= ■%.<$ , ^ ; ^,0* & •p %> * «> * 4 \ 3 ^ '.P A «5? *%> # •*-- y ., V'-*°^^-., V-°^» '•>:<* "-V o^ F \ % %: & w $ °^ .4 4 ,.o-^ «.> ^ n4 cu ^ <2* «>* " ^ * ,<& <$ ^ r *>*, ^ <% V^ < r # > C W ^ \o^ *V ^ ^ °- • V * ^ * ° /• . -%> Qj. */ ,^ %..^' %•/ % ' . " c/% 3 . '•%■. .& <. Jf> s % ^ AV t/*« c# O v c \o^ ^d< * /' * . S ^ •S «*, $ <3ft ^ -V? ^ > c?\ <% *%. i * x>* v % ^ R EV. .DAS, 'M M M §§ D € U TT THE CONSPIRACY UNVEILED THE SOUTH SACKIFICED; OR, THE HORRORS OF SECESSION. BY EEV. JAMES W." HUNNICUTT, EDITOR OF THE FREDERICKSBURG (VA.) CHRISTIAN BANNER. "THE UNION, NOW AND FOREVER, ONE AND INSEPARABLE. PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 1863. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by JAMES W. HUNNICUTT, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS TO THE PUBLIC. The author of this unpretending volume being a Southern man by birth and education, by marriage and location, by every sacred tie and interest, political, religious, social, and domestic, which makes life desirable, but, by force of cir- cumstances, driven from his home and all the endearing and hallowed associations of life, and thrown into communities in which all faces are strange and all eyes look with in- difference on the heart-crushed refugee as he passes by in sad, silent, and lonely meditation, and presuming under circumstances so inauspicious to appear before his country- men in the unenviable character of an author, it may be due to himself, as well as to a virtuous, intelligent, and patriotic public, to briefly give a few incidents connected with his past life. He was born in Pendleton district, South Carolina, on the 16th day of October, 1814. His parents were pious and respectable, and both his father and mother, James and Nancy Hunnicutt, were natives of South Carolina. In the month of February, 1834, he came as a student to Randolph Macon College, Virginia, at which institution he remained until the spring of 1836. In the month of June, 1836, he married Miss Martha Frances Smith, the only surviving daughter of Dr. Charles Smith, deceased, of Lunenburg county, Virginia. In the month of April, 1847, he moved to Fredericks- burg, Virginia, and located in that city, in which he re- iv INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. mained a resident up to the 29th of August, 1862, at which time the city was being evacuated by General Burnside. On the 3d of April, 1850, his wife departed this life; and a better woman and a more devoted Christian never lived nor died. Her precious remains lie at rest in the Fredericks- burg (Va.) Cemetery. She was the mother of six children: three are in heaven, and three were living last June. In the month of August, 1854, he married Miss Elvira M. Samuel, of Fredericksburg, Va., his second and present wife. She has no child. On the 4th of December, 1848, he commenced the pub- lication of the "Fredericksburg (Va.) Christian Banner," and was the editor and proprietor of that journal until the 9th of May, 1861, at which time, by force of circumstances which he could not control, as the subsequent pages of this work will explain, he suspended its publication, and re- mained a quiet, but anxious, observer of passing events until the 18th of April, 1862, at which time Fredericks- burg was delivered over to the military authorities of the United States Government by the civil authorities of that town. On the 9th of May, 1862, he resumed the publication of the "Christian Banner;" but, owing to the scarcity of paper, and wanting other facilities, occasioned by the rebel- lion against the Government of the United States, the "Christian Banner," of necessity, was reduced to half its original size. When he closed his office in May, 1861, there was a small quantity of paper left on hand, which served for the first issue in May, 1862. TKere being at this time no facilities of transportation of goods by which citizens could obtain them from the North, and being unable to obtain white paper in Fredericksburg, he was advised to continue its publication on brown paper, — which he did. Prior to the commencement of the publication of the INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. V "Christian Banner" in 1848, he published several small works, principally, however, of a religious and controversial character, which, for the most part, were circulated in Vir- ginia and the Southern States. His prominent position before the public for the last thirteen years of his life as the editor and proprietor of a widely-circulating newspaper, and being a minister of the gospel for more than thirty years, should, in his humble opinion, entitle him to some share of public confidence, although a stranger and a refugee in the midst of strangers. In politics, he has always been a Constitutional Democrat, according to the true political and etymological meaning of that term. He is now an uncompromising Southern Union man, which it is presumed no one will question after read- ing the subsequent pages of this volume. He is no office- seeker, — has never asked for, nor held, any office, either under the Government of the United States, in any in- dividual State, county, corporation, or neighborhood. His highest aspirations are to