall of
this fort, excited the liveliest emotions
throughout the land.
Questions tor Termination.
What were the politics of Mr.. Buchanan? Why
did he not resist the exercise Of the right of
sion? What were the politics of Mr., Lincoln? In
wnat disguise had he reached Washington? Under
what circumstances was he inangurated?
declare?
ENTHUSIASM IN THE SOUTH.
Her youth, nurtured in a sunny cline, pos
sessed much of that fiery indiscretion which
SO often characterizes a Southern people;
while, to an English love of liberty they
Joined the dauntless spirit of the Norman
cavalier.
Besides, they had been reared in the midst
OF an interior and submissive race, and. in
their habits OF life, were accustomed to daily
exercises OF nature somewhat martial
Hence, they were peculiarly fitted by blood,
climate, institutions, and education to con-
tend. in defence of their rights, with world
in arms.
Such, indeed, was the task which they un-
dertook, and they engaged in it with an en-
thusiasm almost incredible.
Emuous of the glory of their revolution
ary sires, they rejoiced at an opportunity to
equal their heroism, and were not averse to
conflict in which both personal aninesity
and love OF glory might be gratfied.
INVASION OF VIRGINIA.
On the 24th of May, 1861, the advance
guard of the army, which had been collected
for the Capital, crossed ihe Potomac and
occupied the heights opposite Washington.
AT the same time body of Federal troops
took possession of the city of Alexandria.
1t was here that the first blood of the war
was shed. Col. Ellsworth, famous trough"
and circus-rider Of Chicago, commanded the
Zouave regiment which entered the city. At
bis coming, the Confederates who were there
beat hasty retreat, and no sign of resistance
at first could be seen.
Upon the principal hotel of the city, how
ever, Confederate flag was observed bravely
Haunting. A man was sent to pull it down.
He returned with the information that it was
guarded by Mr.. Jackson, who would let no
one touch it. Whereupon, the indignant
Colonel entered the house, and ascended the
stairs. As he approached the flag, Jackson
tired and killed him. Immediately he was
himself slain by the exasperated Zouaves.
The different opinions entertained, in the
Gwo sections, of the conduct of Jackson, show
how wide was the gap between them. AT the
North, he was spoken of as the vilest of as
sassins, while at the South tears were shed
for him, aud he was ranked among the patrl-
otic martyrs Of history.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
After the accession of the Border States
regular election was held by the Confederates
for President. Jefferson Davis was elected
without opposition.
The merit which could command such an
expression of popular confidence must have
been conspicuous. In him were combined
qualities and opinions of which large ma
Jority OF Southern men approved. He was
no extremist, yet resolute in defence of ther
rights of his section. He had filled with
great credit high positions, both civil and
military, and was no less distinguished for
his services in the field than in the Cabinet.
Commanding Mississippi regiment at the
battle of Buena Vista, he had won an endur-
ing fame on that hard contested field.
As Secretary of War under Mr.. Pierce he
had exhibited an Administrative talent so rare
that even his political enemies praised him.
As Senator he was sagacous, earnest and
moderate.
CAUSES OF THE FAILURE OF THE CONFED-
ERATE CAUSE.
The primary ca1se of the failure of the
Confederacy was, that the people of the
South were not unanimous in their efforts to
gain their liberty. In the history of the
world united people, struggling for liberty
have nerer been subjugated.
The secondary causes of failure are numer-
Gus. Some of them are the following, viz:
1. The numbers. and wealth of the Fed
erals.
2. The mismanagemento OF the finances.
3. The retention of inefficient officers.
4. The endeavor to protect too many
points at once when the war began