THE PULPIT AND PRESS. 75 people were intensely excited; moving like vast waves surging before a great wind. women. In the churches, pulpits thundered stern denunciations of Rebellion. The ministers declared that God had set this land midway between the oceans as a great political and religious missionary land. They showed that He marked it as the home of a united people, and that when He aforetime determined the bounds of our habitation, He gave us this land to be made, in its entirety, the land of free speech, free presses, free schools, free pulpits, free men and They said He has so built its mountains as to bind together, not divide, the North and the South; and what God hath joined together, let no man or body of men put asunder! He has traced the great rivers of the continent so they cannot be dividing lines between the States of the Cotton, the Rice and the Sugar, and those of the Wheat, the Corn and the Barley, with the beds of coal and the spindles of industry. They said He hath made it one, and never can it be cut in twain. More than one, at the very outset, saw that the contest was between Freedom and Slavery, and putting on the prophet's mantle, said: "Slavery hath taken the sword: it shall perish by the sword." Not in the Crusades was the religious spirit more marked, causative, and controlling than in THE GREAT UPRISING of 1861. The Press was active. made appeal after appeal. Political, Secular and Religious alike Secular papers teemed with prophecy, sermon and exhortation. Religious papers were crowded with proclamations, general orders and war songs. Oratory played its part, and from rostrum, from out-door stands, from court-house steps and hotel balconies, speakers addressed masses of people animated with one great purpose. The children caught the fever, and each school had its play-ground transformed into a parade-ground, while small drums, miniature cannon and harmless small arms, were the playthings of the nursery. Elsewhere," "Woman's works" remain to be noted, and it is enough to say that, knowing that war meant bereavement of husbands, sons, brothers and plighted lovers, the women said the nation's honor must be preserved, no matter at what cost! Everywhere, the American people heard the voice of Providence, saying: "Draw forth your million blades as one; GOD FIGHTS WITH YE, and overhead "Slow to resolve, be swift to do! How weak the arm a traitor brings; How mighty they who steadfast stand For Freedom's Flag and Freedom's Land !" All eyes were turned toward the National Capital, and the eager question went from lip to lip: "What will the President do?" The question was soon answered. Before nightfall on Monday, the 15th, was transmitted, by telegraph, the following Proclamation: PROCLAMATION. By the President of the United States. "WHEREAS, The laws of the United States have been for some time past and now are opposed, and the execution thereof obstructed, in the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested in the marshals by law: now, therefore, I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution and the laws, have thought fit to call forth, and hereby do call forth, the militia of the several States of the Union to the aggregate number of 75,000, in order to suppress said combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed. "The details for this object will be immediately communicated to the State authorities through the War Department. I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and aid this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity, and existence of our national Union, and the perpetuity of popular government, and to redress wrongs already long enough endured. I deem it proper to say that the first service assigned to the forces hereby called forth, will probably be to re-possess the forts, places and property which have been seized from the Union; and in every event the ut PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION. 77 most care will be observed, consistently with the objects aforesaid, to avoid any devastation, any destruction of, or interference with, property, or any disturbance of peaceful citizens of any part of the country; and I hereby command the persons composing the combinations aforesaid, to disperse and retire peaceably to their respective abodes, within twenty days from this date. "Deeming that the present condition of public affairs presents an extraordinary occasion, I do hereby, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution, convene both houses of Congress. The Senators and Representatives are, therefore, summoned to assemble at their respective Chambers at twelve o'clock, noon, on Thursday, the fourth day of July next, then and there to consider and determine such measures as, in their wisdom, the public safety and interest may seem to demand. "In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. "Done at the City of Washington, this fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-fifth. "By the President, "WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State." "ABRAHAM LINCOLN. This was followed, on the 19th, by the celebrated Blockading Proclamation, which is here appended: A PROCLAMATION, By the President of the United States. "WHEREAS, An insurrection against the government of the United States has broken out in the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, and the laws of the United States for the collection of the revenue cannot be efficiently executed therein conformable to that provision of the Constitution which requires duties to be uniform throughout the United States; “And, whereas, a combination of persons, engaged in such insurrection, have threatened to grant pretended letters of marque, to authorize the bearers thereof to