serve his God and country and advance the cause of true Christianity and promote the happiness of his fellow-man. Prompted by a sense of duty, which he feels that he owes to his God and country, his wife and children, to his churches and to himself, has induced the publication of this volume. On Friday, the 29th of August, 1862, about five o'clock p.m., a friend of the author came in full haste on horseback to his house, to advise him to leave Fredericksburg without a moment's delay, as the Confederate troops were supposed to be rapidly advancing in great numbers and were nearly in sight of the town. On receiving this intelligence, he hastened to take leave of his wife, who, on taking the part- ing hand, said, " Farewell, my dear husband; take care of yourself, and I will pray constantly for you, and I will pray to the good Lord to watch over you and to take care of you. Farewell, farewell, my dear husband." V1 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. And with a spirit crushed to earth, and a heart over- whelmed with grief, the author was driven out from his house, his home, his wife, and from all that makes life de- sirable on earth, to wander in solitude and sorrow among strangers. And, to add to the poignancy of indescribable grief which already preyed upon his deeply -throbbing heart, he was insulted and treated with contempt by secessionists as he left his house and walked through the streets to the car-bridge across the Rappahannock River, over which he had to pass. And thus, after having been watched, sus- picioned, persecuted, proscribed, ostracized, and having his very house eavesdropped by contemptible scoundrels and damnable traitors for more than twelve long months, was at last driven from his home, his wife, his all on earth, amidst the taunts, indignities, and insults of the worthless, the vile, the God-forsaken, and the hell-deserving. On arriving at the head-quarters of General Burnside, which were on the north side of the Rappahannock River, as the author stood on the hill and looked over upon the devoted city, as the sun threw back his golden hues on the towering steeples, the tops of the beautiful houses, the lofty hill-tops in the far distance, and the lovely valley of the Rappahannock, and contrasted these with the awful gran- deur of a mighty army with guns planted and all drawn up in battle-array, skirting the hills and bank of the beau- tiful Rappahannock River, as it laved the base of the hills on which the army was stationed, — as he stood and viewed the beautiful, sublime, but terrible melancholy scene before him, thoughts of the past, the present, and the horrible prospects of the future crowded his mind in such quick succession, that, for the first time in his life, he felt in good earnest as if he ■wanted to taste the sweets of death. His phi- losophy wellnigh forsook him. And for what was all this? Had he committed murder or larceny? Was he flying from justice? No: nothing of the kind. What then? INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. Vll Because of his undying devotion to his country, his detesta- tion of secession, traitors, and treason. This reflection nerved him to the resolve to meet the very worst issue that might be forced upon him. On Saturday night, the 30th of August, 1862, he arrived in Washington City, where he remained, secluded from nearly all society except his dear friends and fellow-suf- ferers in tribulation, his fellow-refugees from Fredericks- burg and its vicinity, of whom there were a goodly number, until the 5th of November, 1862, at which time he left Washington City, and on the night of the same day he arrived with his little son, in the city of Philadelphia, Pa,, where he has remained in peaceful retirement up to the hour of writing this brief introductory sketch. To say less than this, is hardly possible ; to say more than this, may be unnecessary. In conclusion, the author would respectfully offer a few brief remarks in relation to the present volume which is now offered to the American people. In preparing this work for the press, the author has labored under the most unfavorable circumstances, as the intelligent reader may readily allow when he is informed that every word in this book has been written and copied by the author's own hand since he has been a refugee. Having no documents to aid him except the files of the "Christian Banner," he was forced to copy every extract which is introduced into this work. The deeply afflicting circumstances, also, under which the author has labored while preparing this volume for the press, will, no doubt, be taken into consideration by the intelligent reader. This book, as the reader will observe, is divided into two parts. The first part contains sundry editorials which were published in the "Christian Banner," beginning as far back as the month of March, 1860, and continued until the 9th of May, 1861. From these editorials, and the matter 1* Vlll INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. contained in the first part of this book, the reader will learn some of the agencies, influences, intrigues, &c. &c. which were used by the arch-traitors of this rebellion to consummate their plot of damnable treason against the