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Chapter 1:
- Failure of the peace Congress -- treatment of the commissioners -- their withdrawal -- notice of an armed expedition -- action of the Confederate Government -- bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter -- its reduction required by the exigency of the case -- disguise thrown off -- President Lincoln's call for seventy-five thousand men -- his fiction of “combinations” -- palpable violation of the Constitution -- action of Virginia -- of citizens of Baltimore -- the charge of precipitation against South Carolina -- action of the Confederate Government -- the universal feeling.
The Congress, initiated by Virginia for the laudable purpose of endeavoring, by constitutional means, to adjust all the issues which threatened the peace of the country, failed to achieve anything that would cause or justify a reconsideration by the seceded states of their action to reclaim the grants they had made to the general government, and to maintain for themselves a separate and independent existence. The commissioners sent by the Confederate government, after having been shamefully deceived, as has been heretofore fully set forth, left the United States capital to report the result of their mission to the Confederate government. The notice received, that an armed expedition had sailed for operations against the state of South Carolina in the harbor of Charleston, induced the Confederate government to meet, as best it might, this assault, in the discharge of its obligation to defend each state of the Confederacy. To this end the bombardment of the formidable work, Fort Sumter, was commenced, in anticipation of the reenforcement which was then moving to unite with its garrison for hostilities against South Carolina. The bloodless bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter occurred on April 13, 1861. The garrison was generously permitted to retire with the honors of war. The evacuation of that fort, commanding the entrance to the harbor of Charleston, which, if in hostile hands, was destructive of its commerce, had been claimed as the right of South Carolina. The voluntary withdrawal of the garrison by the United States government had been considered, and those best qualified to judge believed it had been promised. Yet, when instead of the fulfillment of just expectations, instead of the withdrawal of the garrison, a hostile expedition was organized and sent forward, the urgency of the case required its reduction
