Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-07-11

The Know Nothing party had by
this time lost something of its dis
tinctiye features, and took the name
of Constitutional Unionists. Rep
r~esentatiyes Of this party met IN
convention and chose John Bell,
of Tennessee, as their candidate.
Thus were four political standards
raised in the field, and the excite
ment xhirled through the country
like a storm. The result was the
election of the Republican caudi-
date by the votes Of nearly all the
northern states. Thus, after having
controlled the destluies of the Re.
public for sixty years, with only
temporary overthrows in 1910 and
lS4S, the Democratic. party was
broken up and driven from the
field. The issue of the presidential
election had been clearly forseen
and the results were anticipated, at
least In the south.
Southern leaders had not hesita
ted to declare, during the campaign,
that the choice of Lincoln would be
regarded as a just cause for a disso-
luton of the uaion. Threats of
secession had been heard on every
hand, but in the north such express
sions were regarded as merepolitical
bravado, having little foundation in
the actual purposes of the southern
people.
At any rate the Republicans of the
populous northwest were not to be de-
TERED from voting according TO their
political convictions. They crowded the
polls and their candidate was elected.
Members OF the Pro-slayery party of fire
eating ~propensities did not hesitate
openly TO advocate the principles of
secession as a remedy for the election of
Lincoln.
The interval between the presidential
election in November, 1860, and the
Inauguration OF Lincoln in the following
spring, was sliced by the leaders OF the
South as the opportune moment for dis
solving the union. The event showed
that the measures had been carefully
prepared.
The actual work OF secession was be-
gun in South Carolina. The old dis-union
prociivities OF that state had slumbered
for thirty years, and were now ready TO
burst forth into flames. On the 18th of
December, 1860, IA convention chosen by
the people OF South Carolina, assembled
at Charlestown, and after "a three days
fiery discussion, passed a resolution that
the union hitherto existing between South
Carolina and the other states, under the
name of the United States OF America.
was dissolved. 1t was a step of fearful
Importance, portending war and univer-
sal discord. The action was contagious.
The sentiment OF disunion spread like
wild-fire among the southern people. In
a short time the cotton growing states
were almost unanimously in favor OF the
measure.
BY the LIST of February, 1861, Mississ-
ippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and
Texas had passed ordinances of secession
end withdrawn from the union. Nearly
all the senator's and representatives OF
these states, following the lead of their
constituents, whom they themselves had
instigated IN their course, resigned their
seats in congress. returned to the south
and gave themselves completely to the
disunion cause.
On the 14th OF February, 1861. dele
gates from six of the seeding STATES
assembled Mt Montgomery, Alabama.
and formed a new government under rhe
name OF the Confederate States of Amer
lea. Jefferson Davis, OF Mississippi, and
Alexander Stephens were elected proyis.