Government of the United States. These editorials having been published during the time of the great national ex- citement, and in the very heart of the rebellion, entitle them to more than ordinary consideration, as they were written and published while the scenes were being acted out, and, therefore, are certainly more accurate and correct than if written simply from memory. From March, 1860, to May, 1861, the eertainty of a dissolution of the Union, in the event of certain contingencies, and the horrors of secession, revolution, and civil war, were kept prominently before the readers of the "Christian Banner," to deter them from committing the suicidal act which the author knew, if committed, would inevitably plunge the whole country into ruin. Writing so repeatedly on the same sub- jects — the Union, secession, the intrigues of politicians, the certainty of a dissolution, and the horrors of civil war, &c. &c. — of necessity causes a sameness of language and ideas in some articles, which it is hoped by the author will be excused by the patriotic and intelligent reader. During the time these editorials were being published in the "Banner," some said they would "lock them up, and keep them," for the purpose in after-years "to prove the editor a false prophet." Let them now do it. The circumstances connected with this deep, dark, and damnable conspiracy against the United States Government are gradually unfolded to the mind of the reader, until he reaches the culminating-point, the sacrifice of Virginia, when the testimony becomes overwhelming, and every doubt is irresistibly swept from the mind, however skeptical that mind may be. The second part of this work embraces all the leading INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. IX editorials of the "Christian Banner" during its publication from the time of the occupancy of Fredericksburg by the United States troops to the time of the evacuation of the town by General Burnside in August, 1862. From these editorials the reader will learn something of the condition of affairs in and about Fredericksburg during the time that that ill-fated city was held by the Federals. There is one fact connected with this subject which is of great and vital importance to the author, and one which the intelligent reader cannot fail at once to appreciate. It is the following. The editorials of the "Christian Banner" before the war, and the editorials of the " Christian Banner" since the war, which are published in this book, were pub- lished in the same town, in the same office, by the same hands, and circulated in the same community : if, there- fore, the author had written falsely, every man, woman, and child in that community could and would have risen up and denounced his editorials as falsehoods and a base imposition on the public. This fact alone is sufficient to carry conviction to the mind of the intelligent reader as to the truth and correctness of the statements of the author. Moreover, the author hopes to be able to secure for this work a large circulation among the people of the South, believing as he does that the facts and truths contained in it would be heartily endorsed by thousands of the Southern people, if they could only throw off the iron yoke which the arch-traitors of this diabolical conspiracy have forced upon their necks. We join issue with the leaders in this rebellion, and not with the people. The leaders forced the war upon the people, and then have the unblushing impu- dence to say, "It's the people's war;" "the people got it up, and the people must fight it out." It is an infamous libel upon the people. The people never wanted war; the people never got it up: the accursed leaders got it up, and make the people fight it out. Just as if a tyrant, with a X INTEODUCTOEY EEMAEKS. loaded pistol pointed at the head of his servant, says, "Thrust your hand into the fire, or I'll blow your brains out;" when in goes the hand; and when it is burned to a crisp, the demon tyrant says, "You did it; it was your own act; you have no one to blame but yourself." But we must close these remarks. That this unpretending volume may serve some humble part in helping to put down this ungodly rebellion, and in restoring peace, order, prosperity, and happiness to the country; that the leaders in this rebellion may receive punishment commensurate with their crimes ; that the people who have been deceived by them and led into ruin may see their error, renounce their leaders, and return to their former loyalty to the Union ; that refugees everywhere may be blessed of God and cared for by their fellow-citizens; that their wives and children may be provided for and pro- tected by Heaven from all harm ; that the time may speedily come when the "Star-Spangled Banner" shall be thrown to the breeze from the top of every Capitol and State- House in the Union; that tyrants and despots may be crushed; that liberty and freedom may triumph over slavery and despotism ; that secession, with all its horrible train of curses, may be eternally damned; that the Union may continue "one and inseparable, now and forever;" that God in mercy may overrule all things for the ultimate good of the whole people ; that the reader may be blessed, the country redeemed, and the world saved, — is the sincere wish and constant prayer of the Author. CONTENTS. PAKT I. PAGE Chapter I. — The Author's Devotion to the Union — Terrible Results of a Dissolution foreshadowed — Editorial of March 8, 1860 13 Chapter II. — Signs of Dissolution — Charleston Convention — Se- ceders jubilant — Corruption of Politicians, etc. etc 15 Chapter III. — Political Changes — The Author Democratic — War Spirit, etc. etc 19 Chapter IV.