the arbitrament of the sword. And now you see the glistening bayonet,
and you hear the tramp of armed men from your Capitol to the Rio
Grand. And all that they have ever demanded is that you abide by the
Constitution, as they have done. What is it that we demand? That we
may settle in present or acquired territories with our property,
including slaves, and that when these territories shall be admitted
as States they shall say for themselves whether they wish to have free
or slave labor. That is our territorial demand. We have fought for this
territory when blood was its price. We have paid for it when gold was
its price. New England has contributed very little of blood or money."


The senator goes on to specify what further measures the South demanded,
in sharp, incisive terms, but this extract suffices to show that our
leaders used every power of tongue and moral suasion to stave off
bloodshed.

Houston, Governor of Texas, in a public speech advised constitutional
means--anything in reason to prevent war.

Robert E. Lee, the great, the good, was cut to the heart at the
impending calamity. One of his friends said: "I have seldom seen a more
distressed man." Lee said: "If Virginia stands by the old Union so will
I. But if she secedes, then I shall follow my native state with my
sword, and, if need be with my life. These are my principles and I must
follow them."

Many public men in the North urged peaceable secession, notably, Horace
Greely. Foreign eyes were turned anxiously toward America. The South was
sending out millions of pounds of cotton every year, of which the