commit assaults on the lives, vessels, and property of the good citizens of the country, lawfully engaged in commerce on the high seas, and in waters of the United States; "And, whereas, an Executive Proclamation has already issued, requiring the persons engaged in these disorderly proceedings to desist therefrom, calling out a militia force for the purpose of repressing the same, and convening Congress in extraor dinary session to deliberate and determine thereon; "Now, therefore, I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, with a view to the same purposes before mentioned, and to the protection of the public peace, and the lives and property of quiet and orderly citizens pursuing their lawful occupations, until Congress shall have assembled and deliberated on the said unlawful proceedings, or until the same shall have ceased, have further deemed it advisable to set on foot a blockade of the ports within the States aforesaid, in pursuance of the laws of the United States and of the laws of nations, in such cases provided. For this purpose, a competent force will be posted so as to prevent entrance and exit of vessels from the ports aforesaid. If, therefore, with a view to violate such blockade, a vessel shall approach, or shall attempt to leave any of the said ports, she will be duly warned by the commander of one of the blockading vessels, who will endorse on her register the fact and date of such warning; and if the same vessel shall again attempt to enter or leave the blockaded port, she will be captured and sent to the nearest convenient port, for such proceedings against her and her cargo, as prizes, as may be deemed advisable. "And I hereby proclaim and declare, that if any person, under the pretended authority of such States, or under any other pretence, shall molest a vessel of the United States, or the persons or cargo on board of her, such persons will be held amenable to the laws of the United States for the prevention and punishment of piracy. "By the President. "WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. "WASHINGTON, April 19, 1861." ABRAHAM LINCOLN. These documents convinced all that war would be waged until rebellion should be suppressed, and they intensified the popular enthusiasm. It was In this State all eyes were turned toward Springfield. known that Governor Yates had expressed himself determined to use every means to maintain the unity of the States, and none doubted that his measures would be promptly taken. It was known that, in view of possible war, Judge Allen C. Fuller had accepted the position of Adjutant General of the State, and there was confi. dence in his integrity and executive ability. On Tuesday morning, it was ascertained that the following dis patch had been received at Springfield: "His Excellency, Richard Yates: "WASHINGTON, April 15, 1861. "Call made on you by to-night's mail for six regiments for immediate service. "SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War." On the same date Governor Yates issued the following Proclamation: "SPRINGFIELD, Ill., April 15, 1861. "I, RICHARD YATES, Governor of the State of Illinois, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution, hereby convene the Legislature of the State, and THROUGH BALTIMORE. 79 the members of the twenty-second session of the General Assembly are hereby required to be and appear in their respective places, at the Capitol, on TUESDAY, the twenty-third day of April, A. D. 1861, for the purpose of enacting such laws and adopting such measures as may be deemed necessary, upon the following subjects: The more perfect organization and equipment of the militia of the State, and placing the same upon the best footing to render assistance to the General Government in preserving the Union, enforcing the laws and protecting the property and rights of the people; also, the raising of such money and other means as may be required to carry out the foregoing object; and also to provide for the expenses of such session. "In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand, and have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed at the City of Springfield, the 15th day of April, A. D. 1861. "By order of the Governor: "O. M. HATCH, Secretary of State." "RICHARD YATES. General Order No. 1 was issued on the 15th, from the headquarters at Springfield, directing all commandants of divisions, brigades, regiments and companies to hold themselves ready for actual service; and on the 16th, Order No. 2 provided for the immediate organization of the six regiments, and within ten days, more than ten thousand men had offered their services; and in addition to the force dispatched to Cairo, more than the full quota was in camp at Springfield. A little later two other circumstances increased the intensity of public feeling. The first, the news of the assault on the Massachusetts sixth and Pennsylvania troops by the Baltimore mob. Nobly has that city redeemed itself from that disgrace, but when the news was read in Chicago, on the morning of the 20th, that on the day preceding, brave men, rushing to the defense of the Capital, were murdered in the streets of Baltimore, there was a demand for the sternest measures. Excited groups, pale with indignation, gathered on the corners and asked to be armed and led to Washington through Baltimore. Said a minister of eminence, in his sacred calling: "I was born in Baltimore; I have loved its name; my kindred are there, but I should rejoice to know that it was laid in ashes." The State was agitated beyond description when it was learned that the route to Washington was thus closed by violence. In common with sister States, it demanded that the way should be opened, not around the city, as alarmists suggested, but through it. |