— Extract from " Christian Banner" of June 28, 1860... 25 Chapter V.— Extract from " Christian Banner" of July 26, 1860 27 Chapter VI. — Fusion of Political Parties urged — If they do not, they are reprehensible — Peaceable Secession impossible — Separa- tion of the Democratic Party — Separation of the M. E. Church 30 Chapter VII. — The "Nigger!" "Nigger!" "Nigger!" — War-Cry for Political Purposes — Politicians Great Knaves, etc. etc 37 Chapter VIII. — Terrible Revolution predicted — Fusion of Political Parties urged — Why the Author attends Political Meetings — In- fernal Plot of Treason — Are Wise, Smith, Seddon, etc., Traitors, etc.? — Servile Insurrections predicted, etc. etc 42 Chapter IX. — The Election of Abraham Lincoln no Just Cause for the Secession of any State, etc 58 Chapter X. — Political Parties in North Carolina — The State for the Union — Certainty and Horrors of Civil War predicted, etc. etc 59 Chapter XL — The "Banner's" Fidelity to the South and the Union — Importance of Preserving the Union, etc. etc 65 Chapter XII. — Shall the former Glories of a Nation's Greatness be annihilated? — Dissolution of the Union cannot better the Con- dition of the Country — Property depreciating — Confidence de- stroyed, etc. etc 74 Chapter XIII. — Horrors of a Dissolution of the Union— South Caro- lina passes an Ordinance of Secession — The Secessionists jubilant — General Remarks, etc ■ 86 xi Xll CONTENTS. PAGE Chapter XIV. — Extract from " Christian Banner" of January 3, 1861 95 Chapter XV. — Extract from " Christian Banner" of January 10, 1861 100 Chapter XVI. — Extract from " Christian Banner" of January 24, 1861 105 Chapter XVII. — Extract from "Christian Banner" of January 31, 1861 115 Chapter XVIII. — There's Hope for the Union — Union Candidates elected to the State Convention by a Large Majority — General Remarks, etc. etc 140 Chapter XIX. — Extract from " Christian Banner" of February 14, 1861 145 Chapter XX. — Hope for the Union wanes — Jeff Davis's Speech in Montgomery — General Remarks, etc. etc 151 Chapter XXI. — Secesh Caucus Cliques — Great Secesh Meeting and Union Meeting in Fredericksburg — Imposition of Secesh Orators — Secesh Remarks, etc. etc 163 Chapter XXII. — Extract from " Christian Banner" of March 21, 1861 178 Chapter XXIIL— Saint Paul and the Gospel, and the Rev. Dr. George W. Carter and Secession — a Contrast 186 Chapter XXIV. — Extract from "Christian Banner" of March 28, 1861 203 Chapter XXV. — Extract from "Christian Banner" of March 28, 1861 213 Chapter XXVI.— Extract from "Christian Banner" of April 4, 1861. 216 Chapter XXVII. — Everybody in a Fog — Stampede — Raising Seces- sion Flags— Petition of R. Thorn, Esq., for Post-Office— What then ? — Let the North and South be heard — Secession Conven- tion 233 Chapter XXVIII. — The Conspiracy Unveiled — Virginia Sacrificed. 241 Chapter XXIX. — Extract from " Christian Banner" of April 25, 1861 289 Chapter XXX. — The Last Editorials of the " Christian Banner" of 1861 — General and Closing Remarks 291 CONTENTS. Xlll PART II. PAGE Chapter I. — Extract from "Christian Banner" of May 9, 1862 SOI Chapter II.— "The Crisis on us" 303 Chapter III.— Heart-Rending Thought 306 Chapter IV. — Secession like the Devil 307 Chapter V. — Why dethrone Reason? 311 Chapter VI. — Reflections 312 Chapter VII. — A Word of Admonition to the Citizens of Fredericks- hurg 314 Chapter VIII. — The Confederate Army leave Fredericksburg 316 Chapter IX. — Federal Troops take Possession of Fredericksburg.... 319 Chapter X. — Federal Troops landing on the Wharf of Fredericks- burg „ ...„ ^ r ~.~. 320 Chapter XL— Extract from "Christian Banner" of May 17, 1862... 321 Chapter XII.— Extract from " Christian Banner" of May 27, 1862.. 332 Chapter XIII. —Extract from "Christian Banner" of May 27,1862. 339 Chapter XIV.— Extract from " Christian Banner" of May 27, ld62. 342 Chapter XV. — President Lincoln and Hon. E. M. Stanton visit Fredericksburg 343 Chapter XVI.— Extract from " Christian Banner" of May 20, 1862. 344 Chapter XVIL— Extract from " Christian Banner" of May 31, 1862. 349 Chapter XVIII. — Extract from " Christian Banner" of June 7, 1862 351 Chapter XIX. — Colored Population of Fredericksburg 354 Chapter XX. — Extract from " Christian Banner" of June 14, 1862... 355 Chapter XXL — Then and Now 357 Chapter XXII. — The Great Battles near Richmond 360 Chapter XXIIL— Getting our Rights 361 Chapter XXIV. — God will prosper the Right , 362 Chapter XXV. — A New Era will dawn upon the Old Dominion 363 Chapter XXVI. — Extract from "Christian Banner" of June 18, 1862 363 Chapter XXVII. — Negro Stampede 369 Chapter XXVIIL— Ring-Leaders of Secession 370 XIV CONTENTS. Chapter XXIX.— Extract from "Christian Banner" of June 26, 1362 370 Chapter XXX. — Practical Secessionists 375 Chapter XXXL— Extract from "Christian Banner" of July 2, 1862 37 6 Chapter XXXII.— Won't Patronize You 383 Chapter XXXIIL— Extract from "Christian Banner" of July 5, 1S62 383 Chapter XXXIV.— Extract from " Christian Banner" of July 14, 1862 387 Chapter XXXV.— Secession 396 Chapter XXXVL— True to One's Own Section of Country 405 Chapter XXXVIL— Lying 406 Chapter XXXVIII.— Extract from " Christian Banner" of July 30, 1862 407 Chapter XXXIX.— Extract from " Christian Banner" of July 30, 1862 416 Chapter XL.— Extract from " Christian Banner" of July 30, 1862... 418 Chapter XLL — Privileges Abused.— Sundries 421 Chapter XLIL— Guerrilla Bands , 422 Chapter XLIII. — Examine the Logic 423 Chapter XLIV. — "Can't disgrace Ourselves and our Children by taking the Oath of Allegiance" 424 Chapter XLV. — Fredericksburg Three Years ago, and Fredericks- burg now 426 Chapter XLVI. — Virginians, Prepare for the Worst ! 427 Chapter XLVIL— Wonderful to Tell 430 Chapter XLVIII. — " I never expected it would come to this" 432 Chapter XLIX. — Respectability 435 Chapter L. — Poor Whites Loyal 436 Chapter LI. — The Union as it was.. 437 Chapter LII. — Order in Fredericksburg during the Time the Town was occupied by our Troops ,. 439 Chapter LIII. — Slaves Seeking Freedom 444 Chapter LIV. — Union Element of the South 443 THE CONSPIRACY UNVEILED. CHAPTER I. THE AUTHOR'S DEVOTION TO THE UNION— TERRIBLE RE- SULTS OF A DISSOLUTION FORESHADOWED — EDITORIAL OF MARCH 8, 1860. DISSOLVE THE UNION. Of all the terribly wild and wicked infatuations that has ever befallen any nation since the creation of man, surely the most awfully reckless and ruinous has seized the American people. To dissolve the Union in thought is wicked, in word it is treason, in act would be to damn «a nation wholly. Dissolve the Union ! And then, what ? Then may holy angels weep, and all the sainted patriots who fell in freedom's cause on American soil veil their faces at the departed glory of the happiest and most highly- favored people to be found on the pages of the world's great history ! Then may devils damned laugh at the finished folly of man, and chant in fiendish anthems the utter annihilation of the purest form of govern- ment the world has ever known ! Dissolve the Union, and civil war begins ; fire and sword, carnage, blood, death, pestilence, and woe, like a fearful, desolating avalanche from heaven, would sweep over " the land of 2 13 14 THE CONSPIEACY UNVEILED. the free, and the home of the brave," involving all in the common ruin. Dissolve the Union, and the Constitution is gone ! lost ! lost ! forever lost ! The " Star-Spangled Banner" would wave no longer, inspiring American hearts with confidence of the free- dom of speech, the freedom of the press, and the rights of conscience ! No : the liberty of speech, the liberty of the press, and the rights of conscience would all be crushed to earth, — trampled into dust beneath the unhallowed feet of wicked tyrants and bloodthirsty despots ! Dissolve the Union, and the South is dissolved, and the North is dissolved, and the whole Confederacy is dissolved ! It is vanity — the consummation of folly — to talk about North and South, if the Union be dis- solved ! All confidence, not only between North and South, but between man and man, would be destroyed. Brother would meet brother, sword and bayonet in hand, — brother against brother, father against son, and son against father. A man's enemies would be everywhere, and his friends nowhere. Enemies abroad and enemies at home, without a Constitution, without a Congress, without a country, and — may we not say? — without a God. For how could such a people look unto and call upon a God of justice, love, and mercy, having spurned all his blessings and dashed their blood-bought privileges into the dust ? The Constitution of these United States should be as sacred to the American people as was the Ark of the Covenant to God's ancient Israel. Let no polluted hand touch the Constitution. It is the legacy — the great national legacy — left us by our ancestors. It is THE SOUTH SACRIFICED. 15 the price of blood, — the blood of brave men, — the blood of patriots, who loved liberty, fought for liberty, bled for liberty, died for liberty. Let every true-hearted patriot, every American citizen, lay his hands on the altar of his God and the Constitution of his country, and swear by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, — by the God of all the holy apostles, — by the God of Washington and the signers of the " Declaration of Independence," and by the God of our patriotic ances- tors, — to live or die, stand or fall, by the Constitution of these United States. It is supreme nonsense to talk of a " peaceable dissolution" of the Union. It is just as reasonable to talk of concord between God and Satan, or of harmonizing the laws of heaven and hell. The fact is, dissolve the Union, and all is lost, — irrevocably lost ! Who is prepared to meet the issue ? Let him speak. CHAPTEK II. SIGNS OF DISSOLUTION — CHARLESTON CONVENTION — SE- CEDERS JUBILANT CORRUPTION OF POLITICIANS, ETC., ETC. Foe, a number of years we had been fearfully im- pressed with the idea of an eruption in the Federal Government, produced by the officious intermeddling of the ultra Abolitionists of the North, and the rock- less, hot-headed " fire-eaters" of the South. We were convinced that, if ever these two extremes should 16 THE CONSPIEACY UNVEILED. meet, revolution and civil war would be the result. Hence, we anxiously watched the course of political events more critically than many of our friends had supposed. Having witnessed, when a boy, the un- happy state of excitement in South Carolina on the question of " Nullification and Union," we dreaded to pass through another scene so exciting, unpleasant, and destructive to the social and religious privileges and enjoyments of the people. Prior to the assembling of the " National Demo- cratic Convention" in Charleston, South Carolina, on the 23d of April, 1860, we were constantly troubled with a strange presentiment that some terrible catas- trophe was about to befall our happy country. It will be remembered that great confusion and excite- ment commenced with the organization of that Con- vention, occasioned by Mr. Fisher's insisting upon his right to present a letter from the "Wood delega- tion, with a resolution attached. The Chairman, Francis B. Flournoy, deciding that the subject was out of order, a spirited debate took place upon the resolution providing for the appointment of a com- mittee upon permanent organization. Without entering into the details of that ever-memorable Convention, suffice it to say that the delegates from South Carolina, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Florida, &c. &c, withdrew from the Convention; whereupon the wildest enthusiastic excitement prevailed among the friends of the seceding party, and salutes were given in honor of the seceders. Why was all this ? And what was it but the strongest demonstration the people could give of their delight at the prospective downfall of the Republic? In scanning the proceed- THE SOUTH SACRIFICED. 17 ings of that Convention, and the final result, together with the manifest jubilant spirit of the seceding party, and that of their adherents all over the South, our heart sickened, and our spirit was stirred within us, and in the number of the " Christian Banner" of May the 3d, 1860, we wrote the following editorial : — "CHARLESTON DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION. " We had thought at one time to say nothing about the Charleston Democratic Convention. But what friend to his Cod and country can forbear ? Who can look into the awful future and with almost a prophetic eye behold the destiny of this great republic, and hold his peace ? What true, patriotic American citizen can be an indifferent looker-on ? None. "Our country has reached a fearful crisis. The whole political sea is in a state of universal commotion, while awful storms are looming up from every point of the compass, all rapidly converging to a single re- sult, the overthrow of the republic. Political corruption will prove the downfall of our once happy country. Deny it who may, political corruption is doing its hellish work. " Does the secession of Alabama, Mississippi, Loui- siana, South Carolina, Florida, Arkansas, Delaware, and Texas from the Charleston Convention, prognosticate nothing? Who will say so? They quarrel about platforms, and fight ghosts and phantoms, when, in fact, it is men, money, and fame that absorbs their mind, consumes their time, and is working the rum of the Union. The whole body politic is corrupt to the very core. From the crowns of their heads even unto 18 THE CONSPIRACY UNVEILED. their feet they are naught but one great mass of po- litical corruption. The loaves and fishes, the spoils of government, to occupy high places, to fill important offices, and fatten and revel off of the sweat and toil of the people, is the ultimatum of the ambition of most modern politicians. We scorn to advocate any such course of reckless, wicked, traitorous conduct in any man, or set of men. " What patriotic soul would hold connection with a party of men who are sapping the foundation of our Government ? Let party men and party measures sink into the deepest and darkest shades of political damnation! Our country has been duped, gulled, swindled, oppressed, and crushed too long already by sycophantic knaves, turn-coat politicians, and con- temptible demagogues, who stoop lower than the devil would to get into office, and, after being promoted by the dear people, are totally unfit, for want of principle and good sense, to manage the affairs of Government. Despite all the men on earth and devils damned, we will stand by the Constitution and the flag of the Union until we die." From the time of the publication of the above article we became a marked man by many of the party- leaders contemplating secession. We knew it not at the time, so gradual and cautious were the means used to crush our influence. We were advised to " write nothing on political subjects/' " The ' Banner' was a literary and religious journal," and the " organ of a religious denomination," and should, therefore, refrain from entering into political discussions, for fear of doing "injury to the cause of Christianity," "the THE SOUTH SACRIFICED. 19 denomination," and, forsooth, for fear the editor should lose "popularity and patronage"! For ministers to dabble in the muddy, filthy waters of politics, we always regarded as a leap from the truly sublime to the supremely ridiculous. But for min- isters to write and talk in defence of their country, is patriotic, commendable, honorable, Christian, Godlike; and we now deeply regret that we had not devoted every column of our paper to the cause of our beloved country. And we also regret, and feel partially con- demned, that we did not travel all over the State of Virginia and deliver speeches in behalf of the Union, in behalf of our country. Now we have no home, no church, and no permanent abiding-place, — a refugee and an exile from our quiet, peaceful, happy home, because we loved our country and tried to save her from ruin. CHAPTER III. POLITICAL CHANGES — THE AUTHOR DEMOCRATIC — WAR SPIRIT, ETC. ETC. " Eye nature's walks, shoot folly as it flies, And catch the manners living as they rise." Steadily watching the current of events, in the number of the 'Christian Banner' of June the 7th, 1860, we wrote the following : — " Just think how easily politicians slide out of the minority into the majority party, in their respective counties, districts, &c. &c, and how easily they can 20 THE CONSPIRACY UNVEILED. slip back when the popular current turns. To-day, a fellow is fighting for life and death in one place to raise high the standard of Know-Nothingism, &c, and to crush out Democracy; and to-morrow he is in some other section, fighting like a tiger to crush Know- Nothingism, &c, and to raise the Democratic standard. "Since the failure of the Whig organization and administration, thousands upon thousands who were once rampant Whigs have taken shelter in the Demo- cratic ranks and fattened under the Democratic ad- ministration. Should the Democratic administration fail, thousands who belong to that party now will wheel right round and join in with the popular ad- ministration party, whatever it may be, and swear they were right all the time and acting perfectly consistent, but the dear people were such dolts as not to be able to understand and comprehend them and their principles. " Look round and think a moment. How many of the blustering, wrathy, frothy, sycophantic, disgusting Democratic demagogues who are now cutting up fan- tastic tricks sufficient to excite the scorn and contempt of all gentlemen and true patriots, were once as brain- less, unprincipled, and uncompromising Whigs ? The popular current turned, and they turned in with it. Yes ; and let the popular current turn again, and again they will turn in with it, — they'll slide in. They've 1 slid' in, and they've *■ slid' out ; and they'll slide-in, and they'll slide out, just as often as there are great national political evolutions and they find it to their interest to keep on sliding and changing. "The people of these United States are gulled, duped, and led on to the very brink of political ruin by this ava- lanche of unprincipled political harpies, and seem to be THE SOUTH SACRIFICED. 21 reckless and perfectly indifferent as to the impending danger. When unprincipled men hold the reins of government, farewell to liberty, happiness, country, and all! Nor is this all. If a man of the party have the moral courage, the political honesty, the national patriotism, to expose the corruption and political in- trigues of the leaders, he is branded as a traitor and politically damned by the party. "Our country has approached a terrible crisis, and fallen on evil times. Jackson, Clay, Webster, and a host of others, who formed the mighty galaxy of our national glory, have passed away, and with them the happiness, tranquillity, and prosperity of our country ; and we fear it will not be long until our national liberty shall pass away also. " Democracy ! This is a powerful word. We love it. We heartily endorse the principle contained in it. Did you ever think of its true meaning, reader ? It comes from two beautiful Greek words, demos, the people, and kratos, power, sovereignty, and simply means power lodged in the people. Demokratia, a popular, or re- publican, government, — absolute power in, or belong- ing to, the people. " What true, patriotic American citizen can object to democracy when properly understood ? Let the sove- reign people rise up in all the majesty of their glory, and crush and crumble to atoms every system and platform that conflicts with the Constitution, harmony, prosperity, and perpetuity of our glorious country, and hurl all opposing isms into the whirlpool of deep, dark, and eternal oblivion." It is impossible for any lover of his country to con- 22 THE CONSPIRACY UNVEILED. ceive how very annoying it was to see the constant preparations for war, and to have the war-cry forever ringing in his ears, unless he were actually to realize it. And this, too, in time of peace and quietness. We constantly witnessed this state of things in Fredericks- burg during the year 1860, and the reader can form some faint idea of the state of affairs by reading the following brief editorial published in the " Christian Banner," June 7, I860 :— "AVAR SPIRIT. "The atmosphere, the very element in which we live, seems to be pregnant with the spirit of war. All the elementary principles of war, death, and carnage appear to be in lively exercise all over the world. Our exchanges come teeming in upon us filled with notices of riots and murders of every kind, and perpe- trated by all classes of men, and women too. " The very devil seems to be turned loose among the people. Battalions are being formed all through the South, and sublime and costly preparations for war are being made everywhere. The signs of the times in- dicate that the country is bent and determined on war at any and all hazards. Every political move points directly to war. Like a desolating pestilence, the dis- ease has infused itself into all classes, male and female, old and young. Even the little boys in our town, who have scarcely doffed their infant strings, have caught the war spirit and formed themselves into military companies, and perambulate the streets dressed out in uniform, with their banners floating before the breeze, their mock drums beating, and their imitation guns on THE SOUTH SACRIFICED. 23 their shoulders. All this they are permitted to do, to the great annoyance of the quiet, business part of the men of our town. Surely no people were ever more completely under the wild, wicked, and reckless in- fatuation of the devil than what the American people appear to be at the present time. Our country is de- mented ; we fear it is doomed. " The people seem to have taken it into their heads that there will be war, there must be war, and there shall be war. Well, if they will have it, and nothing but war will satisfy them, then let them have it and enjoy it to their hearts' content. No doubt but that many of those brave souls in time of peace who are so much bent and determined on war, when it actually comes, will be the first to dodge and hide in the bushes and brier-hedges, drop into gully-holes, or sneak off as deserters and traitors. Many of those fellows who are now so active in instigating war, if it come, will either have to fight or run ; and in either case they will be very apt to get killed. Poor laboring-men are not going to do all the fighting. Gentlemen will have to lend a helping hand, and perform some active part in the drama, before the scene winds up. 'Tis right and just that those who provoke and force war should die in the fight. " It may be that war is absolutely necessary at the present time, to purify the political and religious atmosphere of our country. Both state and church have become so corrupt that war, as an instrument to sweep off the agents of evil, may prove in the end the salvation of our country. A remnant of patriots and Christians, good and true, may survive the wreck and ruin, by and through whom our country and the 24 THE CONSPIRACY UNVEILED. church, in the good providence of God, may become regenerated and ultimately saved. The people must be taught humility and yield obedience to the statutes of Jehovah. War and pestilence may sometimes be as essential to the purification and salvation of a country as medicine is to the recovering of health and the salvation of diseased bodies. In the midst of all our present and approaching calamities, whatever they may be, or however severe, let us look unto God, and confide in his wisdom, goodness, and power. The Lord God omnipotent reigneth: let all the people rejoice in their King." Notwithstanding war-preparations were being made all over the South, the cry in Virginia was, " There is no danger of war," — while many confidently and con- stantly affirmed that there would be "no war," — the thing was impossible, — but still it was " well enough in time of peace to prepare for war." Companies were formed and drilled as a sort of pastime, and to give an air of military dignity and bearing to young men. We told them, and that, too, honestly, constantly, and faithfully, that they would get their satisfaction of it before they were done with it ; but they laughed at our "wild notions," and scorned our kind admonitions, and mocked at our solemn warnings. We were sorry for the men, because we saw that a trap was laid to catch them, and we were convinced that the leaders would prove but too successful in their mighty efforts to en- snare the unwary youth and ignorant classes of the country. The noose of damnable treason was thrown around the necks of the poor, credulous men of the South, and the ropes were drawn tighter and tighter, THE SOUTH SACRIFICED. 25 until strangulation and death have ended the sufferings of unknown thousands. The Southern heart was " fired up," and men were drawn gradually into the horrible vortex of ruin before they had even suspected danger. The uniform, with all its pretty buttons, shoulder-straps, and stripes, was bewitching, and thousands became wildly infatuated with the charm. The women, and especially the young girls, were wonderfully delighted with the "beautiful uniforms," and the young men donned in uniform were much more popular with the girls than young men dressed out in plain citizen's clothing. This stimulated others to join companies and don the uniform also. Thus the work went on gradually, — every thing tending to a sure and certain rebellion against the Federal Government. CHAPTER IV. 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